1 Is this my fate?

Light peeked in, through the slits of the curtains, drawing its light on the cote. From a far, the rooster crowed and the birds tweeted outside the window. The child's eyes flickered open, she cried 'Waa' 'Waa'

A tip tap sound, travelled to the room and the door creaked. A woman in a marron maid uniform pushed through the wooden door, she walked and opened the wide arched windows. The room brightened. She headed to the white cote and carried the baby in her arms, as she walked to the window. The lady's golden locks shined and the baby's forehead glistened under the sun.

The lady said "Good Morning, my child." The baby calmed, hearing the soothing voice of her mother.

The mother said "I'm sorry your father couldn't make it, to see you, my love" She stared out of the window, watching the palace guards, patrolling the walls of the palace. "Since, he isn't here, I shall name you."

"You are the sun in my sky and your brightness will bring warmth to everyone in this world"

"From today onwards, you shall be named Solana, my daughter" the mother raised the baby in the air and kissed her cheeks. Solana giggled. She brought her thumb to the baby's mouth, gently stroking Solana's little back as she eagerly sucked on her thumb.

Ten years later, in the Capital of Galaicia Kingdom, the baby grew into a beautiful and sweet girl. Solana's smile was so warm, that it could thaw the ice in one's heart. With her gentle aura, humans and animals were drawn to her.

Just like her mother, she too was taught to be a maid fit to serve the Royal Family. Solana wasn't against being a maid, since it was a family legacy and she just wanted to lighten her mother's workload.

Slowly, she became way too busy studying all kinds of topics related to housekeeping. Since her time was restricted, she couldn't play with her friends outside. At first, Solana was interested to learn these trade secrets, the techniques for cooking, gardening, arranging and all kinds of neat stuff. But later, they became a bore, a chore with all the menial tasks added to it. And to be a palace maid, Solana had to follow strict ethics and rules. Her teacher was so strict even if she made a mistake, she as a child wasn't spared from the rod. There was no room for error, everything had to be perfect and anything less was unaccepted by the head butler and the head maid.

After a tiring day, Solana relaxed herself, in her room, she leaned on the stone window pane, with her head resting on her hands, she sighed. Looking outside, her eyes passed through the palace's gates and walls.

It has been a few months since I last played with my friends outside. Man, it is so stuffy inside, I can't wait to go out again. I heard people say 'The best place to live in is definitely the King's palace' but I don't see anything else other than work...

Even when I was free, I wasn't allowed to play, laugh, cry or shout and had to be a proper madien at all times.

Sure, I used to play with the princes and princesses when I was small. But now most of them are either too snotty or arrogant, some are kind... like the Princess Ametria, actually she is my only friend in the palace.

As Solana grew, so did her responsibilities. With whatever free time she had, she spend it with the Princess and learnt to read poetry and literature.

===

One day, Solana was in a huge stretch of green fields with groups of daffodils and lilies, lined around the oak and pine trees. The garden was divided into four sections, each section, had exotic plants and rare flowers, neatly arranged to suit the themes created by the court gardener and bontnist.

Here was Solana, doing yardwork with her mother and her aunts, pruning the hedges and the horticulture animals. In her leather gloves and kakhi gardening gown. A cool breeze brushed past her, swaying the sandy hair under her headscarf. She snipped, trimming the plants with her garden knife.

While Solana was pruning the plants, a faint sound travelled to her ear, she paused for a moment and continued.

What is that sound? Where is it coming from? She listened carefully to the sound and guessed where it came from. Curious, Solana excused herself, holding a rake in her hands.

"Mother, I'll check if there are any fallen leaves in the center garden." Solana's mother nodded. Solana smiled and left the group, carrying a leafbag on her shoulder.

'If I'm right, it should be coming from the center.'

Solana followed the sound. And on the way, it became more and more clearer. Her ears tingled to the harmonious sounds and her heart beating to the drums.

I never heard something this sweet before, it's amazing. My body shook to the beat, I quickly walked to the music and met a dead-end. An eight foot tall hedge blocked her, laughter and the clanging of cups came from the hedge. Solana searched, her hands went through and found a gap in the hedge. She pushed the handle of the rake in and enlarged it. Solana looked inside, her eyes moved furtively around and then stealthly parted the hedge.

What she saw, was a beautiful fair woman, dancing in the middle, while the musicians played their instruments, her long blue dress swirled as she spinned and twisted her body to the music. She was breathtaking... Then she flipped, splitting her legs in the air and landed on her toes, the music slowed down and ended. The king and his family clapped and cheered.

The musicians switched to a soothing melody, the woman in blue opened her mouth and out of it came the voice of an angel. I was entranced, under the shades of the trees, she turned into an ethernal fairy. In a trance, I hummed to the tune. Etching everything about her, every detail were engraved in my mind, until the song ended. While the scenes were replayed in my mind.

The King complemented and rewarded them.

Solana saw the show was over and pretended to pile the fallen leaves in a corner. Relishing the music, Solana hummed. Captivated by their performance. A desire sprouted within her, she too wanted to sing, dance and play music.

With a newfound passion, she shared it with her friend, Princess Ametria. The princess surprisingly encouraged and supported her. Ametria had learnt a few instruments from the royal tutor, so she taught Solana and showed her how to play the piano and her flute.

A few times, Solana and the Princess sneaked in the ballroom and played the grand piano.

Other times they practiced the flute together behind the trees and bushes in the garden.

Solana's mother felt her daughter was acting strange, she followed and caught her playing music in the ballroom alone. They had a talk and her mother didn't mind if she played music as long it didn't distract her from her work.

The years flew, Solana became a skilled musician under the princess's guidance. They had a very close relationship. Solana was then promoted and became Princess Ametria's handmaiden. It was almost the time for Princess Ametria's wedding with the Prince Arnold of the Casteline Kingdom.

Before the wedding day,

The more she listened and played music, the stronger her passion grew. She wanted to be a musician but couldn't. Solana was upset with her status, she had asked if a maid could ever leave the palace and live her own life?

Whoever I asked either had no idea if it was possible to leave the palace for good, other said 'Unless the person wins the favor of the King, they can't leave their duty.'

Each of them had their own answers but all of them indirectly implied the same thing. They said 'A slave will always be a slave'.

Why can't I be more than who I am? I don't want to serve others for the rest of my life. I think mother will understand my wish.

I went to the servants quarters, to spend time with Mother. In our room, I prepared tea and sweet buns. When Mother entered the room for a break. I presented her tea and snacks, before talking.

We had a light chat about many things, the rumors and so on.

When I saw she was in a good mood, I decided to bring that topic up. Nervous, I steeled myself. At the back, I held my garment tightly. All kinds of senarios flooded my head... Solana shook her head, she kneeled and opened her mouth.

"Mother, your unfilfal daughter wants to be a musician, I want to be a performer and travel around the world in a band!"

Mother was shocked. She said "But why? Aren't you doing quite well? You are the Princess Ametria's handmaiden and she treats you well"

"Mother, I like the Princess but I don't want to serve for my whole life until I die. I want to follow my dream, my passion for music. So here I am, asking for your blessing"

Mother pondered and said "Sorry, I can't give you my blessing."

"What? Why? Mother"

Mother said "My child, you can't ! We are just mere servants of the king. Nor do we have any say in our destiny. Your Grandmother and our family swore to the heavens to serve the royal family. And we can't just break our vows"

"But Mother..."

Mother firmly rebuked her, she said, slowly lowering her voice "No buts, we will always be servants and there is no way, you can't change that... So, just forget about your silly dream! Tommorow is the Princess wedding." She closed the distance between us, her hands gently stoked my face, she hugged and pleaded.

I gave in and said, without looking. "Ok mother, I will try... not to think."

She turned my head, she stared into my eyes and said "Promise me, you won't bring this thing up again"

Saddened, I just nodded. "Yes Mother, I won't"

Mother patted me and said before departing. "Tommorow after the wedding, you will be going to Casteline with the Princess there. So you will get your chance to travel outside."

Once she walked away, in anger Solana gripping her teacup. 'That's it after Ametria's wedding, I'll runaway and join a touring band. and never return. I don't need your permission to change my destiny! I can do it by myself'.

On the day of the Princess's wedding, It was a grand event, dignitaries, the governors, foreign nobels and leaders were present. All here to give the Prince and the Princess their blessings and good will. Surely under the warm, friendly atmosphere lied a deeply hidden agenda. Which we were unaware.

I myself know how much work we had to do the past month, to prepare for her wedding, as the Princess handmaiden I was put in charge of surpervising the proceedings, designing her wedding gown and getting it tailored according to Ametria's preference. 'phew' what a load of work.

In the Princess dressing room, I along the other handmaids dressed Ametria, tightening her corset and put a pink floral mesh veil on her face.

She looked graceful and elegant in her wedding dress as the sunlight grazed her, the pink mesh on her embroidered white ball gown glowed. With the crown on her head she looked majestic like a queen. We did the finishing touches, the jewelry and the perfume.

Once we were done, Princess Ametria waved her hands, we all departed her room. Princess Ametria said "Not you Solana, stay with me!"

When others were present I treated her as the princess and privately we were friends. "Yes your highness"

Ametria chuckled when the door was closed, "Solana I don't know what to do, I m so nervous" "I don't know if his family will treat me well..."

Solana held her hands, she hugged Ametria and comforted her, she said "Amy, even if his family dosnt like you, they will have to treat you right for the sake of the alliance and our Kingdom."

Princess Ametria said "Yeah, you a right.. how can I be so silly" "but I have only met him a few times, would he like me"

Solana covered her mouth, she laughed and said "Every man in our kingdom dreams to live with you, the Pearl of Galicia. How can he not like you?"

"Haha, Thanks Solana" Ametria smiled, she stood on her feet. Solana patted her hand, Solana said "Feeling better now"

The Princess nodded. When Solana put a pink mesh veil on the princess, the door opened, it was Her Majesty, the Queen.

The Queen hugged her daughter and said "Oh my daughter, look at you! so beautiful"

When she saw Solana in the room, she approached Solana and said "Solana you did a good job! I will ask His Majesty to reward you for your hard work" Solana kneeled on one knee, an arm across her chest, she kept her head down and said "I thank you, your Majesty for your favour" The Queen smiled in approval, she said "Rise, Today is our pearl's wedding day" "Oh Solana, you will be her bridesmaid" Solana thanked her for the honor.

The queen held her daughter's hand, Solana held the tailends of the Princess's dress as they walked down the steps and went to the chapel. The palace guards outside the Chapel greeted them.

Her Majesty left the Princess when they entered the building, the wedding music got louder as they got closer. In the middle of the walkway, a young man dressed in the military colours of the Kingdom of Casteline.

He stood there with a charming smile and when the princess got close to him, he reached out her hand and took her hand. They walked to the altar with Solana behind them, she carried her dress. The people in the rows of chairs stood as the bride and the groom walked to the altar.

When they were halfway from the altar, a lady screamed 'Ahh' the guards at the side drew their swords against the assailants and the people panicked. A man from the crowd attacked the groom, the prince parred the the attack with his rapier. From a far a crossbow aimed the princess.

While the Prince fought his attackers, the Princess was left unguarded. Solana saw her friend in danger, she pushed her away from the incoming arrow. And it struck Solana's head.

In the midst of confusion, on the floor, blood trickled down her forehead, in her own pool of blood. Solana thought her last thoughts. "I'm going to die... but I can't die just yet I have so many things to do! Music to compose, music to hear and places to see... Is this my fate? To die as a maid?"

Heartbroken, she clenched her chest, Solana consciousness slipped into the endless sea of darkness. 'This is my end. Bye Mother, I will say hello to Father for you in heaven' In the darkness, a light came form the distance, Solana followed into the light.