Silver Dagger
Scene 1
[In the gardens of the Asyntine palace. A slight wind picks up, rustling the leaves on the many trees. Marigold, queen of Asyntine, sits on a bench, an orb of light floating in her hands. She stares into the orb intently, oblivious to the chill of the wind. Dean, prince of a neighboring kingdom, enters.]
Dean.
Marigold, the time has almost come. When will she be back? I cannot wait any longer.
Marigold.
Soon, Dean. She has to. I know what she means to you, and I know these two years you’ve spent waiting have been hard for you. We have held off the Vell as long as we could; soon she must come back to help us.
Dean.
Are you sure she’ll be okay?
Marigold.
Diana is a smart girl. She has her magic and her brain. I’ve sent her the messages. She has fulfilled all the requirements. There’s nothing left for us to do but wait.
Dean.
But…
Marigold.
But what?
Dean.
What if she doesn’t want to come back? There’s no way for us to force her… and I wouldn’t want to, anyway.
Marigold.
Oh, she will. The power will call to her. She has everything here – she’s adored by the people, she has her beauty, and her powers are like no other. She will come back. I’m sure of it.
Dean.
I guess you’re right. I just don’t know if it’s enough.
Marigold.
She knows she has to. Our future is in her hands. I just hope she treats us well.
[Dean and Marigold exit into the palace. A while later, there is a flash of light and Diana materializes. She looks around in wonder.]
Diana.
Is this it? Am I really home?
[At the sound of her voice, Dean and Marigold come rushing back into the gardens.]
Dean.
Diana! You’re really back.
Diana.
Of course I am.
Marigold.
I’m glad to see that you have made it back safely. For now, you can rest, but we will have to get moving soon. There is a lot to do and little time to do it. We’re depending on you to save us.
Diana.
Thank you, mother. And thank you…
Dean.
Do you… do you not remember me?
Diana.
I’m sorry, but I don’t remember much of my life here. Not after I was sent to Terra.
Dean.
Oh. Don’t trouble yourself with it, then…
Marigold.
Come. We must prepare things in the castle. We’ll get this sorted out soon. I promise.
[They exit into the palace.]
Dean.
Marigold, the time has almost come. When will she be back? I cannot wait any longer.
Marigold.
Soon, Dean. She has to. I know what she means to you, and I know these two years you’ve spent waiting have been hard for you. We have held off the Vell as long as we could; soon she must come back to help us.
Dean.
Are you sure she’ll be okay?
Marigold.
Diana is a smart girl. She has her magic and her brain. I’ve sent her the messages. She has fulfilled all the requirements. There’s nothing left for us to do but wait.
Dean.
But…
Marigold.
But what?
Dean.
What if she doesn’t want to come back? There’s no way for us to force her… and I wouldn’t want to, anyway.
Marigold.
Oh, she will. The power will call to her. She has everything here – she’s adored by the people, she has her beauty, and her powers are like no other. She will come back. I’m sure of it.
Dean.
I guess you’re right. I just don’t know if it’s enough.
Marigold.
She knows she has to. Our future is in her hands. I just hope she treats us well.
[Dean and Marigold exit into the palace. A while later, there is a flash of light and Diana materializes. She looks around in wonder.]
Diana.
Is this it? Am I really home?
[At the sound of her voice, Dean and Marigold come rushing back into the gardens.]
Dean.
Diana! You’re really back.
Diana.
Of course I am.
Marigold.
I’m glad to see that you have made it back safely. For now, you can rest, but we will have to get moving soon. There is a lot to do and little time to do it. We’re depending on you to save us.
Diana.
Thank you, mother. And thank you…
Dean.
Do you… do you not remember me?
Diana.
I’m sorry, but I don’t remember much of my life here. Not after I was sent to Terra.
Dean.
Oh. Don’t trouble yourself with it, then…
Marigold.
Come. We must prepare things in the castle. We’ll get this sorted out soon. I promise.
[They exit into the palace.]