PhoenixFromTheAshesPart2[Continued from Phoenix from the Ashes] In the Hall, music swelled to announce the Princess's arrival. Rhea walked up the aisle, regal and calm - even though she was likely sweating bullets. The assembly rose and clapped in her honor; the Royals rising as well, at the other end. She made her way through the crowd, nodding and smiling to all - occasionally pausing for a brief hello or thank-you. Finally, she stood beside her father, who positively beamed with pride. King Random stepped forward, motioning for the crowd to sit. "My friends. Welcome to you all. Today is a special day, one not seen since Amber's humble beginnings. I doubt my Father could have dreamed of such a day. When nations from Shadow to the Golden Circle, from Amber to the Courts of Chaos, all sat as one united people within this Great Hall. It humbles me. And renews my faith in the future." He is greeted with thunderous applause, people standing up as one. It takes him some time to quiet the crowd, but eventually he resumes his speech. Like any wise politicians, his speech thanks all those assembled, naming the proper names, and puffing up the proper people. It's short and clever and by its end, he's made the crowd more relaxed and communal. His purpose is fulfilled - breaking down the final barriers between those assembled. Today, every one is of Amber. "... but as even as we embrace the past, so must we look to the future," Random continues. "As such, it is with great pleasure and pride that I name Princess Rhea - my daughter - as my successor in all things. 'Though I hope not too-too soon..." He cast a wry wink at the crowd, winning a loud laugh. Rhea stepped forward and knelt before him. Random drew his sword, "Rhea, Daughter of Random, Daughter of Vialle, Child of Amber, Child of Rebma. Do you humbly swear to serve Amber and all her incarnations? To protect the Unicorn and all its people? To serve Creation and the Greater Good. And do you swear to do so with an open heart and open mind? To not be swayed by jealousies or prejudiced? To be a beacon of hope for all?" Rhea bowed her head, "I do." Random touched her shoulders with his sword, "Then rise as Regent-in-Waiting, Rhea of Amber. And greet your people." She did so, turning to the crowd. Once again, the entire chamber erupted with cheers and applause. She blushed profusely, eyes tearing with emotion. Random lightly kissed her cheek, and she curled into him - sharing an unabashed father-daughter moment. This only fueled the applause, shaking Amber with its celebration. While the roar continued, Rhea made quick exchanges with her Family and the nobles up front, all of whom gladly accepted and praised her. Eventually, she disengaged from them, taking the podium - motioning for all to sit. After the crowd quieted, Rhea smiled out at them. "Thank you. Thank you, all. What my father said is true. This is a shared moment. A shared victory. One that came at great expense to us all. Yet, this moment in history could not - would not - be possible, if not for a chosen few. A group of heroes whose sacrifice and bravery shall resonate throughout Creation. For it was they who stood in the face of Oblivion and did not turn away. And so, it is my deep honor, that my first function as Regent is to introduce them to you all. My dear friends, I give you the Protectors of Amber..." She gestured toward the end of the room, calling each name with reverence... "Cole di Perondor." Cole came up the aisle with a confident stride that wasn't quite a strut. He waved and beamed his grin at all along the way, basking in the moment but also energizing them with his own happiness and excitement. When he reached Rhea, before he stepped upon the dais, he took advantage of her elevation to give her a brief but heartfelt kiss. Then he stepped up and took a position at her right hand. "Pelageya of House Helgram" Someone had told them properly of her affiliation and Liege Lady. That was good. She wore black and red, in a classic Chaosian formal design, walking toward the place of honor. She was still learning the rules and customs of Chaos, but walking forward for this ceremony was something she didn't need to delve into Binah's memory to accomplish. She climbed onto the dais with pride, curtseying to Rhea. She took a position at Rhea's left. Something told her that she liked the symbolism of placing herself there. Etrosk was in her quarters, and she missed him, although a dragon, here, might cause more problems than curiosity. She missed him in that moment, and felt slightly isolated. But not alone. Never that. "Temnal nov'dy Chanicut." Even as he walked up the aisle to the dais, Temnal found himself reflecting on the names he and his companions were still called by, and whether their now fully-integrated Others should be acknowledged in some way. Better not to confuse (or worse, alarm) people, he decided. He kept his golden gaze on Rhea and her parents the whole way, and accorded the trio a deep bow, palms together, before taking his place next to Cole. At that point he felt free to look out over the crowd, a serene smile on his lips. "Cynwyd of House Barimen" I have seen all the works which have been done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity and striving after wind. As Cynwyd confidently walked towards the dais, a damnable memory of doing the same under other circumstances hit him. The words that came to him were 'spit and wind'. But he wouldn't let that cynicism run this day for him or others, so kept up his hollow mask as he joined the others, nodding respectfully as he reached the dais, before standing with his hands clasped behind him, his gaze focusing on nothing. "Gillian Talbot." Gillian had considered a number of possibilities for her title. She could rightfully add Athenaeum after her name, but she decided she wasn't ready yet to publicly call attention to her private retreat. Then a Cybele-ish part of her snarkily suggested Mistress of the Arcane Arts to annoy Fiona. In the end she decided on just "Gillian Talbot." No "Lady" before it, no house or lands after it. It was the name she had when Dworkin picked her so there was symmetry there, like bookends. It was fitting. She squeezed Seabhac's hand and joined her companions. After Gillian and Malachi joined the group before the assembly, Rhea smiled at each of them. She turned to the Hall, gesturing for quiet, which came after a prolonged and thunderous applause. When she had silence, she nodded to each of the Six, in turn. "My invaluable friends, you have done so much for Amber. Give everything you had and more," she said, her hand moving to the Jewel at her throat. "And, now, I ask more of you. Amber asks more of you. For we need people like you, as you are the best of us." She extended the Jewel to each in turn, offering its sleek, glowing surface to be touched. "Do you swear to face the future and not shirk from it, no matter what it may bring? Resolved and without reservation? Do you swear to forever have hope and never surrender, no matter the threats before you? And, thus, be a beacon for all that is good in Amber and her People? So that we might feel safe, even at our Darkest Hour?" The Jewel, frankly, terrified [Pelageya]. Would it burn her, given who and what she was, now? She regretted, briefly, standing on Rhea's left. Being Sixth in this case would have been safer...but perhaps a Rebman originating Hellmaiden seeking safety was foolish. And so it was. When Rhea presented the Jewel to her, she did not hesitate, did not flinch. She held Rhea's gaze and let her fingers touch the jewel. Only the elegant fingers, but she cupped them, so that all five of her fingerprints might contact the multifaceted Jewel. "I so swear to face the future, without shirking or hesitation, no matter what it might cost. Resolved, without reservation. To maintain hope, to never give up, to never surrender. To remain an icon, a beacon for all that is good for the Kingdom of Amber, and her people, and any else who might draw inspiration from me thereby." *That* was going to be for Rebma, and House Helgram, "To stand, even in the darkest Hour. Yes. Regent. I so swear." She withdrew her hand. She expected, suspected a scar from the experience, but would not look at her hand, now. It was a small price to pay. In many ways, it was like touching a piece of the Divine - painful and exhilarating. An experience of terror and wonder, flames and ice combined. She recognized the hints of the Jewel's original nature, for she had been 'alive' when the traitor, Dworkin, stole the Serpent's Eye. The Unicorn's influence had deadened its chaotic nature, trapped it within a matrix of banality. And yet, seeing it this close, it was hard to deny the meticulous beauty it possessed. Beauty and danger. This, she could understand. Perhaps the Jewel wasn't an icon of Order, even now, or of Chaos but of something greater, a fragment of a reality of which even Amber and Chaos were but shadows. That wound explain how the Eye of the Serpent had been repurposed. It mattered not. There would be no scar, now, [Pelageya] understood. But she was marked. Gillian smiled when Rhea extended the Jewel toward her, remembering in fine detail what its exhilarating power felt like as she used it to fix what Eric had broken. The Pattern sang in her blood as she touched the cool red facets. "I solemnly swear to face the future without reservation, leaving behind who I was and to embrace who I am to become. I swear to always have hope for Amber, to nurture and protect both the realm and her People to the utmost best of my ability. I do this in honor of those that fell defending Amber, that their sacrifice not be in vain." She lowered her hand and stepped back, bowing her head. Rhea smiled softly, whispering so only Gillian could hear. "Thank you, my sister." Instead of merely touching the Jewel, Cole wrapped his hand around it, so that his long fingers wrapped around Rhea's as well. Looking into her eyes, he simply said, "As you wish." Temnal took the Jewel carefully between his two hands, feeling its power without drawing on it; but his eyes were not on it, but on Rhea's face as he gave his oath. "I so swear and resolve, without reservation, to face the future and not shrink from it, whatever it may bring; to preserve hope in the face of any threat or danger; to be a beacon of good to Amber and to all people, and to stand as their protector and healer even in the darkest hour." As the contact continued, Temnal grew listless, woozy. Whispers flooded his head, as they had during his meditation. There was a higher calling for him out there, and the Jewel recognized it. Those close by may have noticed how the coloration of his skin and outfit shifted subtly, as losing their connection with Reality... becoming more like a painting than true flesh and cloth. Rhea blinked, but the 'illusion' faded the moment his hand slipped away from the Jewel's influence. Rhea turned to the crowd, "May I present to you the Protectors of Amber. May their courage and wisdom be an example to us all." The crowd erupted once more, clapping and cheering. This time, the applause did not falter but continued - people sensing the 'end' of the ceremonial portion of the event. The Princess compounded this by slipping into Cole's arms and kissing him, which only encouraged the crowd all the more. The Family members filtered over, as did several dignitaries, extending hands and greetings to each of the Protectors. It became a flurry of activity, music and chatter swelling in the background like distant thunder, promising a long and welcome celebration. The celebrations ran long into the evening. A much needed relief after the dismal days of war and sorrows, few were willing to leave the party of the century. Of course, Princess Rhea and the Protectors of Amber became the centers of attention. Family and friends constantly vied for their attention, in direct contest with countless dignitaries and ambassadors. With such an unstable future ahead, relationships with the bastions of Hope and Honor had become valuable political tender. One particular highlight came when Professor Advocat made a rare appearance, providing each of the students with an honorary diploma from the University. Whenever they wished to sit in on a course - or twelve - they were more than welcome to do so. Once they raised the school out of the ashes, of course. Cole and his brother met for a brief - and decidedly awkward - reunion. Derek and his 'consort,' Jascella, seemed more than happy together. His mother... not so much. Rhea saved the day, her skills at diplomacy shining through in exquisite fashion. She kept their mother distracted with talk of the Royal Marriage, while Cole, Deric, and Jascella exchanged pleasantries. She was a sharp woman, and her firm hand had already changed Derek for the better. They parted amicably. But Rhea's humor wavered slightly, a cloud passing over her face, though she could not say why when asked. At Solataire's request, Cynwyd spent much of the evening with King Random, jamming it out in the orchestra pit. They collected quite the entourage by the end of the evening, most of who had never heard of 'jazz standards.' People danced and drank and sang, including - much to many people's surprise - the Princess Fiona, who did a rendition of Sinner Man that had many of the men pinning for her by night's end. Gillian and Seabhac met briefly with her family and Lord Feldane, the humble man hugging her with fatherly love. Jonathan continued to disappear throughout the conversation, desperately trying to impress young Hell-maiden dressed in flames and shadow. Gillian didn't discover what became of them, as she found herself face-to-face with the Emperor of Chaos. Merlin scrutinized her from head to toe, his eyes penetrating her soul. Then the mask dropped away and he took her by the hand, leading her away from the crowd to chat about Trump-Computers. Malachi and Mirelle were inseparable through the evening, which was likely the only reason they survived it with some modicum of rationality. Almost immediately after the formal ceremonies, they found themselves swept up by the hurricane of pomp and circumstance, known as the Lady Karm. They lost track of names and titles early on; the political tornado only reinforcing their desire to find some distant shadow in which to settle down. Throughout the evening, Pelageya never found herself without a dance partner or lacked for a drink. Suitors of every title, vocation, and even gender made certain the exotic beauty knew she was sought after. As the night stretched on, she found herself entangled with brusque gentleman with ignoble intensions. Before she needed to embarrass him by throwing him out the nearest window, a slender fellow with eyes like embers asked her to dance. Once away, Ser Casnodyn smiled, "I believe my mother intends for us to wed. But I shall settle for a glass of champagne together. From there, we shall see what happens, yes?" Temnal and his Father talked most of the evening, recapturing the time they'd lost... and remembering Sekhmet. It was a somber discussion, but much needed. Eventually, his father was carried away by the tides of politics, leaving his son alone. But not for long. Drifting at the edge of the crowd, Temnal saw Her. Impossibly, yet undeniably. Her. His Lady. She stood at the balcony door, framed in moonlight. Her smile sparkled as she extended her hand. "It's time to go home," he heard her say, even though the noise of music and the crowd should have drowned her out. He followed her outside, taking her hand - ethereal and warm. The world began to fade around him, the colors dimming... the compulsion he'd been feeling swelled in his chest like a storm. But, somehow, he knew they'd weather it together... She leaned over and kissed him, squeezing his hand. "Welcome home, my love." Rhea was the first to discover Temnal later. It only made sense, as they'd shared the final moments together in the face of Oblivion, forging some unknowable connection. She lead the others out onto the balcony where he sat, staring up at the moon. At least, what was left of him. His body had drained of its color, its life, becoming more painting than man. Like the image of a Trump, his body lacked true dimension, the angles wrong and unnatural. And yet, the expression on his flattened features was that of a man smiling... a smile beyond joy, beyond content. It was almost divine. When Gillian's hand touched his shoulder, Temnal's body collapsed in on itself in a cloud of dried paint chips and old parchment. The wind caught it, blowing it away like dust - colorful swirls dancing in the air. All that remained was a single Trump - the Hanged Man - now revealing Temnal's familiar face. But there was no pain, no suffering... only joy. The joy of Healing through Sacrifice. The last true cost of saving Amber, revealed. And though the man had gone, they knew - yes, knew - it was only a beginning. As the moonlight shone down upon the friends, they could feel its purifying touch. Washing away the shadows. As if offering a final farewell... And the promise of a brighter future to come. |
