-44-The people were abuzz in the streets of the Capitol. More numerous than their - still crowded - normal days.They weren't celebrating though. Not yet, but soon.Still, they smiled and they were hearty. As they worked and toiled.Masons and carpenters built and fixed, chefs cooked and baked, healers brewed and so did vintners.The young, be it children or teens, all helped as they could. Some carried simple tools while some helped as part of the crew, and some ran around the city bearing messages and lettersAnd amongst all these, sunflowers abounded.As decorations, depictions, on signposts and boards. Slung behind ears, between hair braids, or on parts of clothes.And as plants in pots or pot-less stalks or even as flowers, with all the flowerheads blooming.The peddlers sold them on the streets or stalls. And so did the gardeners, both inside and in front of shops.They sold them in single stalks and clusters, and in pots big and small.There were small sunflowers, tall sunflowers and even bigger sunflowers.The familiar smell of the Capitol was now permeated by the sweet and grassy smell of the sunflowers.And so too was the air, thick with anticipation, from the minds of the people; each man, woman, young or old.As they all waited eagerly for the Sunflower Festival.-Miriel stood in the plaza with a cloak covering her head.She stared at the merry people crossing and working in the plaza streets, and some near buildings and shops.Some drew, some built, and some made; artworks, decorations and sculptures. And some made scaffoldings, pillars and frames, for the artworks to be displayed and portrayed.Then she turned to look behind her, at the centre of the plaza where a fountain was built.In its place was a mound of steps built of flawless stone blocks that led to a wide platform above. The pale stone blocks glowed as the sunlight fell onto them, brightening the mound and the platform above.Miriel couldn't remember the last time she had seen these sights. Had she ever seen them, even? She didn't remain long enough in the Capitol at her last stay, six years past."Miriel, the mound blocks, can you tell how they differ?" Elle said.She stood beside Miriel, covered in a bright white cape - Miriel's was dark brown - while munching on a cookie."These pastries are marvellous! I should get more after this, and maybe even the recipe.""Your highness." Miriel said, as she stared at Elle."Alright, alright, I shall shy from the recipe. But I will, in turn, order even more cookies." Elle replied.Miriel lightly shook her head."Why, Miriel?" Elle sighed, "Why are you so alike my maids now? Even when we could barely escape their clutches."Right after they arrived in the Capitol, Miriel started helping Elle prepare for the festival. The maids were quite receptive to her, more than she expected. Perhaps she succeeded in silencing the soldiers and knights who followed Elle to Lerkester? The maids showed no signs that they knew what Elle did there. And they would, if they knew.That is, unless they hid them really well.
"You escaped, Elle." Miriel replied, "I was merely dragged along."
After days of discussions and preparations, Elle decided she had enough and snuck out of her palace. Miriel saw her on her way outside - in her white cloak - and tried to bring her back.Elle turned the tables and made Miriel follow her while wearing the brown cloak she brought - likely planning to string Miriel all along."And it might be all the wild ideas I had to quell that gives you that impression." Miriel said."They were fine ideas," Elle said, as she pouted,"Revolutionary, even. Why, they might have overturned all our celebrations henceforth.""The people do not need their spirits shocked out of them, Elle." Miriel said.She winced as she recalled the many unique ideas their unrestrained princess had thought of. Though, the horrifying part was some of Elle's maids agreed with the ideas."That would not happen. At least, not to all of them." Elle said."Anyway, the blocks, Miriel, can you tell?""Differ to what, Elle?" Miriel asked, "To themselves or other blocks?""Both. You may skip other blocks though, the difference is stark." Elle replied.Miriel stared intently at the mound, or rather, at blocks that formed the mound.From where they stood, it seemed like one whole construct. She could not separate one block from the others that flanked it. The most she could, was faintly trace the shapes of the layers of stair-like blocks with her eyes as she stared at them."I cannot see their seams from here. Perhaps we need to be closer." Miriel said."We shall go to check them if you wish. Lead the way." Elle replied.Miriel nodded and walked to the mound, until she stood right in front of the first step.She crouched down and examined the mound, she could not see any seams. Neither were there seams from where the inner end of the first step and the lower end of the second step converged. Nor the second and third."They have no seams, Elle." Miriel stood, staring at the blocks.'How?' Miriel thought. If they were cut then there was bound to be seams, yet she could see none."Correct," Elle bobbed her head,"They are our finest cut blocks yet. Though we owe it more to the stones than our artisans.""They would be sad to hear that, your highness." Miriel replied."So they should. They were so invested with these new stones - when we discovered them - that they spent weeks carving them, shirking all their other quotas.""And were it not worse enough, they cried and begged us not to alter them in any way. Not even to test how they work with mortar.""And this is what we ended up with." Elle sighed."Thankfully, the blocks do pull one another if they meet. Pulling them apart is tougher than placing them together, even without mortar or resin.""And they do look pretty, with how they shine and reflect light, so we decided to use them here. Perhaps that is enough for a respite." Elle said.Miriel eyed the blocks from bottom to top, where the landing was."Are there any other problems with them, Elle?" Miriel asked."The artisans mentioned they part easily when water flows on them," Elle continued,"Which may perhaps be a boon. It never rains on the days of the festival and we shall use water to disassemble it after."They stared at the landing for a while, as the sounds of saws gnawing and hammers striking wood rang in the plaza. And as people chatted and laughed."So, that is where we will be, when the festival starts?" Miriel asked."Is it not wonderful? I can hardly wait for it." Elle replied, with a grin on her face."Atop the landing, that all the people will be watching?" Miriel said."I am certain it will be especially grand this year." Elle said, as she nodded.Miriel silently stared at the mound."Are you worried Miriel?" Elle continued,"Well then, worry not. I have done this for years, so you may rely on me. I shall permit it."Miriel turned her head to Elle."All I must do is play my part and stand, until we depart?""Yes," Elle nodded,"But you forgot the most important part.""Hm?" Miriel tilted her head, as she stared at Elle."Enjoying the sight," Elle giggled, "It will be a waste not to, I will assure you.""If you say so, Elle."Miriel rolled her eyes, and stared at the mound, then at the many people in the plaza."Let us see other parts of the city while we can. My maids will make it twice as arduous to sneak out after today." Elle said.She grabbed Miriel's hand and walked."Okay, Elle. But we must return before nightfall." Miriel said, as she followed."Hopefully, we can." Elle laughed.Miriel sighed and shook her head.They explored much of the city and only returned by sundown.Elle earned a stern earful but Miriel thought the glares she received were much worse.Days after, the Sunflower Festival commenced.