DISCLAIMER: In no way, shape or form do I own BSSM.
The golden eye shall pierce golden hair
Dark will penetrate fair
Truest beauty will be known
By the one who secures the throne
Apollonia sat at her desk and stared at the ancient script. As the high priestess of Selene it was her duty to interpret the oracle's messages.
"What could this mean?"
Apollonia ran her fingers through her red hair. She could remember a time when her hair was brown and her name was Iona. After her appointment as the high priestess, Iona became Apollonia. Through the rigorous purification process, her hair color changed from a deep rich brown to a flame red.
Apollonia set the scroll aside. She made a mental note to consult the oracle of Selene for further explanation. Something was nagging at Apollonia. She knew that the oracle revealed this for a reason. Apollonia just had to figure it out.
* * * * *
"Mother, are they here yet?" Young Serenity asked her mother.
"Seren dear, please sit down." Queen Serenity motioned to her daughter. The princess sat at her mother's vanity. Queen Serenity began to brush her daughter's hair. Serenity admired her daughter's blond locks. She knew that as the princess grew older, her hair would slowly change from a golden to a platinum blond, like herself. Along with that subtle cosmetic change, Seren's powers would awaken. While brushing Princess Serenity's hair, the Queen noticed some silvery strands interspersed.
'What is this? The change should not be starting now. Seren is only five. It's too soon.' Queen Serenity dropped the hairbrush.
"Mother, are you alright?" Seren looked back at her mother.
"I'm fine dear. I just got lost in thought." Serenity picked up the hairbrush.
"Your highness?"
Queen Serenity turned toward the slightly opened door. "Yes."
"King Rodrick and Princess Nehelenia have arrived."
"Thank you Luna."
The small black cat left the room as quietly as she entered.
Seren jumped up and ran after Luna. Queen Serenity followed her daughter into the throne room."
In the throne room, Dyanera smoothed Nehelenia's hair and straightened her clothes.
"Dyanera, calm down. She looks fine." Rodrick placed his hand on Dyanera's shoulder.
"But Rodrick…"
"Shh, it will be alright."
Princess Serenity burst into the throne room, closely followed by her mother. Seren made an abrupt stop in front of King Rodrick. She politely curtsied.
"Your highness," Seren said with head bowed.
Rodrick laughed. "No need for all the formalities. We're practically family." Rodrick shot a glance at Serenity. The king lifted Seren into his arms. "So how is the birthday girl doing this fine day?"
"I'm fine sir. May Nehelenia and I go play in the gardens?" Seren cast her cerulean eyes on the New Moon monarch. Rodrick was unable to resist.
"Of course. Just don't wander too far off." The two princesses ran off in the direction of the gardens.
Serenity and Rodrick watched as their children exited he throne room. They were so innocent, so blissfully ignorant of the unrest threatening both their homes.
Rodrick took a step toward Serenity. He took her hand in his and placed an affectionate kiss on it.
"My queen, it has been far too long."
Serenity snatched her hand away. "I am no more your queen than she is." Serenity pointed to Dyanera.
Dyanera lowered her head in self-reproach. She had made herself available to Kind Rodrick five years ago. She only intended on assisting in the care of young Nehelenia. Never did she expect for the king to summon her to the marital bed. Though she was shocked, Dyanera conceded to the king's will. Since then, Dyanera had been a fixture at King Rodrick's side. Nonetheless, Dyanera knew that while she satisfied his carnal desires, there was another holding his heart.
"Dyanera, go and check on Nehelenia." Rodrick's gaze never left Serenity.
"Yes sire." Dyanera turned and walked away. 'Dismissed. I am being dismissed as if I were no more than the child's nanny.'
As she made her way out of the throne room, Dyanera could still hear the royals' conversation.
"I see your still sleeping with her." Disdain dripped form every word Serenity spoke.
"Until I have you, she will have to do." Rodrick chuckled at the way Serenity cringed.
Dyanera looked over she shoulder. "Five years wasted." Dyanera sighed as she left the room.
Serenity watched Dyanera's departure.
"You should be ashamed of yourself. The way you treat that woman is abysmal."
"Since when did you care about who warmed my bed?"
Serenity looked at the man in front of her. HE was nearly 6'5" with chestnut brown hair, broad shoulders and a slim yet muscular build. Rodrick should have been everything Serenity was looking for in a mate. However, something was missing. There was something in Rodrick's amber eyes that made the queen uneasy.
"Rodrick, you used to be a kind and loving man. What happened to make you so indifferent and scornful?" Serenity gingerly placed her hand on his shoulder.
"What in Selene's name are you talking about?" Rodrick began to shift his weight from one leg to the other. He did not want to think about what happened. He did not want to think about her.
"If you don't want to be honest with me, that's fine. At least be honest with yourself. If you don't, you won't be the only one who suffers."
Serenity removed her hand from Rodrick's shoulder. As she turned to walk away, Rodrick grabbed her arm. Serenity looked into the golden eyes of Rodrick.
"Do you ever miss him?" Rodrick asked.
"Everyday." With that, Serenity removed herself from Rodrick's presence.
Rodrick stood alone in the vast room. For so long his spirit slept somewhere cold, somewhere impenetrable. 'Am I really as far gone as Serenity believes?'
Rodrick looked up. Above Serenity's throne was a life-sized portrait of the moon's monarch. In the portrait Serenity was standing holding an elaborate scepter in her hand. She was wearing a white strapless gown with golden circles embroidered across her bust. Her silvery blond hair was done in the traditional style, hair parted down the middle with two buns, one on each side. The remainder of Serenity's hair flowed to her ankles in two ponytails that originated from the buns.
Rodrick never knew how that hairstyle came to symbolize lunar royalty. In fact, he thought the hairstyle was much too childish for Queen Serenity and his late wife. Nonetheless, Rodrick always had Dyanera style Nehelenia's hair similarly. However, instead of two ponytails exclusively, Nehelenia wore the back of her hair out.
Upon further examination, Rodrick noticed that her was something odd about the portrait. Serenity was slightly off-center, like someone else was supposed to be in the portrait. Rodrick realized that this was the portrait that Princess Serenity's grandparents had commissioned after the marriage of Queen Serenity. Rodrick remembered that Serenity's husband was standing to the right of her originally. Now all that was there was an empty space.
"Why didn't Serenity center the portrait when she removed Gareth?" Rodrick asked himself aloud.
"The answer is quite clear your majesty."
Rodrick spun around and saw he priestess Apollonia standing behind him.
"Don't you ecclesiastics ever make a normal entrance?"
Apollonia's presence unnerved the king. It was as if the young cleric knew something that he did not.
"My humble apologies. It was not my intention to startle you, your highness. I merely wanted to supply an answer to your query."
"Query? Oh no, I was just think out loud."
"That may be true, but nonetheless I will answer the question posed to no one in particular."
Apollonia approached Serenity's throne. She looked at the ceiling in search of the proper word with which to address King Rodrick. Satisfied with what came to her, Apollonia turned and faced Rodrick.
"After his majesty died, Queen Serenity had a most difficult time accepting it. Eventually she came to terms with his death. When Queen Serenity decided to move on, she changed the portrait by simply removing King Gareth. However, she left the space there as a reminder of him. To make the portrait appear as if his majesty was never in it to begin with would have been an insult to his memory. Even though the king is no longer with her, Queen Serenity will always feel his presence."
Rodrick nodded. Even though Gareth was dead, he was never far from Serenity's heart.
"Your highness, I shall take my leave." Apollonia lowered her head.
"Oh of course. Thank you." Rodrick's hand grazed Apollonia's. A jolt traveled through the young priestess' body. Apollonia bowed quickly and rushed form the throne room.
"She is a strange woman," Rodrick said as Apollonia departed.
AN: There it is, chapter 2. Let me know what you think. Don't despair. I know this is supposed to be a Nehelenia fic, but one must lay a foundation. More to come soon.
The Deadly Diva
The golden eye shall pierce golden hair
Dark will penetrate fair
Truest beauty will be known
By the one who secures the throne
Apollonia sat at her desk and stared at the ancient script. As the high priestess of Selene it was her duty to interpret the oracle's messages.
"What could this mean?"
Apollonia ran her fingers through her red hair. She could remember a time when her hair was brown and her name was Iona. After her appointment as the high priestess, Iona became Apollonia. Through the rigorous purification process, her hair color changed from a deep rich brown to a flame red.
Apollonia set the scroll aside. She made a mental note to consult the oracle of Selene for further explanation. Something was nagging at Apollonia. She knew that the oracle revealed this for a reason. Apollonia just had to figure it out.
* * * * *
"Mother, are they here yet?" Young Serenity asked her mother.
"Seren dear, please sit down." Queen Serenity motioned to her daughter. The princess sat at her mother's vanity. Queen Serenity began to brush her daughter's hair. Serenity admired her daughter's blond locks. She knew that as the princess grew older, her hair would slowly change from a golden to a platinum blond, like herself. Along with that subtle cosmetic change, Seren's powers would awaken. While brushing Princess Serenity's hair, the Queen noticed some silvery strands interspersed.
'What is this? The change should not be starting now. Seren is only five. It's too soon.' Queen Serenity dropped the hairbrush.
"Mother, are you alright?" Seren looked back at her mother.
"I'm fine dear. I just got lost in thought." Serenity picked up the hairbrush.
"Your highness?"
Queen Serenity turned toward the slightly opened door. "Yes."
"King Rodrick and Princess Nehelenia have arrived."
"Thank you Luna."
The small black cat left the room as quietly as she entered.
Seren jumped up and ran after Luna. Queen Serenity followed her daughter into the throne room."
In the throne room, Dyanera smoothed Nehelenia's hair and straightened her clothes.
"Dyanera, calm down. She looks fine." Rodrick placed his hand on Dyanera's shoulder.
"But Rodrick…"
"Shh, it will be alright."
Princess Serenity burst into the throne room, closely followed by her mother. Seren made an abrupt stop in front of King Rodrick. She politely curtsied.
"Your highness," Seren said with head bowed.
Rodrick laughed. "No need for all the formalities. We're practically family." Rodrick shot a glance at Serenity. The king lifted Seren into his arms. "So how is the birthday girl doing this fine day?"
"I'm fine sir. May Nehelenia and I go play in the gardens?" Seren cast her cerulean eyes on the New Moon monarch. Rodrick was unable to resist.
"Of course. Just don't wander too far off." The two princesses ran off in the direction of the gardens.
Serenity and Rodrick watched as their children exited he throne room. They were so innocent, so blissfully ignorant of the unrest threatening both their homes.
Rodrick took a step toward Serenity. He took her hand in his and placed an affectionate kiss on it.
"My queen, it has been far too long."
Serenity snatched her hand away. "I am no more your queen than she is." Serenity pointed to Dyanera.
Dyanera lowered her head in self-reproach. She had made herself available to Kind Rodrick five years ago. She only intended on assisting in the care of young Nehelenia. Never did she expect for the king to summon her to the marital bed. Though she was shocked, Dyanera conceded to the king's will. Since then, Dyanera had been a fixture at King Rodrick's side. Nonetheless, Dyanera knew that while she satisfied his carnal desires, there was another holding his heart.
"Dyanera, go and check on Nehelenia." Rodrick's gaze never left Serenity.
"Yes sire." Dyanera turned and walked away. 'Dismissed. I am being dismissed as if I were no more than the child's nanny.'
As she made her way out of the throne room, Dyanera could still hear the royals' conversation.
"I see your still sleeping with her." Disdain dripped form every word Serenity spoke.
"Until I have you, she will have to do." Rodrick chuckled at the way Serenity cringed.
Dyanera looked over she shoulder. "Five years wasted." Dyanera sighed as she left the room.
Serenity watched Dyanera's departure.
"You should be ashamed of yourself. The way you treat that woman is abysmal."
"Since when did you care about who warmed my bed?"
Serenity looked at the man in front of her. HE was nearly 6'5" with chestnut brown hair, broad shoulders and a slim yet muscular build. Rodrick should have been everything Serenity was looking for in a mate. However, something was missing. There was something in Rodrick's amber eyes that made the queen uneasy.
"Rodrick, you used to be a kind and loving man. What happened to make you so indifferent and scornful?" Serenity gingerly placed her hand on his shoulder.
"What in Selene's name are you talking about?" Rodrick began to shift his weight from one leg to the other. He did not want to think about what happened. He did not want to think about her.
"If you don't want to be honest with me, that's fine. At least be honest with yourself. If you don't, you won't be the only one who suffers."
Serenity removed her hand from Rodrick's shoulder. As she turned to walk away, Rodrick grabbed her arm. Serenity looked into the golden eyes of Rodrick.
"Do you ever miss him?" Rodrick asked.
"Everyday." With that, Serenity removed herself from Rodrick's presence.
Rodrick stood alone in the vast room. For so long his spirit slept somewhere cold, somewhere impenetrable. 'Am I really as far gone as Serenity believes?'
Rodrick looked up. Above Serenity's throne was a life-sized portrait of the moon's monarch. In the portrait Serenity was standing holding an elaborate scepter in her hand. She was wearing a white strapless gown with golden circles embroidered across her bust. Her silvery blond hair was done in the traditional style, hair parted down the middle with two buns, one on each side. The remainder of Serenity's hair flowed to her ankles in two ponytails that originated from the buns.
Rodrick never knew how that hairstyle came to symbolize lunar royalty. In fact, he thought the hairstyle was much too childish for Queen Serenity and his late wife. Nonetheless, Rodrick always had Dyanera style Nehelenia's hair similarly. However, instead of two ponytails exclusively, Nehelenia wore the back of her hair out.
Upon further examination, Rodrick noticed that her was something odd about the portrait. Serenity was slightly off-center, like someone else was supposed to be in the portrait. Rodrick realized that this was the portrait that Princess Serenity's grandparents had commissioned after the marriage of Queen Serenity. Rodrick remembered that Serenity's husband was standing to the right of her originally. Now all that was there was an empty space.
"Why didn't Serenity center the portrait when she removed Gareth?" Rodrick asked himself aloud.
"The answer is quite clear your majesty."
Rodrick spun around and saw he priestess Apollonia standing behind him.
"Don't you ecclesiastics ever make a normal entrance?"
Apollonia's presence unnerved the king. It was as if the young cleric knew something that he did not.
"My humble apologies. It was not my intention to startle you, your highness. I merely wanted to supply an answer to your query."
"Query? Oh no, I was just think out loud."
"That may be true, but nonetheless I will answer the question posed to no one in particular."
Apollonia approached Serenity's throne. She looked at the ceiling in search of the proper word with which to address King Rodrick. Satisfied with what came to her, Apollonia turned and faced Rodrick.
"After his majesty died, Queen Serenity had a most difficult time accepting it. Eventually she came to terms with his death. When Queen Serenity decided to move on, she changed the portrait by simply removing King Gareth. However, she left the space there as a reminder of him. To make the portrait appear as if his majesty was never in it to begin with would have been an insult to his memory. Even though the king is no longer with her, Queen Serenity will always feel his presence."
Rodrick nodded. Even though Gareth was dead, he was never far from Serenity's heart.
"Your highness, I shall take my leave." Apollonia lowered her head.
"Oh of course. Thank you." Rodrick's hand grazed Apollonia's. A jolt traveled through the young priestess' body. Apollonia bowed quickly and rushed form the throne room.
"She is a strange woman," Rodrick said as Apollonia departed.
AN: There it is, chapter 2. Let me know what you think. Don't despair. I know this is supposed to be a Nehelenia fic, but one must lay a foundation. More to come soon.
The Deadly Diva