Muffled voices are speaking around me. I can feel a heat starting in my stomach. Its growing in strength and starting to get uncomfortable. It starts to travel to the rest of my body. My arms, legs, hands, feet, and face beginning to burn. I feel like I'm on fire! What is this. I'm finally able to open my eyes as I sit up and see two men in a room with me. The burn suddenly intensifies. I start screaming. "Everything burns! Why!? Help me?! Please?!" I look at them and they just look back in shock as they back away. One man is wearing all black while the other is in brown civilian clothing. The one in black suddenly falls to the ground and starts chanting. Glowing symbols start floating around him as the burning begins to become too much. I let out an animalistic scream as the man in black steps forward eyes closed still chanting and grabs my hand. Instantly the pain subsides but the burning stays.
I look down and some of the same symbols that had been floating around him appear on my arms. I blink in amazement as what is happening hits me. The burning disappears completely.
"What? this wasn't supposed to happen until tomorrow!? wait how long have I been out? is it my birthday already? How can this be I thought...." I realize I'm talking outloud as the two men stare at me in shock. "Who are you, where am I?"
The one in black is still holding my hand as he speaks in a clear and soothing voice. "I am Elder Black, and this is Chava, Princess. you are in the Building of the Elders, in the healing sanctuary. You have not been asleep for even a day. You are right, this shouldn't have happened yet."
I look around in the empty room. A fountain of water flows on one wall, there's the bed I'm on and the rest of the small room is empty. "So what now?" I ask making sure my voice holds a confident tone. The two men share a glance. Elder Black is still holding my hand. "Please release my hand."
"I can not Princess. If I do the pain with return. This process takes a couple hours. If I had all Elders here it would go faster. But before we involve them, I need to help an old friend." I look at him in confusion as he motions at Chava. Chava is a huge burly and familiar looking man, he stands and leaves.
...
Time went by slowly while we sat in silence waiting. I finally broke it by saying "What are we waiting for?" Elder Black looks up at me and opens his mouth to speak when he's Interupted my another voice coming from the door way. Its sweet and melodious, and soothing. "For me." I look up to meet eyes with an older women. My eyes take her in as she walks into the room full of elegance and power, then it hits me. "Mother." I say it mater of factly without emotions.
She rushes forward "My child! Oh how I've missed you!" She goes to stroke my face but I jerk away. She pauses a looks at me with hurt in her eyes as I give her a cold stare. "Kiana, my little princess what's wrong?" I look at he in shock. "What's wrong? Really?!" I let out a laugh before returning my cold gaze to her. "You walk in here like everything is okay. That it's all normal and nothing ever happened. But it did happen. Because of you. Father is dead, because of you. I watched my brothers die, because of you. You are selfish! What's wrong? What's wrong is you, acting as though you didnt do anything wrong." I frown at her as I see the other two men look shocked.
"Kiana, I know my mistakes, But that is not why I'm here. I am acting this way because I only have a few moments with you, and I do not wish to waste them on discussing things we cannot change. I'm happy to see you." she closes her hand around my other hand. "now let's be a mother and daughter before her daughters wedding and coronation."
I stare at her for a moment. There is a lot she could help me with. "Were you informed of the new decree. That I am to marry but also have another suitor giving me children. Decoy females?" She laughs lightly sending me in slight shock as to what was funny! "My little princess," she caresses my cheek ," I have heard. But it will make no difference. You will only bare daughters with one man." I look at her in disbelief. I look to Elder black. He looks as confused as I am. She sees both our reactions. "The only way a daughter can be born is through true love. The spirits have made it so. Why else do you think after the King died and I remarried I had only sons? and not another heir? Or why every Queen births sons before girls? Because all our marriages are arranged. The Elders don't speak of the past Queens who birthed no daughters."
"I must speak with the elders then. I refuse to taint myself this way. If they know then they won't do this to me." I look around and Elder Black sighs. "It took us years to vote on this princess. It cannot just be dismissed. The elders don't like being questioned either and are not likely to change their minds. To save their face they will fight against this new information. We Elders are supposed to be all knowing, and in touch with the spirits. because of that we cannot afford to be seen a weak or not knowing. The other Elders will not change the law." I hear his words as it starts to sink in that I'm not going to get out of this. The Queen stands. "Time is about up. Remember what I said that night 11 years ago. I wish it wasn't so that you have to share your bed. You are strong and can do anything."
"My Queen, do you know why this happened early?" She chuckles at Blacks words. "Oh my dearest friend. It's right on time. I had her and the King and I kept it a secret for a day because we were not ready for them to take her away. Now my gift to you," She places her hands on my shoulders and she starts to glow. I squint against the brightness. My whole body feels comfy warm as everything buzzes. It subsides as she stops glowing. ",I healed all your wounds darling. Also, Don't get frustrated when you are learning to control your gifts, It takes time."
"Thank you, Mother." She turns and leaves. It feels strange. It was hard to stay mad at her. I shake my head to clear the thoughts away. "Chava fetch the rest of the Elders, then go rush the preparations for the ceremony. It needs to be ready by sunset." Chava nods and leaves.
"Elder black, do you really think I can't change their minds about the Decree?" He looks at me thoughtfully before responding. "Princess, I was there while the debates and voted. They will not falter. They firmly believe that this will make the kingdom stronger. I'm sorry." I look away from him as tears start to well up.
"My princess," I look over to him and he smiles gently ,"You must not forget who you are, you have the final say. They would kill me if they knew I was telling you this. They cannot force this on you, because one of the first laws from the spirits is that once married a man and women only belong to each other. Because of this law there is a loop hole. However, until your under control of you powers, for your safety I would advise you to follow the decree as much as you can."
I stare at him and nod in understanding. we sit a few more mlm moments. I hear the rustling of people approaching. 9 Men in Black robes walk in one by one and they each take turns bowing before me. I nod my head at them. "You must stand, princess." Black helps me to my feet, and leads me to another room. The healers are present and look me over then retreat. Elder black takes clothes from the Elders and hands them to me.
I look around seeing all the elders staring at me. "I am not getting dressed with you all watching!" they all exchange looks and turn around. Elder black also turns his body away. "You will need to let go of me to get dressed. you will have a few seconds before the pain is too much again. At that point we will all have to look at you to be able to do our incantations and chants to help with the pain." I Nod and get all the fabric prepared. I take a deep breath and quickly let go of his and and throw the gown over my under dress. Then I quickly pull up the stockings they gave me. the burning is so intense my eyes are watering. The pain is almost too much to bare. I grab the under skirt and pull it on.
"I'm done!" I yell in pain. Each of the Elders turn towards me and start chanting. The pain subsides. The Approach and start to tie and fasten the dress for me. I slip my feet bbn into the slippers they've provided. "Trust me, this is normal." Elder blacks words confuse me as I start to feel dizzy and everything goes black and warm.