~*~Reflective Lessons~*~

[Illusia]

~*~
The past few days had given her a lot of time to think about what Tim had said to her and her nights alone within the Tower had given her time to reflect on her return. Smiling, she stepped from the warm waters of her bath and moved to stand in front of the mirror studying her body carefully. She shifted the coral key that hung from her neck gently...the bruises were gone, the welts invisible...but her back...as she turned, it was healing ever so slowly. The pain of the wound was non existent, but the mark was there to remind her. She let the water drip from her body and pool at her feet, sighing softly she let her fingertips graze over the flesh of the wound, tracing as far as she could reach, shaking her head. She grabbed at the robe that laid across her bed...she had had a flawless body until that night...now she was scarred, perhaps for life. Wrapping the softness around her nakedness, a glance towards the waterclock with a slight frown. She had only a couple of hours left now before she was to attend the party, and she was running late for her dancing lessons.

~*~
The smell of fresh baked bread, cookies, pies and fresh flowers picked led her to the old woman's house. Her stomach began to growl softly as she knocked gently on the door.

"Ilonean?"

"Aye lass I'm in 'ere." She waved her hand to Illusia motioning her to enter the cottage.

Smiling with a nod, she stepped into the cottage. She stayed close to the shadows in the cottage, her cloak and hood drawn close about her, bowing deeply to the woman.

"M'respects Ilonean, tis been some time since I've seen ye, pray tha days fin' ye well?"

Her eyes were still lowered out of the high respects she held for this woman as she spoke.

"Lift yer eyes lass, tis been five winters since I've seen ye. I wish ta see Rayden an Lativa's work in full girl. Show yerself."

The woman settled back onto the hardback chair, awaiting Illusia to step into the light. She had not seen the girl since she was three years to the throne, she had grown so much just from what little she was able to see of her. Ilonean wanted to see if the legends held true, wanted to see for her own eyes.

Sighing and taking a deep breath as emerald and silver eyes gazed at the woman from beneath her hood, she nodded and stepped into the soft glow of the lights...slender fingertips pushed back the hood as black hair that shamed the night skies fell forth to frame her face...deft fingers worked the tie of the cloak as she slipped it from her shoulders and drapped it over her arm, turning before the woman.

She watched Illusia and studied her carefully. Her eyes...squinting to get a better look, they were emerald and silver...and she had the ability to shift them no doubt, Ilonean thought to herself. She was beautiful indeed...the pictures on the scrolls within the tomes, did her no justice at all, for she put them all to shame as she stood before her this day. Her skin was as radiant as the listing rays of the sun on still waters, her hair shamed even the darkest of nights, her voice was angelic to the ears...Yes Ilonean thought to herself, as she felt the auras shift and the shadows cringe in her presence, the power this girl held within was great, she was the legend indeed...there was no doubt in her mind. Though now was not the time to discuss this with her, she turned her attention to the matters at hand as she smiled to the woman, soft brown eyes watching her.

"Now then lass, twas dancin' yer in need o' 'elp wit' aye?"

"Aye m'lady, I've merely a few 'ours ta learn afore tha party this eve."

"Verra well then Illusia m'dear, iffin tis tha case, why are ye still standin' there like a duck out o' water eh?"

Chuckling to herself as she rose out of the chair with the gracefullness of a cat from slumber, motioning Illusia to follow her towards the center of the room, a clap of her hands as music began to fill the house as she extended a hand towards Illusia.

"Illusia m'dear by tha time ye leaves m'cottage, ye'll dance as well as ana other an e'en better than they."