Character Sketch: Princess Aria

[AvestheForumFox]

the following text is not in direct linkage to the picture above. Its a passage from my literature. a kind of sample from the first draft. =) [Its not perfect... In fact, its pretty dated. Expect errors!]

Passage from Children of Arkia
Book 1. Journey to Ceria
Chapter 15. The Council Beyond the Clouds [first draft]

<p>   “Take one look at the little princess.” Said Ollyan “Look into her eyes, my dear fellowship, and look at them well. For you are looking into the very pupils of the goddess, Kornelia, herself!”
<p>   When he said this, there was a sudden silence, the council members leaned in looking at Aria who herself was taken back by Ollyan’s words.
<p>   “Yes, my friends.” Continued Ollyan after a few seconds of the silence “The very spirit of the goddess is within the daughter of Burmea. It is there that she lives until the princess herself marries and has a daughter of her own, and to that daughter she passes the stone, and Kornelia descends into her until the next generation. It has been like this for many generations since the time of Princess Burmea.”
<p>   “He must be speaking the truth!” said Dennith suddenly, and all eyes were upon him. Aria herself was looking at him as if he had gone quiet mad. Dennith gulped and stepped forward to explain himself. “I… I know it sounds silly, but… I’ve seen things about Aria; strange and… wonderful things! There was a night that she confronted a sea serpent, pleading for its help to save us from the Imperial ships. That night she withdrew the stone and it glowed as if it were a second moon. And… and… I saw wings. They were hard to see, but they were there!”
<p>   There was a loud murmur amongst the council now; Aria’s expression of scrutiny had changed to an expression of wonder as she gazed long at Dennith. She was half wondering if what he was saying was true, she herself had felt and heard wonderful things about herself. Often at night she’d hear an inner voice that wasn’t hers, but was sweet as bells and she held conversations with it. But she never knew whom that voice belonged to. And often those dreams were lost and forgot and the conversations, with them. Only now those dreams were rushing back to her, and she then realized that the goddess within was trying to communicate with her and establish a kind of supernatural connection. It would explain everything, from the ability to read into other’s minds and the ability to communicate with animals. Aria now felt lightheaded and there was a terrible knot of pain at the pit of her stomach. The murmur continued and King Ollyan was trying to calm the noise.
<p>   “That boy is missing a marble or two!” said one of the council members.
<p>   “Silence, men! Please!” said Ollyan trying to calm them.
<p>   Aria finally broke her stare from Dennith and looked at the noisy bunch of old men and the chattering bird king. There was a sudden and strange urge in her now, and she suddenly heard that voice that she was just now remembering.
<p>   ëPick up the stone.’ Said the voice ëLet me speak through you.’
<p>   Aria at first was alarmed by the voice, even more, the thought of channeling it made her all the more ill with fright.
<p>   ëDo not fear me.’ Said the voice, as if it knew Aria’s very thoughts and concerns ëDo it now while there’s still time!’
<p>   Without further hesitation, Aria willingly obeyed the voice from within, she reached forward, her hands grasping the white stone, the moment she touched it, there was a flash of light and she remembered no more of the moments that followed. There was a sudden sound, like a distant thud, or a loud blunt thunderclap. And from the stone there was a flickering vibration or a ripple that came and went as fast as the blinking of an eye. The council members were suddenly silenced by the disturbance, all eyes fell on the princess who didn’t at all seem herself. There was an unearthly light about her, the whites of her eyes glowed, and her pupils were a beautiful blue color like dark clear sapphires, but what struck the onlookers the most was the fact that what appeared to be extending from Aria’s back were two very white, very bright wings; they were spread out from her back, small they were, the perfect size for a child, yet they were beautiful. But looking at them, one could not see the feathers, just the outlines as they seemed as voids of pure white light. In her hands she held the stone, and it glowed, just as Dennith had described it, like a second moon.
<p>   Dennith, Lil Jack and the council members stood half frightened and half awed at the angelic being before them. There was a pleasant air about her, and a sweet smell, like fresh white daisies on a warm spring afternoon. And she spoke addressing the council, her voice gentle and soothing, nothing at all like the voice they knew from Aria herself.
<p>   “The Maenorian King speaks truth.” Said she “I am Kornelia, daughter of Arkea, Queen of this world. Look upon me, men of Arkeon, and look well. This child whom I possess is destined to save you all from my father’s whims. Argon is an unjust and cruel king, and he will work through the so-called Emperor, Alexander as a tool to destroy all that you know and love dearly. Heed my warning! I now leave you to your council. I bid you, think wise.”
<p>   As she spoke these words, very few of the men there were able to hear the words clearly, for those who did hear the warning, they were men pure of heart; but the others heard what sounded like a completely different languageß, unheard of by mortal men, and they understood not the warning that she gave. The Maenorian king and queen heard the message very well, as did Dennith and Lil Jack. But the few men who could not, I will not name here, for they will be revealed much later in this story.
<p>   After she had spoken her warning there was a flash of light and all her signs vanished, the wings, the glow of the eyes and the glow of the crystal, it all simply was not there anymore. And Princess Aria was herself again as she stumbled to the ground trying to catch her breath.
<p>   “Wha-what happened?” she asked blinking up at everyone who came around her. She was trembling but she didn’t seem at all frightened. In fact, while the goddess was speaking through her, Aria found herself in a pleasant dream, in a garden with walls of pearl, and her parents, the king and queen were there with her taking in the splendor of their surroundings. She felt slightly disappointed when she returned finding herself amongst the council. Dennith helped her to her feet, and they went on to explain what had happened, though Aria could remember none of it.

[Kor]

Nice drawing and well written passage.

[AvestheForumFox]

thanks, Kor. =)  you always brighten my day with your positive insight.

[Petrie.]

Part of the passage where only men good of heart could hear the message of the stone reminded me of the Polar Express where only the kids who believed in Santa could hear the sleigh bell.  That's deep, bringing aspects of faith into a story....certainly can help with character development.

Keep going.

[AvestheForumFox]

well, there's also a passage in The Magician's Nephew (Narnia Chronicles) where Aslan explains how those who believe can understand him. and those who don't believe can only hear growls grunts and roars.

I think that's kind of what inspired that part in my book.

[Kor]

Interesting.  I have read the Narnia books many decades ago but forgot that.