When we arrived in Ayortha, there was a slight celebration. There were people infront of the castle welcoming us with smiles. I looked out the window. I could see some familiar faces. Aunt Areida was infront of them, with a wide smile. Her sister, Aunt Isti, was beside her. There were many other people. My family was rather popular in Ayortha, mainly because Mother was close to their queen, and that she was friends with many commoners. When mother and I stepped out of the carriage, they all burst into a homecoming song.
Oak, graniteLilies by the road,
Remember me?
I remember you.
Clouds brushing
Clover hills,
Remember me?
Sister, child,
Grown tall,
Remember me?
I remember you.
In my mind
I see you
In your mind,
Do you see me?
Remember me?
I've come back
To this place.
I hope you do.
Mother and Father softly followed the song. They were smiling at each other, sharing a clandestine memory of long ago. Their love was so strong and everlasting. They were the constant reminder of my lacking in love. I've never been in love and seeing them made me wish I already had. But then, I shouldn't rush it. I might just regret it!
"Elle!"
Aunt Areida pushed through the crowd and welcomed my mother with open arms. She was a pretty lady with dark hair and amber skin. She always looked happy with her lips that curved up naturally. I glanced at Aunt Isti, her older sister. She did not share the facial gifts of her sister, but her eyes had a spark that made her compelling.
Father was bowing to them. I curtsied. I was aware of all the eyes on me. Aunt Isti turned her attention to my father, and engaged him in a conversation. I backed away, knowing that I was just a hindrance.
Aunt Areida turned their attention to me.
"Oh, Catleya!" she cried. She hugged. "How much you've grown in five years! I barely recognized you!"
I smiled. "I haven't changed Aunt Areida."
She frowned slightly. "Well, I don't want a little brat now, do I?" she told me teasingly.
Suddenly, the crowd parted and there were their Royal Highnesses. King Orono, Queen Vanessa, Prince Ettore, and Princess Adara. King Orono was shorter than Father, with chestnut hair and hazel eyes. Queen Vanessa was truly very lovely. Ever since she was thirteen, everybody regarded her as beautiful. When she was still a baby, everyone predicted she would be so. She had black hair and blue eyes. But the blue of her eyes were not of the ordinary. Her eyes were like the summer sky, cloudless and bright. Prince Ettore was just the same age as I was. Princess Adara was younger than me by two years. They were also the younger versions of their father with the chestnut hair and hazel eyes.
Father, Uncle Orono, and Prince Ettore bowed to each other, while Mother, Aunt Vanessa, Adara, and myself curtsied. When Vanessa laid her eyes on me, I saw her mouth open slightly. Ettore and Adara were ogling at me. What was their problem?
Uncle Orono, Aunt Vanessa, Ettore, and Adara acknowledged Aunt Areida and Aunt Isti's presence with a nod. To some it might seem a bit distant and rude because Aunt Areida was close to Aunt Vanessa because of Mother. In fact, this was the way Ayorthaian nobles greeted anybody. Since they did not speak much, they didn't also have ostentatious gestures.
Aunt Vanessa was not an Ayorthaian and grew up in Erima, a place with rather chatty citizens. I knew that she was particularly vexed with this etiquette but she was queen and she should be the paragon of Ayorthaian culture. But behind closed doors, she was a talking maniac, babbling and rambling about everything under the sun. She only did this when no one was looking and when her companions were those who knew her. Tristan was different. Though he was raised in Ayortha, he was as talkative as his mother. And he didn't care if anybody saw him.
Uncle Orono was the prince of Ayortha before, and he had been as silent as a mouse since the day he was born. But then, he opened his mouth when he met Vanessa. He loved her so much that he broke the rules of noble Ayorthaian conformity and chatted until dawn for her. When they were married, Uncle Orono and Aunt Vanessa realized that they couldn't keep on talking because the whole court didn't talk. And when they were king and queen, they realized also that they should be like the unspeaking nobles of the Ayorthaian court. But I had a feeling that they spoke a great deal when no one was paying attention.
The reason why I bore feelings close to indifference towards Ettore and Adara was because they were as docile as sheep and as quite as the soft breeze. I remember myself screaming at them, telling that children were supposed to be noisy and energetic, but they just nodded and said like any other Ayorthaian noble, "By your leave." I had given up on them. Tristan was boisterous and kept on annoying me. That was why I hated him.
I could see Aunt Vanessa's mouth twitching. I knew she was trying hard not to burst into prattle. She smiled courteously and with a look to her family, led us all to the castle. There were already nobles awaiting our arrival. They bowed and nodded. Some were saying, "Welcome" in inaudible tones. Some opened their mouths but nothing came out. My parents were already used to this etiquette and returned their bows and nods. I copied them.
We were showed to our rooms. I was separated with Father and Mother, but Father whispered to my ear that we would meet again in dinner time. I was pushed to the room and Aunt Vanessa followed.
The bedroom was a blend of oranges and yellows, giving it a sunny atmosphere. The four-poster bed was dressed with yellow covers trimmed with lace. Closer inspection revealed an intricate embroidery of orange blossoms. The side table to the right of the bed had a copper candleholder with amber stones hanging from it. At the other side table to the left had a crystal vase with yellow daffodils, baby's breath, and yellow daisies. The room was the same room Tristan had polluted with muck. My eyebrows raised with the coming of that vile memory. Behind me, I heard Aunt Vanessa sigh.
"Dear, dear, I think my tongue is rotting with the silence!" she said. She glanced at me and smiled. "Catleya. When I last saw you as a child, a mere girl of eleven years, I thought, this girl will not grow up to be beautiful. But look at you! Of course, I simply could not believe the rumors coming from Kyrria, that you were the flower of the court! Remember, when you were still ten and you visited us? Someone told me you would be more beautiful than I, and I shunned you! But I must admit she was almost right. You are beautiful but not as beautiful as I." She said this all in one breath. She suddenly circled me with a analyzing eye. "You are enviable, Catleya."
Of course, by now anybody would be wondering why I considered myself overshadowed when the most beautiful lady of Ayortha was telling me I was enviable. No, I was still overshadowed even though I shone out like a jewel among rocks in a ball where beauty was important. I found this irrelevant to the matter. What was the point of being known as beautiful when you have nothing else to boast off? Father was handsome and boasted of great power and just. Mother was beautiful and she boasted to linguistics and charm. Owen was handsome and boasted of valiance and cleverness. I might be intelligent but not a lot knew that. There was nothing I could boast off aside from rebelliousness and beauty, and this I didn't like. I supposed that maybe my face overshadowed my other qualities, and since my other qualities was outshone by it, I was easily overshadowed by my family's accomplishments. I might not be to other people, but I was to myself.
"I am not enviable," I told her. "Aunt Vanessa, I am just a princess, nothing more."
Aunt Vanessa smirked. "Say what you want but I personally think you are. And now, since you're older," her eyes gleamed mischievously as she spoke, "I can now do many more things to you."
I frowned. She played with me when I was still eleven, treating me as if I was already twenty. She dressed me up in voluminous gowns and almost painted my face. I was still eleven. Now that I was sixteen, who knows what else she would subject upon me?
"I am not a little girl anymore."
"Ah yes, but you're a lady now. But our game is for ladies!" She closed in on me. I could feel my heart quicken. "We could start with your hair. Why do you leave your wavy hair down with no such ornaments and curls? Or maybe not your hair…" She paused to think. "Why not your clothing? You look so simple in that gown!"
I automatically looked at my gown. It was a simple gown, yes, but it suited my tastes. It was simply green with yellow flowers embroidered at the hems. I liked wearing this because the petticoats were not an obstruction to your walking. Besides, the material was cool and soft.
"I feel that this gown is suited for the occasion." Which was true because traveling was tedious. I would not be found traveling many miles to a new kingdom wearing gowns that should be in a ball.
Aunt Vanessa sighed. "Well, you are now a lady and capable of making her own decisions. But tomorrow I will dress you up. Tomorrow is the ball so I would want you to be my masterpiece."
I curtsied. "It would be my pleasure." But it was not. It was only a reply of courtesy. I was living in her own castle and she could easily throw me out just as easily as she let me in. I was kind of afraid of her "masterpiece." She would go through lengths for this, I knew.
She smiled. "I'm so happy that Tristan will be returning."
I didn't say anything. She gestured to the window seat to the left. She sat down on it and I followed. If I opened my mouth, I would probably tell her that her son was a moron who had better luck in getting lost than returning.
Her blue eyes were looking at me. "I'm not daft Catleya. I know that you dislike my son."
"I don't dislike him. Why should I?" Liar.
She was actually smiling. "I know that he dumped manure all over this room just to annoy you. And I know you punched him in the nose. I know you two are at each other's throats since the day you met. Well, there's nothing I can do about it."
"I didn't mean to hate him. And if it displeases you, I could try not to feel so strongly against him."
Aunt Vanessa laughed. "No, no!" she said in her musical voice. "I don't want you doing that. He doesn't like you and you don't like him, and that's fine with me. Actually, watching the two of you battle each other is rather entertaining."
Then suddenly she was serious. "But I know that Tristan and yourself had changed in five years. I know that he is the young man he should be and you are the young lady that you should be."
"What's your point?" I blurted out.
Aunt Vanessa ignored my impoliteness. "So don't expect me to tolerate public acts of hatred. But I will miss that…"
"When will he arrive?" I asked.
"Today or tomorrow. He left the kingdom of Keneisa five days ago. He wrote to me. He should be back by now or tomorrow."
When she left, I decided to enjoy my temporary solitude. As I was still sitting at the window seat, I glanced out the window. My view was the rooftops of Iswi. Iswi was the capital city of Ayortha, as Frell was the capital city of Kyrria. The castle of Ayortha was in Iswi while the castle of Kyrria was in Frell.
It made me wonder what Tristan was doing in Keneisa when two years ago Ayortha and Keneisa had a feud about a certain city, Teleme. It was once an ignored settlement until a healthy supply of mining areas was discovered. It was located near Fens, Ayortha, and Keneisa. Since the ogres want nothing to do with Teleme, Ayortha and Keneisa were arguing over a place. Sure, the discoverers of Teleme should have a say on this but they were arguing to. The discoverers were Ayorthaian and Keneisan. Their feud was harmful to the alliance of the three kingdoms: Ayortha, Keneisa, and Kyrria. Our kingdom had to interfere to resolve it.
Father and Mother were too busy with our own problems so they sent my brother Owen along with the ambassador of Kyrria. He was still seventeen at that time. Owen suggested that the two kingdoms receive equal portions of the mining. It was compromised and soon accepted. The fact that he was seventeen and that he made two kingdoms reach an agreement was exceptional.
Tristan must have traveled there so then Ayortha and Keneisa would have a nice interaction.
Speaking of traveling, I knew that I would have to stay in the Ayorthaian court soon. When Mother became twenty, she was sent to Ayortha for a year. Father said she came home frustrated. She kept on rambling about the noise in Ayortha. Mother couldn't stand too much silence. Father stayed in Ayortha for a year when he turned seventeen. He wrote to my mother that in an Ayorthaian council, the fly was the noisiest member. Owen stayed when he turned seventeen too. He wrote me letters. He said that Ayorthaians were unreasonably quiet. I knew they were but even though it was utterly and unquestionably unreasonable, there was actually a reason behind it.
Ayorthaians believed that if there was too much of something, one shouldn't add to it. It was a tenet of one of the Ayorthaians' cherished philosopher Aquila. The tenet itself which was, and I quote, "Too much is too much. One mustn't add to it" was reasonable enough. It should be followed on certain circumstances. For example the trash problem in Fens. The waste in Fens were scattered all over because ogres were naturally boorish. Thus, we non-ogres should not add up to the pollution. Unfortunately and apparently, he spent time in the courts of Ayortha, found it unbearably noisy, and decided to spread the word of silence. It happened nearly centuries ago, a time when people were gullible enough to believe that silence would do a great difference.
Ayorthaian nobles decided that their court was too noisy so they ceased speaking altogether. Their balls and celebration compensated to their silence. The events were musical and lively. The monthly sings were the highlights. The whole populace knew every song in Ayortha and their voices were divine. I knew half the songs they sing and could easily sing with them.
"Eremi orwo ehthe usensa odono adda iti" or "If there is too much, do not add to it." People said that it was a pertinent saying in our world but to be frank, I believed that Aquila only said this to make the once noisy Ayorthaians shut up. At least they still sang.
I averted my attention to the sun. I remembered a paean to the noon sun. There were for paeans just for the sun. The rising sun, the morning sun, the noon sun, and the setting sun.
I sang suddenly.
Watch for me
Noon sun
Shine for me
Noon sun
Brighten my day
Noon sun
Shower me with your rays
As rain showers me with drops
Give life to my garden
Give light to my surroundings
I will watch until you set
And when you do
I will sing for you once again
Noon sun
It was a beautiful song but it was more beautiful when sung by an Ayorthaian. Singing was already part of their system. An Ayorthaian was not an Ayorthaian if his or her voice was out of tune. Songs were included in their way of life. Singing before meals, singing while working. Instead of communal dances, they had communal sings. They would sing in the plaza every noon for the noon sun.
Songs that date back to centuries ago was greatly associated with the environment. Ayortha was a place rich of lush array of flora and fauna. The Ayorthaians of long ago greatly revered nature. Songs were also related to emotions and feelings. There were many ballads about first love, infinite love, broken hearts, and lovers apart. There were funny songs, parables that were turned into songs. Fable songs were also popular among parents who sung this to their children. The songs were also about life and death. Their songs were not only for leisure and entertainment. It was their culture and it revealed much about Ayorthaian beliefs.
One day you were beside me
Now you are gone.
Oh how could fate
Tear us bitterly apart?
I try not to believe it
But how can I not
When the truth is in front me
Calling my attention
And unveiling the reality of your demise?
You walk away
Leaving me behind
How could this happen,
This terrible consequence of living?
I could have given my own
Just for you.
I could have entered that realm
With your hand in mine.
And now I am desolate
Alone in a world of fear
Without your love
I am a hallow shell
But you will be sad
If I were to waste away
So until I see you again
I will stand strong
Awaiting the day
When I myself will walk away
And taste the fate that we all accept.
Mother hated this song. It was too depressing. Father respected this song because it meant a lot. Owen shared Father's insight about the song. They both believed that it unfurled the truth in an artistic and subtle way. As for me, I appreciated the song as an Ayorthaian classic. It actually meant a lot too, psychologically. It showed that a person undergoes stages when faced with death: denial, anger, bargaining, and desolation. But there was a positive insight in this song. But you will be sad/If I were to waste away/So until I see you again/I will stand strong. It said that your loved one would not want you to live a life of mourning and melancholy because of his or her death.
My musings could be so boring sometimes.
Suddenly, there was a painful jolt in my left ring finger. I cried in surprise. Then I was in this world of suspended motion and hazy images. A horse was falling. A piercing scream cut through the air. A menacing growl was right behind me. There was the sound of sword colliding with sword. Then there was wetness…red…red…blood. It was in my hands, slipping through my fingertips and dropping on the ground.
Blood was contradictory. It both meant life and death. If it flowed in you, it meant life. If it flowed out of you, it meant death.
But the blood in my hands felt as if it were mine.
Tears were streaming down my face as I felt a gush of powerful emotions. Fear, anger, concern…
The blood was so red, so real…
Then I saw only darkness.
~*~
I had fainted. I was lying on the floor near the window seat. I tried to stand up and my legs refused. I lied down on the floor staring at the ceiling. I was suddenly worried for my sanity.
It all seemed real. I looked at my hands and saw no blood. My eyes noticed the silver band with a small emerald. The ring Lucinda gave me. I stared at it closely. It was strange. I realized only now that I had worn this all my life yet it never felt tight or uncomfortable. I took it off. I observed it more closely. Words were engraved in the inside of the band.
Féséia ronhé limaña
I scanned my brain for what possible language it could be. It was certainly not Kyrrian, Ayorthaian, Ogrese, Elfian, Gnomic, or Abdegi. I was well acquainted with Kenesa, Keneisa's language, and this was certainly not it. All the other languages I knew was not this. I squinted, making sure I was reading right. But I was reading right. Féséia ronhé limaña, it said.
I placed it back on my finger.
Before my illusions happened, I felt pain in the exact same finger. It seemed so real…
My sanity must be fading away. Reading books must have taken its toll in me. Now I was having feverish imaginings that seemed so real. I had seen the horse fall. I had heard the piercing scream. The growl was resonating in my ear. I still heard the swords.
My face felt pale and cold. The tears that fell were icy against my cheeks. My legs were now feeling cooperative and I was able to stand up. I was still slightly wobbly. I breathed hard. My head was screaming a migraine. I decided to go to the gardens. I needed a breath of fresh air.
My mind was still whirling with thoughts and memories of a few minutes ago, so I decided to avert my mind to other trivial matters. I settled on thinking about the gardens. It would be easier since I was surrounded by it.
The royal gardens were taken care of at a great extent. The flowers were in patterns. The boxed hedges were perfect. There was not a sight of weed in any other area of the gardens. There were many gardens with corresponding names: Rose Garden, Lily Garden, Lotus garden, Daisy garden, Tulip Garden, Forget-Me-Not Garden, Orchid garden, and other such gardens bearing the names of the principal flowers found there. I decided to look at the Orchid Garden and look for a cattleya.
Cattleya was actually a breed of orchid. It varied from different colors. Pink, red, orange, yellow, white, purple. Father and Mother didn't like the extra t so they removed it and made it my name: Catleya, without the two ts.
I walked along the cobblestone paths and bougainvillea filled archways. The bougainvilleas were laden with violet, white, magenta, and pink flowers. The cobblestone path led to a fork, and I saw a sign. "Elfte: Oeso Ardina, Irheti: Irdomi Ardina," it said. It was Ayorthaian for "Left: Rose Garden, Right: Orchid Garden." Of course, I took the right path. In no time, I was standing underneath an arch with orchids hanging above it. I was in my intended destination. There were many orchids and I looked at each one. I came across a exquisite orchid. It was white in the inside part of the flower, ending in pale pinks and dark violets. It was a cattleya. I wanted so much to pluck it out and put it in a vase, but I knew that it would be more appreciated as a flower attached to a plant rather than to a bottle.
"Cattleya…" someone behind me said. I turned around. I thought I was called by my name then I realized that it was the flower the person was referring to.
It was a young man with black hair and blue eyes. The blue of his eyes was like the sky above us, bright and pure. He was grinning. Somehow, he looked familiar, but none of my thoughts would settle. I was rather enraged because of his intrusion but then, I had to be taken back. He was handsome. I was not one of those ladies who giggled flirtatiously, batted their eyelashes furiously, and ogled openly towards men they favored. I preferred to hide my own emotions. I actually surprised myself by actually wanting to know this person who just spoke one word to me. Despite this, I was still annoyed.
"Yes, the cattleya," I replied with a hint of irritation.
He nodded. "It's a very beautiful flower. Although not a lot of people know about it." I knew right then that he wasn't an Ayorthaian noble. He spoke too much. But he couldn't be a commoner because his clothes were rich. I could be the one mistaken to be a commoner in my simple frock.
"Not a lot of people know about it because we all classify orchids as orchids, nothing more," I told him.
He smiled. "I don't suppose you classify orchids as merely orchids. If you do, then you might have looked up at me and said, 'What are cattleyas?'"
To my surprise, I laughed. "Well, I'm not exactly stupid. And I don't suppose you are too."
"I'm not," he said with a laugh. "But I haven't seen this garden for a long time now."
"Traveling, am I right?" He nodded. "People travel a lot these days. Actually—" I never got to finish my sentence because Mother and Aunt Vanessa came into the garden. Both were taking big steps and their hands were on their hips.
Exasperation was in Mother's eyes. "Why didn't you respond to my call?" she demanded. "I called for you some minutes ago but you didn't come down!"
I couldn't exactly say that I fainted. If I did, Mother would go ballistic. "I was asleep," I replied.
"Asleep?" Mother repeated incredulously. "No one sleeps in the middle of the day!"
"I sleep in the middle of the day," I protested. I ignored Mother rambling and noticed that Aunt Vanessa was also speaking with the young man.
When I looked, I realized that each bore a resemblance of each other.
"What were you doing wandering about? You're suppose to be in one place waiting for me!" she shrilled.
"You didn't say anything about that," he replied. "I just arrived from a tedious travel and now you are nagging me."
Suddenly, Aunt Vanessa's eyes swept up to me and Mother's eyes swept up to my companion. The two of them were surprised. They looked at each other with confused faces.
"Do you two know each other?" Aunt Vanessa asked.
The young man answered, "We just met, actually." I nodded.
The of them apparently knew something that we didn't know. Mother was smiling amusedly. "My goodness I simply cannot believe that you two just met."
Aunt Vanessa was now smiling too. "Ah yes…!"
Mother grabbed my shoulders and faced me to the young man. Aunt Vanessa was also holding him in the shoulders and facing him to me.
"Son," Aunt Vanessa started. Son? My jaw dropped. "This is Catleya of Kyrria."
"Daughter," Mother said. At the word daughter, the young man's face was also like mine: surprised. "This is Tristan of Ayortha."
I looked at him and he looked at me. I knew he was also analyzing the occurrence right now. He was probably wondering, No, this cannot be Catleya, the scrawny wench who punched me in the nose! Well, I was thinking about something too. He couldn't be Tristan. Tristan was a short annoying imp who could only formulate sentences to insult people. This young man was tall and lean. Tristan had an irritating mask instead of a face. This young man had handsome features that bore no resemblance to the boy I knew. But then…those eyes…
I curtsied. "Pleased to be of your acquaintance again, Prince Tristan," I said. Deep inside, I was screaming. This could not be the boy that used to invoke murderous thoughts! But I had to face the truth. This was him.
He bowed. "Delighted to meet you once more, Princess Catleya." The eyes were the mirror to the soul, and in his eyes I could see horror, shock, and actual delight. I noticed him looking at me, up and down. He must be wondering whether I was an imposter or not.
I could say that our emotions right now were mimetic to each other. We were both surprised and horrified that our nemesis was transformed into another person.
Years before
Children playing
Years after
Adults talking
We've changed
From children
To adults
Days later
Who knows?
~*~
I hope this chapter answered some questions! ÜÜÜ
Ok, so Tristan's there…uh huh…so what should you expect?
Please do not expect any grotesque images of the two of them trying to kill each other!
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Although it would sound nice…
Ehehehe…
Well, OBVIOUSLY I got the homecoming song from the book but I added some parts
It sounded incomplete…
And the other unfamiliar songs are made by me…
Yes, I'm not a great POET but deal with it…
And the weird language that no one happens to understand,
Is made up by me!!! Of course!!!!
What's it called, you'll know in the other chapters…mwahaha…right, like I'll tell that important detail!!!
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I plan to put more background on the world of Ella.
I realized that the original didn't give much information about the culture, situation, society, etc.
So I decided to make up stuff!
And since we're dealing with an intelligent character, it would be easy to add the inventions there.
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Oki…Claidi's shutting up now…
But thank you so much to the reviewers!!! And thanks for the constructive criticisms!!
I promise to do my VERY best in this fic
Because I want it to sound more serious and mature
Than What If.
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And remember! SMILE!!!
And by the way, it's Cat-LEI-Ya
Or at least that's how I pronounce it… ÜÜÜÜÜÜÜ