[Edited 1/13/03]
This is the NEW part!
I deleted the Priya/Animus scene, as I really did not like how it caused the rest of the story to fall around it.
So this is the new scene to replace it!
***
Side by side, the red-headed priestess and the brunette princess walked through the quiet halls of the Castle of Tribute. The only other souls that dared to mill around the castle in the wake of the High Priestess' death were the obligated servants. However, as the servants courteously greeted the pair with a bow of their heads while walking by, it was to be noticed that even they carried tears of sadness in their eyes.
"Thank you for coming with me, Princess Shayla," Rai awkwardly thanked. She kindly smiled down at the girl whose small, gloved hand was held in her own.
"You needed me," Shayla simply returned. "It is my home."
"That it is," Rai agreed as they gradually approached the foot of the grand staircase. Inwardly, she questioned whether they should ascend, but even before she could think to stop, the princess was already taking the lead and pulling her gently up the stairs. "The only time I visit the castle is during the Feast of the Wolfzord; and even then, I always stay on the bottom floor in the Great Hall. I've never seen anything else."
Together, they stepped off the last stair and stood at the head of a hallway of doors. Shayla peered up into the older woman's face. "Where is High Priest Vanault staying?"
"The soldier told me only to go to the castle; he did not tell me where," Rai relayed, her green eyes clouded with worry. She peered down the hall timidly, completely unfamiliar with her surroundings. "That is why I needed your help, Shayla."
Late last night, a young soldier had come to the Wildzord Sanctuary gate asking for the Sanctuary Priestess. One of the Virginal Does went to fetch her from her room, and when she met with the soldier, he told her of what had happened to Vanault. Apparently, he had returned to the castle - specifically to Opaline's room - and was found violently grieving for Opaline by a handmaiden. Rai asked what the soldier meant by "violently grieving," but not even he had an explanation as to what that had meant. He had told her to go to the castle the next morning to tend to Vanault, and then left her alone to worry about the High Priest.
"He was found in her room?" Her passing was still fresh; Shayla hesitated to speak even Opaline's title in deference to Rai.
It took the priestess a moment to find her voice. "Yes."
In a switching of roles, the young Fawn held onto her teacher's hand and walked her down the hall, guiding her to the room that once belonged to the Opaline. Tears threatened to roll down Rai's pronounced cheeks as she watched the girl take charge when Rai simply couldn't bring herself to do so. She didn't dare vocalize how she felt - how grateful she was - for fear of breaking down right then and there in the middle of the hall.
Down the hall they traveled until they stopped in front of an ordinary-looking door, save for the Deerzord engraving within the wood that set it apart from all the others. Shayla placed her hand against the silver knob and turned it, opening the door and allowing them access into the room.
The rush of cold air nearly overwhelmed Rai when she first entered the room, following in Shayla's footsteps. Side by side, they stood in the threshold of the room staring at the window across from them.
Vanault languidly leaned against the windowsill, his back to them, appearing to be completely composed.
After a long moment in where the three of them remained completely still in their places, he finally spoke up. "Princess Shayla, please leave." He requested her with a slight lifting of his hand, back still turned to them.
Barely noticing Shayla's departure as the girl shut the door behind her, Rai was overwhelmed by the force of Vanault's aura. It was no longer a pulsing, raging storm of bleak green, but was a calm and serene pond of dark green. His controlled, settled emotions served to steady her own instantly.
"I'm sorry you had to come."
"It's alright." Rai shed herself of her heavy cloak in the stuffy room and folded it over her arms. "Is everything fine now?"
Vanault turned to face her, the smallest of smirks upon his lips and an earnest look in his clear blue eyes. "As fine as it can be." He paused, narrowing his eyebrows as if contemplating the true meaning of being fine. "She's gone, and things are far from fine."
"I know," she agreed monotonously. As the young woman stared down at her shifting feet, her red tresses tumbled into her face, hiding her features from view.
Rai heard his boots against the stone floor, and soon enough, they entered her vision. Vanault's hand slipped beneath her chin and drew her head up so that she was looking up at him. "You've spent the past two days being strong, for the Clan, and for me." His hands moved to cup her cheeks, and slowly, the trembling tears slipped from her eyes. "You don't have to be strong; I'll take care of you."
The petite Sanctuary Priestess broke down completely upon his words, and began to sob uncontrollably, burying her face into his chest. Vanault soothingly held her close, and rubbed her back softly. They needed each other more than ever now, and for that moment, he would set aside his revenge simply to comfort his Clan sister so that they might move forward together, stronger.
***
This is the NEW part!
I deleted the Priya/Animus scene, as I really did not like how it caused the rest of the story to fall around it. So this is the new scene to replace it!
***
Side by side, the red-headed priestess and the brunette princess walked through the quiet halls of the Castle of Tribute. The only other souls that dared to mill around the castle in the wake of the High Priestess' death were the obligated servants. However, as the servants courteously greeted the pair with a bow of their heads while walking by, it was to be noticed that even they carried tears of sadness in their eyes.
"Thank you for coming with me, Princess Shayla," Rai awkwardly thanked. She kindly smiled down at the girl whose small, gloved hand was held in her own.
"You needed me," Shayla simply returned. "It is my home."
"That it is," Rai agreed as they gradually approached the foot of the grand staircase. Inwardly, she questioned whether they should ascend, but even before she could think to stop, the princess was already taking the lead and pulling her gently up the stairs. "The only time I visit the castle is during the Feast of the Wolfzord; and even then, I always stay on the bottom floor in the Great Hall. I've never seen anything else."
Together, they stepped off the last stair and stood at the head of a hallway of doors. Shayla peered up into the older woman's face. "Where is High Priest Vanault staying?"
"The soldier told me only to go to the castle; he did not tell me where," Rai relayed, her green eyes clouded with worry. She peered down the hall timidly, completely unfamiliar with her surroundings. "That is why I needed your help, Shayla."
Late last night, a young soldier had come to the Wildzord Sanctuary gate asking for the Sanctuary Priestess. One of the Virginal Does went to fetch her from her room, and when she met with the soldier, he told her of what had happened to Vanault. Apparently, he had returned to the castle - specifically to Opaline's room - and was found violently grieving for Opaline by a handmaiden. Rai asked what the soldier meant by "violently grieving," but not even he had an explanation as to what that had meant. He had told her to go to the castle the next morning to tend to Vanault, and then left her alone to worry about the High Priest.
"He was found in her room?" Her passing was still fresh; Shayla hesitated to speak even Opaline's title in deference to Rai.
It took the priestess a moment to find her voice. "Yes."
In a switching of roles, the young Fawn held onto her teacher's hand and walked her down the hall, guiding her to the room that once belonged to the Opaline. Tears threatened to roll down Rai's pronounced cheeks as she watched the girl take charge when Rai simply couldn't bring herself to do so. She didn't dare vocalize how she felt - how grateful she was - for fear of breaking down right then and there in the middle of the hall.
Down the hall they traveled until they stopped in front of an ordinary-looking door, save for the Deerzord engraving within the wood that set it apart from all the others. Shayla placed her hand against the silver knob and turned it, opening the door and allowing them access into the room.
The rush of cold air nearly overwhelmed Rai when she first entered the room, following in Shayla's footsteps. Side by side, they stood in the threshold of the room staring at the window across from them.
Vanault languidly leaned against the windowsill, his back to them, appearing to be completely composed.
After a long moment in where the three of them remained completely still in their places, he finally spoke up. "Princess Shayla, please leave." He requested her with a slight lifting of his hand, back still turned to them.
Barely noticing Shayla's departure as the girl shut the door behind her, Rai was overwhelmed by the force of Vanault's aura. It was no longer a pulsing, raging storm of bleak green, but was a calm and serene pond of dark green. His controlled, settled emotions served to steady her own instantly.
"I'm sorry you had to come."
"It's alright." Rai shed herself of her heavy cloak in the stuffy room and folded it over her arms. "Is everything fine now?"
Vanault turned to face her, the smallest of smirks upon his lips and an earnest look in his clear blue eyes. "As fine as it can be." He paused, narrowing his eyebrows as if contemplating the true meaning of being fine. "She's gone, and things are far from fine."
"I know," she agreed monotonously. As the young woman stared down at her shifting feet, her red tresses tumbled into her face, hiding her features from view.
Rai heard his boots against the stone floor, and soon enough, they entered her vision. Vanault's hand slipped beneath her chin and drew her head up so that she was looking up at him. "You've spent the past two days being strong, for the Clan, and for me." His hands moved to cup her cheeks, and slowly, the trembling tears slipped from her eyes. "You don't have to be strong; I'll take care of you."
The petite Sanctuary Priestess broke down completely upon his words, and began to sob uncontrollably, burying her face into his chest. Vanault soothingly held her close, and rubbed her back softly. They needed each other more than ever now, and for that moment, he would set aside his revenge simply to comfort his Clan sister so that they might move forward together, stronger.
***
WhiteZeo
An Oliverette To The End
---
"per se? When did we get into "per se" territory? Are words like "ergo" and "concurrently" looming up ahead?" - Sugarplum in AIM :)
An Oliverette To The End
---
"per se? When did we get into "per se" territory? Are words like "ergo" and "concurrently" looming up ahead?" - Sugarplum in AIM :)
I so knew where that name came from! And you know what? I think her namesake was a pretty cool character! I liked her hair because I could never pull it off. ::giggles:: So cornball. ::giggles::
