NOTE: I was inspired by the visual, but I broke the rule to write a narrative from the perspective of one of the characters. Rather, I wrote in third person, about one of the characters' perspectives. I am going to keep exploring this writing- I enjoyed the story I started, but this is just a scene with an unexpected twist that might happen given the visual. Totally not the type of way I usually write/I don't usually write speculative fiction either, so it's not great but it is a lot of fun to write. Enjoy!

"Today, we are here to celebrate the hard work of all six of you young ladies. After months of grueling training, and many seemingly impossible tests, the six of you have made it. I want to congratulate you all on your achievements. We started with 200 young women, and here we are, our final six. Can you hardly believe it? I would like to toast to all of you," the man lifted his glass of champagne in the air.

"Here's to an incredible group of six young ladies. Six young ladies, who, have made it. There is no doubt in my mind that each of you has earned this. There is no doubt anyone could be more deserving of this, than you fine, young ladies. I congratulate you all, and here's to a lifetime of successes for you each. May you do great things, and may all you are destined for bring you much satisfaction and power. To you, my dearest young ladies, congratulations. I couldn't be prouder of the six of you. Cheers, my dears!" The six young ladies all clinked their glasses, saying, 'Cheers!', and sipped their champagne.

'Now, let's eat. Shall we?' The man's words were an invitation for the young woman to begin eating, and celebrating their new success. The sound of silverware clinking and the girls giggling and whispering to one another filled the air- it was a sound of celebration and good cheer.

Blue birds sang beautiful songs nearby, and beautiful butterflies of all different colors gracefully glid around them. It was a perfect Spring Day for a celebration. The sky was clear, a beautiful baby blue, and the golden sun was shining brilliantly. There was not a cloud to be seen, and it was warm, with an ever so slight breeze, keeping them all quite comfortable as they enjoyed the celebration lunch in the courtyard of the castle.

The man cleared his throat, asking for their attention once again. 'Now, ladies, I'm sure you've all been waiting for your placements, have you not?' The girls all gasped and looked at one another with wide eyes and wider smiles. They began whispering to one another in excitement- this was the moment they were all really waiting for. Rumors had been swirling in the halls of the castle the week before about when they would finally be placed. The day before, Aroura had guessed it would be at this celebration luncheon where the announcement would come, but the others didn’t believe her.

‘Sir Henry won’t do it at our celebration, of course not. There will be some sort of ceremony, I’m sure of it,’ Heilia had said. The other girls nodded in agreement. Katia had said, ‘Do you know Sir Henry at all, Aurora? Of course there will be a ceremony, a grand one- perhaps the whole village will be in attendance. Perhaps, perhaps our families, too!’

Katia couldn’t hide the hope in her voice, and for a moment the thought of it made Aurora’s heart beam to think of the possibility, but she soon felt a sinking feeling in her stomach. It was the feeling of longing, of desire, back again. She had missed her family terribly during the last two years- the girls were to have no contact with anyone from their past while undergoing the Trials. It was said that they wouldn’t be able to perform at their best with outside distractions, and they were to develop their own sense of self throughout the Trials. They were meant to become fit for positions in the High Castle, the ones they would take on if chosen at the end of the two year Trials. The Trials were also meant to be kept confidential- any and everything that happened in those two years was kept top secret, and no one who had gone through any amount of the Trials before ever came back to tell stories of them- there were rumors, of course, but anyone involved remained tight lipped until their death’s. That’s how it was for centuries, so they said. Tradition was highly valued in the High Castles, and anyone who meant to break it was to be banished from the village immediately.

Aurora had seen it happen- the banishing of someone who broke the Laws- but only once in her lifetime, and even that was rare. It was a girl not much older than her, and she had been friends with Aurora’s older brother. The Girl’s family lived a few cottages over from Aurora’s for as long as she could remember, so when it happened it was quite traumatizing for the whole community, and especially Aurora’s brother. Although Aurora knew The Girl her whole life- they grew up so close in proximity that they were almost like family themselves, in a way, she had no trouble herself putting her out of mind, not letting her feelings get in the way of what had to be done to keep order. She could easily push out memories of The Girl from the times spent together over the years- her brother couldn’t do so as eaily. Their families often celebrated the High Holidays together, as both Head Men of their families worked in the same division of the village, and the mother’s both helped at their community garden every other day and would often have tea at one another’s cottage in the evenings. The Girl was often at Aurora’s cottage, either accompanying her mother to tea, or there for Theodoro, Aurora’s brother. She had become almost like an older sister over the years- but this was something Aurora would never admit to a soul after what had happened. In fact, Aurora’s whole family had cut The Girls family out of their lives completely- if not because they had to according to the High Castle Laws, it was because they didn’t want the shame of the situation cast onto them the way it was the rest of her family. It hurt Aurora to see her brother lose his best friend, but when he struggled to let go, Aurora couldn’t help but become angry with his inability to live by the Law. This anger created a divide between Aurora and Theodoro, a divide that was never remedied. While she missed her family, she knew it was best that she focused on her New Life now. Her duty was now devoted to the High Castle, and its Laws. She pushed the feeling of sadness that came with thinking of her family away, a skill she had mastered during the two years of the Trials.

Emotion and feeling were never supposed to come first in the village. All were to live lives lead by the Logic’s of the Law, and all were to be devout to the Logic’s of the Law. None should ever question the Logic’s, as that would make for a very sad, lonely life. It was easier this way- putting emotion and personal feelings aside to live according to the High Castle made it easier. Throughout schooling, the village children were taught lessons on how to not feel, how to not let their emotions get ahold of them and cloud their judgements- this lead to trouble almost always, as it had for The Girl. She was a perfect reminder of what trouble emotion and feelings could bring, and the High Castle made sure to make an example of her. The High Castle often used The Girl to remind its citizens to follow the Logic’s of the Law these days, and it was a frightening reminder indeed. The Village lived in fear of what would happen if one did not live by the Logic’s such as The Girl had done. It wasn’t ever shared by the High Castle what exactly happened of The Girl, but they maintained that the horrifying rumors weren’t nearly as terrible as the truth.

Aurora’s mind shook the thoughts of The Girl and placed her attention back on Sir Henry as he clinked his glass with a knife, shushing the whispering and giggling.

‘Now, now’, he said, ‘if I could have your undivided attention at once. I have prepared something for you all to get your placements.’ He snapped two fingers and at once two of his servants came scurrying over to the table they sat at. They blew into their trumpets, commencing the start of Sir Henry’s prepared announcements. His brigade marched through the courtyard over to the table, and they set up a long table covered with a quilt, and a projector with a large screen across from where they sat. The servants blew their trumpets again, once the projector and screen were set up. With a snap of Sir Henry’s fingers, a movie began playing on the screen. The girls nervously squealed as they began watching attentively- their Placements had been greatly anticipated. It was finally time to learn where they would each end up within the High Castle, which village they would soon rule. There was six villages each in the High Castle, so it was presumed each would rule over one. The movie was a reminder of the responsibilities each young lady would soon hold, and the importance of their new roles in the order of the High Castle and the Logic’s of the Law. It briefly detailed the history of the High Castle, and what life was like before, showing the need for things to be the way they are now. It depicted the Old Way as one of chaos and turmoil, as the Old Way was always remembered as. On the contrary, it showed the way of the High Castle as not just the right way, it was made clear it was the only way if things were to never go back to the tragic Old Way. Movies such as this were often played throughout the Village. In the years of schooling, each day started with a movie that Aurora was now reminded of. It explained to the children how scary the Old Way was, and promised them hopeful, fruitful futures living under the High Castle. It outlined the 10 Logic’s, a daily reminder for school children how they must act, how they must carry themselves both in school, and within their community for the rest of their lives. It ended with a pledge to the High Castle, where the students were made to stand up and Pledge their Allegiance to the Mighty High Castle and to the Mighty Sir and Miss, the leaders of the land who represented all that was the High Castle and the six villages underneath it.

At the end of the movie, students would Pledge to the Lady of their Village, and that would commence the start of each school day. It was starting to sink in for Aurora that thousands of school children would soon be pledging their alliance to her each day. When she was a school child, the Pledge to their Lady was always her favorite part of the morning movie routine. She had looked up to the Ladies since she was just barely able to talk. For as long as she could remember, the ladies of her Village were heroes to her. She was always in attendance whenever they were to make a public appearance, and she always brought a heaping bouquet of the prettiest flowers in the land to give to the Dear Lady. A Lady ruled a forty-year term, and being just the age one could become a Lady- 18- there had only been one other during Aurora’s lifetime. Lady Ellory, was her name, and Aurora wanted to be just like her for as long as she remembered. Lady Ellory was beautiful, with beautiful, curled auburn hair, green eyes as sparkly as the most precious gems, and a soft, sincere smile. She was the most beautifully dressed woman in the whole land, the other Ladies couldn’t compete with her impeccable taste and eye for fashion. She was known to wear makeup, although only enough to barely notice she was wearing any at all. This wasn’t typical of a Lady- most viewed things like make up and fancy clothes as distractions from their duties. But Lady Ellory was a modern, groundbreaking leader. She impacted generations of young girls in monumental ways, encouraging them to be courageous enough to fight for the High Castle like a man, but graceful enough to lead with the compassion of a mother, and the care of a nanny. She believed it was her duty to watch over the land as if she would her own family. Lady Ellory never did have her own family- although she was known to say that she did.

‘You are my family, citizens of the Village of Odsworth. You are my sons, you are my daughters, and I shall protect you as so.’ Lady Ellory’s declaration was one that Aurora admired deeply. For the past two years she had been crafting her own such deceleration, but often felt hers to be shortcoming in relation to Lady Ellory’s. She studied with the knowledge she would lead the mother to her Village, the way Lady Ellory had, taking care of the citizens like they were her own. When the new young ladies would finally be commenced as the village Ladies, the old Ladies would finally get to enter into the last years of their life with no more responsibilities. They were each given beautiful castles to spend their last years living in, and were given anything and everything they could ever want to ensure their thanks and acknowledgements were felt for their years of service. Aurora’s mother had told her when Lady Ellory commenced, the Lady before her was the one to crown her at the ceremony, and this was typical in the High Castle per the traditions of commencements. Aurora had dreamt of the day she might get to not only meet Lady Ellory personally but be crowned by her. She couldn’t imagine a greater honor. And now, as long as she was given the position of Lady from her own village, which was usually how positions were chosen, the moment she had dreamt of so hard for so long would be happening in the very near future. The excitement surged through her body- two years of Trial’s were really, finally, over. This luncheon was the first time Arora really let her accomplishment sink in, it was the first time she really thought about what it all meant, and what was in store for her future. Before that, she didn’t let herself imagine becoming a Lady. Desire was an Evil, an evil that would only distract her from the duties she had to get done and the learning she had to focus on. If she let an Evil get in her head, surely, she wouldn’t have made it to where she was now, at her placement lunch.

‘Here they come!’ Delia, the young lady sitting to Aurora’s left whispered, loudly, as she pointed out across the courtyard to six servants who were walking towards the table, each holding something hidden underneath a quilt. The men brought the objects to one of the long tables that was set up in the courtyard. Two servants picked up the table and moved it to be front and center underneath the projector screen. Each quilt was a royal color, representing each of the six villages. Royal Red represented Downterly. Royal Blue represented Upterly. Royal Green represented Easterly. Royal Indigo represented Southender. Royal Pink represented Northender, and finally, Royal Purple represented the village Aurora came from- Westerly. King Henry at once rose from the luncheon table and walked over to the long table the six young ladies were all staring at with anticipation.

‘Ladies of anew, the time has come. I will hand it off to the Great Miss, Miss Elizabetha.’ At once, the great Miss appeared behind the long table, and the girls erupted in cheer. The Miss was a woman of mystery and intrigue. Unlike the King, the Miss had the ability of magic, per tradition. She was gifted with the ability of space travel- she could disappear and reappear out of thin air. She could be in the furthest village away from the High Castle, Downterly, and then back at the High Castle in the time one blinked. That said, she wasn’t seen often, and when she was she didn’t reveal much of anything about her whereabouts or activities. The King was the leader out of the two in the public eye, the Miss lead from a distance, somewhere in the shadows. It was a protection measure, but it also added to the air of mystery that surrounded the High Castle. Aurora couldn’t believe she was here. Two years of Trials and she hadn’t appeared once. Miss Elizabetha stood in front of the young ladies, with a sly grin on her face and a twinkle in her eye.

‘So, these are them, hmm’, she murmured to herself, before giving a half glance in the King’s direction. ‘King Henry has told me much about each and every one of you. I know all it is to know about each of you. I have watched you all, for a very long time. Since you were children, in fact. I know in my heart you each possess the qualities a Lady must hold. I have no doubt you will all do great things. Now, your placements.’ And with that, the Miss poofed, and disappeared into thin air with a bout of smoke. Aurora’s eyes went wide, and she smiled with delight. Although they had all heard the tales of the disappearing Miss, she had never actually seen it happen in front of her. Her heart beat with intrigue and her mind raced with possibility- the High Castle would teach her much about things she only read about in her fairy tales as a child. The magic was real. This magical world was about to become her own to live in- she felt almost nauseas with overwhelm. She couldn’t hardly wait any longer to get placed. Right on cue, soon a horse drawn carriage made its way into the yard. The carriage was covered and closed tight, impossible to see who was in it. Aurora had a pretty good idea, though. Her stomach flipped and her heart skipped a beat. As the horses came to a stop, a servant unzipped the carriage cover, revealing a little door way for its occupants to exit from. He placed a step stool underneath and held out his hand for the occupants to take getting out. Amilia, Auroras best friend within the six ladies looked across the table at her with her mouth held open in an oh shape. Aurora mouthed, ‘its her! Lady Ellory’ at her friend, who looked back at the carriage with surprise as Aurora’s guess became true. Lady Ellory exited the carriage, followed by the five other Ladies of the High Castle’s villages. Aurora almost jumped from her seat; she could barely contain herself. She took a deep breath, pinching her arm under the table and reminding herself what she learned about dramatic feelings and the trouble they bring. This thought calmed her down, slowing her mind and heartbeat down to a normal rate. She had to keep cool for the moment Ellory crowned her. A few minutes later, four of the girls had their placements. The villages of Westerly and Downterly were the last left. Lady Ellory stood in front of the Royal Purple quilt, and slowly revealed the crown underneath it. Aurora breathed slowly, and thought about anything except what was about to happen- she would not look like a fool, she would stay calm. Lady Ellory took the crown in her hands and walked to the table. She asked the two remaining ladies to stand- Aurora and Delia, who were sitting next to each other. Both girls stood at once. Lady Ellory was behind them, and made her way to be standing right behind both girls.

'And, now, for the Crowning of Lady Westerly,' Lady Ellory spoke the words with care and she placed the crown atop a head of long, blonde hair.

'May I present to you all, Lady Westerly!' The crowd that had now gathered in the courtyard arrupted in cheers. Aurora smiled from ear to ear, opening her eyes. She reached up to feel the crown on her head- suddenly she gasped. There was nothing there. Her eyesight went a bit blurry, and she felt like she was going to throw up. She didn't understand what was going on. Until, she looked to her left, and saw that it was Delia wearing her crown, Delia had been crowned by Lady Ellory, Aurora had not. Aurora was to be crowned Lady of Downtely? How could this be?