Journey to the Land of Astway

Legend has it that at the top of the mountain you can hear music from the land of Astway. It will
be a peaceful melody and the birds will dance in unison through the sky.
I arrived at the top of the mountain just as the last bit of sunlight was falling
behind the rest of the mountains. I heard the song Id been holding my breath to hear all
my life. I exhaled while a smile grazed upon my lips. Id traveled to the land of Astway
to meet the Godfather, the creator of all things art. He created musical scales,
instruments, dance moves, colors, and clay. Although I told myself I was, I wasnt
exactly here to meet the Godfather. My real task was to find him in the Land of Astway
and take him back to my village.
----------I am nineteen years old. I should be allowed to leave. But I cant. My king refuses
to let anyone leave our village. I tried leaving once before but my escape wasnt
successful. The king told me I was forbidden to leave. A few days later, he lost his
queen. She was 9 months pregnant. The king came to me and gave me the task of
capturing the Godfather. He said that if I ever wanted to leave our village that I mustnt
return to get my things without the Godfather. That night, I set out on my journey to
the land of Astway.
Before I left that night, Casia, my village sister, told me about the tale her
grandmother told her as a child. Casia said her grandmother had to chance to go to the
Godfathers land when she was fifteen. When she finally did, it was unimaginable.
After Casia told me her grandmothers tale, Id decided that when I left my village, Id
live in the land of Astway.
---------Id spent three days climbing to the top of this mountain. It was amazing up
here. I guess Casias grandmother never told her you could see all of Astway from up
here. This was the only way into the dome. I was so far up but still so close. I was close

enough to see everything clearly. The people looked so artsy and musical. It looked like
everything Id dreamed.
I planned to rest once I reached the top of this mountain so that I could form a
plan on how Id capture the Godfather. Once the king told me my only way out of the
village, I was so anxious and set off immediately; without putting my plan together. It
was dark and rainy now and I was sitting inside a cave. While thinking of ways to get
the Godfather to come to my village with me, I heard movement. The sound of rocks
and leaves being shuffled around made me wondrous. I stuck my head outside the cave
to see the cause of the shuffling of what sounded like leaves or rocks; forgetting it was
raining. I popped my head back inside the cave; surprised at how sharp the rain was. It
felt like Id been stabbed with a frozen needle. A few minutes had passed and the
shuffling had ceased.
I felt clammy. I was hot but the air was cool. I opened my eyes and stood up so
sudden that I felt dizzy. I stood for a few seconds hoping to get my balance back.
Looking outside the cave Id slept in, I saw light. I stepped out to the view of thousands
of mountains standing as still as I had been trying to be since Id awakened. It was
incredible. Remembering my task, I started down the mountain. Trying not to slip on
the wet dirt, I kept a steady pace down the mountain. I wanted to get to the bottom of
the mountain as safely as I could but I was too anxious to slow down; so I kept at it.
---------Amazed at myself, I stood at the bottom of the mountain. I managed to cut off a
whole day of traveling. The king didnt tell me how long I had to capture the Godfather
but I wanted to complete my task quickly so I could fulfill my dream of leaving my
village. I wanted to move on to better things. I wanted to learn. I wanted to discover. I
wanted to live. I was closer to leaving than I ever thought I could be.
The sun was setting now and I didnt hear any music. I stood there disappointed.
I hoped that Id hear music once I was completely in. I knew I wasnt that far from
Astway so I found a spot to rest for the night so I would be energized for the morning.
Id never been outside my village until five days ago. I thought I was doing okay. I was
worried about animals now that I didnt have a secure place to sleep. Ive never
interacted with one either. We didnt have any in my village. I only saw them in books.
I wouldnt know what to do if I came across one.

---------I spent most of the night thinking of what I might do if I came across an animal.
Luckily, I didnt. I woke up under a shady tree. It wasnt bright out but again, it was
cool. I stood and began walking straight ahead. What felt like hours had passed and I
could see the Astway dome. I was out of water so I knew I had to get there fast. About
another hour had passed and there it was. Directly in front of me stood a whole new
world filled with art.
It was pulchritudinous. The wooden gates opened automatically and I walked
through astonished. I heard music. But this time, there was a multitude of melodies. It
was as if notes were floating through the Astway air like butterflies. There were trees
with pink blossom leaves and ponds with the clearest of water. There were plebeians
everywhere. Some were playing instruments in the parks, some painting on the roads,
some sculpting on balconies, and some sculpting on logs. I walked down the main road
imagining my life as an Astway plebian. Itd be life changing; which is exactly what I
wanted. Change.

---------After lusting over the incredible land of Astway, I focused my vision on a little
cottage like house in the corner of a park. One of the dancers stood next to me and
stared at the cottage the same way as I had been.
Have you ever met the Godfather?
Not yet.
You should. He is a delightful and talented man. Although, he hasnt come out much
lately.
Thanks. I said with a half-smile growing on my face as I walked toward the cottage.
The dancer gave me a bit of hope. The Godfather was a nice guy so I assumed he might
help me.

---------So youll come with me?

No. He said, with his back still turned towards me.
But Ive dreamed of this place my who
No. He said, still not budging.
My king wont ever let me leave if you dont come with me, sir.
A silence fell upon us as the Godfather turned to angle himself, although he still wasnt
completely facing me.
Your king?
Yes. King Matth-
Ill go. The Godfather said, turning and swiftly exiting the cottage.
---------The Godfather didnt speak another word to me after we left his cottage. We
made it to the top of the mountain in two days and slept in the cave Id slept in on my
journey to Astway. A day later, we arrived at my village. Casia came running out to me.
She was shocked when she saw the Godfather standing a few steps behind. He still
hadnt said another word to me.
Casia hugged me once more and with no time, the king made his way between
us. The king looked at me and then at the Godfather. The Godfather walked toward us
but still didnt speak. It didnt seem like the Godfather talked very much. I didnt
understand how that dancer knew the Godfather was a delightful man if he didnt go
out much and hardly ever spoke.
Casia and I began walking toward the entrance of the village when we stopped
to turn and see our king and the Godfather standing face-to-face; and a split second
later, hugging.

---------Im sorry for your loss, Mattheus.

Thank you for coming brother. It means a lot.
The Godfather experienced a negative feeling weeks before the death of his sister-in-law and
niece; but he wasnt sure what the cause of it was. He didnt go outside after having had that
feeling because he didnt want the feeling to spread to the plebeians in the Land of Astway. King
Mattheus and the Godfather hadnt had any contact with each other in decades because of a fight
they had as young adults. But they are brothers and blood is thicker than water. The Godfather
knew that his brother needed him so he left his land to be with him.
I had just put Casia to sleep and I was preparing for bed. I was exhausted. I was
just about to blow out the fire when the king eased his head into my tent.
Thank you. You are free to leave whenever you are ready.
Thank you. I said calmly, keeping in mind the fact that I hadnt seen the king since
around the time of his loss. He wasnt okay and I was. I didnt want to be inconsiderate.
The king had removed his head from my tent before I could tell him I was sorry
for his loss. But somehow, he knew because he came and put his head back in, did a
little nod, and smiled a melancholy smile.
---------When I woke up the next morning, there was a note next to me. It read:
Thank you for finding me. It meant a lot to my brother. Mattheus told
me how youve been dreaming of living in my dome for most of your
life. You are welcome to live there under one condition: you keep an
eye on everything for me. You do that, and the Land of Astway can be
your new home.
- The Godfather
I smiled. My dream had finally come true.