See for once, actually did as I said I was going to.

~Elscy

Chapter 29:

Dark Angel

            Lia was shoving against her door the next morning wondering why in the world it was stuck. She had gotten it pushed open far enough that she could see a pair of feet. Had a drunk fallen asleep in front of her door? She slid through her door, wincing as the heavy wood grated against her hip. She shook her head as she realized it was Erikk, sprawled out on the stone floor. She shook him awake.

            "What?" He moaned as he sat up. Lia smiled.

            Well, I figured it would be impolite to leave you there and I wanted to thank you for yelling at me. I haven't been myself lately and you helped me." She said smiling. "Now, I'm going to get breakfast, then I'm to work out, and then I'm going to take a nice warm bath before I have to take a freezing cold one." she said before walking away.

She had actually woken up around noon and had to eat lunch. She didn't have to be in the chamber until sundown which was around four so she took Attrie out for a ride through the royal forest and then made her way to the palace baths.

            She scrubbed herself clean, hoping to eliminate her time spent in the freezing cold waters of the bathing pool. Erikk had said his mother was helping him with Lia's instructioning. Lia soaked in the water for another few minutes before running back to her room to collect the white sackcloth she had to wear while in the chamber. She ate a light dinner before walking slowly to the chamber before the eighth bell was called.

            Erikk shooed her into the bathing chamber as soon as she arrived. "You like to cut things to close," Was his comment. Lia didn't see the problem.  The regulation was the eighth bell.

She splashed around in the pool for a few minutes before climbing out of the ice-cold water. She pulled on the white clothes and stepped into the instruction chamber. Erikk grimaced and Kel smiled.

            "Are you prepared to be instructed?" She asked formerly. Lia spoke the age-old answer every squire had ever said.

            "I am."

            "If you survive the Ordeal of Knighthood you will be a knight of the realm." Erikk said just as formally. "You will be sworn to protect those weaker than you, to obey your overlord, to live in a way that honors your kingdom and your gods."

            "To wear the shield of a knight is an important thing," Kel went on. "It means you may not ignore a cry for help. It means that rich and poor, young and old, male and female may look to you for rescue, and you cannot deny them." She said smiling. Erikk took a deep breath and went on.

            "You are bound to uphold the law. You may not look away from wrongdoing. You may not help anyone break the law of the land, and you must prevent the breaking of the law at all times, in all cases."

            You are bound to your honor and your word." Kel reminded her. "Act in such a way that when you face the dark god you need not be ashamed."

            "You have learned the laws of Chivalry," Erikk said quietly and Lia looked him right in the eye. "Keep them in your heart. Use them as your guides when things are their darkest. They will not fail you if you interpret them with humanity and kindness. A knight is gentle. A knight's first duty is to understand." He finished the old code and nodded. She followed him into the chapel of the ordeal and she sat down in front of the large steel door and waited for dawn.

            She had finished and completed her destiny, what would she do? Whatever the king assigned to her. She would like to go to Haven and teach the younger kids how to defend themselves. She would like to teach them about life. She would like to go live with the Bazihr for a while. They were so quiet, peaceful. Peace was a thing Lia wasn't used to. It would be nice to finally be able to relax.

She would like to go see Falia and her new family. Visit with the people of her fief. It had been a long time since she'd done that.

             She would like to see Lady Maria again. Tell her what happened. Tell her about the fright Melodius had struck into her, and how she had died. She would like to see Renne and Kanti again. Tell them that yes, they were right she did love Erikk.

            Soon she would have to tell Erikk himself or she would burst.

~~:~~

            Two priests grabbed her arms and shook her. Lia stood up and winced as the blood moved in her legs. A priest opened the large door and Lia walked the last few feet inside alone. She saw Erikk's anxious face and Kel's relaxed one as she entered the chamber.

            It was just a steel room. Nothing special ornamented the walls or floor. There were no arcane symbols drawn on the walls.  Lia looked around the room, waiting for something to happen.  She turned around slowly in a circle. A face formed in the door. Lia frowned, was this supposed to happen? She watched as the face twisted and stretched.

            Hello again. It whispered into her mind.

            Hello. She though back.

            So, you've completed your quest. You've fulfilled your destiny. It said; she could feel it smiling.

            Yes, is there something else you need me to do? She thought excitedly. It laughed a cold metallic laugh that vibrated around the room. She remembered the laugh from one of her visions.

             Just find one to love. It said as the door opened. Then it laughed again.  Lia smiled and walked out of the chamber.  Erikk looked like he was going to faint as she walked out. Lia flashed a brilliant while smile at the crowd of mostly conservatives. She grabbed Erikk's arm as she exited.

            "Was something supposed to happen?" She asked between gritted teeth. He looked at her surprised.

            "Nothing happened?" He asked.

            "Not at thing." She said grumpily. Erikk suddenly changed direction.

            "We'll have to see the king." He said pulling her down another corridor.  He rapped on a large door. It opened up to reveal a servant. "We need to see the king." He said; the servant ran off. He looked at her.

            I'm sleepy." She commented. He laughed.  The servant showed them into a sitting room. They sat and waited, and waited. Finally, Thayet and Jonathan walked in yawning.  They looked at Erikk and Lia.

            "Yes?" John asked as he sat down yawning. 

            "Nothing happened." Lia said simply, He looked at her confused. "During my ordeal, nothing happened.  It just, talked to me." She said.

            "It laughed sir; we all heard." Erikk said. The king nodded

            "I know; I heard it. The chamber has been more active of late. There is only one explanation. You are fearless." He said. Thayet nodded.

            "Thank you, sire." Lia said as she exited. Erikk followed. "I need a nap." She said Erikk nodded and walked her back to her room. She didn't even pull off her clothes just fell into her bed.

She awoke around the first bell and fled though the halls to the Imperial suites. Pounding on the door Lia hopped from foot to foot, she had forgotten her shoes. Nia opened the door.

            "You're late!" She cried. She pulled Lia into her room. "Quickly wash. Erica will be here in a moment with your outfit." She said handing her a towel and soap. Lia nodded and ran to Nia's bathroom. She scrubbed quickly and dried herself off. Wrapping the fluffy towel around her body, she walked back to the main room.

            Nia's room was beautiful, vaulted ceilings and large carpets. Fluffy, pink furniture. Nia had a small fixation with pink.

            "Sit." Erica commanded. Lia smiled.

            "Hello to you to." Lia said as she sat. Erica smiled as she toweled her hair dry. "You are going to look beautiful. We borrowed your swords too." She said grinning. Lia yawned in reply. Erica was combing her hair out straight. "There, put these on.' She said handing Lia the breeches and shirt she had been given earlier. They fit her like a glove, some of the finest clothes she had ever worn.  They weren't any different from the first time she'd tried them on. Lia looked at the two expectantly; they smiled.

            Erica reached behind her and pulled out a box. Out of it, she took the green tunics; the hems were encrusted with tiny glittering emeralds and silver tread. Lia gasped.

            I, I can't wear that." Lia protested. "It cost more than all of my clothes combined." She protested. Erica just grinned and pulled it over her head.

            "If it's any consolation to you the jeweler owed us a favor, and the emeralds are actually emerald chips, they couldn't have been used for jewelry anyway." Nia said. Lia just rolled her eyes, these two were impossible.

            Erica pulled out Lia's silver swords and a jeweled silver belt; it was glittering with emeralds. It was fixed around Lia's waist and Erica was soon putting the necklace, earbobs, and bracelet Erikk had given her onto her person.

            They brushed silver lid powder onto her eyelids and dark lip rouge on her; they blackened her eyelashes with charcoal and powdered her face once again. Then they made her stand in the middle of the room so that she wouldn't wrinkle her clothes whilst they got ready.

            They ran around like chickens without their heads. Lia laughed and went to find a mirror. She felt very out of place in these clothes. They were fitted close against her skin, highlighting each feminine curve. The top was cut in a V, showing of the necklace Erikk had given her.

The seams glittered as they were frosted with emeralds. The silver belt looked like it was thrown onto her hips, dangerously moving back and forth, as she walked.

            Slits of red showed as she walked, reminding anyone who dared forget that she was dangerous, a dark angel.

            Erica and Nia swept into the room and smiled at Lia.

            "We're late, fashionably so." Erica said grinning. "We'll fly." They said, grabbing her hands and running down the hall. They deposited her in front of the grand doors and left to find a less obvious exit.  Lia looked at the doorman and smiled nervously.

            "You're the lady knight?" He asked smiling. Lia nodded. "May I say lady you are the essence of Lady Knighthood." He said and bowed. Lia smiled and bowed back. The doors started opening.

            Presenting, Sir Yazlia of Queenscove, Lady Knight of the Realm." The Herald cried. The doors opened and Lia stepped through them down the long red carpet to the throne. The king met her on the stairs, as she kneeled and laid her silver hilted sword in from of her. The king picked it up.

            "I dub thee Sir Yazlia of Queenscove, Lady Knight." As he finished the cold, metallic voice of the Chamber rang throughout the land.

            Dark angel

            The King nodded, "Dark Angel." He repeated after it and handed Lia her sword back. She bowed to the crowd and they cheered, or the Progressionists did.

            As she returned to her new room, she felt like weeping. Erica and Nia's plan hadn't worked. All night Erikk had been dancing with some tall, blonde girl. Lia was positive she had blue eyes and dimples. She wasn't going to risk seeing though; she was afraid she might throttle the girl.

            She pulled off the clothes she had been wearing and carefully hung them in her closet. Some day she might need them, for what she didn't know. It wasn't like she was going to try forcing some one to fall in love with her anytime soon.

All right, you know the drill. You review and I'll post tomorrow.

~Elsceetaria