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 Posted: Tue Jan 28, 2020 6:34 pm
 As time passes we grow older, we grow wiser but we cannot stay forever. Eventually there is no more up and only down. We begin to move slower, tire more often, our bodies weaken and finally, we go on the ultimate journey. It's hard to accept when one has reached "old" age. Honestly, it took me by surprise. Sure, I was getting tired earlier in the day and I couldn't keep up with youngsters anymore. Even my children seemed to be aging before my eyes.
Which comes to the importance of today. My only remaining daughter had long since vanished, all I have left is a few granddaughters and probably several from younger generations. None of them had been prepared for stepping into my hoof prints. Not many had even grown up within this herd. Yet I'm forced to select one who I feel would be able to take on my mantle.
So far my choices are Alkippe, Limerick or Anahita. Alkippe is strong but a bit hot tempered. Limerick is too gentle and soft spoken. Anahita has, for the most part, kept to herself. I'd have considered Arundhati if she was still here, but she'd vanished years ago. However, I ended up deciding on Anahita. Her mother was here now as a priestess and her father is my own son, Cygnus. That's a great support system for a budding monarch.
I find myself standing before our temple, which was built around a cave system. The courtyard is well maintained and planted with flowering plants. The trees towered high above around the entrance. Anahita is to meet me here and together we'll join Fea within. She'll be prepared as best as she can be in a short amount of time. I was to help with that process best I could til I no longer can. Then Fea was to continue teaching Ana on her own.
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Posted: Tue Jan 28, 2020 7:24 pm
 While Anahita is ambitious, she never thought she'd to climb the social ladder of Dreamer's Glass. She didn't think there was much climbing opportunities when she was already a part of the nobility. So she mainly focus'd on hobbies and social engagements. Then she received a personal note from her grandmother to meet at the temple. This had to be something interesting, as they were also meeting the High Priestess.
As she arrived in the courtyard of the temple, Ana saw that her grandmother was already there and taking in the peacefulness of it. She paused for a moment and observed the aging monarch. It hadn't gotten past anyone else in the herd that Helki was starting to show her age. Concern was coming up about the lack of an heir, especially as no suitors came forward to claim Helki as a lifemate. Which meant no potential heirs have been born. Though chatter in some places said she would have to pick from younger generations. Not many of Helki's offspring and decedents lived within the herd. The Great Die Off also had done a number on her great line.
Anahita was lucky that she still had both her parents but very few siblings left. Her two full sisters she hadn't heard about or from in a long time and had assumed them casualties. Maybe she'd get to see her mother today. But enough of sitting within her thoughts, she shouldn't keep her grandmother waiting.
"Grandmother, I'm here." Anahita announced her presence and stepped forward.Helki turned and looked upon her granddaughter, Anahita. She was a lovely young mare, but sensible and had all the qualities Helki hoped would help her become Sempiterna of the herd.
"Greetings, Anahita. I'm glad you could make it today. I have something important I wish to talk to you about."
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Posted: Tue Jan 28, 2020 9:35 pm
 "Shouldn't it be 'We'?" Fea said with a laugh as she approached the two waiting mares.
"Ahh Anahita, you are as lovely as your mother. It's nice to have her join us here. I'm also quite happy with what we have planned. I think your grandmother made an excellent choice. Don't you think so, Helki?" Fea grinned at her old friend. "But please, come in. I have a place set up within the caves for us to lounge and converse. Follow me!"
Fea turned and lead the other two through the temple entrance. The original cave system was in place but improved upon to allow for easy passage. Lighting was also set up to minimize the dark and gloominess through the most traveled passages and rooms. Most rooms didn't have access to natural light, however, several along a specific ascending corridor opened up into terraces that overlooked herd lands and trees. It was in one of these rooms that they entered. The floor was covered in pillows and soft fabrics, the walls had beautiful tapestries hung, sconces on the walls had been light to add extra lighting. In the center, refreshments had been laid out for them and small helpers waited to serve them. A large opening lead out to a small terrace that over looked some of the tea gardens and a section of the marketplace.
Fea gestured to her two royal guests to have a seat wherever. As all three settled down, the small helpers assisted the mares with their tea and snacks before moving aside til they where needed again.Helki settled down to one side while the others got comfortable. She was really thankful for the amount of plush pillows and soft blankets between her and the cold hard floor of the cave room. Her body had grown achy with age, the hot tea was soothing as well.
"Now my dear one," Helki said, addressing Anahita. "Time has finally caught up to me. I've seen much and I've had a long life. It is now time that I select an heir among my descendants and I've decided to choose you...." Helki paused a moment. "I'm not sure how much more time I'll have. But while I'm still here, I'll be giving you the lessons, along with Fea, that'll help you. The day I'm no longer here to guide you and teach you, Fea will continue."
Helki took a moment to drink more tea and allow what she said to sink in.Anahita didn't realize she was holding her breath at first but suddenly took in a deep breath when her grandmother paused. This was bigger than she could have imagined. Helki had selected her to be her heir, to be the future Sempiterna of the herd. Ana was shocked. Realization settled like a light blanket around her, Helki was on limited time.
"Me?" her voice came out at a whisper. "Are you sure?"
She watched her grandmother nod. So this was it, an heir had been chosen and it was her. Fea watched the two quietly as she sipped her tea. It's a lot to take in when one day your just another star in a herd and then suddenly your to replace the leader. Despite being the High Priestess, who cares for the spiritual needs to the herd, she was also the confidant of the Sempiterna. And helped guide the female leader. They had hoped that the heir would have been raised knowing this and not a full grown adult being thrust into this position but there wasn't much option. This is all new to them but Fea had full confidence that they would get through this."I know this is a lot to take in. But as I said, Fea and I will be here for you and will teach and guide you as much as possible. Fea will of course take on most of the responsibilities of guiding you as I can't be with you always. But I have every confidence in you. You're a strong mare and have so much potential. I feel you can lead this herd into a new era. And it's with that said, we must get right to work....a couple herds are holding a type of summit later. I will be sending you there. You'll need to socialize with the other herd leaders and royalty. Make friends, make alliances and see about securing a mate. There should be plenty of suitors. Don't do what I did. Before this summit, Fea and I need to get you ready to interact with all these nobles. Hope you're ready for this." Helki then gave a cheeky grin.Anahita stared open mouthed. Oh the pressure and to make it more interesting, a social engagement of the year as well. Then let's top it off with marriage. Grandmother Helki was not playing around. How short was her time anyway? How soon was this summit happening?
The rest of the afternoon, Fea and Helki took turns getting her started with the basics and overview of the many topics that she was going to learn. History of the herd (not just the foal level basics but straight from the leader), family relations (not just the few she knew but Helki's whole line, which apparently was mixed into several other herds), protocols for engagement with outsiders and other herds, Fea was going to be covering all temple and religious lore and rituals, the importance of the elemental council, the imports and exports, basic knowledge of herds DG has encountered and know of, and the list goes on. That's just the knowledge section too, Helki also included manners and behaviors of leaders and royalty. There was a certain decorum that Anahita had to learn and how to address many different classes of star and what level of respect she must expect and demand as leader.
By evening, as the lamps burned and she left the temple, Anahita was exhausted and her mind reeled with information. The walk back to her abode was hazy. Oddly enough, she slept deeply that night but not without dreams.
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Posted: Tue Feb 18, 2020 8:38 pm
Anahita had returned to the temple every day for quite some time, learning from both her grandmother, Helki and the high priestess, Fea. She wondered what they would go over today as she arrived at the temple and was both nervous and excited about it. An unknown priestess, to her, was there waiting for Ana as she arrived. This was unusual as her grandmother usually waited for her and they went in to see Fea together.
"Oh...hello," Ana greeted.
The priestess bowed to her and turned. "Follow me please, your highness."
Hmmm that's odd, Anahita thought. The priestess treated her differently than before and she wasn't very social, just formal. Anahita followed after the priestess to a different section of the temple.
"Wait here please, your highness," the priestess said. She bowed to Ana and then left.
Anahita looked at all the tapestries along the walls. Sconces in between lit up the space and the light dances off a few crystals peaking out of the wall. Incense burned in a dish on naturally occurring outcrop, the smoke lazily moved upwards. Footsteps on stone, snapped Ana out of her smoke induced haze and she turned around to face the entrance.
Fea stepped in the room and smiled brightly at Anahita.
"Hello darling. I'm afraid to said that your grandmother isn't going to make it today. She's feeling under the weather. Sadly, it's to be expect in her condition. Now, we're not having our lesson in here today. I just wanted us to meet here. Follow me please."
Fea then turned and left the room and lead Anahita down a sloping corridor. Sconces in the walls were farther apart but still kept the path lit up enough to see. It was boarding on maze like the farther they went in and some spots were damp with water dripping from cracks. Soon they found themselves in a large cavern covered in the crystals. Cleverly placed torches took advantage of the reflective nature of the crystals to light up the large space. A small creek ran through that was fed by an underground river somewhere deep in the cave system. Moss covered damp stones en mass and the little flowers were white and almost glowed themselves.
"Welcome to where it all began," Fea said as they moved further into the cave.
Anahita stood in the middle of the cavern, taking it all in. The brilliance of the naturally occurring crystal formations were breathtaking. She'd heard the stories growing up about how grandmother and Fea had discovered this area and the caves. As she walked through the cavern taking it all in she noticed a small raised platform of sorts, moss grew up the sides and over the top, small crystal formations around the bottom, four single pointed crystals were evenly place around the edge. From what she heard, they did that on their own.
Fea came up behind and then move around to the other side of the platform. She gazed down at the spot in the center and then looked up at Anahita.
"That's where the dreamer's glass use to sit. It was rather odd to find a perfectly round crystal sitting there like that. But it hasn't brought us any harm, I think it's blessed us more than anything. I loathe the day I come in here and find it sitting there once again...." Fea said, ending it with a sigh. The day the crystal reappeared there she would know that Helki had moved on from this world.
The rest of the day was mostly going over protocol for when the dreamer's glass reappeared there. What was expected of Anahita when it came to announcing to the herd the news of their leader's passing. After the time of mourning had passed the start of coronation prep would begin. There was also the preparations for the tournament summit being put on by a couple other herds that needed dealing with. Helki had said that Anahita needed to go, she needed to socialize with other herds, other royalty and also put out that she is available to potential suitors. Fea was to finish preparing Anahita for this big event, this also included figuring out who was to go with Anahita to keep her safe. So far, Aisling was selected, having been the most traveled and trained in the art of fighting. Fea would have to ponder this more.
Anahita was doing well and took her studies in stride. Fea felt she completed everything beautifully and could recall important facts when asked. Anahita was also excelling in her mannerisms befitting the position she would be stepping into. Aside from prep work for the summit, Fea deemed Anahita done with lessons. Now the real work would begin.
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