Pomp and Circumstance
In the distance, she heard her handmaidens calling for her and slid even deeper under cover of the foliage. The bright blues and greens and reds of the flowers stood in contrast to the darkening russet of the sky. She knew she would have to allow herself to be found soon so that her maid could bathe and dress her, but she wanted to relish these last few moments as a child.
Soon, as a denizen of Heaven she would have to undertake an oath to maintain an aspect of creation. Most knew from the time of cognizance what their fate would be, but she still had not felt her calling, and by weeks end would need to have her decision ready. Her father, Arun, assured the continuance of the Morning Sun, and her mother, Taraneh, the earthly Soil. Even her uncle, Dassais, was lord of the Deep Sea. All were such soaring positions that expectations were high for her, despite her age, and birth.
“Are yours the handmaidens that are crying in the Hall?”
Aurelia looked up into her uncle’s turquoise eyes, his long, rippling hair blowing in the breeze. She smiled, a bit sheepishly.
“Most likely. I should let them find me, shouldn’t I?” He smiled back at her.
“I would say so. You need to look resplendent for the festivities this evening.”
Aurelia sighed and sat up, flicking her black hair from her face. Her mother liked her hair loose, although Aurelia preferred it tied back to keep it out of her eyes. Looking over the lake as it shimmered like diamond dust, she stood up, grabbing her uncle’s outstretched hand to help.
“I suppose you’re correct, Uncle. I’ll go beg forgiveness from them, now. Excuse me.” She curtseyed and shuffled off, rather slowly, dreading the hours of dressing that her maids would subject her to. She glanced back once, to find Dassais looking at her with a contemplative look.
No matter.
It was short work to find her maids, Celia and Greniel, and they were in tears. She felt a bit guilty, but suppressed it enough to merely smile and follow them to her dressing chamber. Laid out was her gown, and her table was a mass of various cosmetics and adornments.
The gown was an iridescent blue-green, with jade accents around the neckline and down the sleeves. The fabric was thin and breezy, and tended to move constantly at the slightest hint of a breeze. First Celia bathed her, washing and drying her hair with a silken towel.
Then, she sat down so that they could begin work on her face and hair. While loose, pins and decorative combs were worked into her tresses so that they looked like colorful stars in a night sky. Lastly was the dress, with its many buttons and folds and last minute adjustments, until parts of it were like a second skin, the rest a floating cloud around her.
Now, she had to wait, sitting still so as not to disturb her maidens’ handiwork. Instead she tapped her fingers against her chair and her foot against the marble floors. She hated large parties, especially ones where she was even partially the center of attention. Tonight she would be held in the center of a captive audience, all staring and gossiping about her.
Her lack of a calling was a well known fact, and one that had a great many denizens scornful. They usually didn’t think of her as belonging here on their most generous days, so tonight she felt particularly anxious. Her maids were still aflutter, fussing and perfecting what was already perfect, but she didn’t really notice. Her stomach was roiling like the sea before a storm, and she had to force herself to take calm, even breathes.
Knock, knock.
She heard it moments before the door opened, revealing her mother, dressed in a long, flowing gown of chocolate brown and spring green. Taraneh of the Soil had a calm, but clearly anticipatory smile gracing her face.
“All the guests have arrived, Aurelia. It’s time.”
She stood in front of the arched doorway, her parents together at her back. She would descend the crystal staircase alone, declaring her maturity, declaring her readiness for her Heavenly responsibility. But she did not feel ready. Despite observing the workings of the well-oiled machine that maintained the world, she knew she was an outsider.
“Well, are you going to enter? Your guests are waiting.” Her mothers voice floated forward, warm like a mid-summer day. Aurelia took a deep breath and stepped forward, the doormen opening the massive iron-worked doors into the room in front of them.
The staircase led down to the throngs of people who waited like beggars for a coin. She descended the staircase, carefully graceful, an artificially bright smile adorning her face like one of her jewels. The applause was loud, but she couldn’t hear it over the syncopated rhythm of her own heartbeat.
As she reached the bottom, the crowd parted, creating a corridor of people that led to the dais at the far end of the room. Her parents stayed at the top of the stairs, watching the ceremony from above. As she walked, the crowd was silent. The only noise was the echoing of Aurelia’s steps across the marble floor.
Upon the dais, the twins Serisa and Sensa—of the Northern Star and the Noontime sun respectively—stood; their robes a brilliant gold and their gowns the deepest of blacks. Serisa held a box that held the symbol of Aurelia’s maturity, and Sensa a jar of rose oil, all the way from Earth, to anoint her with.
Finally, finally, she reached the dais, and ascended her heart racing like a hummingbird. Silently, the twins turned her to face the public, her eyes round with anxiety. Far in front of her, her parents began to sing. She couldn’t understand the words, but the melody floated down to her like an early morning mist, and she felt the tension leave her body.
She listened to the song even as the twins began the ritual, speaking of Ixaka, The Designer, and of life and duty, barely able to hear or understand. Instead she just felt it. Just as Sensa began to rub the oil along Aurelia’s arms she felt it bubbling up inside her like a spring.
She began to laugh.
The twins were clearly startled, never having had such a reaction to the somber ceremony. But then, Aurelia had always been considered a bit odd. Soon her laughter was quieter, little more than a giggle, really, and as Serisa opened the box, Aurelia’s vision went white.
“She’s perfectly fine. I think the excitement just went to her head. Just let her rest.”
A sigh. “Very well. Go back and enjoy the festivity. Aurelia’s not very fond of large gatherings, anyhow.”
“…”
“Is that the jewel that we found with her?”
“Yes. I hadn’t realized what had happened to it.”
“The twins have always been a bit sneaky.”
“Let’s leave her to rest for a while.”
A whisper of clothing.
The door shuts.
When Aurelia finally awoke, the celebration was long over, everyone in the deep slumber of wine. The mid-morning sun was already streaming in through her window, casting shadows and light across the walls.
She couldn’t remember how she got here, or even most of the ceremony. She looked down and noticed that her dress was gone, replaced with a simple shift of white. And lying between her breasts was a cold, heavy jewel.
It was dark, but the actual color was indistinguishable. From second to second the color seemed to shift from blood-red to violet to deep-sea green. And deep in the center, it seemed like a flame of white shimmered amidst the darkness. It was attached to an elaborate thin, gold chain, obviously the work of the resident jeweler. But even its splendor paled next to the exotic beauty of the jewel.
She looked up when she heard the door open, but it was only a maidservant.
“Your mother wanted to inquire as to your presence at lunch this afternoon?” It was only then that Aurelia noticed just how hungry she was. She smiled up at the girl.
“Please inform her that I will be there. Thank you.” The servant curtseyed and left, softly closing the door behind her. Aurelia decided it was time for her to get up, and get clothed. Her shift might be appropriate for the bedroom, but was not for a formal lunch after her confirmation.
As she laced up her corset, she realized what the jewel must be. It was her symbol, the sign she was an adult. Pulling her overdress on, she was surprised that despite her new, feared status, it didn’t lessen her appreciation of the stone. Despite its cool feel, inside she felt warm and comforted.
Lunch was a comfortable affair, only immediate family and some close friends sat at the ebony table. No one asked Aurelia about her fainting episode and they avoided the topic of her encroaching decision all the way through dessert. But, as the last of the dishes were cleared away, Taraneh cleared her throat.
“Aurelia, we know that you’ve had some trouble finding your calling and that the pressures here in the Palace have not helped. My brother –Dassais has offered to let you accompany him to his own estate. Your father and I think that you should accept.”
Aurelia sat still. It wasn’t a horrid idea to leave the watchful eyes of the denizens of the Palace. She and her uncle had always got on well, although they didn’t see her often. Also, this also gave her an extra grace period before she had to truly choose.
She nodded. “Yes, I would be honored to accompany you to your home, Uncle.”
Dassais grinned then, his teeth bright at sharp. “The honor is mine, niece. While it is much smaller than the Palace of Heaven, there are many denizens there to keep you company, and the scenery is exquisite. The rest should do you well.”
The pendant around her neck warmed for an instant as Aurelia smiled back. She ignored the sudden unease that infused her inner being.
© 2005 by Kimberly
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