Chapter 4

As the children walked inside sounds of violins, flutes, drums and upbeat chatter filled the air. The entrance opened with a long white carpet leading deeper into the palace. Statues of stately people and beautiful animals graced the sides of the hall. The glass windows in the hall each had a colorful sun in the center. They continued to walk down the immaculately clean foyer when suddenly to the left a large alcove appeared. The room was filled with people all sitting down enjoying an amazing feast. At the end the of the table farthest from the children was the King. Behind him were maybe ten performers on a stage playing. No one seemed to notice the children until the King was reaching his glass and gazed down the room.
"Attention!", said the King. Everyone became silent. "Our friends have arrived!"
All the people at the table looked toward the hall.
"Hooray!" They shouted.
"Come sit down," said the King with a large smile.
The children timidly walked to four empty chairs nearest to where the King was sitting.
The people at the table and the musicians then went right back to there twaddle.
"Welcome, we are so pleased to have you here. I am King Lot, and this is the land of Aathair" said the King.
King Lot was short and plump and seemed very old. He had to be the most cheerful person you've ever seen with plenty of wrinkles around his eyes and mouth from smiling so much. He had electric white hair sticking out of his golden crown and a long white beard.
"Who told you we were coming?" asked Odell.
"Why Reo of course" replied King Lot.
Odell felt silly after that and kept quiet. King Lot could tell Odell felt embarressed.
"I look forward to getting to know all of you, but first please help yourself." he said gesturing to the long table decorated with platters and bowls full of all sorts of food.
The children were very hungry and were more then happy to stop chatting and start eating.
There was chicken, lamb, fish, breads, fruit bowls, roasted vegetables and plenty of desserts. Austin and Audrey loved the lavender colored strawberries in one of the fruit salads. They were the sweestest, juiciest berries they had ever tasted. Camille preferred the chicken noodle soup that had carved star shaped carrots and potatoes. Odell began first with eating peach tarts and white chocalate pumkin truffles.
As they satisfied there hunger they began to tell King Lot there story of finding the cave and traveling to the palace. King Lot was fun to talk to and the children quickly grew fond of him. "You should stay here for the evening, then in the morning you can travel back home when the suns out." he offered.
It was completely fine with the children, they were having such a nice time they started to forget about home and how much there parents were probably extremely worried about them.
After what seemed hours the people started to leave and the music stopped, by then it was just the children and King Lot sitting at the table.
"Thank you so much for the delicous food and letting us stay." Camille said as she finished her last bite of Lime Souffle.
"Yes, thank you, " sighed Austin and Audrey as they started to yawn and tilt there heads.
"Hoheheho," laughed King lot. "What you children need is some sleep. I will show you to your room."
He led them up a spiral staircase to the next floor and opened the first door in the hall.
"Wow, " cried Audrey, now a bit more awake.
The room was so spacious with four beds on the far wall.
The room was lighted with a large ball of light attached to nothing right below the center of the ceiling.
"This is great," Odell shouted.
"Glad you like it," said the king with a smile. "There are night clothes for each of you on the wall and the washrooms are on the left through the mirror door. See you in the morning."
King Lot then waved goodbye and shut the door.
"Wow, these pajamas look more like princes and princesses outfits," Camille gleefully annouced.
"Cool, we should just stay here all the time," said Austin. "This place is so much fun."
As everyone was getting ready for bed Audrey walked up to the large window to look outside. The crescent moon was so fresh and bright and you could see the silhouette of mountains towering around the valley.
"This place is so special," whispered Audrey to herself. "I hope we stay here longer."
Just then a bright shooting star flashed above the moon in the night.
"I guess we are," she chuckled to herself.
"Audrey," Camille shouted, "Get to bed."