16Chapter 2 Song of Freedom
Her children referred to her as Nana, especially around their children. With her snow white hair and wrinkled face, she was a wise woman who knew more than most servants did. This old woman had been given the job of caring for a strange charge, a song bird. Nana knew that the king could not see the girl's pain and wept for sadness in her eyes every evening. For 10 years she bathed the girl, dressed her in silks, and lay jewelry against the porcelain skin.
Nana's skin and hands were quite different, they were weathered by age for she was servant who had been given only light duties. She had cared for the king's now dead wife and for his son who was now grown. It was this son that Nana worried over most. The boy looked at the girl, the song bird, and saw a wife. While she cared deeply for the boy, Nana knew the problems with magic. It would eventually fail and the prince would lose his wife to her true nature. She also knew the cruelty of laying more gold on her, as it was gold that imprisoned her.
After 10 years, when even her grandchildren were out of the King's reach, Nana decided to save her charge. Nana was old, ready to die. So before the King arrived, she removed the girl's jewelry and smiled.
"My dear, you have suffered to long. Forgive me for not doing this sooner." Nana wept openly at the hopelessness in the girl's eyes. Picking up the ball carefully, Nana led the girl to the window. "Enjoy your freedom, and may it last forever."
The girl let out a sigh, her eyes drinking in the rising sun. Nana's back creaked as she bent down to unclasp the anklet. With the release of the tiny ball the girl shrank quickly. She sang happily as her arms became wings and feathers covered her skin.
Soon a bird of blue and red coloring fluttered to the window sill. It was a large bird, close to 1 foot tall, and had a lovely yellow beak. The room itself seemed darker without the girl. It sang a song of thanks to Nana, and then flew through the window. Feeling the wind beneath its wings, the rich earth below, and the light radiant sky above and all around; the bird began to sing of freedom. Nana held the ball and knew that it would be her death. It was impossible to regret though, for the one song of freedom was so rich and full that all the songbird's songs of sadness were a pale comparison.
A/n It is short I know, but then look at the first chapter. I hope it was enjoyable and that the second chapter is strong enough to go with the first.