The Flame of Wrath (12 page)

             
“My mother, Thalia, once led the Guardians,” Autumn confessed. She blushed awkwardly. “No one talks about her.”

             
Aurea raised up onto her elbow. She listened intently. It was true. No one spoke about the High Lord's wife. Until this moment, the Queen had not even known the woman's name.

             
“I don't remember much about her, but what I do remember, I remember very much.” Autumn smiled as she lost herself within thoughts of her mother. “She was so graceful and she had the most beautiful smile.” Her eyes lit up as the following words bubbled excitedly from her lips. “Oh and she had the most beautiful voice! I remember her singing.” She gazed adoringly into Aurea. “My brother and father used to sing the song to me when I was small and missed her. It would help me sleep at night.” She chuckled into her chest, unaware of how much in that moment she embodied an eternal child. “Neither of them can sing, but in their words... I could hear her and remember.”

             
Aurea smiled softly.

             
“I'm told that she loved fables.” As a cloud rolled lazily by, it left a patch of clear skies in its wake. Autumn pointed to the stars. “She could tell you every myth about how each star was made. I suppose that's where I get it.”

             
“And why Djidjiga's story touches you so,” the Queen reasoned.

             
Autumn nodded with a quiet happiness. That peacefulness soon faded as she continued on. “The last time I saw my mother, I was six years old. She was dressed for battle.” Autumn's eyes grew far-away. They misted with remembrance's rains. “She looked so beautiful. Her armor was radiant.” She drew in a lengthy breath then released it as a tremor. “I want one day to be like her.”

             
“A Guardian?” Aurea asked. Her hand smoothed her cheek. She felt a tear roll hotly against her hand.

             
“No.” Autumn's voice faltered. She fumbled over her stuttered words. “I mean--- Well yes, of course that would be an honor.” She leaned into the hand so warm against her skin. “But that wasn't what I meant.” Her brows furrowed together in a thoughtful frown. “I guess what I'm trying to say is that one day I'd love to be the mother I remember, the mother she was.”

             
Inside Autumn, Aurea recognized a struggle to express herself. It made her listen all the more patiently.

             
“Perhaps one day I will able to share the things that our clan passes from mother to daughter, the things my mother was only just beginning to share with me.” Autumn sighed sadly. “The things I had to learn from other Guardian mothers,” she whispered.

             
Aurea took in the wistful air which consumed the brunette. She, herself, had never yearned for children. Truthfully, she had never once considered it. And yet, as she lay in Autumn's arms, she could envision herself holding a child, their child. Slowly, she began to smile.

             
The fantasies once harbored within the minds of dreamy young girls were plucked from their past. They were given new life within the minds of young women, who lovingly cherished them as plans for the future. As they spoke, every aspect of their lives was romantically mapped out. From the greatest wedding Pyros had ever seen to the summer palace where they would spend their golden years, it was all laid out with the clarity of their joined imaginations.

             
They had grown so lost in their dreams that they did not notice the approach of dawn until it was nearly upon them.

**************

              Dawn crested over the mountains with purpose alight inside her coming. This would be the day, the morning promised. This would be the day to mark the beginnings of all their united dreaming.

             
By morning's true conception, the Queen felt a sense of companionship and belonging which had long escaped her. For the first time in her entire life, she knew she was not alone. For the first time in her entire life, she did not fear loneliness' approach because she knew that from then on, Autumn's love would never allow it.

             
They reluctantly parted only long enough to bathe and dress for a new day. It was their hope that they would speak to the High Lord before happily taking their talks for a wedding with them to a celebratory breakfast.

             
Hand in hand, they entered the castle courtyard. The beautiful haven was enclosed within ancient stones forming grand arches. The ceiling overhead was that of Nature's design. No sky had ever been more brilliant or more eager to please.

             
The sky was a blue of soft abundance. It loomed above them, accentuated by airy wisps of cottony white. And yet, its beauty paled in comparison to the sunlight which flooded the area.

             
The air was thick was romance, made fragrant by the overabundance of roses. Rain fell from the sky in the dreamy downpour of pale cherry-blossoms. Those petals peppered the women's hair as if to bestow Nature's blessing upon their engagement.

             
Aurea looked away from the swirling storm of petals just long enough to glance in the direction of her betrothed. Her thoughts played noticeably across her face. She had never witnessed such loveliness as she did whenever she looked at Autumn.

             
Long ribbons of rippling cocoa were loosely restrained. Autumn's hair fought to be free of the carefree ponytail. Those strands fell as airy silk around her glowing face and down along the length of her spine.

             
She wore a pale blue toga which she thought matched the color of Aurea's flaming pupils, but in truth the elegant garment's greatest accomplishment was bringing out the contented blue of Autumn's azure-gray eyes.

             
Autumn smiled gloriously in the blonde’s direction. She could only blush darkly as she realized that her every movement had been closely studied by the watchful Queen.

             
Aurea wrapped both her arms and her cardinal red cape around the happy noble. She nuzzled at the broad waves of brown, breathing in their scent. She allowed both, it and autumn’s very presence to envelope her. The racing of her heart at her love's caress threatened to inspire it to burst from the ivory chiton housing her body. It clapped softly in the winds, tickling against her thighs.

             
With the thin golden circlet resting against her forehead, it appeared to be a halo fallen from grace. It glinted in the light as brightly as her sapphire eyes.

             
“You will be a Queen to inspire the envy of the world,” Aurea whispered softly.

             
Autumn found the blonde’s eyes. She parted her lips to say the words looming in the air, the words her heart had been aching to say so badly.

             
“Your Highness.”

             
The women, both sensing the moment lost to them, turned their heads in the direction of the voice.

             
Angelos IV rushed into the courtyard to greet the interwoven couple. He embraced them both with a broad smile upon his lips. He could scarcely restrain his excitement. With Autumn in the royal family so many doors would be opened to their family.

             
“Congratulations are in order,” he said as he pulled away. His brown eyes shined brightly. One might have thought he, himself, were marrying into the royal family. “Welcome to the family, sister.”

             
Aurea smiled happily. She was amazed at how profoundly being addressed as 'sister' had affected her. She had never had siblings nor did she ever mourn the loss of them, but she suddenly found herself part of a family and savored each new experience it brought.

             
“Thank you,” Aurea said. She stammered slightly at the word to leave her lips next though she genuinely felt an urge to speak it. “Brother.”

             
Angelos' chest puffed proudly. He was about to speak when the sound of his sister's voice called for their end.

             
“You may be a bit premature in congratulations, brother,” Autumn said softly. Her eyes searched the entrance to the courtyard beyond her brother. “Where is father?”

             
Crossing his arms with a curious expression, Angelos watched over his sister. “Premature? Why is that?”

             
Autumn blushed slightly then favored Aurea with an apologetic look. She was not trying to be pessimistic, only cautious. “Father, hasn't come back with news of blessing,” she explained. “That's all.”

             
“And what if he doesn't?” Angelos IV asked flatly.

             
Those words sent Autumn's heart crashing down into her stomach. “Don't even joke about that,” she scolded quietly.

             
“Answer the question, little sister.” Angelos' dark eyes were focused intensely upon his sister. “What will you do then?”

             
Autumn opened her mouth to speak but found that the words did not come.

             
“Just as I suspected,” he grouched. “You cannot defy father; can you, sister?”

             
As Aurea struggled to read her face, Autumn felt herself squirming beneath united gazes. She ultimately slipped out of her beloved's arms. Turning her back to them, she tugged nervously at the littlest finger of her right hand.

             
“When are you going to grow up, Autumn?” Angelos moved to stand behind his sister. “You cannot be the golden child forever.”

             
With a wounded expression alive inside her eyes, Autumn turned to look at him over her shoulder. “Golden child?” she repeated hoarsely. “I've never tried to be---”

             
“That's the point isn't it?” His eyes revealed the first telltale glimpses of a long-held resentment. “You've never had to try. You've always been the favorite. Mother adored you. You were going to be a Guardian just like her. When we lost her, father doted on you. He spoiled you and sheltered you from any kind of hardship.”

             
Autumn felt nauseous. She swallowed, conscious of the salty taste rising within her mouth.

             
“The time for that has passed,” he continued. “You must do things for yourself now. Not for her or him or anyone else!”

             
Aurea looked between the siblings in her frustration. “Autumn,” she began. “Do you or do you not wish to marry me?”

             
“Of course I do,” Autumn answered without hesitation. The certainty within her eyes, swore of her feelings for Aurea.

             
The Queen took a trembling breath. Her heart trembled inside her chest with the relief racing toward her. It came while looking deeply into Autumn's eyes. What she saw in them was undeniable. Autumn did wish to be with her. She moved to stand near the dark-haired woman. She wore her concern with unabashed vulnerability because if Autumn did in fact wish to be with her then what had caused the conflict in her eyes. “Then what is the matter?”

             
“This is the life you've always dreamed of, Autumn,” Angelos IV spoke earnestly.

             
His intentions began to part like a fog. Autumn could see through them now. Her body tensed as her eyes narrowed on him. “No,” she said in a rasp. “This is what
you
have always wanted. Do not try to tell me to stop living my life for mother or for father so that you can force
your
desires for this life onto me!”

             
The young Lord attempted to look affronted which only furthered his sister's suspicions. “Autumn,” he soothed nervously, “I'm only attempting to help you realize what is best for you.”

             
“Then I suggest you leave her to her own decisions,” Aurea warned in such a voice that the young man immediately took a step back.

             
Angelos IV bowed respectfully to his Queen. “My apologies, Highness.” He turned to leave then paused. “It's just that I know for a fact that my Father’s blessing will not come,” he murmured.

             
Autumn's face blanched horribly. “What?” she rasped.

             
“I saw father with the druid last night.”

             
“Druid?” Aurea's eyes sparked with the fuels of hatred. “He consulted a druid?” The disgust she felt was clearly heard weighting her every words.

             
Angelos IV nodded his head. He had heard of Aurea's dislike for the druids, Soren in particular, through gossiping mouths among the court. It would seem, he thought as Aurea fumed, that they had been right.

             
“It is our custom to consult a druid and the Oracle regarding all marriages,” Angelos explained. He turned to face the sovereign, whom he knew offered up her full attention. “When I saw my father with the druid...” He offered a small smile which appeared more like a sneer. “Well,” he huffed, “it didn't appear as though he and Soren were discussing plans for festivities in your honor.”