FINAL PART: THE SINGING PRINCESS

The singing princess

The princess was very short and had long, honey-coloured hair. Her eyes were made of amber and when she blinked, her long eye-lashes made a jingly sound. It was a pleasing sound, which accompanied the songs she sang constantly. She was called Velvet and came from a land far away, beyond the seven seas. There, her father was the king of the kings of the Melody-reigns. She was his only daughter after 7 sons and had been chosen to marry the Prince of Silencia. This marriage was an attempt to avoid war between Silencia and Melodia, where Velvet had grown up. In Melodia everybody sang. Always. The whole kingdom was filled with music. Their songs filled the air and coloured their lives. If someone stopped singing, everyone knew it was the end. 

On her 16th birthday her new life would begin. Velvet loved her father and knew she had no choice if she wanted to save Melodia. She travelled the seven seas and married the Prince of Silencia called Tempestus. She went to live with him in a huge castle full of chambers and servants. If she thought of eating something, the servants came to her bringing her plates full of delicious cakes, fruits, pastries...more than she could have ever imagined. Her chamber was wonderfully decorated and she had the biggest and most comfortable bed of all kingdoms. Velvet got one gift for each day of the year. Tempestus made her unwrap it in the big hall, which was full of mirrors. When she opened her gifts in the mornings, during a neverending breakfast, the reflection in the mirrors made it look like if there were thousands of gifts! 

This was her life in the castle of Silencia. It could have been perfect. Our singing princess had everything. More than she had dreamed of. But there was one thing she was strictly forbidden to do: On her wedding day she had sworn to never ever sing anymore. It was forbidden and there was a death sentence in Silencia for any person who dared to sing. Our singing princess from Melodia had to keep her songs inside her. Whenever she felt the pressure on her voice, her heartbeat hasten, her whole body itching, she had to bite the golden amulet her father had given to her.  King Chanson of the Melody-reigns knew it would be hard. He knew his little princess would suffer, and had given her this golden amulet to protect her. She bit it as hard as she could so her songs wouldn’t leave her. 

That’s how Velvet lived, day after day, unwrapping gifts, keeping her songs inside. She felt more and more depressed and soon she couldn’t stop biting her amulet. She always kept it between her lips. She stopped eating regularly because she didn’t want to put the amulet away. She just couldn’t. Her eye-lashes stopped jingling and the singing princess went mute. She stopped speaking. In Silencia, nobody noticed that the princess had become mute. 

One day she decided to walk through the countryside to see some birds. Not even the birds sang in Silencia but they reminded her of her homeland. She walked through the woods and across the fields, breathing fresh air and dreaming of songs, when she suddenly actually heard a song. A SONG? In Silencia? Velvet was amazed by the sound and followed the melody. A young man sitting under a tree was singing the most beautiful song she had ever heard. Velvet got scared immediately. Soon the guards would come and get him. He would be sentenced to death! She couldn’t let this happen...When she came closer she took away the amulet she kept between her lips and asked the man what he was doing. 

“I’m singing”. 

“Singing is forbidden.”

“I know.”

“Do you want to die?”

“No, I want to sing.”

She just couldn’t believe he was singing. Didn’t he care about death? Was this man out of his mind? 

“Well, young man. I hope you don’t think I could save you from the guards, just because I’m the princess.”

“Of course not, my Lady. I wouldn’t dare expecting anything from you. With all my respect. I just come here everyday and sing.”  

Confused, she listened a while to his melodies about love, freedom and happiness. Apprehensive, looking to the horizon waiting for the guards, the little princess was sad and happy altogether. What would happen to this man? Velvet got carried away and suddenly she stopped worrying, sat down on the meadow and enjoyed the stranger’s songs. After quite too long time for a Princess sitting on the grass listening to a stranger’s songs, she asked him: 

“How come, nobody came to punish you?”

“They can’t hear us. It’s too far away. They’re no good listeners. Here you can sing. Nothing will happen.” 

She looked at his eyes that were green like the lawn far away in her homeland where she had used to run barefoot chasing birds and butterflies. Who was this courageous stranger that dared singing in Silencia? His songs were sweet like honey and had warmed her heart. His melodies had brought memories back she had buried deep inside. Memories of songs, smiles and easiness. Suddenly Velvet felt strong again.

After having met the singing stranger she couldn’t stop thinking about what had happened. He said under that tree nobody could hear him singing. Was he right? Could she go there, and sing, too? Could she finally release her songs? Free her voice? Stop biting her golden amulet? 

After a couple of days she decided to go back there again and talk to the stranger. She walked through the woods and across the fields, breathing fresh air and dreaming of songs, the courageous stranger had sung. When she came close she saw him sitting under the tree. He was humming a cheerful melody. 

“ Good morning, my dear Princess.”

“ Good morning.” 

She sat down and listened to him singing. He didn’t ask her anything, neither was he afraid of her. He just sat there and sang. They talked and she found out his name was Ventus and he was a peasant from a tiny village nearby. 

After a couple of songs she started humming lowly. His smile encouraged her and she got louder and louder. Her breast filled with fresh air and her eyes sparkling again, she started singing from the depth of heart. Her breathing got heavier and Velvet looked Ventus in his green eyes, as if it was her last moment in life. They sang the same song, as if they had sung it together a thousand times before. She felt freedom. If she would have to die, at least she would die singing, she thought. 

But they didn’t die. It got dusk and she hurried back to the castle, promising to meet Ventus again the next day. She did. For seven days. They met and sang together. It felt like flying away. It felt like breathing the whole sky. It felt like love. She loved him and it hurt so much. She was married to the Prince of Silencia. How could she love someone else? Fact is, she had never loved someone like she loved Ventus. On the seventh day she had made up her mind. They would flee. They would run. To a place nobody would find them. She talked to him and they planned their escape. She would take everything of value, dress like a peasant and meet him under that tree. They would run far away to the coast, get a ship and cross the seas to get to a place nobody knew her. He had nothing to lose and everything to win. She had everything to lose and happiness to win. Tempestus would go mad. He would search the whole realm after her. She didn’t care. She had tasted love and freedom and would go after it. Our sweet, little princess had found her voice anew. Nobody would make her shut up again. She had broken her silence and chosen happiness. 

On the day of her escape she unwrapped her gift in the mirror room, like she always did. She thanked Tempestus for the diamonds and he went off, to reign his realm. Velvet hurried to her bedroom, packed all her jewelry and put on a frugal, brown dress. If she was going to flee, she couldn’t walk around the country like a princess, right?  Velvet covered the dress with a beautiful silver coat, carefully embroidered with little birds and flowers, so the servants wouldn’t get suspicious. She took her small bag full of things, her golden amulet (which she hadn’t been using a lot) and went off to meet Ventus. Velvet ran across the field to meet him at the tree, like they had promised each other. 

When she arrived, he wasn’t there. A dreadful fear overcame her. What had happened? Where was he? He wouldn’t let her down! She was sure he would never let her down...Would he?  Why wasn’t he there? She sat down under the tree, that had offered them shadow during seven amazing afternoons. She sat there with her sack of jewelry and her silver coat shining in the sunlight. A sad sparkling silent Princess. What would she do now? Wait for him? Go back to the castle? She waited and waited. It was getting dusk and Ventus hadn’t come. No message. No hope? The sad Princess went back to the castle. Her bitter tears covered her peach-coloured skin and made her face shimmer like a full moon. She didn’t know what to do. 

Fortunatelly Tempestus had gone hunting and would be back very late, so he wouldn’t see her devastated and demand an explanation. What was the explanation anyway? Velvet had no strength to think about anything. She threw herself on her enormous bed and fell asleep immediately. In the night she had a dream of Ventus singing. He sang such a sorrowful song that the Princess woke up and felt miserable. Sweating and breathing heavily she tried to remember what had happened. Her nightmare had frightened her and suddenly...Nightmare? She was awake and could still hear Ventus singing his sad song! Was the little Pincess losing her mind? Where did this voice come from? Someone singing inside the Castle of Silencia? Impossible! No one would dare singing here. No one, except...?! Velvet jumped off her bed, put on her coat and hurried to the neverending hallways of her castle. Following the melody in the dark, her heart was beating in a dangerous pace. Ventus! Where was he? The Pincess followed the voice and the closer she came to the dungeons the eerier she got. She went down the dungeons and the voice got louder and louder. She knew it was him. She realised he was captured. There were seven cells in the dungeons, old, cold, moulded cells tu put in whoever Tempestus decided to. He had decided. Velvet came closer. There he was. Sitting in a cell singing a sorrowful song about two lovers that were sentenced to death. 

Ventus! 

She kneeled down in front of the bars. It was so cold and dark there, she could barely see his face. What had happened? How come he was there? Who had caught him? Ventus! He came closer and held her hands. The song stopped. 

“My dear Princess. My love. I’m so sorry.” 

“What happened?”

“They came to my house and took me. They burned my house down and threw me in this cell. There was no way to warn you. Please forgive me.”

“Who took you?”    

“Tempestus.”

Now both knew it was over. Tempestus had found out what was happening between Ventus and his Princess. He would punish them hard.  

It was a long and hopeless night. Velvet and Ventus sat together, separated by the bars of his cell, humming songs, kissing desperately. Now it wouldn’t make any difference if they sang or not. They would enjoy each song and each kiss because it was set to end soon. It would end before it had even begun. What a pity! 

By dawn the guards came. Everything was arranged. Tempestus had sentenced Velvet and Ventus to death. Our lovely little Princess knew she couldn’t do anything. At least she would die with the man she loved. 

At 6 am both would burn. The whole kingdom had heard the news. People had travelled to the castle to see the Singing Princess be set on fire. Some of them happy, some of them feeling pity and asking for mercy for the princess. The execution was arranged, wood and cole were prepared. Velvet and Ventus would be fettered on a wooden pillar in the middle of the market place and would be set on fire. A slow, horrendous death. 

Thousands of people were waiting for the happening. Tempestus had not once talked to the Princess or even looked at her. His face showed no emotion and his eyes were grim, staring to the pile of wood where the fire would be set. 

The guards came with Velvet and Ventus. The crowd started shouting and applauding. A messager came to read the sentence:

“I, Tempestus, Prince of Silencia and future king of the Silent Realms sentence these two people to death for they have conspired against the realm and they have broken the most important law of my kingdom: They have sung songs!“

Tempestus lifted his right hand and made the sign to start the execution. Velvet and Ventus were fettered together and the guards put them in the middle of the wood, bound to a wooden pillar. The Princess was wearing her frugal, brown dress and her golden amulet. What would they tell her father? Would the King of the Kings of the Melody reigns even get to know what had happened to his only daughter? Ventus and Velvet had talked the whole night and had decided to accept their fate. They would die holding hands. The noise was almost unbearable and the atmosphere was tense. The executioner came towards Velvet and Ventus holding a torch. They both looked at the torch, watching the flame, feeling the heat. Holding their hands tightly they closed their eyes and started singing the song of a couple who was sentenced to death. Their lungs filled with smoky air, they sang their last song together. The crowd fell in silence. The melody entered each and every space of the market place and Tempestus got mad. 

“Make them shut up!” He ordered. 

Velvet and Ventus sang as loud as they could. Suddenly, Velvet felt her golden amulet getting hot. “There it goes”, she thought. My amulet is melting. Nothing will be left. I will vanish from earth as If I had never existed. She went mute and waited for death.  

FINAL PART 

Suddenly the crowd gave way to seven white horses who entered the market  place galopping wildly. People shouting, trying to escape from the horses who were overrunning whoever was in their way. When Velvet opened her eyes she could barely see anything. She understood people were running aside, but why? The dark market place was filled with warm light and a marvellous song was played by magic violins. Where did this come from? The tense silence had become a wonderful song, as if there were an orchestra playing. The white horses were huge and one couldn’t see who was riding them, as there was only brilliant light flooding the place. Her golden amulet started to shine and suddenly a sound came from inside the amulet. The same sound of violins. She looked at Ventus, who was smiling hopefully. At this stage, anything that interrupted the fire was more than welcome!

The seven horses rode in a cricle around the wooden pillar, where the fire was getting weaker and weaker. The silent guards tried to fight, but the marvellous sound bothered them so much, they couldn’t stand listening to it. Their weapons fell on the floor and they held their ears. Tempestus’ screams were not heard, as the music was too loud. Some people ran away, some stood there, open mouthed, amazed by what was happening. Velvet felt the heat on her feet weaken and the smoke went away. The white horses were trotting around the wooden pillar, forming a circle, protecting Ventus and Velvet from whoever tried to come close. She held Ventus’ hand tight and smiled. Now she understood. 

Suddenly a carriage entered the market place, people made space for it to pass. A huge golden carriage pulled by four more white horses. 

Trumpets. 

Violins. 

Cellos. 

Voices. 

The most beautiful music of all times played and everyone but Tempestus was smiling, amazed by what was happening.

The golden carriage opened its door and a huge white-bearded man stepped out. Velvet trembled when she saw him. Her father! King Chanson, the King of all Kings of the Melody Reigns. 

Huge. 

Powerful. 

Like always.

He came towards Ventus and Velvet holding his golden amulet in his hands. The men that were on the white horses trotting around the wooden pile, took their golden amulets and held them up. The music got louder and a large ray of light filled the place. Tempestus couldn’t do anything. Velvet’s brothers and her father had come to put an end to it. The light ray got stronger and stronger and Tempestus couldn’t do anything but scream frantically. 

King Chanson came closer and with his wonderful, imponent voice announced to the crowd:

“I am King Chanson. King of all Kings of the Melody Reigns. I came here to save my daughter from this horrible bastard who calls himself Prince Tempestus! And I came to announce: The silent times are over! Starting today, music will fill your hearts. The sound will be part of your lives. Whoever doesn’t like that, can follow Tempestus to the silent dungeons. The only place were there will be silence. There you can wait for death. A slow one. Long live the Music!”

He held his amulet towards the crowd and everyone was surrounded by a warm light ray. King Chanson knew what would happen. The long buried melodies would be set free. Each and every person in contact with the magic light would feel free to sing. Would feel happy to sing. 

The crowd was confused. Some of them shouted: Long live the music! Some of them stepped back...waiting to see what would happen next.

Velvet and Ventus were set free by the guards, who now obeyed King Chanson. She ran into her father’s arms and tearfully thanked him. He smiled and sighed relieved: 

“My little Princess! Please forgive me for what I have done to you! I had no idea it would be that bad to marry Tempestus.”

“Oh, father! Nobody knew it would be like that! There is nothing to forgive! You saved me! I just wish I could ask you for something...”

“Sure! My dearest little daughter... What do you want? A castle? Diamonds? Do you want me to execute Tempestus? What is it you wish? I’ll do whatever you want!”

“Father. I want to marry Ventus!”

“Oh, I see. Well, Velvet, I’d be very happy to fullfil you this wish!”

A couple of days later King Chanson and his 7 sons entered the castle and filled it with bright light and a very special sound. There were sweet melodies in every hallway, every niche of every chamber. Everyone sang: the birds, the guard, the maids... and the most cheerful sound came out of Velvet’s chamber! Her wedding with Ventus had been announced a few days after King Chanson had saved the young couple from Tempestus, who now was stuck in the silent dungeons. Silencia was not silent anymore. The Silent-Reigns had been renamed into Singing-Reigns. 

Velvet married Ventus in the chapel of her castle. She had been named Queen of the Singing-Reigns. On her wedding day a thousand white doves were set free. Butterflies and colourful birds coloured the sky. Velvet’s white dress and her golden crown sparkled in the sunlight. The whole kingdom had come to see the most beautiful and happiest wedding that had ever been celebrated! When the breathtaking bride, Queen of the Singing-Reigns stepped on the Balcony of her castle with her husband Ventus, the crowd started singing the song of a couple that was sentenced to everlasting love and happiness. Velvet and Ventus kissed and swore each other eternal love and they really did live happily ever after in their beautiful castle in the Capital of the Singing-Reigns.