tags to
@MadEmperor -----------------------------------------------
"I've... been having dreams....... the images are vivid and bold... ...sand falling backwards in an hour glass before it shatters at my feet and turns into a pool of blood. The blood then turns into two twin serpents that curl around me. They twist and press into my skin, curl around my throat and choke me of breath....and then I am resting.... arms folded... and it's very cold. can not open my eyes... and then I realize I am in a golden coffin that's floating up into the skies...."The dreams persisted for weeks. Her scribes would be called, and they would furiously write down the Shah's words. Each day for weeks now.. the dream had been the same. Occasionally, she would see
more. But the the pattern always remained.
An hour glass.
Blood.
Serpents...
and a golden coffin in the sky.
Today she had woke up screaming- afraid she was in that coffin as she threw herself out of bed and wept into her maidservants. The priests would come, as would the scribes, and they were beginning to denote each time the dreams happened.
Some nights she didn't dream at all, and those- thank Hakeshna, finally allowed her some peace.
But for the last few weeks...
It had been torture. And the dream kept moving forward, like a ship on the Niafi, the waters pulling.. moving.. always going in the same direction...
Towards the sea...
Towards the golden coffin in the sky.
Priests have been trying to puzzle over the meaning of her dream- clearly the Shah's dream had to be of some significance if she were to have it so many nights for so many weeks. Many tried to use the telling of ropes- a ceremony where priests would bind the dreamer in a series of different colored ropes and when the sleeper awoke- where she lay, what direction she was in- it all pointed to signs.. reasons.. logics that were calculated by the stars.
Her Telling made her belly grow cold when they spoke it-
That the great dual serpent Hakeshna was calling out to her to speak it's will...
And she would need to travel to the scared hot springs of O'dhavbarr.
Why did all of the rituals the priests perform point her to Hakeshna's will? Persea chewed her lip as she considered her goddess. Everything was to to the will of she. Was she doing something so wrong that the two-bodied god itself tried to communicate with her by her dreams?
So it was decided that the Shah make a pilgrimage to the hot springs of O'dhavbarr.
And there was great fanfare on this day- a sacred pilgrimage by the Shah herself! None outside of the palace would understand the intricacies or reasons as to
why the Shah was making such a journey- but it gave the city an excuse for lively music and dance, as the entire city was set to life, wishing blessings upon their Goddess as the Shah passed through the city towards the western gates.
Colorful flowers, ribbons and confetti were tossed as the entourage passed- and enthusiastic Essyrni and their children were outside ringing bells. As the procession continued, many would get down to their knees to bow in reverence to their Shah, as she sat on her cushioned chair inside her curtained palanquin. It was extravagant and ornate, featuring the lush colors of purples and golds- the colors of her kingdom, her country, her pride...
and many ornaments crowned the outside, as fan barers walked beside her, even they wearing elegant dresses or robes and were decorated in lavish gold trinkets from head to toe. None, clearly, were more grand than the Shah herself- who was wrapped in ornaments and colorful plush clothes from head to toe. Her gown was so long that it was layered well past her feet in a train her maid servants had to be on vigilant attendance of- lest the sacred clothing of their Shah become soiled on the dirts and sand.
But despite the fanfare going on inside the city, Persea was too anxious, hands fidgeting where they remained at rest to one side of her leg, the other across her lap. She was meant to sit in such a way to honor Hakeshna, and to bless the travels and keep them safe. Odd how a little thing such as the way the Shah would sit could affect their journey. Occasionally she would wonder how it possible,- but dare she question the will and might of the Gods?
She chewed on her lip, trying not to frown and keep herself in that air of indifference and serenity. It was times like this she had missed her mother.. missed her father. She had no one close to truly guide her. Sure, she had priests but...
It was not the same as those of flesh and blood, and ever since her rise to power, she felt that empty bite of mourning.
No, she needed to remain focused. She would have answers. She would. If Hakeshna was trying to communicate with her and the Telling Ropes foretold what she ought to do- then she would do it.
Perhaps it would be a good sign, nothing so ominous as what her imagination conjured up - for that she truly feared. Persea wasn't stupid enough not to see the signs of Mortality and Death from Blood... and an Hour Glass- for time... but the serpent...
That she still was uncertain.
But the coffin...
and the sky....
Was it a prophecy of her death?
She could only hope to find answers in O'dhavbarr.