"Lily!" Queen Beatrice called out to her 6-year-old daughter, urging her to sit still. She repeated Lily's name several times, but Princess Lily was not ready to comply just yet. She was wearing a fine linen nightgown in white, adorned with lace trimming. Her golden brown hair cascaded freely over her shoulders, one of the traits she shared with her mother. She ran aimlessly around the palace as the queen and the maids chased after her, but her little legs were faster than they seemed.
"Please, Lily... you need to get ready for bed," her mother pleaded, gasping for breath as she took a seat in the closest chair.
"No, Mama... I don't want to go to bed," Lily ran, squealing with excitement.
"I will sing you a lullaby," her mom offered as a bribe.
Lily turned her head to the side for a moment, then shook it.
"How about a bedtime story?"
"Mama, you've already told me all the bedtime stories you know, and there's nothing fun about them."
Queen Beatrice knew how smart her daughter was, even at such a young age. She thought for a second. "I have one..." she said as an idea struck her. "A tale you've never heard before."
"Really?" Lily's eyes beamed with excitement. She ran over to her mom but stopped halfway through. "Are you lying to me?" She squinted her eyes, her face filled with suspicion, as if the queen was trying to trick her.
"No... as a queen, I would never do that," she reassured her. Lily smiled warmly and ran into the queen's arms.
The maids tried to pick her up, but the queen signaled for them to stop. She would rather carry her daughter herself.
Queen Beatrice carried Lily all the way to her room and gently placed her on the bed, which was adorned with a cloud of downy pillows and soft, silky sheets—so inviting that the little princess could hardly wait to snuggle beneath the blankets. The chamberstick illuminated the darkness, and stars twinkled in the night sky.
Beatrice gently tucked Lily in with the sheets, stroking her hair slowly, and she began.
"Long ago, before I became a queen, I was an ordinary maiden living an ordinary life."
"Mama, you've already told me this story before," Lily interrupted.
The queen let out a light chuckle. "No, not this one. But if you don't listen, you won't find out... so should we move on?" Lily nodded her head in response, and her mother smiled. "My father was a farmer, and in his free time, he would go hunting, coming back home with meats that would feed us for weeks. Although we were of lower class, we had everything one could wish for.
Being the youngest and only girl among three brothers, I was quite adventurous. But all of that suddenly changed when I encountered a Zephyr."
"What's a Zephyr?" Lily asked, curiosity lacing her tone.
"Zephyrs are mystical creatures that existed in ancient times. Many people believe them to be a myth, but that's exactly what they want us to believe. They are part man, part beast, and part elemental force of nature.
The name Zephyrithaen represents a lineage of individuals blessed with supernatural gifts, dwelling in the realm between the mortal and the mystical, forever shrouded in an aura of intrigue and whispered secrets.
They are very dangerous and should be greatly avoided, but what's even scarier is that they can take the form of an ordinary man, just like you and I."
"That's so scary mama, that means they can be anyone?" Lily questioned feeling scared.
"Yes my dear but you will know when you see one, by their aura and red eyes," The Queen said.
"As I mentioned, the first time I came across a Zephyr was when I went hunting with my father. I was in the woods all alone, setting traps, when I heard a loud growl. At first, I thought it was just a wild animal, only to come face to face with a large, hairy beast. It was bigger than five bears combined, with red eyes staring at me and large, sharp teeth. It growled and walked toward me. I couldn't do anything but scream for help. Thankfully, my father was close by. He swung his sword at the beast and slashed its front limb. Fortunately, that was enough to scare it off. Ever since then, I've dreaded the forest, and I'm even more worried that they might still be out there.
That's why you're never allowed to leave this castle. You will stay here with your dad and me, no matter what. That's the only way I can be sure you're safe."
"What if they come into the castle?" a now-terrified Lily asked. "And then what?"
"They can't, this castle is heavily guarded. There are guards stationed all over the place. I would stop at nothing to protect you," her mother reassured her, gently stroking her hair. "But first, you must promise me never to leave the castle."
"I promise, Mama," Lily whispered, her voice growing faint as she slowly drifted to sleep.
"Forgive me but am only doing this for your own safety" Queen Beatrice muttered. A drop of tear fell down her cheek.