PeaceMaker

The announcer walked up with a bright smile on his face as he began to address the audience. 

"We must be having some blessing for this to happen," the announcer grinned. He turned around and bowed before the king. "It must all be thanks to the King's presence."

"Oh please, enough with the flattering Chris and carry on with the celebration," the King chuckled, waving dismissively at the announcer. 

"Yes my King," Chris grinned. He turned to the audience, taking in their curious faces. "You must be wondering what I am talking about right? What miracle, what amazing event was taking place?" 

The audience simultaneously shouted out a 'yes' and the announcer chuckled. 

He smiled, "Then I shouldn't keep you waiting for longer." Stepping to the side, he allowed the next performer to step out in front of him. "Up next, we have Maria Crowly, second oldest in her family and the second oldest daughter."

The crowd gasps and their eyes quickly turn to look at Maria. Their curious eyes were not disappointed. The Crowly sisters never seemed to disappoint. 

"It seems like they will be coming in order for us," the announcer jokes, to which the audience giggled at. "Now to watch another proud Crowly daughter show us exactly what all those long hours of work has amounted to for her."

Maria looked up at the audience and there's another wave of gasps. There was something seriously wrong with the Crowly family. 

They didn't know how to age forward. 

Once again, one of the oldest children in the family showed up with features that were those of a teen in their early years. It was impossible to judge the kids on their ages by their faces. They didn't show one sign of aging and with every year they gained, the wrinkles on their faces that were supposed to show up somehow found a way to never show up. 

It was stunning. Their beautiful features, their smiles, the way they dressed and carried themselves and then there was the overwhelming amount of talent… it was overkill. Discouraging to the females around their age in the audience around their age but was very advantageous to the mothers of unmarried sons. 

If there was any chance for the marriage proposals to not come rushing in, that chance was long since diminished. 

Maria's eyes sparkled brightly with such a shine that it seemed to present the sea on a bright, sunny day. It glimmered. It was warm. 

She turned around and bowed before the king. "I am Maria, your graciousness, a loyal daughter of the Crowly family."

The King's eyes shined. "What honey-lipped words. You seem to cherish your family a lot, young lady."

"Yes your graciousness," Maria smiled, keeping her body bowed and eyes placed on the ground. "I owe them the world for raising me to be as I am."

"That's good then," The king smiled, "it's always amazing to have a daughter that will be able to remain loyal to her family and to provide as much as they can for it."

"It is only my dream, your graciousness," Maria replied. 

The king smiled brightly. He was in a good mood. "Show us what you have prepared then."

"Yes, your graciousness," Maria bowed. 

Her servant, Mer, who had been following behind her the entire time turned to Maria and gave her the instrument she was going to be using for her performance. Mer then turned to the king and gave a bow before quickly walking away from the spotlight. 

Maria lifted the light instrument up to her shoulders and she snapped into position immediately. The violin fit so nicely in her hands. 

It was just the perfect length, it's curves from the neck to the body were so beautiful and elegant, just as she felt at the moment. 

She gripped her bow lightly, making sure not to tense up her fingers. They were perfectly placed, her pinkie touching the screw of her bow, her ring and middle fingers on the frog and her index finger touching the grip. Her thumb was placed in between the hairs on the bow and the bow itself, pressing against the bow.

Slowly starting simply by playing all four of her strings. G, D, A and then E and ever so cleanly she transitioned into her piece. 

If it had to be described, her playing was so simple and light. It didn't lift one off their feet but rather gave them moments of bliss, filling their minds with carefree moments. Like long strands of grass waving back and forth in the wind, the audience was pulled in and left to drift in her sound.

It was so peaceful. 

Antonio's shoulders relaxed and his eyes began to half close. There was just something with the piece, something with how sad yet light and happy it sounded. Something in the long and smooth notes, something in the calm and steady vibratos in her sound, something about how calm her aura was, how her blue eyes seemed to just… melt into soundness.

The more he listened, the more it felt like a spell. One that lifted him every time she'd bounce her bow on her string slightly and the long steady notes that would follow. It was like she was sailing away somewhere far with him, riding up and down on soft waves.

It was captivating beyond belief. He didn't even know when he started staring and when the world started to melt away.

The more he listened, the more it felt like she was serenading him. Writing a love letter so intricately into every note. Like they were newlyweds finding a way to live out every day in each other's company. That kind of peace, that kind of beauty, that kind of allure, was what she gave off. 

Antonio didn't know how to describe it. Maybe running through flower fields hand in hand with the one you love the most in a serene darkness that was lit up by fireflies that circled around them. Then staring up at the stars together and falling asleep in each other's arms. It felt like love, it sounded like romance. 

Her beauty only added to the feeling. Dressed in a dress with 3 layers, the first layer was sheer long sleeved, the rest of the dress flowing down freely under the 2 more layers. She stood carefreely as her elbows moved back and forth, taking their bow and gliding it across the strings beautifully. An occasional ruffle could be heard when she moved as the loose arms of the dress swished back and forth, mimicking her movements.

The second layer was sleeveless and made of much stiffer material than the one it sat on top of. From it's visible points, it looked like an ornately designed gold and light blue corset-like piece. It flowed down from above her chest to below the first layer where right at the waist, it spread out causing the slight umbrella image of the dress. The edges that covered her chest were heart-like cuts but with more edges than curves. 

Finally the third piece was simply a high waisted long light-blue sheer skirt that was as light as a feather and as tearable as paper. The sheerness allowed the other layers below it to be shown and so the designs of the intricately created second layer of the dress could be seen. 

Then there was the beautiful ornaments on her head that sat like a down-turned tiara on a golden medium sized shell-like piece. On each end of the down turned long tiara were the bell shaped clothing on either side of the shell. 

Everything on her was so put together and added to the light feeling her piece gave off. 

Whatever it was, whatever spell she had placed him under, he was getting so lost in it. 

He looked at the others beside him to find them enchanted too by the beauty wielding a beautiful violin in her hands. Even Justin was gone, staring down at his sister with an awed expression.

Antonio's eyes were glued on Maria's. They were so pretty. 'Such a lovely blue color,' he thought to himself, 'blue and green had always been his favorite colors.'

His eyes turn back to Maria and he smiles. She was so beautiful, it wasn't fair. 

The beauty in the Crowly family seemed limitless. It didn't stop at one daughter but went on to the next. It made each and every daughter have something different that is appealing about them. 

Antonio stared at Maria, his memory shifting to the Crowly's sister's performance. 

He remembered the way she had danced. So elegant and beautifully. It wasn't on par with her other sisters, but it was charming and simply entertaining to watch. His heart throbbed and he immediately took a sip of tea.

He placed the cup down and stared into his reflection in the remaining tea. His reflection switched to that of her's. His heart throbbed again. He looked up from the cup and a wild-fire is let loose on his face as he blushes deeply. 

"Ah… oh no."