Legend of Sylphar, The Silver Queen

Episode 2

A bell sounded that indicated the end of the final day of school. Joyful shouts of students ready for summer break echoed in the halls. Ariadne stepped through the classroom door and out into the hallway. Her other close friend, Mira, was already standing there waiting for her. Mira was Ariadne’s age. But because Ariadne had jumped ahead in school by two years, they didn’t get to see each other as often as they used to.

“Ari,” Mira said excitedly, “everyone is talking about the party at Palmer’s tonight! Are you going?”

“Of course! I mean, if my grandfather lets me,” said Ariadne. 

“Oh I hope so!” said Mira. “I wouldn’t want to go without you but…” she got a dreamy look in her eye as she leaned against the wall.

“But Palmer?” Ariadne smirked.

“Palmer,” she confirmed with a nod and a giggle. “Do you think he will dance with me?”

“It’s hard to say,” said Ariadne. “Palmer is a little shy around girls.”

“I know, right?” said Mira. “It’s like he doesn’t even know he’s gorgeous!”

Ariadne smiled and shook her head. Palmer was quiet and introverted, but a sweet boy. He was handsome too. Ariadne understood why Mira liked him. Many girls did in fact. And yet he was too shy to notice the way they flipped their hair when they walked past him, or how their eyes lingered on the curves of his muscular arms. But who knew? Perhaps Mira would be able to catch his attention tonight. And wouldn’t that be something?

Mira and Ariadne lived close to each other in the capital city of Shinar and often walked home together when their schedules allowed. It was one of their few moments to talk as friends like they did before Ariadne’s school work began to increase.

The inner city of Shinar was designed primarily for foot travel. Smooth pavement paths crisscrossed between building blocks with patches of lawn or parks in between. But there were streets around the city for vehicle traffic as well. 

Some parts of the city were designated as market streets where vendors lined the path selling everything you could ever want. Other areas were zoned for education, industry, and housing. Then there was the military base on the eastern rim and the political office buildings near the middle of town. And at the center of it all stood the Palace, the capitol building of Shinar, and of the whole nation-planet of Sylphar.

Ariadne and Mira walked quietly for a while with little conversation. Ariadne was glad of it. She took the time to let her mind relax, watching the birds fly by and the people milling about on their usual business. Almost everyone who noticed her would stop and stare or wave to her as she passed.

“Does it ever bother you?” Mira asked.

“What?” said Ariadne.

“I mean… You have no anonymity. Your whole life you’ve never been able to go anywhere without people knowing who you are. Sometimes I envy you, but other times I think it would be hard to be known everywhere you go. And you’ve always got them with you.” She gestured her thumb towards Ariadne’s guards, who were never far behind. “That would drive me crazy!”

“Yes,” Ariadne replied. “You have no idea how bad I wish I could just slip by unnoticed, or even have a moment of private conversation without my escorts. I am never just alone, you know?”

“Do you ever wish things could be different? Would you choose to do something else besides go into politics if you could?”

Ariadne paused to consider. Of course, she sometimes daydreamed about what she would do with her life if she had a choice. But she also figured that it didn’t do much good to fantasize about what could never be. She was destined for one path. There was no other choice. So why fill her heart with desires that will never be fulfilled?

“I don’t know,” she said finally. “Sometimes I wonder if I was even truly meant for this. I had an older brother, you know. If it weren’t for the accident that killed my family, Harrick would have taken the Crown, not me. And then my life would have been a lot different.”

“For what it’s worth, I think you’ll do great as our leader. You’re always so nice to everyone, even the weird kids like me who don’t have many other friends.”

Ariadne put a hand on her friend’s shoulder and gave a light squeeze. “Aww, you’re not weird! But thanks, Mira,” she said. “It means a lot to hear you say that.”

“You’re right,” said Mira. “I meant to say that you’re weird.”

Ariadne laughed.

They walked on until they came to the point where they had to go their separate ways. 

“Well, bye, Ari! I’ll see you at the lake!” Mira yelled while running away.

“Fingers crossed!” Ariadne yelled back.

Ariadne marched up the steps to her home and entered the front door. Her guards remained outside to stand sentry there until their next shift change.

“I’m home, Grandfather!” she said. A picture frame in the entryway was slightly crooked and she straightened it.

Capel Sirius wandered into the entryway with his bifocals on the end of his nose and a book in his hand. He looked up from his reading and greeted her with a warm smile.

“Welcome back!” he said, hugging her shoulders. “And how was your last day of school?”

“It was… fine,” she said, shrugging.

“Ah, and did you finish all your exams then?” he asked.

“I’m finished,” she said. “Results should come in next week.”

“Very good,” he said, nodding. “How about some supper then?”

“Actually...” she said, tucking her hair behind her ear, “Leon invited me to a cookout by the lake. I’d like to go.” 

Capel’s smile continued but his eyes lost their gleam.  

“Ariadne, I don’t want you…”

She slouched with an exasperated exhale before he even finished speaking.

“... going out there and getting hurt,” he continued. “You must understand. You are important. You are the future of Sylphar. And it’s my job to protect you until you are ready to assume your political responsibilities. You are the last of your house. Without you, the political factions of this world would tear each other apart.”

Capel lectured on and on, but Ariadne stopped listening. She had heard it all before. She gazed absentmindedly out the window behind him while he droned on. The top of the Palace could just be seen above the fruit trees planted around the city square. That place would someday be her home. And then, her life would no longer be hers to live. She would be expected to live every day in service to her people. Though with her grandfather’s overbearing protection, she was hardly free to just be a normal kid anyway. Her life was so unfair. 

“Besides,” Capel said with a gentler tone, “why waste precious time when there are so many other more important things you should be setting your mind on? Your studies do not end just because you have finished the school year. There is so much more you need to learn before you take the Crown.”

“Come on,” she said exasperated. “If anything, all this pressure to rush through my studies has prevented me from doing my best. I need a break! And besides, if I am going to be a world leader someday, it doesn’t hurt for me to spend time among my people does it?” 

She knew that last part of her argument was pretty lame, but she didn’t care. If she sounded desperate, it was because she was.

“Hmm, nice try,” said Capel with a smirk, “but I don’t think partying with a bunch of reckless teenagers qualifies as spending time among your people. If you want to meet people, we can get you more involved in community service projects. It certainly wouldn’t hurt your PR.” 

Ariadne was about to argue again when she mentally sensed a sudden rise of anxiety in her grandfather. “Is.. everything okay?” she asked. 

 “Ah, you can sense that I have something important to tell you. Is that right?” he said with a strange light coming to his eyes.

“It’s just that… well you looked uneasy for a moment,” she lied. 

“That is a mark of good leadership, you know, being able to read people as well as you can. And it turns out that your intuition is correct once again. There is something important I need to tell you. But first, I think we better sit down.”

Ariadne followed Capel to their living room. There were crumpled papers, napkins, and a few crumbs strewn across the end table. Her grandfather’s untidiness got on her nerves sometimes. She chose to ignore the mess and sat next to him on the sofa. 

A lump rose in her throat when she noticed his hands were trembling. He folded them neatly in his lap to hide his apprehension. She could already tell that she wasn’t going to like whatever he needed to tell her.

“The Supreme Council had a meeting today…” he began, “and it was about you.”

Ariadne’s heart raced with anticipation. She never liked being the subject of conversation in the council chambers. They had been making increasing demands of her time and energy lately. More tutoring, more community service, more documents to read. What did they want from her this time?

Capel cleared his throat.  “Your time is at hand. They want you to take the Crown.”

“Take the Crown?” she repeated uncomprehendingly. “You mean... like… now?”

He nodded solemnly.

Ariadne’s mouth dropped open. “No way,” she said. “They can’t make me do that. Can they?”

It was absurd. The age of ascension for a natural-born Crown member was twenty. She was only sixteen!

“I’m afraid so,” said Capel.

“But… I thought I had years yet to prepare!” she exclaimed. “I can’t… I’m not ready! I don’t understand. How could they possibly—”

Capel interrupted, “The citizens of Sylphar are growing anxious for a reigning Crown member to sit in the Supreme Council. Without a Crown member, our government is off balance. The council has done its best to maintain control since the death of your parents. But it seems Sylphar’s people will wait no longer. There have been increasing reports of… unrest. Other houses are seeking to take control of the government for their own selfish agendas. There have even been talks of rebellion. We cannot wait four more years for you to come of age. We need you now, Ariadne.” 

“Other houses?” she said. “You mean someone else can take the job? Well, by all means, let them have it!”

“Out of the question!” said Capel. “It could lead to a civil war. By tradition, the Crown of the Sterling line passes from parent to child, a tradition that has never been broken. Call it fate, call it chance, call it divine intervention, but there has always been a Sterling child in the line to take the Crown. No one else in the world has that claim. It is your birthright. And you must step forward.”

Ariadne pushed her fists into her lap, staring down at them in frustration. “You knew they would take me early,” she said. “Why else would I be rushed through my coursework?”

“Ariadne, believe me when I say that I tried to hold this off. I did not want to take away your last few years of being a free citizen. But my hands were tied. You will understand someday.”

“Is the situation really so desperate that Sylphar needs a sixteen-year-old girl to lead them?” she said. 

Capel took her hand in his. 

“You and I both know you are no ordinary girl. And though you are young, I think you are ready.”

She gazed back up at the Palace. “You really think I can do this?” she asked.

“I have no doubt,” Capel replied, brushing her black hair away from her forehead. “You can continue learning what you need to know with the help of your tutors. And you must also increase your training sessions at the military base to learn more about our weapons and defense mechanisms.”

Ariadne rather liked training at the base. General Sager had even been teaching her a little about aviation and how to fly simple aircraft.

“Have no fear, Ariadne,” Capel continued. The council will see to it that you are well prepared. And in the meantime, our people will be encouraged just to see you rise.”

Taking a deep, shaking breath, she replied, “When?”

“One month from now,” said Capel. 

Ariadne nodded, feeling numb. 

Capel looked at his granddaughter for a long moment. Then he sighed and said, “Go on to the lake with your friends.”

She looked up at him in surprise.

“You’re about to be thrust into a much larger world and you deserve to enjoy these last few moments of your childhood before they are stolen away. Take your guards and go have some fun.”

Ariadne nodded. She was glad he was letting her go to the party, but now she wasn’t even sure she wanted to. She felt weary and tired, like all she wanted to do was fall into bed and hide forever. Still, she forced herself to climb the stairs to her bedroom and change into her swimsuit and cover-up. She did want to be with her friends. And it may even be her last real chance to have a little fun.