Chapter Nine
                                                    “A Singing Lesson”


Upon arriving back in the main council chambers Leo summoned a servant girl to escort Arkina to her room. Before she departed the Solaris Magnifico was placed under heavy protection until the day when Arkina would begin her journey. The maid led Arkina up the west stairwell and up a couple more floors. It was no later than five minutes when the soft melodic tones of a piano sounded in the elf’s ears.
“Pardon me,” Arkina said suddenly stopping before a corridor. The servant turned about; her eyes held the intention of answering any questions her mistress might have in the back of her mind. “Where is that music coming from?” The servant girl smiled widely. “From your dear mother’s bedroom,” she answered brightly. “How can Mother play when such an awful disease overwhelms her?” the Princess wondered. “Oh my silly Princess, it is not your mother who constructs such beauty on the piano, but Dracoon himself. He has been playing music for Her Majesty whenever her illness burdens Her most.” Arkina raised an eyebrow.
“Do you think they would mind if I joined them inside?” the Princess inquired. “I do not see why you cannot,” the servant replied.
Arkina unexpectedly had an idea light up inside her mind. “On the mirrored dresser in my bedchamber there is a violin. Will you please bring it to me?” The young maid wearing a look of confusion nodded, and left to run the errand assigned to her.
The Princess sauntered down the hallway until she stood on the outskirts of her mother’s private sleeping quarters. Dracoon’s piano music created a peaceful atmosphere even outside the closed doors. Arkina felt a knot build inside her stomach for she couldn’t decide whether to await the arrival of the violin or ask to be let inside the chamber. Her impatience finally got the best of the usually tolerant nature she inherited from Queen Lana. She raised her fist to the door and knocked loudly so that she may be heard.
On the other side of the door Arkina took notice that music ceased and the footsteps approaching. Both were thrown open by Dracoon who smiled once he saw Arkina standing out in the hall. “Hey,” he said folding his arms across his chest. “Um … hello,” the Princess greeted Dracoon bashfully. “How is my mother feeling?” she added worriedly. Dracoon looked over his shoulder and back at Arkina. “Come in and see for yourself.” She followed the young man into the beautiful chamber.
Sitting up against three satin cushioned pillows in her four poster bed was Lana who had recovered some of her color to the cheeks. The Queen sat with her lilied white hands folded on her blanketed lap. Upon seeing Arkina enter she beamed feebly. Dracoon was about to shut the doors when suddenly the servant girl arrived clutching the violin in one hand and the bow in the other. Arkina turned about, took the stringed instrument and thanked her before the maid departed.
“Mother I wish you didn’t have to suffer like this,” she whispered leaning forward. Lana kept silent, the smile never fading from her angelic traits. Lana gently caressed her daughter’s cheek. Dracoon watched the two out of the corner of his eyes. “Dracoon here has been soothing my soul with his lovely musical skills as a pianist,” the Queen said reassuringly. Arkina grinned at Dracoon knowing how talented the young man truly was. He smirked. “Well I was just wondering if you could use a violinist,” Arkina spoke up hopefully. Lana’s smile widened. “I would love to hear you two play together,” the Queen declared turning her sky blue eyes to Dracoon. “Alright I don’t mind,” he said.
The young man crossed the chamber and seated himself at the grand piano near the balcony entrance. Dracoon cracked his knuckles before assuming the proper posture and played a few light warm-ups. Arkina joined in preparing to warm up by playing selvedge on the violin from where she stood. “No need to be shy Arkina, you can come a little closer you know,” Dracoon said without glancing at the Princess.
Arkina was stunned at his comment but slowly approached the piano bench where the young man sat. He scooted over some until there was just enough room for Arkina to sit at his side. The Princess raised a brow at his action. She took a seat however at a sideways position so Dracoon could have space to use the pedals. “Ok Arkina, I want you to sing what I am about to sing in your respective range.” Arkina looked a tad confused as Dracoon sang the following.

“One bottle of pop, two bottle of pop, three bottle of pop, four bottle of pop, five bottle of pop, six bottle of pop, seven, seven bottle of pop.”

The Princess began to singDracoon’s strange warm-up a little awkwardly in a second soprano range. Dracoon smirked. “Not bad but try it a little faster,” he stated speeding up the melody. Arkina quickly kept up with the music never tripping over the words. “Faster.” Dracoon commanded playing so swiftly that only a professional might have been able to maintain the song’s rate. While the pianist did this Arkina shot him a look of annoyance. Lana who was watching the two giggled like a young child amused with something funny.
Finally Dracoon ceased to play the warm-up and faced Arkina wearing a huge smirk. He noticed she had struggled to keep up with him. “Hehe, you did very well Princess. Wouldn’t you say so Queen Lana?” The Queen nodded still giggling some. “Oh yes she did. Arkina is one of the first to actually keep up with you in that particular warm-up.” Dracoon chuckled at Lana’s remark as if agreeing with her statement.
“OK Arkina that’s enough for warm-ups. In the meantime I want you to read the music of a song I wrote and accompany the piano with your violin,” Dracoon instructed. He opened a composition book that sat upon the piano’s music stand and turned to a piece called “Elements of Love.” Arkina raised the violin to her neck and the bow to the strings. Her eyes found the place where the violin entered just a few measures after a lovely piano introduction. “You ready, Princess?” Dracoon inquired. Arkina nodded rather apprehensively. “Let’s do this then,” he said without further ado.
The piano began its introduction which sounded like to Arkina at least cherry blossoms falling through a soothing wind. As soon as the Princess joined in it was like Heaven’s angels sang with the instruments in unison. The two played with such passion it was said that the very stars wept because of the aura the song produced. Dracoon in a sweet baritone mingled with a bit of a tenured voice began to sing the following words.
                                                            
“She holds my heart beneath her sun.
She carries my life in her eyes and sweeps me off my feet.
Loving me from wherever she may be, I’d give her my life.
I’d give her my time for she knows that I am the reflection in her eyes.

I cannot forsake the one who I love and who love me never too much.
She holds our ray of hope and I cry for her in the loneliness of the night.
But better I know she loves me for I love her all the same.

The wind carries her voice to my ears and I’m comforted by the sweet gift she gives. So I must tell her the one I wish I could see our love. Burning with the fine desires of our souls we will bleed and love together. Forever shall I love her.”
     
Dracoon ended the song so emotionally that tears were streaming down both his cheeks and even from the eyes of the Queen. Arkina too had finished the violin’s final notes of the composition she couldn’t help but wonder if Dracoon had composed this musical serenade for a deceased loved one. The young man quickly wiped away his tears and stood up.
“Arkina it’s very late and there is much to be done tomorrow,” the Queen declared. “Dracoon will escort you to your room.” The elf princess nodded to her mother and got to her feet. Soon both Dracoon and Arkina exited Lana’s chamber leaving the Queen alone to her reflections.