~Prologue~

Across this vast land of grass, came a sound foreign to the normally lifeless landscape. Cheering in an incoherent manner sprang from the mouths of ecstatic, enraptured people among an enormous crowd, which stood before a stage. Upon the impregnable stage, stood a group of enthusiastic female dancers doing the traditional Casidian dance brilliantly. The singer was not far from them, he sat with his drums in his lap. With his eyes closed, he made a sound which was only possible to emerge from a human mouth. Rivulets of sweat streamed down his glistening forehead as he sang his heart out. His eyebrows narrowed, his eyes squinting with exhaust, as he struggled to release the talent in his voice he once kept cloistered from the world.

Above, the morose pale sky loomed over the land below, and dashed any hope of it revealing the aureoles golden sunshine hidden behind the clouds and mist. At any moment, iridescent lightning and thunder could have invaded the atmosphere, like an indestructible ferocious army, snatching away the lives of a few feeble citizens. In clement weather could have occurred and forced the sky to release its grand stash of rainwater. However, the cryptic sky remained silent.

The dance ended suddenly, and the crowd roared and applauded the dancers as they gracefully parted from the stage. The crowd dispersed and the celebration continued. Three hundred years ago on this day, Visarmore, the Dark King and friend of death, was defeated and the Dark Age finally ended. Every year the four kingdoms of Casidia individually celebrate this day and treated it as a reminder of the lives which were lost during the fight for freedom and peace.

Ariadne, daughter of Aidan and princess of Mataya, stood by a table laid with glorious rich foods and wine. Her piercing icy blue eyes noted the women laughing and the staggering of the men who had drunk more of their fair share of wine. Her lips lingered on the gold of her goblet until they were numb. She was joined by her elder brother Cedric, son of Aidan, who stood next to her.

He greeted her with a slight nod of his head, his dark shoulder-length hair bouncing on his head as he did, 'sister,' he addressed her.

'Cedric, what can I do for you?' Was her response.

'It would please your mother and I greatly if you looked like you were

having the slightest bit of fun.'

Her lips curved into a cruel smile as her eyes met her mother's who watched them closely from a group too busy to notice her, 'why is it that you worry?'

'It is a day of celebration, Ariadne, I daresay it may be hard to smile once in a while but please do attempt it today.'

'I am perfectly able to flash a smile, brother.'

'Then please do it.' With that he departed from her, leaving her with a slight smile in the corner of her mouth because of how he had acted.

As the day got further into the night, Ariadne moved from group to group. She talked with many men, women and children who entertained her as much as a person could. Her sweet laughter echoed around and wherever she went she seemed to fit in perfectly. When the time came for dancing, she did not take pause to hesitate and watch her friends have fun.

She took part in the group dances and danced with many men as well as encouraging children to join her. She had become the light of the party, determined to prove her brother wrong, that she could enjoy herself. Her smiles and laughter made her glow like an angel, so powerful and radiant that it could have blinded them all.

One dance finished and another began, there came a time when Ariadne became too exhausted to join another. She collapsed on a chair and watched her friends dance in amusement. When they finished she applauded them loudly and awarded them with smiles. Little did she know that she was being watched closely by a man.

He approached her and stood in front of her; at the sight of him Ariadne shot up and sat up straight.

'My lady, is it possible that I may have the next dance?' He asked, there was something subtle about his voice, something she wouldn't expect to find in a man.

'You may, Sir,' she replied as she flashed a smile. The two of them strolled to the other dancing couples. Ariadne snatched this opportunity to study his appearance. His clothing was dark but his hair was fair and it flowed to his shoulders.

They danced for a couple of minutes, although it felt like an hour. To Ariadne the place felt empty and she floating on air. No one had made her feel like this before, not even her beloved brother. When their dance ended and the two of them gazed at each other, Ariadne opened her mouth to speak.

'Sir, you have yet to tell me your name,' she said with a smile.

He returned her smile, 'my name… is Visarmore.'

Ariadne awoke on her chair, her dark strands of hair tangled between her fingers and her mind trying to figure out what had happened. She must have fallen asleep and dreamt, dreamt of Visarmore. What an odd thing to happen, she thought to herself. To dream of a man who was defeated on this very day hundreds of years ago. She smiled to herself, and it was for the first time this night she had actually felt it.