Sora scurried through the halls, making her way to the guest quarters of
the palace. Thick silk blankets and robes were stacked heavily in her arms,
piled so high they nearly obscured her vision, although she didn't actually
need to see where she was going. Sora had grown up in the palace, and knew
every passage by heart. And even if she didn't know where she was heading,
the quests wing was so busy with activity that all she would need to do was
listen for the excited voices to find her way.
The Suzaku seven had arrived at the gates of the capitol an hour ago. A messenger had rushed news of their arrival ahead of them along with the order that four new chambers needed to be prepared immediately.
Sora finally arrived in the guest's wing and quickly dispersed most of her burden to the other serving maidens in the first three rooms. She was now left free to prepare the fourth room. Sora stepped through the doorway and surveyed what she had to work with. Placing the silk down on a low table, she noted that the rooms had already been cleaned, and gave a grateful sigh. It was one less thing she had to worry about. She had not been given a very advanced warning before the Suzaku Seven had arrived, and was worried that she could not prepare a room for such respected guests in so short a time. However, she was determined to make the room as perfect as it could be in the time she had remaining.
Sora began by spreading the rich crimson silk sheets onto the bed, their golden trim gleaming in the early morning sun. Once those were smooth and neat, she threw over a lavishly embroidered quilt, the heavy tassels in its four corners adding enough weight to keep it hanging neatly on the bed. Satisfied, she left the bed and hung the robes carefully in the wardrobe, placing small scented satchels in the pockets to keep the clothing smelling fresh until it was worn. Closing the doors, Sora sighed and turned to brush a snow-white lock that had fallen loose from her combs out of her eyes.
Realizing the only major thing left to do was prepare the arrangements, Sora busied herself with little things that no one would really notice, but that she felt were necessary just the same. She rearranged a few of the cups on a tray in the corner, checked all the tassels on the quilt to make sure they were all hanging at the right height, and even went so far as to reopen the wardrobe and make sure the sleeves of the robes were all folded up neatly. In the back of her mind, Sora wondered what was keeping Meilan, who was sent to get the flowers quite a while ago. She was trying to decide whether or not to go find her when the sound of a gong decided for her.
"Aiya! They've arrived at the palace!" Sora gasped frantically, running from the room in desperate search of Meilan.
"Meilan! Meilannnnnn!" she called through the hallways. She rounded a corner, crashing hard into someone, who toppled over at Sora's upon impact. Meilan sat on the floor, looking utterly dazed as she peered through her disheveled black hair.
"Sora?" She questioned, picking herself up and gathering the fallen blossoms.
"Meilan, hurry! They've arrived already! We must prepare those quickly!"
Meilan's dark eyes widened at this news. The poor girl had not been working here long, and didn't know the gong had meant someone of importance had arrived. Taking a bundle of blossoms in the crook of her arm, Sora gently ushered Meilan to the other rooms before returning to hers to arrange the flowers as quickly as she could. Sora made her way to the first empty vase that entered her line of sight laid the blooms out in front of her, looking at them for the first time.
"Ok, irises, lilies, water ferns. Is that all?" Sora panicked a bit, and mentally slapped herself for not taking a closer look at them blossoms she had chosen before running hastily back to her room. "Well, these will have to do."
Rolling up her sleeves, she produced a small knife from her pocket. She efficiently sliced off a bit of each stem, making sure to vary the lengths to create variety. Starting with the lilies, of which she had three, she placed them in the center. They were quite large, boasting brilliant blue petals that faded into a milky color in the centers. Small black spots dappled their surface, creating wild patterns and giving the blooms an almost wild appearance. After she was pleased with their placement, she folded in the irises, one at a time, using their gentle violets and yellows to calm and balance the ferocity of the lilies. In the back of her mind, she was a bit worried that the arrangement might be a bit too bright, but she quickly banished this thought as she added the ferns here and there. The graceful pale green leaves added a touch of quiet grace to the piece, calming it immediately at they drooped quietly amongst the other flowers. Sora smiled smugly. What she had just done in fifteen minutes what would take some women an hour.
She cast one last look around, making completely sure that everything was indeed in order. A second and softer gong rang through the halls, this one announcing the Suzaku warriors' arrival in the guest's wing.
"Suzaku! They're here!"
That's when she saw it.
Sitting on a table by the window was another vase, its empty mouth a gaping hole waiting to be filled. And poor Sora had nothing to fill it with. Thinking quickly, she did the first thing that came to mind. Rushing to the other side of the room, she snatched the vase and placed it on the top shelf of the wardrobe, hiding it behind one of the heavy robes that hung there. Better it was found empty in the closet than empty on the middle of a table. Hopefully, she could retrieve it later while she was cleaning the room in the evening.
She could hear the other girls rushing out into the halls as she shut the wardrobe door and quickly dashed out of the room, cutting it so close that her long, heavy robes were still swirling around her ankles when the first figure appeared at the head of the hallway.
A concealed glance to her right proved that all the other servants appointed to the seishi were standing beside their doors as well, heads bowed respectfully. Filled with relief, Sora bowed her head as well.
The emperor made his was calmly down the hallway, the Priestess and the Suzaku Seven following quietly behind him. Sora had already seen the Priestess and the first two Suzaku warriors, Tamahome and Nuriko. Amd of course, she had known the Emperor her entire life. It was the four newcomers that intrigued her. They were an interesting collection. A tall smiling man, who appeared to be a monk of some sort, though of a sect she couldn't recognize; a young boy with a flute clutched tightly in hand; a rough but kind looking young man with flaming hair; and a tall stoic man with two scarves wrapped tightly around his head.
The boy with the flute was shown the first room, the man with the scarves the second, the redhead the third, and finally, the monk was shown to the door that she currently stood beside.
"Chichiri, I would be pleased if you would accept this room as your own during your stay with us. If there is anything you should require, please do not hesitate to call on Sora. She is the headmistress of all the serving maidens in the palace and will be your caretaker for the duration of you stay." His Highness said gracefully as Sora pulled the door back and bowed respectfully. The monk looked at her, a smile on his lips as he inclined his head in her direction. Turning to the Emperor, the man called Chichiri gave a small bow before thanking him and entering the room. Hotohori nodded in return, before giving Sora a small smile and continuing on to Tamahome's chambers.
Sora quietly entered the room, bowing respectfully before she spoke to monk.
"My Lord Chichiri, is there anything I could fetch you to make your arrival more pleasant?" She asked softly. He looked up at Sora, a look of exhaustion sweeping his features. He must have been overwhelmed. Most visitors new to the palace went through a similar feeling. "If I may, Lord Chichiri, you seem rather weary. Perhaps a hot meal and a relaxing bath would suit you?"
"That would be most appreciated, Sora." He smiled softly. Sora bowed once again before retreating from the room. Closing the door behind her, she gave a sigh of relief.
She had the distinct feeling that the warriors' stay would be an interesting one.
The Suzaku seven had arrived at the gates of the capitol an hour ago. A messenger had rushed news of their arrival ahead of them along with the order that four new chambers needed to be prepared immediately.
Sora finally arrived in the guest's wing and quickly dispersed most of her burden to the other serving maidens in the first three rooms. She was now left free to prepare the fourth room. Sora stepped through the doorway and surveyed what she had to work with. Placing the silk down on a low table, she noted that the rooms had already been cleaned, and gave a grateful sigh. It was one less thing she had to worry about. She had not been given a very advanced warning before the Suzaku Seven had arrived, and was worried that she could not prepare a room for such respected guests in so short a time. However, she was determined to make the room as perfect as it could be in the time she had remaining.
Sora began by spreading the rich crimson silk sheets onto the bed, their golden trim gleaming in the early morning sun. Once those were smooth and neat, she threw over a lavishly embroidered quilt, the heavy tassels in its four corners adding enough weight to keep it hanging neatly on the bed. Satisfied, she left the bed and hung the robes carefully in the wardrobe, placing small scented satchels in the pockets to keep the clothing smelling fresh until it was worn. Closing the doors, Sora sighed and turned to brush a snow-white lock that had fallen loose from her combs out of her eyes.
Realizing the only major thing left to do was prepare the arrangements, Sora busied herself with little things that no one would really notice, but that she felt were necessary just the same. She rearranged a few of the cups on a tray in the corner, checked all the tassels on the quilt to make sure they were all hanging at the right height, and even went so far as to reopen the wardrobe and make sure the sleeves of the robes were all folded up neatly. In the back of her mind, Sora wondered what was keeping Meilan, who was sent to get the flowers quite a while ago. She was trying to decide whether or not to go find her when the sound of a gong decided for her.
"Aiya! They've arrived at the palace!" Sora gasped frantically, running from the room in desperate search of Meilan.
"Meilan! Meilannnnnn!" she called through the hallways. She rounded a corner, crashing hard into someone, who toppled over at Sora's upon impact. Meilan sat on the floor, looking utterly dazed as she peered through her disheveled black hair.
"Sora?" She questioned, picking herself up and gathering the fallen blossoms.
"Meilan, hurry! They've arrived already! We must prepare those quickly!"
Meilan's dark eyes widened at this news. The poor girl had not been working here long, and didn't know the gong had meant someone of importance had arrived. Taking a bundle of blossoms in the crook of her arm, Sora gently ushered Meilan to the other rooms before returning to hers to arrange the flowers as quickly as she could. Sora made her way to the first empty vase that entered her line of sight laid the blooms out in front of her, looking at them for the first time.
"Ok, irises, lilies, water ferns. Is that all?" Sora panicked a bit, and mentally slapped herself for not taking a closer look at them blossoms she had chosen before running hastily back to her room. "Well, these will have to do."
Rolling up her sleeves, she produced a small knife from her pocket. She efficiently sliced off a bit of each stem, making sure to vary the lengths to create variety. Starting with the lilies, of which she had three, she placed them in the center. They were quite large, boasting brilliant blue petals that faded into a milky color in the centers. Small black spots dappled their surface, creating wild patterns and giving the blooms an almost wild appearance. After she was pleased with their placement, she folded in the irises, one at a time, using their gentle violets and yellows to calm and balance the ferocity of the lilies. In the back of her mind, she was a bit worried that the arrangement might be a bit too bright, but she quickly banished this thought as she added the ferns here and there. The graceful pale green leaves added a touch of quiet grace to the piece, calming it immediately at they drooped quietly amongst the other flowers. Sora smiled smugly. What she had just done in fifteen minutes what would take some women an hour.
She cast one last look around, making completely sure that everything was indeed in order. A second and softer gong rang through the halls, this one announcing the Suzaku warriors' arrival in the guest's wing.
"Suzaku! They're here!"
That's when she saw it.
Sitting on a table by the window was another vase, its empty mouth a gaping hole waiting to be filled. And poor Sora had nothing to fill it with. Thinking quickly, she did the first thing that came to mind. Rushing to the other side of the room, she snatched the vase and placed it on the top shelf of the wardrobe, hiding it behind one of the heavy robes that hung there. Better it was found empty in the closet than empty on the middle of a table. Hopefully, she could retrieve it later while she was cleaning the room in the evening.
She could hear the other girls rushing out into the halls as she shut the wardrobe door and quickly dashed out of the room, cutting it so close that her long, heavy robes were still swirling around her ankles when the first figure appeared at the head of the hallway.
A concealed glance to her right proved that all the other servants appointed to the seishi were standing beside their doors as well, heads bowed respectfully. Filled with relief, Sora bowed her head as well.
The emperor made his was calmly down the hallway, the Priestess and the Suzaku Seven following quietly behind him. Sora had already seen the Priestess and the first two Suzaku warriors, Tamahome and Nuriko. Amd of course, she had known the Emperor her entire life. It was the four newcomers that intrigued her. They were an interesting collection. A tall smiling man, who appeared to be a monk of some sort, though of a sect she couldn't recognize; a young boy with a flute clutched tightly in hand; a rough but kind looking young man with flaming hair; and a tall stoic man with two scarves wrapped tightly around his head.
The boy with the flute was shown the first room, the man with the scarves the second, the redhead the third, and finally, the monk was shown to the door that she currently stood beside.
"Chichiri, I would be pleased if you would accept this room as your own during your stay with us. If there is anything you should require, please do not hesitate to call on Sora. She is the headmistress of all the serving maidens in the palace and will be your caretaker for the duration of you stay." His Highness said gracefully as Sora pulled the door back and bowed respectfully. The monk looked at her, a smile on his lips as he inclined his head in her direction. Turning to the Emperor, the man called Chichiri gave a small bow before thanking him and entering the room. Hotohori nodded in return, before giving Sora a small smile and continuing on to Tamahome's chambers.
Sora quietly entered the room, bowing respectfully before she spoke to monk.
"My Lord Chichiri, is there anything I could fetch you to make your arrival more pleasant?" She asked softly. He looked up at Sora, a look of exhaustion sweeping his features. He must have been overwhelmed. Most visitors new to the palace went through a similar feeling. "If I may, Lord Chichiri, you seem rather weary. Perhaps a hot meal and a relaxing bath would suit you?"
"That would be most appreciated, Sora." He smiled softly. Sora bowed once again before retreating from the room. Closing the door behind her, she gave a sigh of relief.
She had the distinct feeling that the warriors' stay would be an interesting one.