Chapter Text
In a long ago land, where the clouds reside low to the land and the citizens were all human, lives a princess asleep in her tower. Her chamber is tall and high, so high it reaches into tomorrow some say.
Suitors from across the land arrive and leave every day. They all come for one thing, to pledge their love to the dreaming Maiden. Who, since her 18th birthday has been cursed to remain sound asleep. Only when the princess hears the sound of her true loves voice and responds in kind to their devotion will the cycle stop.
Her chamber is dim and filled with deep purple satin curtains and sparkling jewelry hanging out of countless chests filled with treasures placed around her bed from past princes. Her parents, the king and queen of the land, ordered a sorcerer the day she was born to enchant the ceiling to help their daughter sleep at night. The spell made the ceiling seemingly dissapear and in place leave a piece of the very galaxy just for the princess to stare into.
The door creaked open, the hinges squealed from the action (rusted from years of neglect), and a sandle carefully stepped inside. A maid.
Pushing the door a bit more, the maid fully stepped into the room. The dim lighting showed no features, but in her hands was a tray. She carried it towards the dresser carefully letting go of one side to clear room off the top. Once satisfied, the girl placed the tray down and turned towards the princess's bed.
The girl walked closer to the side. She looked over the sleeping figure for a while, tucking her in a bit more before turning around and picking up her tray again. The princess did not have to eat in her state of slumber and all the staff knew this.
The maid did not utter a word the entire time and left just as quietly as she came.
Once in the hallway the girl kept her head down and resumed her journey to the great hall. Where the king and queen were waiting for breakfast.
The girl had to hide her face after visiting the princess. Her reddened cheeks would be too obvious to any staff she passed if she didn't keep her head down.
Her long locks of golden hair bounced with every step. Guards stood in shining white ivory armor detailed with depictions of their kingdoms history and culture. Chainmail covered their arms and blind spots on their body. The metal clinked together when they switched their weapon to the opposite hand and opened the door for the maid.
In the castle, servants wore long black dresses that covered their ankles and the sleeves were puffed at the shoulder but the actual sleeve part was form fitting around the arm, the ends were cuffed. Clothes were adorned with intricately sewed imagery and patterns to show status. The more prized the servent the grander the image. Maids wore lace and ribbon in their hair that matched their uniforms.
The maids dress was woven with beautiful images of the night sky and stars.
She quickly placed the food down in front of the king and queen and stepped back to join the line of maids around the table. Awaiting more commands.
"My my, it seems as though another failed suitor has left our guest chambers this morning dear. " the queen spoke. Queen Nadine, she wore striking shades of purple and her hair was black like that of a persons pupil. Her beauty was comparable to the mountains of the North. Grand and picturesque. Her pale lips turned downwards as she spoke. Eyeing her husband.
"It appears so, " King Ambrose replied, his voice was devoid of any feelings he had on the matter. In contrast to the queen, the king was of elfish decent. His hair was silky, white and long. He did the front pieces into a braid down his back and let the rest fall free. His long pointed ears constantly twitched when he walked, sensitive to his own boots hitting the marbled floor. Elfves did not age rapidly but king Ambrose looked at the least early 30s. He was indifferent and thoroughly trained in the art of keeping a level head.
"Even if our daughter does not wake today she has only turned 21 recently, " he stated, "–she has many years ahead of her yet, she can wake up within that time, that I am sure of. " King Ambrose placed his cup down on the table as he spoke. He spoke with certainty.
He moved his hand to rest it upon his wife's own. Gently caressing her knuckle. The two grieved their daughter every meal of the day. For they always had an empty seat at the table.
The staff around them were silent. Nobody had the heart to interrupt the couple. The most silent of the bunch was the maid from earlier. She pinched the back of her hand to keep herself from smiling to obviously. The pain made her smile falter a tinge bit.
She did hope the princess would one day awake. But she wanted it to be because of her. She has spent years working for the castle because of her fathers position in the military. Her father was a general before he passed 2 years ago. Her mother died before she was 4 years of age.
The queen lifts her hand and with a flick of her wrist a feather, ink and scroll appear on the table. The scroll is thick and when she unravels it the entirety of it's length reaches the radius of the room.
She picks up the feather and dabs it in the ink once, twice before pulling away and crosses out a name. The entire top half of the list of names are crossed out. This time it's the unlucky suitor from yesterday.
He arrived from the East, and sang the princess songs for hours on end. None of which made her eyes so much as twitch.
It was obvious she wouldn't wake for him, but nonetheless he sang. And when he didn't sing he was writing lyrics against the wall.
The servants visited time to time. The suitor never looked dejected. Under the curtain of his hair he looked focused, but never sad.
Apparently, the suitor hadn't come to wake the princess, he just wanted to share his songs. Here he could sing what ever he wanted. He told the maid, "Yesterday, I sang to nobody listening. Today, I sing to people who have no choice but to listen. " in a delighted tone.
The king pushed back his chair, bowing his head towards the queen, subtly, before leaving.
When the queen departed soon after servants cleared the table. The maid tip toed behind everyone else, softly past stacks of plates and cups, quietly out the room.