Starry Night

Written by Thaumatus as told by Tessira Soderstrom

“This story was told to me by a man named Thaumatus on my journeys through Elanthia.”
“He told me that his people believed in a whole other world which exists in the heavens.”
Tessira stares up into the sky, pondering the heavens.
“The world up there is much like ours... nobles an peasants an traders.. and a Celestial Emperor, Solinus, ruling over all.”
“And much like here, love holds little concern for the status of those whose hearts it binds.”
Tessira lowers her eyes back to the audience, takes a deep breath and begins the story.
“Thus it was that the daughter of the Celestial Emperor, Princess Aurorah, was looking out her window one day, bored with palace life.”
“Her eyes lit upon a young peasant boy in the fields, and she felt the first stirrings of love in her heart.”
Tessira holds her hand over her heart with a slow grin
“Aurorah was much surprised that one so simple could seem such a treasure.”
“She had long been surrounded by the finest suitors in all the heavens.”
“So long surrounded, that they were little more than butterflies to her..”
“Pleasant to look at, but insufferable in persistance and abundance. <waves her hand as if shooing an insect>”
“The peasant, Cordirm, returned home one day to find an imperial summons tacked to his door.”
Tessira lifts her hands as if reading the summons. Her eyes widening with surprise that is reflected in her voice.
“An invitation from Solirus' hand to come and work in the palace gardens!”
“A few nights later, as Cordirm was leaving from a long day's toil..”
“.. trimming hedges, watering flowers, and driving away moles an such...” “A girl, dressed in the simple robes of a serving maid, walked from the palace and bade him be seated on a bench.”
“The two conversed until late into the night, talking of little... but saying very much indeed <giggles lightly>”
“When the sun had almost risen, they parted ways. Cordirm wondering how he could continue work <sighs happily>”
“But the thought of the mysterious girl was enough to sustain him through the day. his dreams finally found a focus when he went home that evening.”
“And so it continued, Cordirm and the girl in serving maid's robes meeting in the palace gardens," her voice trails off into a whisper, "and talking until the night had long passed away...”Br> “One fateful night, Cordirm finally was brave enough to kiss the girl he had spent so much time with.”
“As he pulled her close, the hood of her robe slipped from her head..”
“Tessira waves her hand over head as if to pull a hood back”
“...revealing a diamond-studded tiara, not quite hidden by the girl's hair”
“Cordirm gasped as he pulled away from the Princess..” Tessira continues in a voice filled with awe, “for that is who she was.”
“Aurorah merely smiled at him, and the two..”
Tessira clears her throat, blushing a bit.
“..continued where they had been interrupted.”
“During the next day's work, Cordirm found himself completely consumed with thoughts of Princess Aurorah.”
Tessira gazes into the distance, a wistful look on her face
“That evening, Aurora emerged from the castle, still in serving maid's robes, and whispered to Cordirm of a plan she had”
Tessira smiles mischievously with a twinkle in her eye.
“Cordirm was brought into the castle, where he was bathed in perfumed water, and traded his simple homespun tunic and breeches for satin and velvet.”
“Thus another suitor joined the hundreds who sought the Princess' hand.”
“But, in Aurorah's eyes at least,” Tessira continues dreamily, “Cordirm was a phoenix amidst the butterflies.”
“However, Cordirm was a simple man unused to the deception he was being asked to keep”
Tessira sighs regretfully, shaking her head slowly.
“The simple story of a suitor from a far-off land quickly fell apart.” “Cordirm was quickly taken before an Imperial Tribunal, and charged with the heinous crime of seducing the Princess.”
Tessira drops her voice almost to a whisper, as if she cannot bear to repeat the outcome.
“He was judged guilty, and was dragged off to the docks for his punishment... banishment from the realm.”
Tessira hangs her head dejectedly, continuing in a broken voice, “Never to be seen again."
Tessira lifts her head to reveal a smile and sparkle in her eye, “...Or so thought Solirus.”
“Aurorah was a clever girl, and studied the magical arts in secret.”
“Until one night... <leans forward conspirationally>”
“When her father's guards had fallen asleep, she cast a spell to surround herself with a brilliant bubble of light and flew from the palace.”
“She raced over the Celestial Ocean, searching here and there.”
“Until she found the boat that held her beloved, pushed about by the gentle ocean waves.”
“Cordirm was overjoyed that he had not been forgotten. Aurorah was exultant that she had found her love. <beams triumphantly>”
“It was quite reluctantly that the two parted ways that evening... lest Solirus search for his daughter and devise a worse punishment when he found her.”
“From then on, whenever her father was deep in sleep, or away on business... Aurorah would leave the palace and dart over the ocean, searching for her love.”
“Some nights, the two would find each other.”
“Others... <nods sadly> Many, many others... <sighs deeply>”
“Aurorah would return to her chambers, disappointed at her ill luck, but with the hope of a better day in her heart.”
Tessira nods, her face sincere as she clenches a hand over her heart.
“And that, my friends, is why stars shoot across the sky.”
Tessira gazes to the heavens, her eyes and head following a phantom trail of light.
“and why it is such good fortune for two lovers to meet beneath one.”
“For if two so very far apart can find love...”
“How much easier it can be for those who are together.”