The Cold Destiny
Author: Luna Sealeaf
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters of Andromeda, am not making any profit from this, it's purely for fun.
Rating: PG-13, just to be safe, since later chapters may become more mature
Justice
Key Words: Equity, rightness, probity Reversed: law in all departments, excessive severity
Even as Beka, Dylan, and Trance were trying to plan their next step, Harper was being taken to Sibarctic. Much to his relief the mode of transportation was much nicer than his former one.
He sat in a comfortable chair within a well furnished compartment. Across from him sat Esperanza. Neither spoke. Esperanza sat quietly with her hands folded in her lap, eyes downcast. Harper slumped in his chair, gazing out the window at the passing land. It all looked the same to him, but that could have been because his thoughts were elsewhere.
"What I don't get is why the Empress betrayed Tazione. They seemed like they were good partners," Harper muttered softly. He didn't realize he'd spoken aloud until Esperanza answered him.
"If I may, though I do not fully understand the circumstances; from what you've told me it sounds like the Empress was using Tazione. I stayed in the Palace for a time as an official bard. Pegno Gefallener was truly infatuated with Cielde but he was a spoiled child. His attentions quickly became a bore and annoyance for Her Majesty. That, I'm guessing, is when she noticed the fiery young noble who often rebelled against tradition, and was quickly gaining the displeasure of her other nobles: Tazione Mauvaise. By playing each man against the other she got rid of both, and now has all but no checks to her power."
This was a bit much for Harper to absorb. His eyes had glazed over as she talked and when she finished he blinked slowly.
"For a bard you seemed well versed in politics, no pun intended." He said with a grin.
"Bards are merely politicians with a sweeter voice. Our livelihoods rest with whoever is in power." Esperanza replied promptly. This didn't quite satisfy Harper's curiosity at her keen observations but he was not yet familiar with the customs of this world so he let it go. Nonetheless Harper felt he could trust this strange girl. His record with pretty faces notwithstanding, he sensed that Esperanza would not betray him.
"Listen, all I want to do is go home. This 'god' religion stuff isn't my thing." He confessed, leaning forward in his seat. Esperanza made no sign that this was surprising, as she only smiled at him.
"Don't worry, I will do all I can to help you." She promised. Harper didn't see how she could help him at all; still, it was nice to have a friend and not be bereft in these bizarre circumstances. Despite his doubt he felt strangely comforted by her words.
As Harper's transport sped towards Sibarctica his friends had at last decided, after much debate, to have another conversation with the Lady Alba.
"She made her views pretty clear Dylan. How do you plan on convincing her to change her mind?" Beka asked through chattering teeth. Both she and Dylan were standing close to Trance in a small circle. Neither really noticed that their side closest to Trance didn't seem quite as affected by the bitter cold.
"Maybe we can offer to do something nice for her," Trance suggested. "I could give her some of my plants from Hydroponics." She offered after a moment's hesitation. Dylan smiled in appreciation of Trance's offer.
"That's very thoughtful of you Trance but your plants would probably die in this cold." Trance's face fell as she nodded.
"You still haven't answered my question." Beka reminded Dylan.
"Do you have a better plan to get Harper off of this place? Because if you do I'm more than willing to hear it." Dylan said with a hint of sarcasm.
"Point taken," Beka muttered.
Alba di Hielo was kneeling in her private Chapel, lost in prayer. The stone beneath her knees was cold and hard, mimicking the love of her Gods. There was a distinct lack of warmth in the room but Alba found the numbing cold a comfort. It was said that the most common death for Gods' Avatars was to wander into the freezing tundra's and let their bodies succumb to the elements. The thought of lying down to an everlasting sleep of peace filled Alba with serenity. Some days she even looked forward to when the Goddess was done with her.
"My Lady," A soft spoken priestess filled the doorway to the chapel. Alba opened her eyes and slowly stood up. She knew all the priests and priestesses name's by heart but she rarely used them. It was better not to get too close lest some of the reverence they felt for her –and thus, the Goddess Herself- dimmed.
"Why do you interrupt my prayer?" Cold but silent is the gentle fall of snowflakes; such was the High Priestess' voice.
"Forgive me My Lady but it is the foreigners. They have returned and demand another audience with you." The girl gave a nervous, but nonetheless graceful, bow. Alba sighed at the news and wondered how she could rid herself of these nuisances. Why couldn't they just accept the fate of their friend? It was probably a better fate then the ones that waited for them.
"Very well, I shall see them." She turned and followed the young priestess to the entrance hall, her face cool and composed, betraying no hint of annoyance at once more being confronted with these foreigners.
"Lady Alba I apologize but we will not accept our friend being kept here against his will." Dylan spoke as she entered. Beka stood beside him with arms folded and face unflinching. Trance stood on the opposite side of their captain; her hands behind her back and inoffensive gaze resting on Alba.
"You have no choice unless you wish to wage war with our entire solar system." Alba stated firmly. She was in no mood to be polite at the moment.
"Look, we came here to help you. We risked our welfare in order to solve a problem that had nothing to do with us. The least you could do would be to show a little gratitude." Beka pointed out icily.
"Surely promoting one of your own to the status of God-in-Mortal-Form is gratitude enough?" The priestess tilted her head while gazing at Beka with wide eyes.
"The point is that he became so against his will," Dylan said, but before he could continue Alba interjected.
"Are you certain it was against his will?" Warily Dylan and Beka exchanged glances.
"Sorry lady. I've known Harper for a long time and much as he may joke, he would never leave the Andromeda –or us- to go live in some strange land, even if he did get to be treated like a god." Beka finally answered. Alba was becoming increasingly impatient but hid this behind a sweet smile and open arms.
"Well then perhaps you do have a case. However it is not for me to decide." She said before the hopes of the three friends could rise.
"Really? Then whose decision is it?" Doubt dripped from Beka's voice and it was all she could do to refrain from glaring at the woman. She was more than certain that Alba was toying with them on purpose.
"As Hands of the Goddess I am the partner to the Hands of the God; therefore neither one of us can judge the other. We can represent them, if necessary, but never make decisions for or about them. Unless you would prefer for me to stay here all day and explain the complexities of P'Laraskan legalities, suffice it to say that there is a council that is neutral to both the Religious and Imperial branches of government.
"When a decision cannot easily be made by either branch than it is up to the Council to choose; and hope that what they decide is the will of the Gods as well."
"Alright; where do we find this council?" Dylan inquired.
"Why, I believe you have already met its leader." Alba's smile reminded Beka of a snake. The image was not a comforting one.
"Really?" Dylan replied with raised eyebrows.
"Indeed, it is none other than the Messir Prévoyant; or the Oracle, as you may call him in your tongue. The council meets whenever he calls them to do so. If you want to take your friend from P'Laraska, it is him that you must speak with. I hope I have helped, now if you will excuse me." For the second time she turned and walked away before they could answer.
"That woman does like her dramatic exits, and how does she know we visited the Prévoyant anyway?" Beka muttered darkly.
"So are we going to visit that Oracle guy again?" Trance piped up for the first time since re-entering the temple.
"It doesn't sound like we have a choice," Dylan admitted.
"Yeah…that's what bothers me." Beka replied.
Harper was dreaming. In his dream he was sitting upon a great throne. All around him was darkness. He was staring at his lap and as he did so a tiny column of ants began to crawl over his legs. His arm moved as though it were a machine and one by one he crushed the ants. There was no feeling of disgust at their mangled bodies or puzzlement as to why he was crushing them. He did so because he could.
Suddenly the ants seemed to grow. Their heads took on human faces but the rest of them remained as crushed ant bodies. Harper wanted to scream but he was frozen. He had turned to stone; or was it ice? Suddenly his body was shaking uncontrollably.
"Stop…stop it!" He woke screaming. Esperanza jumped at his sudden yell. She had been gently shaking his shoulder to wake him up.
"I'm sorry My Lord, to awaken you, but we are almost there." She looked concerned for him and Harper gave a shaky laugh.
"Sir, if you don't mind my saying so; be careful of the Lady Alba. She will consider you her equal, but as you have just become the God's Avatar she will seek to guide you."
"Guide me to do whatever she wants me to, you mean." He finished for her. Esperanza nodded solemnly.
"She is a very powerful woman. Sometimes I wonder that P'Laraska won't become choked between two such powerful women as Alba and Cielde." She turned her head to look out the window with a thoughtful expression upon her face. Harper thought she was one of the most beautiful women he had ever met –and yet he did not feel at all like flirting with her. At least not serious flirting.
The transport came to a slow stop as they arrived in the city. As the two waited for the guards to escort them off Harper found himself unable to look away from the woman across from him.
"Is something wrong?" She noticed his steady gaze and met it with her own. Those sincere eyes were too much for Harper.
"No…yes," he said unabashed. "I'm scared." He didn't know what to expect her reaction to be, although he hoped she wouldn't laugh.
"That is good; you should be." Esperanza remarked calmly. For some reason her words lacked comfort this time.
So even as Dylan, Beka, and Trance left for the small village outside of Herz d'Eises in an attempt to rescue their friend, Harper was escorted into the Tempiale Di Neve where he was greeted by Alba di Hielo.
"Welcome Seamus Harper. It is good to greet the God's Chosen." Her smile was true but she held her hands out to grasp his and he felt the coldness from them spread throughout his body. Somehow he managed to return her smile.
"Thank you Alba di Hielo." He glanced to his side where Esperanza stood, head bowed. "Your gracious welcome has warmed my heart." It sounded a little corny, even to him, but he was at a loss of what sort of protocol to use. In fact, he hadn't the slightest idea of what to do. The longing to go back to his old life was nearly overwhelming. But Esperanza's presence was soothing; a solid rock amidst a treacherous ocean. She reminded him of Trance though he couldn't exactly say why.
Alba watched the new Hands of the God with perceptive eyes. He was scared and uncomfortable, that much was obvious. It would make her life much easier and so she smiled once more. He didn't meet her eyes but looked around the temple or at the young woman at his side. After studying the girl, who was a perfect picture of demure humility, she at last concluded that the young woman was harmless. She would be watched, of course, but for the moment she decided the two could remain together.
After so long her work was finally coming to fruition. Nothing, not even the devotion of this man's friends, would stop her from pursuing her goals. She would make sure of that.
A/N: There, are you guys happy now:fends off scary reviewers: really I'm flattered…but I was getting seriously worried about what would happen if I didn't update at least one story before I went on vacation. Well, not really vacation; it's a conference thing; for which I had to do research and write essays, which put a damper on my writing time/inspiration. I finally decided to grind out the next chapter of this before I left. My other story will have to wait until I come back.
But seriously, I can't thank you all enough for your enthusiasm and just for reviewing in general. The next chapter is called: The Hanged Man
Thanks! –Luna Sealeaf