Pixie
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Post by Pixie on Dec 19, 2003 15:55:53 GMT
PTS:Magical story
Also, I only posted cuz Largo insisted. *grin*
It's the story of Rhea Callisto, a knight of Cellestial and how she ended up in Senkinar...and Incarus, now that I think about it...
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Pixie
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Post by Pixie on Dec 19, 2003 16:31:08 GMT
+ Beginnings
Lady Saturn of Cellestial stared out her bedroom’s window in deep thought. Her green eyes glazed by her daydream. Her Queen had made a request, a request that Saturn was hesitant to acknowledge. A timid yet clumsy knock on the door startled her out of her thoughts. Blinking rapidly to clear her mind she turned to the door with a frown. It was late evening and no one should be up. Her glance shifted to the fireplace, which she had started herself, not wanting to wake the maids. Perhaps that had woken them/ Like a warrior born and bred she pulled a small dagger from under her pillow and stuffed it up her sleeve, then she moved to the door. She pushed back the bolt and opened it a crack. “Yes?” she snapped. The hall beyond was dark and sinister looking. The flames of the fireplace cast light only a couple feet away from the door and left the rest of the hall looking like an open mouth, waiting to devour. It left even a warrior like Saturn a little apprehensive.
“Mama?” a small voice whispered. Saturn looked down at a corner beside her door. A small figure in a white silk nightgown, a head of chubby black curls and wings still too small to fly was crouched there, knees brought up to her chest. “Rhea? Heaven’s what are you doing there?” Saturn asked, opening the door wider. Rhea scrambled up; the small five-year-old blinked at the light owlishly with large green eyes that completed the figure. “What’s the matter, love?” Saturn asked, though she had a good idea of what it was. She extended her arms, trying to coax Rhea inside. Rhea clasped her hands tight. “The darkness came again, mama,” she whispered glancing back nervously. Saturn felt a curse spring to her lips, but she bit it back. “Come, my darling, it will let you be when you are with me.” She whispered, picking her. Rhea wrapped her small arms around her mother’s neck, burying her face in her mother’s dark brown hair. “Why does it always come, mama?’ she asked. For some time little Rhea had had nightmares of a magnitude that woke her up screaming enough to rip her throat and sweating enough to drench her. She only referred to these dreams as the “darkness”<br> Saturn carried her over to the bed and tucked her in, then sat on the corner, caressing her daughter’s curls. “What happened this time?” she asked, hoping to be answered, but expecting no reply. She got a little of both. “It…spoke. It has never spoken before.” Saturn kept her face emotionless for a moment, an art that was taught to every knight. Then she allowed sympathy to escape her tight held features. She leaned forward and kissed her daughter’s cheek. Not wanting to have her think of it anymore than necessary she said quietly. “This darkness never comes when I am here, my sweet, so go to sleep and I shall care for you as if you were the queen herself.” Rhea smiled sleepily at her. “Like a queen? But mama, you pledges an oath to protect her, not me.”<br> Saturn kissed her cheek again. “Being your mother makes me your protector, oath or not”<br>Rhea smiled again and her eyes closed at their own account. Saturn released herself from her daughter’s grip and returned to the window, pondering a new angle in her troubles with the queen’s request. The queen had wanted Rhea to train for knighship. She wanted Rhea to be one of the fifteen to care ft her once Saturn’s twenty years of servitude were over. She still had another twelve to go, but training a knight takes just about that much time. Saturn opened the window into the fall night. She grasped the pane hard. Perhaps if Rhea grew stronger through knightship her fear of this nameless “darkness” would diminish. Sighing she turned back to her sleeping child. Yes, it was the only possible way….
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Pixie
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Post by Pixie on Dec 24, 2003 18:53:25 GMT
Saturn woke up at dawn as usual despite her lack of sleep. Sighing she extracted herself from her daughters uncouncious grip and pushed herself out of bed, wincing in the bright light that reached over teh sorrounding hills and struck her squarely in the face.
With another deep sigh satrurn rummaged in the chest at the foot of her bed. She pulled out several gowns, designed and fitted to hide the various weapons she often had to carry. The queen often had her go to banquets and insisted on having all of them dressed like ladies of the court, rather than knights on guard duty.
"Good morning, mama" a little voice said from the bed. Saturn looekd up. Rhea had crawled under the blankets to the end of the bed where the trunk was and now had a small cave in the covers. Saturn smiled. "Good day my darling, and how are you?" she asked.
'Sleepy still, and i believe it is much too early to decide how i am."
Saturn laughed, the merry sound drawing a smile from Rhea's still sleepy gaze. "Well, get ready for breakfast will start any moment and you know how the queen hates to wait." Saturn added. Rhea made a face. "She should go right ahead and begin her meal, i should think." Saturn had every intention of scolding, but what came out was a laugh. It was tru, the queen should eat when she pleased and leave her tired knights to rest.
"Also, why have i been partnered with that brat Triton for the week?' Rhea asked, shoving the blankets off and tumbling out of the bed with a yelp.
Saturn gave a deep sigh. "Rhea, how many times must i tell you it's Prince Triton, or his majesty?"
"He's not at all Princely though.' Rhea put in from under the blankets that had fallen over her head. Saturn smiled painfully. The loss of Princess Ganymede had been hard for the young prince.
Not that it hadn't been hard for Saturn to bear as well. Rhea's fatherhad been one of the king's protectors...
saturn took a shaky breath, gripping her gown hard. Rhea blinked at her from under the covers, eyes watching carefully. "Mam, it's okay.' she said softly, shoving herself up with a lttlegrunt. Saturn gave her a weak smile. rhea tumbled over and wraped her arms around her neck. Saturn could never understand how Rhea always knew what the problem was, but she never asked. Gently she hugged her daughter back. and blinked back tears until her eyes were dry. "Come on, we've got to get ready." she whispered, pulling back. Rhea nodded, and smiled, her curls bouncing all over. Saturn forced herself to smile back, fighting the urge to cry once more. "Everything is fine." she assured Rhea. "of course mama." Rhea confirmed. But her eyes said otherwise.
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Pixie
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Post by Pixie on Dec 26, 2003 19:31:30 GMT
ooc: By the way i added some stuff to the last post, you may wanna make sure that you've read it before you read this...
The weeks crept by in their slow way, gripping fall like an anchor, but soon that grip began to slip away and winter entered full wrath. The Royal household moved to Castle Nubes, it was the property of Lady Saturn, who was hardly ever there anyway so she felt no attachment to the place. Rhea on the other handhad been raised in the hills of Nubes and had many childhood friends there. She was alwasy excited about returning home even if it was only for a season.
That was why she was sitting straight in her saddle trying t see over the next hill, that would soon reveal the beauty of Nubes.
saturn tugged on her daughters gown for the fifteenth time, as she began to stand up on the stirrups. "But mama-" Rhea began. "No, buts, Rhea callisto, you know better than to do taht." Saturn snapped quickly. Rhea muttered darkly for a moment, then sighed and sat down properly, though her small gloved hands gripped the reins hard. The blue sky let the sun's glory rein, making the fresh snow sparkle. It had snowed the night beforeand the air was cold,making Rhea's cheeks reddish.
The queens riders were assembled around her majesty several yards behind them. Saturn heself was not there because of Rhea, she was the only Queen Rider with a child, but the queen did not mind, someone needed to care for the Prince as well.
On Saturn's left was prince Triton, solemn and silent as usual. Saturn knew better than to trust that face of serious innocence. The child was just as much a handful as Rhea, though in his own secret way...
Rhea glanced back at her mother with a frown as if reading her thoughts.
"Lady Saturn, may I ride ahead?" Triton asked quietly. Rhea might as well have turned all the way around in the saddle. Saturn stared at the boy, emotionless, though she was higly surprised. "Well..." she murmured, undecided. Her eyes flickered to Rhea who was screaming with her eyes to be let go. 'i suppose, but I'd like you and Rhea to stay together." Triton stiffened for a moment, but nodded. Rhea may as well have jumped for joy. "Well, come on, sire" Rhea cride, spurring her pony into an easy canter. Triton followed, and they disapeared on the next bend...
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Pixie
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Post by Pixie on Dec 31, 2003 22:30:44 GMT
Rhea glanced at Triton for a moment before they came tot he next bend. He glanced back at her, challenge in his young eyes. As soon as they went past the bend their horses broke into a full out gallop. Triton leaned forward in his saddle, panting slightly. Rhea kept her full concentration on the race, on spurring her horse just a little faster...they ran up the hill and immediately forgot about the race because of the shock of seeing Nubes.
The snow covered all of its hills. The horses in the pasture looked elegant, the peasant homes were snug amongst the hills surrounding the road. Beyond the village was the castle, its thick stone walls rising high. The many towers reaching into the sky. Behind the castle Rhea saw the familiars forest where she would play with her village friends. “Wow, Triton breather. Rhea grinned. “And I’m heiress of this place.’ She boasted. Triton stuck his tongue out at her in a very unprincely manner, “When I am king I’ll take it back” he teased. “Sure.” Rhea said in a mocking tone. “Come on then, let’s go, Triton muttered leading his pony back to the road. Rhea stuck her tongue at his back and followed muttering hypocritically about spoiled brats…<br> Saturn’s fists hit the wooden table with a loud smack. Rhea and Triton jumped slightly at it’s sound but neither winced, determined not to make themselves cowards. “Did I not clearly state for you to stay together?” Saturn hissed. Rhea shifted her weight slightly, head bowed, hands clasped behind her back, black curls blocking sight of her face.
The innocent game of hide-and-seek that Triton had suggested on the way into Nubes had at first only included him and Rhea, but in the end the entire castle had been searching to the two nobles.
Once found the queen, who was feeling “faint” left her son to be dealt with by his care taker as she pleased. So Saturn had tugged the two children into her private chambers and was in the middle of a long and stern lecture.
“Did I say it or not?” she asked quietly. Her contained anger frightened the children all the more. They had both experienced her temper and knew it was better to let it explode at that moment, then let it build up…<br>“Yes, you did my lady.” Rhea and Triton both chanted. “Explain to me then why all of the manor was out searching for you in the cold.”<br>Rhea peeked at Triton from behind her wall of black curls. He glanced back at her quickly, then they both muttered. “We were playing hide-and-seek”<br>Saturn leaned against the wall, her arms crossed and her expression dangerously bleak. “Hide and see?” she asked softly. The two infants swallowed, but nodded. Saturn took a deep breath. “You will both be confined to the castle for the rest of the week, is that clear?” she finally managed. Rhea looked up, horrified. Triton too looked equally shocked. “But-” Triton began. Saturn turned her gaze on him and he stopped. “One week, understood?”<br>Rhea sighed deeply. “Yes, my lady.” They both replied. “Out.” Saturn snapped. Rhea and Triton hurried outside. Once the door was closed behind them they quietly vowed not to ever break rules she had set up again.
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Pixie
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Post by Pixie on Dec 31, 2003 23:57:01 GMT
ooc: Hehe, i had a bit of a memory problem. i think i called Rhea's mother Jupiter for a while, well, we all know it's actualy Saturn, so i had to go back and fix it. Sorry for the confusion.
Back in her own chamber Rhea sat hunched over a parchment and quill. Biting her lip she forced her small and still unsteady hand into forming a recognizable letter A. She pulled back to inspect her work for a moment and frowned. The lines were thick and wet with too much ink… Rhea looked closely at her quill tip. “Drat it.” She scowled childlike and tossed the feather absently over her shoulder, running a long black streak of ink on her white gown. She pulled on her small wing and tugged a glossy white feather off. Sighing she dipped it into the ink again and continued with all out concentration on her A’s. The fire was the only light in the large room, aside from the moonlight leaking through the heavy curtains. It was late, Rhea knew she should have gone to bed hours ago, but every time she glanced up at the elaborately decorated four poster canopy bed her heart raced. Despite it her eyes began to close against her will.
With a drowsy yet frightened sigh she put her quill and parchment away and made her way hesitantly to bed.
Trembling slightly she curled up in the covers. Slowly her eyes closed and she was fast asleep…<br> Saturn sat up with a jerk, her hand wrapped around a dagger. For a second she tried to figure out what had woken her and tried calming her raging heart. Then it happened again…<br> A shriek full of horror rang through the castle like a cruel whip. “Rhea!” she gasped and shoved off her coves. She ran barefoot to the door and flung it open. Her feet pounded the cold stone, waking up those that had not heard the child’s cry.
Door opened left and right, people wondering what the problem was. The shriek ran again but this time Saturn could make out a definite “no!’ in it.
With a grunt she threw her shoulder against the door to Rhea’s chamber and flung it open with a crash. The room was completely dark except for the smoldering coals in the fire and a line of moonlight that struck Rhea across the face.
She had kicked her covers off and looked soaked in sweat. Her hands were clenching the sheets in reach, her jaw was clenched and her eyes were closed tight.
“Rhea!” Saturn cried taking her daughter’s shoulders. Rhea screamed again. The sound making Saturn’s delicate ears ring. Rhea let go of the sheets and took hold of her mother’s wrists, her hands tightened and her nails dug into flesh. “Rhea! Rhea, wake up!” Saturn cried, ignoring the searing pain running up her arm. Rhea’s eyes snapped open then, the moonlight reflected off tem making them seem to glow. “You can’t.” she gasped. She took a shuddering breath then her eyes closed again and her body went limp.
Saturn, panting slightly checked her breathing and heart beat quickly.
Hurried footsteps made her turn around. One of the Queen’s riders rushed in, she was out of breath and in her nightgown, her hair a tangled mess.
“What happened?” she panted. Saturn shook her head. “I don’t know.” She muttered. The rider sighed. “Are you hurt?’ she asked. Saturn looked down at her arms. Rhea had clawed long deep gashed into her flesh. Blood dripped off her arms and soaked into her sleeves. “A little.” Saturn muttered, still stunned and numb with shock.
She turned back to Rhea and suddenly noticed that she had clawed at her own arms and a long red gash ran down her cheek. “As soon as she turns seven I’m sending her to the Knight Manor.” She muttered. The rider blinked. “You’re making her a knight?” she asked. Saturn nodded. “Rhea Callisto will be a knight…”
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Pixie
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Post by Pixie on Jan 6, 2004 4:31:08 GMT
Rhea woke up with the bright morning sunshine shinning right in her face. With a groan she forced her eyes open and winced in the light.
Her mother was sitting at the edge of the bed holding her hand. Rhea stared at her for a second, trying to figure out why she was there. Then her eyes were wondered to the bandages on her arms. "What happened to you?" she asked sitting up fast, her head swam a little, she bit back a groan and closed her eyes again.
When she opened them again her mother had her sleeves down, rather than pushed up.
"I saw them anyway." Rhea snapped. "I just burned myself, that's all." Saturn said simply. Her face betrayed nothing. Rhea looked down at her own arms. They too were heavily bandaged. "So did I, huh?" she asked quietly. Jupiter sighed. "Cleverness can have it's drawbacks I assume." she muttered and stroked Rhea's cheek. Rhea winced slightly when her mother touched her. She pulled back and put a trembling hand on her cheek and found a long bandage was stuck to it. "What did I do?" Rhea asked, her voice trembling, her eyes watering over. She curled in on herself, a child sobbing in pain.
"Oh Rhea..." Saturn murmured and pulled her onto her lap. "You weren't yourself. It's all right." she muttered. Rhea kept on sobbing slightly. "I want it to stop, mama." she whispered. Saturn sighed heavily. Now was a good time was any. "Well, that's why I am sending you to get special training..."
Rhea pulled back to look at her, the tears still running. She sniffed and wiped her tears away stubbornly. "What?" she asked with a small sniff.
"When your birthday comes next month I am sending you to Knight Manor..."
Rhea pushed away from her, trembling. "You're sending me away?" she whispered, her lips trembling. "So that you get training, perhaps it's a bothersome spell..." Saturn said weakly. Rhea stood rigid, her little hands clenched. "You're really are sending me away..." she whispered.
"It’s for your own good, Rhea!" Saturn cried feeling accused by her gaze. "But I don't want to leave." Rhea snapped. "I know but you have to." Jupiter murmured.
"But I love it here. This is my home." she whispered sounding choked. Saturn’s lip trembled. "But, the dreams, Rhea you and I both know, they are killing you. At the Academy they will teach you to endure things like that-" "I'm enduring it already!" Rhea cried out her small body shaking in fury. "I won't go." She murmured more quietly. "Rhea, this isn't a choice you can make. You're going, I have already sent a letter to the Knight Manor headmaster and informed the queen of your training.”<br> Rhea fumed. "I'm not going!" she wailed in a more weak and panicky way Saturn reached for her hand. Rhea drew back her features fighting to compose. "I won't go." she murmured. " Saturn shook her head. “You have to.” She whispered. “I hate you.” Rhea whispered letting her tears flow, then she began to retreat, taking careful steps backwards before turning around and running out of the room, leaving Saturn to weep.
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Pixie
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Post by Pixie on Feb 20, 2004 20:56:10 GMT
Rhea ran blindly her tears blocking her view. She turned a corner sharply and ran right into someone hard. She fell back with a grunt and looked up. Two maids rushed to pick Prince Triton up. He was scowling fiercely. “Watch where you are going Callisto!” he hissed. Rhea was in no mood, not even for the Prince would she stay silent. “Shut up!” she shouted back. “just, shut up!”<br> Triton and the two maids blinked in surprise. “What’s wrong with you?” Triton gasped. Rhea struggled to her feet. “I’m being sent to Knight Manor.” She snapped and shoved past him. Triton blinked. “wait!” he cried following after her. The two maids hesitated to follow. “Just go!” he snapped over his shoulder at them. They turned and scurried away. “Callisto, wait!” he gasped running after her. Rhea kept walking. “Look mother is sending me to the manor as well, so were in the same problem-“<br>“Rhea’s scowl darkened. “You don’t care about leaving, I do!” she cried and ra off. Triton sighed heavily after her, shaking his head slightly. “Girls!” he muttered. *** At the end of the month strange people began to enter the manor. They measure Rhea’s size for new clothing, brought tunks full of things Rhea found no use of. Her large green eyes watched silently as the things were put into her room and her face betrayed nothing when her favorite things were moved out. As her birthday drew near a maid came and woke her every morning at dawn and nagged at her to do push ups before breakfast. Rhea knew they were her mothers orders. It was a way to make enduring Knight Manor easier. Despite it Rhea hated waking up early and hated everything else related to Knighthood…<br>
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Post by Pixie on Feb 20, 2004 21:14:23 GMT
Rhea stormed across the Fallow field. Her gown was ruined from the dirt and she knew that her slippers would soon be beyond repair, but she continued her stomping way, her hands clenched tight.
She had fled from the Farewell ball the queen and her mother had organized. The anger in her little face had made everyone accept that Rhea Callisto would not be at the party….
“Wait, you cursed girl!” a voice shouted. Rhea glanced over her shoulder and groaned rolling her eyes, her already scowling face darkening. “You curse me and yet expect me to wait! What undeniable intelligence, sire!” she shouted sarcastically and continued on without stopping Triton caught up to her, scowling himself. “Well if you had waited when you saw me going after you in the Dinning Hall-“<br> “Oh please!” Rhea hissed. She pushed through some stubborn bushes in her way and stepped into the meadow. She had known of it for some time, yet no one else seemed to have bothered or cared to enjoy it’s beauty.
“Why do you always follow me anyway?” Rhea snapped at Triton, pulling her gaze from the mesmerizing view
Triton shrugged, looking at the horizon himself. “I don’t know really, but I guess, you’re the only other kid in the Royal Court. You’re the closet thing I have to a friend.”<br>Rhea blinked. “But were always…arguing…” Triton grinned. “That’s true, I don’t know, really.”<br>Rhea laughed. “How odd then, I must say she muttered bending down to pick up a handful of stones. She threw the first one carelessly. Triton watched it fly. “That’s a good arm. You’d do great with a spear.”<br>Rhea groaned. “Oh, not with the combat talk again, I’m tired of it all.” She muttered. Triton smiled weakly. “We’re leaving tomorrow, you might as well get used to it.” Rhea sighed heavily. “Don’t remind me.” She sat down, looking tired. “Will you be allowed to speak to me at all while were there?” Rhea asked, looking up at him. Triton nodded. “Mother arranged it.” He said. Rhea looked back at the horizon. “These are going to be hard years.” She murmured. “yes, I know.” Triton agreed. Rhea sighed again. “I’ll miss all this.” Rhea whispered. Triton blinked. “Miss what?” he asked. Rhea blinked back tears and stood up. Being a child.” She murmured and stood up to head back to the castle.
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