Rtheilia's Voice

Many years ago, when the enchanted folks were still able to live among us humans, there lived a group of goblins. Now these goblins were horrible, ugly creatures, with warts the sizes of acorns planted on their faces, and teeth that were pointed and yellow. Their ears pointed outward like the elves, but they were green, hairy, and had bumps along them. The goblins were green, like the water in the swamps. Their eyes were black like the night. Despite their ugliness, they held the highest praises of being warriors and fighters.

Among the goblins came Rtheilia, the goblin princess. She was the most ugly of them all, with the deepest, darkest, eyes and the most ugly warts. Her skin was slimy green, in some cases even different shades of green. Yet above all her ugliness, Rtheilia had the most lovely voice. It was pure and sweet that while she sang, everyone seem to forget that she was ugly.

One day Rtheilia was walking among the palace, singing to herself. It was a dreary day, with the sun hidden behind the clouds, and rain pouring nonstop. The outside creatures had hidden away, so there was no music to sing along or dance to. Rtheilia found herself quite bored, for her parents, the king and queen gone on some royal business.

"I want to fly away," Rtheilia said to herself. "Fly away somewhere new, where nobody can find me."

It was true. Lately she hadn't been feeling like herself. The days had been more cloudy and she felt something in her heart that she couldn't place. She felt like she was drifting away and soon enough she would be gone forever.

At last Rtheilia stopped at at door and opened it quietly. On her parents last conquest, they had brought back many gifts, including a mirror that could speak. Rtheilia found herself coming to speak with the mirror, day after day, after day.

The mirror wasn't grand at all. It was small and golden, set upon on the back wall. It was simple and nothing more.

"Mirror," Rtheilia cried, as she came to stand in front of the mirror.

A cloudy haze filled the mirror's surface and out came a face of a young man. The young man's face was handsome, with his blue eyes shining and black hair waving in a unknown wind. He smiled, revealing white, shimmering teeth.

"Hello Rtheilia," the mirror said, his voice deep and smooth.

"Hello Mirror," Rtheilia answered, with a sigh.

"Why do you look so glum today?" the mirror asked.

"I want to fly away to somewhere I never have to leave," Rtheilia cried.

"Fly away you say," the Mirror said, raising an eyebrow.

"Yes," Rtheilia cried. "I want to fly away and never come back. I am tired or being a goblin. I am tired of having people only like me because of my voice. I mean I love my voice but I just want to go away."

"I might have a way," the Mirror mused.

"Oh please do," Rtheilia cried. "I'll do anything."

"Give me three days," the Mirror instructed.

"Three days," Rtheilia shrieked. "How must I bear three days?"

"As a princess should," the Mirror answered, sternly.

Rtheilia knew that the Mirror was speaking truth. She nodded and went away, hoping and praying that the Mirror would find a way. For as long as she could remember, her parents did not love her. She was thrown from nanny to nanny, being taught from teacher to teacher. She knew no love, no family. She knew that her parents only cared about each other. They had no room for her. Even with her voice, they paid no heed to her. She was just another goblin to them.

Oh to fly away. Fly far, far away.

After the third day had passed, Rtheilia returned back to the room where the Mirror hung.

"Mirror," she shouted.

The face of the young man returned, smiling slightly. "You called."

"Have you found a way," Rtheilia demanded.

"Yes, but it will cost you," the Mirror said, truthfully.

"I don't care, just tell me," Rtheilia cried.

The Mirror waited for a minute. "You must give up your singing voice."

Rtheilia stood there, processing what the Mirror had just said. Give up her voice. She couldn't. If she gave up her voice, everyone would just see how ugly she was. At least her voice allowed her to hide some of her ugliness.

"My voice," she said. "I can't."

"I said it would cost," the Mirror pointed out. "I am afraid this is the only way."

"Yet why?" Rtheilia asked. "Isn't there any other way?"

The Mirror shook his head. "I spent the last three days trying to find a way. Yet jumping from world to world takes great risk and costs great."

Rtheilia stood there, thinking about it. Did she really want to fly away? Did she really want to leave the comfort of the palace and the servants? Did she really want to leave behind the only home that she knew?

"I am a goblin," she said.

"Yes, yes you are," the Mirror answered.

"Without my singing I am ugly," Rtheilia said, tears springing to her eyes.

"Maybe you will be changed into a beautiful princess on the other side," the Mirror laughed.

"I read stories," Rtheilia said. "That will never happen."

"Beauty always comes from within," the Mirror pointed out. "Beauty does not have to come from the outside but inside."

"You're just trying to be kind," Rtheilia said, a tears sliding down her face.

"Am I your friend," the Mirror asked.

"Yes," Rtheilia answered.

"I won't lie to you," the Mirror said. "Someday, someone will find beauty within you without your singing. Yet until that time arrives, you must find beauty within yourself."

"How," Rtheilia demanded. "Every time I see myself in the mirror I want to vomit."

"Say you're beautiful out loud to yourself," the Mirror said, gently. "You won't believe it at first, but in time you will."

"I won't because I am not," Rtheilia said, crossing her arms. "Forget it, I will gladly keep my voice for that is the one beauty I do have."

"As you wish my lady," the Mirror said.

There came a sense of dread falling upon Rtheilia. She could not stay in the palace a day longer, but oh she could not give up her voice. She could not face her ugliness ever day without her singing. If she were to leave, who would show her any kindness? Who would help her along the way?

Was the Mirror telling the truth. Could somebody actually love her someday with her looks? Could she love herself one day?

Rtheilia turned back to the Mirror and sighed. She knew what he would say. He would say that she would have to try. She would never know if she never tried.

"Will I be able to speak with you still?" she asked, quietly.

"No," the Mirror answered, simply.

Rtheilia looked hard at the Mirror, her lips quivering with sadness. The Mirror had become her best and only friend. How on earth could she find another like him? Were there any other people if she stepped into the other world? Would be there any magic at all?

"Look at it as the next adventure," the Mirror said, as if reading her thoughts.

"Will you miss me if I were to go?" Rtheilia asked.

"Of course, my lady," the Mirror replied, gently. "You have been a good friend."

Rtheilia looked long and hard at the Mirror and knew he was telling the truth about everything. She took a deep breath and nodded to herself. She would have to do it, unless she wanted to die in this rotten place. Besides, other then the Mirror, nobody would miss her. She knew that her parents would find another heir or create another heir.

Life would go on without her.

"Alright," she said. "Lets do it."

"Are you sure?" the Mirror asked.

"Yes, I am sure," Rtheilia replied. "I don't like it but it must be done."

The Mirror nodded. "You must sing to open the gateway. Once the gateway is open, all you have to do is step through. I don't know what happens when you step through."

"Wait, I have to sing to open the gateway," Rtheilia said.

To open the gateway, sucks your singing from you and when it opens, you know your singing has been drained out of you the Mirror answered.

Rtheilia understood. She stood there for a moment, taking a deep breath. Letting out her breath, she began to sing, full of much passion and pureness as she could muster. This was for her. She was sacrificing the one thing she held the dearest for a new start in life. A new chance to be somebody new.

As she sang, she saw within the mirror, what appeared to be a door coming to life. The image of the door grew clearer and she sang even harder and louder. The door came to life and it swung open, revealing a white, shimmering light.

"Step through," the Mirror's voice said.

Rtheilia was enchanted and began walking towards the white, shimmering light. As she was about to step through, she stopped.

"Thank you," she whispered.

"Thank you," the Mirror answered. "Now go learn to live in the beauty that you are."

With tears of sadness and happiness flowing down her cheeks, Rtheilia stepped into the shimmering light.