XXXII

Princess Roshanne

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A princess must be though, a princess must be disciplined, a princess must be smart, a princess must be perfect

A sainte must be devoted, a Sainte must be pious, a Sainte must be kind, a sainte must be loving.

Roshanne recited those words again and again inside her mind, those were the things that had been taught to her by both her grandmother and her mentor.

"Forgive me... Forgive me for I have sinned, forgive me for I have fail, forgive for I have shed blood... Forgive me for I have tainted my hands with blood." She prayed, ignoring the pain of the salt against her knees, she doesn't know how long she was kneeling, all she knows is that she's already bleeding, and her body and mind had become numb.... The sound of the door opening and closing was the only indication that Archbishop Lante had arrived... She smelled the incense burning.

"Confess to me." His voice echoed around the silent room.

"I have sinned." She confessed before opening her eyes.

"What have you done?" The Archbishop asked, Roshanne could feel his looming presence behind her... Archbishop Lante was a Petite man... Yet his shadow at that moment seems so big.

"I have hurt someone." She answered. She saw the unmistakable shadow of the whip and prepared herself.

"Have you asked for forgiveness?" Roshanne swallowed before licking her lower lip.

"I have repented." She answered, there was a moment of silence between them, Roshanne's breath shudders.

"Then you will be receiving your punishment... Continue praying." Roshanne nods her head and closed her eyes... She prayed and she prayed.... asking for forgiveness, as the first hit of whip made contact to her skin... It was no ordinary whip, because at its tips there were barb wires that sink into her skin, making it more painful as it was drag down, she felt her skin breaking, and her blood oozing, yet she did not falter in her prayer. She kept praying and praying as the whip kept on hitting her back... This was nothing, she reminded herself, this is nothing compared to the price ahead of her.

By the end of her punishment the sun was already beggining to rise, there were both sweating, but Roshanne was the only one bathing in her own blood.

"The Gods have forgiven you.... You may now rise." The Archbishop stated, Roshanne slowly opened her eyes and unclasped her hands, she watches as the shadow of the Archbishop slowly faded from view... When she heard the door opening and closing only then did she stood up.... The salt on her knees had already made a damage, bruise and wounds form on her knees, the skin on her back was peeled off by the continues hitting of the whip... Yet Roshanne had never felt so light before, she took a deep breath before continuing further to the end of the room where there was another door, Roshanne pushed it open and from there lies the pool of gold... The pool of divine healing, on the far wall facing it was the statue of the divine Goddess Solvira, the namesake of their kingdom, wife of their God Sol. Roshanne stared at the image of the woman... They said that she looks like her.... Her grandmother often claims that she was her reincarnation, that's why she heavily believes that it is her who's the rightful heir to the throne.

And Roshanne couldn't agree more... She steps down the pool allowing the thick gold water to kiss her skin, the pool was a gift from their Gods. It was there since the beginning of time and a priced possession they have. Roshanne kept on walking until she reached the deepest part of it, she stared at the statue one last time before closing her eyes and submerging from the water.

It was dark, she thought... This wasn't the first time she had submerged in this water, back when she was poisoned by one of her siblings was the first time she ever submerged into this by the help of her grandmother, and everytime she does... A warm welcoming darkness is what greeted her... Along with the feeling of someone embracing her... Someone big... Someone strong and powerful.... Soon after that, the feeling of pain would slowly disappear. And by the time she opened her eyes... She would once again see the statue, bathing in the light of the sun...

Roshanne felt so light, like she was born anew, the burden of her sins have finally been washed away... The wounds on her back and knees disappeared... It was like nothing had happened at all. She looks up again and watched as the ray of sunlight illuminates the whole of the sacred Temple... A smile thug upon her lips.... The Gods did not abandoned her... They know that what she was doing is for the sake of the people, of their people.

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Lady Dae

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Dae stared at the way lady Eleanor's hand move, she was very fascinated on what she was doing. She had been doing it for hours, since after their breakfast together, the other concubines in the room were doing the same thing, but no one moves quiet just like her.

"Something the matter?" Lady Eleanor finally asked without even looking up, Dae blinks and looked up at Lady Eleanor.

"The thing you are doing... What is that?" She curiously asked, she had never seen anyone does it, not even her maids.

"Well, this is called embroidery darling." Lady Eleanor smiled and showed her what she was doing, Dae gasp in amazement when she had seen an elaborate flowers on the fabric.

"We do this to pass time when we are bored. Have you not done this before?" Lady Eleanor asked before standing up and sitting beside her.

"No." Was Dae's reply, and for some reason the other ladies Snickers at her words.

"Is something the matter?" Lady Eleanor asked annoyed by the girls, the other two quieted and looked away... But the one in the middle didn't.

"What? We just found it funny that you would ask that question to a savage." Dae's brow furrowed, why do they kept calling her a savage?

"I am not a savage." She corrected her with her brow furrowed.

"What do you mean you're not? Your mother is a savage from the unconquered lands. Everything in you screams savage." Dae flinched at her words.

" You don't get to say those words lady Natalya, considering your mother used to be your father's mistress... Who's a gypsy." Lady Eleanor countered, before holding Dae's hand and giving it a soft squeeze. She saw the way lady Natalya's face turn beat red from humiliation.

"Hah! At least my mother is not a performer of black magic... That freak over there has the blood of witches flowing in her veins! The Gods know we could be damned right now for allowing this savage into our land!" Before lady Eleanor could speak again the door of the longue area opened, and lady Ceris stepped in followed by lady Eloise. They all stood up to greet the two.

"What's going on?" It was lady Eloise who spoke, she looks at the lady Natalya before looking at them. Dae averted her gaze feeling anxious by the powerful stare of the woman.

"Nothing." Lady Natalya lied. lady Eloise didn't speak at first but looked around the room, trying to see if anyone of them would break... When none spoke she went and took a seat to one of vacant chairs inside the longue. Once she's seated the others followed, except lady Eleanor, who's looking at Lady Ceris.

"My love." Lady Ceris whispered, loud enough just for the three of them to hear.

"Your son is waiting outside the harem... He wishes to bid you his farewell... He will set to the golden hills to accompany the red battalion, he and his friends will be joining." Lady Ceris reached out for Lady Eleanor's hand... Sky watched the two women interact... Then she looks at the others who seems to ignore them... Are everyone aware of what the two is? Of their weird relationship? No one was saying Anything.

" Come." Lady Ceris whispered, but before they left Lady Eleanor held Dae's hand.

" Come with us." Lady Eleanor stated, Dae smiles and nods her head following the two... The three of them walked in silence and while Dae stood at the back she noted the heavy change in the two women's mood. They weren't like this the other day. The two of them were tense.

" Who will be accompanying our boy?" Lady Eleanor asked, breaking the silence.

" Three of his trusted friends... Alastair's right hand man, captain Marcov... And then my cousin." Lady Ceris replied to her, putting her hand on the small of lady Eleanor's back.

" How long will they be staying there?" Lady Ceris sighed.

" I don't know, but my guess is, they won't be leaving there until they recaptured three of the cities in Adari. It may take months or even a year or two" The three of them stops walking when Lady Eleanor stops.

" I can't do this Ceris... I cannot send our boy away... He... He might not come back to me." She tole him. Lady Ceris pulled lady Eleanor closer to her, and kissed her temple.

" He needs his mother." Lady Ceris reminded her, the three of them stood their in complete silence, it was unusual for lady Eleanor who's always cheerful to look so dejected. Yet she gathers up her courage and walked to meet her son.

Prince Erik... Dae found him the most handsome of all his brothers. He had blonde hair with streaks of white that he got from his mother, he wasn't as tall as Alastair, his physique was good, slightly better than Alastair, and he was charming... The one good word to describe him is... Sweet, the prince smiles so sweet, and so genuine that Dae could understand why lady Eleanor believes his son has no place in war... The prince looks like he couldn't even harm a fly.

"Mother." The boy greeted his mother, he was now wearing a golden armor, meaning he is one of the generals or perhaps a commander, but unlike his comrades breastplate were a dragon's head is engraved, his doned a lions head with it's maw open, ready to devour.

"My sweet boy." Lady Eleanor called, extending her own hand to reach for his. The prince removed his gloves before holding onto her mother's hand. The two remained silent, as Lady Eleanor looks despondent.

"My sweet boy, when have you grown so big?" Lady Eleanor finally spoke with a sigh.

"You used to be so small you know? you used to follow me around, you used to cry for me... My Gods, how the days have gone by so quickly. Now you are here all grown up." Lady Eleanor touched his face, and caress it.

" I wish I could just keep you small and by my side so I wouldn't have to worry about this... Nonsense called war." A single tear drops from Lady Eleanor's eyes. And the prince looked down before grabbing and kissing her mother's hand.

" Allow me to thank you mother, for taking care of me... Thank you for guiding me. Without you I wouldn't be where I am and who I am today... Thank you mother." Another tear drops by lady Eleanor's eyes and Dae couldn't help but tear up as well. She could feel their pain, though she couldn't understand well, but she can feel it.

" My boy, don't make this sound like a farewell to me... Promise me... Please promise you'll come back. I need you... We need you." Lady Eleanor begged him. Prince Erik smiles and nods his head, but didn't say anything... Was he not promising anything?

" Promise me please." Lady Eleanor spoke pleadingly. But the prince remained silent.

" I love you mother." He answered instead, this made Lady Eleanor break down into more tears, her knees gave in, luckily Lady Ceris was there to catch her.

"Go now... You must not cause anymore pain than you already have." Lady Ceris stated with a hardened voice, she too looks in pain, but was refraining herself from loosing control.

"Forgive me mother." Princess Erik whispered before bowing... Dae stood their watching everything unravel before her... The cries of lady Eleanor broke Dae's heart, she couldn't relate, because she didn't grew up with a mother, but she could only sympathize and wish she could help.

"Draw a four leaves clover above once hand... And kiss their forehead before whisperings the name Fortunam."

" Wait! My prince." She called after him... Prince Erik stopped and looked at her.

" Ah, lady Dae." He bows in respect, Dae looked back at Lady Eleanor who remained kneeling and crying.

" I'm sorry that you must see that." He apologized, but Dae shakes her head.

" No... It's okay... Before you go can I please hold your hand?" Prince Erik looked suprised at first, he looks behind him to see his comrades waiting before turning to look at her.

" Sure." He told her, he removed his gloves and extended his hand... She took a hold of it and draw a four leaves clover before pulling the prince closer to her... She then kissed his forehead before whisperings.

"May Fortunam guide you and bring you back to your mother." After that she pulled back and looked at the shocked expression of the Prince.

"It's a practice in Lysos, that a dear friend thought me... If someone is to go to war... A lover or a family must draw a clover above once hand and whisper the name Fortunam... It is a good luck, a charm. So you will come back." She smiles at him filled with assurance.

"You will come back." She added more assured with her own words, when the prince recovered  from his shock, a bright smile once more make it's way to his lips.

"Thank you my lady. Please take care of my mother for me while I am gone. And tell her... I promise to come back." After that Prince left, but this time, with he left with his head up high, knowing that he will return home soon.

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Princess Roshanne

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" The battalion of lord Titus and ours are on the move, Prince Erik along with Prince Louie, Prince Zander  and Prince Nicholas are also sent, they will be leading their own battalions." Lord Boromir reported to her, Roshanne stood by terrace watching as the battalion march towards the direction of the Golden hills... Her eyes squinted, this is one of the reason why she sent Alastair back to Cadalin to talk to his Grandfather, because she knows Kaspian would send him to war, though she must make a sacrifice.

" Any news about lady Ceris and Lady Eleanor?" He asked Odette who was with them.

" Lady Eleanor retired early to her bed, lady Ceris looked displeased with the decision." She sighed, they have no other options but to send Erik, he was a loyal knight and talented but this would be his first real battle.

" The mother should not worry... I heard that lady Ceris send her cousin to aide the young prince." Roshanne looked at Lord Boromir, she didn't know why he suddenly started sticking by her side... Knowing well that he isn't an avid supporter of her.

"It's only natural for the mother to worry. Three of our brothers have already perished in war. How many more does we need to lose?" She asked him, shaking her head.

" We could have sent the older once, but they are incapable, Prince Xyrus was a cripple, Prince Alexander a coward, prince Anthony a moron." She shakes her head.

" And where was the ba- the crown prince?" She asked greeting her teeth, she wanted to interfere with the decision but she couldn't, it was all in Kaspian's hand and right as the current crown prince.

" The bastard is said to be at a tavern in the King's slump. Wasting his money on ale and whores." The statement of lord Boromir surprised both her and Odette. He never once called Kaspian a bastard before! What's the sudden change? She looks one more time at the moving troops before looking back at Lord Boromir.

" May I ask why you are here? The last time I remember we couldn't see eye to eye." She finally addressed it, Lord Boromir looked embarrassed and he looks down on his feet, he cleared his throat before speaking.

"I admit that I have made a grave mistake of judging you too early your highness." He began speaking.

"I have been bias when it comes to my beliefs that only a male heir could lead a kingdom, I have never once believe in your capabilities until you stood up for me." Roshanne's brow raised and was more startled when lord Boromir kneeled in front of her.

"I have turned a blind eye against the bastard and all his crimes because he is a man, I tried to justify it, I have criticized you unfairly... And for that I asked for your forgiveness.... I will atone for my sins however you see befits me... But please allow me to serve you... The one true heir to the throne." Roshanne couldn't believe it! She really couldn't, who would have thought that she would gain an unlikely ally. But Roshanne was no fool, she must not make any haste decision.

"Very well... But you must earn my trust Lord Boromir." She told him placing her hand on his shoulder.

"I shall see by the end of the month if you are to be trusted." She told him before leaving the balcony, Odette followed suit.

"That's a surprise." Lady Odette spoke.

"It is... I wasn't expecting that... But it was good. We'll just have to see where his true loyalty lies." She told her. As much as she was happy with the turn of events she must not be hasty, for Gods knows lord Boromir might have other motives.