Princess Ryanna knew the pavilion was pretending to be spring today.
She could smell it. She could feel it in the air. The gardeners in the dome always changed the humidity first at the push of a button. It was all so convenient.
She could feel the wet earth and cold stone beneath her feet as she entered.
Sensed the cooling mist that parted like clouds as she passed, the moisture condensing against the blue glass of her tiara and falling onto her silks.
Then came the flowers. Then the fake gentle wind to carry the scent so that those who entered could enjoy it. Then the birds to greet her from high above, probably on some branches to sit and watch her, having nothing better to do. The people who had designed this place filled the sky with them every few months whenever they decided it was time for another season.
Today, the fresh songbirds told that it was spring.
At least according to the Citadel.
Outside, beyond miles of steel and a thick layer of ice, another blizzard was likely tearing across the southern wastes on the surface she hadn't ventured to in years. But in here it was a different story.
In here, little birds sang. Both her and the unevolved ones.
The irony was not lost on her. Ryanna smiled faintly as she climbed the steps to stand before the grand piano.
Her fingers drifted across the ivory keys.
The first notes echoed throughout the pavilion a bit hesitantly. One. Two.
Her fingers trembled over the keys as she breathed and started again from the beginning.
The next more confidently. Three. Four. Five.
Artificial wind rustled the leaves beneath her as she straightened her dress, folded her wings around her shoulders, and sat down to practice with no one to bother her.
Somewhere nearby, she heard the gentle splash of one of the waterfalls. And the loud electrical hum of machines and wiring underneath the floor upholding the illusion. She ignored it all and carried on.
The people who had designed the Citadel were very proud of its pavilion. A secret world built all for her only to realize until after it was done that she couldn't enjoy it to the fullest. The beauty of it was lost on her. So she found her own beauty she could enjoy.
The thought almost made her laugh instead of cry.
Instead she played on.
Music needed no eyes. That was one blessing that could never be stolen from her.
Her hands moved confidently across the keys as she played a song her uncle had taught her.
Faster.
Higher.
The melody swelled.
The pavilion disappeared around her.
The constrictive walls vanished.
The guards who shadowed her vanished.
The endless cold corridors vanished. And she decided to sing.
"Winds of winter. Come and go.
Fields of ice of unchanging snow.
Cast your heart in eternal ice.
Never let it show, never let it shine.
I wander lost in the storm of darkness.
Afraid, Aloft. Not knowing where I shall roam.
The storm may pass.
Yet still I roam lost.
Never knowing when I will be free.
For a few precious moments she could almost imagine herself somewhere else. Flying beneath an actual sky. A real one. Not the fabricated heavens painted across the dome above. Not the simulated stars she had only ever heard described to her. A real place with oceans. Mountains. Cities. Life. Real breathing life.
Freedom.
The final note lingered. And she let it fade. Silence returned. She said nothing further.
A familiar ache settled into her chest. One of longing at that word that was so foreign to her.
Freedom.
It was a word that always left a bitter note. And anger. She understood it less and less with each passing year. Always just beyond her reach. But perhaps today. She could finally do something about it.
A distant heavy door opened.
Ryanna immediately straightened and continued her playing.
A faint knowing smile appeared despite herself as she easily recognized those footsteps.
Slow. But unintrusive.
Measured. But considerate.
Heavy. But controlled.
"You're up early."A voice called out behind her. The footsteps paused far below her. The songbirds scattered at his approach.
"Have to practice." She replied, not looking back. She didn't need to.
To the brink of death? Her uncle asked. The old albatross approached at the base of the amphitheater stage and sat quietly on a bench to hear his niece play. He would wait until she was finished with this song before speaking further and giving the breakfast he had brought for her. Ryanna could hear the faint creak of armor plate and the soft tap of a weapon resting against garden stone as he shuffled in place trying to get as comfortable as he could in full plate. She almost laughed. He always carried some sort of weapon, even if he or any of the guards assigned as her keepers never got the chance to use them. Nothing ever happened here. Aravos, however liked the peace and quiet.
As she played. Aravos took the time to listen quietly. But his eyes did not. They were restless. They drifted between the garden paths, the nearby walls, and the few real trees here. Old instincts of making sure everything was in proper working order.
The southern jasmine had finally bloomed he noted beside him.
Good. Ryana always liked the scent most. The western hedge, however, was growing unevenly again. He made a mental note to have the gardeners make sure it was trimmed before the guests arrived.
Is something wrong? She asked? You're not saying anything.
"Am I?"He replied.
"You're distracted."
I've had a lot on my mind lately.
I felt you come in. She said.
How so? He asked curious as he plucked and inspected a white flower with a blue center.
Sound first. You've gotten heavier. And by heavier I mean fatter. I heard you before the door even opened."
"Then I am losing my touch."
"You never had one."
A low chuckle escaped him as he tossed aside the flower into the stream.
Good. She preferred the sound of him laughing. It was far better than more of that silent brooding of his. He flew up beside the piano, placed her food on the piano to cool, and pressed a few keys himself. Playfully at first. Then a bit more thoughtfully. His eyes tilted and lingered toward the dome of the false sky and range of mountains that seemed a million miles away but couldn't be more than a few hundred feet. Adorning every inch of the walls and roof were millions of screens simulating the backdrop of the North Pole. Most people would find the view of those mountains beautiful. Aravos found himself counting the approaches an army might take. Only occasionally did they one screen flicker and break the illusion. Just another thing that needed repairs to his ever growing list.
What is it set to this time? She asked. Day or night?
He glanced upward. "Night." He responded, sounding intentionally unimpressed as he could by what he was seeing stretched out before him. He always tried to make everything sound duller than it really was. But lying only made her more bitter. So now he spoke just the truth.
Its the aurora. He confessed.
For several moments neither spoke.
The artificial breeze drifted between them as the last note faded.
Ryanna tilted her head toward the sky. Trying to imagine how it once looked. She found herself fortunate at still being able to remember the northern lights that had given her her middle name, even if the memory was a faint one. Green rippling lights followed by a hundred shifting colors. She missed it greatly, but counted herself very fortunate to have been able to see them at least once before....the incident. So her uncle tried to fill in the blanks however he could these days. It was nice. But it wasn't the real thing. Nothing would ever be the same as it was before.
I could change it to something else if you like? He said, sounding worried it had offended her or made her unhappy. It was his one job to make her happy. And for a moment he worried he had failed to do even that. Summer. Winter? A different habitat?
No. Ryana said suddenly. Tearing her head away from the ceiling to resume her song. This is fine.
Very well. Scoot over. Aravos said. I want to practice too.
Ryana rolled her white eyes under her visor and surrendered a spot on her seat very reluctantly. Aravos sat beside her, flexed his long talons with a crack, and joined in. Following her lead as she started a duet for the both of them. She could feel his eyes glancing briefly at her every now and then.
"You've been staring at me for almost ten seconds." She said.
"I am."
"Why?"
Aravos hesitated.
"You're taller."
She groaned. "Focus on playing.
"It is true."
"I haven't grown or done anything noteworthy in years. I just exist."
"You have."
"I haven't."
"You have."
She punched his shoulder. Only for her knuckles to find pain against his pauldron.
He laughed. She grumbled. And yet they played on. Every now and then the princess missed a beat or two. And it infuriated her.
"I keep getting this part wrong."She said.
Aravos listened.
"No you don't."
"I do."
"You're skipping the pause."
"There's no pause written."
"There should be."
Try this aravos said. He tapped a beat on the side of the piano slowly. She followed. And soon she was back to leading.
Better. He said. Again.
Together, the music in the pavilion was even stronger than if they were apart. It was a small happiness. But she would take it. It was badly needed here, as his mere presence helped settle her nerves and sooth her despondency immensely. In the entirety of the citadel. He was the only one she felt truly at ease talking to. Who saw her for who she really was under the visor behind the scars. Everyone else looked at her as if she were made of glass that would shatter at the slightest touch. He didn't. He knew she could take the hit.
"Sometimes existing is enough. He smiled sadly. He returned his focus to assisting in the song.
When the duet was done, he gave her a neat little clap of his hands in applause. Not in an attempt to humor her. But try and bring a little bit of levity to their shared situation. He was met only with silence from her.
This time it felt different.
Heavier.
Ryanna's smile slowly disappeared as it has more and more these days the longer she stayed here.
"Is she here yet?" She asked in dread and anticipation. Unable to play a note further, until she had the answer she needed. She could hear the sound of Aravo's breath as he let out a heavy sigh which worried her immediately.
Within the hour. Aravos said. We have time.
The knot in her stomach tightened immediately.
For months she had waited. For months she had rehearsed what she wanted to say. What she needed to say. And now the moment had arrived, the same as every year. The one she always let pass by without doing anything to try and change her situation.
Her fingers found the next few notes. But she felt strangely she couldn't play that last song she had to prepare for her performance tonight. She needed to prove her worth. She hesitated. Her hands were shaking faintly.
"Do... you think...Do you think she'll listen this time?" She asked, unsure.
Aravos looked away.
The answer came too slowly for her liking.
He seemed unsure of how to answer at first in a way that wouldn't dash her hopes into a million pieces. Finally he spoke by way of impartially. His best path as always.
"I think she tries the best she can. Given the circumstances. I...Believe she is happy to see you? And who knows, It might be today. I have a good feeling about this year Rya."
"You're doing it too."
Aravos grew silent.
"Doing what?"
"Making excuses for her."
She is doing what is best for you. For all of us.
"Her best is well over the top. Ryana said. I don't need all of this. I don't deserve it. I just wish she would listen. It's always. Not this time. Or until later. Or just a bit longer. I'm tired of empty promises, uncle. Ryanna turned her back from the piano and her uncle to stare out into nothing. Or rather, toward where she imagined the floor might be.
Ryana. Leadership is difficult. It takes its toll on even the best of us.
"For her or for me?"
"Both."
"That wasn't very reassuring."
"I wasn't trying to reassure you. I'm trying to tell you how life is."
The princess said nothing.
He held out his hand to her and spoke. She took it.
I know nothing about this arrangement is ideal. But no matter what happens. I'll do whatever is required as your guardian to make your stay here as enjoyable as possible. I promise you'll see what she has in store for you in time is our best option.."
Haven't you noticed? She tilted her head and knocked on the side of her visor to show him. I don't think I'll be seeing much in the near future. A faint mocking smile touched her voice.
You know what I mean Ryana. Everyone is showing up today for you. And you're not alone. And I'm here if you ever need me or someone to talk to. Always.
He turned and handed her the bowl of breakfast stew. She felt the texture of the porcelain bowl in her hands and smelled it eagerly.
You prepared this yourself? She asked.
"The Citadel is in a bit of a chaos right now preparing so I scrounged up an old favorite for you. The cooks are practically tripping over themselves in fear of Garotan's appetite. Its a madhouse in there."
Ryana smiled. The old bear's appetite was legendary.
"Come now. We have to hury. If you won't eat it I will. In a jest he reached for her birthday breakfast intent on someone being able to enjoy it.
She swatted her hand toward him and caught his wrist effortlessly.
The old prince was still fast. But she was faster.
She smiled as she gulped down her food before he even got the chance, followed by a bit of laughter at tossing the empty bowl over the edge to shatter. Someone would have to clean it up later. But it wouldn't be them. Afterward she closed the piano and Aravos offered her hand to lead her she refused once again, more often than not. She preferred to spread her wings every once and a while, intent on doing at least this much by herself. He nodded in acceptance, leaping down with a mighty brush of his wings to wait for her at the bottom.
The princess waited just a brief moment without looking down before then letting out one last heavy anxious sigh. She smiled excitedly as she spread her wings slowly to creep far apart until they reached the length of the podium she was standing on itself. Suddenly and without warning. The princess jumped and glided down in a circular, clumsy pattern, leaping from perch to perch all the way to the floor, with nowhere as much grace and finesse as her piano skills. Landing clumsily but barely managing to stay upright in front of her uncle. Aravos was not the least bit surprised by her boldness, but was more concerned her risky endeavors would one day come back to bite her painfully. One day she's going to break her neck he thought worried. But he would put faith in her. Someone had to.
Ready? He asked. offering his forearm to lead the blind princess through the endless maze of hallways. His tone became more formal. More careful. Returning to the voice of a loyal servant rather than an uncle. He had to put on a good show. Both of them did.
"Yes Uncle." Princess Ryana sighed heavily aloud before raising her head up high in a show of pride and strength.
"It's time."