Summary: The Scions of the Seventh Dawn attend the Royal Banquet in Ul'dah but before Rhea can join them, she is waylaid by Braves business before being invited to a private audience with the Sultana.
Author's Note: Contains canonical character death.
"I had hoped that we might make our introductions together, but Mistress Momodi just sent word that you are needed at the Quicksand," Minfilia informed Rhea when she arrived outside at the Chamber of Rule in Ul'dah. "We will go on ahead, Rhea. Pray join us once matters at the Quicksand are resolved."
With a nod to Minfilia and the others, Rhea made her way to the lalafellin proprietress. Perhaps someone might've been annoyed at being pulled away, but Rhea was grateful for it. Momodi was always a darling, a reminder to simpler times before Rhea's destiny was realized. Plus, going to see her and help out meant Rhea didn't have to go to the party. Win-win.
A brief reunion had Rhea being informed that Alianne of the Crystal Braves was looking for her, one of the adventurers she herself had recruited. Though she'd always had a good feeling about the other elezen, recent events with Wilred had her suspicious of everyone in the Braves save Riol, Alphinaud and Ilberd. A message had been left that should Rhea attend the banquet, she needed to see Alianne first beforehand and to meet her at the station west of the Coffer & Coffin.
Suspicious though she was of the meeting, Rhea went, ready for anything from an ambush to further insight into the corruption within the Grand Company of Eorzea. Waiting quite a considerable time, she frowned when she realized Alianne was not going to show. She hoped all was alright with her and that she'd not suffered the same fate. Just as she was about to leave, she noticed scuff marks and a vial on the ground. Picking it up, she frowned and began to look for signs of a struggle. Perhaps the vial had fallen from Alianne? Or it could be innocuous and simply from one of the workers earlier in the day.
Her search was interrupted though by Laurentis, another she'd recruited to the Braves, who informed her this was his patrol and he'd not seen Alianne. With the time of the banquet fast approaching, Rhea knew she didn't have time to linger. Though Laurentis was one of the one's she'd never really warmed to, she knew there were no obvious signs of foul play. Pocketing the vial, she nodded to Laurentis and returned to Momodi to see what the lalafell could make of it.
Something wasn't feeling right about any of this but, especially with the Crystal Braves busy with aiding in the patrols and protection of the Banquet, she doubted anything would happen that night. The next day she would dig far deeper into the whole mess. With a quick confirmation from Momodi that she didn't know anything about the vial either, Rhea kept it and made ready to head to the party.
Yet, a message had arrived from the palace while Rhea had been in Thanalan. It seemed Her Grace, the Sultana, was most eager to meet with her prior to the banquet. Always honored to attend to the young ruler, Rhea put the worries of the Braves to the back of her mind and returned to the palace.
As soon as she arrived, she was escorted into the private chambers of the Sultana. It was strange how some people could ever be a calming presence. Nanamo Ul Namo was one such person for Rhea and though they'd never spoken alone like this, she had ever been warm to the lalafellin ruler. Stepping in with a low curtsy to her, Nanamo dismissed her lady-in-waiting after the wine was poured and the two women took their seats at the table.
"You must be curious as to the reason for this private audience. The matter I would discuss, however, will soon make apparent the need for discretion," Nanamo said, wasting no time on pleasantries as soon as her maid had left. Taking a breath, the Sultana closed her eyes for a moment then looked at Rhea with a serious expression. She was right, Rhea was curious and she could see something weighed heavily on the young monarch. "I intend to abdicate the throne and dissolve the monarchy."
Rhea's eyes went wide in surprise. To dissolve the monarchy...she could see why the Sultana looked so burdened. "Dissolve it, Your Grace? I...that is quite a thing to do. I have no doubt you have thought long and hard about this but I must ask, and I mean no disrespect: what you propose is going to destabilize Ul'dah tremendously and create chaos in its wake. Are you prepared for that? For everything that will happen when you step down as the last Sultana of Ul'dah?"
Nanamo smiled, though it was a sad smile. It conveyed she had taken no disrespect. Closing her eyes, "You have seen for yourself the storm of turmoil that howls through our streets. The government fails in its responsibilities, and my subjects suffer the consequences of our incompetence." Opening her eyes, there was a look of determination, passion and love for her people burning bright in her emerald eyes, "But I will see them suffer no longer. The victory feast shall provide the stage on which I declare the dissolution of the sultanate.
"'Tis mine intent that the ruling class of our golden city should take its place beside the common man in a fair and equitable republic. No more shall this nation bow to the whims of a privileged few. Yet that which I propose will entail indeed the tearing up of this city's very foundations. And even Raubahn with all his strength and influence will be hard-pressed to keep his footing on such treacherous ground," she admitted, her love for her general also apparent.
With a kind expression, she held Rhea's gaze, "Thus would I ask you to lend him a steadying hand. You who have endured the wrath of innumerable foes are the one hero in whom I can place my trust. Will you do this thing for me?"
Rhea took a deep breath and gave the Sultana a firm nod. Though Ul'dah was not her home, Raubahn was someone she greatly admired and considered a very close personal friend. For him and Nanamo, and the stability of Eorzea as a whole, she would do this for Her Grace. "It is true that I may not have been born in Ul'dah, and the Scions are as politically neutral as we can be, but I refuse to abandon a friend in need or turn down such a heartfelt request from one I admire and respect as much as you, Your Grace. I will do all I can to help Raubahn during the transition. Whatever he shall need of me, I will endeavor to offer my all to aid him."
The smile that formed on the monarch's face was brighter than all the jewels of Ul'dah and Rhea could see that by agreeing to help the General, a great weight lifted from her small shoulders, "I am truly grateful. More grateful than I can well express. Much of my dread for the coming days has been quieted..."
Rhea smiled at her and bowed her head respectfully, "It is an honor, Your Grace, that you would entrust this to me. I promise, I will not fail you. Should you have aught have need of me, as well, in the coming days, please do not hesitate to reach out as well."
With a nod, Nanamo reached for her wine glass and took a drink. Rhea reached for her own but before the goblet could be raised to her lips, the young Sultana's eyes went wide and the glass fell from her hands. Grabbing at her throat, though nothing bound her there, the Sultana's eyes watered as a look of pure horror and distress poured over her rapidly paling features. Casting her own goblet to the side, Rhea rose rapidly and rushed for the Sultana's side as she collapsed to the ground.
Before she could reach her, however, the doors to the Sultana's chambers burst open and none other than Teledji Adeledji entered with a host of Brass Blades in tow. Rhea clenched her jaw at him as he screeched at the sight before him. She knew how this looked, and how the lalafellin lord would take it, yet she had little doubts in her mind that this was simply a coincidence. Teledji had always been a conniving dune snake and she knew, somehow, was involved in this. Who, after all, barged into the Sultana's private chambers, of all people, with a host of soldiers at the ready?
He rushed to the Sultana's side while Rhea stayed where she was. There were too many Blades, even for her to take on, and despite how it looked, she knew it would look even worse were she to resist in any way in that moment, "Her Grace...the sultana is dead." Teledji looked to the spilled goblet on the floor, "Poison in her wine...?"
With a maddening screech, he looked to Rhea as he cast out the accusation she knew he would throw at her. "You! You did this!"
Rhea tried to temper her expression, lest it incriminate her further, though she wanted to glare such daggers at him that it tore him to shreds. Instead, she shook her head, "You are mistaken. I did no such thing, nor would I ever. I have no motive for the Sultana's demise. Nay, she was a friend and an ally. You on the other hand, my lord..." she spoke the last words with a derisive tone, the accusation hanging heavy in the air between them.
He glared at her, "Spare us your denials! I see no other suspects, and the room has but the one entrance! I hereby accuse you of regicide! Men - arrest this viper!"
Looking once more at the Sultana laying dead beside them all, she looked to the Brass Blades who approached her and slowly raised her hands in the air to show she would not resist. She did not, however, miss the satisfied and villainous smirk Teledji let dance briefly upon the edges of his lips as the Blades bound her hands behind her back and led her from the Sultana's chambers.