Travel to the Past:
Part One
Willow Serenity tucked a lock of dark red hair behind her ear, sighing as she listened to Professor Tirragen, her history professor, drone on about the shortest war in Tortallan history, which lasted through the winter of 654 and half of 655.
"Many fiefs were affected by this war, short as it was. Thomas, name me some fiefs that encountered troubles!" Willow smiled and looked over at her boyfriend of almost two years, Thomas Beaumont. His family was very high society, living in one of the few houses constructed inside the ancient castle's inner walls. Thomas cleared his throat,
"Danshame, Pirate's Swoop and Irismere were all heavily affected, Professor, simply because they sat in spots crucial to winning the war against Tortall." The Professor nodded,
"Very good, Thomas. Now, we know many things about the fiefs, physically, but what of the people who lived in them, and their lives? How many of you have actually done research on this voluntarily, hm?" Professor Tirragen chuckled lightly as he looked around, the air empty of hands. "Exactly, my students. Your assignment for the next week is to research a noble, which I will assign to you, and write me a two to four page paper on their life, and any connection you may have to them. Now, line up." The class sighed, some groaned, and did as their teacher ordered. The line moved quickly, each student taking their name, reading it apathetically. Thomas took the opportunity to slip into line behind Willow, and clasp his arms around her waist. She smiled and pecked his cheek,
"Hey. Do you have any hopes for who your noble will be?"
"A knight, hopefully! Or someone from my own fief." Willow raised an eyebrow. The last inheritors of the Tortallan fiefs had died long ago. The castles had since began to crumble, and many of the small towns turned into thriving metropolises. Even the Royal Castle in Corus was in poor shape. From her classroom window, Willow could see it, standing regally on the high hill. Flags had not flown over it's many towers for hundreds of years. Tortall had long since had fought many civil wars, democracy prevailing. It was now a President, Congress and Senate that ran the country, not a king and his council. Willow's mind drifted back to reality, she nodded absently at the explanation Thomas had been giving about his supposed family fief.
"Willow Serenity, please step forth." Professor Tirragen said. Willow walked up to her teacher's desk, and accepted a slip of paper. Looking at it, she found the name Ariel Willow Corganne of Runnerspring and Pirate's Swoop written upon it. She smiled a bit,
"Her middle name's Willow..that's neat. And she married into Pirate's Swoop, so maybe the war books will mention her." Willow stuck around for a few moment, waiting for Thomas. He came up to her, a grin on his face.
"Knight! Just like I told you I'd get!" She laughed,
"What's the name?"
"Ian Andrew Corganne of Trebond! Perfect." Willow smiled and kissed his cheek.
"Congratulations, Thom. I'm going to head off to the library. Call me tonight?" He smiled warmly at his girlfriend.
"Of course. Later!" They parted, Willow heading off to begin her research at the largest library in Tortall, which was once the Royal Library of the king.
~*~
Taking a seat with a stack of books, Willow thumbed through the first one, entitled The Noble Life: A Comprehensive Biography. She checked the index and then turned to page 374, where a summary of her noble's life sat on the pages. She began to read.
"Ariel Willow Corganne of Runnerspring and Pirate's Swoop was born Ariel Willow Serenity, on April 22nd, 638 to parents Juliet Olivia and Brion Philip Serenity, the 10th child. At the age of 10, Ariel was admitted into the Royal Tortallan Knight Program, where she excelled quickly in archery. At the age of 14, Ariel became squire to Anthony Cameron Corganne of King's Reach, the bastard son of the Lady, and a very fine knight. For a brief period, Ariel became lovers with Anthony's younger sibling, Marcus Corganne. The relationship was brief, however, for at the age of 16, Marcus Corganne was killed during a routine messenger assignment. At the age of 16, it was made public that Ariel and Anthony had, over the past year, became lovers, and were recently engaged. Ariel earned her shield at the age of 18, and went on to patrol the Tusaine borders for the next two years, while her beloved Anthony was sent to Scanra. Shortly before her 20th birthday, their patrol ended and the couple reunited in Corus, where they were married. Through lineage, Anthony inherited Pirate's Swoop, where they moved to soon after their marriage. Through a past lover, Anthony brought his daughter Kathlyn to the marriage, and together the couple had ten children together, four boys and six girls. Ariel eventually moved back to Corus with her family, as to be closer to those who were now residing at the palace. After her children had all grown up (reached ten years old, that is), Ariel became active again in the knight program, taking up a position as an archery teacher. Ariel lived to the age of 92, and died a beloved mother, wife, knight and teacher. For more information, see Kathlyn Corganne, Lorenzo Corganne, Emmeline Corganne.."
The list of references went on and on. Willow skimmed through them until one caught her attention. Kael Serenity. Willow looked him up next, skimming through his biography until she found something of interest.
At the age of 18, Kael legally adopted his mother's maiden name, Serenity, as his own, as a tribute to his mother.
Willow quickly dug through her stack of books until she found the one entitled Noble Lineage: From 400 to 1000. The year 1000 was only 50 years ago, Willow's grandparents would be listed in this book. She flipped through until finding the Serenity lined. She ran her finger across the page, murmuring to herself.
"Kael married Daria, sons named Kyle, Kael, Anthony..wives..children..Frederick!" On the last rung of the family tree sat the names of Frederick Serenity and his wife Elise, Willow's grandparents. "I'm related to her!" Willow gasped. Quickly she gathered her things and headed down to the musty basement, where the ancient paintings that existed were meticulously cared for. She threw open the large leather-bound book that sat on the table and searched out her ancestor's name. "Row 144.." She murmured to herself, and began searching threw the aisles, eventually recovering several boxes of information. Opening the first one, she carefully drew out the first painting. "Ariel Willow Serenity, age 16.." She read softly to herself. The girl in the picture was sitting atop a gorgeous chestnut mare, sidesaddle. The figure in the portrait donned a dark purple velvet gown, embroidered delicately in silver. Her dark red hair was down and tumbled over her shoulders like two identical waterfalls. She was of obvious small stature - perhaps five feet tall, at most. Willow ran her fingers over the painting.
"She looks like me.." Willow murmured, looking down at her own small size and fingering the dark red hair upon her head that was identical to the young noble's. Placing the portrait down, she pulled the next one out of the box. This one portrayed the same redheaded noble next to another girl who she was obviously very close to. They were both sitting on a stone bench and laughing about some joke or another. Willow smiled and read the name plate tacked to the elaborate frame, "Melusine Desjardins and Ariel Serenity." "Melusine Desjardins.." Willow murmured to herself, and then jotted the name down, resolving to look her up later
Willow looked through the rest of the paintings, which totaled 15 between the two boxes. Five, including the first two, were solo portraits of Ariel, or of Ariel and the other girl together. Another five portraits were of Ariel and who Willow assumed to be her lover and husband, a tall blond man named Anthony Corganne. She noted with a smirk at her own dark attire that he wore all black in every portrait. The last five paintings were what touched Willow the most. They featured the entire Corganne brood - the parents and their ten children. Seven of the children had either pale blond locks like their father, or strawberry blonde. Two girls had gorgeous red manes, just as their mother, and the last small girl had light brown hair, looking slightly out of place among her siblings extraordinary colouring. She smiled and began to put the paintings back, excited to write a report that would ultimately be about her own family.
As Willow placed the painting back into boxes, she noticed a dust-ridden, pocket-sized book in the bottom. Picking it up, she cleaned it with her shirt to reveal bright red leather binding, the symbol of a lioness burned into the leather. Opening the book, she read the title page,
"Numair Salmalin's Journal; An Unauthorized Publication." Willow laughed slightly - this book must be some sort of joke. Numair Salmalin, the great black-robed mage had lived hundreds of years before the time the paintings were from. Curious of what the author had managed to fill the pages with, Willow flipped through. She landed upon a page that read The Time Jumping Spell. Curiously, she sounded out the foreign words, stumbling over them. With a smirk, she waited for something to happen, for bells to ring and a vortex to appear to carry her to a different time or dimension. Nothing happened. Rolling her eyes, Willow set the book down on the table and returned the paintings, oblivious to the fact she had left one, that of Melusine and Ariel at a Midwinter Ball, on the table next to the book. Willow left the library, knowing she would return tomorrow to finish her research, and look up that Melusine girl.
~*~
Willow yawned and let herself into her room. Her school, one of the few private ones that existed in Corus, was also one of the even rarer boarding schools. Reaching for her hat, she realized it was not sitting on her head as she thought it was.
"Damn! I must've left it at the library!" Willow sighed, and pulled her scarf a little bit tighter. The December wind was bone-chilling. She walked the short path back to the library quickly, wishing desperately she had not forgotten her hat. Willow checked the table she had occupied quickly, and upon not finding her beloved hat, headed back down into the cellar. There was a strange aura about the cellar that she didn't remember being there that afternoon. Everything seemed to be almost glowing with a mysterious light.
"It's probably the moon, or something." She told herself, opening the door to the large hall she had been in earlier, and proceeded to gasp, almost screaming.
The glow was coming from this room. The little red leather book, specifically. And her hat was right next to the book. She approached the table cautiously, reaching out for her hat. She successfully snatched it, and turned to bolt when something caught her eye. Within the light core's, in the book, there was an image. But not an image exactly, more like a scene being played out. There were characters in rich clothing moving gracefully through a grand ballroom. A small girl in the corner caught her eye.
"Ariel.." She whispered to herself. On an impulse, Willow reached out to touch the girl, and suddenly found herself falling into the light. She screamed, and shut her eyes tightly.
Part One
Willow Serenity tucked a lock of dark red hair behind her ear, sighing as she listened to Professor Tirragen, her history professor, drone on about the shortest war in Tortallan history, which lasted through the winter of 654 and half of 655.
"Many fiefs were affected by this war, short as it was. Thomas, name me some fiefs that encountered troubles!" Willow smiled and looked over at her boyfriend of almost two years, Thomas Beaumont. His family was very high society, living in one of the few houses constructed inside the ancient castle's inner walls. Thomas cleared his throat,
"Danshame, Pirate's Swoop and Irismere were all heavily affected, Professor, simply because they sat in spots crucial to winning the war against Tortall." The Professor nodded,
"Very good, Thomas. Now, we know many things about the fiefs, physically, but what of the people who lived in them, and their lives? How many of you have actually done research on this voluntarily, hm?" Professor Tirragen chuckled lightly as he looked around, the air empty of hands. "Exactly, my students. Your assignment for the next week is to research a noble, which I will assign to you, and write me a two to four page paper on their life, and any connection you may have to them. Now, line up." The class sighed, some groaned, and did as their teacher ordered. The line moved quickly, each student taking their name, reading it apathetically. Thomas took the opportunity to slip into line behind Willow, and clasp his arms around her waist. She smiled and pecked his cheek,
"Hey. Do you have any hopes for who your noble will be?"
"A knight, hopefully! Or someone from my own fief." Willow raised an eyebrow. The last inheritors of the Tortallan fiefs had died long ago. The castles had since began to crumble, and many of the small towns turned into thriving metropolises. Even the Royal Castle in Corus was in poor shape. From her classroom window, Willow could see it, standing regally on the high hill. Flags had not flown over it's many towers for hundreds of years. Tortall had long since had fought many civil wars, democracy prevailing. It was now a President, Congress and Senate that ran the country, not a king and his council. Willow's mind drifted back to reality, she nodded absently at the explanation Thomas had been giving about his supposed family fief.
"Willow Serenity, please step forth." Professor Tirragen said. Willow walked up to her teacher's desk, and accepted a slip of paper. Looking at it, she found the name Ariel Willow Corganne of Runnerspring and Pirate's Swoop written upon it. She smiled a bit,
"Her middle name's Willow..that's neat. And she married into Pirate's Swoop, so maybe the war books will mention her." Willow stuck around for a few moment, waiting for Thomas. He came up to her, a grin on his face.
"Knight! Just like I told you I'd get!" She laughed,
"What's the name?"
"Ian Andrew Corganne of Trebond! Perfect." Willow smiled and kissed his cheek.
"Congratulations, Thom. I'm going to head off to the library. Call me tonight?" He smiled warmly at his girlfriend.
"Of course. Later!" They parted, Willow heading off to begin her research at the largest library in Tortall, which was once the Royal Library of the king.
~*~
Taking a seat with a stack of books, Willow thumbed through the first one, entitled The Noble Life: A Comprehensive Biography. She checked the index and then turned to page 374, where a summary of her noble's life sat on the pages. She began to read.
"Ariel Willow Corganne of Runnerspring and Pirate's Swoop was born Ariel Willow Serenity, on April 22nd, 638 to parents Juliet Olivia and Brion Philip Serenity, the 10th child. At the age of 10, Ariel was admitted into the Royal Tortallan Knight Program, where she excelled quickly in archery. At the age of 14, Ariel became squire to Anthony Cameron Corganne of King's Reach, the bastard son of the Lady, and a very fine knight. For a brief period, Ariel became lovers with Anthony's younger sibling, Marcus Corganne. The relationship was brief, however, for at the age of 16, Marcus Corganne was killed during a routine messenger assignment. At the age of 16, it was made public that Ariel and Anthony had, over the past year, became lovers, and were recently engaged. Ariel earned her shield at the age of 18, and went on to patrol the Tusaine borders for the next two years, while her beloved Anthony was sent to Scanra. Shortly before her 20th birthday, their patrol ended and the couple reunited in Corus, where they were married. Through lineage, Anthony inherited Pirate's Swoop, where they moved to soon after their marriage. Through a past lover, Anthony brought his daughter Kathlyn to the marriage, and together the couple had ten children together, four boys and six girls. Ariel eventually moved back to Corus with her family, as to be closer to those who were now residing at the palace. After her children had all grown up (reached ten years old, that is), Ariel became active again in the knight program, taking up a position as an archery teacher. Ariel lived to the age of 92, and died a beloved mother, wife, knight and teacher. For more information, see Kathlyn Corganne, Lorenzo Corganne, Emmeline Corganne.."
The list of references went on and on. Willow skimmed through them until one caught her attention. Kael Serenity. Willow looked him up next, skimming through his biography until she found something of interest.
At the age of 18, Kael legally adopted his mother's maiden name, Serenity, as his own, as a tribute to his mother.
Willow quickly dug through her stack of books until she found the one entitled Noble Lineage: From 400 to 1000. The year 1000 was only 50 years ago, Willow's grandparents would be listed in this book. She flipped through until finding the Serenity lined. She ran her finger across the page, murmuring to herself.
"Kael married Daria, sons named Kyle, Kael, Anthony..wives..children..Frederick!" On the last rung of the family tree sat the names of Frederick Serenity and his wife Elise, Willow's grandparents. "I'm related to her!" Willow gasped. Quickly she gathered her things and headed down to the musty basement, where the ancient paintings that existed were meticulously cared for. She threw open the large leather-bound book that sat on the table and searched out her ancestor's name. "Row 144.." She murmured to herself, and began searching threw the aisles, eventually recovering several boxes of information. Opening the first one, she carefully drew out the first painting. "Ariel Willow Serenity, age 16.." She read softly to herself. The girl in the picture was sitting atop a gorgeous chestnut mare, sidesaddle. The figure in the portrait donned a dark purple velvet gown, embroidered delicately in silver. Her dark red hair was down and tumbled over her shoulders like two identical waterfalls. She was of obvious small stature - perhaps five feet tall, at most. Willow ran her fingers over the painting.
"She looks like me.." Willow murmured, looking down at her own small size and fingering the dark red hair upon her head that was identical to the young noble's. Placing the portrait down, she pulled the next one out of the box. This one portrayed the same redheaded noble next to another girl who she was obviously very close to. They were both sitting on a stone bench and laughing about some joke or another. Willow smiled and read the name plate tacked to the elaborate frame, "Melusine Desjardins and Ariel Serenity." "Melusine Desjardins.." Willow murmured to herself, and then jotted the name down, resolving to look her up later
Willow looked through the rest of the paintings, which totaled 15 between the two boxes. Five, including the first two, were solo portraits of Ariel, or of Ariel and the other girl together. Another five portraits were of Ariel and who Willow assumed to be her lover and husband, a tall blond man named Anthony Corganne. She noted with a smirk at her own dark attire that he wore all black in every portrait. The last five paintings were what touched Willow the most. They featured the entire Corganne brood - the parents and their ten children. Seven of the children had either pale blond locks like their father, or strawberry blonde. Two girls had gorgeous red manes, just as their mother, and the last small girl had light brown hair, looking slightly out of place among her siblings extraordinary colouring. She smiled and began to put the paintings back, excited to write a report that would ultimately be about her own family.
As Willow placed the painting back into boxes, she noticed a dust-ridden, pocket-sized book in the bottom. Picking it up, she cleaned it with her shirt to reveal bright red leather binding, the symbol of a lioness burned into the leather. Opening the book, she read the title page,
"Numair Salmalin's Journal; An Unauthorized Publication." Willow laughed slightly - this book must be some sort of joke. Numair Salmalin, the great black-robed mage had lived hundreds of years before the time the paintings were from. Curious of what the author had managed to fill the pages with, Willow flipped through. She landed upon a page that read The Time Jumping Spell. Curiously, she sounded out the foreign words, stumbling over them. With a smirk, she waited for something to happen, for bells to ring and a vortex to appear to carry her to a different time or dimension. Nothing happened. Rolling her eyes, Willow set the book down on the table and returned the paintings, oblivious to the fact she had left one, that of Melusine and Ariel at a Midwinter Ball, on the table next to the book. Willow left the library, knowing she would return tomorrow to finish her research, and look up that Melusine girl.
~*~
Willow yawned and let herself into her room. Her school, one of the few private ones that existed in Corus, was also one of the even rarer boarding schools. Reaching for her hat, she realized it was not sitting on her head as she thought it was.
"Damn! I must've left it at the library!" Willow sighed, and pulled her scarf a little bit tighter. The December wind was bone-chilling. She walked the short path back to the library quickly, wishing desperately she had not forgotten her hat. Willow checked the table she had occupied quickly, and upon not finding her beloved hat, headed back down into the cellar. There was a strange aura about the cellar that she didn't remember being there that afternoon. Everything seemed to be almost glowing with a mysterious light.
"It's probably the moon, or something." She told herself, opening the door to the large hall she had been in earlier, and proceeded to gasp, almost screaming.
The glow was coming from this room. The little red leather book, specifically. And her hat was right next to the book. She approached the table cautiously, reaching out for her hat. She successfully snatched it, and turned to bolt when something caught her eye. Within the light core's, in the book, there was an image. But not an image exactly, more like a scene being played out. There were characters in rich clothing moving gracefully through a grand ballroom. A small girl in the corner caught her eye.
"Ariel.." She whispered to herself. On an impulse, Willow reached out to touch the girl, and suddenly found herself falling into the light. She screamed, and shut her eyes tightly.