Sweet music fills the
air, lofty notes flitting through the airy rooms and halls of the glorious
marble castle, entrancing all who was in earshot into a relaxed and contented
mood. The tropical birds outside the palace joined in the song, singing sweetly
like a chorus to the melodies of the harp that played in the spacious throne
room. Philyra, the youngest princess of the Aerial Isles, plucked at the
strings of her harp, gliding her small fingers gingerly across the strings in a
meditative trance, forming notes into chords, and chords into a melody that
expressed the peace in her heart. Her long brown hair and pink flowing dress waved
with the wind blowing through the open arches of the hall, her soft brown eyes
drifting dreamily from string to string.
The sunlight from the skylights fell on her white skin through the
canopy of tropical leaves. She loved the feeling of peace she got from this
room. The architecture worked with the trees and the animals, taking in the feeling
of tranquility that possessed the island.
The Aerial Isles are
peaceful in themselves. They are home to animals and plants that live in harmony
with the Aerians. Working together, the animals help the humans to find prey in
exchange for shelter and companionship. Plants provide fruits and wood for easy
harvesting in exchange for maintenance by the humans. The weather is always
pleasant. Light showers in the mornings and sunlight in the afternoons, making
rainbows the sign of noon. The surrounding waves never went too high, but were
strong enough to bring in fish for food. The people of Aerial were just as
friendly as the islands themselves. They each do their share of work, keep
themselves as healthy as the islands, and make themselves agreeable to the
other inhabitants to the islands.
The Aerial Isles became
this way hundreds of years ago, during the rule of Queen Alexandra. They were
constantly under siege by pirates and powerful nations looking to add the
string of tropical islands to their empires like an exotic emerald necklace to
an overflowing jewelry box. However, Queen Alexandria had an extraordinary
gift. She could negotiate with the king of the beasts and the spirit of the
trees. How she could do this, no one knew, for she would bar any other human to
join in the conferences between her and the mysterious creatures. Together,
they united to defeat all of the enemies of the isles, soldier mounting jaguar,
sailor riding sharks, trees and shrubs growing into impossible mazes for the
invaders to navigate, and reefs growing into ship sinkers. Eventually, the
Aerial Isles no longer had enemies or empires looking to take their riches.
With time the Aerians faded into legend, a paradise never to be seen, a
civilization never to be contacted. The Aerial Isles became peaceful, but a
military was maintained in the event of an attack.
Philyra meditated on
this history, grateful to Alexandra and her gifts that allowed her to pursue
her love of music instead of hiding in fear of the outside world. A loud clang
and a roar echoed from the corridor leading from the throne room to the
training arena. Philyra’s older sisters filed into the throne room on their
mounts. Medea, the oldest and Crown Princess, rode in on her albino jaguar
mount followed by her five other sisters: Iris, Larissa, Sophelia, Zenia, and
Diana. “Sister dear, care to join us for lunch? I hear the chef has prepared
something special in honor of father’s birthday.” Medea smiled as she extended
her hand as an invitation to join her on her mount.
“Of course I will! I’m
sure father will be excited to see us all for dinner for once!” Usually each
sister was left to her own devices, training, eating, sleeping, learning, and
diverting themselves on their own schedules. However, since today is a special
day, they all thought it would be best to spend time with their father. Philyra
took her sister’s hand and was swung up onto the back of the jaguar. The
sisters brought their mounts to a trot and were at the dining hall within
minutes. “Do you think he’s excited for the feast tonight?” Philyra asked
Medea.
“I don’t know. Father’s
never been one for parties so I guess not, but we can hope he’ll at least have
fun.” Philyra nodded at this, remembering how her father would avoid parties
and festivities as much as he could. He would open and close them but never
attend, unless of course one of his daughters was performing. Each of them had
their talents, Medea was the best fighter, Sophelia was the best singer, Iris
was the best painter, Zenia was the best horseman, Diana was the best archer,
and Philyra was the best musician. However, unlike her sisters, Philyra did not
engage in military affairs, as she was too small and weak to even hold a
shield.
Her thoughts were
broken as they entered the room and saw their father at the head of the table
being served his lunch. “Happy Birthday Father!” they yelled in unison. They
all rushed over to the tall man in shining silver armor sitting at the table.
Before he got swarmed by his daughters, he gathered them all up into one big
hug, forcing giggles and squeals from them. Throughout lunch the girls
chattered excitedly over the evening’s celebrations. Once they finished, they
each went to their separate rooms to prepare for the party. Philyra went to her
room and dressed in her best dress, a white lace gown that fit her just right.
She put her hair up in gold strappings and white flowers.
When she was finished,
she sat down to play the ivory harp kept in her room. Again she lost herself in
the music, thinking of the comfortable stillness she loved so much. The glow of
the sun dimmed as she played, hours passed and it was night. She was still playing
when the trumpet blared and shook her from her stupor.
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