Ah, I'm so happy! I wound up not having to go to my grandma's after all!
(Starts dancing around.) Well, I'm starting this on Saturday, but I know
I'm not going to post it for a while, because I have a feeling that this
chapter is going to take me a while. I'm so flipping tired; that's why I
hate school. I can't stay up past eleven any more. (Sigh) Well, here's the
next chapter, and I hope you enjoy it!
***
Chapter Eight: Trials to Win
Yelan stormed through her castle, anger pouring off her in giant waves. Servants could hear her coming from a mile away and scurried out of her path. The fury of a goddess was not something they wanted to face.
"SYAORAN!" She bellowed at the top of her lungs, the castle rocking on its very foundations. She continued to stomp through the halls, her eyes flashing with rage and her expression set in a nasty glower.
Her son had returned to her castle early in the morning with an ugly burn on his right shoulder. She'd set him immediately to his room, and her concern for him had prompted her to seek out the help of other gods. However, what she had discovered upon leaving her castle was something to put her beyond all reason and rational.
Her son, her own SON had fallen in love with Sakura and had been living with her in his palace for the last five months. He had fallen in love with and protected the very creature she despised above all others.
"SYAORAN!" She yelled again as she threw open the door to his room. Both Syaoran and the servant who was tending to his wound looked up in surprise. It was only a mere second before the servant fled from the room, leaving her charge to face Yelan's fury alone.
"What is it, mother?" He asked, his face still contorted slightly in pain. Yelan took several deep breaths and shut her eyes for a moment to regain some of her composure. A goddess did not lose control like this. It was unbecoming. "Why are you so angry?"
"Can I ask you, Syaoran, how you got that wound?" Her eyes opened slowly, and she couldn't stop the cold glare that fixed itself on her son. He merely blinked, his expression slightly confused.
"I told you once before. I grew careless with one of the lamps and spilled some of its hot oil on my shoulder." She felt her glare narrow.
"Haven't I taught you never to lie?" She said as calmly as she could manage. Syaoran blinked again. "I went to secure a doctor to heal your wound, and what do I discover? You've been fooling around with the very girl I sent you to ruin!" She watched her son's face pale slightly.
"Mother, you don't understand - "
"What is there to understand?" She cut him off. "I sent you to make her fall in love with the most hideous thing on the planet." She looked him up and down. "And if you, my son, are now the ugliest creature alive, then you did do my bidding." She folded her arms across her chest and Syaoran looked away.
"Mother, I . . ." She silenced him with a wave of her hand.
"I will hear nothing from you. I came to issue you your punishment." Syaoran's gaze snapped up in fear. "You will receive no help from me in healing your wound. I leave you to suffer alone." She said coldly and Syaoran's gaze narrowed slightly. "And I will make certain that you can't ever leave this room. That way you can't go find someone else to heal you."
"Mother, that's - "
"Cruel? No, my son, it is punishment. You are the fool who disobeyed me." He was definitely glaring at her now. "And while you are miserable here, I will find someone else to ruin Sakura. And the person I find will not fail me as you have." Syaoran's jaw dropped a little and she turned on her heel and stalked from the room. She slammed the door shut behind her before placing a sealing spell on it to ensure her son was locked tight inside.
'Now. To find someone who will not fail as Syaoran has.'
***
Syaoran watched his mother slam the door shut, his blood boiling with rage. How dare she! How dare she lock him up like some wild beast! And Sakura . . . what was to become of her? His mother would surely make good on her threat; Sakura was doomed.
That thought brought him to his senses and cleared his head of anger. His beloved Sakura . . . if only he had stayed with her instead of fleeing like an idiot. Then none of this would've happened, and they'd still be together. But her expression . . .
"Why didn't you tell me?" She had whispered, her words cutting through him like a knife. Surely she'd recognized him from the time they'd met before; she had, after all, recognized his presence enough to equate it with the name he'd told her, Xiao Lang. The disappointment of him not being honest with her had been evident on her face and he couldn't take it. He'd fled.
'I didn't want to face that.' He thought bitterly. 'I bet she hates me now . . .' He tilted his head back with a small sigh. 'I didn't want to look into her eyes and see sorrow. She was sad that I hadn't been truthful with her . . . I was right in leaving. She's probably back with her family, and is happier now than she ever was with me.' The thought seared through him, more painful than the burn on his arm.
"Sakura, I don't care if you hate me now . . . you've got to watch yourself." He whispered as he looked out the window. "Yelan is coming after you . . ."
***
Sakura stood before the mighty gates to the palace of the goddess Yelan, her heart pounding and her stomach doing flips. It had been two weeks since Syaoran had fled from her side, and she'd spent much of that time travelling here. After she'd returned to her family, she'd made up her mind to come to Yelan's palace. Her thinking had been that perhaps she could reason with the goddess on a one on one basis, and then the goddess would help her find Syaoran.
'Oh what am I doing?' Her mind screamed. 'You're walking straight into the castle of the very goddess who hates you. Don't you think you're being rather foolish?' She squeezed her eyes shut for a moment and drew several deep breaths to clam her racing heart.
"I've got to find him; I don't care what I have to do. And if the goddess Yelan strikes me down . . . at least . . ." She began to tremble in fear at the thought. "Maybe he'll be in her presence to stop her." She whispered to herself encouragingly. "Maybe he'll be here and my coming will only prove to him how much he means to me." She opened her eyes before she pushed open the gates and started up the long path to the castle.
It was an eternity before Sakura was lead before the goddess of beauty, Yelan. She followed the attendant slowly, her heart beginning to race even faster and her feet threatening to run in the opposite direction. It took all her strength to keep them moving forward and to keep her hands from shaking too much. Her mind continued to scream at her, but as she approached the large double doors, it too grew quiet in fear.
"My goddess, Yelan, a young woman is here to see you." The attendant said once the doors had been opened. The sweet smell of incense wafted to Sakura, and she stepped into the throne room. All her time spent in the finery of Syaoran's palace never prepared her for this. Her jaw dropped as she surveyed the sheer exquisiteness of the room.
The whole room was done up in colors of white, red and gold. Silk tapestries hung from the walls and draped across the high, vaulted ceiling. Golden chimes and talismans hung here and there, along with incense burners, with which smoke curled from. Elegant divans were scattered over the hardwood floor, and large pillows lay on them. On the largest divan, a tall woman sat regally, her silk robes fanning about her like a giant cloud and her long dark hair shining.
"Goddess Yelan." Sakura breathed and dared not take another step. The goddess glanced from the attendant who was with Sakura and clapped her hands. The attendant fanning her gently and the attendant carrying a flask of wine bowed deeply before vanishing.
"Now, Mikuni, who wishes to see me?" Yelan said and Sakura trembled slightly. Her voice held deep pride and power. Few crossed her and lived; that is what her voice said.
"A young woman by the name of . . ." The attendant glanced at Sakura, who blinked as the goddess's attention turned to her.
"Ah . . . my name . . ." She racked her brain frantically as the goddess stared at her quizzically.
"How did you manage to find your way up here? Your clothes look no better than that of a commoner." The goddess said with a small frown. "Find your tongue, girl. What is your name?"
"My name is Sakura." She finally managed to squeak out and she winced as the goddess's eyes widened. "Forgive me for coming all this way . . ." She fell to her knees in a low bow, her eyes trained on the floor. "But I had to ask you a question." There was a long silence and Sakura had to chew the inside of her cheek to keep herself from speaking. Finally, at long last, she heard the rustling of skirts and saw Yelan stand.
"So." Sakura kept her head down. "You are the girl everyone in that wretched town is worshiping instead of me." Unconsciously, Sakura tried to make herself smaller and sneaked a small glance up Yelan. The goddess started shaking her head before tossing it back and laughing. Sakura couldn't help it then; she looked up at the goddess, an expression of confusion on her face.
"May I ask what is so funny, my lady goddess?" She asked as timidly as possible, trying to hide her annoyance. What could she possibly think is so funny?
"I have people out everywhere, searching for you!" The goddess finally said. "And to think, you walk right up to my castle!" Yelan drew a deep breath and stopped laughing. "I suppose you've come to ask about my son and his whereabouts." Sakura nodded slightly and Yelan looked upon her for a long while. "You have courage, to come here, the palace of a goddess who hates you. I suppose I owe you an answer." Sakura's spirits soared. Now she'd be able to find him!
"But . . ." Her good spirits vanished. "There are tasks you must complete to show your worth to me."
"Tasks?" Sakura said weakly and Yelan nodded.
"The first task you must complete is this." She clapped her hands together twice and two attendants pushed open a sliding wall. Sakura's eyes widened as she saw the contents of the hidden room. "In this room is every single piece of jewelry I own, and as you can see, it's in terrible disarray. I am going on a small day trip to Olympus, and I want every piece sorted into the jewelry boxes by the time I return, or I will cast you from this palace."
"As . . . as you wish." Sakura said numbly and she walked towards the towering pile of necklaces, earrings, and bracelets. Her spirits were sinking even lower; how on earth was she to do this? It would take months, or even years to get through this pile. "I'll do my best."
"See that you do." The wall slammed shut and Sakura sank to her knees for a moment. The goddess had done this on purpose. She knew there was no way that Sakura would get through the pile before she returned.
'I will prove her wrong.' Sakura thought determinedly. 'I will get through this pile by the time she gets back; otherwise I won't ever get to see Syaoran again.' With that thought, she picked herself up and started sorting.
Hours upon hours passed, and Sakura kept working. She'd gotten through at least half of the pile when she couldn't take it any more. She pressed her back to the wall and collapsed, her whole body aching from the awkward positions and movements. Her mind was in a constant whirl; necklace, blue jewels, third box. Necklace, red jewels, second box. Necklace, red jewels, but gold setting, fifth box. It was enough to make her go insane.
"Just rest, little princess." A breathy voice said, and she gasped. It was the palace spirit. "We shall do the rest and have everything sorted by the time Lord Syaoran's mother returns."
"What are you doing here? How did you leave his palace?" She whispered.
"Lord Syaoran managed to summon me and told me to help you in any endeavor, so I am here, helping you." Sakura watched in amazement as the jewelry began to swiftly fly to the place it belonged, carried by invisible forces. It wasn't long before the pile began to dwindle, and it soon was gone completely. Sakura could not help but give a soft cry of triumph as the last jewelry box clicked shut.
"Oh thank you!" She cried softly and she heard a chuckle.
"If you are ever in need of our help again, just call. We will be at your side in an instant." Sakura nodded and she could sense that the spirit had left. She sat back contentedly and began to massage her sore neck and shoulders. Surely this would be enough for the goddess, and she would tell her where her son was.
'And he sent the palace spirit to help me. I know this means that he doesn't hate me.' A warm, happy feeling swelled in Sakura. Syaoran didn't hate her for looking on him.
"So. You managed to finish." Sakura blinked and leapt to her feet to see Yelan standing at the opened wall. She frowned slightly; why hadn't she heard it open. "I am impressed, young lady." The goddess stepped into the room and looked around critically. "But this can't all be your work. You must've been helped in some way." Sakura remained silent.
"This just means I shall have to give you another task." She clapped her hands twice again, and suddenly they were outside her palace. She and Sakura now stood in a large, grassy field. "Do you see that river over yonder?" Yelan pointed off into the distance, and sure enough, when Sakura squinted, she saw a thin, glinting line.
"Yes, I do."
"Every night Eriol's flock of golden fleeced sheep come to drink. I want you to gather plenty of their wool and bring it back to me." Yelan clapped her hands yet again and vanished, leaving Sakura all alone.
'I suppose I have no choice.' She thought with a small sigh and started off towards the distant river.
It was a long time before Sakura reached the river. The sun had sunk enough for it to be late afternoon, and she sat down on the sandy banks, both her body and her soul so very tired. She looked down at her reflection with a sad expression; her face was smudged with dirt from the dusty room she'd been working in all morning and her hair was messy. Her skirts were stained with grass and dirt from walking and her hands were grimy.
'I suppose I do look like a common girl.' She thought with a smile. 'But somewhere in my heart, I knew this was going to be difficult. I knew Yelan wasn't going to just simply agree.' Her expression became firm. 'I will show her that I am indeed good enough for her son.'
"On another task already, little princess?" A soft voice called, and she smiled as she recognized the palace spirit.
"Yelan couldn't even let me sleep to recover my strength." She said wearily and sensed the presence of the spirit come up beside her. "Now I've got to gather wool from a flock of golden fleeced sheep when they come to drink."
"Is that all?" A different voice said and Sakura gasped as the water from the river began to rise up slightly. It twisted and turned until finally it was in the shape of a beautiful naiad. Her skin was pale blue, and her hair was deep azure. Her sapphire eyes sparkled as she smiled down at Sakura.
"Who . . ." The naiad's smile widened as Sakura's shock became apparent.
"You may call me Scylla, and I couldn't help but overhear your predicament." Sakura looked at her with sudden interest. "I can tell you exactly how to gather plenty of wool for that so called goddess of beauty."
"How?" Scylla smiled.
"It's easy. The sheep you speak of are notoriously violent and generally horrible creatures, so you'd never be able to get close to them without being hurt or even killed." Scylla crossed one slender leg over the other and sat back slightly. "So, what you must do is this. Wait for them to come and leave, and then head over to the briar patch surrounding the bank they come to drink from. There you will find plenty of their golden fleece where it has stuck as they past through it."
"Oh thank you!" Sakura said joyfully and Scylla waved a hand in dismissal.
"It is nothing, my dear. I'd do anything to spite that Yelan." Sakura fought a smile. "As you can plainly see, I have little love for her."
"I can." Sakura said, and watched as Scylla began to turn back to water.
"Good luck!" Scylla said before vanishing. Sakura smiled slightly before looking up at the sky wistfully.
'Great . . . more waiting . . .' And more waiting it was. Sakura took the time to wash her hands and her face and tried to fix her hair so it looked less like a rat's nest. It was hard to do, however, since she lacked a comb. She finally gave up and lay down to wait for Eriol's flock to come.
Sakura awoke to the faint bleating of sheep and the soft ring of bells. She hadn't been aware that she'd fallen asleep, but now that she looked, the sun had all but vanished from the horizon. Picking herself up, she crept towards the noise of the sheep and found them drinking on the opposite bank. She could see the briar patch Scylla had spoken of behind the shining sheep.
'I never quite believed they actually existed . . .' She thought as she watched the sheep drink, their golden fleece glinting in the setting sun. Not one noticed her as she watched them, and finally the flock turned and headed back the way they had come. Sakura stood and brushed herself off.
"Now to get the fleece."
***
Yelan lounged in her throne room, a satisfied smile on her lips. Things were shaping up better than she'd ever believed; Syaoran was locked away and suffering for disobeying her, and Sakura, the very girl she'd sought to ruin, was running left and right, doing her every whim. She'd been surprised when she'd brought back an armful of golden fleece; Yelan hadn't expected her to get much more than a handful.
'The fleece is excellent for spinning some of my finest clothes. And I have that girl to thank for it.' She leaned back onto her pillows and shut her eyes. She'd just sent the girl on another errand; to get a flask of the black water that flowed from the River of Styx. There was only one place on earth where the water bubbled from below ground, and it would surely take Sakura months to find it.
However, that was something that was puzzling Yelan. The girl had completed task upon task; from separating her jewelry and grains of rice, wheat, and millet, to gathering golden fleece and rare herbs for making incense, Sakura was able to do them all. She'd even managed to bring back an apple of pure gold; something few could possibly do.
"I just don't understand it. Every time I check to see if she is alone, she is. Yet . . ." A frown creased her smooth face. "I know these tasks can not be completed without help. I just know it."
"My lady . . ." Yelan looked up as one of her attendants walked into the room. "Sakura has returned." Yelan's jaw dropped and she was on her feet in an instant.
"It can't be possible. She shouldn't be back for another two or three weeks, at the least." The attendant shrugged and Yelan's gaze flicked to the young girl who entered. In her arms, she carried a large flask filled to the brim with the blackest water.
"My lady goddess, here is the water you asked for." Sakura set it down and Yelan pursed her lips slightly. The girl certainly wasn't looking as though she'd had help; her clothing was ripped, ragged, and dirty, her hair was messy, and her exposed skin was covered with dirty splotches. Her hands were especially dirty and Yelan was forced to assume that she had climbed up to the place where the water sprung from the earth.
"Thank you. Mikuni, take Sakura to her room and let her rest for tonight. Tomorrow morning I will have another task for her to complete." The two of them bowed and soon the doors banged shut as they left. Yelan picked up the heavy flask and handed it to another attendant. "Take this to the medicinal wing. I'm sure they'll find a use for it." The attendant bowed and Yelan sank back onto her divan.
'This girl . . . nothing I seem to do deters her from finding my son. She does everything I ask of her without complaint, thinking that once I am satisfied, I will tell her where he is.' Yelan lay back on her pillows, her head spinning. 'The next task I assign her must be difficult. Think, Yelan . . . what could you tell this girl to do that would be practically impossible for her to complete . . .' Abruptly her eyes snapped open and she sat up.
"That's it." She said softly, a small smile on her lips. "I know the perfect thing . . . no mere mortal could do this and come out alive." And then Yelan began to laugh. The next task was utterly perfect. There was no way Sakura would succeed.
***
It was barely dawn when Yelan summoned Sakura. The attendant Mikuni shook her awake and allowed her a few moments to wash her hands and her face. She even lent her a comb so she could brush out her hair and re-pin it up neatly. Sakura gave a small sigh about the state of her clothes, but there wasn't much she could do about them. She didn't dare ask for a new robe from a goddess.
"Here. Your breakfast." Mikuni handed her a few pieces of stale bread, which she accepted gratefully. As they walked to the throne room, Sakura nibbled on them just enough to satisfy her hunger and pocketed what was left. She had a feeling she was going to need some of it later.
'I wonder what she's going to ask me to do now . . . It seems as though I've done close to everything as it is. Perhaps she'll run out of things to tell me to do . . .' She thought, though her heart told her no. The day Yelan ran out of things for her to do was the day she'd see pigs flying.
"Who knows. There seem to be golden sheep, so maybe pigs will fly." She mumbled and received a strange look from Mikuni.
"My lady Yelan, I have brought Sakura." Sakura blinked; she hadn't even realized that they'd entered the throne room. Yelan gazed at her and a sinking feeling rose in her gut. Sakura really didn't like the look she was getting.
"Excellent." She didn't like the tone either. Something was off here; the frustration she'd sensed growing in Yelan was suddenly gone. "My dear Sakura, I feel as though I've asked you plenty to do." Suspicion arose in her instantly. This didn't sound like Yelan. "And so, I'm going to assign you one final task. If you manage to complete these as you have completed the others, I shall tell you where my son is."
"Really?" Sakura couldn't keep herself silent, even with the suspicious feeling that was growing in her.
"Really." Yelan nodded with a smile that was far too satisfied for Sakura's liking. "Are you ready to hear what I'm asking you to do?" Sakura nodded and Yelan's smile grew. "I want you to take this box and have my dear friend Chiharu, queen of the underworld, fill it with some of her beauty." Sakura stared at Yelan, her mind numb with shock.
"I have to go to the underworld?" She whispered, and Yelan nodded. Sakura's gaze focused on the little black box Yelan was holding out infront of her and her resolve hardened. "I'll do it." She said softly and took the box from the goddess.
"I knew you would." Yelan said with that self-satisfied smile of hers. "Now off with you. Hurry and get that beauty charm; I have a party I will be attending and I need it." Sakura turned slowly and started from the palace, fear rising within her as she thought. How did one get into the underworld without killing oneself?
'I don't even know where to begin . . .'
To be continued!
Yes, another chapter done! I originally was going to have the final trial in here, but it was way too long. Anyway, please review. The reviews make me happy! Um, there's either going to be one or two more chapters, depending on whether or not I think it's too long. Well, hope to update again soon - Shasta Rose
***
Chapter Eight: Trials to Win
Yelan stormed through her castle, anger pouring off her in giant waves. Servants could hear her coming from a mile away and scurried out of her path. The fury of a goddess was not something they wanted to face.
"SYAORAN!" She bellowed at the top of her lungs, the castle rocking on its very foundations. She continued to stomp through the halls, her eyes flashing with rage and her expression set in a nasty glower.
Her son had returned to her castle early in the morning with an ugly burn on his right shoulder. She'd set him immediately to his room, and her concern for him had prompted her to seek out the help of other gods. However, what she had discovered upon leaving her castle was something to put her beyond all reason and rational.
Her son, her own SON had fallen in love with Sakura and had been living with her in his palace for the last five months. He had fallen in love with and protected the very creature she despised above all others.
"SYAORAN!" She yelled again as she threw open the door to his room. Both Syaoran and the servant who was tending to his wound looked up in surprise. It was only a mere second before the servant fled from the room, leaving her charge to face Yelan's fury alone.
"What is it, mother?" He asked, his face still contorted slightly in pain. Yelan took several deep breaths and shut her eyes for a moment to regain some of her composure. A goddess did not lose control like this. It was unbecoming. "Why are you so angry?"
"Can I ask you, Syaoran, how you got that wound?" Her eyes opened slowly, and she couldn't stop the cold glare that fixed itself on her son. He merely blinked, his expression slightly confused.
"I told you once before. I grew careless with one of the lamps and spilled some of its hot oil on my shoulder." She felt her glare narrow.
"Haven't I taught you never to lie?" She said as calmly as she could manage. Syaoran blinked again. "I went to secure a doctor to heal your wound, and what do I discover? You've been fooling around with the very girl I sent you to ruin!" She watched her son's face pale slightly.
"Mother, you don't understand - "
"What is there to understand?" She cut him off. "I sent you to make her fall in love with the most hideous thing on the planet." She looked him up and down. "And if you, my son, are now the ugliest creature alive, then you did do my bidding." She folded her arms across her chest and Syaoran looked away.
"Mother, I . . ." She silenced him with a wave of her hand.
"I will hear nothing from you. I came to issue you your punishment." Syaoran's gaze snapped up in fear. "You will receive no help from me in healing your wound. I leave you to suffer alone." She said coldly and Syaoran's gaze narrowed slightly. "And I will make certain that you can't ever leave this room. That way you can't go find someone else to heal you."
"Mother, that's - "
"Cruel? No, my son, it is punishment. You are the fool who disobeyed me." He was definitely glaring at her now. "And while you are miserable here, I will find someone else to ruin Sakura. And the person I find will not fail me as you have." Syaoran's jaw dropped a little and she turned on her heel and stalked from the room. She slammed the door shut behind her before placing a sealing spell on it to ensure her son was locked tight inside.
'Now. To find someone who will not fail as Syaoran has.'
***
Syaoran watched his mother slam the door shut, his blood boiling with rage. How dare she! How dare she lock him up like some wild beast! And Sakura . . . what was to become of her? His mother would surely make good on her threat; Sakura was doomed.
That thought brought him to his senses and cleared his head of anger. His beloved Sakura . . . if only he had stayed with her instead of fleeing like an idiot. Then none of this would've happened, and they'd still be together. But her expression . . .
"Why didn't you tell me?" She had whispered, her words cutting through him like a knife. Surely she'd recognized him from the time they'd met before; she had, after all, recognized his presence enough to equate it with the name he'd told her, Xiao Lang. The disappointment of him not being honest with her had been evident on her face and he couldn't take it. He'd fled.
'I didn't want to face that.' He thought bitterly. 'I bet she hates me now . . .' He tilted his head back with a small sigh. 'I didn't want to look into her eyes and see sorrow. She was sad that I hadn't been truthful with her . . . I was right in leaving. She's probably back with her family, and is happier now than she ever was with me.' The thought seared through him, more painful than the burn on his arm.
"Sakura, I don't care if you hate me now . . . you've got to watch yourself." He whispered as he looked out the window. "Yelan is coming after you . . ."
***
Sakura stood before the mighty gates to the palace of the goddess Yelan, her heart pounding and her stomach doing flips. It had been two weeks since Syaoran had fled from her side, and she'd spent much of that time travelling here. After she'd returned to her family, she'd made up her mind to come to Yelan's palace. Her thinking had been that perhaps she could reason with the goddess on a one on one basis, and then the goddess would help her find Syaoran.
'Oh what am I doing?' Her mind screamed. 'You're walking straight into the castle of the very goddess who hates you. Don't you think you're being rather foolish?' She squeezed her eyes shut for a moment and drew several deep breaths to clam her racing heart.
"I've got to find him; I don't care what I have to do. And if the goddess Yelan strikes me down . . . at least . . ." She began to tremble in fear at the thought. "Maybe he'll be in her presence to stop her." She whispered to herself encouragingly. "Maybe he'll be here and my coming will only prove to him how much he means to me." She opened her eyes before she pushed open the gates and started up the long path to the castle.
It was an eternity before Sakura was lead before the goddess of beauty, Yelan. She followed the attendant slowly, her heart beginning to race even faster and her feet threatening to run in the opposite direction. It took all her strength to keep them moving forward and to keep her hands from shaking too much. Her mind continued to scream at her, but as she approached the large double doors, it too grew quiet in fear.
"My goddess, Yelan, a young woman is here to see you." The attendant said once the doors had been opened. The sweet smell of incense wafted to Sakura, and she stepped into the throne room. All her time spent in the finery of Syaoran's palace never prepared her for this. Her jaw dropped as she surveyed the sheer exquisiteness of the room.
The whole room was done up in colors of white, red and gold. Silk tapestries hung from the walls and draped across the high, vaulted ceiling. Golden chimes and talismans hung here and there, along with incense burners, with which smoke curled from. Elegant divans were scattered over the hardwood floor, and large pillows lay on them. On the largest divan, a tall woman sat regally, her silk robes fanning about her like a giant cloud and her long dark hair shining.
"Goddess Yelan." Sakura breathed and dared not take another step. The goddess glanced from the attendant who was with Sakura and clapped her hands. The attendant fanning her gently and the attendant carrying a flask of wine bowed deeply before vanishing.
"Now, Mikuni, who wishes to see me?" Yelan said and Sakura trembled slightly. Her voice held deep pride and power. Few crossed her and lived; that is what her voice said.
"A young woman by the name of . . ." The attendant glanced at Sakura, who blinked as the goddess's attention turned to her.
"Ah . . . my name . . ." She racked her brain frantically as the goddess stared at her quizzically.
"How did you manage to find your way up here? Your clothes look no better than that of a commoner." The goddess said with a small frown. "Find your tongue, girl. What is your name?"
"My name is Sakura." She finally managed to squeak out and she winced as the goddess's eyes widened. "Forgive me for coming all this way . . ." She fell to her knees in a low bow, her eyes trained on the floor. "But I had to ask you a question." There was a long silence and Sakura had to chew the inside of her cheek to keep herself from speaking. Finally, at long last, she heard the rustling of skirts and saw Yelan stand.
"So." Sakura kept her head down. "You are the girl everyone in that wretched town is worshiping instead of me." Unconsciously, Sakura tried to make herself smaller and sneaked a small glance up Yelan. The goddess started shaking her head before tossing it back and laughing. Sakura couldn't help it then; she looked up at the goddess, an expression of confusion on her face.
"May I ask what is so funny, my lady goddess?" She asked as timidly as possible, trying to hide her annoyance. What could she possibly think is so funny?
"I have people out everywhere, searching for you!" The goddess finally said. "And to think, you walk right up to my castle!" Yelan drew a deep breath and stopped laughing. "I suppose you've come to ask about my son and his whereabouts." Sakura nodded slightly and Yelan looked upon her for a long while. "You have courage, to come here, the palace of a goddess who hates you. I suppose I owe you an answer." Sakura's spirits soared. Now she'd be able to find him!
"But . . ." Her good spirits vanished. "There are tasks you must complete to show your worth to me."
"Tasks?" Sakura said weakly and Yelan nodded.
"The first task you must complete is this." She clapped her hands together twice and two attendants pushed open a sliding wall. Sakura's eyes widened as she saw the contents of the hidden room. "In this room is every single piece of jewelry I own, and as you can see, it's in terrible disarray. I am going on a small day trip to Olympus, and I want every piece sorted into the jewelry boxes by the time I return, or I will cast you from this palace."
"As . . . as you wish." Sakura said numbly and she walked towards the towering pile of necklaces, earrings, and bracelets. Her spirits were sinking even lower; how on earth was she to do this? It would take months, or even years to get through this pile. "I'll do my best."
"See that you do." The wall slammed shut and Sakura sank to her knees for a moment. The goddess had done this on purpose. She knew there was no way that Sakura would get through the pile before she returned.
'I will prove her wrong.' Sakura thought determinedly. 'I will get through this pile by the time she gets back; otherwise I won't ever get to see Syaoran again.' With that thought, she picked herself up and started sorting.
Hours upon hours passed, and Sakura kept working. She'd gotten through at least half of the pile when she couldn't take it any more. She pressed her back to the wall and collapsed, her whole body aching from the awkward positions and movements. Her mind was in a constant whirl; necklace, blue jewels, third box. Necklace, red jewels, second box. Necklace, red jewels, but gold setting, fifth box. It was enough to make her go insane.
"Just rest, little princess." A breathy voice said, and she gasped. It was the palace spirit. "We shall do the rest and have everything sorted by the time Lord Syaoran's mother returns."
"What are you doing here? How did you leave his palace?" She whispered.
"Lord Syaoran managed to summon me and told me to help you in any endeavor, so I am here, helping you." Sakura watched in amazement as the jewelry began to swiftly fly to the place it belonged, carried by invisible forces. It wasn't long before the pile began to dwindle, and it soon was gone completely. Sakura could not help but give a soft cry of triumph as the last jewelry box clicked shut.
"Oh thank you!" She cried softly and she heard a chuckle.
"If you are ever in need of our help again, just call. We will be at your side in an instant." Sakura nodded and she could sense that the spirit had left. She sat back contentedly and began to massage her sore neck and shoulders. Surely this would be enough for the goddess, and she would tell her where her son was.
'And he sent the palace spirit to help me. I know this means that he doesn't hate me.' A warm, happy feeling swelled in Sakura. Syaoran didn't hate her for looking on him.
"So. You managed to finish." Sakura blinked and leapt to her feet to see Yelan standing at the opened wall. She frowned slightly; why hadn't she heard it open. "I am impressed, young lady." The goddess stepped into the room and looked around critically. "But this can't all be your work. You must've been helped in some way." Sakura remained silent.
"This just means I shall have to give you another task." She clapped her hands twice again, and suddenly they were outside her palace. She and Sakura now stood in a large, grassy field. "Do you see that river over yonder?" Yelan pointed off into the distance, and sure enough, when Sakura squinted, she saw a thin, glinting line.
"Yes, I do."
"Every night Eriol's flock of golden fleeced sheep come to drink. I want you to gather plenty of their wool and bring it back to me." Yelan clapped her hands yet again and vanished, leaving Sakura all alone.
'I suppose I have no choice.' She thought with a small sigh and started off towards the distant river.
It was a long time before Sakura reached the river. The sun had sunk enough for it to be late afternoon, and she sat down on the sandy banks, both her body and her soul so very tired. She looked down at her reflection with a sad expression; her face was smudged with dirt from the dusty room she'd been working in all morning and her hair was messy. Her skirts were stained with grass and dirt from walking and her hands were grimy.
'I suppose I do look like a common girl.' She thought with a smile. 'But somewhere in my heart, I knew this was going to be difficult. I knew Yelan wasn't going to just simply agree.' Her expression became firm. 'I will show her that I am indeed good enough for her son.'
"On another task already, little princess?" A soft voice called, and she smiled as she recognized the palace spirit.
"Yelan couldn't even let me sleep to recover my strength." She said wearily and sensed the presence of the spirit come up beside her. "Now I've got to gather wool from a flock of golden fleeced sheep when they come to drink."
"Is that all?" A different voice said and Sakura gasped as the water from the river began to rise up slightly. It twisted and turned until finally it was in the shape of a beautiful naiad. Her skin was pale blue, and her hair was deep azure. Her sapphire eyes sparkled as she smiled down at Sakura.
"Who . . ." The naiad's smile widened as Sakura's shock became apparent.
"You may call me Scylla, and I couldn't help but overhear your predicament." Sakura looked at her with sudden interest. "I can tell you exactly how to gather plenty of wool for that so called goddess of beauty."
"How?" Scylla smiled.
"It's easy. The sheep you speak of are notoriously violent and generally horrible creatures, so you'd never be able to get close to them without being hurt or even killed." Scylla crossed one slender leg over the other and sat back slightly. "So, what you must do is this. Wait for them to come and leave, and then head over to the briar patch surrounding the bank they come to drink from. There you will find plenty of their golden fleece where it has stuck as they past through it."
"Oh thank you!" Sakura said joyfully and Scylla waved a hand in dismissal.
"It is nothing, my dear. I'd do anything to spite that Yelan." Sakura fought a smile. "As you can plainly see, I have little love for her."
"I can." Sakura said, and watched as Scylla began to turn back to water.
"Good luck!" Scylla said before vanishing. Sakura smiled slightly before looking up at the sky wistfully.
'Great . . . more waiting . . .' And more waiting it was. Sakura took the time to wash her hands and her face and tried to fix her hair so it looked less like a rat's nest. It was hard to do, however, since she lacked a comb. She finally gave up and lay down to wait for Eriol's flock to come.
Sakura awoke to the faint bleating of sheep and the soft ring of bells. She hadn't been aware that she'd fallen asleep, but now that she looked, the sun had all but vanished from the horizon. Picking herself up, she crept towards the noise of the sheep and found them drinking on the opposite bank. She could see the briar patch Scylla had spoken of behind the shining sheep.
'I never quite believed they actually existed . . .' She thought as she watched the sheep drink, their golden fleece glinting in the setting sun. Not one noticed her as she watched them, and finally the flock turned and headed back the way they had come. Sakura stood and brushed herself off.
"Now to get the fleece."
***
Yelan lounged in her throne room, a satisfied smile on her lips. Things were shaping up better than she'd ever believed; Syaoran was locked away and suffering for disobeying her, and Sakura, the very girl she'd sought to ruin, was running left and right, doing her every whim. She'd been surprised when she'd brought back an armful of golden fleece; Yelan hadn't expected her to get much more than a handful.
'The fleece is excellent for spinning some of my finest clothes. And I have that girl to thank for it.' She leaned back onto her pillows and shut her eyes. She'd just sent the girl on another errand; to get a flask of the black water that flowed from the River of Styx. There was only one place on earth where the water bubbled from below ground, and it would surely take Sakura months to find it.
However, that was something that was puzzling Yelan. The girl had completed task upon task; from separating her jewelry and grains of rice, wheat, and millet, to gathering golden fleece and rare herbs for making incense, Sakura was able to do them all. She'd even managed to bring back an apple of pure gold; something few could possibly do.
"I just don't understand it. Every time I check to see if she is alone, she is. Yet . . ." A frown creased her smooth face. "I know these tasks can not be completed without help. I just know it."
"My lady . . ." Yelan looked up as one of her attendants walked into the room. "Sakura has returned." Yelan's jaw dropped and she was on her feet in an instant.
"It can't be possible. She shouldn't be back for another two or three weeks, at the least." The attendant shrugged and Yelan's gaze flicked to the young girl who entered. In her arms, she carried a large flask filled to the brim with the blackest water.
"My lady goddess, here is the water you asked for." Sakura set it down and Yelan pursed her lips slightly. The girl certainly wasn't looking as though she'd had help; her clothing was ripped, ragged, and dirty, her hair was messy, and her exposed skin was covered with dirty splotches. Her hands were especially dirty and Yelan was forced to assume that she had climbed up to the place where the water sprung from the earth.
"Thank you. Mikuni, take Sakura to her room and let her rest for tonight. Tomorrow morning I will have another task for her to complete." The two of them bowed and soon the doors banged shut as they left. Yelan picked up the heavy flask and handed it to another attendant. "Take this to the medicinal wing. I'm sure they'll find a use for it." The attendant bowed and Yelan sank back onto her divan.
'This girl . . . nothing I seem to do deters her from finding my son. She does everything I ask of her without complaint, thinking that once I am satisfied, I will tell her where he is.' Yelan lay back on her pillows, her head spinning. 'The next task I assign her must be difficult. Think, Yelan . . . what could you tell this girl to do that would be practically impossible for her to complete . . .' Abruptly her eyes snapped open and she sat up.
"That's it." She said softly, a small smile on her lips. "I know the perfect thing . . . no mere mortal could do this and come out alive." And then Yelan began to laugh. The next task was utterly perfect. There was no way Sakura would succeed.
***
It was barely dawn when Yelan summoned Sakura. The attendant Mikuni shook her awake and allowed her a few moments to wash her hands and her face. She even lent her a comb so she could brush out her hair and re-pin it up neatly. Sakura gave a small sigh about the state of her clothes, but there wasn't much she could do about them. She didn't dare ask for a new robe from a goddess.
"Here. Your breakfast." Mikuni handed her a few pieces of stale bread, which she accepted gratefully. As they walked to the throne room, Sakura nibbled on them just enough to satisfy her hunger and pocketed what was left. She had a feeling she was going to need some of it later.
'I wonder what she's going to ask me to do now . . . It seems as though I've done close to everything as it is. Perhaps she'll run out of things to tell me to do . . .' She thought, though her heart told her no. The day Yelan ran out of things for her to do was the day she'd see pigs flying.
"Who knows. There seem to be golden sheep, so maybe pigs will fly." She mumbled and received a strange look from Mikuni.
"My lady Yelan, I have brought Sakura." Sakura blinked; she hadn't even realized that they'd entered the throne room. Yelan gazed at her and a sinking feeling rose in her gut. Sakura really didn't like the look she was getting.
"Excellent." She didn't like the tone either. Something was off here; the frustration she'd sensed growing in Yelan was suddenly gone. "My dear Sakura, I feel as though I've asked you plenty to do." Suspicion arose in her instantly. This didn't sound like Yelan. "And so, I'm going to assign you one final task. If you manage to complete these as you have completed the others, I shall tell you where my son is."
"Really?" Sakura couldn't keep herself silent, even with the suspicious feeling that was growing in her.
"Really." Yelan nodded with a smile that was far too satisfied for Sakura's liking. "Are you ready to hear what I'm asking you to do?" Sakura nodded and Yelan's smile grew. "I want you to take this box and have my dear friend Chiharu, queen of the underworld, fill it with some of her beauty." Sakura stared at Yelan, her mind numb with shock.
"I have to go to the underworld?" She whispered, and Yelan nodded. Sakura's gaze focused on the little black box Yelan was holding out infront of her and her resolve hardened. "I'll do it." She said softly and took the box from the goddess.
"I knew you would." Yelan said with that self-satisfied smile of hers. "Now off with you. Hurry and get that beauty charm; I have a party I will be attending and I need it." Sakura turned slowly and started from the palace, fear rising within her as she thought. How did one get into the underworld without killing oneself?
'I don't even know where to begin . . .'
To be continued!
Yes, another chapter done! I originally was going to have the final trial in here, but it was way too long. Anyway, please review. The reviews make me happy! Um, there's either going to be one or two more chapters, depending on whether or not I think it's too long. Well, hope to update again soon - Shasta Rose