Beatrice did not answer immediately.
Her eyes remained fixed upon the water long after the vision had dissolved.
The basin had already returned to its impossible stillness, reflecting nothing except the silver leaves hanging above it.
Yet she still saw them. Her three little boys who always ran through the palace gardens with scraped knees, fighting over wooden swords, and crying whenever they thought she wasn't looking were now men.
They were now strong enough to command kingdoms, and powerful enough to make armies kneel.
Yet somewhere, they had looked exactly like frightened little boys again.
A tear escaped before she realized she was crying. It struck the enchanted water, and tiny circles spread across the surface.
She slowly straightened.
Her hands trembled so badly she clasped them together in front of herself.
When she finally turned, a woman stood quietly at the entrance to the courtyard.
