Rane The Royal Gardener

      He always felt kind of strange when someone called him that outside of royal functions. Rane was his friend, almost none of his friends called him “your highness”. Some of them had taken a little while to feel comfortable dropping the formalities in casual settings, but Rane couldn’t be persuaded. No matter how he persisted she would always respond, “When you are king then you can outlaw it if you like, your highness.”

     “Yes, he’s a Talpidat,” He replied, trying to ignore the heat he felt in his cheeks. He must look as if he were smuggling tomatoes in his mouth. The red would stand out brilliantly against his stark white fur. Rane to her credit, pretended not to notice. She was quite fond of the young prince. “They were recently discovered. Scarlet said they were quite happy to be rid of them. She said they had a penchant for Neggs.”

      “How could anyone want to be rid of something with such a sweet face as yours,” She cooed. “You must be a digger, look at those fabulous little claws. You will be a great help to me, won’t you Oliver. Oh, thank you, your highness, he is wonderful. He’ll be the perfect companion if I can keep him out of the kitchens. Yes, you will, won't you, yes you will.” She cuddled the Petpet as she talked to it.

      “They are great swimmers, too,” Rillien continued. “I think Oliver will enjoy the pond, but he might not be too fond of bright light, they live underground I think..”

      “Then you will need a hat, my poor little guy, does the light hurt your eyes?” she held him in away her so that her bright pink neck ruff blocked the bright sun from his eyes. “You are too kind, your highness.” She gave him a peck on the cheek.

      “I-I should be going,” Rillien answered with a flustered bow. “I really do hope you enjoy his companionship.”

      “Thank you, your highness,” she said, and curtsied in response to his bow. She smiled as she thought about when she came to the palace, the final time, to stay.

     ****

      Rane was born on a small farm in Miniglen. Her father and older brothers worked the farm, but her mother cared for Petpets. There was no official store for Petpets in Miniglen, so most went to nearby Meridell to buy them or caught their own in the forest, like her sister. If they didn’t catch them, they came to her mother. She took in hurt and abandoned Petpets and nursed them back to health.

      Rane loved to play with the Petpets. Most of the Petpets they took in were quickly adopted, but when they first came in they were all hers to cuddle. Her mother had offered to let her keep one, but Rane they just weren’t right. She wasn’t sure why, but she hadn’t found the perfect one.

      She thought it might be because of how much she loved her garden. At night she helped her mother, but days were spent with the flora. Their garden was one of the most vibrant in all of the village, maybe all of Miniglen excluding those of the royal palace of course. There was nothing more in the whole of Neopia that she loved more than her plants, except perhaps her family, of course.

      Her sister and brothers didn’t really understand why she preferred flowers over apples and gourds, but they did know how she loved living things. They all loved things that grew in the earth. So like dutiful siblings they always checked with her before pulling the weeds. If it had a blossom it could be moved to her garden, and it would be unless it really was a weed.

      Their farm, as it had been for generations, supplied the village and even the royal family with apples and all manner of gourds, pumpkins, squash, marrow, and melons. Her eldest brothers and father made all the deliveries while the rest stayed at home.

     ***

      “Rane,” Rane looked up surprised to hear her father calling her name. She had thought he and her brothers had left already, but she turned and saw the skeith headed her way, looking annoyed. He didn’t seem upset with her, but there was definitely something wrong. The old Skeith was rarely cross with her, his only daughter at the time, apple of his eye.

      “Yes, papa?” She asked. “What’s wrong?”

      “Your brother, Hem stumbled in a Symol hole, twisted his ankle,” He growled. “I told River that it wasn’t a good idea to keep one of those things around, we really could have used Hemloch’s help, not that he’s complaining.” Her father chuckled at this. Hemloch was the eldest son, but to no one's surprise he left the farm when he was old enough to pursue becoming a chef. He’d always preferred making things out of the produce than growing it.

      They were lucky, their parents supported all that their children aspired to do. It did not matter what you did, their mother would say, as long as you are good person and you are the best. Of course there was no one better than her children at anything in their mothers eyes.

     It was the same with their father, as long as you try your hardest he would be proud of you.

      “No I am sure, Hem will be just as happy helping mama, and telling her about his adventures on the islands.”

      “Ah, yes, like the one about the mermaid he met when he stayed with your uncle all those years ago,” her father agreed. “Would you fancy going to the palace today, my flower? If I can not send a big strong kau I might as well send someone who might enjoy the trip. I hear their gardens are beautiful. River can do the work on his own.”

      “Are you sure, papa? Really?” She jumped up excitedly. “It won’t be too much work for River, will it?” She hugged him around his thick middle.

      “No, it is a small shipment, just some carving pumpkins for the young prince and princess,” Her father laughed, hugging her back. “We’ve already delivered this week’s produce.”

      “Thank you, papa, thank you,” She let go and ran toward the front of the cabin to meet her brother who was waiting for her in the wagon.

      “Come on, Pipsqueak, I haven’t got all day!”

     ****

      “It’s Carving Day!” River called for Rane in this way every year. She didn’t know if the royals carved their pumpkins on this day every year, but she would have liked to think so. It’s just what she and her siblings called it now. Normally she didn’t go on deliveries but she always went with River on Carving Day.

      “Just a minute!” Rane called crossly, she knew River wouldn’t leave without her. Her father wouldn’t have let him. While he loved all his children equally he definitely had a soft spot for his two girls.

      “Oh go on,” Holly, her younger sister, took the watering can from her. “I just finished loading it with the best pumpkins and I know you’ve been looking forward to this all day. Maybe you’ll see the young prince.”

      “Oh hush, will you!” Rane replied, starting to walk away.

      “Come on, you know he doesn’t have many friends that aren’t royals,” Holly followed her. “He likes you, he wants to be friends, I know it. I’ve seen the Weewoos.”

      “I said hush!” Rane shushed her again, but she couldn’t hide her smile.

     ***

      “Mommy! All the flowers are getting eaten!” River and Rane heard the princess’s wails as they pulled into the castle courtyard. Rane could see the problem straight away. A zebie scampered away from their wagon as soon as they’d pulled through the gates. She had a feeling it and possibly some of its friends were to blame for the flowers being eaten.

      “Yes, I see that Rosaline, dearest,” The stately Kau answered. “Your father is having the gardeners all look into it.”

      “Apple bitters,” Rane blurted out. She hadn’t meant to speak so loudly but both the queen and ruki princess turned to look at her. “I’m sorry, your majesties, I only, I, at home I mix apple juice with bitters and spray that around my plants. It helps to keep the Petpets away from my flowers. Zebies especially.”

      “There now you see,” The queen smiled at the Pink Xweetok gratefully. “We’ll ask the chefs to make you some apple juice with bitters and we can spray it all around to keep the Zebie away. Thank you-I’m sorry dear, I’m afraid I don’t know your name.”

      “That’s Rane, mama!” She was surprised to hear the prince's voice. “She and her family grow all the apples, They also grow gourds and melons. They bring the pumpkins each year.”

      “Why of course it is, thank you Rillian, dear,” The queen thanked her son. “And thank you Rane, and thank your family. Is this your brother?”

      “Yes, your majesty, this is River,” She answered.

      “Thank you, River,” the queen responded. “Rillian why don’t you help them bring in the pumpkins. If you two have some time to spare, I won’t keep you of course, but I am sure the gardeners would love to hear any other tricks you have to share.”

      “We would love to help your gardeners, your majesty, in any way we can,” River answered this time. “We are at your service, your majesty, as always.”

     ****

      Rane could never be sure if it was because of her advice or because of the princess’s demands that made the head gardener before her quit, but he did. She was sure that it was Rillian’s idea that she be the next one. That was fine with her. As for her family, they couldn’t have been prouder, even though River missed having her help him bring in the pumpkins.

     The End.