Disclaimer: I do not own Escaflowne.
"Stop it! You're making me anxious!" The queen ordered drumming her nails on her desk.
"But I'm not doing anything!" Isadora protested. She stood before the desk her hands folded together and resting against her upper thighs.
"Yes you are!" Sitiah insisted with a frown gesturing with one slim finger, "You were knotting up your dress!"
"I was not!" The handmaiden shot back. Unconsciously she had bunched up some of the fabric and began twisting it in her nervous hands.
"Then what are you doing now?" Sitiah got to her feet pointing at the girl.
"Nothing!" Isadora threw up her hands in exasperation. She immediately went back to worrying her dress.
"Yes you are!"
"You are mad! I'm only standing here!"
Sitiah let out a big sigh looking up at the ceiling a moment only to look back at her friend. "You stop that or I'll order you out!" She demanded.
"No way! You won't order me out! You've never ordered me out when you're angry! Besides how can I stop, when I'm not doing anything?" The Prophetess snorted wringing her dress even more.
Sitiah growled and stormed towards her. Taking her maid's forearms she forced them to her sides clenching her teeth, "Yes…you…are!" Isadora struggled to get away, but her queen had always been stronger than her. "Stop!" Sitiah demanded. Suddenly Isadora stopped and gasped looking horrified.
"My queen, there is smoke! It is in the direction of the docks!" She spoke in a rush, the argument forgotten. Sitiah turned her head to look in the direction of the balcony. Her eyes widened and she let the girl go and whirled around to stare. Isadora went to her side, her mouth falling open. She could suddenly hear her friend breathing in and out deeply. Sitiah let out an anguished cry and sped out onto the balcony. Gripping the edge of the stone rail she surveyed her city. The smoke poured out from several areas near the harbor where Strategos had set several ships on fire to keep the enemies from obtaining them. One of the storehouses had flared up, and its sparks spread to others along the waterfront.
"The grain!" Sitiah groaned her hands tightening on the edge of the rail so that the rock pressed painfully against her palms. Her eyes flitted around to catch glimpses of the chaos in the streets. She felt her heart being clenched in her chest, as her eyes watered with the drifting smoke and fearful tears. She tried to swallow, but there seemed to be something blocking the way, and she blinked furiously to keep any drops from spilling over her eyes.
All around was the clamor of battle, the shouts of fighting men, and the moans of the dying. The whole city was shaking with the clangs of steel against steel, the screams of the petrified citizens, and the roar of war. It all mashed together into a horrendous symphony, rising and falling with every second. Blood and ash rose on the wind soaking the city with an awful stench.
The queen felt her body become cold, her mind start to pound furiously, and her limbs begin to tremble. Her hands flew to cup around her mouth strangling a pitiful scream. She closed her eyes refusing to allow the tears to overtake her. When she opened them she recognized her library, and almost began to choke as she realized smoke billowed from its doors. "No!" She screeched in rage and agony. Isadora flinched at the desperate sound so full of utter grief. She began to cry as she peered out across her home. "We have to try- I… We must get closer!" Sitiah looked at her handmaiden suddenly.
Isa was startled by the pleading look in her queen's eyes. She knew the library was as dear to her mistress as all of the land in Egypt. The storehouses contained important documents as well. She felt an ache within herself that struck her with sorrow. Slowly she nodded meeting Sitiah's eyes. Hastily wiping away the tears she sniffed and kept nodding, "Yes, I'll go with you." The brave smile that her friend graced upon her threatened to force her into tears again, but she managed to smile back. She took Sitiah's hand in hers and said, her voice shaky, but clear, "Let's go."
They raced out together, running as though they were being chased. Neither cried, nor did they glance about, but kept their gaze ahead of themselves. Finally after sprinting through the entire palace, they were stopped by Fanelian guards at the gate.
"Find my guards, tell them they must get to the library and the storehouses to put out the fire! Step aside!" Sitiah commanded in a hurry. The guards seemed prepared for such an encounter for they stared out over her head.
One of them said, "Forgive me, your highness, but we have orders to let no one out of the palace."
Sitiah stood shocked; she had never been so openly defied before. She couldn't believe anyone would dare. But then again these were Folken's men, trained to follow his commands and no one else's. Still she felt as though the soldier had slapped her in the face, and she was clearly offended.
"Orders? I don't take orders! This is my palace. I make the orders! And I am telling you to stand aside!" She glared at the young man. Even then he did not look at the woman but seemed to ignore her.
"Whether or not you take orders is not my concern. I do however, and you are not allowed to pass through these gates." He replied with a simple shrug of his broad shoulders. The impudence in his voice had been too recognizable, for the queen was again insulted. She would not stand to be insulted twice.
She let out a fierce growl striking his cheek with her hand, her fingers curled like claws. Her nails tore at his flesh, tearing strips of skin from his cheek. He growled in pain dropping his spear as he put his hands to the wound.
"Whore!" He swore at her scowling darkly as blood slowly began to appear between his fingers. At this Sitiah felt all restraint suddenly shatter within her. She was flying at him within the next few moments; hissing and clawing at him like a desert lioness. The man knew that to strike her would be a grave mistake, and so raised his arms in front of his face as his only defense. Isadora tried her best to pry her off of the man tugging at her arms, and then wrapping her arms around the woman's waist and pulling. But the queen was blind to everything, and she dug at any exposed flesh trying to grab at his neck.
Alexandria is being desecrated, and this man dares… If only you were Ptolemy or Arsinoe! In her desperation her face had taken on a bronze and red sheen. She tore the red cloak from his armor. Another soldier put his arms about her and drug her away. Still she was screaming and cursing in Egyptian as Allen Schezar picked her up despite her flailing.
"I'm sorry your majesty, forgive me, but I have been ordered to keep you safe." Allen said trying to avoid her wild swings. He was struck several times, but kept his grip tight and continued to walk hurriedly into the palace. Her attacks were becoming weak, sluggish as she wriggled in his arms.
Feeling more helpless than she had ever before, she cried, "Let go! I am the queen here! This is my city!"
Isadora teary eyed watched, trying to keep pace with the tall knight. Never had she felt more useless. While her queen fought to be able to help her enflamed city, she could do nothing but stay by her side in painful silence. Sitiah had lost her energy to fight it seemed, and she was reduced to exasperated grunts.
"My home-is-is-burning! As queen- I am obligated to-to save her! Setesh take you-you damn coward! Set me down!" She had twisted in his arms and was grasping at the cloth at the man's shoulders. When she ripped threw it and used her nails to stab into the flesh around his collarbone, Allen did not even flinch as he carried her along. He halted only when a man in the attire of a Greek turned to them from a cluster of arguing Fanelian guards and Egyptian soldiers. The man's eyes grew large as he took in the captain of the guard and his charge.
"My queen!" He gasped scurrying towards Allen. Recognizing the voice immediately the queen stared at him, her demands stopping for a moment.
"Gods! Olympus!" She reached out to him as he came to stand right in front of her. He caught her up smoothly, embracing her as he tried hard to keep himself from crying.
"My queen," He repeated closing his eyes as he cradled her head in his hand. She gripped his shoulders furiously forcing him to look at her. "Praise the gods that you are safe!" He whispered pushing away a curl of her hair.
"Olympus!" She said astonished, drew him close to hug him again. Her voice was suddenly muffled as she clung to him, and he could feel her heart quivering within her breast pressed against his own. She was greatly pleased to see her friend home again. But her joy in seeing his familiar face was wiped away as she realized that all around her was mass destruction. She hurriedly pushed away to look into the man's eyes. "Alexandria-the waterfront is burning! There are homes- and the library- all burning." She sputtered.
Olympus could not speak, still overwhelmed by the sight of his childhood companion. In an instant he could see that something had changed within her. She was not the young woman who he had feared for when she was rolled into a rug at his protests. This woman was truly a queen, her eyes intense with an all-consuming determination to save her home. Swallowing hard Olympus studied her face with a frown. He suddenly looked at Isadora for confirmation. The handmaiden nodded, her lips trembling. He was saddened by her tear-streaked face and closed his eyes.
"My queen, the city is not lost! Great Strategos has taken the lighthouse on the Pharos. Do not cry my dear friend, Alexandria will not fall." He assured her, a seriousness hardening his features. Isadora allowed a little breath of relief to blow from her lips as she watched the two.
"Excuse me, but I must know who you are." Allen insisted quietly his hand precariously hovering over the hilt of his sword. Olympus nodded in understanding, turning toward the man with a suspicious arrogance.
"I am the queen's physician, her friend since birth. Please, allow me to take her highness to her quarters." He said in his controlled voice. Allen narrowed his eyes as he studied the man's face.
But before he could offer a word Sitiah said, "No. I do not wish to be escorted back to my chambers! I want to go to where the fires have started."
Allen's eyes flashed with annoyance, "Your majesty, you know I cannot allow you to do that. I was given specific orders by the Emperor himself to not leave-"
"Yes, yes, Commander Schezar, I know your orders." Sitiah put in impatiently, looking just as agitated as he, "Well, I shall make it easy for you, since you seem to be too ignorant to realize whom you speak to. I will go to the palace shrine to pray instead."
Allen realizing that he would get nowhere by debating with the woman, sighed, "Give me but a couple minutes to confer with my officers." With that he started to cross the floor.
The queen stopped him in his tracks stating, "My city is being destroyed with every passing second. I did not win the title to be queen over a dead piece of dirt, Commander. I will not be denied the right to at least pray for my people." She was staring at him as though she could see to the core of his soul. Her words were as chilling as the shadowy glare. Hesitantly Allen turned away from her and walked on towards the group of frozen soldiers. Olympus watched him go out of the corner of his eye then looked eagerly at Isadora's face.
"What is going on here? Who is that man?" He asked in a whisper.
"He is Strategos' second in command of the navy, Allen Schezar… Arsinoe has deserted, Ptolemy is with her, they have brought the troops from Pelusium and lay siege to the city, that much you must know." The priestess replied in a low voice. She was surprised at her calm tone, and thanked the gods for it silently. Olympus winced, taking a sharp breath in between his teeth.
"Shouldn't he be in battle then?" He scowled.
"Strategos ordered him to stay, I guess he's the only man the emperor trusts to keep our queen safe. His brother is needed in the fight." Isadora sighed.
Olympus immediately understood what had happened since his queen had made it into the palace. He was well aware of the charm that attracted so many to her. They'd become friends over the years and he knew her as well as her own nursemaid might, perhaps better. It was apparent that Sitiah had cunningly worked her way into Strategos' affections. He sighed to himself, not sure whether this was a dangerous match, or a lucky advantage. The man set his mind again, deciding to approach the queen about it at a more appropriate time.
"Whatever the commander decides…we must take her there." Olympus urged.
"Setesh! I will take myself! I don't require any ones help or permission." Sitiah said through clenched teeth. Both the physician and the priestess exchanged looks. They knew Sitiah well enough to know that she did not threaten unless it was a last resort. She would fight as many men as she had to make her way into the palace's temple to Isis.
Merle quickly notched another arrow drawing her bow with graceful ease, though she was trembling with horror inside. However her aim was as steady as ever and she betrayed no sign of the hysteria she felt quaking within her stomach. She loosed the arrow and watched as it hit its target directly in the chest, ripping through the weak armor to bury its head into the flesh and organs. She let out a wavering sigh as she paused in her routine to wipe the sweat from her forehead. She never experienced such heat in battle.
Though Alexandria was breezed by the breaths of the sea, it did nothing to lessen the heat of the sun. The air was stale with the smell of battle, a scent that made even Merle's accustomed nose turn up as the wind reached to her height atop the roof of the temple of Apollo. The young woman had seen many battles before, but the stench of the capitol with its blood soaked streets, rotting corpses, and burning flesh, was almost overwhelming. Still the girl ignored it and pulled another arrow from the quiver at her feet, aimed, and let it fly with the urgency that comes with battle. Again she had a direct hit. She was readying another arrow when she heard her name being called from below. She recognized the Prince in his armor waving at her with a bloodied sword.
"Merle! Have you heard from Folken?" He yelled shading his eyes with one hand soiled with blood and dirt.
"Lord Prince! I'm glad to see you alive!" She smiled waving both hands over her head. Inwardly she was praising the gods for his safety, though she could only offer him a friendly approval. She had been taught to be very focused when it came to war. There was never time to fret over the other combat taking place around you when there was a city at stake.
Van's laughter was carried up to her as he put his hand on his upper sword arm, "Yes, I escaped death with a couple scrapes and bruises." His white teeth gleamed in the light as he grinned in his boyish way. "But what of my brother?" He questioned again.
"The messenger could not find you, your highness. You shouldn't have taken off without letting anyone know! But the message was sent to me. Your brother is well, his command has taken the Pharos." Merle shook her head tossing the pink braid from left to right. She looked at the other archers positioned to both sides of her. "Shall we move?" She asked. Van frowned down at the ground for a moment wondering whether he out to involve Merle's contingent. He shook himself and raised his head.
"Alright then, this section is clear, send part of the men to the water front to put out the fires there and get rid of any stragglers from the enemy army. I'm taking my men to back up Setepenre's forces, follow me with what's left of your group." Van ordered, and then mumbled to himself, "My brother's probably so deep in this mess, I'll be lucky if I hear from him before sunset."
Merle gave a curt nod shouldering her quiver of arrows. Quickly she restated the orders, putting a ranking officer in charge of one division to head to the waterfront with their assignment and commanding the others to follow her. Both groups made their way off the roof of the temple, then split in two to carry out their specific duties.
The girl fell into step beside Van who was striding with purpose over the debris and clutter. She was reminded of the Prince's steadfast courage as she glanced at him trying to keep up with his manly pace. His face was stern with calculation, but she could see the desire to join in where he could. She smiled at this wondering about how different Van was from Folken, and yet how very alike the two seemed in battle.
Historical Note:
Much of the history of Alexandria was lost in the fire that ravaged the library. The library was said to contain every written work known to that part of the world. Unfortunately that meant that a lot was irreplaceable. Documents only found in that city were destroyed, and sadly lost to the people. Archaeologists believe that much of history cannot be known due to the fact that the Alexandrian Library met with such a disaster. However, not all the ancient wisdom was victim to the flames, because of the priests who escaped with armfuls of scrolls. To their courage we owe thanks for the knowledge we do have of the works of philosophers, scientists, astronomers, and doctors of that age.