Eliza is dreaming and is aware that she is dreaming. The last thing she remembers before dreaming was the tall woman looking into her eyes as she was being held by the queen. This is a strange dream though, normally when she dreams it is of problems she is having, with her trying different things to solve those problems. Some times they would work, some times not. But this time it is different, she is standing in a meadow, wild flowers in bloom all around her, she never does nature scenes in her dreams. As she is looking around, she hears someone approaching. Turning toward the sound, which is also strange as normally there is no sound in her dreams, she sees the tall woman.

She approaches Eliza, smiling, "Hello, Eliza. I don't think Rufina introduced us, I am Sophia. Rufina has asked me to help you if I can. Would like me to try?"

"How can you help? And why would the queen want you to help me, a nobody."

"She is a very caring person, I am very glad I chose her to be the Queen. And you are NOT a nobody. You, my dear girl, are someone, someone who given a chance can help bring change to a world. Every person can help, some a little, others a great deal. You are one of the latter, a talented someone yearning to love and be loved, someone that can make a difference. I see the potential in you as I see it in all the others that Rufina has gathered so far."

"Chose her to be the Queen? Why would you choose someone? Who are you?"

"My, my, so full of questions, everyone is so full of questions, you, Rufina, Emi, Tilly, Helen. Aden, Tobias and Kalvin aren't quite so curious but much more observant. Not sure about Mark yet, as he has only joined us this morning."

When Sophia mentioned Kalvin, Eliza starts, staring at her. "Kalvin the guard?"

"Yes, Kalvin the Queen's guard. Do you know him?"

"Yes, he is the younger son of the neighbor I stayed with after mama died. I'm not sure if he likes me, he stutters and won't look me in the face."

"Ah, the fears of young males, unsure of themselves when interacting with the female they find attractive, being fearful of rejection."

"He finds me attractive? How do you know that?"

"How do you not? He stutters and blushes red when he talks to you but still wants to be near you. Has he never suddenly been there when you need help when you were unaware he was near. You were hungry and there was someone to offer you a small job, saying that they heard you needed a few coins or a meal."

Eliza shakes her self, "Back to the main question, Who are you?"

"Oh my, persistent aren't you. I am Sophia, in some places and times known as Benzaiten or Benten, God of Knowledge. How do you think we can talk in a dream."

"Yes, this is strange. Can you do it all the time?"

"Not all the time, only with those that I am touching like I am you or my chosen, that is how she asked me to help you, though she doesn't realize she can do that yet."

"So how can you help me? And help me with what?"

"Help you grieve. Normal human grief is powerful at the beginning lessening as time passes, though never fully disappearing. You, my dear, appear to be stuck in a early stage of grief, you should not break into tears when you think of your parents, not after this long. You should feel sadness, yes, but not such heart rending sadness. I can place a filter in your mind around the memories of your parents deaths, reducing the sadness so it doesn't overwhelm you. It would be set to fade after a time, allowing you to adjust."

"This filter would slowly fade away? Like it was never there?"

"Yes, like it was never there. But you need to agree to let me do it. If you don't agree even if I tried it would not remain in place long and you would be back the way you are. So do you wish to try?"

"What would it entail? How long would it take?"

"All you have to do is stand there, relaxed. It will only take a few seconds after I touch your forehead."

"Alright, you can do it."

"Very well, relax, you can close your eyes if you wish." She feels Sophia take her hand. Peace seems to flow up her arm, she relaxes realizing she is in good hands. There is a light touch on her forehead, between and above her eyebrows. Slowly a pain she has grown so accustom to fades, leaving her feeling light.

Sophia says in quiet voice, "Think of the death of your parents."

Eliza tries to think of them, but their death is not like it used to be, not a bright stab of pain but a dull ache and sadness. She sighs, missing them, oh mama, pa, I miss you so, I do hope you peace in the after life.

To Sophia, a look of sadness flits over Eliza's face, her eyes a little moist, that is all. She smiles, it is working as intended then.

"Eliza it's time to wake. When you do, remember that you are loved even if it some times doesn't seem like it. I will go first, leaving you to enjoy the flowers, you do imagine a lovely meadow." She leans in a kisses Eliza on the forehead where she had touched her, as she slow fades away.

Eliza's eyes open slowly, looking around she realizes that the meadow is lovely, the flowers all in bloom, the tree gently moving in the dream wind. She smiles, feeling much better. Then wondering when she can see Kalvin, there are things they need to discuss. She feels she is waking, so takes a final look at the meadow as it fades...

* * *

"Hello Kal, I'm doing a job for the queen. Illustrating some playing cards."

"Ggood, I'm happy for you."

Eliza grins hugely glancing at Sophia, who grins back.

"Where have you been, Kalvin? The smith and the woodworkers have come and gone." Rufina queries.

"I was on my way back when one of the hunters stopped me, telling me that Aden had requested help in finding a place, a level area surrounded by slopes. The hunter said he found a place like that and would lead me to it. So we went there. I believe it is what your majesty had in mind."

"How far is it? How large, could it hold all the people of town and the serfs?" I ask him. "But first, sit, eat. You two," looking at Sophia and Eliza, "do the same, we saved food for you. My curiosity can wait a few minutes."

I sat back in my chair, looking at my friends, old and new and possible, feeling content. Together we can do things, we can bootstrap this country out of the state of barely surviving to a state of plenty. Hopefully a state of plenty without sacrificing the ecosystem. Just because something is new doesn't mean it is the best, what does newest cost, not just in money but in energy and waste?

"Rufina, may I speak with you?"

"Of course, Sophia. What on your mind?"

"I told Eliza who I am and that I chose you. So she the ninth to know."

"That is alright, I had a feeling that she would be one of us soon, anyway. What did you do for her?"

"I set up a filter on her feelings of sorrow concerning her parents, so instead of the overwhelming grief she was suffering from she get a lesser amount, it should allow her to build a filter of her own, as is normal."

"What else did you tell her? She appears to much happier, less restrained."

"Oh, we discussed interpersonal relationships and I pointed something out that should have been apparent to her but was not. What you see is the result." We looked over to where Eliza was sitting, talking to Kalvin, not as an acquaintance but as someone that was close, prepares a lover, touching his arm, leaning close when talking with him. And he was enjoying it, smiling and laughing, occasionally touching her back.

"Do you know the relationship between Kalvin and Eliza?" I asked her.

"They are childhood friends, neighbors and near foster siblings. And Kalvin loves her but she was not aware of that, she is now. She seems to be making up for lost time."

"Did her memories contain any indication of missing time, she claims to be nineteen but the records show that the murder of her father and mother was nine years ago, when she claims she was nine. I will need to talk to Kalvin about his memories concern this."

Noticing that Sophia, Kalvin and Eliza have finished eating Aden asks , "What is planned for this afternoon."

I have them all move closer, then say, "I need to check on the salt ponds and the place that the hunter found. I would also like to go swimming this afternoon, who's up for getting wet?" They all said yes, except Eliza, who doesn't know what swimming is.

"Aden, Kalvin and I will go to the place the hunter found while Helen, Sophia, Emi and Eliza can make Eliza a swimsuit. Tilly what is planned for supper?"

"It is undecided yet."

"Then how about another picnic on the beach." She nods in reply.

"Eliza, where are you living at the moment? Would you like to move into the palace, there is room."

"May I, really? Thank you, your majesty. I am living in a barn at the moment in exchange a few chores."

"Helen would you like a room mate? I was thinking of putting you and Eliza in the room upstairs, next to Sophia. It has two bedchambers and a sitting room, so you won't be crowded."

"Sure I can do that, it may be fun."

"Alright, Kalvin saddle three horses, please. Girls, you can start on a swimsuit for Eliza. Oh, did you get Marks finished and fitted? No, alright finish that also. After you get Mark fitted and Eliza measured, they can go fetch her belongings and be back in time to have her fitted. If that is alright with you, Mark? You don't have anything to do this afternoon, do you?" he shakes his head no, "Good. You can use the wheel barrow."

We proceeded to our tasks, first cleaning up the table for Tilly. The girls and Mark go up to my rooms to work on the swimsuits, Kalvin to get the horses ready. I make a quick trip to my bedchamber to change clothes, putting on my trousers and short tunic. Then we leave via the garden, change to my boots in route.

"Aden, is the harvest about finished?"

"The last few fields are being harvested as we speak. The threshing will begin after the trial is completed. I have spread the word that the trial is to be held tomorrow and that anyone interested would be allowed to come. Once the venue is decided on I will have the heralds announce the location." When we exit the garden we find Kalvin waiting with the horses.

As we ride to the place I ask Kalvin, "How long have you know Eliza?"

"I can't really remember when I first met her, she was just a little girl, not quite three, I think. Her parents owned the farm next door to my parent's. After her ma and pa died she came to live with us, but had disappeared a couple of times then pa told her if she wouldn't stay she couldn't stay there any longer. She had been very quiet that first winter she was with us, but started getting moody and angry after that. That was when she would disappear. Two or three weeks later she would come back, dirty and skinny, like she was living in the woods. About that time I joined the guards and lost track of her for a bit. After his pa kick her out she moved to town. I saw her a lot more after that. She started drawing again. Some of the drawing were pretty gloomy. But she was slowly calming down. I rarely heard of her getting angry after she started drawing again, so maybe that helped. I helped her when I could, making sure she had food or a job so she could get food or some place warm to stay."

When we arrive at the place it is perfect, a large flattish area with slopes on three sides, only a twenty minute walking ride from the edge of town.

"Aden, we will need four tables; one for the judge, one the voice of the people, one for the voice of the accused and one for the evidence plus nine chairs. Please contact the witnesses of the search of Lian's home so there know to be here. We should stop by mistress Nora's to tell her also. We also need to talk to Captain Jones and his crew. And the captain of the guard."

On the way back through town we stop at mistress Nora's. Walking up to her door I lightly rap on it, when she opens the door, "Good afternoon, mistress Nora.

"Good afternoon, your majesty. How may I help you?"

"I have come to tell you that the trial is to be held tomorrow morning. We will be coming by at about 600 to take you with us, so be ready."

"Six hundred? Why so early?"

"I hope to be finished by the heat of the day."

"Ah, very well, I will be waiting for you to come by. See you in the morning then."

"You have a pleasant evening, Nora and a good night."

Remounting we go head to the docks to leave a message for the captain to come to the palace this evening but he was there on the dock so we talked there.

"The trial will start as soon after 600 as possible and I would appreciate if you could be at the town hall at 590 with most of your freeman crew members." He agreed. "If you would come to the palace this evening, Aden and I will be practicing what we with be saying tomorrow."

I thanked him and we departed. When we arrived at the palace I have Kalvin add the panniers to Aden's horse and get six more horses ready.

We enter though the garden as usual so I can changing to my slippers. As Aden and I are walking toward the stairs, "Aden, will you tell the captain of the guard to allow Lian to bathe, and to have him ready to move that 575 tomorrow morning?" He follows me up the stairs to the second floor before proceeding to the guardroom.