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| Proposed vs. Promised | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chilandrea had been trying to avoid Alexander as much as possible during that week, even going as far as to put a charm on her own door to prevent him from finding her. He monopolized her thoughts, his figure appearing at every moment to calm her, yet cause her heart to race. She told Horace that she was ill and had to remain in her chambers for a few days while she treated herself. She wished she was only ill, but knew what was happening: her emotions and lust for a companion were beginning to get the better of her. She prayed that Molandra would show up with her choices of suitors soon to dispel these feelings. Luckily, that morning when she gazed into her mirror, Molandra appeared in the glass to say she would visit her that evening with a list of suitable men. Chilandrea thanked the All High Priestess with a voice as calm as she could make it, but of course, Molandra knew what she was up to. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Chilandrea, what is troubling you?" | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I had a vision of disaster, All High Priestess. I saw the face of a man in our kingdom that brought the calamity with him. I could sense it. I tried to warn the prince of it because he had invited the man, but he wouldn't listen. Now that the man is here, I can't seem to keep him from my mind. He seems to be falling for my beauty like all other men, but he seems more polite and determined than any of them." She thought of confessing her thoughts to her, but knew that Molandra would take drastic measures against it. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Determined? How determined do you mean? Determined enough to touch you?" | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "He's told me that he would never dare to now that he knows the consequences, and I trust his word. However, if he does attempt anything, I will stop him and report back to you as soon as I can. But I am more concerned for the well being of the kingdom. I know he causes the dilemma and no one wants to believe it. How can I prevent it from happening if he will not leave?" She described her vision in detail in hope of some advice to come of it. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Chilandrea, I have trained you as much as I am allowed. All decisions after your pledge are entirely yours. You know that." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "But how can I act when no one will follow?" | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "You must make these decisions on your own. I've seen what will happen and no one can change it but you. Trust me." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I do, All High Priestess. I will try." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I will visit you this evening, and we can discuss this a little further. Good day," she said and disappeared. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chilandrea paced back and forth in front of her mirror that afternoon trying to erase Alexander from her attention, but it was useless. What good was she if she could only think of one thing? She'd told herself from the beginning of her training that she would let nothing get in the way of her duty, and this certainly would not be the one to break her. She knew she could not stay hidden in her room for the rest of Alexander's stay, and she had to make an appearance for the prince. She took the charm off the door and proceeded to make her way towards Horace's chamber in the South wing, but was suddenly confronted with Alexander. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Sir Alexander! You frightened me! What are you doing?" | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Alexander was standing in a small corner of the hall outside her door, obviously waiting for her. "I was coming to see you a few days ago, but when I got here, there was no door where I remembered there being one. Now, see, I have a great memory when it comes to maps and direction, so I knew that I had either mistaken this for the East wing, or the door to your room had vanished. I told Prince Horace this and asked him to direct me there once to see if I was wrong, and he led me here. The thing that perplexed me was that he could see the door in front of him, yet I could not. My natural assumption was that you didn't want me to disturb you again, so I would do other things and wait to see you during supper or somewhere else around the castle. You never once left your room. I decided to wait here close to supper for each day, claiming I was in my own room, and today I see your door appear out of thin air." He didn't look amused. "Priestess, have you been avoiding me?" | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chilandrea was amazed. He was smarter than any other man she'd met. He was also more persistent. "Sir Knight, please, I beg you--" | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Please, call me Alexander. I do not like being called Sir or Sir Knight. It sounds too pretentious." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Please, I beg you not to pursue me. I've already explained why I cannot be an object of your affection. Now leave me be." She began to make her way past, but he put his arm out and stepped back to block her way without touching her. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Lady, are you still afraid of what I might do to you? I've already promised you I would never try to 'foul' you in any way. I will not touch you." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Nay, I'm not afraid of that." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Alexander's brow furrowed in confusion. "But if you do not fear my actions, why are you in such a hurry to avoid me?" She stood up straight, lifted her chin up, and glared down her nose at him coldly. She said nothing. "What can you possibly be afraid of?" Her head lowered and her eyes sank to the floor. "Priestess?" She mumbled something under her breath that Alexander could not make out. "What was that?" | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I'm not afraid of your actions around me, I... I'm afraid of... what I might do around you." She regretted saying it the moment it escaped her lips. She wished she hadn't even thought of saying it at all. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Alexander stared wide-eyed at her for a moment in shock. "But... does that mean you...?" He stared at the wall in concentration for a moment, then examined Chilandrea's face, searching for sincerity. He found it immediately. "You have... feelings for me. But I thought... am I your Promised?" | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Nay, which is why you should stay away from me." She quickly disappeared, causing Alexander to look around frantically for her until he realized she'd reappeared behind him and was gliding swiftly away. This act of disappearing from one spot and reappearing in another was called teleportation. The priestesses only used it when they needed to. It was too tiring to use it often. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Alexander stood, watching her leave and could feel himself smile. He knew his feelings were not fading as she'd said they would; yet he'd had no idea that she had feelings she wanted to dispel as well. She cared for him and that made him happy. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
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| That evening, Chilandrea waited in her room again for Molandra to appear with her choice of suitors. Soon enough, there was a knock on the door, and Chilandrea rushed to it to greet Molandra. To her surprise, there stood Alexander again. "Alexander, you cannot be here. I'm expecting someone." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I know. You told Prince Horace at supper. It's your All High Priestess, is it not? She is the one in charge of choosing your husband and she's showing you her choices tonight, right?" he asked taking a step forward. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "That doesn't matter, you just cannot be here," she replied, putting her hand up in defense. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Oh, but I would like to meet her." He dodged her hand and stepped inside her chambers. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Why?" | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I would like to ask her if I could possibly be suitable for your husband." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Nay! You mustn't!" | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Why not?" he cried, turning to face her. "You know I have feelings for you! You admitted you had feelings for me! Why can't I even try?" | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I never said I had feelings for you!" | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Yes, you did. You said you were afraid of what you would do around me." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "How does that translate into feelings for you?" | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "What else would you be afraid of doing but letting yourself do what you are forbidden to do with a man you love?" | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chilandrea's eyes narrowed in anger. "You assume that that's what I meant? As far as you know, I could have meant being afraid of getting so angry with you that I forget my powers and kill you!" | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| He smiled slyly. "Because I saw in your eyes no trace of murderous intent. That is one thing I can do -- I can see people's emotions through their eyes -- and I saw yours when you spoke to me." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chilandrea silenced. She knew that some people could easily read emotions from other's eyes or actions and she was shocked she hadn't sensed his ability right away. "That still does not prove my feelings for you." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Don't you want to be married to someone you care about? Or at least someone you've met once before. Let me try!" he cried reaching out for her. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "No!" she yelled, taking a step back. Her right hand flew up in front of her as a light blue haze shot from it, surrounding Alexander's wrists and stopping his advance. He could not move any further. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "What...? Why can't I move? Let me go!" | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "You forced me. I had to prevent you from touching me, and this was my only choice. I now control your movement and will continue to do so until I see fit. Don't you understand? You will die if you touch me -- even if I allow you to. You cannot marry me because you are a warrior and warriors are considered as violent, fiendish, ignorant brutes. No knight will ever marry a priestess so long as they continue to wage war." She let her hand down, but Alexander still had no movement of his own. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "But I simply follow my orders. It is my job!" | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "And that is why it is so wrong. You follow orders and never think about who you are hurting." Alexander opened his mouth to speak, but she quickly said, "It is not only the one you kill that you hurt, but you hurt their family, their friends, all who care for them. Sometimes I wonder if knights fight for pleasure." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Nay, you do not understand--" | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Oh, really?" | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Yes, really! I know you think war is unnecessary and horrific, but it is only to defend ourselves from the threat of invasion and being overcome. Is it worse that we kill people we do not know or that we let them come and torture, rape, even murder us and our loved ones?" Chilandrea was once again quieted. "Some things are not as simple as the thirst for blood. I have only been sent to wage war against the ones who would do those horrible things to our loved ones. I do not intend to be involved in a war in which we wish to conquer them." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chilandrea suddenly saw his point. She did not want to be defeated so easily, yet she could not think of anything to contradict him. "This will not help your fight for my hand. The All High Priestess will not listen to these arguments, and I will not support your fight either." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "But I truly care for you! Can you honestly deny a man his love? You cannot simply wish it away." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I am not asking you to stop loving -- if you truly do love me -- I am asking you to let it go. Let me go. You can never have me." She turned away and Alexander dropped out of her hold to the floor. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "What would make me worthy? Do you want me to retire from my knighthood? What?" | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I will not speak of this any further. Please leave." She would not make eye contact. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Fine," he huffed. Dusting off his clothes and straightening himself up, he made one last plea. "Priestess Chilandrea, if you need proof that I am worthy of you, then I will prove it. Until you make it known, I will do as you say. I will not come near your chamber door, I will not pursue you, and our paths may only cross during meals and when the prince may ask us to meet. Anything else you ask of me I will obey. That is my vow. Good evening, Lady." He made a deep bow, and walked himself proudly out the door. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| His proposition had shocked her. No other man had made a vow of such sincerity and desperation. Was he really in love or was he just another admirer of her looks that had gone too far? Just as she thought this, another knock on the door was heard and she went to answer it. Molandra, dressed in long, flowing white robes contrasting with her pitch-black hair, walked into the room with a proud expression on her face. "Good evening, All High Priestess." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Good evening, Chilandrea. Have you been behaving like a good priestess should?" | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Of course, Molandra. You've come to present me with suitors?" | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Yes. Let's move over to the cauldron to take a look, shall we?" They proceeded to the cauldron and Molandra took from her cloak a collection of vials of different liquids. Chilandrea had seen vials like these before. They were vials that summoned the images of different people in the water of the cauldron. "This one," Molandra said as she poured a drop from the first vial into the cauldron, "is named Sir Gustav of Durnotol. He is a very wealthy nobleman and is willing to move here to live by your side..." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chilandrea looked at the image and Molandra's voice faded. The man in the water was a short little man, balding, a full beard and mustache, and a wart on the very end of his nose. "Er, I don't think he's just right." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I didn't think so. So now, the next one. He's young and handsome, and his name is Lord Merrick of Thaertondai. I truly think he would be good for you." She placed another drop from the next vial into the cauldron. Molandra was right, the man was very handsome, and for a moment, Chilandrea thought she was staring at Alexander in the water. "Molandra! He looks like Sir Alexander, the man that threatens my kingdom!" His hair was black and he had green eyes, yet they were slightly duller. His face, though, was darker and harder looking. He seemed as though he had been through many hard times that Alexander had not. |
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| "Why, of course he looks like Sir Alexander. The Lord is his brother." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "But how? Sir Alexander is from Wychdaerv, not Thaertondai." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Yes, but you see, both were born in different places because their parents moved quite often. The Lord is twenty-seven years of age, and four years older than his brother. Luckily, the Lord is much more respectable than this warrior boy. He is well suited for our kind." Molandra smiled. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "You would never allow a man like Alexander to attempt to court a priestess, would you?" Chilandrea asked reluctantly. She wanted to feel like she at least tried to fight for him. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Of course not! Sir Alexander is an ignorant fiend! Any soldier would never be allowed to wed a priestess." She looked as though she would chastise Chilandrea for daring to ask such a question. "Why would you ever ask that?" | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chilandrea hesitated. "... Sir Alexander has... asked to court me. He was here just before you arrived to ask you if it would be possible. He tells me he loves me, and that he would gladly retire from war to be with me..." As soon as those words had come out of her mouth, she knew Molandra was becoming very cross. "... But I told him to leave because I knew it was unheard of." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Molandra sighed. "Chilandrea, you know that what he professed was just a fever dream of his desire. You know what men want from us, and you're too young to fall into their hands so easily. You may be young and na�ve, but trust when I say not only is he untruthful, but even if he did renounce his loyalty to the army he would never be allowed in. He would still be a soldier and who knows what he may try to do to you? They are all violent and have a need to be so; a need they cannot stop from fulfilling. Perhaps in another lifetime your paths may cross again and you may be allowed to marry." She tried to sound comforting, but with each word Chilandrea's heart sank further and further downward. Molandra suddenly stopped and tilted her head in confusion. "Wait a moment. Is the reason that you ask this your own love for this knight?" | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chilandrea looked up at Molandra in shock. "Nay, I cannot love him. I must love my Promised and my Promised only." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "But you care for him, don't you? He wished to ask me, yet you asked in his place. You did not want him to risk his life by asking me that, for he'd surely be testing my patience by doing so." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chilandrea looked at the floor. "Are there any other suitors you wish me to see tonight, All High Priestess?" | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Molandra could see that this was a touchy subject for Chilandrea. Something was distressing her horribly, and his name was Alexander. "I've had my own visions, you know. I've seen what happens in this kingdom and what happens far in the future because of it. Only you can make it a dream or reality. It's in your hands now. I'll leave you." Molandra tucked the vials under her robe, did a little spin and disappeared into thin air. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chilandrea continued to stare at the floor. She sat down on the chair she summoned behind her and heaved a labored sigh. Why did this have to happen during her first year as a priestess? Was her destiny to fail? Would she be the biggest mistake of her order? She somehow knew she shouldn't have become one at such a young age even though everyone said she was so powerful. She wasn't sure she could keep herself away from Alexander as much as she'd tried. Avoidance seemed to make him more determined. Yet now she wondered of his promise; would he truly try to prove his worth by keeping away from her and doing as she wished? In her heart, she trusted him even though her head disagreed. There is only one way I can fix this predicament, she thought. I have to marry one of the suitors as soon as possible. I cannot wait for this to get out of hand. She glanced into the cauldron at the floating face of the Lord of Thaertondai. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "The Lord," she said to herself. "I'll marry the Lord." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| On to the next chapter! Back to the start... |
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