#ed1717
1
0
1
Sept 9, 2017 19:51:41 GMT
5
Lev
191
August 2015
admin
|
Post by Lev on Sept 17, 2015 0:12:54 GMT
[Thread takes place alongside sister thread: How We Grow, in the Catacombs]
The sun had lived and died as it had on every other day, it's precious time taken for granted once more by the masses. Now the moon was hanging in the sky next to a sea of stars, orbiting the life below like a heavenly mobile, lulling open eyes into the stillness of sleep. But not every eye was closed. Bathed in the light of her painted glass windows, Theolandra paced the floor, reading a book. It was the first thing she'd ever checked out with her library card - how funny that sounded. If it weren't for Arthur letting her explain his lost book, it may never have happened.
She was glad. Having the book and it's obligation felt so human, like the emotions inside of it..
"I hoped that he would love me, That he might kiss my mouth. But I am like a striken bird That cannot reach the South."
How beautiful, she thought. Holding her cheek with one palm and cradling the journal of poems with other, she rounded the bedpost, not daring to tear her eyes from the page.
"For though he might've loved me, Tonight my heart is sad. Hiss kiss will stay forever In all the dreams I've had."
It was over. Just like that she'd read the last word and the author's love would be unfulfilled eternally. But Theolandra held the cover ajar, staring into the colored frames of her chamber window, hoping that maybe, if the pages stayed open, the love within might have a second chance.
Suddenly, the literature slipped from her fingers into a cluttered heap on the floor, its pages flapping like birds taking flight. Something had happened. It felt like her heart was being pulled out of her chest, up through her torso and stuck in her throat. Her ribcage was closing in on itself, crumbling away, forcing her to hunch over a bedside chair to squeeze breath out of her empty lungs. Fear. Utter fear wracked through her - not for what was happening, but what would be. What would be? Why was she crying? It wasn't right. Help. Guards outside the door.. They could get someone. A healer, Griesimn.. Arthur..
Through the foreign feeling of violent sobs the crippled queen managed to call out, "Help!"
|
|
#ea7ca1
5
0
1
Jan 27, 2019 20:04:50 GMT
3
Leb
The loneliest are the kindest. The saddest smile the brightest. The most damaged are the wisest.
223
August 2015
leb
|
Post by Leb on Sept 18, 2015 17:16:40 GMT
Azalea sat alone in the empty garden watching the statues shift when the ground had begun to tremble. What could possibly affect the world around her so suddenly and just as abruptly? A sudden well of tears flooded her eyes and began to spill over falling in tiny streams. "Wha-?" She gingerly touched the water that leaked from her in mixed awe and horror. What could this mean she pondered to herself. It was almost as if Sympati herself had cried and pitied something that had just happened. But the reason was lost to her, yet she felt something in the air all around her. If this was happening to herself, then Lady Theolandra should be in a similar situation as she. Perhaps she would gain some insight by speaking with her for a moment. And just like that, Azalea stood and left in search for her.
She cared not who would see her, she would be nothing more than a flash of green grazing past their vision. She rushed through the castle doors, past the guards, up the stone steps, and down the long winding halls. The guards stationed inside had ran after her commanding her to halt, but she did not yield to them. In fact, she had caused a commotion to stir within the castle walls as servants and maids and guards alike followed after her. Just as she turned about the corner that would lead her to the queen's chambers, a weak plea fell on her ears, wracked savagely full of tears.
"Theolandra!"
Azalea had called out and brushed past the guards outside her room. The doors burst open as she rushed to her fallen friend. A crowd had formed just beyond the threshold all murmuring to themselves as to what could possibly ail their queen and who was this walking bush that seemed to know their Lady at such a personal level. Azalea placed a green hand on the queen's hunched over back as a form of comfort.
"Milova's gaze rests upon thee as Sympati sheds her tears for the earth has shaken at the loss of something gravely important. Idvesta stirs and Svitani's golden trumpet rings."
|
|
#ed1717
1
0
1
Sept 9, 2017 19:51:41 GMT
5
Lev
191
August 2015
admin
|
Post by Lev on Sept 20, 2015 1:54:11 GMT
Theolandra faced Azalea with a brow wrinkled by pain and surprise. She hadn't expected the vibrant being to expose herself so suddenly, so blatantly. Still clutching her breast, Theolandra turned to the open doors of her chamber, pulling together a normal expression as best as she could. But the moonlight betrayed her attempt and cast sharp shadows on her pale face.
"Leave us," she grunted. "Please. Close the doors."
The castle staff murmured louder, their eyes full of shock and worried confusion. The chamber maids wanted to tend to their queen. They sensed the strain in her words and the lie on her face. One guard stepped up and started to usher the crowd away. Soon the doors were closed and the two were left alone, the heart-wrenching pain contorting the queen's face again. Her grip on the bedside chair tightened and her nails dug into the grain, the warm palm on her back doing little to soothe her. Beads of sweat started to crown her forehead as she spoke.
"Friend, please. I beg you. Tell me, what is this pain I feel? The Divines rage inside of me and I cannot quell them," the Lady asked through sobs. "What has happened?"
|
|
#ea7ca1
5
0
1
Jan 27, 2019 20:04:50 GMT
3
Leb
The loneliest are the kindest. The saddest smile the brightest. The most damaged are the wisest.
223
August 2015
leb
|
Post by Leb on Sept 20, 2015 2:15:11 GMT
"I fear something has been lost. Something precious was stolen away. If the divines are unsettled by what has come to pass, we could only assume the worse to come."
Azalea stared at her hand, the very hand that had touched the tears that spilled over her cheeks. She tried to make sense of it all. Why the tears and all the bad feelings hanging in the air all around? Something very dear to this land is now gone, Sympati pities as the kingdom seemingly darkened over quickly as furious black clouds rolled in, the sky would soon cry after. Thunder rumbled deeply within the clouds as if Idvesta himself had come to avenge the event that had happened. What could possibly upset all, if not, most of the divines? It was almost as if..!?
"The land trembles and quakes, one of our own is gone." Azalea continued to voice her thoughts. She was no longer speaking to Theolandra but more to herself as interpreted the signs all around.
"One who is like us.."
|
|
#ed1717
1
0
1
Sept 9, 2017 19:51:41 GMT
5
Lev
191
August 2015
admin
|
Post by Lev on Sept 20, 2015 5:49:50 GMT
"One who is like us..."
There were dozens of lesser Divines - Firstborn, some called them - scattered across the realms of the world. Akin to Azalea, they had all sprung from the potent loins of a newly blessed world. Their births varied in manner, but their lives were tied together by the singular thread of lineage. Theolandra shared that bond, maybe in an even stronger way. Digging through memory she tried to determine who could have fallen to affect her in such a way. The pain was distracting.
"I've never felt a pain like this," the queen admitted, taking a seat on her bed. "If it is one of us we need to search for them.. Perhaps Arthur could-"
One like us. Where was Arthur? Anxiety made her bones shake and left her eyes wide and parched. Suddenly she shot up, marching toward her door, pulling it open with a BANG! The guard outside snapped to attention.
"Bring me Arthur Midas! Now."
|
|
#ea7ca1
5
0
1
Jan 27, 2019 20:04:50 GMT
3
Leb
The loneliest are the kindest. The saddest smile the brightest. The most damaged are the wisest.
223
August 2015
leb
|
Post by Leb on Sept 20, 2015 16:34:33 GMT
Azalea watched the queen contemplate her words. Perhaps she would know who has gone to pass. She waited for her to speak as Theolandra took a seat upon her bed.
"If it is one of us we need to search for them.. Perhaps Arthur could-"
Arthur? She's heard quite a bit about him through the gossip that was shared within the gardens. A young looking boy who had joined the guard and was exceptional with magic. Or was it that he was like magic? Azalea thought over the pieces of information she had heard, ruling out the untruths. They said he was capable of turning into beings of power. Figures comprised of elements. An elemental. One who is like nature.
Lost in her thoughts, Azalea was snapped out of it as a loud BANG reverberated about the room. The guard posted outside quickly composed himself in front of his queen.
"Bring me Arthur Midas! Now."
"Y-yes, Milady!" The guard quickly left in a hurry for his queen, the clanging of metal upon metal with each bouncing step echoed greatly throughout the halls. Azalea peered out of the open window as heavy rain poured down from the heavens above. The citizens of Etirath all running about to reach dryer areas. Some held umbrellas others held cloth above their heads, and some unlucky few had no such protection from the raging storm that brewed.
|
|
#ed1717
1
0
1
Sept 9, 2017 19:51:41 GMT
5
Lev
191
August 2015
admin
|
Post by Lev on Sept 28, 2015 16:50:32 GMT
Each drop of rain tapped against the window like angry fingernails, each faster and more impatient that the last. It had been three hours since Theolandra had given the order to find Arthur, and the guards kept returning with nothing to report. She couldn't help pacing the room, hugging herself tightly. The pain that threatened to erase her insides had not subsided, each thrashing gust of wind outside a cue to heighten her agony. Azalea had remained with her during the wait. Having a fellow Firstborn watch while she lost her composure was discomforting, but the thought of leaving the room to tear apart Etirath was more so - and if any of the Firstborn had to be present she was glad it was Azalea.
"They aren't going to find him," the queen said, finally voicing her truer thoughts. "I fear if they do find him.. he will not be as we remember him." Her last words were an attempt at propriety; skirting around the point without stating the obvious. Arthur would be dead if they found him now. She wanted to scream those words! She wanted to shout them into the open as if declaring the fact would end the anxious torture.
A sudden knock echoed through the chamber and when it dissipated the guard who created it stepped through. After the third empty report Theolandra had grown tired of granting them entry, so she ordered them to forgo politeness until the matter was resolved. That didn't stop some.. The guard removed his helmet and bowed quickly before addressing her, his lips parting once with no words then again to speak.
"Milady, forgive us. We cannot find Arthur Midas. Our groups have doubled searched the Upper and Middle Districts, we've asked every citizen to no avail. The soldiers are concluding their search of the Rural District and we'll have a report soon, but-" He caught himself before finishing, worrying it inappropriate to share his negative thoughts.
Theolandra nodded solemnly. "Thank you.."
|
|
#ea7ca1
5
0
1
Jan 27, 2019 20:04:50 GMT
3
Leb
The loneliest are the kindest. The saddest smile the brightest. The most damaged are the wisest.
223
August 2015
leb
|
Post by Leb on Sept 30, 2015 5:55:05 GMT
Guard after guard, servant after servant, Arthur Midas left no trace. Pace after pace, the queen barely held herself together, and Azalea stood by watching over the kingdom outside the window. Hours had passed and still no sign. At this rate, he would not be found in time, or rather, he'd be found eventually yet how far away the when was was just beyond her.
"They aren't going to find him," the queen voiced her true thoughts. "I fear if they do find him.. he will not be as we remember him." The queen had hinted to what she truly thought of what they would find at some point. Arthur would most definitely be dead by now, just from the look on Theolandra's face. How she wished to scream out her frustrations. Azalea could see it all as the queen slowly shattered inside.
Knock, knock.
Another empty report, another chip to the queen's aching heart. "Milady, forgive us. We cannot find Arthur Midas. Our groups have doubled searched the Upper and Middle Districts, we've asked every citizen to no avail. The soldiers are concluding their search of the Rural District and we'll have a report soon, but-" Everyone knew, deep inside they all knew, but not a soul would admit the horrendously ugly truth. Regardless, the queen nodded and Azalea kept to her silent post at the window, her gaze never wavered.
"Thank you.."
The guard had left and the two were alone, left to their own devices until the next report. A moment of silence clung to the air heavily before Azalea would speak again.
"I fear you may be correct on this.."
|
|