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Prologue
Faber, Faberian Sector
3653 BBY
Natasi stood in line, holding the hand of one of her mother's Handmaidens, while she waited to put her black colored rose onto her mother's body. It was silent was the line moved along and one by one as they put their roses on the dead Empress Regnant, Faberians do not mourn their dead with loud wails and cries. They mourn their dead in silence. That was how they showed their respect to the dead and allow the dead and the living to move on in peace, with no regrets or pain but it doesn't mean that deep inside there was not any pain or regrets. Natasi squeezes the hand that was holding hers and looked up when her hand was squeezed in returned, the Handmaiden did not smile but her presence and her hand did bring comfort to the young girl. The comfort stayed with her until it was her turn and she found herself standing in front of the casket that was holding her mother's body.
Her mother was surrounded by black roses, she wore a black long sleeve high collared floor length dress and her dark brown hair was worn loose to frame her face and to cover some of her upper body. She would no longer be able to see her mother's brown eyes anymore that glowed with so much love and pride for her daughter. Natasi looked at the rose that was in her hand before slipping it between her mother's hands and chest, she was the only one allowed to do this seeing that she was the daughter of the Empress Regnant.
She walked away from her mother, going to stand in front of the crowd that had already their rose on her. No one would hold her hand now. Natasi was now considered to be the Empress Regnant now and they were not allowed to show any emotions, she is one of rare daughters who inherited the throne while they were considered to be children. There were only a few daughters who inherited the throne as a child before her and she knew that she wouldn't be their last.
Natasi clasped her hands together as she straightened her spine and stared straight ahead, she too wore the same style and color dress as her mother but she wore a black veil on her head which covered her eyes, which she was grateful for because she would feel tears beginning to form there. She watched through her tears as the Royal Guard stepped forward as the last person walked away, each one carried a torch and they lite the pyre that her mother's body was on fire and took a step back.
A tear slide down Natasi's cheek but before it slipped passed her veil, a long and slippery thing licked it away and she heard a twrring sound next to her. She turned her head and saw that it was Nyx, who was her mother's Jha'dur and, as custom, was now hers. Natasi reached up and placed her hands on her muzzle, one on top while the other was on the bottom and rested her cheek against the area of his muzzle were her hands did not cover.
Both girl and animal closed their eyes as they comforted each other during the burning of the woman they both loved and cherished. And knowing that they only had each other now.