Author's Note: I LOVE YOU ALL! ^_^ Nuff said.
Gods of Silver
Chapter 5
The Great Fire snapped and twisted on its pyre, seeking freedom. It wanted to eat, destroy. Orange flames licked the air, trying to build its power, twigs and logs were not enough for a force such as it. How could such an element be worshipped? That's what many asked the priests and priestesses of Mars. The Martians tried to explain it to people, saying that if you respect and feed the fire it shall reward you with many gifts. Most people scoffed at this explanation but didn't ask again, afraid that the hot- tempered race would take offense.
Princess Bellona Rei was supposed to be tending the fire and sweep away the ashes and soot that surrounded the Great Fire. She had been ensnared by the fire though and just sat there and watched it burn. Soon she would have to rise to feed it, the Great Fire was never allowed to go out.
Rei, as she preferred to be called, didn't look anything like a Martian princess dressed in the stiff large robes of a novice priestess and her long red hair flowing free. The princess rarely felt like one either. Even though she still lived in the palace, she had not seen her father, King Ares, in over ten years since her mother died. Ares could not bare to look at his daughter because she was an exact replicate of her mother. Even Rei's name brought painful memories; her mother's name had been Bellona.
After her father had stopped seeing her, the priests and priestesses of the palace had adopted her as their own. They raised her as a huge family and rarely mentioned her royal roots. Rei had no intention of ever taking the throne, her father had passed the inheritance to her brother, and was content to be a priestess for the remainder of her days.
"Princess Bellona, your father wishes to see you!" a voice wrenched Rei from her reflection.
"My father? Why would he want to see me?" Rei asked the priestess bitterly.
"I don't know, Bellona, but that woman he's been keeping lately has something to do with it," the priestess replied and left the room.
Rei sighed and stood from her meditating position, she felt a bit dazed, like this wasn't really happening. Maybe her father's latest mistress had convinced Ares to see his daughter. But what woman shooting for her children ruling one day would want her potential husband to see his true heir?
Rei realized she hadn't done her duty to the Great Fire. Quickly, she added more wood to the fire and swept the immediate area around the fire. The job was sloppy but it would have to do for now, she had to go get ready to see her father.
In her rooms Rei searched through her entire wardrobe in hopes of finding something presentable to wear. Unfortunately, Rei hadn't needed any fancy dress until now so her supply was short. Finally, Rei stumbled upon the kimono that she wore at the last Spring Festival. It wasn't in fashion and mostly priestesses wore them but it the best she had. She would help putting it on though.
"Aisami! Will you please come here and help me? Rei yelled out the door to her maid.
Aisami entered and the work of making Rei presentable began. Thirty minutes later Aisami was making the last touches while Rei stared at her reflection in the mirror. Aisami stood and told Rei that she looked beautiful, even without the white face paint and her hair flowing free. The kimono she wore wasn't the most beautiful she had ever seen but on her it would do. A kimono is an ensemble of layers, only three pieces of a kimono are seen at all. The under robe's collar would peek out at the collar and sleeves but hardly anywhere else. Then the over robe was shown to the world and usually had a pattern or design on it, some kimono patterns were considered a work of art. The last part was the obi, a sash or belt of wide fabric that was wrapped around the waist of the wearer.
Rei's kimono had an under robe of blood red and an over robe of orange with a pattern of red and black phoenixes intertwined. The finishing touch to the outfit was the violet obi wrapped around Rei's waist. Rei personally thought she looked terrible, sort of like a human flame. So, begrudgingly, she made her way threw the corridors of the royal palace to the throne room where her father and his mistress awaited her.
Upon entering the throne room, Rei heard a titter go through the court. Most likely they were laughing about her clothing. Anger bubble up inside Rei at the rudeness of her father's court. Who were they to judge her? She was still a princess of Mars, even if she was out of favor with the King.
Rei approached the throne, looking as calm and serene as she could, and bowed low, it wasn't possible to curtsy in a kimono.
"You sent for me father?"
A guard standing at the foot of the dais her father's throne was raised on took a step forward and addressed Rei, "You will address King Ares as Your Majesty, Princess."
"How dare you? He his my father, I will address him as such!" Rei exclaimed angrily, sending a wave of shock through the court, not many dared argue with Ares or his men.
The guard took another step forward and began to unsheathe his sword but Ares' words stopped him.
"She is correct, Captain. I am her father," King Ares told the guard, "You may stand down."
Reluctantly, the guard nodded and stepped back into his original place. He continued to glare at Rei with distrust and warning. Rei gave the guard a small smug look, then turned her attention to her father.and his latest consort.
King Ares' latest pleasure was tall, you could tell even when she was sitting, and had long curly auburn hair. Her eyes were a golden color that hinted at a Venusian ancestor but no Venusian had that color hair. Rei would have thought the woman was part Martian but it was rare for the two races to mix, except for Ares' affair with Queen Aphrodite that lasted until a year before Rei's birth. The woman wore a skintight purple dress in a cut unfamiliar to Rei but the ring on her finger was heartbreakingly familiar; it was Rei's mother's engagement ring. So, this woman was not just a momentary mistress but the Consort-To-Be and maybe even queen.
A feeling of betrayal settled over Rei but was quickly replaced by anger. Her father was always looking out for himself first and foremost, why would he ask his only daughter if she wanted a stepmother?
"Princess Bellona, so good of you to finally join us," Ares' welcomed Rei with a fake grin, "May I introduce you to my fiancée Lady Beryl?"
Beryl wasn't a Venusian or Matian name, it was Terran. The future queen of Mars came from the only planet excluded from the Silver Alliance. Earth had refused to become apart of the Alliance because the planet was fractured into so many different cultures and tribes already that it had taken years to find someone that everyone would follow. Many of these tribes thought that putting their royal family second to the Moon was a sign of weakness in the royal family, they promised that they would revolt if Earth became a part of the Alliance.
Beryl smiled faintly to Rei, "It is a pleasure to finally meet you, Princess. That is a unique dress you are wearing, what is it?" "I'm pleased to meet you as well. This is a kimono, usually it is worn only during the spring and winter festivals by priestesses. Your dress is also unusual, Mistress Beryl, is it a Terran style?" Rei replied politely but purposefully got Beryl's title wrong.
Beryl's eyes flashed and for a moment Rei was sure she would call the guards on her but Beryl just kept smiling and reclined in her throne, laying a hand casually on Ares' knee.
"Yes, it is all the rage on Earth," Beryl replied with an icy grin.
Rei nodded and tried to glare discretely at the woman. She'd only known her for a few minutes and already she disliked her. Rei stretched out her mystic senses, a trick her learned as a priestess, to get a reading off Beryl. What she got was completely different than anything she'd ever felt before. Beryl felt.wrong was the best way to put it. Rei pulled her senses back and wondered if maybe it was because she'd never done that to someone from Earth before that Beryl felt different. She doubted it though.
"Bellona, I have something to tell you," Ares' announced, obviously ignoring the tension between Rei and Beryl.
"Yes, father?" Rei asked, she pushed down the need to roll her eyes at Ares' needless statement.
"You are to be married to Prince Cadmus of Earth within a year."
Her father's words rang through Rei's mind. She couldn't be getting married, she wouldn't. Marriage would destroy her plans to be a priestess. Who was Prince Cadmus? How long had this been arranged? Would she love him?
"I can't," she gasped.
"You will. It will be good for the ties between Earth and Mars," her father explained.
"It won't be good for me!" Rei exclaimed, fists clenched.
Ares' opened his mouth to argue but Beryl touched his shoulder, a sign that she would handle this.
"I have met Prince Cadmus, he is a very respectable man. You two will get along, I'm sure of it."
"I will never get along with a man I didn't choose," Rei ground out and stormed out of the throne room.
The slamming of the door behind her echoed throughout the room, the court was silent. Ares' turned to Beryl, looking forlorn.
"Are you sure they will be a good match? I don't want her to be unhappy," Ares' voice held worry.
"Don't worry, my love. Bellona and Cadmus are perfect for each other. In no time Bellona won't be able to live without him, then our children will rule Mars," Beryl consoled her lover.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Another one down! Sorry this one took so long to get out, I couldn't quite decide what I wanted to do with Rei. Beryl was an inspiration though, I've not a clue where that came from.
Gods of Silver
Chapter 5
The Great Fire snapped and twisted on its pyre, seeking freedom. It wanted to eat, destroy. Orange flames licked the air, trying to build its power, twigs and logs were not enough for a force such as it. How could such an element be worshipped? That's what many asked the priests and priestesses of Mars. The Martians tried to explain it to people, saying that if you respect and feed the fire it shall reward you with many gifts. Most people scoffed at this explanation but didn't ask again, afraid that the hot- tempered race would take offense.
Princess Bellona Rei was supposed to be tending the fire and sweep away the ashes and soot that surrounded the Great Fire. She had been ensnared by the fire though and just sat there and watched it burn. Soon she would have to rise to feed it, the Great Fire was never allowed to go out.
Rei, as she preferred to be called, didn't look anything like a Martian princess dressed in the stiff large robes of a novice priestess and her long red hair flowing free. The princess rarely felt like one either. Even though she still lived in the palace, she had not seen her father, King Ares, in over ten years since her mother died. Ares could not bare to look at his daughter because she was an exact replicate of her mother. Even Rei's name brought painful memories; her mother's name had been Bellona.
After her father had stopped seeing her, the priests and priestesses of the palace had adopted her as their own. They raised her as a huge family and rarely mentioned her royal roots. Rei had no intention of ever taking the throne, her father had passed the inheritance to her brother, and was content to be a priestess for the remainder of her days.
"Princess Bellona, your father wishes to see you!" a voice wrenched Rei from her reflection.
"My father? Why would he want to see me?" Rei asked the priestess bitterly.
"I don't know, Bellona, but that woman he's been keeping lately has something to do with it," the priestess replied and left the room.
Rei sighed and stood from her meditating position, she felt a bit dazed, like this wasn't really happening. Maybe her father's latest mistress had convinced Ares to see his daughter. But what woman shooting for her children ruling one day would want her potential husband to see his true heir?
Rei realized she hadn't done her duty to the Great Fire. Quickly, she added more wood to the fire and swept the immediate area around the fire. The job was sloppy but it would have to do for now, she had to go get ready to see her father.
In her rooms Rei searched through her entire wardrobe in hopes of finding something presentable to wear. Unfortunately, Rei hadn't needed any fancy dress until now so her supply was short. Finally, Rei stumbled upon the kimono that she wore at the last Spring Festival. It wasn't in fashion and mostly priestesses wore them but it the best she had. She would help putting it on though.
"Aisami! Will you please come here and help me? Rei yelled out the door to her maid.
Aisami entered and the work of making Rei presentable began. Thirty minutes later Aisami was making the last touches while Rei stared at her reflection in the mirror. Aisami stood and told Rei that she looked beautiful, even without the white face paint and her hair flowing free. The kimono she wore wasn't the most beautiful she had ever seen but on her it would do. A kimono is an ensemble of layers, only three pieces of a kimono are seen at all. The under robe's collar would peek out at the collar and sleeves but hardly anywhere else. Then the over robe was shown to the world and usually had a pattern or design on it, some kimono patterns were considered a work of art. The last part was the obi, a sash or belt of wide fabric that was wrapped around the waist of the wearer.
Rei's kimono had an under robe of blood red and an over robe of orange with a pattern of red and black phoenixes intertwined. The finishing touch to the outfit was the violet obi wrapped around Rei's waist. Rei personally thought she looked terrible, sort of like a human flame. So, begrudgingly, she made her way threw the corridors of the royal palace to the throne room where her father and his mistress awaited her.
Upon entering the throne room, Rei heard a titter go through the court. Most likely they were laughing about her clothing. Anger bubble up inside Rei at the rudeness of her father's court. Who were they to judge her? She was still a princess of Mars, even if she was out of favor with the King.
Rei approached the throne, looking as calm and serene as she could, and bowed low, it wasn't possible to curtsy in a kimono.
"You sent for me father?"
A guard standing at the foot of the dais her father's throne was raised on took a step forward and addressed Rei, "You will address King Ares as Your Majesty, Princess."
"How dare you? He his my father, I will address him as such!" Rei exclaimed angrily, sending a wave of shock through the court, not many dared argue with Ares or his men.
The guard took another step forward and began to unsheathe his sword but Ares' words stopped him.
"She is correct, Captain. I am her father," King Ares told the guard, "You may stand down."
Reluctantly, the guard nodded and stepped back into his original place. He continued to glare at Rei with distrust and warning. Rei gave the guard a small smug look, then turned her attention to her father.and his latest consort.
King Ares' latest pleasure was tall, you could tell even when she was sitting, and had long curly auburn hair. Her eyes were a golden color that hinted at a Venusian ancestor but no Venusian had that color hair. Rei would have thought the woman was part Martian but it was rare for the two races to mix, except for Ares' affair with Queen Aphrodite that lasted until a year before Rei's birth. The woman wore a skintight purple dress in a cut unfamiliar to Rei but the ring on her finger was heartbreakingly familiar; it was Rei's mother's engagement ring. So, this woman was not just a momentary mistress but the Consort-To-Be and maybe even queen.
A feeling of betrayal settled over Rei but was quickly replaced by anger. Her father was always looking out for himself first and foremost, why would he ask his only daughter if she wanted a stepmother?
"Princess Bellona, so good of you to finally join us," Ares' welcomed Rei with a fake grin, "May I introduce you to my fiancée Lady Beryl?"
Beryl wasn't a Venusian or Matian name, it was Terran. The future queen of Mars came from the only planet excluded from the Silver Alliance. Earth had refused to become apart of the Alliance because the planet was fractured into so many different cultures and tribes already that it had taken years to find someone that everyone would follow. Many of these tribes thought that putting their royal family second to the Moon was a sign of weakness in the royal family, they promised that they would revolt if Earth became a part of the Alliance.
Beryl smiled faintly to Rei, "It is a pleasure to finally meet you, Princess. That is a unique dress you are wearing, what is it?" "I'm pleased to meet you as well. This is a kimono, usually it is worn only during the spring and winter festivals by priestesses. Your dress is also unusual, Mistress Beryl, is it a Terran style?" Rei replied politely but purposefully got Beryl's title wrong.
Beryl's eyes flashed and for a moment Rei was sure she would call the guards on her but Beryl just kept smiling and reclined in her throne, laying a hand casually on Ares' knee.
"Yes, it is all the rage on Earth," Beryl replied with an icy grin.
Rei nodded and tried to glare discretely at the woman. She'd only known her for a few minutes and already she disliked her. Rei stretched out her mystic senses, a trick her learned as a priestess, to get a reading off Beryl. What she got was completely different than anything she'd ever felt before. Beryl felt.wrong was the best way to put it. Rei pulled her senses back and wondered if maybe it was because she'd never done that to someone from Earth before that Beryl felt different. She doubted it though.
"Bellona, I have something to tell you," Ares' announced, obviously ignoring the tension between Rei and Beryl.
"Yes, father?" Rei asked, she pushed down the need to roll her eyes at Ares' needless statement.
"You are to be married to Prince Cadmus of Earth within a year."
Her father's words rang through Rei's mind. She couldn't be getting married, she wouldn't. Marriage would destroy her plans to be a priestess. Who was Prince Cadmus? How long had this been arranged? Would she love him?
"I can't," she gasped.
"You will. It will be good for the ties between Earth and Mars," her father explained.
"It won't be good for me!" Rei exclaimed, fists clenched.
Ares' opened his mouth to argue but Beryl touched his shoulder, a sign that she would handle this.
"I have met Prince Cadmus, he is a very respectable man. You two will get along, I'm sure of it."
"I will never get along with a man I didn't choose," Rei ground out and stormed out of the throne room.
The slamming of the door behind her echoed throughout the room, the court was silent. Ares' turned to Beryl, looking forlorn.
"Are you sure they will be a good match? I don't want her to be unhappy," Ares' voice held worry.
"Don't worry, my love. Bellona and Cadmus are perfect for each other. In no time Bellona won't be able to live without him, then our children will rule Mars," Beryl consoled her lover.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Another one down! Sorry this one took so long to get out, I couldn't quite decide what I wanted to do with Rei. Beryl was an inspiration though, I've not a clue where that came from.
