The Daughter Of Dawn

The Festival Night - DAMIR

I closed the door and ran away. I didn't know that the door would make such a loud noise. I ran back to the court and stood among the crowd. I just wanted to get some band aids, who knew that I would run into them doing whatever they were doing.

"Did you see that? How rude she was to the Crown Prince?" 

I heard someone talking. I know it's not my business, and that I shouldn't listen to them gossiping. But then again I am just standing in the crowd, and I just happen to hear them talking, it's not that I can block out their voices. Who am I even trying to justify? I turned my head towards their direction, trying to listen better.

"That's what. Even I noticed that. How can the Prince not say anything to her." It was a different voice this time.

"Don't you guys know. She is the one for whom the Prince left his Appointment ceremony." Another voice said.

I've heard about this too, but I thought it was just a rumour among the people, who knew that such things can really happen. I have heard that he had left his coming of age ceremony for a girl, at that time I thought it was all bullshit, I guess maybe it wasn't. 

"What really? It's she the one? I thought the Lady was from the nobility. Who knew the Prince have a thing for commoners." They started laughing on their own jokes. It wasn't even funny. I walked out of the crowd, it's so annoying the way these people talk about others, is it really necessary to judge someone by their class. It cannot be more disgusting than this!

I see her coming. She is coming back. She is walking towards me. Does she know it was me? I looked at her, as she came nearer to me. She didn't stop in front of me, she just walked passed me, looking very annoyed. Her face was so red, it looked like she could cry any moment or she could just burst her anger to someone else. She said to the referee that she couldn't play anymore and left. I don't know what happened there, but I don't think what I witnessed moments ago can make a person so angry. 

Time passed, and it was already evening. I was walking around talking with people when I just heard someone talking that just made me stop on my track.

They were like "Crown Prince blah blah searching blah blah blah the person blah banged blah blah door..." and something that I couldn't hear clearly. I don't know from where or how I just got the idea that he is searching for me for being disrespectful and for banging the door at his face. I turned around and turned to leave. That's just probably me overthinking about the situation. I don't think a small thing like this would be discourteous and the prince isn't so pity that he'll take it to his heart. He won't right? Probably he wouldn't. I walked right back where they were talking and stood in front of them like we knew each other forever. 

"Hi," I said, showing all of my teeths that can fit into my over stretched lips.

"DAMIRRRR!!!" He literally just spit out my name out of his mouth. I smiled gently looking at the guy. He was the one who was talking back then.

"Yes. And ummm you??" I replied by taking my hand out for a handshake.

"Angus. Angus Rodriguez. I got to tell you that my daughters are totally crazy for you. " He replied, shaking his hand with me.

"Really?!? That's my honor Sir." I exclaimed, showing my shocked face to them, as if it was the first time I'm hearing it.

"What were you guys talking about? It sounded juicy?" I asked, trying to get the information out from them."

"Ohh that! The Crown Prince and his people are searching for someone. I heard something big happened." Another guy whispered into my ears. What big thing happened? Nothing happened at all! He said the Crown Prince and his people? Does that mean even Avila is looking for me? Should I go and just confess to her? She won't be that mad right? It's better than getting caught by the Crown Prince.

"I just remembered I have some chores to do. Let's meet some other time." I said to them politely and walked away. I don't want to be around even for a moment.

It was already late at night and I still haven't figured out what to say to her. She is here, right in front of me, but I don't have the guts to walk up to her and confess. She was sitting near the fire. The fire was reaching higher and higher, spreading it's flame wider, Avila was sitting alone on the side. She looked like she was into deep thoughts. I wanted to go and apologize for what had happened earlier. The festival was almost over. Everyone has almost already left for their tents. I took out a can of beer from the cooler and walked towards her. Here goes nothing.

"Cap." I called her, offering her a can of beer.

She looked up at me, maybe confused. Why was I offering her something? She took the can from me. She moved to her side making some room for me.

"I'll let it slide this time since we are celebrating." She said, turning her face back to the fire. Those damn etiquettes! Can we not follow them for once?

"Yes Ma'am." I replied, sitting beside her. Do I really have to tell that it was me? A little lie won't hurt right, I'm not even lying, I'm just not admitting. Does this even make sense? Yes! It should. It makes sense, so I shouldn't say, right? Some part of me feels like I should own up to telling her it was me in the store room. But I don't know what to say, what if she gets really pissed off with me? I have to survive here for five years, I can't afford annoying her so early.

"Uhmm... nice fire! Right?" I asked, trying to start a conversation. Who calls a fire nice? Why am I so stupid.

"Was fire ever nice?" She asked me, as she pushed the dead leaves into the centre of the fire with a stick. Exactly! Was it ever nice? What I am supposed to answer?

"They give us light. Right?" I tried sounding neutral, so that I can flip easily if she disagrees.

"They take something back in return. The oxygen, those leaves that were once part of living. It savages them all." She said looking at me. Damn. I took the wrong side. I should've kept my mouth shut, why am I being such an i***t?

"It does! It does, right?" I said, laughing off my embarrassment. She was still staring at me, must be thinking inside how stupid I am. 

"Is that what you play?" She asked, pointing her face at my guitar which I bought with me, just in case, you know. 

"Yes, of course." I said proudly.

Oh God I sounded so dumb. She chuckled lightly as she opened her beer can.

"Do you want me to play?" I asked her, picking up my guitar.

"Sure!" She replied, turning her gaze away from me back to the fire.

"I'll play one of my songs." I said, hoping for a reaction from her. No one do not like me singing for them personally. This is one of the very few times that I am singing for someone, and most of the time they are more than grateful. She didn't even flinch, she just nodded her head.

I started tuning my guitar, I called her Nam, after my sister. I cleared my throat, still hoping she'll look at me, even for once. She didn't, she looked like she was distracted. I started singing.

"Gazing at deep blues,

the gates of the world beyond them.

The marvel that they hold,

bewitching my way in them.

The one reaches out for them,

it turns into chimera of their dreams

My worllll.....ahhhh ughhhh aukkkk" 

Argghhh....

Something went inside my mouth. Oh my God, it's irritating my throat, it's so itchy.

"Hey! Damir? Are you okay?" She asked. I waved my hand at her, telling her I'm fine. It must be some tiny flying insect. It's so irritating, tears started coming out from my eyes, I can feel my nose dripping.

"Here, chug it down." Avila said, as she brought her beer can close to my mouth, making me drink it. I gulped down everything that was left in the can.

Well that was good, I feel better now. Thank goodness.

"Are you fine now?" She asked.

I turned towards her. She was so close to me, her one hand was rubbing my back. She was looking at me, she was so close, if I go any closer to her there'll be nothing between us.

"Ummm..Yes! yes! I'm fine. Thank you." I said, turning away from her.

"These insects must have gotten attracted by the fire." She said going back to her place.

"I'm sorry, I'll try again." Oh man, that's embarrassing, how could I be like this.

"It's okay. You don't have to."

She looked at me, smiling. Why is she always smiling? And why is her smile so attractive?

"You're red." She said, laughing. Her eyes became so small almost non existent when she laughed, she smiles so widely, it's so entrancing. I just can't stop staring.

"I'm so sorry, I'm just so embarrassed." I said rubbing my eyes. I gotta stop doing it.

"Who would have thought that I could see such a side of the greatest musical artist of the country like this." She was still laughing, looking at me. I'm more embarrassed that I couldn't take my eyes off her. I smiled back at her. I don't know how to reply.

"Do you listen to me?" I asked. I felt great, hearing her call me the greatest musical artist, enough though I've heard it thousand of times by many other people.

"Sometimes. Mostly your ballads."

She crossed her arms around her knees. I want to know more, I want to know which songs she likes the most.

"Really? I'm glad to hear that." I said, trying to act normal, but I wanted to know more.

"Yup. I once attended your musical. Going faraway, I think."

"What?" I blurted out. Mostly people do not like to hear pieces like 'Going Faraway".

"Huh?" She looked at me, shocked at my reaction.

"I'm sorry, I was just shocked to hear that you attended "Going faraway", people normally prefer not to listen to that type of ballads." I said. I have got the least audience for this particular musical.

"It feels simple when I listen to it for the first few times. But when I listened to it a few more times, the music was very intricate. I don't know much about music, but it's more than what your ears listen to." She replied. Those words from her, I'm more than glad to hear them coming out from her. Very few people know how to appreciate the 'Going faraway'. It was the most difficult piece I've ever made. I knew my audience will never admire it, even more will not like it, but it is my best piece of work ever. I worked for months to complete it, I've spent countless sleepless nights to shape it to it's perfection.

I smiled looking at her, she wasn't even looking at me, her eyes were on the fire that was burning. She kept staring at them, as if they were talking to each other.

"Thanks. I'm really glad to hear that." I said. She turned, she is finally looking at me.

"You must have heard that a ton at times." She replied, rolling her eyes at me. I didn't feel like telling her that was the most hated work of mine.

"I'll get another one for you." I said, showing her the empty beer can that she gave me before. 

She opened one of the cooler boxes beside her and took out two beer cans. Now I feel stupid again for offering her the beer can when she already had them with her.

"Here." She said, offering me the one she had just opened. I took it from her hand, man this is embarrassing. She opened hers, and smiled.

"Thanks Cap." I replied smiling back at her.

"Chin chin." She said lightly, turning back towards her fire. I thought I was imagining her saying that, but she really did. Chin chin? That's so cute.

"Do you know how to play it?" I asked her, showing her Nam.

"I'm not sure. Maybe the basics." 

"Wanna try playing Going faraway?" 

She looked at me, amused to hear that coming from me.

"Sure, why not!" She replied, turning towards me.

I handed her Nam.

"Careful." It just came out of my mouth, it is my most treasured gift.

"Yup! What do you call it?" She said, holding her carefully.

"I call her Nam."

"Her?" 

"I named it after my sister." I replied.

"Nice name. Nam." She said, slowly repeating her name again.

"You like it?"

"Yesss!" She replied, smiling like a three year old kid.

"Start with D-minor." I told her.

I looked at her, I can already see her struggling with the strings. She tried playing the chord.

"No no. That's C-major. D-minor is like this." I said, placing her fingers on the correct strings.

"Now try playing." I said.

She played it, nice. She looked at me, after playing it.

"That's it!" I said, giving her thumbs up. She seemed to be pleased.

I taught her all the basic chords over half an hour. I didn't know how the time passed, it felt like just minutes.

"That's difficult." She said, sighing. 

"You said you knew the basics." I replied laughing slightly.

"That's what I thought too."

"When did you learn that?"

"Years ago. I learnt how to play Tribulation Of The Sullied Beau back then."

"What?" I was shocked. The Tribulation Of The Sullied Beau, it was a great tragedy. No one plays that anymore, the piece was banned from being played. It was a tragic story of a nobleman who fell in love with a fallen angel. The angel drove him into madness, leading him to destroy his dukedom and following her into nothingness. This was a taint for the nobles of the society, so they burned down the origins of the song, and banned everyone from playing it.

"Is it a hard piece?" She asked, after looking at my reaction.

"I don't know, I never had the chance to learn it. How did you learn it?"

She looked hesitant. Maybe she didn't want me to know who taught her. But I don't think she knew that this is a banned song.

"I learnt it from a friend." She replied. No one has access to it's melody. Everything that told it existed was destroyed. The only remaining piece of it is in the palace, the previous King used to admire this song, even after getting it removed from the common folk, the Previous King continued to listen to it. The palace, of course!

"The Prince!" I blurted out automatically. Maybe I should not have said that.

She looked at me, obviously shocked, waiting for an explanation. Maybe this is the time when I have to confess.

"It was me in the store room. I was the one who banged the door." I said, slightly shifting away from her.

"You know it's better to unsee some things that you've seen." She said turning back to her fire. It is not like the things between them is a secret, everyone knows about them.

"They said you were looking for the one who banged the door."

"It wasn't me, and it's better for you to not to go to him." She said as she poured water to the fire, until it doused

"Yes Ma'am." I couldn't say anything else. I really did piss her off.

"Good night, Private Lkenbersch." She said and left.