Back to the start...
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| Death's First Omen | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Alexander stared at the back of his right hand at the tattoo he'd gotten when he'd become the leader of his army. The symbol meant 'dynamic' in the ancient language, and it was a symbol used on all leaders to show their strength and bravery. He wondered how strong he was at that moment. He seemed so weakened around Chilandrea, yet without her he couldn't think of anything else. It had been another week since he'd made his promise to her and she had shown as little of herself in public as was necessary. He was determined to prove that he was worthy of her, but he had the nagging feeling it was all for naught. She just seemed to be set in her ways, trying to keep him out of her life. He could still try. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Clenching his hand into a fist, he left his room in search for Prince Horace. He needed to speak with him about Chilandrea. He left his room in the North wing and walked briskly directly south. He intended to go directly to Horace's room but ran into him in the great hall just down the stairway. "Horace! I have to speak with you!" Alexander began to make his way down the steps and saw that Horace was not alone. Chilandrea looked up with a torn expression on her face; half delight to see him after so long a spell of avoidance, half disappointment that they couldn't stay apart for longer. Alexander's advance slowed as his heart beat pounded in his chest. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Alexander, what is so urgent?" asked Horace. "You seem distressed." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Alexander's gaze was fixed on Chilandrea as he reached them. She also seemed unable to avert her eyes. Alexander was silent. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Alexander? You said you wished to speak with me?" | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Snapping back to reality, he said, "Yes, I would like to speak with you." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Well what about, man?" | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tearing their eyes apart from each other, Alexander replied. "I would like to speak in private. I cannot talk of this matter in the open." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chilandrea looked at Alexander knowing what he was about to discuss -- her. She was worried. Would he speak of trying to court her? Would he try to get the prince's help? Of course he would. He was that determined. She decided it was not a matter she should be concerned with. "I'll leave you. Good afternoon, sirs." She turned and left against her will. Her heart willed her to stay, yet she could not. She knew what her future must be, what it entailed, and how she needed to get there. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| As she disappeared around a corner, Horace looked at Alexander with concern. "What is the matter? You are obviously attracted to Chilandrea -- a woman that is more unattainable than the grail -- and yet your paths have not crossed more than once every few days since you arrived." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Horace, may we go to a private room to discuss this? I feel very conspicuous here." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Of course." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| They entered the prince's chambers and as soon as Horace had shut the door, Alexander blurted out, "I'm in love with Chilandrea." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Horace spun around. "What?! I thought you were only experiencing what happened to every man!" | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "What do they go through?" | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "They lust after her and usually try to force themselves upon her, but after about two or three days it just seems to disappear. You've been holding these feelings in for two weeks? What has become of you?!" | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I can't help myself! Ever since I first saw her, she's occupied my thoughts! I went to talk with her-- to ask her if I could court her and that's when she told me of her Divine Law. I thought about it all for a week's time, and I still wanted to be with her, despite the consequences. I realized that it was too rash, so I went to her and pleaded to meet with her All High Priestess to ask for her hand in marriage--" | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "You did WHAT?" Horace was becoming outraged. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "She told me to leave before I could, saying that I would never be worthy of marrying a priestess even if I truly did love her. It was against the moral rules of their order. Horace, I know this is not caused by not being allowed to have her. This is more than anything I've ever known." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Alexander, if she told you that it is not possible, then you must not pursue it. Your life could depend on it. Stay away from her." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| He stared straight into Horace's eyes solemnly. "I've made a vow to her, Horace," Alexander sighed reluctantly. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "A vow? What... what kind of a vow?" Horace asked, rubbing his forehead with his fingers in anticipation of the answer to come. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I vowed to stay away from her, as she'd been pleading for me to do, and that everything she asked me to do I would obey. I would prove my love by doing so. I know she cares for me." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Alexander, it doesn't matter if she cares about you as you do her. If it is against the rules of her order, then there is no way around them. You two can never be together. Not in this lifetime." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Alexander looked more and more distressed. "Horace, I thought you could help me!" | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "How could I?" | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "By making some sort of decree about who a Priestess can marry." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I don't have that power. Only the order itself can change their own laws, of course. I have no authority when it comes to the priestesses." Alexander sat down in a chair with an aggravated sigh. "Listen, I can see you're troubled and that you truly want to be with Chilandrea, but it just cannot be. I'm sorry." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Alexander held his head in his hands. "I love her. Why can't we be together?" | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Horace stepped over to him and placed a hand on his shoulder. "Try to forget your feelings. Maybe the best thing is to be happy that she will be married soon." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Alexander's head popped up. "Married? But I thought she wasn't engaged." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "She's just chosen her Promised out of the many suitors. That's what she was talking to me about outside." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "But... who?" | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "His name is Lord Merrick of Taerthondai. She wants to be married to him as soon as possible." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Alexander jumped to his feet. "The Lord of Taerthondai!?" | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Is there a problem? Do you know him?" | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Horace! That's my brother!" Before Horace could say anything, Alexander stormed out of the room. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Chilandrea stood in her bedchamber staring into the mirror at the conjured image of Merrick. He was much more handsome than the other suitors she'd seen. After that night, she'd asked Molandra to return with the choice of suitors so she could make her final decision. She looked at all the suitors Molandra had for her and her choice was still the Lord of Taerthondai. She thought about her choice carefully, knowing that she was choosing the Lord over a deadly affair with his brother. If she could hold in her feelings for a few more weeks, she could save both their lives and possibly get rid of the strange urges she felt rising inside her every time she thought of Alexander. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| She reached into her dress and took her charm out. Holding it in her hands and gently rubbing it gave her a sense of security. Suddenly, a flash of light hit her and she squeezed her eyes shut. She saw two large armies on opposite sides of a small valley, both with flags raised high. One army had the crest of a bear in a vicious snarl, and the one closest had a great stalking panther that made Chilandrea's heart stop. The panther crest belonged to Alexander's army. She saw flashes of bloodshed, vital blows, and the end of the battle. Her view started on one body of some poor soul, then scanned over the valley. Every man had been killed, but one man -- still barely living -- knelt in the center of the field completely covered in blood. His clear green eyes looked toward the heavens and his pale face was caked with his own blood. He coughed, grabbed his wounded stomach with his right hand where Chilandrea could see a tattoo -- a black swirl, the symbol that meant 'dynamic' in the ancient language (which she'd studied it as a child). He cried out in anger, "For shame!! Dishonor on us all!" | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Alexander!" she rasped as his eyes rolled into the back of his head and he collapsed on top of his fallen comrades. She saw only his army. There was no sign of the others anywhere. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Her eyes snapped open, finding herself crouched on the floor when she heard a loud knock on her main door. Before she could react she heard the door crash open. "Chilandrea!" she heard. Her heart leapt when she realized it was Alexander entering her main room. She tried to compose herself and walked through her door to find Alexander frantically looking for her, breathless. He whipped around when he heard the door close behind him. He looked furious. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Alexander, what has gotten you so flustered?" she asked calmly, wiping the sweat from her brow. She was still very shaken and knew that it was highly obvious. Her skin had paled and become cold and clammy, and she could feel a tear had formed in the corner of her eye. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| He advanced on her quickly, but when she raised her hand in a threat, he stopped immediately. "Prince Horace just told me who you've recently chosen to be your Promised. I take it you were perfectly aware that the Lord is my older brother?" | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Of course." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Then why are you marrying him?" | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Is there any reason why I shouldn't?" | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Yes! I love you!" he shouted. Chilandrea was stunned. He'd said this with such passion and fury in his eyes that she couldn't help believing him. Her chest burned as he stared at her for some reaction. He breathed slowly trying to calm himself before speaking again. He saw in her eyes an inner struggle, but he could not decipher against what. When he spoke again, he was less aggravated. "I know you cannot marry me, but I can only think that you have no care for me at all if you choose to marry my own brother instead of someone I am less attached to. If I ever visit my brother in the future, I will have to fight my urge to profess my love in his presence. Is that your intent? To cause me pain and suffering?" | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| She said nothing. Alexander continued, "He has resented me for coming into the world when I did, for I took our parents' affections while I was young. I resent him for being my older brother and experiencing everything I never have been able to. He became a lord by inheriting all our parents owned, yet I received my status by clawing my way here. If he's allowed to be in your arms when I stand here suffering, I would never be able to live with myself. Please, reconsider your decision." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chilandrea could feel her emotions in the pit of her stomach rising like a tempest. She wanted to cry out and fall into his arms, let him hold her and ease this struggle inside. She was weakening and couldn't fight for much longer. She feared she wouldn't be strong enough to last until her marriage. "My decision is final. I'm sorry if I have destroyed what you had with your brother, but I am marrying the Lord of Taerthondai in two months. You must learn to embrace the pains and difficulties with the good, or it will be your downfall." She lowered her eyes and passed him to sit in a chair. She could hear him quickly follow, and as she sat, he knelt in front of her with pleading eyes. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Chilandrea, why do you do this? Do you intend to torture the hearts of men, or is it that you just do not trust your own?" | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "You do not know my heart, so do not say things you cannot prove," she growled, glaring at him. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Ah, but if I could prove them, I would most certainly die for it, wouldn't I?" She smiled for a flicker of a second. It had been the first time he'd seen her smile since he'd arrived at the kingdom. He smiled back and he felt much better than when he'd first entered her room. "I wish I knew how you truly felt, though. You are so contradictory to me that I cannot figure out if you are telling me the truth or if you are simply covering your emotions." Chilandrea's mind wandered to her previous vision and shuddered. She couldn't bear to think of Alexander dying, yet the horrific image repeated in her mind in more detail each time. She clenched her eyes shut tight and tried to wipe the image from her mind. "Chilandrea?" asked Alexander sounding concerned. Her eyes snapped open to stare into his soft eyes that stared back at her. "Is there something wrong? You look distressed." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| She opened her mouth to speak and could only take a breath. Her heart swelled inside her chest and she felt like crying. She held everything in, fighting as hard as she could to stay strong. "I... I just had a vision, that is all." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Another vision?" he asked becoming fidgety. "What did you see?" | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I cannot discuss it with you." She stood up and walked to the opposite side of the room. "You know I cannot." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I'm sorry, I forgot. Would you just tell me if it was good or bad?" He followed her and stood at her back. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Well, the opinion of the outcome depends on who perceives it," she said avoiding his stare. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Would you tell me how the outcome looks to you?" | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chilandrea gazed back at him and tears welled up in her eyes against her will. "Terrifying," she whispered. "Please leave me." She moved quickly away, trying to escape the feelings within. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "High Priestess," he said with respect, "is there anything anyone can do to change it? Something that can bring this dark prophecy into the light?" | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "You speak very prettily when you're full of hope. Hope and optimism are good things to possess, especially when one is surrounded by sorrow and dread." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Sorrow and dread? Will someone die?" She was silent. "Is there a war coming?" Still silence. "What? I ... will stop asking. I'm sorry." Chilandrea continued to stare at the floor quietly. He went silent for a time, trying to examine her face for any sign of her vision, but found nothing but sadness. He realized what he'd been doing by entering her room. "Oh, my. I'm sorry, I've gone against my vow. I promised I would stay away, and I've come here in a rage that should not even be my business. I'll leave you to your vision. Good evening, Lady." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| He was at the door when she said, "I thank you for caring... for me." He turned back and smiled. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "It was my honor and pleasure to." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| On to the next chapter! Back to the start... |
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