Chapter 7 Semi-Annual Meeting

The entire counsel had agreed to gather for their semi-annual assembly. The highest tower of the shrine was done with regal dark, stately marble and walled with glass, and the light cast from the gilded chandeliers above cast everything in a surreal glow. The Great One had given himself a human form for the occasion - a tall, broad-shouldered male draped in robes of gold, with silver stitching and a steel-colored underrobe - and would preside over the meeting, but now he watched wordlessly. Starshine and Meteyo were the first to join him, he nodded silently in polite-but-approaching-brusque acknowledgment to their greetings. They were followed by the princes and princesses of the seasons, all of whom arrived in a close group, the ties they shared - the bond they were ever interwoven in quite obvious. The Elements arrived a few minutes later, trailing a few respectful steps behind Emperor Flora.

'Where is she?' The Great One wondered darkly.

That second, the heavy doors swung open, and, the sensual scent of lavender perfume preceding her, Empress Fauna swept in. Her hair was twisted into a fashionable chignon, an expensive ivory dress with deceptively simple lines glimmered against her skin, the hem of the gown pooling about her silk slippers.

"Well, it's about time you showed up." Flora chided the Empress as she sauntered over, trail trailing on the ebony marble floor.

She smiled at him languidly and gracefully slid into her scarlet, plush-covered seat beside him, easily adjusting to the high-backed chair. "Yes, I was having some behavorial problems with a couple of vixens." Her pretty, full red lips pursed lightly, making it look rather like she was pouting sensually. "But, then, you would not be able to understand that, would you?" She exhaled in a delicate sigh, "After all, all of your plants mind you. Your job is no challenge at all, is it?"

"Well," His cheeks flushed with color, "I wouldn't say no challenge, but it is fairly simple."

"Of course it is, these jobs were assigned according to intelligence."

Autumn's tawny eyes flashed with mirth as he and Summer chorused in laughter. Spring's giggle was light and airy, she rose a hand to push back a wave of tumbling hair from her shoulder. Winter had a cynical yet conscious chuckle. Flushing - not with the chill of the room, since the cold never bothered her, though Summer was looking distinctly uncomfortable, but because others were staring at her and her sometimes rare laughter . . . true laughter, not just her mere snort of mirth or soft laugh - Winter pulled out an elegant snowy-owl quill and marked on a sheet of parchment. Her writing was neat and legible, the script carefully formed. "And the semi-annual games have begun, sports fans, and the first point belongs to Empress Fauna." She stated, expression perfectly calm, though her mouth twitched with amusement as she imitated a mortal sports announcer. More snickering followed.

"All right now, let us begin." The Great One requested. Everyone settled down instantaneously at his majestic, yet charismatic voice. "Lady Starshine, do you have the status report?"
"Yes, Great One." Her eyes lowered in respect and also to scan the reports resting on the polish mahogany table before her, "The Earth is currently inhabited by four billion, four hundred fifty-three million, nine hundred eighty-one thousand, three hundred and thirteen mortals. It is my estimation that by the end of this year the population will have increased by at least fifty million."

Fauna laughed daintily. "Only fifty million, child? Why, with the way these mortals procreate, I would not be surprised if the population increased by another billion." She quipped lightly.

"I did the calculations myself, my lady, and I say fifty million."

The meeting progressed. Finally, the meeting reached a plateau, where the most important point, Dark Heart, rested.

"So, Lady Starshine," the Great One said, "It is my understanding that one month ago you delivered our message to Dark Heart."

"Yes, what did that miscreant have to say?" Flora demurred.

Starshine grimaced. "You don't want to know, Emperor."

"Of course I do, my dear." The Emperor insisted calmly.

"No..." She said, voice soft as a light breeze, "You don't...you really don't."

The Great One looked at the High Priestess solemnly. "Please, my child, what did he say?"

Starshine's tongue traced along her bottom lip, her small front teeth soon followed. "I'm very sorry, Great One, I just can't repeat it."

Emperor Flora leapt from his seat in fury. "NOW SEE HERE, CHILD!"

"Flora, please, calm down!" The Great One ordered sternly. "There is no need to get so upset!"

"But, Great One, she is being insubordinate. She's trying to protect that no good insolent heathen! We all know he coerced her to break the law once before!"

Princess Spring half-closed her eyes, her long, sooty (not that they were truly sooty, you see, but she had often been told by old women, usually when she reminded them of their granddaughters, that she was lucky to be blessed with curling eyelashes the exact color of soot) fluttering, half-obscuring her sky-colored eyes. She cupped her chin in both hands, long fingers obscuring her mouth and sighed. "I think it's romantic!"

"You would." Winter retorted, the pale young woman's voice chilling.

The Great One gave Flora a softly determined look. "I said, calm down! She's not being insubordinate, she's only trying not to say anything offensive."

Flora let out an exasperated breath, then drew in a sharp gasp, his fist clenched at his sides and muscles trembling as he slowly lowered himself into his seat. When he sat, came the sound that sounded terribly like a certain body function.

"YES!" shouted the two Season Princes gleefully as they exchanged high-fives that rang through the high-ceilinged marble tower.

All around the table laughter broke out as Flora fished a flattened whoopie cushion out of his seat. Fauna covered her mouth with a lace-edged silk handkerchief - designs of roses and hummingbirds she had embroidered herself in silver thread (okay, watched someone beneath her embroider the 'rag she sneezed into') - in a commendable attempt to remain lady-like. The Seasons - eternal children in maturity, barely adults in their physical forms, only appearing to be teenaged children, but ageless - on the other hand made no such effort to seem dainty. Autumn chuckled heartily; Summer choked with laughter; Winter fell forward, short locks of straight hair obscuring her gray eyes, as she snickered; Spring giggled wildly, her dimples appearing. Starshine fell out of her chair, clutching at her stomach and landing on the hard floor with a muffled yelp of pain. Meteyo laughed so hard, tears of mirth appeared in his eyes as he banged his fist against the table. Even the Great Wishing Star had difficulty controlling his laughter.

Flora threw the whoopie cushion at the princes. They ducked, causing the bit of rubber to hit Winter in the head. It bounced off and fell to Starshine, still rolling on the floor. Starshine's laughter shrilled.

"When will you two CHILDREN ever GROW UP?" Flora demanded, fury flaming in his eyes.

"Oh, come on, Emperor, take a joke!" Summer rebuked.

"Seriously," Autumn added. "Have a sense of humor."

The Great Wishing Star held out a slender hand toward the princes. "Now, now, you two, the Emperor. . . is right. We need to keep such jokes, funny though they may be, out of the meeting hall." His statement did not have much conviction, as he couldn't control his laughter.

"Oh, you're no help!" With that the pompous man sat down and pouted like a disgruntled toddler who was used to having his way and then denied something.

"You know, Summer, the Great One is right. Our jokes have no place at the meeting." The tawny-
haired Autumn told his brother.

"Yes, I have to agree." the blonde prince stated, pretending to stroke a beard the eternal youth would never obtain. "We're really sorry Emperor, no hard feelings?" He offered his hand.

The Emperor looked suspiciously at the prince's hand, covered by a thin shield of a navy glove, then shrugged. "Oh, I never could hold a grudge." He took the hand. "AHHHHHHHHH!" Flora snatched his hand away immediately and looked contemptuously at the hand buzzer in Summer's hand.

Fresh laughter filled the room as Flora chased the young prince around the hall. Not much would get done at this meeting. Finally, as everyone settled down, another serious topic was breached.

The topic of the Chosen Ones.

"Speaking of Dark Heart, now that we're back on topic, he attacked the Chosen Ones today." Meteyo stated.

"HE WHAT!!" Fauna shrieked. "But that means. . ."

Meteyo nodded. "Yes, apparently he knows."

"But how? The only person who could've told him is. . ." Wind trailed off. Everyone turned their attention to Starshine/

"YOU!!!" Flora hollered at the priestess.

"Are you accusing me?" Starshine shouted back.

"Yes I am!"

Starshine rose from her seat to look the Asian in the eye. "Well I never! Of all the nerve! I would never disobey the counsel, not after what happened last time!"

"Oh stop the innocent act!"

Fauna stood next to the priestess. "Oh hush up you old windbag!"

"That is quite enough!" The Great Wishing Star commanded.

"But she. . ." Flora protested

"Is it not possible that he had spies set loose here? Could he have not found out that way?" Reasoned the divinity. Flora, Starshine, and Fauna sat back. "The point is not whose responsible but what we must be do now. Meteyo, where are the Chosen Ones now? How goes their quest?"

"They have as of now, located ten of the bear cubs, a puppy, a pig, and a raccoon. They are currently nearing New York, from there they will head for the harbor as "guided." The ship is already there and waiting for them."

"Good." The Great One nodded. "Now, we must make sure they are well guarded. Wind, when they take to the seas make sure you give them a healthy win towards the shores of Erin. And Water, we need them there in one piece so, make sure no rough storms hinder them."

Wind and Water saluted and in unison. . . "Affirmative."

The Great Wishing Star turn back to his clerics. "Meteyo, you must go ahead to the little people, make sure they found the cub and that he is safe. Starshine, until I tell you, you will continue keeping an eye on Dark heart. When I give you the word, you will go to the Chosen Ones."

"Yes Great One."

"Now, it is time to draw this meeting to a close. You are all dismissed" Everyone stood to leave, including Lady Starshine, as she gathered her scrolls. As the cleric turned to leave she felt a gentle hand on her shoulder. "Not you my daughter, could you please spare me a few moments." asked the Great Wishing Star.

"Of course Great One." She sat back down next to the Chief Immortal. The two of them regarded each other with gentle looks.

In his human form, the Great One's long silver hair framed his ageless face. His skin was english white and flawless. His height was a good 6'8" and his build was fair. He wore long golden robings adorned by silver stripes down each should line. His eyes looked softly into hers, the two green orbs shining with wisdom and knowledge gained only through hard times. She could tell that he was wary, wary of the fighting and hostility within the counsel.

"Are you well Great One?" She asked him.

"I am my dear. What about you? I can see that you hurt, deeply, and that you are fearful. And I know why. I know you told him."

"Great One, I. . ." Starshine protested in her defense, but he lifted his hand to silence her.

"I did not say it to scold you. I am proud of you. I know you still love him."

"It isn't fair, Great One. The law is just not fair. Why can't I love him, and him, me? What is so wrong with it?"

"I wish I knew." He grew silent for a moment. "Do you remember when the laws were made?" He did not wait for her answer. "Well, everyone fought so much over it."

"Yes, I know. Meteyo, Princess Spring, and I disagreed with it."

"Yes and you were the quiet ones. The ones I feared were Fauna and Flora. Our society was already unstable. I didn't want to risk war, so I satisfied the most powerful ones. And that is the same reason I have to enforce it now. But on when they are around." He winked at her. "I am happy that you love Dark Heart. You must hold onto that love, with all of your might. It alone will save him in the end."

"Yes, Great One. I will not stop loving him, I could never."

The Great One smiled and put a king, fatherly hand upon the priestess' shoulder. As he removed his hand however, a small weary expression overtook him.

"What is it Great One?"

"Hmm?" He asked, looking up at his priestess.

"Something troubles you so. What is it?" Starshine repeated.

He shook his head. "It is nothing you need to worry yourself about. Now, go enjoy the day. It is beautiful outside."

Starshine bowed to the great leader and departed from the room. She did not notice the sorrowful look that once more shadowed his visage.