MY SENSES were overwhelmed with the scent of saltwater as I stood at the very edge of the cliff. The tips of my feet hanging off.

I looked, and remembered, at the vast sea. Remembering what it was like to be free, to flow freely through the air, to be weightless. That feeling that I can experience only in combat. I've been longing for it. Just a taste of the adrenaline, the determination, the power. It's what life offers me. That's my purpose for breathing.

The ocean under me smashed into the cliff of rock. The water, each time it touches the rock, attempts to ascend higher and higher, causing its playful mist to rise to me. Around me, the clouds settled, blurring the world from my sights. I could hear the waves roaring, battling for the title of the biggest, I could hear the birds zipping through the clouds, diving to the surface of the ocean.

There is always something making sounds when the world around you is never totally still, you just need to listen. Listen to the tiniest pieces of sounds that have existed from things you forgot. Such as a cricket's chirp on a humid summer night, or a firefly's faint buzz.

I closed my eyes as I felt myself lean forward slightly. My whole body dropped forward, freely descending into the sea. I clashed with the water underneath my falling body. Water surrounded me, filling my lungs, and plugging my ears. But I didn't resist, I let the body of water take me whole. It was completely silent. Often, to help you think, silence is what you need.

"It's peaceful, isn't it?" my best friend Elowen questioned. I opened my eyes and glanced behind my shoulder to see her as she came up next to me on the cliff and gazed mindlessly into the fog. She had her blonde hair braided and laid on her back. I watched as she crossed her arms in the corner of my eye and took a deep breath. At first, I did not respond to her question. I wanted to savor the moment, the silence, before breaking it.

"Ayah loved the ocean." I mumbled, "She used to stay up throughout the nightfall and listen to the waves. I asked her once, why she wasted her sleep on the water, and she just told me to listen."

Elowen hummed, "And what did you hear?"

"Nothing. The only sound I could hear was the waves fighting against each other, and it was soothing. I had the sensation of being able to breathe again." I answered. I could just imagine Ayah sitting at the edge next to me, breathing in the salty air with a brightening smile on her young face. I quickly blinked away the imagined vision of her.

We sat in comfortable silence for what felt like ages, but neither of us complained. I turned around wordlessly and walked away from the edge of the precipice and into the descended clouds. Elowen followed behind me, walking away from the edge silently.

Flashes of my siblings came and went in my vision. I lost them three years ago. All three of them. My young sister Ayah, my younger brother Alistair, and my older sister Soleil. They suffered the consequences of my mistakes.

It haunts me to this day. I could've done something about it...I could've.

I walked through the blinding fog until the outline of our home began to show. When I reached the steps to the Oak front door, I stopped and waited for Elowen. After a few moments, she emerged from the fog. Her grey dress flowed with her movements.

I walked into the house with Elowen behind me. The rich smell of tea hit my nose. I could feel my body hum with excitement. Once we entered the kitchen, Elowen poured me a hot cup of light brown and energizing liquid. I grabbed the small spoon from the sugar bowl and put a dab of sugar in my cup.

She watched me walk over to the living area and sit on the floor with my back against the sofa. She followed me and sat on the sofa behind me.

"I don't know how you sit on that floor," She said with a slight chuckle in her English accent.

"It's not as bad as you'd think," I countered. Elowen just shrugged and blew on the surface of her tea.

Elowen has always been very quiet. She's not one for confrontation or friends. She prefers her alone time and preserves it even. The only person she talks to consistently is me. She and I are complete opposites, so it makes sense when others are confused when they find out how close we are.

Elowen is quiet and prefers to stay out of arguments. I'm loud and will always tell my opinion if it is needed.

Elowen likes her alone time and appreciates the little things. I don't care about my time, I worry more about what challenges tomorrow will bring me.

Elowens' is shy and polite. I am angry and rude. She's blonde and I have black hair. She, like the rest of the madams of the land, wore dresses. And I wore pants like the men do, which is highly frowned upon.

Complete and total opposites but we work well together. Without each other, I fully believe we would be lost.

A knock at the door grasped our attention. Elowen stands up from her spot on the couch, hands me her tea, and walks to the dark oak door. The wooden flooring underneath her creased to make any noises. I listened as she unlocked all the hinges on our door. Why would someone be out here?

I quietly placed mine and Elowen's teacups on the small side table. I stood up from the floor and slowly crept to the wall that would block me from anyone's view.

"Oh!" I heard Elowen exclaim with surprise, "Your Majesty."

My eyebrows furrowed in confusion. I peeked around the corner to see that Elowen had dropped down to the floor. A woman stood before her in an off-white gown with gold designs overlapping the silky fabric. The light reflected off her deep chocolate-colored skin. Her hands were neatly overlapped in front of her. The jeweled fill crown sat on the top of her head, glowing.

Queen Aria of Kavan.

Elowen rose from the floor and looked back at Her Majesty, "To what do I owe this pleasure, your Majesty?"

"I am here to discuss something important with you. May I enter?" Queen Aria asked with a friendly, yet tense tone.

"Yes, please come in." Elowen stammered as she moved out of the walkway, letting Queen Aria pass.

With each step she took, she walked with grace. She was floating as she entered, a bone-chilling draft followed, sweeping against the floorboards. Two tall men with swords attached to their hips entered behind her.

They all walked deeper into the house and towards the living room area, where I was. I couldn't move from my spot on the wall. My feet were glued to the flooring as my heart pounded in my chest. I only hoped she wouldn't recognize me.

Once they all entered the living room, Elowen turned to her majesty nervously, "Would you like some tea?"

Queen Aria shook her head slightly, "No, thank you. I won't be staying long." Her gaze shifted from Elowen to me.

The corner of her lips raised, the tiny smirk evident on the Queen's lips, "Well if it isn't the person I wanted to see. Hello Aislin."

Elowen's eyes widened, skeptical. Elowen knew who I was, and knew that I was well known but didn't know how many people knew me.

I bowed, showing my respect, "Your Majesty. It has been a long time, has it not?"

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Author Note!

Hi Cuties, Mickey Here!

I don't know what to put for the Author's Note but this was the first chapter!

Like it? Love it? Hate it? LMK!

So for anyone who needs help, Aislin is pronounced ASH-lin.