Amilia was the daughter of the king, a very beautiful and carefree girl. Her beauty inspired many a festival and courageous act in the kingdom from hopeful followers. Among the many who wanted her hand was Filipoles. Filipoles was the captain of her personal guard.
Time and time again he would approach her with gifts, accomplish feats of skill and endurance in her honour and serenade her as he followed her throughout the kingdom. Yet Amilia did not return his affections. A girl of innocent charm and presence she rarely carried an awareness of her effect on men.
One day, after Filipoles had again sang the sweetest of songs, climbed the highest mountain in the region and returned with flowers that only grew atop it for Amilia, his heart grew bitter from her rejection. Could she not understand his feelings for her? Why did she persist in playing the fool?
Filipoles went to her bed chamber that evening. He plunged his knife into her chest and cut out her heart. Her screams awoke the whole palace, but when the first witnesses entered her bed chamber all they found was Amilia curled up on her bed, staring out the window. Although there was blood on her gown, her body showed no sign of a wound.
Filipoles went to her bed chamber that evening. He plunged his knife into her chest and cut out her heart. Her screams awoke the whole palace, but when the first witnesses entered her bed chamber all they found was Amilia curled up on her bed, staring out the window. Although there was blood on her gown, her body showed no sign of a wound.
Filipoles had stolen her heart and taken it away with him. He travelled for days, finally arriving at Mount Olympus. At the foot of the mountain he entered a cave, and after hours of walking underground he entered a cavern filled with ice. Here he cut a pedestal from the ice and upon it laid Amilia’s still beating heart.
Upon returning to the kingdom Filipoles was stripped of his position and sent to the edge of the kingdom. He lived out his days in bitterness, finally plunging into madness because of it. Years past and the kingdom mourned the loss of their beloved Amilia. She no longer smiled and her youth seemed to have been washed away, to be replaced by the cold eternity of a soul void of emotion.
Many sought to return her heart, however none ever found it. Filipoles had lost touch of reality in his bitterness and could no longer speak to relate the location of the cavern. In a desperate attempt to return his daughter to her former self, the king announced that the reward for return of her heart would be the kingdom. One of those who answered this call was Adalius, the twin brother of Filipoles. One of calm and collected personality, Adalius went in search of his twin and spent two years in his company, deciphering Filipoles’ meaningless ramblings. None know what passed between them during those years, however shortly after Adalius travelled to Mount Olympus and located Amilia’s heart.
A great festival was held at the palace upon Adalius’ return. The overjoyed king sent for Amilia and had Adalius present her with her heart himself. The heart once encased in ice, slowly thawed out in her small hands. The people watched with wonder as her face slowly gained its former beauty and vitality. Yet it was not meant to be. As Amilia regained her emotions tears streamed down her face, a decade of feeling washed over her in a matter of seconds and she could not stand such intensity. She threw her heart over Adalius’ head into the bonfire the king had ordered made for the festival. As her heart burnt she uttered a prayer to the gods, asking them to take the heart away from her forever so she would never have to endure the bottled emotions therein again.
Although onlookers tried to save the heart from the fire, it was lost in the flames and Amilia forever bereft of emotion. Adalius left shortly after, no longer wishing to claim Amilia or the kingdom. And so the once powerful kingdom dissolved upon the death of its former ruler.
-END-
