The first time she saw the swan, she thought that it was part of a dream. It stood in the meadow, silent and watchful, and Princess Kya though it strange that its feathers were not quite white, but instead a pale gold. Curious, she scampered over, and the creature gave a honk of alarm before flying away. “Kya! You scared it!” her brother scolded.

  “Children!” The siblings froze. A woman was striding towards them, her skirt billowing in the morning breeze. She took a moment to smooth it and another moment to glare. “How many times have I told you not to leave my sight? Saro, you were supposed to be watching your sister!”

  The little boy’s shoulders drooped. “I’m sorry, Queen Harmony,” he murmured.

  “I’m sorry, Momma,” Kya echoed.

  “A fine king you’ll be if you don’t get yourself lost,” the woman glared, and then her expression softened. “Oh Kya,” she sighed, “you’ve gotten your dress all filthy.”

  “I’m sorry, Momma. There was a puddle.”

  “What will everyone think of you two? At least it wasn’t the cliffs,” the queen muttered, and flashed another glare at the little prince. She stood up. “Well, you two need to clean yourselves off. We can’t have your father seeing you this way, can we?” She turned around. “Come along.”

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  “Yes Momma,” Kya dutifully replied.

  “Yes Queen Harmony,” said Saro.

  “Kya, you still awake?”

  The little princess blinked the sleepiness from her eyes and sat up. There was a dark shape in the doorway.

  “Saro?” she asked.

  “Yeah.” The shape took form as he entered the room. Kya scooted onto her pillow and he sat at the foot of the bed. “How was it today, with your mom?”

  “It was fun. We picked out decorations for the ball.” Her smile faded a little. “You could have come with us if you’d liked.“

  “S’okay. I found stuff to do.” His dark eyes flashed when he grinned, and he turned towards the window. “Wanna go out to the cliffs tomorrow? I heard the view of the lake is amazing.”

  Kya’s eyes widened. “Saro, you know we’re not supposed to go there! You could fall!” She hovered at the edge of the bed in alarm. “Promise you won’t go there. Please, Saro.”

  He watched the window for another minute before turning away. “I promise,” he sighed, and leaned against the wall. “I hate being cooped up in here, though. When I’m king, I’ll make it a law that parents have to let their kids outside at least once a day.”

  Kya clapped so hard that Saro had to shush her for fear of being heard. “Will you have there be a day where we’re allowed to get mud on our clothes?”

  Saro’s face was dead serious. “I’ll let that be everyday.” They shared a giggle. “Goodnight snooze-a-saur.”

  She giggled once more, not feeling tired in the slightest. “Goodnight, Saro!” He slipped out the door and was gone.

  Kya’s mother came in a few minutes later to kiss her goodnight. “Getting sleepy, my little princess?” she smiled.

  “No, Momma,” the girl yawned. “I was just thinking about how great it’ll be when Saro becomes king. Do you think I could be a queen someday?”

  Her mother was quiet for a long, long time. “I think you will,” she finally said. “I think you will.”