Whereupon Princess Gianna, whom had not, as of yet, stepped inside the Queen's Royal bedchamber, stared around eagerly noticing the accoutrement's of war hanging like works of art upon the walls of the brightly lit room, the drapes and shutters thrown wide open, a crisp breeze blowing in scented with the calming fragrance of jasmine and gardenia. Here she lightly touched the crescent shaped shield with her delicate fingers, noticing all the many colored pillows, cushions, rugs and blankets scattered about the sparsely furnished chamber, the bed being the main focal point; which, in itself, was massive easily able to accommodate four or more persons, for sleep, though if she had that many men in her bed, she doubted anyone would be getting any rest. "I see you are truly a Warrior Queen." the Princess said as she reached out to touch the sword sheathed hanging near her. Then Gianna turned and seated herself beside Queen Sparta at the foot of the bed. "I shall tell you all, for what is done in the darkness, shall now be spoken of in the light." the young woman sighed her heart heavy with worry.
"Of all you speak, I shall avow to keep as a secret between us, you, whom my dearest, beloved brother, adores." Queen Sparta smiled, her clear eyes and gentle voice calming Princess Gianna's fears as she gently pulled back a strand of dark curls out of the young woman's eyes. "Upon the death of my Aunt Priscilla, the Generals wife, we were all completely devastated by the loss to our family." she began her tale. "For she was as sweet and kind like no other woman I have ever known, always cheerful and in good spirits, without an unkind word for anyone, ever finding the good side of people, a rare thing for we Romans." she said her eyebrows raised a little "Her smile was as pure as sunshine, eyes as bright as the stars of heaven, she could sing for hours with the voice of an angel." Gianna paused as if she could hear her aunt singing now. "When she was taken away from us..," her words trailed off as her eyes welled up with tears. "our hearts were darkened with the pain of sadness and grief; the depths of which swallowed up General Cothos, consuming him wholly."
"The pain of loss can be unbearable, for anyone." Queen Sparta said knowing full and well, for she had not yet quite recovered from the death of her father.
"Thereafter Cothos took to his rooms, refusing to see the child, his new born son, whom he blamed for the death of his blushing bride. So great were his lamentations he took no time to even give his babe a name. So we, as a family, decided to call him Gaius Aristicos, my father conferring upon him the title of Royal Nephew of the Emperor." Princess Gianna paused thinking of the young, motherless child. "So it came to pass, several days after the burial, my father and myself went to check in on my uncle for his health and state of mind was in a sorry state of affairs. For he having consumed no food, only taking in strong drink of any kind, wine, beer, mead, medical elixirs of gall and such. Anything to keep his mind numb to the pain and wiped clean of any memories of the past few weeks, the death of his wife." here she sat back pulling a cushion over her lap "We had brought in with us a physician and a tray of food, hoping to impart a little love and good cheer unto him, but it was all of no use.., for his mind was clouded, his thoughts confused. Then, after we had only been there a few minutes, Cothos began speaking in an unfamiliar voice as he sat curled up on his chair, glass of wine in his hand, sounding very much like there was a devil inside him. At one point he leapt up from his seated position, grabbing my wrists, restraining me, pulling him closer to him, calling me by my aunt's name, saying 'Priscilla, you have returned to me!' whereupon he threw his arms around my waist, embracing me tightly, kissing my neck! I struggled gasping for air, I found I could not breathe, I felt my heart would burst and it took my father and the physician to free me from his grasp." she recalled her pulse quickening at the recollection as she clasped her hands around her throat.
"Were you harmed?" Queen Sparta asked sitting on the edge of her seat, eyes wide with intrigue so fascinated by the story was she.
"No, no.., he did not harm my person.., only frightening my spirit, and so it was my father forbade me from returning to see my Uncle, until he had regained a since of balance and normalcy. So.., until this madness, of his, passed I promised to leave him be. However.., I could only stand to hear his son crying for its mother and father for so long, that three weeks later I sought to steal away from my guards, to go in and entreat him on behalf of his child, and out of love for his dead wife, only for the sake of little Arsticos, I went to the temple during the hour of morning prayers, then, disguising myself as a priestess, I slipped out the back of the temple and went to visit Cothos in his rooms appearing to be an acolyte of Apollo coming to help him with his spiritual needs"
"You disobeyed your father?" Queen Sparta asked, disheartened by this portion of her story.
Here the troubled Princess stood up and began pacing the floor, wringing her little hands in embarrassment and frustration. "When I entered in to see him, even though it was a hot, bright summer day, the room was darkened by heavy black drapes, and the room was unusually cold for that time of the year and day. A chill ran up and down the length of my spine as I spied him sitting motionless on the edge of his bed.., just as you are now. Here she recalled her tale as if it were happening first hand.
"Uncle Cothos." I said stepping a little closer to him "I have come to bring good news of your son." then I removed my stolen priestly robes so that he might better see me, revealing my face to him. "'Tis I, Gianna come to see you." then he turned his head ever so sightly to one side like a dog who is unsure if this person who has just entered the room was an intruder, or its master.
"I HAVE NO CHILD!" came his angry reply.
He dropped his head, folded his hands in his lap as I knelt before him tears in my eyes "Uncle! Please, I beseech you on bended knees, come out of this darkness, be a father to your son as Priscilla would want you to be!" I supplicated myself before him. Then he looked at me gazing into my eyes with a cloud of darkness around him and he asked me one question."
"What did he ask of you, pray tell?" Queen Sparta said her mouth open as wide as her eyes.
He said in a voice as cold as winter snow and ice"Tell me little Princess.., are you afraid to die?"
No comments:
Post a Comment