AMAZON ROYALTY
Chapter One
From Amphipolis to Potidaea, across the Mediterranean Sea to Corinth, there dwelled the greatest Amazon nations of Greece. This night three Queens would meet at the base of Mount Olympus to hold a centuries old tradition in honor of their great goddess Artemis, a ritual so sacred that only royalty and their Shamanesses were permitted to make such a journey. Among them stood a legend in herself: Princess to the central Telaquire tribe, the most powerful of the nations, and the most sought after beauty in all provinces.
This fact was well guarded by her mother, the Queen of their tribe. Extremely protective, she put forth great effort towards her daughter's training in combat and the arts of ruling a nation. Even now among royalty that had known her since birth, Eliniir amazed all. Her eyes were as amber, dormant embers within a rich molten brown; so warm for those she cared for. A loving face with softer features emanates her natural compassion for others, but a toned form, rippling at its peak, resides underneath, covered in perfectly bronzed skin and forged from the Princess' lifetime of training. Long silky, curly, raven-black hair became her signature to all Amazons, as it seemed to flow in waves as Poseidon's celestial seas. There was no questioning whether warriors from all tribes would attempt to have her, and for this her mother believed to have every right to be protective. For all the contenders that would try and win her heart, the Queen could not allow the youngling to choose wisely for herself. What better way to pick a worthy partner for her daughter than from the strongest of the royals? Their desperate need to join the tribes left the Telaquire ruler eager to have her daughter wed, before she could even learn what love is. But the Queen refused to see deeper into her heart. Eliniir desired above all things to become a healer, to care for the wounded and fight death for those whom life can be seized awhile longer. Sadly, the Princess knew she would not be allowed to abandon her duties, for no matter how much the Queen perceived healers as an integral part of the tribe, she entrusted the future of the Amazons to her daughter, certain and adamant that Eliniir, first and foremost, would become a wise and noble leader.
A full moon over head, the three tribal leaders sought Artemis' blessing of their congregation. A large pyre engulfed in flames as the Shamanesses tossed in their special mix of herbs, erecting green and blue hues out of its depths. Chanting ensued, not of any particular language, directly from their souls. The Central nation's Shamaness then pleaded,
"Great goddess, Artemis, hear us. Bless these, your children, the hands by which your will be done. Give us your permission to commence and see your people thrive." With this, the bright rays of the moon stirred up the air. The whirlwind built up high above them and then came down to embrace the royals. Sucking the air from the flames, the fire went out completely. When the dust settled once more, Artemis set the pyre aflame again. With this they knew they received the goddess' blessing. The Queens of Macedonia, Greece, and Corinth took their places, each at the makeshift thrones built of the materials surrounding them. Their children, three to the North, two to the South, and the jewel of the Central tribe, were meant to sit near their mothers, humbly taking up a piece of warm earth. Some of the children were not next in line to their royal family. The daughters of the north were all ambitious and known for being extremely obedient to their mother. Eliniir, always the beauty, had no siblings of her own, not that it bothered her. She had grown up among the major royal families all her life, so every princess felt as her sister. The weapons master, Nyssa, General to the South stood in the background at such events, as she did best and ultimately preferred. She kept herself forever ready for threats to her family. With a small reputation of her own, she showed she had no interest in the crown and trusted that her sister Korra made a fine successor, and for this she had the trust and respect of her people. She kept her blonde hair clean and cut back with her blade so as to not get bothersome during battle. She stood stockier than most, though she carried her femininity well, making her the envy of many a warrior back home. Thoughts of this sort focused the Southerner's thoughts on the Shamaness' daughter. Nyssa had come to know her body well, as the youngling offered herself so freely. The ambition of this woman, however, seeped from her every pore and had the princess sure that she couldn't be trusted with anything more than passionate embraces. Fore surely, if the blonde ever decided to take marriage seriously, the Shamaness' apprentice would try and seize more than her heart.
"Take your seats, daughters." The Telaquire Queen commanded, and with the wave of her hand, the princesses filed in. Nyssa had her hands behind her back as she stood at her mothers throne, looking all too much like her mother's personal guard. She focuses on the flames coming from the pit in order to calm her nerves. This had been the first meeting she'd come to in years, a while before she had become a general to her people. A vision eluded from the flames. Artemis, come from the heavens themselves? No, the silky dark hair, the amazon remembered, belonged to Eliniir. But the thin, lanky girl she knew then now filled the mold of the most magnificent creature she'd ever laid eyes upon. The Central Princess came around to sit beside her mother, tucking her luxurious curls behind her. Her arm rose in the motion, the beauty showed her strength, subtly flexing as she allowed hair to cascaded down her back again. Her friend's scent washed over the southern General, intoxicating her keen senses. Eliniir had grown into a beautiful woman indeed, and with the kind heart Nyssa knew she possessed, the Princess was surely destined for greatness.
The Shamanesses took their places together, across from their respective Queen's throne. Each went for where they had fresh scrolls, quills, and ink tucked away for the sole and sacred purpose of recording the events to come. Nyssa's mother took the floor first. Arising from her thrown, she took the bowl of herbs where the priestess left them to rest. A handful of the mixture seized, Admira engulfed the pyre in emerald and sapphire once more.
"I bring blessed news from Corinth. My daughter, Korra, finds a warrior at her feet. With my blessing, they are to be joined under Artemis' next full moon. The greatest soldier of our militia, besides my Nyssa, of course." Her arm raised towards her children, Korra bowed her head to the royal families as they applauded, and Nyssa in turn bowed in deep reverence to the nations. The Macedonian Amazon Queen, Giara, rose to take her turn next, taking the herbs as her sister before her.
"I am also pleased to announce that our soldiers have done more than attempt to take my daughter's hand." A look of contempt hidden behind a kind smile flew across the space between the Queens of the North and South. "The Romans attempting to penetrate our boarders have been pushed back to as far as Illyria." More applause, weaker than the first by her rival's lack of enthusiasm, came forth by practice. Mirren, the Telaquire Queen then rose, but did not take the herbs. She wished not to waste time.
"I wish my sisters great praise from Artemis herself, but I've come here for a far greater purpose." Her compatriots dare not be insulted by her lack of tradition in not igniting the flame. She ruled the most powerful of the three tribes represented tonight, and the rumor of a demigod in their midst secured their tongues as she continued. "Our princess has become a rare gem indeed. For this, I have no doubt that the Romans only dare come so close to our boarders in hopes of the conquest she would mean to Caesar. She has become a highly capable young woman, of this I have no doubt, but the time has come." At this, only the two queens eyes lit up with excitement, fore they knew what Mirren meant before the others. "Amazons, she must marry one of your daughters." Eliniir bolted from the ground, a small amount of earth following her ascent.
"Mother…by the gods, this is not the time…"
"Silence, daughter." The Princess did not soften her stance. Her arms extended out in a plea, her hands starting to seize into fists, the Greeks locked eyes in a wicked show down. Nyssa could swear she saw a white fire flicker in Eliniir's eyes, and for the threat the Telaquire Queen seemed to pose in the General's subconscious, the southerner's hand went to the sword at her belt. The Gem of the Realm witnesses this, and wishes not to start a fight, but does not retreat to the dirt. She sits upon the arm of her mother's throne, arms extended behind her for support. The royals look on in shock that Eliniir would be so bold as to sit upon the throne, but the Queen continues, needing not bother with reprimanding her while so much is at stake, "I regret that we have let war scatter us to the winds. Our numbers are thin. Any fool, such as the Romans, can see this. It was always our ancestors' wish to join the tribes. For the sake of our future…the futures of all Amazons…I believe such a union is vital." The northern Princess, Reyna, jumps at such an opportunity,
"It should be me, your grace. I am the strongest for your daughter." Nyssa whispers to herself,
"I highly doubt that." A sound not lost on the keen Telaquire Princess, a subtle laugh sounds from her seat, only a few feet away from the General. Her gaze met Nyssa for a moment as she stretched back into her seat on purpose. Her chest pressed closer into the leathers she wore, hoping to erect any reaction out of the stoic warrior-princess, an oddity among royalty. Of course, the general stood still, but the heat that flushed her face could not be concealed, much to Eliniir's delight. Reyna nearly growled at the mockery, racing from her mother's throne to tower above the weapons master. A mere inch did loads for the North's second-born's ego.
"Did I hear a challenge from your lips?" Nyssa had not granted the respect of a proper acknowledgement until this. Her blood did boil at such insolence, but knew royals felt they had rights that made them bolder than the average Amazon. She settled for cutting through the northerner with her eyes, a vehement blue like the center of a tempest,
"Believe me, young one, a quarrel with me would mean your end." The hotheaded amazon went for the gilded hilt of her sword clumsily, but just as quick, Nyssa twisted Reyna's body around in her grasp, holding a dagger to her throat. Reyna's mother then spoke out,
"Enough!" The general immediately released the younger Princess, bowing her head in an apology to her superior. Reyna scurried back to Giara, sword left to rest for the rest of the night in fear. "I should have your head for this." Queen Admira then rose,
"You will have nothing but a lesson on how to teach your broods some proper manners."
"That's quite enough from the both of you." Both Queens bowed as Mirren spoke. She went to the young northerner, standing within a breath of the Princess to see the fear in her eyes, "Greece appreciates your offer, Reyna, but you are second born." The redhead bowed in defeat and her mother's heart leapt at the idea that she then had an opportunity the South lacked.
"Have my first born, Queen Mirren. She'll make a fine consort for your Princess Eliniir."
"I'm sure her intentions are noble, my Lady," the northern Queen snarled at the comment, "but my Nyssa is the finest warrior among royal amazon blood. If any should have your daughter's hand, it's her."
"Your daughter has no claim to the throne with the path she's chosen, and will never be Queen to your people. Tara, come here." The eldest Macedonian princess rose reluctantly, she dreaded conflict of any kind but dare not defy an order from her mother. "Give the Queen your blade." Tara stood slightly shorter than her sister Reyna, and had no thirst for battle as she. Standing under Mirren's gaze now made her quiver. She reached for her sword, and drew the blade out slowly. As it reach two thirds of the way out of its scabbard, the North's eldest dropped her sword. Tara apologizes as it sank slightly in the loose dirt at the Queen's feet. She scrambles to pick it up, and nearly nicks her majesty's shins, apologizing more. Her mother palms her forehead in embarrassment, and Nyssa decides she can't watch this anymore.
"Stop! Just stop before you get someone hurt." She gathers the redhead's sword and plants it in her hands, using her own to force the amazon to hold it tightly. As Tara just stands there staring at the weapons master, her body remains paralyzed with fright. Nyssa gives her an encouraging nod. "You can do this, Tara. It's no different than back home." The blonde draws her own sword and holds it as an example. She guides her friend to stand before Queen Mirren, and Tara follows Nyssa's lead in kneeling, holding the hilt of their swords up to the Telaquire ruler. The Queen, pleased, smiles down at the General and takes the sword, but from the southerner's hand.
"You've become quite the celebrity from what I hear of Corinth, warrior." Nyssa was shocked to feel the weight of her sword lifted into Mirren's hands. She felt light, excited at the thought of being chosen, but for reasons she possessed little certainty. Tara's mother felt appalled at the act, losing herself.
"You can't be serious! She knows not how to rule, only how to draw blood. Barely a royal at all." Before Admira could detest such a notion, Mirren points the sword at Giara's throat.
"Forget not, who you intend your words for." The lesser Queen looked on with the same inherited fear that her daughter had shown as she slowly stepped back and sat in her thrown shamefully. "Now then, arise, the both of you." They complied, but Nyssa still kept her head down. She could feel Eliniir watch her intently and did not want to be distracted while Mirren spoke to her. "What purpose do you give yourself to, Amazon?"
"I…I train the soldiers for battle. I ensure that my Queen has the best possible warriors to fight for her. I live my life by my family, serving and protecting them, whatever the cost may be."
"I hear the sincerity of your words, Nyssa. You indeed would make a great Queen, if you did not have such unfortunate circumstances." The southerner knew she meant that her older sister would be Queen, not her, and for this held no intentions of seeing her as a contender for her daughter's hand.
"I assure you, Queen Mirren, I love my nation. I love our way of life. I have found my purpose and look for nothing more."
"This is why it must be you…It must be you…that trains this youngling here to become worthy of her crown and my daughter." Nyssa stares into the Queen's eyes with her mouth slightly agape. "Well, speak, General."
"I-it w-would be an honor, of course, Queen Mirren." She bows deeply again.
"Of course." The Queen looked over to her daughter, defiance but shock painted across her features. When her mother extended her open palm, Eliniir placed her hand within it. Guided gently by the hands that always meant to choose the Princess' destiny for her, she now stood in between the Princesses of the North and South. Mirren handed off the blade to its rightful owner, now with the object intended to serve the Telaquire tribe however she saw fit. Nyssa steps a foot back when the dark headed queen then placed Eliniir's hand within Tara's, "Blessed be this union, for it shall make the Amazons stronger." Nyssa looked back toward her mother, knowing now that she would be traveling home with the Telaquire, and that this would be their only goodbye. Her mother won't have it.
"I must contend, Mirren," she gets a heated glance at the lack of title used to address her, but knew she might get some opposition to taking their children away so hastily, "Nyssa is far too valuable to our tribe as General. Why would I send her off, when her absence holds no benefit to my people?" Mirren guides her feet to plant themselves before the southern Queen.
"Because your Queen demands it."
"You are no Queen of mine."
"You insolent little…" as they both go for their swords, it is Eliniir that breaks as the voice of reason.
"Fighting amongst ourselves will not help to strengthen our numbers." The Queens agree that battle is not the best course of action, but Admira still detests the idea of her daughter leaving as she addresses the issue about the North and Central tribes banding together with this proposed marriage.
"Pretty convenient for you, I must admit, to increase both your numbers just as Caesar is after us all."
"Watch your tongue, witch."
"Mother, enough." The Gem of the Realm stands in front of her Queen with a soft expression that calms her once again. "There will be an advantage to your Nyssa traveling home with us, Admira." She had both of their attentions now, confusion apparent on their faces. She faces the Queen of Corinth, "For your daughter's service, I make another proposal. As we extend the royal lines, our children, my daughter and the daughter of Korra, will be joined, and then all three tribes will become one." Mirren was impressed by her daughters wit, and so extended her hand to Admira as Eliniir stepped away from the reconciliation. Admira hesitantly took the Telaquire's arm in mutual agreement. "It's settled then."
"Yes, Nyssa and Tara will travel home with us. Saddle the horses!" The Shamanesses gladly ran from their scrolls now tucked away safely in their bags and proceeded to ready themselves for the trip home. As the Queens now stood together, Mirren made promises to bring their daughters back safely. Eliniir finally got her chance to look upon these warriors up close. Tara stood just as average as any soldier she'd seen back home. Red hair teased up in a mess around her shoulders, she determined she'd have to teach the girl the proper way to maintain it. But then she looked upon Nyssa, her best friend at one time. Four years had passed between them, and it did much for her image. She swore a whole different woman stood before her now. She wore the battle marks of the general upon her face, and now up close witnessed that Nyssa had chosen to make them permanent. Eliniir wondered if deep scars met a woman's touch of the ink. Her long hair had been cut, she assumed to do her well during a battle, and the leathers she donned had her resembling the goddess Artemis herself, surely a design out of honor for the one she served. The young beauty couldn't wait to get back home.