Title: The
Ribbon and the Ring 11?
Author: Seraphim Grace
Archive:
if you want it ask, I'll say yes, I
just want to know where it is.
Always appreciated and replied
to.
Rating: 18 (This is an open rating so I don't have to
worry).
Pairings: 1x2
Warnings: Angst. Some gore.
Notes: AU,
and features necromancy. This chapter is exposition heavy with a lot
of information to absorb, sorry, it is really necessary though.
Welcome to Aatorian Religious Education 101.
The journey from Sidi to Dathyl was long and boring. After several days even Duo's boundless enthusiasm had settled into quiet contemplation. He would sit beside Gereint on the wide seat of the wagon with Fenrir loping beside and ask questions about the world they found themselves in. Gereint wasn't a good source of information because he was doubted everything but when they pulled in for the night he would tell them tall tales that he said passed for history. He told them of the White and the Red, the two fallen vanguards who had built and then destroyed a kingdom. He told them of what was known as the draima wars, in which three witches toppled the empire - of course he didn't believe that they were witches.
Perhaps the third, or fourth night, Trowa was finding it hard to keep track, Gereint told them of the creation of the world and the four gods. The fire was low and his voice soft and slightly scornful but there was something in the tale he told that kept them all, except Quatre who was sleeping in the wagon, completely entranced over their light supper.
Often the stories Gereint told, to amuse them rather than educate, contradicted themselves but this one did not.
"In the beginning," Gereint said, "there was the god-void, then there was the word and it became god and the void. Born in that moment came the four gods, Acuya goddess of sun and her twin Aileron, Nosian, the horse that carried the golden carriage of Acuya across the sky and their dark brother Atua'a. Each was equal and gifted with great beauty and power but proud and Aileron, god of sea and sky went to war with his golden sister of fire and sun. They each created a race of warriors, Aileron gave birth to the fifty one naiads destined to judge the faithless and Acuya created man. Atua'a wanting nothing of their petty war stepped apart from it and Nosian stirred the fire between them until the naiads went mad with the lust for blood and turned on Aileron, casting him across the sky to form the stars.
"The lament was great for their lost brother," Gereint continued, "and they swore never to war within themselves again, Atua'a took in the naiads, who could not be destroyed and the souls of those who fell in the war and took them to a great city under the Forest where he created the underworld."
Duo didn't really pay attention to Gereint, the worn book he had found in Sidi had it's own answers and he trusted them better.
"Acuya," it said "is the woman of the sun, the golden beauty of the morning; the life-giver and the absolver of sins. Her symbol is the wolf and the punishment for heresy in her name is immolation.
"Aileron is the god of the sea, the second son of the morning, torn apart by a jealous woman and the golden shards of his frame thrown across the sky to form the stars. Shooting stars are said to be his tears. Sailors still give offerings in his name for safe passage. His symbol is the dolphin.
"Atua'a is the god of the dead and the underworld. He judges the dying and condemns them either to the nine spirals of the city of Dis or the three circles beyond it, Mhoanderath- home of the virtuous, Vireath- for those who never exceeded their own expectations, and Ninieath- the sea of no sensation for those who were cowardly or cruel. He is the commander of the San Hikari and the Naiads. His highpriestess is the Tennosha who is blood of his blood.
Nosian is the horse god who carries the sun across the sky and the dead to Atua'a. He is the god of war, fermented horse blood, called bloodwine, is drunk in his name."
The San Hikari, or the three aspects of death were described thus, "Arissa, the god of the willing death or suicide, Meror, the god of the lingering death or the sickbed, and Erik, god of the violent death or murder." Each was given a short history.
"Arissa was the wife of Atua'a who was taken from mortality by Nosian and carried to the underworld where she was beloved of a mysterious masked stranger. Missing her family she asked her lover to bring them to her, he did, but counselled her to harden their heart against what they would say, that they would lie to her about him. She ignored his warning and when her family saw her good fortune they became bitter and twisted her heart against him. They said that he must be deformed or ugly to wear a mask and eventually she came to believe them. So she took a hooded lantern to where he slept and removed his mask, seeing his beauty she kissed him. Atua'a woke in a terrible rage and slew the family of Arissa, and before he could calm himself she took the knife from his belt and plunged it into her own heart. Atua'a used everything in his power to bring her back to life and kissed her on her forehead, her eyelids and the tip of her nose. His power changed her, raising her but she was no longer mortal, the knife she held became fused to her hand and she took on the role of visiting the bereft and the lonely to judge them worthy of suicide. She is said to appear in current fashion and in red. Her symbol is the blade.
"Meror is the god of the sickbed or lingering death. His origin is unknown but it is supposed that he is andain, or a demigod. He visits the sickbeds to bring relief after long periods of illness. Unlike Arissa or Erik he is welcomed. He always appears hooded and carrying a censer, he leaves behind a stench of corruption. His symbol is the censer.
"Erik is the god of the battlefield or violent death. His story, like that or Arissa, is well known. He was the lover of Eustacia, the fifty-first naiad. This was a divided love for she also loved another. On hearing from Erik of the other's death she killed herself. As punishment for his sin he was given the red sword of war and charge of the Wild Hunt. It is said that on the death of a great love or warrior his horn can be heard. The Wild Hunt is said to haunt battlefields. He is the god seen most often. His symbol is the red sword.
"The Naiads are the fifty one daughters of Acuya and Aileron, the guardians of justice who punish the unworthy. They are golden maidens without compassion who wear scarlet armour and their limbs can become weapons. They ride winged horses across the sky and live in the city of Dis. It is said that they respect only military strength and for the correct warrior they will waken from their enforced slumber to destroy the world. The only known representation of them is in the murals of Aviemore.
"The pagan gods who are lost were thus, Lethe, the twin of Mnemosyne. She is the ancient goddess of oblivion, and the guardian of mount Helicon of the muses. Her worship was typified by the consumption of opium. Her priests wore green.
"Mnemosyne is the goddess of memory and the mtoher of the muses, the twin patron of art with Lethe. Her worship was typified by the consumption of iocaine. In the icons of the twins, in Aviemore, she is shown to cower behind her sister. Her priestesses wore red.
"The last is Selene, the goddess of beauty. Nothing is known about her except for a rare reference in the Akheniad in which Lysander compares Onestra to Selene, the goddess of beauty.
"Also to be considered are the Kindly Ones." Duo closed the book.
On the inside of the cover there was a strange inscription "le dieu de la mort est le sang de mon sang." The god of death is the blood of my blood. He wondered if he should ask Gereint about it, but decided against it.