The Adventure continues...
Jul. 10th, 2009 04:45 am![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
mistresshuette.livejournal.com posting in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
fandomaniaPlease click and view our eggs and hatchlings. I do the same for you. Thanks.
Our eggs:
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Our hatchlings:
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I spent the next month doing very little. It drove me crazy. I read books. I read magic books. I watched the children play. I watched the leaves change from bright summer greens to motley fall reds, golds and oranges. The weather cooled down, especially at night. The days started to grow shorter. I started to regain my strength. I started to put on weight, going from skinny to slender. Chef Ifon always had a new delicious treat for me. Fiorenzia came by every week to check up on me and always seemed pleased with my progress. Donal got a new commission from one of his patrons and he started spending more time in his studio. The family and the business were prospering well. Suthi and the other women were all entering their seventh month of pregnancy and were doing well.
Only Piatrus seemed unhappy. During family gatherings he appeared okay, but occasionally he was heard to mutter that things were going too well; that he had some feeling in his bones that disaster was on the horizon. When pressed, he wouldn’t be able to quantify his suspicions. I could tell that Ferrell and Suthi were starting to worry about him.
The remodeling of the south wing finally was finished and all that was needed was the decoration. Piatrus’ builder gave us a tour of the new rooms.
The first thing that I noticed was how noisy the hallway was. I was about to complain about that, when I noticed Izshaq looking very enthusiastic and tried various kinds of walking on them. He tried to tip-toe. He tried to slowly slide across. Everything he did created a squeaking sound. Finally, he said, “I have read about these. They are called ‘nightingale floors’. They prevent anyone from entering this wing without being heard. These are wonderful!”
“I brought in specialists from Shiangkau,” said Piatrus. “That is where it was invented. It is used to prevent assassination and abduction.”
The builder then pointed out that there was no longer a central corridor with rooms on either side. Instead, the corridor was shifted to the west and using the nightingale floor. There were four doors attached to the corridor: one to the nursery, one to the girls’ room, one to the boys’ room and Donal’s and my suite.
The nursery was first. As you entered, there were four bedrooms for the maids and a larger one for Izshaq, so that they could sleep with the babies and not elsewhere. There were built-in closets and chests of drawers and walls that could be attached or removed as needed. Each alcove would contain a crib. There was also a changing area, a bathing alcove, and a private privy. The rest of the room was open for play or whatever was needed. There was a large picture window that brought light into the common area. It had decorative bars over it, to prevent anyone breaking in. When I asked about what would happen in case of a fire, the builder showed us secret latches that would release the window and the bars, so that it could be used as an escape exit. There was a sliding door that one could use to go from the nursery to the girls’ room. This room was much larger, but with a similar window treatment. It had room for up to a dozen private sleeping areas that had built in closets and chests of drawers and removable walls too; but much bigger, allowing for more room for each child. They too had their own communal bath and privy. The central area was designated for communal use; for play, study or just lounging. There was another sliding door to the boys’ room, which was exactly like the one for the girls. The sliding door from this room went into our sitting area, which was a large room with large picture windows and a large fireplace. From this room, it went into our bedroom, that also featured a fireplace, but with stained glass windows that allowed in light, but gave privacy. Off of the bedroom was a private privy, bathroom and a large walk-in closet, also with built in drawers. Piatrus also showed us a built-in safe in the closet for my valuables.
Everything was so beautiful and so cleverly done. The children had access to us and vice-versa, without having to resort to the central hall. But only a few were to know about the sliding doors. The next day, Piatrus brought in a barrage of furniture makers, painters, carpet vendors; you name it; they brought it and came eagerly at Piatrus’ invitation, with drawings, ideas and samples. The decision making was almost overwhelming, but with everyone’s help, decisions were made.
The nursery was to be done in whites, bright greens and cool blues, with a sea theme. There was to be a central mural done of water babies frolicking in the waves with sea life and sea dragons. Each crib alcove was to be done in whites with brightly colored fish painted everywhere. The changing area, the privy and the bath alcove were to be done in blue and green tile with real seashells interspersed. The bedrooms for the maids and for Izshaq were to be basic white and each occupant would be allowed to decorate as they liked.
The girls’ room was to be done in pastel pink and bright green. The central mural was a forest glade with flowers, trees and horses, with sky and cloud dragons frolicking in the air. Each bed alcove was painted in white, with a garden of hundreds of flowers in each, with vine dragons and cute forest animals cleverly hidden. Their privy and bath alcove was decorated in pink and green tile and tiles painted with pink and green flowers. Different sized tables and chairs to suit a child or teenager were placed in the study area and book cases and toy boxes in the play area.
The boys’ room was to be done in blues, grays and whites. The central mural was a castle scene with flying pennants and a tournament of knights, horses and royal processions. Each bed alcove was painted in white, with every sort of dragon depicted. Their privy and bath alcove was tiled in blues and grays, with rocks and dragon egg shards interspersed. The furniture was similar to the girls but in plainer in style.
Our sitting room was done in greens and golds, with light green walls and dark walnut paneling. Dark green damask curtains were hung by the window, and green, gold and white hand woven area rugs, done in arabesques, were scattered on the floor. There was a light oak table and chairs next to one window. Several light oak book cases were placed here and there. Several couches and upholstered chairs done in dark green velvet with floral pillow accents were placed in front of the fireplace. I had many of my children’s drawings framed and hung on the walls. Our bedroom was difficult to choose because it had to reflect both or our tastes. In the end, we chose lavender walls with mahogany paneling and white silk curtains to surround the stained glass window. Gold, lavender and black hand woven rugs done in a floral vine pattern were scattered around and also in front of the fireplace along with a lavender velvet loveseat. The bed was a mahogany four-poster with white shear silk hangings and a lavender silk bed spread. Over the mantel, Piatrus commissioned an artist to paint my portrait, but I managed to talk the artist into turning is one of both Donal and myself. The privy was done in lavender and silver tile with occasional pieces of raw amethyst and quartz crystals. The bathroom was a sunken tub that looked like a huge silver shell, with wall covered with tiles of lavender and mother of pearl shell pieces.
Piatrus ordered everything and paid for everything. Consequently, everyone scrambled and worked hard to get everything done in ten days. When it was done, our new living quarters were like living in a dream. I have never lived in such luxury and such beauty, not even when I was a child and the granddaughter of a king. It was amazing. The children were excited and ecstatic. They liked having a small room of their own, but yet connected to their siblings. They had privacy and, at the same time, a sense of community.
It was a relief to finally have a wing to ourselves. It felt like we were together as a family once more.
It was will we were still enjoying the newness of our new quarters that Uncle Haral came to visit me. I invited him to enjoy the new sitting room. He was instantly intrigued with the corridor and commented to me that he was going to have to get Piatrus to build him such a corridor outside his offices and bedroom.
“I like how you have decorated here. This room is elegant, calm and yet homey. You have done a good job here. I am anxious to see what you have done with the rest. Piatrus has said that it is something else. He seems impressed with your taste and ability to make bare rooms become alive and homey.” Haral nodded as he spoke and looked very approving.
“Thank you, Uncle Haral. Your praise to very generous and it means a lot to me. But I sense that there is really another purpose to your visit.” I replied.
His face became serious. “This is unfortunately true, my dear girl. I have some very sad news for you. I am sorry to tell you this, but your sister, Laela, is dead. Her body was found dumped in a field outside the city. She has met with a very painful and horrible death.”
“Oh, ghods! No! Oh, no! She was just a child! I know she had problems, but I kept hoping and praying that she would eventually see what she was doing to herself and realize how wrong it was. I have been hoping that one day she would just appear at our door and want to be a normal person again. Oh, poor, poor Laela! Poor, poor Laela! What horrible, wasted life she had! “
Haral comforted me as I cried. He was very patient and kind to me; letting me cry as much as I needed to.
When I was calmer, I asked, “Do you know how she died? Do you know who killed her?”
“My dear girl, you don’t want to know how she died. It wasn’t a pleasant death. But you don’t really need the details. They would just horrify you and give you nightmares.
“As for who killed her, we probably will never know who exactly killed her, but we suspect that her death was ordered by Count Torfen. We doubt he actually did the deed, but no one in his cult ever does anything without his knowledge. Until the King becomes willing to stop protecting him, more and more young girls will die.” Haral sighed and then continued. “We have her body on the temple morgue. Our monks are preparing her body for cremation. Do you think you would be up to attending her funeral the day after tomorrow? It seems very sad to send her soul to eternity without anyone there who knew her in life.” I nodded
And thus, two days later, Donal and I, along with Aral and his wife Cass, entered the funerary grounds of the Temple. There is the center of the area, was the funeral pyre, on top of which was placed the remains of my sister, with her feet pointing south. She was wrapped entirely in red, to signify that she had been an unwed female. While Haral, as Archprelate of the Temple, chanted passages from the Nyingma, the ancient book of the dead, several monks came forward with torches and lit the pyre. As Laela’s body cremated, Haral and the monks walked around the fire chanting passages to help her soul find its way to the afterlife. Whether she was going to Empyrean or to Tophrean, I did not know. That was for Pražūtis to decide. As the smoke billowed upwards, I sent my prayers upwards. Both Aral and Cass were sobbing openly, while I wept silently. Donal put a comforting arm over my shoulders. When the fire had fully consumed her body, it was allowed to die down. We, as her only mourners, were then escorted to the reflectory where we were given a dish of rice mixed with vinegar and sweet plums to eat. This was to remind us of that life, as well as death, was both bitter and sweet. When the ashes were cool, the monks placed them in a ceremonial urn and we processed from the Temple to the sacred place on the Rhempo River, where her ashes were scattered.
We returned to the compound in a very somber mood. We were quickly surrounded by the family and taken to the dining hall, where a simple luncheon was spread, buffet style. Uncle Haral joined us there and the rest of the afternoon was spent in the loving care of the family.
Our eggs:
§ § Our hatchlings:
§ § § § § I spent the next month doing very little. It drove me crazy. I read books. I read magic books. I watched the children play. I watched the leaves change from bright summer greens to motley fall reds, golds and oranges. The weather cooled down, especially at night. The days started to grow shorter. I started to regain my strength. I started to put on weight, going from skinny to slender. Chef Ifon always had a new delicious treat for me. Fiorenzia came by every week to check up on me and always seemed pleased with my progress. Donal got a new commission from one of his patrons and he started spending more time in his studio. The family and the business were prospering well. Suthi and the other women were all entering their seventh month of pregnancy and were doing well.
Only Piatrus seemed unhappy. During family gatherings he appeared okay, but occasionally he was heard to mutter that things were going too well; that he had some feeling in his bones that disaster was on the horizon. When pressed, he wouldn’t be able to quantify his suspicions. I could tell that Ferrell and Suthi were starting to worry about him.
The remodeling of the south wing finally was finished and all that was needed was the decoration. Piatrus’ builder gave us a tour of the new rooms.
The first thing that I noticed was how noisy the hallway was. I was about to complain about that, when I noticed Izshaq looking very enthusiastic and tried various kinds of walking on them. He tried to tip-toe. He tried to slowly slide across. Everything he did created a squeaking sound. Finally, he said, “I have read about these. They are called ‘nightingale floors’. They prevent anyone from entering this wing without being heard. These are wonderful!”
“I brought in specialists from Shiangkau,” said Piatrus. “That is where it was invented. It is used to prevent assassination and abduction.”
The builder then pointed out that there was no longer a central corridor with rooms on either side. Instead, the corridor was shifted to the west and using the nightingale floor. There were four doors attached to the corridor: one to the nursery, one to the girls’ room, one to the boys’ room and Donal’s and my suite.
The nursery was first. As you entered, there were four bedrooms for the maids and a larger one for Izshaq, so that they could sleep with the babies and not elsewhere. There were built-in closets and chests of drawers and walls that could be attached or removed as needed. Each alcove would contain a crib. There was also a changing area, a bathing alcove, and a private privy. The rest of the room was open for play or whatever was needed. There was a large picture window that brought light into the common area. It had decorative bars over it, to prevent anyone breaking in. When I asked about what would happen in case of a fire, the builder showed us secret latches that would release the window and the bars, so that it could be used as an escape exit. There was a sliding door that one could use to go from the nursery to the girls’ room. This room was much larger, but with a similar window treatment. It had room for up to a dozen private sleeping areas that had built in closets and chests of drawers and removable walls too; but much bigger, allowing for more room for each child. They too had their own communal bath and privy. The central area was designated for communal use; for play, study or just lounging. There was another sliding door to the boys’ room, which was exactly like the one for the girls. The sliding door from this room went into our sitting area, which was a large room with large picture windows and a large fireplace. From this room, it went into our bedroom, that also featured a fireplace, but with stained glass windows that allowed in light, but gave privacy. Off of the bedroom was a private privy, bathroom and a large walk-in closet, also with built in drawers. Piatrus also showed us a built-in safe in the closet for my valuables.
Everything was so beautiful and so cleverly done. The children had access to us and vice-versa, without having to resort to the central hall. But only a few were to know about the sliding doors. The next day, Piatrus brought in a barrage of furniture makers, painters, carpet vendors; you name it; they brought it and came eagerly at Piatrus’ invitation, with drawings, ideas and samples. The decision making was almost overwhelming, but with everyone’s help, decisions were made.
The nursery was to be done in whites, bright greens and cool blues, with a sea theme. There was to be a central mural done of water babies frolicking in the waves with sea life and sea dragons. Each crib alcove was to be done in whites with brightly colored fish painted everywhere. The changing area, the privy and the bath alcove were to be done in blue and green tile with real seashells interspersed. The bedrooms for the maids and for Izshaq were to be basic white and each occupant would be allowed to decorate as they liked.
The girls’ room was to be done in pastel pink and bright green. The central mural was a forest glade with flowers, trees and horses, with sky and cloud dragons frolicking in the air. Each bed alcove was painted in white, with a garden of hundreds of flowers in each, with vine dragons and cute forest animals cleverly hidden. Their privy and bath alcove was decorated in pink and green tile and tiles painted with pink and green flowers. Different sized tables and chairs to suit a child or teenager were placed in the study area and book cases and toy boxes in the play area.
The boys’ room was to be done in blues, grays and whites. The central mural was a castle scene with flying pennants and a tournament of knights, horses and royal processions. Each bed alcove was painted in white, with every sort of dragon depicted. Their privy and bath alcove was tiled in blues and grays, with rocks and dragon egg shards interspersed. The furniture was similar to the girls but in plainer in style.
Our sitting room was done in greens and golds, with light green walls and dark walnut paneling. Dark green damask curtains were hung by the window, and green, gold and white hand woven area rugs, done in arabesques, were scattered on the floor. There was a light oak table and chairs next to one window. Several light oak book cases were placed here and there. Several couches and upholstered chairs done in dark green velvet with floral pillow accents were placed in front of the fireplace. I had many of my children’s drawings framed and hung on the walls. Our bedroom was difficult to choose because it had to reflect both or our tastes. In the end, we chose lavender walls with mahogany paneling and white silk curtains to surround the stained glass window. Gold, lavender and black hand woven rugs done in a floral vine pattern were scattered around and also in front of the fireplace along with a lavender velvet loveseat. The bed was a mahogany four-poster with white shear silk hangings and a lavender silk bed spread. Over the mantel, Piatrus commissioned an artist to paint my portrait, but I managed to talk the artist into turning is one of both Donal and myself. The privy was done in lavender and silver tile with occasional pieces of raw amethyst and quartz crystals. The bathroom was a sunken tub that looked like a huge silver shell, with wall covered with tiles of lavender and mother of pearl shell pieces.
Piatrus ordered everything and paid for everything. Consequently, everyone scrambled and worked hard to get everything done in ten days. When it was done, our new living quarters were like living in a dream. I have never lived in such luxury and such beauty, not even when I was a child and the granddaughter of a king. It was amazing. The children were excited and ecstatic. They liked having a small room of their own, but yet connected to their siblings. They had privacy and, at the same time, a sense of community.
It was a relief to finally have a wing to ourselves. It felt like we were together as a family once more.
It was will we were still enjoying the newness of our new quarters that Uncle Haral came to visit me. I invited him to enjoy the new sitting room. He was instantly intrigued with the corridor and commented to me that he was going to have to get Piatrus to build him such a corridor outside his offices and bedroom.
“I like how you have decorated here. This room is elegant, calm and yet homey. You have done a good job here. I am anxious to see what you have done with the rest. Piatrus has said that it is something else. He seems impressed with your taste and ability to make bare rooms become alive and homey.” Haral nodded as he spoke and looked very approving.
“Thank you, Uncle Haral. Your praise to very generous and it means a lot to me. But I sense that there is really another purpose to your visit.” I replied.
His face became serious. “This is unfortunately true, my dear girl. I have some very sad news for you. I am sorry to tell you this, but your sister, Laela, is dead. Her body was found dumped in a field outside the city. She has met with a very painful and horrible death.”
“Oh, ghods! No! Oh, no! She was just a child! I know she had problems, but I kept hoping and praying that she would eventually see what she was doing to herself and realize how wrong it was. I have been hoping that one day she would just appear at our door and want to be a normal person again. Oh, poor, poor Laela! Poor, poor Laela! What horrible, wasted life she had! “
Haral comforted me as I cried. He was very patient and kind to me; letting me cry as much as I needed to.
When I was calmer, I asked, “Do you know how she died? Do you know who killed her?”
“My dear girl, you don’t want to know how she died. It wasn’t a pleasant death. But you don’t really need the details. They would just horrify you and give you nightmares.
“As for who killed her, we probably will never know who exactly killed her, but we suspect that her death was ordered by Count Torfen. We doubt he actually did the deed, but no one in his cult ever does anything without his knowledge. Until the King becomes willing to stop protecting him, more and more young girls will die.” Haral sighed and then continued. “We have her body on the temple morgue. Our monks are preparing her body for cremation. Do you think you would be up to attending her funeral the day after tomorrow? It seems very sad to send her soul to eternity without anyone there who knew her in life.” I nodded
And thus, two days later, Donal and I, along with Aral and his wife Cass, entered the funerary grounds of the Temple. There is the center of the area, was the funeral pyre, on top of which was placed the remains of my sister, with her feet pointing south. She was wrapped entirely in red, to signify that she had been an unwed female. While Haral, as Archprelate of the Temple, chanted passages from the Nyingma, the ancient book of the dead, several monks came forward with torches and lit the pyre. As Laela’s body cremated, Haral and the monks walked around the fire chanting passages to help her soul find its way to the afterlife. Whether she was going to Empyrean or to Tophrean, I did not know. That was for Pražūtis to decide. As the smoke billowed upwards, I sent my prayers upwards. Both Aral and Cass were sobbing openly, while I wept silently. Donal put a comforting arm over my shoulders. When the fire had fully consumed her body, it was allowed to die down. We, as her only mourners, were then escorted to the reflectory where we were given a dish of rice mixed with vinegar and sweet plums to eat. This was to remind us of that life, as well as death, was both bitter and sweet. When the ashes were cool, the monks placed them in a ceremonial urn and we processed from the Temple to the sacred place on the Rhempo River, where her ashes were scattered.
We returned to the compound in a very somber mood. We were quickly surrounded by the family and taken to the dining hall, where a simple luncheon was spread, buffet style. Uncle Haral joined us there and the rest of the afternoon was spent in the loving care of the family.
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no subject
Date: 2009-07-10 03:22 pm (UTC)*eep* about Laela. i'm sure i wouldn't want to know either....
no subject
Date: 2009-07-10 05:45 pm (UTC)Mostly.