the castle and the crown

I

In my kingdom, names mean everything. 

 Your name is who you are, your identity, your soul. To go without one is a disgrace. Thus, my parents named me Calypso.

When I was a mere infant, my mother and father gave me to God. They christened me Calypso Lyra Éndelva, a choice name for their first daughter.

My first name, Calypso, means "hidden one". A quiet shy girl, as I was supposed to be. I assure you, I was anything but.

My second name, Lyra, means "lyre" in Greek. A musical girl with a brilliant voice. It also comes from one of the brightest stars in the sky. A bright student, a model child. That one's not too accurate, either.

My third name, Éndelva, comes from the tongue of my ancestors. It means "free willed in spirit".

My third name is the true mark of my identity.

After my christening, my parents visited the Altorez family of Winding Willows. A noble home, Lord and Lady Altorez belonged to (their ancestral name, Altorez, meant "strong willed"). After drinking late into the night and toasting to about everything in God's green earth, the Lord and Lady Altorez finally agreed to a betrothal. Their first son, Haden, and I would wed on the eve of my seventeenth birthday, as was tradition.

A handsome name he belonged to, Haden, but I don't think his parents understood that his name meant "boastful".

He was, truly, one of great pride, however, no one could argue his incredible empathy. In our early ages, we were great friends. My father would often travel to the Altorez's castle, and I could often convince him to let me along. While our fathers would be inside discussing boring topics (for one of my age, anyway) Haden and I would be together and indulge in unladylike activities like climbing trees, racing horseback, pulling jokes on servants, and charming the cook into giving us cookies before supper.

He dreamed of becoming a knight, Haden, and I his maiden. He promised me I could accompany him on his adventures, though at the time it was unspeakable for a lady. We were indeed the best of friends.

Then, suddenly, at the mere age of 12, Haden ran away from home and was presumed dead, his parents couldn't bear to speak of him ever again.

How tragic.

Soon enough, my parents found another suitor (there was never a shortage of one who wished to marry into a noble family), Sir Gale (nasty, boring name, means "wind") of the Withered Halls.

I suppose he was rather attractive, but he had this really awful mustache. He never liked to do anything fun. There was no glint in his eye. He spoke in a dull, boring tone, and enjoyed speaking of topics he knew made me squirm, like how many children he would like to have together (Gag).

Sir Gale of the Withered Mustaches held a deep and relentless loathing for Haden, though he had never met him. Gale blames my, er, unladylikeness on Haden and all of the activities we had endulged in together from an early age. Gale, ahem, SIR Gale enjoyed telling the story of Haden's departure in spiteful tones, and expected me to agree. "A good wife will agree with her husband", Gale had said. I reminded him that we not married yet. He glowered.

But I digress.

Today I would not be joined by Sir Gale of the Withered Mustaches. I only had to survive my lady lessons.

"Lady Calypso, did you hear a single word I just said?", Lady Borea's high nasal voice cut through my head like a sword.

I smiled in a way that I hoped looked apologetic.