Her hand symbolized her promise to him. She secured their futures, by giving hers in return. She never wanted to marry the High Prince, but for the sake of her people she would do anything. This is the story of she who dwells in the Ivory Hall, Princess of Kadir of the land of Aekinia, Kaoru Kamyia. KK, SM, AM!
Disclaimer: I don't own Rurouni Kenshin or the excerpt in Italics...that passage was from Edith Hamilton's Mythology.
"As a man is equal to the Church and equal to the State, so he is equal to every other man."
-Ralph Waldo Emerson
May You Never
Chapter One: The Princess of Kadir
May you never, oh, never behold me
Sharing the couch of a god.
May none of the dwellers in heaven
Draw near to me ever.
Such love as high as the gods know,
From whose eyes none can hide,
May that never be mine.
To war with a god-lover is not war,
It is despair.
Kaoru closed her book, and sighed running her fingers over the over handled leather binds. Oh how she wished to be as free from the binding ties of marriage that she was forced under. It happened not a fortnight ago when her hand was given to the High Prince, at the price of an alliance between her lovely country of Kadir, and the High Rulers Nation of Hiten. For many years there had been a constant cloud over the mountainous land of her forefathers. Kaoru herself had felt it even on the sunniest days of the year. It was the edge that scarred her, the 'What will happen.'. It was ominous loom, not just to her country, but to all, and they secured their futures by giving up hers. And she would do it if it meant the lessen oppression of her lands, and others. For The Noble Kaoru Kaymia knew her duty to her people.
The High Nation wanted more power, for they were power, of control over their lands that they had given millennia's ago to the nobles who now were kings over the distributions of lands surrounding the main kingdom of Hiten; where the High King dwelled in his fortress of gold. Biting her nails, a habit she acquired long ago, she stops looking at her hands memorized. She had given her word in the shape of her hand to a man that she had never before seen. His face was nothing but what she pictured to a name, His Royal Highness, the High Prince of the Land of Aekinia, Kenshin Misturu Shinta Himura. Kaoru smiled, humorlessly, at least she knew one thing she liked about him-his name. It was eloquent to say the least.
Standing slowly up she walked through the doors of the polished Study chamber, passing the gothic widows that looked onto the mountains painted in the distance and the rolling hills that drove to meet them. A massive river ran before the mountains in a clear emerald chain as it was banked on both sides by little docks and fisheries that carried supplies down into the water locked areas of Aekinia. Further down the river when fresh meet salt in the delta there was a city named Peirce; the main harbor and port of Kadir. The vastness of the ocean side city had no completion in the Land of Aekinia, even with the numerous amounts of beautiful harbor cities of different kingdoms along the Ocean of Alteron's coasts.
About a league away from Ivory Hall, the dwelling of the King of Kadir, stood the capital, Lome. It stretched until it meet the Chain River, and went even further almost to the mountains that were painted on the distance. Travelers called it the City of White, for the city gave off an innocent air matched by the beautifully sculpted structures of long past but also the cities ingenious mix of agrarian fixtures. Even though the city was massive, the public gardens of the castle and city, as well as the trees that loomed along the city streets gave Kaoru's home an enchanting allurement. Not only that, but the people who lived in Kadir learned since the day of their birth to treat everyone as equals, having people of the different kingdoms call Kadir the Kingdom of Equality. Etched upon every Chamber of Justice's anteroom painted in gold was the statement, "Equality is the foundation of Justice."
But Kadir wasn't the only kingdom to be known for some moral characteristic. There was the Kingdom of Slader, Home of the Protector; there people were know for sheltering people of war and proclaimed to be some of the kindness souls of Aekinia.
Then there was the Kingdom of Anteal, Land of the Stubborn at Heart, know for their stubbornness, and unwavering ideals. This land was not for the weak of voice.
Following, Anteal, there was the Kingdom of Storlim, the Domain of the Clever. People of the land of Storlim were known for their emphasis of education that gave way for their quick wit and intelligence.
The Kingdom of Chenel was made for the Children of the Brave, all who have wondered into the land of Chenel have never had any reason to fear for the people of the Brave would help them.
The Land of Silence, Kingdom of Bilate, was home for those of the meek and quite, never should they utter a word if you ask it of them, it is a land of many locked secrets that they will never utter. If anyone would ever talk about Bilate, they would immediately jump to the long told legend of their Room of Silence.
Then there is the Kingdom of Liyla, the Domain of the Wise. They're said to be people of beautiful minds and souls with a God given gift of wisdom, to help those in need of explanation and counsel. It is said if their ever was a distress put upon a soul, that all they would need was to step into the boundaries of Liyla and be cured.
On the far distance borders there loomed the Kingdom of Glademere, those of the Faithful. Here people feed on the faith of the Lord and never doubt, they are the ones who in dire needs send all the lands on the path of faithful again.
The Land of Justice has a hand above them all, the Kingdom of Drilic, those who thirst for fare justice, never has there been an injustice done to the best of their abilities. If ever were a crime committed, one would want it staged in Drilic.
Finally, the High Kingdom of Hiten, the House of Power, their strength is said to go unmatched, and their power over others is strength. These people have been raised as strong leaders, and they will never waver from that.
Kaoru, touched an ivory pillar of the open aired condor, slight breeze playing upon her face. This was the land she loved, a people that she loved, she would lay her life down for them. Not only was it duty to serve her people, but to love them as well. She had read on many occasions the deeds of past kings and leaders taking control of their people and making them serve his highness. She frowned, she was always taught that God granted her the position of princess so that she could serve the people not the other way around, for it was up to her to protect and care for them.
She smiled looking over the mountains and hills of her father. She could see the forest covering the awkward plains far to the east until it rose up again to meet a mountain. Looking at her hand once more she sighed tiredly. She was only one and nine, and already she was destined to a cage; to a man that seemed like a god to the public. She had never attended a ball with his presence, and the reoccurring thought that she had barely meet any nobles except for the dukes and other such nobility of her country, and her friends Misao, Soujiro of the Kingdom of Anteal, and Sanouske and his little sister Tusbume of Slader. Those were the only exceptions, and thinking about it Kaoru was the only high noble not to have a sibling.
Her life was compact, she never really went past her countries borders, barely went to balls, she put too much of her time and soul into the needs of her people. She never regretted it. There were times of course that she wanted to explore and have the adventure of a life time that she had read so many times in books, and heard the tales of soldiers, but her people were more important. She was raised as such, and she worked everyday of her life in the charity of helping others.
"Princess Kaoru." Turning she saw a little man with the long face of a horse, smiling she beckoned him to go on. "The Duke of Saete is here to see you. If you would just follow me Princess." He bowed, and she shook her head.
"Please don't bow. How many times do I have to tell you Sir Feren." Walking past him she added, "We are all equals here."
"As you wish."
As they made their way towards the Southern Conference Camber they talked of the gardens and Sir Feren's recently born twin girls. Kaoru couldn't help but smile at the man's beaming face. Something touched her heart so softly seeing a man's face soften into tenderness, maybe it was her maternal instincts, but she couldn't help but pray the man she was now bound to was as loving a father as Feren was.
The cherry wood door stood ceiling high in front of them. It was a wide and gaping tunnel. "I shall leave you now Princess." With a final bow he disappeared.
Clasping one of the silver handles, she pulled the door open almost scraping the marble tile as a voice met her ears.
"The Princess Kaoru Aentel Sispia Kamyia of Equality Hall of White Castle, in the Kingdom of Kadir." The formal introduction rang in her ears. How she despised such an introduction.
Nodding her head the introducer took his bow and left closing the door in a final farewell. "I' am honored you should come upon my sudden request Seate."
"It was no trouble Princess, tis' my duty to serve you and the people, and the topic you mention indeed did involve the people." The aging man declared standing up as she moved towards the massive glass table. Arched windows favored the right hand of the room throwing in vast amounts of bright sunlight, as well as the all around scenery.
"I assume that you read my report on the situation Duke." Kaoru said taking her place where he pulled out her chair.
"Indeed." He smiled sitting across the table clasping his hands. The man that sat in front of her she had know since her first days, and had a dear opinion of him; he was like a grandfather to her. Every wrinkle and every scar he had told her once had a tale to tell, and she had listened intently to every single one.
"I'm sorry that my father couldn't be here. Sadly he is off in Hiten making future preparations." Her voice stood steady, but she could see the elder eye's sadden in remorse, but he said nothing of it. "But time doesn't stand still does it. The Parliament can't hold off much longer the deeds to the land of the recently deceased Count of Fant, the people there are fighting over the land, and sadly the new Count is dreadfully ill. The family is in distress as they are trying to keep the people content."
He nodded, "Its a sad business when there is strife. All I can affirm is that you and the Parliament sustain an assistant militia rule for the time being until the family gets settled again, they have been doing a faire job."
"What do you suppose of the Open Field System?" Kaoru countered. "The system has worked before for periods of a time, having all the people work equally."
He shook his head, "It does work to an extent, but then if they do all the same work then there will be a decrease in the pride of their labors."
"Yes, I know that." Kaoru put her hand to her head, "But all I'm saying is for a short time. If I have to I will make those people work together, for a time, and then once all the affaires are settled then they can make the proper arrangements on what the citizens will receive, for it was in the late count's will that his citizens would receive upon his death certain arrangements. Myself I haven't not yet seen the Will, but the Minister of Interior Affairs has." Sighing she closed her eyes.
"I'm planning on conversing with him later this evening." The Duke nodded, threading his fingers through his white hair.
"If it is only for a short period of time, then yes, I will agree, but if it should go on for too long the economy will fall." He leaned backed onto his seat. Dully, Kaoru, nodded. She hoped with all her power that the new count would be well soon, or else her father would have even more to handle with the situations of the kingdom in there numerous amounts. At least one problem was solved, she thought mutely.
A/N: Hey people thanks for reading this story. I know that it is confusing now, but don't worry it will be all cleared up in time. Please Review....Please!
Oh yeah, the three field system is when all the people get together and have one big field and separate farmers grow all the same crop in it together, or different crops in sections of the field. The man purpose is that all the people work together.
Don't You Just Hate Me
CrypticMaidenRK
