A Binding Ascent
Part 1: A New Dawn
Part 2: A Familiar Warmth
The two sat in silence, hands entwined, watching at the sun slowly rose. These precious minutes soon evaporated, as a group of intimidating Guardians approached from over the far hill. Calamen, who had been resting against the pedestal, quickly hopped away from the sacred stone. She took to the air, hovering in front of Arien. The bogsneak reached out and carressed the side of Calamen's face. The fae closed her eyes, leaning into the touch.
"Farewell," she buzzed.
"Farewell," Arien whispered. Before she could say anything else, the fae flew away, darting off into the distance. Arien watched her leave, then turned to face the approaching guardians.
The male guardian in the front of the group stepped forward. Arien felt the knot in her stomach release - if they had seen the fae, they were choosing to ignore it.
"Princess Arien," the guardian rumbled, bowing. The others bowed as well, and Arien acknowledged their fealty with a nod.
"Glinduath," she greeted her captain of the guard.
"It is time, princess, for the Adornment," the captain explained. He gestured and out from behind the group stepped an elderly skydancer.
The skydancer bowed her head, and then immediately got to work pulling items from her satchel with her grey, trembling claws.
"Tailor," the captain warned.
The old skydancer looked up and adjusted her glasses, which had somewhat slid down her nose. "Oh yes. May I approach your highness?"
"You may," Arien replied. She looked back to her guards as the elder prepared the garments.
"You disappeared this morning, your highness," Glinduath spoke before Arien had the chance to say anything. "Is there a reason you have come here, alone, on the day of your Ascent?"
The princess flushed, but did not look away from the guard. "Perhaps I simply wished for some solitude before I took my place on the Pedestal."
Glinduath was not so easily fooled, but he did not press the issue. "It is not safe," he scolded, but there was no fire behind his words. Arien turned her attention back to the skydancer without responding.
The sun was beginning to beat hot against her wings now. She fidgeted as the tailor approached her with golden silks.
"Please be still now, princess," her voice scraped in her throat. The tailor drank some water from a container before continuing. "First we have the Veil, so that you may forever rule with humility."
Arien almost rolled her eyes, but caught herself in time. "In humility may I rule."
"Next, the Collar, so that your words may be forever wise," the tailor continued, clasping a gold necklace around the princess's neck.
"May wisdom guide my words," Arien echoed.
"Golden Cuffs, to bind you to your duty," the skydancer recited. She locked the confining jewelry around Arien's wrists and ankles. The metal was cold against her scales.
"May I be bound in duty," Arien replied. The skydancer looked at her from over her glasses.
"To duty, my princess."
"Yes, to duty."
The tailor continued. "Golden Rings, to bless your rule with longevity."
"Long may I reign."
"And finally," the skydancer carefully lifted a pointed, golden crown. She held it up above their heads, its thorny sides glistening in the sun. "The Crown, so that you may rule with strength and serve as our Light."
"May my rule be strong, and my Light unerring."
The skydancer gently placed the crown on the princess's head. It balanced well, held in place by pricking thorns that pressed into her fins. It did not hurt, but it was not comfortable.
"Am I your queen now?" she asked jokingly. The skydancer stumbled over her words. "Well um, no princess, I mean, you--"
"After the Naming, princess." Glinduath smirked. "Do be patient."
Arien laughed. The flustered skydancer bowed again and quickly left with two of the guards. Soon Glinduath and Arien were alone together in the fields.
The captain took his place next to the princess. "The people will be arriving soon."
"Yes."
"But you have already had a visitor today."
Arien did not look at the guard. "I do not know what you are referring to."
Glinduath was silent. After a few tense moments, he reached out with one claw and picked something up from the ground next to the pillar.
"She left this for you," he said, holding up a deep blue rose. Arien's eyes widened - she scrambled for something to say to cover for Calamen, but Glinduath shook his head.
"It's okay," he said. With uncharacteristic gentleness, he tucked the delicate blossom behind her fins. "Remember her."
Tears stung at the corners of Arien's eyes. She blinked a few times to regain composure. "Thank you."
The captain stepped back into his post at her side, and together they watched in silence as the sun climbed ever higher into the sky.
Here is the mannequin and item choices for today's challenge. The reasons for choosing each piece of clothing and their importance to Arien's status as soon-to-be-queen are in the roleplay text itself.
Part 1: A New Dawn
Part 2: A Familiar Warmth
The two sat in silence, hands entwined, watching at the sun slowly rose. These precious minutes soon evaporated, as a group of intimidating Guardians approached from over the far hill. Calamen, who had been resting against the pedestal, quickly hopped away from the sacred stone. She took to the air, hovering in front of Arien. The bogsneak reached out and carressed the side of Calamen's face. The fae closed her eyes, leaning into the touch.
"Farewell," she buzzed.
"Farewell," Arien whispered. Before she could say anything else, the fae flew away, darting off into the distance. Arien watched her leave, then turned to face the approaching guardians.
The male guardian in the front of the group stepped forward. Arien felt the knot in her stomach release - if they had seen the fae, they were choosing to ignore it.
"Princess Arien," the guardian rumbled, bowing. The others bowed as well, and Arien acknowledged their fealty with a nod.
"Glinduath," she greeted her captain of the guard.
"It is time, princess, for the Adornment," the captain explained. He gestured and out from behind the group stepped an elderly skydancer.
The skydancer bowed her head, and then immediately got to work pulling items from her satchel with her grey, trembling claws.
"Tailor," the captain warned.
The old skydancer looked up and adjusted her glasses, which had somewhat slid down her nose. "Oh yes. May I approach your highness?"
"You may," Arien replied. She looked back to her guards as the elder prepared the garments.
"You disappeared this morning, your highness," Glinduath spoke before Arien had the chance to say anything. "Is there a reason you have come here, alone, on the day of your Ascent?"
The princess flushed, but did not look away from the guard. "Perhaps I simply wished for some solitude before I took my place on the Pedestal."
Glinduath was not so easily fooled, but he did not press the issue. "It is not safe," he scolded, but there was no fire behind his words. Arien turned her attention back to the skydancer without responding.
The sun was beginning to beat hot against her wings now. She fidgeted as the tailor approached her with golden silks.
"Please be still now, princess," her voice scraped in her throat. The tailor drank some water from a container before continuing. "First we have the Veil, so that you may forever rule with humility."
Arien almost rolled her eyes, but caught herself in time. "In humility may I rule."
"Next, the Collar, so that your words may be forever wise," the tailor continued, clasping a gold necklace around the princess's neck.
"May wisdom guide my words," Arien echoed.
"Golden Cuffs, to bind you to your duty," the skydancer recited. She locked the confining jewelry around Arien's wrists and ankles. The metal was cold against her scales.
"May I be bound in duty," Arien replied. The skydancer looked at her from over her glasses.
"To duty, my princess."
"Yes, to duty."
The tailor continued. "Golden Rings, to bless your rule with longevity."
"Long may I reign."
"And finally," the skydancer carefully lifted a pointed, golden crown. She held it up above their heads, its thorny sides glistening in the sun. "The Crown, so that you may rule with strength and serve as our Light."
"May my rule be strong, and my Light unerring."
The skydancer gently placed the crown on the princess's head. It balanced well, held in place by pricking thorns that pressed into her fins. It did not hurt, but it was not comfortable.
"Am I your queen now?" she asked jokingly. The skydancer stumbled over her words. "Well um, no princess, I mean, you--"
"After the Naming, princess." Glinduath smirked. "Do be patient."
Arien laughed. The flustered skydancer bowed again and quickly left with two of the guards. Soon Glinduath and Arien were alone together in the fields.
The captain took his place next to the princess. "The people will be arriving soon."
"Yes."
"But you have already had a visitor today."
Arien did not look at the guard. "I do not know what you are referring to."
Glinduath was silent. After a few tense moments, he reached out with one claw and picked something up from the ground next to the pillar.
"She left this for you," he said, holding up a deep blue rose. Arien's eyes widened - she scrambled for something to say to cover for Calamen, but Glinduath shook his head.
"It's okay," he said. With uncharacteristic gentleness, he tucked the delicate blossom behind her fins. "Remember her."
Tears stung at the corners of Arien's eyes. She blinked a few times to regain composure. "Thank you."
The captain stepped back into his post at her side, and together they watched in silence as the sun climbed ever higher into the sky.
Here is the mannequin and item choices for today's challenge. The reasons for choosing each piece of clothing and their importance to Arien's status as soon-to-be-queen are in the roleplay text itself.
