The Origin
Prologue
« My lady, please, close the window… the storm… it is dangerous with all those unnatural flashes out there… the cold wind and you… you should be laying on your bed, my Lady! “
“Do not worry, Cherry, there is no danger in the castle and our brave soldiers are by the window-slits, ready to protect us from any danger…” she stops talking, lost in her thoughts while staring at the blue oak, outstanding at the edge of the forest.
“Do not worry, Cherry, there is no danger in the castle and our brave soldiers are by the window-slits, ready to protect us from any danger…” she stops talking, lost in her thoughts while staring at the blue oak, outstanding at the edge of the forest.
She remembers how she met the prince of Arechis and became his wife, how she moved to the castle, located on the mountains, 300 metres above the Tyrrhenian Sea level. She looks back at her memories and sees the castle being built, in the seventh century, by modifying and raising the old walls over pre-existent fortifications, dating back to the Roman and Byzantine period, down in South West Italy in the provincial capital town of Salerno.
She still has reminiscences of how the castle was fortified when prince Arechis II realized the strategic position of the city that, dominating over the Tyrrhenian, presented significant access to the sea for the Princedom, from a commercial and defensive perspective.
The fortress had never been conquered in battle, so her concern is not about possible foes attacking. She sees the blue sparkles coming from the forest and she knows their exact meaning. Too focused on what will happen after the birth, to feel the cold winter breeze on her white, almost transparent skin. Her light blue hair ruffles with a sudden flurry right before her lady-in-waiting Cherry pulls her gently away from the window and closes it.
She still has reminiscences of how the castle was fortified when prince Arechis II realized the strategic position of the city that, dominating over the Tyrrhenian, presented significant access to the sea for the Princedom, from a commercial and defensive perspective.
The fortress had never been conquered in battle, so her concern is not about possible foes attacking. She sees the blue sparkles coming from the forest and she knows their exact meaning. Too focused on what will happen after the birth, to feel the cold winter breeze on her white, almost transparent skin. Her light blue hair ruffles with a sudden flurry right before her lady-in-waiting Cherry pulls her gently away from the window and closes it.
“Please, my Lady, lay down, it is freezing and soon it is time for the birth. You seem paler than usual” - she walks to the fireplace and adds more wood, stoking it with the poker. The fire crackle makes her smile, she always felt safe close to good fire “What is better than a warm, cosy place to welcome the new prince or princess in this world?” says while turning to look at her lady. Her smile fades away and starts shouting in panic “She is breaking the waters! Midwife, midwife! Where is the damn midwife?”
An old women enters the room slowly “Bring me clean water, some rags and the knife” says calmly. All is there already prepared, but she needs Cherry to calm down and to focus on something else for the baby’s sake. The noble woman is ready and faces the pain serenely; she shakes her head and smiles amused by Cherry’s frantic movements. She almost does not realize that it is already over... |
“She is a healthy little girl” states the old woman after cutting the umbilical cord; she gives the baby to Cherry and adds : “I am going to call the Prince, my Lady”. After curtsying she leaves,
Cherry cleans carefully the baby before putting her in the lady’s arms “My lady… she is beautiful”.
The blue haired woman holds the little girl in her arms, her eyes filled with tears “Ross, my baby… I will love you forever, I will think of you every single day of my life”- combs tenderly the soft rebel blue locks and kisses softly the little creature’s forehead. After a few minutes she gives the baby back to Cherry. “Tell her that I did not abandon her, tell her that I had no choice… the Prince knows…”.
Cherry cleans carefully the baby before putting her in the lady’s arms “My lady… she is beautiful”.
The blue haired woman holds the little girl in her arms, her eyes filled with tears “Ross, my baby… I will love you forever, I will think of you every single day of my life”- combs tenderly the soft rebel blue locks and kisses softly the little creature’s forehead. After a few minutes she gives the baby back to Cherry. “Tell her that I did not abandon her, tell her that I had no choice… the Prince knows…”.
The window suddenly opens wide and the room is invaded by the blue, unnatural lights that had been sparkling in the forest during the storm. Plenty of sparkling little beings circle the lady, like in a farandole and as sudden as they had arrived, they fade away abruptly, leaving no trace of their appearance and bringing with them the lady. It was the 2nd of December 1030, in a stormy night with sparkling blue lights that Ross was born. A baby girl with brown hair and blue locks on her fringe; dark complexion; small pointy ears, with blue tips; her eyes light blue, the same colour of the blue oak trunk outstanding at the edge of the forest that surrounded the castle. |