Chapter One : The Beginning of the End
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The sounds of banging on the chamber door made Aurelie leap from her bed, gasping as if she'd had been shot,
“Priestess Aurelie, you’ve been summoned to the King’s Throne Hall.” A hoarse, intimidating voice rang out behind the Benward dark oak door: 'Flynn,' she thought as she began matching the voice. The black metal ring-shaped handle moved from his powerful banging,
“Yes.. I’ll be there.” She replied, yawning in between her words. Wild auburn spirals danced down her thighs as she stretched over the bed and went to the veil and holy garments she had been assigned. Her feminine, short frame moved languishing to her assigned sacred clothing.
She was kept bare when it came to extra flourishes in her garments, like a novitiate, with an all-white gown that pooled at her feet and a long white veil with lace floral trim that followed suit. The garment was considered essential to maintain the priestess's reputation for chastity. When Aurelie was found and brought into the castle, the King initially mandated that she be concealed because she was seen as a 'temptation in the flesh.' Under the King's decree, she would be covered up, hidden from public view, escorted only by her guards, and never left alone.
Of course, she wouldn't question the King's orders and heeded his demands, as he was the only thing she had close to a relative. Ever since-
“Aurelie! What in the bloody hell is taking you so long…” Her second guard clamored; she could hear the exasperated sigh reaching through the door, causing her to giggle, “Throw the damned veil over your head and move!” He shouted again, hearing her soft giggles fleeing through the door's gaps. Aurelie understood he wasn’t fooling around. Once Charlie got like this, she knew something was wrong. She knew the King must have another quest, something substantial to have her escorts bash the door down practically.
Before strolling to the door, she scurried to put on her attire, slip on her satin slippers, and tidy her veil. She unlocked the door to reveal a distressed and unamused Charlie, huffing at the door, gazing at her with those fox-like brown eyes.
“Come.” He spun on his heel, but his tone didn’t make it seem like a request; it was much more of a command, almost like he was hailing one of the castle's hunting hounds.
She pursued, and her sage green eyes fell to his back; watching. His movements were tense. He had never acted like this, not since the first invasion.
The castle of Lux was nothing short of mesmerizing. The King spared no expense in crafting this palace to his desires. Even in the small chambers, Aurelie was sentenced to live in after being appointed to her role as priestess. The chambers were wistful. The tall windows reached the ceiling, touching the slick quartz mosaic patterns that swept along the floors. On the other hand, her room was one of the most diminutive rooms in the palace, much like the servants' quarters. She wasn’t considered royalty but a valuable asset to the Lux kingdom, earning her a small hideaway in the palace.
"Don't worry, Aurelie, I'm sure it's nothing serious," Flynn assured her, staring down at her, catching her off guard as she realized she had been dazed in her thoughts. I wonder what could be essential to make Charlie get so wound up. She looked up at him and smiled,
"Thank you. I can unfailingly rely on your reassurance, Flynn." It was true. Flynn was almost like the father figure she had never had. He made her truly appreciate and pity those who didn't have a figure like Flynn in their lives. Flynn was visibly older, but she had never asked how old he was. But without being asked, she could place him in his mid-40s, given his salt-and-pepper hair, matching beard, and muscular, large physique.
The palace soldiers' uniforms were always the same: shiny metal armor that practically lit up the room. Their movements were heard from rooms away as the chest plates rattled against the shoulder plates. While their upper bodies were encased in metal plating, their legs were covered in thick, brown leather. Their backs all have a sword sheathed behind them with another at their hip, which Aurelie always found comical as if the palace needed double the protection. But considering the last couple of weeks of attacks from the Northern kingdom, she figured they could use it.
"Besides, the king seems to be in too good of a mood to call you for something unpleasant," Flynn said. Ann looked up at him but couldn't tell who was telling the truth. His expression seemed to tell a different story from his lips. She didn't know what part of him to believe; she knew she should trust her gut and expect the worst.
The three walked until they arrived at the throne room doors. The entrance was daunting, as large eighteen-foot-tall doors towered over them.
The guards at the doors opened them, allowing the creaking sounds of wood to echo through the palace. The sound itself gave Aurelie shivers. The anticipation of finding out what the King had wanted to speak to her about got the better of her nerves.
"Ah, there she is; good Morning, Aurelie." The King purred, smiling as she walked through the gates with guards surrounding her, Flynn on her left and Charlie on her right. She bowed her head and fell into a curtsy as she reached the steps to his throne,
"Your Majesty." She smiled as she came down, bowing her head in respect. He smirked, bringing his hand to her chin and lifting it,
"You may stand, Priestess," He commanded, and she obediently rose to her feet; her elegant, simple dress and veil seemed to glow along with her milky porcelain skin. "Stunning. Seems like you are growing more graceful each time I see you." He praised. Aurelie didn't know and was too innocent to tell that the King had always thought of her differently—in a more intimate way. Aurelie did not notice his perverted gaze upon her, but Flynn and Charlie had as they clenched their jaws at their King's perverse words. Still, she continued to show him the same obedient respect she'd always given him; she smiled and bowed her head at his praise. "I highly appreciate your praise, your majesty," she spoke softly. Her voice had always been so soft, like a dewy rose petal. The sound was light, as it barely carried along in the echoing, large hallway.
"Aurelie, I requested your presence this morning because I fear we need your divine powers on our soldiers again. The attack on enemy territory did not go as expected..." He paused before speaking again. The pause made Aurelie's eyes widen; a gasp escaped her lips, genuinely horrified to hear the news of their failure and how many soldiers had most likely died trying to defend their kingdom.
"And we need our priestess to preserve those still holding onto life by their fingertips." He spoke, staring down at her from the angle of his throne. She, without a single strand of hesitation, immediately nodded,
"Your majesty." She agreed eagerly, not sparing a moment to think about it. "I will save those still alive and pray for those brave enough to fight and die for the Kingdom of Lux." She gazed up at him, her sweet, innocent, sage green eyes full of devotion to her kingdom and people.
The guards shivered at the gaze that the King gave Aurelie. The look was unnerving to those who could see the intention behind it. Everyone but Aurelie could see the burning flames of desire and pride the King held in his gaze. He nodded his head,
“Very well,” he smirked. "Prepare for departure at noon sharp, Aurelie.” He looked up at the guards, addressing their orders: “You will escort her with the palace troops I have assembled. They will take you to the medical station in the northern woods.” He informed them, but he stopped and looked back at Aurelie seriously. “Aurelie, this is a public visit. Wear the veil.” He ordered, leaving no room for argument.
She nodded, knowing which veil he meant. Aurelie wasn’t meant to be seen in public, but when she had to visit outside the palace, she was told to wear a specific veil that covered her face entirely. The long, tight-knit lace white veil barely showed her face, making it difficult for Aurelie to see. But that was the point. The king wanted her not to be seen or see others. That was how he held his monopoly over her.
“I hate this bloody thing, you look like a bedsheet.” Charlie grimaced, an expression of sheer disdain for the garment. The expression made Aurelie laugh, “I think it’s lovely. It’s very considerate of the King to shield me from the public eye. The world is-“ She thought back to the old memories of her parents. Their expressions, their lifeless bodies-
She hadn’t realized that she had cut herself off, deep in her horrifying pasts that replayed in her head,
“Considerate? Tch.” Charlie scoffed, folding his arms, extending one out, and touching the veil that covered her face. His fingers rubbed the fabric in a judging manner.
“I find it controlling.” His tone was bitter, but Flynn stopped him from going further. They couldn’t talk ill about the King, even though both guards felt the same way.
“Enough. We must bring Aurelie to the soldiers waiting for our arrival.” Flynn cut Charlie off, with a hoarse voice like usual, and Aurelie nodded, “Yes, you’re right. It’s best if we go.” She smiled, not that either of them could see it behind her veil, but they could hear it from her voice.
They guided her to the front gates. Five palace guards were waiting, standing at the ready by their horses, and a carriage was prepared for their priestess. The carriage was bone white, with golden accents around the rims of the windows and doors. The wheels were the same smooth white shade that showed the pristine royalty of the King. Aurelie wasn’t allowed out of the palace much, but when she was, she had always admired the carriage.
“Afternoon, Priestess.” They greeted. Aurelie bowed her head, curtsied humbly before them, and greeted them.
“Good Afternoon, Gentlemen.” She spoke softly, careful not to talk too much. She wasn’t necessarily supposed to speak to anyone other than her guards and the King. The one soldier opened the carriage door for her, the movement causing his metal armor to clank around. Aurelie had entered the carriage, sinking into the plush button tuft fabric. The interior is Glaucous, with a cream shade outlining the door, cushioned seating, and other carriage accents. Her long white gown seemed to accent the aesthetic of the carriage perfectly, as it draped down, pooling at her feet along the cream skirt of the carriage seats.
Flynn and Charlie shuffled in, crouching from the carriage's short ceiling. They sat down in the seat across from her.
Aurelie could hear the sounds of metal against metal, a slight screeching sound—the curtains.
“You can take that damned thing off, it’s only us in here.” She could hear Charlie’s irritated tone. She slowly slid off the lace veil, leaving her in her coif and satin white veil. She smiled at them, “This is so exciting, it’s been so long since we’ve last left the castle.” She giggled happily, like a child. The guards couldn’t help but agree, happy to see her happy. They could understand her excitement. Leaving the palace meant ditching her usual routine of being locked up in her room or cooped up reading scripture in the private prayer room. Though she never complained, there’s so much one person can take until they outgrow their tiresome ritual.
“It is exciting, but Aurelie, as thrilling as this is, it's equally hazardous. You must not wander off,” Flynn stated, his tone serious but gentle. Like a father gently parenting his daughter, afraid that even one wrong word would send tears down her cheeks. “To be in the Northern woods.. It’s not an ideal place, especially not for the priestess.” He clenched his jaw. “I don’t know what the King was thinking of sending you here, but I trust he has thought this through.” He took a breath, relaxing the muscles on his face.
“Don’t worry, we won’t let anything come close to you, Aurelie,” Charlie promised, piping up as Flynn relaxed his racing negative thoughts.
She looked up at Charlie, and her eyes found sincerity in his gaze.
“I never doubted you before,” She started, “I know you will both protect me,”
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