Ch.3 Encounters Part One
Mariee looked out at the countryside; it looked too peaceful here for one such as her. Memories of that fateful day clouded her once sweet demeanor. A tear slowly ran down her cheek only to fall on the simple heart shaped locket she always wore.
----4 years ago----
Sighing, I made my way down to the castle grounds. The sisters were already anxiously waiting for me. In particular Ambrosia, she gives me a chill. Her eyes never seemed to leave me, always peering into my soul.
"Milady, what's wrong, you look pale?"
I turned to see Lorain coming towards me, concern radiated from her every movement, she draped her arm protectively over my shoulders. Glancing away, I looked down at the courtyard. I could see the nuns dressed in the colors of their Order. A rather peculiar combination, one that comprised of indigo blue and white, rather then the more typical black and white of most religions. Lorain's green eyes hardened to flint when she beheld them. I gazed up at her fondly. "Always seeking to shield me, dear knight?" She tore her scrutiny away from the sisters a moment to grin at me and wink. "Indeed milady, I will not allow anything to harm you."
I couldn't help but smile at her confidence, more importantly it made me feel safer somehow. Resolving myself to the inevitable confrontation I continue to walk down the stone steps. My dearest friend followed me like a silent wind, graceful and deadly. It's almost hard to believe she and I are only 15, to have learned so much in so little time. The sisters of the Order found my protector's skills impressive, I did notice the way they looked at her. It was disquieting to say the least. One can never know what those harpies were thinking.
"Lady Mariee, so good to see you in excellent health these days."
Her hazel eyes pinned me to the ground, why did I feel terrified around this woman, Ambrosia. Lorain glared at the older Sister, a grim frown adorned her face. "What did you come here for?" She grasped the hilt of her broad sword, her knuckles whitened with tension.
This action amused the head nun, her lips curved into a slight smile. "My goodness, one would think you fancy the Lady Mariee, so very astute in regards to her welfare." Lorain growled low in her throat, a slight blush appeared on her cheeks. "State your business and leave," I announced quietly but firmly. Ambrosia turned her attention back to me; something dark flitted across her vision then dissipated. "We have need of certain records, your late father left them to us for save keeping. "
Nodding, I turned on my heel and strode away. My knight protector trailed in my wake, never letting her guard down, even when we reached the confines of the castle. Suddenly it felt like the encasing of a tomb. Once inside the library, I located the papers they requested of me.
"What are those fiends demanding of you Mariee?! I shall cut them off at the knees!" Her obvious vehemence for our "guests" caused me to look up at her with concern. "Don't do anything foolish Lorain, Id hate to lose you to ones such as them." She stopped pacing, while running a hand through her auburn-brown hair. When she did finally look at me, her eyes held the look of frustration and something else. Passion would often cause people to act rashly; I didn't want her to succumb to such a fate. I walked over and placed my hand on her right shoulder. She flinched slightly then relaxed. It always amazed me how she could pick up my slightest moods or worries. "Sit down before you ruin the carpet with your pacing," I said gently.
A sheepish smile tugged on Lorain's lips then she sat on the couch near the nightstand. Sighing I sat down beside her with the papers in hand. "Let us see why they want these documents so badly, shall we?"
Lorain smirked then frowned, "What language is that? It seems French but I can't make it all out." At the time we had not mastered any other language then English. Fate is seems is a cruel mistress.
The faded ink read thus: "Le noir, ce mot designe depuis une epoque lointaine le nom du destin."
This troubled me greatly, why did my father have this? Placing the papers back on the table I reclined back into the soft embrace of the couch. Lorain continued to glare at the documents, perhaps trying to solve this mystery by seer will alone. Unsatisfied she then turned to me, her expression dour. "A stab in the dark. Nothing good can come of them being here Mariee, Lets just burn the damned things and be done with it." Gazing at her fatigued expression I could only agree, shadow play of this nature never ends well. Outside the windowsill clouds rolled overhead, casting the entire land into shades of darkness as the first drops of rain began to drench the ground.
Outside the castle grounds Ambrosia could only smile, "Let the blood seep through the wilderness." The time for retribution was almost at hand. "That one sapling shows much promise, unfortunately her affection for the Lady interferes with her training. I believe a trial is in order." Turning she headed back to her Orders encampment, this night her dreams of a pure blade would be realized. This vision is what drove the Soldats. Two women joined together in sin, protecting the innocents from the evils of civilization. They would bare the atrocities of this world on their souls, so that others could live free from corruption. As the high priestess of the Soldats, Ambrosia could already see the purity of the organization drowning in the mores of society. This of course was expected, even the Hermit stated thus in the Books of Old.
Men cannot comprehend the suffering of others; they only perceive what is blatantly
obvious in front of them. That is why we need to protect
ourselves, only then can we provide guidance to these wayward
children of Soldats. Otherwise the fall of Babylon would never
have occurred. Beware the temptations of civilization Sisters,
for that will be your decent into the very fires of Hell.
AN- it's so much fun to create the Book of the Soldats, I'm going to make Altena look tame in comparison to Ambrosia. ^_^ Next part, the origins of the first Noir. Poor Lorain and Mariee. I haven't forgotten about Mirielle and Kirika, they will turn up eventually. *Looks at the fork sitting suspiciously on the table* It seems I've lost another dishwasher to that demented utensil. ^_^
Mariee looked out at the countryside; it looked too peaceful here for one such as her. Memories of that fateful day clouded her once sweet demeanor. A tear slowly ran down her cheek only to fall on the simple heart shaped locket she always wore.
----4 years ago----
Sighing, I made my way down to the castle grounds. The sisters were already anxiously waiting for me. In particular Ambrosia, she gives me a chill. Her eyes never seemed to leave me, always peering into my soul.
"Milady, what's wrong, you look pale?"
I turned to see Lorain coming towards me, concern radiated from her every movement, she draped her arm protectively over my shoulders. Glancing away, I looked down at the courtyard. I could see the nuns dressed in the colors of their Order. A rather peculiar combination, one that comprised of indigo blue and white, rather then the more typical black and white of most religions. Lorain's green eyes hardened to flint when she beheld them. I gazed up at her fondly. "Always seeking to shield me, dear knight?" She tore her scrutiny away from the sisters a moment to grin at me and wink. "Indeed milady, I will not allow anything to harm you."
I couldn't help but smile at her confidence, more importantly it made me feel safer somehow. Resolving myself to the inevitable confrontation I continue to walk down the stone steps. My dearest friend followed me like a silent wind, graceful and deadly. It's almost hard to believe she and I are only 15, to have learned so much in so little time. The sisters of the Order found my protector's skills impressive, I did notice the way they looked at her. It was disquieting to say the least. One can never know what those harpies were thinking.
"Lady Mariee, so good to see you in excellent health these days."
Her hazel eyes pinned me to the ground, why did I feel terrified around this woman, Ambrosia. Lorain glared at the older Sister, a grim frown adorned her face. "What did you come here for?" She grasped the hilt of her broad sword, her knuckles whitened with tension.
This action amused the head nun, her lips curved into a slight smile. "My goodness, one would think you fancy the Lady Mariee, so very astute in regards to her welfare." Lorain growled low in her throat, a slight blush appeared on her cheeks. "State your business and leave," I announced quietly but firmly. Ambrosia turned her attention back to me; something dark flitted across her vision then dissipated. "We have need of certain records, your late father left them to us for save keeping. "
Nodding, I turned on my heel and strode away. My knight protector trailed in my wake, never letting her guard down, even when we reached the confines of the castle. Suddenly it felt like the encasing of a tomb. Once inside the library, I located the papers they requested of me.
"What are those fiends demanding of you Mariee?! I shall cut them off at the knees!" Her obvious vehemence for our "guests" caused me to look up at her with concern. "Don't do anything foolish Lorain, Id hate to lose you to ones such as them." She stopped pacing, while running a hand through her auburn-brown hair. When she did finally look at me, her eyes held the look of frustration and something else. Passion would often cause people to act rashly; I didn't want her to succumb to such a fate. I walked over and placed my hand on her right shoulder. She flinched slightly then relaxed. It always amazed me how she could pick up my slightest moods or worries. "Sit down before you ruin the carpet with your pacing," I said gently.
A sheepish smile tugged on Lorain's lips then she sat on the couch near the nightstand. Sighing I sat down beside her with the papers in hand. "Let us see why they want these documents so badly, shall we?"
Lorain smirked then frowned, "What language is that? It seems French but I can't make it all out." At the time we had not mastered any other language then English. Fate is seems is a cruel mistress.
The faded ink read thus: "Le noir, ce mot designe depuis une epoque lointaine le nom du destin."
This troubled me greatly, why did my father have this? Placing the papers back on the table I reclined back into the soft embrace of the couch. Lorain continued to glare at the documents, perhaps trying to solve this mystery by seer will alone. Unsatisfied she then turned to me, her expression dour. "A stab in the dark. Nothing good can come of them being here Mariee, Lets just burn the damned things and be done with it." Gazing at her fatigued expression I could only agree, shadow play of this nature never ends well. Outside the windowsill clouds rolled overhead, casting the entire land into shades of darkness as the first drops of rain began to drench the ground.
Outside the castle grounds Ambrosia could only smile, "Let the blood seep through the wilderness." The time for retribution was almost at hand. "That one sapling shows much promise, unfortunately her affection for the Lady interferes with her training. I believe a trial is in order." Turning she headed back to her Orders encampment, this night her dreams of a pure blade would be realized. This vision is what drove the Soldats. Two women joined together in sin, protecting the innocents from the evils of civilization. They would bare the atrocities of this world on their souls, so that others could live free from corruption. As the high priestess of the Soldats, Ambrosia could already see the purity of the organization drowning in the mores of society. This of course was expected, even the Hermit stated thus in the Books of Old.
Men cannot comprehend the suffering of others; they only perceive what is blatantly
obvious in front of them. That is why we need to protect
ourselves, only then can we provide guidance to these wayward
children of Soldats. Otherwise the fall of Babylon would never
have occurred. Beware the temptations of civilization Sisters,
for that will be your decent into the very fires of Hell.
AN- it's so much fun to create the Book of the Soldats, I'm going to make Altena look tame in comparison to Ambrosia. ^_^ Next part, the origins of the first Noir. Poor Lorain and Mariee. I haven't forgotten about Mirielle and Kirika, they will turn up eventually. *Looks at the fork sitting suspiciously on the table* It seems I've lost another dishwasher to that demented utensil. ^_^