Disclaimer: I do not own Escaflowne.
Shutting her eyes against the torchlight she took a deep breath, inhaling the holy scent of myrrh. She had known that incense ever since she had been taken under the wings of the priestesses. No. She pushed the thoughts of her younger days aside. Concentrate. She slowed her breathing taking her time to inhale and exhale smoothly.
The pink stone had not yet appeared to her yet, but she refused to be discouraged. Please Thoth, who opened Mother Eset's eyes to magic, let mine be opened as well. Her will begged for a vision in the darkness behind her eyes. She squeezed her eyes shut even tighter waiting for sight of the stone.
Suddenly a magenta light shown in the black, like a bright flash of power against the emptiness. The pendant formed, fully appeared, and swung twice, back and forth. A ship upon the Great Green pushed across the waves. The feel of a man's energy came from the deck of the ship. But all she could see were the deep brown-red eyes sharp with strength and intelligence. Eyes so like ones she only dreamed of… They were the same color. The same… The images wavered. Oh, no! No! Concentrate! She demanded. But it was too late. She'd allowed it to slip, to fade from her sight. She clutched at the pendant at her chest. The vision was gone like the slowly curling smoke of the incense that disappeared into the night. Her eyes opened reluctantly, their turquoise color sparkling with regret, and pleading for forgiveness.
"Has she seen him? Is he coming? How far is he from Alexandria?" Her mistress asked the excitement in her voice overflowing.
Lady Mitylene, High Priestess of Eset, looked down at the forlorn figure on her knees. Then bowing to the lady replied softly, "No, my lady. Your Prophetess has seen nothing."
"Oh." The disappointment in the queen's voice was obvious though she tried to make it light. She looked down at the intricate designs on the carpet, her eyes sad though they beheld such beauty. Her head raised and she ordered quietly, "You have my leave, Priestess."
"Thank you, Majesty. I will come tomorrow to fetch the Prophetess for our morning training." The priestess made her obeisance and went to the tent flap followed by her two girl servants. There was a rustle as the tent was opened and fell closed leaving the queen alone with her most prized servant. The incense on the altar had gone out, though the perfumed smell still lingered. It was thick and sweet, almost overwhelmingly so, but both women were used to the fragrance.
"Come Isadora, walk with me." The queen said. The girl lowered herself until her forehead touched the ground before the altar than stood as she was commanded. She went out behind the queen into the sand. Immediately two guards fell in behind them as they strolled past the tents towards the open desert, away from the oasis.
When they were well enough away the woman questioned hopefully, "Did you see nothing for us, Isa?"
"No, Majesty, nothing that we didn't yet know." Isadora sighed kicking at the sand lightly as she walked.
"Hmmm." The queen murmured in response. She stopped to look up at vast fullness of the sky.
Isadora looked at the woman that was her mistress, her queen, and felt a deep guilt balling in her stomach. "I'm so sorry, my lady, I was distracted again." She hung her head in shame as her fists clenched. Tears threatened to spill from her eyes, but she stubbornly forced them back with a swallow.
"It is all right, my Prophetess. Perhaps we are not yet meant to see what will become of our exile." The queen's voice remained patient in its gracious warmth.
"I saw the ship, my lady. And the eyes of Strategos," Isadora mentioned optimistically, watching her friend's face.
The queen's head lowered and she stared in front of her for a long time. Her eyes lit with interest she turned to her servant with a smile, "Tell me of his eyes. I have heard they are black as obsidian when he is angry. And gray when he is calculating his moves."
Isadora shook her head, a smile sweeping over her features, "No, my queen. They are brown. Red-brown, like cinnamon spice! They are beautiful, Majesty!"
"Ahhh," The queen clicked her tongue with a knowing smile, "So, they are much the same as the Prince's."
A blush colored the girl's cheeks and her eyes fell to the sand beneath her feet. Hesitantly she replied, "No, my lady…His are different somehow. The color is the same- and the confidence in them that is similar, but…the Emperor-his eyes are cold- always planning. There is mirth hidden there, but it does not show as much. His eyes are-impending-like he has too many secrets and with no one to share them." She pursed her lips wondering what it was her lady thought as she watched her eyes narrow.
"Too many secrets…" The queen murmured to herself watching as the wind picked up the grains of sand in the distance.
Have faith young goddess. The wind carried whispers to her across the dunes. It was a stirring voice, one of infinite wisdom, like the kind that filled dreams with coming knowledge. He will share his secrets with you. It is destiny. Sitiah Mekhare Yasmin Ptolemy found herself trusting the voices that mysteriously called to her. She smiled her eyes glittering like jewels in the dimming light, her heart already seeing things that would fill her emotions in the future.
"What news?" The Emperor asked as he gazed out at the clear sea, leaning his hands on the deck rail. Fresh breezes wafted across the cerulean waters carrying the ship swiftly toward the awaiting city, still a day away.
"Nothing new I'm afraid, Strategos. King Ptolemy's army still waits to engage Sitiah's. Nothing has happened, the queen seems unwilling as of yet to make a move." Allen Schezar, the emperor's most trusted officer, reported.
Strategos' eyes narrowed as he "hmmed" to himself quietly. "So, the princess still hides in the desert." He commented, more to himself than to his officers.
Gaddes, a sentry tugging at the ropes that secured the sails, laughed, "I don't know, Emperor, I wouldn't call her a princess. And I wouldn't exactly say she's hiding."
"Oh yeah," Allen smiled clasping his hands behind his back, "And why is that?"
"Well as rumor has it," Gaddes grunted tying off the end, "She's out there conjuring some black magic to poison her brother and his troops."
The Emperor smirked, "Oh really. I didn't think you were a superstitious man." Gaddes frowned stepping back as he wiped the sweat from his brow with the back of his hand.
"It's not that, Emperor. It's more that she's been out there for months in that hellish desert, trying to organize a military out of a few guards and the local tribesmen. She's managed to conscript some mercenaries, but it looks like there is little hope of winning in any battle against Ptolemy's army. I mean that there has to be something- mysterious- special- about a woman who can stand life in a rugged tent while trying to set up a rag-tag battalion. Besides in her mind she is a queen." The officer shrugged. He took the cup of wine Allen offered him and downed it with a gulp.
"Yes well, all I'm worried about is stopping these damned civil wars, and making it out of Alexandria alive." Folken said. He had not moved from his position at the rail, still intent on the white city in the distance.
Allen smiled slowly, "I'm sure you wouldn't be opposed to making it back to Fanelia soon and that pretty princess-wife you left behind."
Strategos smirked with a snort of derision, "If you think she's so pretty, Captain, why didn't you marry her?"
"Why, Princess Eries wasn't offered to me. Besides, political marriages aren't my style." Allen laughed strolling farther down the deck.
"You always did like to keep yourself free to attract the attention of every young girl from Alexandria to Godashim." Strategos muttered with a half smile. He shook his head glancing at the captain of the ship. He sighed watching as a school of brightly colored fish hurried by in the crystalline sea. The sun seemed to dance across the great waters dispersing every shadow so that you could see into the ultramarine depths. Folken's mind wandered from the delight of the Mediterranean to the wedding that had taken place several months before.
True, his bride had been beautiful, but the beauty could not mask her dislike for the man she was to marry. It was her father that had pushed at such a marriage to keep the peace between Fanelia and Asturia. It was not that King Aston had been threatening a war otherwise, it was only that he feared that if there was nothing to bind the Emperor to their agreement he would lose all rights as king. So to calm his fears, Folken had accepted his offer of taking the man's eldest daughter as his legal wife.
The ceremony had been on a cold day in the capitol, when the wind was sharp and whistled through the buildings and trees. That day the gods seemed almost angry as the fierce breeze tore at the carefully prepared decorations, and shoved relentlessly at the crowd that had gathered to witness the royal wedding.
He remembered how stiff the princess' lips had been against his when the priest had called out, "You may kiss your bride." There was no softness in Eries' lips when he had bent and gently pressed his to hers. Her eyes had been empty, devoid of any emotion, though she managed a weak smile for the crowd when they had been presented as Emperor and Empress of Gaea.
Afterwards all of the citizens had been driven back to their homes because of the storm that had whipped up. The royals and high members of the court along with their families had fled to the security of the palace for the banquet. The feast that had been prepared for the citizens was quickly divided among families and sent to their homes. Within the palace the wedding feast went as all feasts, with loud music drowned slightly by the chatter of people about the room lit by chandeliers and sconces. Wine as well as mead was flowing all night into the chalices, crystal stemware, and mugs. Food was constantly being brought into the hall steaming and perfectly prepared. There were of course entertainers, and the occasional lord and lady that became obnoxiously drunk. And the rain had pelted the windows and could just barely be heard on the roof over the bustle of the feast. Lightning jagged across the sky blazing silver light into the rooms, but the guests paid no mind.
Folken and Eries had eaten side by side on golden thrones raised on a dais overlooking the hall. They did not speak to one another, except to comment on the weather or ask how the other was enjoying the revelry. That evening, when the two had had enough of the joyful atmosphere and drunken clatter, they said goodnight and retired to the master bedroom. Within the chamber Eries had immediately asked to be discreetly dismissed to her own room on the other side of the castle. Folken weary and slightly addled with wine consented with a wave of his hand and watched as the Empress and her servants exited through a passageway. He'd been glad that she'd had enough sense to take the passage, instead of bursting from the main doors and causing a stir in the palace as well as inciting rumors. The Emperor had then stumbled onto his bed and fallen into a dead sleep.
He'd slept until a few hours before the sun had broken the sky. Awakened by the Prince with an urgent dispatch he'd immediately jumped from the bed ordering for clothes to be brought. It seemed that one of his rivals, Pompey, had fled Fanelia to get support against Folken. His mind was alive at once, the feeling of being in a stupor fading with the night. He'd gathered his officers and generals making plans to leave that morning.
He could still recall the scent of Eries' perfume as she had bowed before him kissing his hands. She'd wished him well and promised her prayers for his safe journey, then turned and left the dock with her ladies. Since then he had only received letters informing him of the political goings-on of Fanelia, of which only a small handful were from her.
He'd met up with Pompey's forces in Espania, managing to win a victory there, but tailing him to Dyrrhachium where he had to retreat. However Strategos won a battle in Thessalia, which brought Pompey to their latest destination: Egypt.
"Good morning brother!" Van clasped him on the shoulder bringing him back to the ship slicing through the sea.
Folken smiled teasing lightly as he ruffled his brother's hair, "Morning for you is when the sun is past its zenith! What kept you?"
Van laughed darting away from the Emperor, "I'm sorry if dawn doesn't call to me as it does you, your Highness!"
"Dawn is when a man can do his thinking before the day sweeps him up in its worries." Folken replied.
Van shook his head rolling his eyes, "There are no worries when you wake as late as I." He stretched, his muscles flexing as he brought his arms over his head. The tan of his skin glowed in the afternoon rays.
"Lord Prince," A young girl scolded, "It is barely afternoon and you waltz out here without your shirt on!" She tossed a red shirt to him and then watched as he laughed and put it on. Her hands on her hips she frowned, "You'll burn in this damned heat." Remembering herself, she blinked and turned to the Emperor bowing, "Your majesty."
Folken smiled softly, "Good morning, Lady Merle. Did you sleep well?"
"Sleep well?" She scowled, her nose wrinkling in disgust, "On this hunk of trash? It's hardly fit for that gluttonous King Aston! It certainly is not fitting for an emperor and his royal brother!" She tossed her long pink braid as she shook her head, "No sire, I did not sleep well, just as I have not slept well for the last god forsaken months!" The sailors by that point were chuckling at her comments, charmed by the outspoken servant girl.
Folken turned to stare at her in amusement, folding his arms over his broad chest as he leaned back against the rail, "I'm sorry to hear that, my lady." He watched as she crossed her arms as well with a curt nod. She wore a white belted tunic that fell to her knees, and green riding pants that clung to her girlish legs as well as a pair of brown ankle boots. Forever the tomboy. He smiled to himself.
"Come, Lady Merle, your words wound me. My ship is as fine as that of General Albatou's." Allen had wandered toward the group. He fixed Merle with a suave smile, one hand on the hilt of his sword.
"Ha!" She retorted turning to her left to face the man. "You have never seen the General's ship then! I maintain that this is a poor vessel for any royal- or noble for that matter- to be tossed about in!"
"Well," Allen's smile widened, his eyes taking on a teasing spark, "Perhaps you would care to try out my quarters for a night, my lady." The men burst into guffaws, hooting and hollering at the unseemly comment, while Merle's temper flared and her face turned a rosy color.
She glared at him, trying to hide her embarrassment, but doing a poor job of it. "I would rather jump overboard and sleep with the fish!" She spat, and turned on her heal to stalk back to the cabins below as the crew roared with laughter.
"I'm afraid you've managed to intensify her hatred of you." Van said frowning with mock sympathy.
"Yeah, Captain, I think Merle may be a bit tougher to woo than most women." Gaddes smiled back at Allen from the helm.
"You'll be in for it when you try your charm in Egypt. It may be a Greek city, but its home to people from all over the east. And if the women are all like those native to Egypt than you ought to watch your step. Women have more rights there." One of the crew mentioned lifting a crate by the stairs that led below deck.
"Perhaps it is our Emperor you should warn. He will after all intercede about the civil strife that has been going on. And if Sitiah is as mysterious, as Gaddes says, than Strategos might be in for more trouble than I." Allen watched his emperor grimace and turn away.
"I've heard it's her handmaiden one should be afraid of," Reeden nodded eagerly appearing from the hold, "They say she's got some kind of sorcery."
"What sort of sorcery?" Van addressed the man, nudging his brother lightly.
"They say its witchery from the- Mystic Moon…" He replied in a cryptic tone, "The queen never goes anywhere without her."
"The Mystic Moon?" Van frowned curiously. He hadn't heard of the myths about the place for quite awhile, at least not since he was a young boy.
His brother's voice interrupted any reverie he was bound for, "We should be thinking about the opposition. Women are a matter to worry over after we have defeated Pompey!" The crew of the Crusade and the soldiers of Folken's personal regiment shouted with enthusiasm, their minds turning to the thought of battle.
Historical Note:
I've changed some of the names of countries to fit the story. As for Pompey, he was a real man that tried to oppose Gaius Julius Caesar (b. 100 B.C.). Also note that Caesar is a family name, Julius Caesar was not the first. As for the name Ptolemy that is also a part of history. Cleopatra was a member of the Ptolemaic dynasty. She was not a true Egyptian woman. Her family had come from Greek-Macedonia. Many believed she had ties to Alexander the Great. Her family had ruled for many generations after Alexander conquered Egypt, and made it apart of his vast empire. The Ptolemy that Cleopatra battled for the thrown was the XIII. Cleopatra as well was a name that had been used before over the generations, but Cleopatra the VII (born somewhere around 69 B.C.) is the most renowned. When Cleopatra's father, Ptolemy the XII (also called Auletes), died, his son and daughter took power sharing the throne. They were young at the time and under the wings of men that had turned their backs on the dead king. These deceitful advisors convinced Ptolemy the XIII to take all power from Cleopatra and threaten her life. She fled to safety in the desert where she waited for the best time to strike. Meanwhile, Pompey had gone to Alexandria seeking help, with Caesar hot on his trail. Unfortunately, the officials in Egypt thought it better to kill Pompey to please Caesar. However when Caesar arrived he was distressed to receive the box with his rival's head in it. According to most, Caesar had great respect for Pompey, and even wept over his opponent's brutal betrayal. It is said that he was enraged by the act and had the men involved in the murder put to death.
Author's Note:
I know I have left out a few details on the history part, but don't worry I'll get it all to ya! That's it for now. Please keep reviewing. Isn't it odd that Folken is married? And what about Sitiah, what's her true destiny with Strategos?