After all this time

She goes where the wind takes her

The warm feeling of the sun shines through the white curtains in her room. Slowly Syrena awakens and rises from her bed. she stretches her arms and opens her eyes fully so they could get used to the light. Her lips are subtile curved into a smile as she moves her hands towards the side of the bed. Swiftly moving herself up from the bed towards the closet. She picks out a rather simple yet flow blue coloured dress. She places the dress on her bed and got herself ready for the morning. Removing her nightgown, washing herself and then puts the dress on. She let her slender fingers slide through her blonde locks and tucks some locks away behind her ear. As she stood up she placed herself in front of the mirror and smiles softly This should do she whispers softly as she re arranged the dress a bit and then left the room to get everything done for today.
-
A Few weeks have passed since the young lady had set foot inside the castle of D’auvignon. It had been a rather eventful night and had asked a lot of herself. For the first time she was able to visit a large ball in the city she just started her own painting store in. Her own little peaceful place. Where she could work for as long as she wanted, when she wanted. And probably most important: without having people around her. Ever since the ball she showed a few people her paintings. They where curious and holding back at first. But later in the evening they came back to her and invited her to their rooms to make sure she would get a painting done within no time.

Syrena had shook her head that day. Because usually painting take a lot of time and sometimes she can work on them for weeks. -But- They would pay her well if she would finish it fast so she accepted the job. As she leaves the estate with all her belongings she placed herself in the carriage and told the driver they where ready to go.
-
It wouldn’t be a very long journey but still she had enough time for some sketches. They where just quick little doodles she created from the landscape they drive through but they where always a good practise. It made her more diverse and she always gained inspiration from it. And as the large castle appeared in the corners of her eyes. She turned her blue gaze towards the imposing building. Her mind gazed back towards the night she arrived at the ball. It looked so beautiful with all the candles that where lit and the people with their pretty dresses who made this evening even more delicate. A soft smile appeared on her face as she looked away from the large building again towards her canvasses. She caress the fabric and felt the pattern of it underneath her slender fingers. The slightest pressure could damage the fabric of the canvas. If only she had her sketching books or canvasses with her that evening.. If only..
-
Before she realised the carriage made a stop and she had to hold herself for a moment. While gaining her balance back the driver opened the door and that was a call for Syrena to stand up and leave the carriage. As the sunlight lit her face she pinched her eyes a bit and made her way to the large doors that where opened for her by some guards. She made a small bow and entered the castle where a servant just arrived to accompany her through the castle Welcome, my lady. The Duke and Duchess of Devonshire are already waiting for you inside their rooms. The servants will take care of your belongings. An instant smile was shown on her face. Thank you her voice softly and bubbly. But I do hope that they are gently with my belongings. The man nodded Of course they will he began a bit impatient as he started walking down the hallway. Follow me young lady.. Before she realised he already started walking.

With a little doubt in her veins she decided to follow him. Letting her eyes glide over all the people in the hallway and all the decorations that belonged to the king. What would he be like? She wondered. Knowing only his name and not the man’s face.

She goes where the wind takes her

As the servant walked in front of her she had to walk a bit faster to stay with him. The last thing she wanted was to lose her sense of direction in a castle she only visited briefly. And it was. The only thing she saw on that magical night was the hall and the ballroom the festivities where held in. Ever since that one night she imagined what would have happened with that mysterious man she had met. He would probably have run off to his wife and children (or worse) since she had never heard anything from him again.

The castle had definitely curses an unforgiving spell on her and on her mind. It was almost as if it kept her in it’s grip. Suffocating her each and every time she would set foot inside the castle.

The servant walked on and took the stairs to one of the upper rooms. Syrena continued her pass and as soon as the servant stopped and opened a large brown door she hesitated a bit. With a much slower pass she set foot in the room where she saw the duke and his wife standing in the most extravagant costumes she had ever seen. A soft smile appeared on her face as she made her way into the room. The duke was a small but bigger man with dark brown to almost black hair and wore a large red cape with gold applications on it. While the Duchess was a slender and fine woman with a softer coloured dress on. They did not looked like the ‘ideal’ couple at first. But both of them looked amazing and she could not wait to get started on her paintings. Silence fell over the room but as the duke made the first move Syrena looked up at him. Duke:Look at you, you must be Lady Syrena. the man began very spontaneous. It is a pleasure to finally meet you again sir. her voice soft but hearable as she made a small bow towards the duke and duchess. Duchess:Stand up girl, enough with the formalities she lady smiled as she made her way towards Syrena. I am sorry my lady. But my nerves are playing games with me today. hesitation hearable in her soft voice. Nonsense girl, Everything will go all as planned. she lady smiled as she made her way towards the table. Would you like to get something to drink? She nodded Yes, I would love to have some tea my lady. The duchess nodded towards a servant and he immediately began serving the tea. As the three of them placed themselves around the table in the room.

Syrena placed herself on the chair and placed the sketching book next to her. A soft smile slipping through her lips as the servant placed the tea on the table. I would like to talk about the positions you want to be painted in and the style you want me to follow. continuing her words but this time in a much more serious way. She locked her nervousness behind a large door and made sure nothing could affect her work right now.

A few hours passed by as Syrena discussed the best positions for the duke and duchess. She sketched and sketched and took a few samples of their dresses for her color scheme. After that she made a few sketched of the room and decided where she wanted to place the two of them in. Alright, I think I am done for today. I have to mix some paints and see what gives the best quality for this painting and then we can made another appointment to create the final piece. It will take me a while to get to the right final result but with these sketches I can definitely make a nice start. The duke laughed Well girl you can visit us as many times as you wish. And if you need anything my wife will be glad to get things done for you. the man said without hesitation.

I really appreciate your concerns and I cannot wait to start on the painting as fast as I can. she quietly speaks, her voice stronger than she had imagined, she gets on her feet and pushes a few blonde strands from her face. A smile still tainted on her cheeks. Once she left the room and made her way through the hall thinking about how she came here another servant she had not seen here before approached her. A little confused she stopped walking as the man started talking to her. My lady, the king demands your presence in the throne room. He asked me to bring you there. ’The King?’ Did he really say the king?! In an instant she wondered what the king would want from her. Did she do something wrong by coming here? A little curious she tilted her head and nodded slowly. We should not let the king wait then. Her voice warm but slightly worried for what would happen she followed the servant.

The doors opened and there was her point of hesitation again. She was meeting the king not even knowing what or how. Almost desperate eyes looked towards the servant who announced her. She wanted him to stop wanted to step away or better; run. But she felt as if needles pinched her into the ground and made her stop walking for good. As the servant stopped talking following the cold words that came come in out off the room. She immediately made a few steps forward.  Letting her eyes get used on the light she saw the man. First only his silhouette but then the face became more detailed.

A few meters before him she stopped walking and made a small bow. My king, you asked for me? came from her rosy lips. As she pointed her gaze on him she was finally able to see his face clear. He wore a certain authority over himself and his posture made him even more imposing. She was almost ashamed that she did not see him at the ball. But as she thought about that moment at the ball she wondered if the king was even there that night.

Silence took over and for a moment she did not knew what to say. So she wiggled her fingers around the fabric of her dress and pointed her eyes away from him. That certain authority he had made her even more nervous. As the man started talking about her portraits she loosened the grip around the fabric of her dress and drifted her gaze back towards the king. I am doing the best I can sire. Her voice is barely a whimper, almost overwhelmed by the sound of his cold voice. It still felt strange to her to speak with all the courtesy the royals had here. She never learned to speak like this.

As the door shut down in the lock behind her she shook a little and turned her gaze towards the door. Fine, what would happen with her now? What where his plans with her since they where both alone now. A a little voice inside her 'hoped' he would only want to talk about her portraits. But her conscience told her something else.. It was like she knew him. Him and all his ways of talking, walking and especially his way to twirl her around his finger. And with that feeling of knowing the man the hairs on her back made his way up and a shiver ran down her spine. She followed him with her blue eyes as he made his way towards the counter. Graciously he walked but there was also something dark and taunting about his way of acting.

Her heart skipped a beat with every word the man said and then, something dark dimmed up in her eyes. He was holding something in his hands and lifted it up in an instant. Her blue eyes grew wider. And her head is spinning, her ears ringing, she feels as if she's about to throw up. In an instant she made a few steps towards the king. Curious, but careful. I, I remember that sire. The man must have lost it the night I met him her voice a bit trembling. Of course she would remember that. She would remember that cursed mask even when it was a hundred meters away from her. Syrena could feel her heart beating in her throat. It was a dry and harsh feeling and as she tried to swallow a time it didn’t go down.

She goes where the wind takes her

The comfort and pleasure she had felt the moment she set foot in the room of the duke and duchess had disappeared from the moment Syrena had left the room and the king had called for her. The walk from hallway to hallway took longer than expected and once the blonde haired lady had entered the room and cold and dark feeling creeped through her veins. As if the sky had suddenly turned darker and rain started to fall from the sky. And as fast as those pleasurable feeling came as fast where they washed away by this sea of emotions. Syrena had picked up some of the fabric of her dress between her fingers and felt the soft silk glide between them. She tried to hide away the fact that she was more nervous than the day she started painting people. She tried to hide is as good as she could but it could already be written from her face. That insecure little girl she once was, was back.

As soon as the man in front of her started talking about the rumours that spread through the castle she tilted her head a bit. wondering, what he would think about her paintings. Wether he would like them or not. It would ment a great deal to her if he wanted to see them, or even better. Let her create something for him. But that, was something she would never dare to ask. Not to a king. I am honoured that people are talking about me, like I create magic with my brushes. she hesitated but stepped closer. But I don’t know if I deserve those kind words. Syrena turnes her gaze away and finds the soft fabric of her dress again. Noticing the soft colors of paint that where still on her hands. She trembles subtile and turns her gaze back towards the man and brushes a blonde lock behind her ear. Painting, for me. It is just another escape from reality. It is my diary, it is my most valuable possession in the world. It is my past, my present, and my future. and all of it can be yours her last words where spoken so soft that she wondered if the king was even able to hear them.

Once the mask dimmed up into her light coloured eyes they widened and his words made her even more confused for a moment. ’Oh Syrena, you sure were a lot less nervous at the ball, my lady.’ There it was again, that obscure smile of him. That dark and taunting appearance he wore. All she wanted right now was to hide away. Withdraw herself in her tiny atelier with all her colors and mix them all together into one big pile of art. For a moment she tried to swallow, but her throat was too dry. Her heart was beating and she could swear it would be ripped out off her chest if it started beating even faster. She had made some small steps towards the dark and lean man in front of her. I, I remember that sire. The man must have lost it the night I met him her voice trembling with nervousness and disbelief. She would remember that damn masked. It haunted her in her sleep caused her her anxiety and made her wonder, whose pair of deep blue eyes where  behind it.

But answers to that question where easily given as he raised up the mask and placed it over his face. The familiar shape of his face, the noticeable blue pair of eyes that looked at her as if they where the only one in the world. As naive as she was she had walked into the maze of a king. A web full of secrets and lies. That’s when she realised that this man that found her that night was no ordinary man. But ‘a king’, ‘a dance with a king.’ The mysterious feeling of him hanging around her had always caused her hairs on her back to stand up. But right now. she could feel it even more intense. Syrena tried to speak but her voice trembled. But when she finally found the courage to speak it where only a few words, It suits you well, my king. Creating some distance from him as she took a few steps back.

She goes where the wind takes her

The man had an authority hanging around him that was making her more nervous. Maybe it would be different if she did not knew that he was a king. But perhaps not. And he was not stupid to see that he made her knees felt weak and her head all fuzzy. But she had to be stronger than this. Even though it was hard for her she straightened her back and looks him back into his haunting gaze. He was talking about her talent for her paintings again and if she wanted to make a profit from it she should be professional about it. "I could definitely make some examples for you, your grace." she answers him with a slightest wink of her blue eyes. She was already wondering what examples she would create. Maybe some landscapes, or sketches of the man himself. She had scanned his face into her mind for a while now so a quick sketch wouldn’t be hard for her. If it was for her she would scan her eyes on him all day. For the man mesmerised her with every word and every blink of his eyes. If  he where giving orders, making decisions, and enforce obedience it was all done with a certain grace, elegance and perfectness. Something Syrena had never seen in any man. Not that she knew that much men, but if she watched her father or her brothers they where so different. Of course they where. He was a king. A royal, someone people would look up to. And someone she would never ever stand besides. After all she hold no titles, no lands and no wealth. Only herself and her small shop. Would who she was really be enough for him? She had no magic to help her this time. It was perhaps the greatest risk of all. To be seen as you truly are.

The lady pulls up her hands and places them around one of the golden necklaces that where placed around her neck. It where three very slender golden necklaces, all with their own unique gem dangling at the end. And at that moment her mind became a puzzle, a huge clump of thoughts and dreams that can't be untangled without loosing some part of her personality. But truly she would not want to change anything at all, she loves her life, her scattered mind, her little atelier where she works on her paintings and where she can create new worlds. And she could not let it stir up by this man.

The mask had dimmed up into her eyes and before she knew he was the man she danced with that night it felt as if the ground was being removed beneath her feet. She had made some steps back but he walks towards her closing the distance between them. And before she knew it her feet stopped walking back. Not being able to walk on with his invitation still lingering in her head. The dance, the only night she had felt entirely comfortable and calm. Yet so nervous for the man who was holding her into his strong yet gentle arms.  She should have known it that day; that is was him, out off all the people it was him.

And when she got the confirmation from him that he also enjoyed his evening her heart skipped a beat, His taunting eyes seemed to rip off her skin at any moment and she could feel her cheek turning red. A blush appeared on her face and she steps closer. Perhaps the stupidest thing she could have ever done is to give in to him. But she did it after all. "I did." She exhales softly as her gaze turned up towards the cold eyes of the man. She stops her body from moving, trying to find the confidence she needed right now. "I most certainly did enjoy the dance, your grace." Her hand is slightly opened as she pulls it up carefully placing her hand on his strong shoulder. Her eyes trail down and for a moment she bites her lip only to trail back up again into his gaze. With her free hand she found the mask the man was still holding not knowing what she was actually planning to do she stroke over the fabric of the mask and places her fingers around it. Ready to pull it down. Her heart still beating heavily in her throat.

She goes where the wind takes her

Syrena thought back about the piece she created earlier this morning. It was a piece fully created from memory. Her homeland: Mothers heart. The orange tones of the endless rock fields and mountains piercing vibrant against the endless light blue sky. Maybe it was not a perfect copy from the landscape itself. But for her it reminded her of home. Something she missed very dearly. But back in mothers heart she would never have the change to realise her dreams. But here .. In Navarre.. it was possible. It seemed as if everything was possible here. And so it was. People where fond of her work when she found the courage to show some pieces. And she even managed to get an appointment with the duke and duchess of Devonshire. Who actually seemed to have some “status” around at court. And to be honest, Syrena could not wait to start on their sketches and finally adding the colors to complete the whole piece. As her mind drifted off to reality again her soft blue eyes where focussed on the king again. I actually specialise in many more things then just portraits, your grace. She wanted to show him some of her sketches but forgot her belongings where still in the room of the duke and duchess. And it seemed she was not going to leave this room soon. Maybe, if a servant would walk in she was able to get her belongings back. But perhaps it was wise to just leave them in the other room. She didn’t want to angry the man in front of her so her eyes drift away from him. Off to the large walls the room had to offer and the insane detail work this room has. She looks up and let her eyes drift away for a while. But turns back when she found the right words For example, I love to study landscapes and create new worlds by adding different landscapes together. Her slender fingers where pushed up to twirl away a lock of hair from her face.

As their small conversation went on he slowly started to get closer to her. Almost to a distance where she was not able to breath in properly anymore. So all she could do was hold her breath and just stand still. Perhaps it was wise to just drift off or run away from him. But she would not be surprised if the door was locked.

And finally,

He drifts off, for now. And as the distance between them grew somewhat larger she was finally able to breath. She watched his gracious movements and how he turned on the gramophone. Her head was tilted to the side a bit making her blonde hair fall over her shoulders. Soft melodies of music started to fill the empty room with a much more warm feeling. But that feeling disappeared when he turned himself around only to find her blue eyes again and as he made a small bow and placed her hand around hers her eyes grew a little wider. His lips on her hand made the hairs of her whole body stand up for a while and as he moved back up a stroke of lightning run down her whole body. She breaths in as he asked her to dance.

Syrena didn’t knew how everything had became such a mess all of a sudden. But what she did knew was that she had moved herself on the most slippery ice she would ever be on. Meeting a king and especially share a dance with him at a ball has not been written on her to do list. Not at all. But after all, it still happened. And she wanted to blame herself for being so naive and not to see this coming. But was it even possible to see these kind of things coming? Surely the man in front of her knew how to play his games and play along very well. Perhaps he was used to this. Tricking ladies with his charmes and make sure they would fall for him with just a blink of his deep and gazing blue eyes. But after all she is drawn to him like a moth to the light and cannot find the strength to drift off. Not now.

It was as if something was pulling her body against his and she could not back up from it. Without even thinking further she slowly nods and answers is invitation. It would be my pleasure, your grace. she hums sweetly. But if we do, I would appreciate it to see your face. She chuckles as her free hand stroke the fabric of the mask and gently pull it down from his face. Syrena places the mask on the cabinet and turns her gaze towards the open space of the room as she looks back into the kings eyes Are you ready? she whispers. With her hand still resting into his she steps away from the cabinet. Hoping he would at least follow her.