A TALE OF BLUE. -- THE BEGINNING. Arianna was the first to discover this place, in this time before time. A world of mystical wonder and beauty, she once had a family and a normal life full of hopes and dreams. A family lost to the war of time, various armies both good and evil came from dreams and nightmares fighting over the way they each believed time should be. All of her hopes and dreams are destroyed by the soldier’s blade of death and the cries of pain surrounding her, her eyes-only witnessing tears of blood of all of her family and friends each in desperation, running, trying to find the path to escape. Arianna’s father Nordrid, King Leader of the Blue Knights, a husband, father, friend, King of the Blue, a most precious and rich land. His family, his friends and his soldiers held the highest form of love and respect for him.
Nordrid’s wife and mother of his children, Queen of The Blue, Tiara, who walked the land with prestige and honor and who loved everybody. Gave so much to her children and husband and to her people, together Nordrid and Tiara brought into this world four children. Their first born, a son and heir to his father’s throne and the Blue Kingdom, Vulcan, the Prince of Blue. A young boy with a heart of gold, who had so much promise, but was taken away too soon. So strong in spirit but very weak in the heart and body, Vulcan died in his sleep at the age of ten. Nordrid felt part of himself die with no resurrection and his beloved wife Tiara…her heart broken forever.
Their three younger children, their daughters, the oldest daughter born one year after Vulcan, Mia, the first Princess of Blue. Gifted with all of the beauty and grace of her mother but headstrong and intelligent like her father. Their second daughter was born two years after Mia, the second Princess of Blue. Katya, beautiful like her sister, sweet and kind who had the gift of music. Many days and nights she entertained her family and friends by playing the piano and singing from her heart. Arianna can still remember her sister’s delicate, white fingers bringing the music to life and the echo of her melancholy voice through the great halls of their home, Castle Madala. The beauty of her voice always brought tears to Arianna’s eyes and the thought of that…those times although they are forever gone. Just the memory is all that remains, tears had already filled her green eyes and had fallen down her pretty face before she had even realized.
Their third daughter and last child were born one year after Katya, Arianna, the third Princess of Blue. Arianna was beyond beautiful, she had the face of an angel and thought of her family, her friends…everybody except herself. She had many gifts, but she felt very lost and forlorn from the time she was a small child. She loved her parents and her sisters and her one and only brother who was gone. Arianna and Vulcan were the closest and shared a very special bond as brother and sister. In losing her brother so young her state of loneliness and sadness only made her suffer more. The war of time left her alone and afraid, her family now gone…lost. Arianna has no idea if any of her family survived, where they are and if they are alright. If they have been taken prisoner by Kriest, the War Lord of Talisman, who has been driven by a never-ending force to take and conquer Blue.
Arianna is too afraid to return to her home, the Castle Madala, for fear that Kriest’s army has taken over and created his new domain. Her and her late brother and sister’s birthplace, her parent’s home, their kingdom filled with so many memories of childhood, laughter, music and love fallen prey and marked by Kriest’s evil touch. Wondering if she would ever see her family again, if she would ever see the day when the land of Blue would be safe and free again. Arianna had no choice but to take refuge at Palasian, Blue’s holy ground that beheld their holy church of Christ. Since it was holy ground, she and all who took refuge there were safe from danger and could not be touched by evil.
Arianna made one promise to herself that she would never give up until she found her family and made sure they were saved, and she could find a way to bring them back home. And this is her Tale of Blue.
“Princess Arianna, I beseech you…your assurance of safety is for you to remain here,” cried the Priest Solom. “Oh, Solom please do not mistake my actions for ingratitude, I will always appreciate your love and kindness…but I have been hiding here ever since this war started, which it has been a year now. I cannot be at peace and move on with my life until I find my family or at least find out what has happened to them,” sobbed Arianna. Solom was one among many priests of the holy church that had formed the refuge for the existing survivors. Although Solom took too much of a personal interest in the refugees that are scattered throughout the land lost or hiding with no shelter…and no chance of survival.
Solom was a tall, slender man, dark hair with a little grey around the temples. His eyes held a sharp, keen nature with grayish-blue eyes. His fair skin shaped his serious face but lit up with a sweet and reassuring smile. Wearing his long, dark robe and his crucifix was his only attire. He had warm, strong hands that inner-twined when he prayed to his lord and savior, for his people, peace, guidance and for the blessing of the wine and food. He was a father-figure to Arianna, and he cared deeply for her as a daughter since he never married and never had any children of his own. He sacrificed all wants and desires known to man when he was very young for the love of God and for the sake of his people.
“I cannot let you leave here all alone; you will need others to go with you…for your protection and guidance. I only want what is best for you, Arianna and I hope you have thought about this long and hard before you venture out into what is becoming a degenerate land,” said Solom. “I’ve done nothing but think about this…what I am about to do, Solom, I feel is my duty for my family and for my people. This is something I have to do, I cannot sit idly by and wait for a hero to show up who is going to save us when such a person whether it be man or woman does not exist. I am Princess Arianna of Blue, I’m scared, and I am only a woman…I don’t know what will happen to me once I leave Palasian but I have to try. I am taking this upon myself to find my loved ones,” Arianna exclaimed.
After their discussion that took place in the gardens below the church Solom commenced to pray with Arianna for peace, hope and guidance. With no further discussion Priest Solom motioned for them to leave the gardens and return to sanctuary. Once inside he called his fellow brothers together in the room of the sacred circle, Arianna accompanied Solom side by side until they both reached the door to the sacred circle in which she could not enter. Once inside the doors were closed leaving her in the waiting hall, she found herself pacing back and forth hearing voices from the room. Conversing with one another, Arianna knew of only one topic that Solom and the rest of the brothers could be so intense on discussing.
She began to worry, her hands nervously gripping at the skirts of her dress. Arianna’s worries took her to a world of their own when suddenly the sound of the doors opening forth terminated her negative thoughts and brought her back to reality. “Princess Arianna, I have appointed brother Malar and brother Winez to look after you…you are now in their care,” Solom instructed Arianna as he escorted her and his fellow brothers down through the corridor for the afternoon meal. “We are all in God’s care,” Arianna replied in a gentle tone as she turned toward Solom to continue in further discussion as to what the plans would be once she and brothers’ Malar and Winez left on their incredible journey. When they would no longer be under protection of Palasian once they left its holy ground.
“Of course, child, of course,” Solom answered reassuringly. Arianna seemingly took charge by taking part in what course to take. “We shall have to prepare for the journey at once Solom…time is not on our side, and I think the preparations should be seen to follow the afternoon meal.” Arianna stated to her caretakers very boldly. Brother Winez began to step forward to open the door to the dining hall for Arianna and the others and as he did so notice however strong Arianna was trying her best to be, the expression of sadness and worry on her face told on her. “My child these are uncertain times,” he said to her as he took her hands in his trying to comfort her as much as possible but was unfortunately unconvincing in his plea his own self when Arianna saw the uncertainty in his old, brown but worn eyes who has probably been a witness to so much more pain and suffering due to war and loss than he ever hoped to see from the time he was a young boy which was very long ago…long before Arianna’s time.
In retrospect she squeezed his warm, wrinkled white hands and smiled at him. “Yes, brother Winez, these are uncertain times…for that is so true but we must not lose our faith in the Lord, and we should never give up hope.” Before letting go of him to enter the dining hall she raised his hands lovingly up to her lips and gently with all of the innocence of a little child placed her soft, subtle red lips on his hands and tenderly kissed them. “Bless you brother Winez…pray God lead us down the path he would want us to take and hope we would follow it with all of our faith,” Arianna cried. “Yes, my child,” Winez agreed with much greater ease as they entered into the dining hall and seated themselves at the table as Brother Solom lead them in prayer for the blessing of the meal and as the prayers took place and ended with their amen’s in unison Brother Malar arose to shut the door to the hall for no meal was to take place until both doors to the hall were closed.
“The sun has already begun to set,” Arianna said to herself, no louder than a soft whisper. When she turned around and found no one there to converse with she then realized she was alone in her room staring out the window and had been there for quite some time. It had been hours since the afternoon meal and it was all she could do to make herself eat the warm food placed before her to keep up her strength for the long road ahead. Her mind was elsewhere, on her family, as soon as the afternoon meal had ended, she excused herself from Priest Solom, Brother’s Malar & Winez’s company and thereafter retired to her room to begin packing for the journey.
As her two companions were busy with the rest of the preparations on their part. When Arianna closed the last bag there was a knock at her door. “Yes”, Arianna answered. “It is I, Solom, my child Brother Malar and Brother Winez are waiting for you to join them in the prayer room to discuss the plans for tomorrow and for the evening prayer before retiring for the night,” Brother Solom informed Arianna with compassion and great urgency but only through the door. For no Priest or Brother was to enter a room of rest especially that of a woman without the beholder’s permission or without a female guardian present. It was not proper for man and woman of no relation or of no marital bond to be alone in the rooms of rest. Arianna quickly responded by opening the door to Solom and answered his request by following him to the prayer room where Brother’s Malar and Winez were at the altar. As they turned and heard footsteps enter the prayer room, Arianna walked forward to join them as Solom closed the doors and proceeded to follow for only Solom could light the twelve candles to begin the ceremony of prayer and then commence to discuss plans of the situation at hand.
Written By: LoriAnn Butler
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