Cost of the Crown

[rexgirlmisty]

it has Inuyasha at the beginning hurray!

[EclipsedSaphireMoon]

I love those books and they mean so much to me. I really love this song so thank you.

[VixenHime]

i love this song, it show the meaning of being a true ruler, and tells burdons they have to carry. the hard choices that leaders have to face that must pople over look. mulan 2 showed this to a lesser extent with the princesses even if they did have to disney it out at the end

[VixenHime]

wow this is the first time i've seen a Inuyasha pic in a slideshow for a Mercades Lackey song. I think i like it

[MsNicoleTarbuck]

I wish this and the other songs from the books were on itunes. CD's are obsolete. :(

[thefuturemrskaiba]

I just wanna know, is Selenay a blonde? Because I've seen a lot of Mercedes song videos with pictures of a blonde queen.

[thamessider]

@thefuturemrskaiba

She is definitely blonde. When Talia first meets her in Arrows of the Queen, the book notes that "her hair... was the same golden colour as raival leaves in the fall".

Elspeth, her heir, has chestnut-brown hair.

[findella1]

I reallllllyyyyy love this song!

[qwikshot16]

ah -- the lament of queen selenay ... just reread the arrows of the queen trilogy, which gives a very comprehensive look at the choosing and training of valdemar's heralds

[MajoxYouhei]

@qwikshot16

yeah. I think the arrows of the queen trilogy, is the most sad of all.

I cried so much for Kris !

[nyxmind]

this truly touched me, i shall make use of it as i train new masters, that they know how free are those held by them, and bound that grip over them makes us, if we truly deserve our master rank. thank you.

[XxcalvindudexX]

I listen to this song and then I get down about being the Prince :(

[KatherinneStark]

@XxcalvindudexX epic comment dude. =) XD. You made my day!

[XxcalvindudexX]

@KatherinneStark Haha

[KatherinneStark]

@XxcalvindudexX No really I loled when I saw your comment. xD thanks.

[XxcalvindudexX]

@KatherinneStark Lol, why?

[KatherinneStark]

@XxcalvindudexX It was really funny. Seriously. Loved it. <3

[ColdRiceBall]

@XxcalvindudexX Being Prince? You're joking, right? That has to be a joke. Even if it isn't, there's no point telling me, because I won't believe you....

Are you? O.O

[GhostReconStrike]

this song is fitting for my friend....who i called Brother....we just found him....he had shot himself in the head.....

Rest In Peace Jason Aleksandr Calbson.

[Icyngdeath100]

@GhostReconStrike Aye, again I am sorry for your loss my friend.

[bloodydager]

ok ill think about it but who or what are the heralds?

[Skydaughter92]

@bloodydager In the series, the Heralds are Chosen by the Companions to serve Monarch & Country -- with special abilities, like telepathy / empathy / firestarting / or magik, or things like that. If you decide to read them, I suggest starting with Magic's Pawn -- Vanyel Ashkevron's storyline is the one I began with and it's a great introduction to the Valdemar world. =)

[Rilbur]

@bloodydager To give a fuller explanation than Skydaughter managed, Companions are the answer of the first King's plea to not simply his own gods, but all the gods that he had ever heard of. He knew that he was a good king, and his son would be good in turn, be he wanted a way to guarantee that the throne would never pass to a 'bad' ruler. The God's answered him in the form of the companions, who choose only 'good' people (only a herald may take the throne).

[Skydaughter92]

@Rilbur I always wished our own governments worked that way....*sigh*

[HeraldHealer]

@Skydaughter92 Hear Hear

[Mrsplayfulkitten]

@Rilbur Only a Hearld in the Royal Line may take the throne. No one truly explained that a hearld is more then just someone with gifts that is choosen. The hearlds are the army the judges the derect link to the throne so much more they are an amazing group of people and mystical beings.

[bloodydager]

who are the heralds? in history they are only messengers

[Skydaughter92]

@bloodydager I highly suggest reading the Heralds of Valdemar series by Mercedes Lackey. It's a really great series.

[pianeshot]

@bloodydager i suggest starting with the queens own series myself one of the best book worlds ever made



[JadedDreamer1984]

love this, I love all merceds lackey books but gotta say any of the ones set in Valdemar are my all time favorite. Vanyel's story being my all time fav, and talia second, love it although.Could listen to these all day and reread the series all the time.

[FFJunkie10]

I Keep thinking of the Honor Harrington Novels when I hear this.

For The Manticoran Throne!!

[Wildlybamboozled]

@FFJunkie10 I've only read On Basilisk Station so far, but it's great. :D Have you read the Safehold series?

[FFJunkie10]

@Wildlybamboozled Yes, and I have to say, It is an interesting concept..

[Wildlybamboozled]

@FFJunkie10 It is. :) What's your favorite David Weber book? :o

[ARP7777777]

@Wildlybamboozled I have read everything Weber has ever produced.

[ARP7777777]

@FFJunkie10 did you see the most recent video I have put up?

[redrasegarden]

where do u guys find these songs?

[Skydaughter92]

@redrasegarden This particular song is from the Lovers, Lore, and Loss CD based on the Mercedes Lackey Valdemar books (amazing books, I highly recommend them--start with Magic's Pawn if you decide to read). =) You can find the CDs at Mercedes Lackey's website. :)

[redrasegarden]

@Skydaughter92 thnx for that

[sora28387]

Beautiful song, I love the pictures, after all, anything is art and art is anything, if it shows us the story, what dose it matter of what was drawn? thank you for spending the time to make this video for our entertainment^^

[nathanjglee]

wrong button

[TriaMaxwell]

The one from 0:40 is in my photobucket. hehe. Dunno if you got it from mine though, but cool to see it.

[wanderer711]

Beautiful. Thank you.

[LopidoEmeraldFlame]

Beautiful! I have subscribed:)

[LadyAnnara]

Such a beautiful song...

[CrystalDarkblade]

I love this song and I do enjoy the pictures

[Museunchained]

Very, very nice. The song is awesome and the pictures, again not the biggest anime fan but they do go well with the song. Does anyone know which cd this song is on? I searched for this track on Amazon and had no luck.

[Thalarctos8]

I've long loved Lackey's work and can see the Queen who is supposed to be singing the song every time I hear it. I personally could do without the Animie tacked onto it but thats because I've owned the CDs for years.;P

[zippadeedooday]

I was happy to learn more about Selenay while reading Exile's Honor and Exile's Valor. This is a beautiful song. :)

[Chizu91]

i really would love to know what kind of art this is its beautiful! and the song is awsome!!!!!

[Chizu91]

when you look for these types of pics what do you type in because these r just awsome!

[MsJackle99]

I love Shandeen O'Neil's voice and this is one of my favorite songs. It is as lovely and poetically sad as any I have ever heard. I am not a fan of anime but the pictures do flow with the song.

[Skydaughter92]

@MsJackle99 Very much agreed--not a fan of anime much myself, but the flow was what I wanted. :)

[ZenMrGosh]

@MsJackle99 Do you know of any others songs she has done that are similar to this one?

[ZenMrGosh]

@MsJackle99  Do you know of any others songs she has done that are similar to this one?

[MsJackle99]

@ZenMrGosh Sorry about the delay in replying. I have been out of the country for a bit of an adventure of the military kind. I hope you were able to find the answer to your question before now. Yes, Shandeen has done at least one other song of this nature. It is called "Battle Dawn". She also has done collaborations with several other musicians as well as work with her band "Falls Road" which is sadly no longer together.

[bunny2299]

I showed this to my friend and she wants to know where on Photobucket or google you get the picture at 2:35-2:37 .

[Skydaughter92]

@bunny2299 I think I searched "friends anime" at Photobucket. :)

[MsNicoleTarbuck]

This is a beautiful song. It is both well written, and well sung. I'm adding it as a favorite. =)

[Morzansdaughter]

Where did you get the picture at 1:27?

[Skydaughter92]

@Morzansdaughter Pretty sure I searched queen or princess for that one. :)

[TheEndKing]

Pretty sure the epic of this song surpasses Anime.

[Skydaughter92]

@TheEndKing I agree, but I wanted to have pictures that went along with the tone & words of the song--sadly, not many photos have that, not that I could find anyway. If I knew how to work with video, I'd have done that but I don't. :(

[madihwa]

Yes, you can find them under Firebird Arts & crafts I think they're called.

[djmastersite]

where did you find the pic on 0:38 ?

it's the picuture i'm looking for since a few months

anyway, it's an awesome vid and song

you made it great

[Skydaughter92]

@djmastersite Go to photobucket and search "chained anime." You should be able to find it there. :)

[Zanderith]

@Skydaughter92 Very nicely done. On the topic of artwork... where is the image at 0:28-0:36 from? I find it very melancholy. I have seen it somewhere before and now, of course, I want to see it again.

[Skydaughter92]

@Zanderith If you go to photobucket & search "Not yet queen" it should be the first one. :)

[themadhare1]

@djmastersite google "chained anime" on google images. it's on page 2.

[thecrux72]

Shandeen O'Neill sings this, NOT Mercedes Lackey. Please give correct credit where it is due.

She also sings "Battle Dawn" one of my personal favorites.

Lovely voice, ans it's a terrible shame her name is seldom associated with these two songs. All I ever seem to see is Mercedes'

[Skydaughter92]

You are right, Shandeen does sing the song--I put Mercedes Lackey as the artist because she wrote the song and because it was for her books. I'll put Shandeen up there as the singer, though just to be thorough. :)

[otiliaGrieg]

MERCEDES LACKEYx::xI LOVE HER VOICE

[Skydaughter92]

@otiliaGrieg thecrux72 is right, Shandeen does sing this song, (she actually commented on it a while back) but Mercedes Lackey did write the song. :)

[alyawolf]

who sings this? and can i find it on itunes?!!!!

[Lemoncode]

iTunes? Pfft. Use google. If can't - use Audacity. Set to Stereo, adjust recording volume until it is good and save as mp3.

[Skydaughter92]

@alyawolf You can't find it on iTunes, sadly, but if you search "Mercedes Lackey music" then you can find the cds via Firebird I think. :)

[XayaniFrost]

I LUV her voice!

[cthulee]

I love your visuals with this recording.

[Skydaughter92]

@cthulee Thanks! =D

[hamptonlad]

Thank you for all of your lovely comments regarding the vocals on this song. I did this recording work for Firebird Arts so long ago!!!! I enjoyed playing the role of Queen Selenay on the albums -- it was a nice change of pace from my work with my own band -- Falls Road.

Slainte,

Shandeen

[Skydaughter92]

Oh wow! Thanks so much for commenting! This is among my top 10 songs and I adore your voice!

[jasmine0mugwort]

@hamptonlad I ADORE your songs in these albums. Of all the singers I listen to the songs recorded by you the most!  And I'm having a bit of a fangirl moment here knowing that I'm talking to someone I've listened to for over a decade.

[GhostReconStrike]

@hamptonlad If I May, it is a brilliat ...that projects loss...hope...life...and reminescence.

[Ironsouled]

A good embodiement of the cost of the medievel crown. Or in this case Queen Selenay, long may she rule the hearts of readers.

[Skydaughter92]

Ah, no kidding there. I wish Lackey would write more for the Valdemar books! =)

[Wildlybamboozled]

Same here. :)

[Moparmama70]

Foundation just came out last year,and there are 2 more coming,the Bardic Collegium and the Healer's. The leads are introduced in Foundation.

I keep hopin for more Vanyel. The 12 years between the first and second books and the 8 years between book 2 and book 3.

[Religion0]

I think those years would be richly tragic and angsty, I would honestly be more interested in knowing what happened after it all. To the Heralds, to Eplspeth and Darkwind, to the twins?

[AinneNightbreeze]

Actually, she is. There Foundations, as Moparmama70 said, just came out, and there are two more coming.

[LtBrell]

I sat and listened, and cried. What a beautiful song. The images you collected and the video you created are an elegant addition. Thank you!

[Skydaughter92]

This is one of my favorite songs in the world--made me cry the first time I heard it too. =) I'm so glad you enjoyed it as well.

[ARP7777777]

I LOVE this song. It ought to be required that every senator or president listen to it every day.

[Skydaughter92]

=D Isn't it great? I completely agree!! Thanks for the comment!!

[Wildlybamboozled]

Nah. Gives them the impression they're royalty. No royalty unless visiting Kings and Queens in the USA.

[Skydaughter92]

It's not the royalty part, but the responsibility of being a country's leader. It's that a leader should *care* about their people--and feel remorse and grief for each person they lose in the name of duty. America's leaders are woefully lacking in that aspect.

[Wildlybamboozled]

Too true there. I see what you mean.