Chapter Four
Musical Mayhem

                        Sixteen years later Arkina matured into a fine young elf. Flowing golden blonde usually worn in a tight braid hung at her back. Cerulean eyes as clear as the blue sky sees all creations equally. An adventurous soul who wishes to travel every corner of the planet waits impatiently for that day to come. Arkina stands at a height of 5’4” and weights at 110 pounds. She was slightly shorter than the average elf but nonetheless slender like an elf.
                         Arkina was raised as a princess and taught the things a princess ought to know. She learned to play the violin and read complicated compositions fabricated by musicians similar to Bach. Her tutors also taught her literacy, mathematics, history and a small runeology. Not too long afterwards Arkina became fed up with her sophisticated life. Many a time she would spend countless hours debating whether or not to rebel and become her own person. Finally she dropped the matter.
                          One lovely morning in the spring the princess sat on one of Winter Arc’s turret staring at a rising sun. Marvelous tales told by her elderly nursemaid Kiara lingered on her mind as her braided hair rustled in the dawning breeze. She sighed yearning to travel beyond to the world outside the capital. At that very moment her daydreams were interrupted by a voice calling from below. “Arkina where are you?” It was her stepfather’s deep tone. “Up here!” Arkina shouted back without looking down. “Well come down here at once! You are too valuable to fall and break your neck. Besides your mother and I are taking you to a piano recital.” Acen called. The princess groaned. “Must I go to another one of your boring music performances,” Arkina muttered beginning to descend the battlements.
                             Upon reaching the solid ground she immediately fixed her oversized baby blue bow in her hair and dusted off her nineteenth century-like dress. Both Acen and Oceanus gave Arkina disapproving looks. “What?” Arkina inquired having no clue what she did this time. “Dear you must act as a young lady would,” said Oceanus. “Not like a commoner’s son or the ill mannered pageboys around the stables,” Acen finished. The princess rolled her eyes in annoyance for this was probably the thousandth time they reminded her of her act. “Whatever,” she said brushing past her stepparents and stepping into the awaiting brougham.
                       During the bumpy ride to Frostera’s concert hall the princess dared not to utter a word for the five-minute trip. Arkina wished that her stepparents would allow her to be herself and not someone the complete opposite. She caught bits and pieces of a conversation Oceanus was having with her husband thanks to her sharp hearing provided by her pointy ears. Evidently they were chatting about the way Arkina behaved like a middleclass girl. “Acen I am worried that Arkina will be rejected by every respected son in Wintra,” the sea nymph muttered desperately. “I know my love, it is just not right for a princess to act,” he said. Arkina didn’t hear anything more for she fell right to the floor as the brougham came to an abrupt stop.
                        The door was opened by a foot-imp who assisted Arkina to her feet and down steps laid out for the royal family. A massive throng of citizens had gathered to catch a glimpse of their rulers. Arkina strutted towards the main entry for she did not care for much publicity. Once inside the shouts and excited chattering of the crowd died away. Acen led his wife and stepdaughter to their private box. It had an excellent view of the stage where a baby grand piano was set up. After taking her seat Arkina waited patiently for the recital to begin. Minutes later another imp in charge of the theatre trotted up on stage panting as if he had just run a 10K. “La-ladies, a-an-and gentle-men … I regret … to inform you … that our violinist … fell ill at last the second. If a replacement cannot … be found … then I am afraid we will … have to … cancel … our performance,” said the imp.
                           His beady black eyes searched the audience frantically and almost pleadingly. They soon met Arkina’s pupils; she could have sworn the imp even mouthed, “Please help me Your Grace.” In the end Arkina sighed took her violin case from her beside her chair and stood up. Though the princess didn’t like band concerts or the sweet tones of classical music recitals she just couldn’t sit there and allow them to endure humiliation. Besides she never left the castle without her precious violin.
                         Before her stepparents were able to protest Arkina left Box 2 and made her way backstage. There she saw a human boy with black stringy hair in a braid that fell to his shoulders and silvery eyes; he appeared to be seventeen. He was pacing back and forth studying his music prior to the recital beginning. The silver eyes left the sheet music and met Arkina who was polishing up her violin. He crossed over near the princess, cleared his throat, and said, “Hello my name is Corret and you must be filling in for the other musician.” When Arkina ‘s eyes convened with his her mouth became as dry as a desert and her cheeks a bright red. “What is your name?” Corret inquired politely. “I … uh … my name … is … um … Arkina,” the princess stammered. Corret chuckled. “Tis a pleasure.” He kissed the back of her palm. The young man handed Arkina the sheet music for the violin measurement of the composition they were about to play. “Can you play that?” he asked. Arkina only nodded trying her hardest not to blush.
                    Corret smiled setting his own music aside. “Uh don’t you need your music?” the princess asked arching a brow. “Nah I got the whole piece memorized,” Corret explained. Arkina’s eyes grew wider than a horse’s for a spilt second. “Well we best get ready to head out onstage. You nervous?” She nodded for this was her very first public performance. “Don’t be, just look straight ahead and concentrate,” he suggested. “Ok I will.” Arkina replied her voice sounding a tad squeaky.
                     There was a tremendous amount of applause as Arkina followed Corret to center stage. Corret seated himself at the piano while Arkina stood at its end raising the violin to her neck. Seconds later Corret began playing an introduction to a piece similar to “Canon in D Major” sounding as if he had years of experience. Winking towards the princess he continued on until she came in on her violin playing with extreme concentration like did during her lessons. Every note they created formed such beautiful music it lured King Acen himself to tears. Oceanus gazed upon her stepdaughter completely astonished for she never Arkina was capable of such a talent. When the composition ended the audience burst into deafening applause; some even stood up and cheered. Corret traversed to Arkina then bowed while his partner curtsied rather clumsily. It was at that instant that their moment of triumph was cut short.
                   A vehement quaking shook the ground violently. The glass windows shattered into a thousand pieces, fragments showered upon the audience. Corret pulled Arkina down and shielded her from the raining glass shards. A vast crystal chandelier came crashing downward, crushing the unfortunate souls sitting beneath it. People began to panic and scattered all over the place shrieking like banshees.
                   Overhead bits and pieces of the roof had been blown away by an angry wind that came out of nowhere. Four great bolts of velvet lightning struck the stage and began to spin slowly channeling energy to the very center. In a flash of blinding purple light Reoka appeared free from her chains that once withheld her in the cosmos. Her long black hair flew in the howling storm along with her emerald green gown and matching shawl. She turned to Acen in his box smirking more maliciously than ever. “Oh Acen I’m back!” Reoka cried with cackle.