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 Posted: Wed Jul 03, 2013 4:55 pm
Shaking off her own distraction (else she would have wondered more on why the fauny princess had no other questions for her about her vision), Vanya listened and nodded. "Indeed, and I feel the matters are related. I wished for you to know our history so that you could understand the distrust that our Chieftain holds for the Blood Pae. Unfortunately, you experienced far more than just the knowledge I wished for you. They have proven to be deceivers before, and trust is not something easily earned, nor reforged with Rais once broken."
"When we first met," Vanya related, "I remember you expressing some frustration with your loss of power in adapting to the Faun heirarchy." She held up a hand. "Understandable, considering where you came from. I do not fault you for it. What I wonder now is after all this time, does that desire still remain?"
"You've had a taste of life as a common Faun," she mused. "You've got a point of comparison. Do you still want your previous life back? The stress and responsibility of being a leader, accompanied by the power to make a difference? Or...is the simple life all one needs? There's nothing wrong with preferring simple pleasures, of making the most of one's life and seeking one's own happiness, especially after already achieving so much for others. Isn't it only fair?"
Vanya wore a solemn expression. "There's nothing wrong with either choice, and it all comes down to what you want. However, I believe these paths cannot travel together for much longer. Soon, they must diverge. I wanted you to have all knowledge necessary before making your choice. If you choose the simple life, then your marriage is no crime. We are not openly hostile with the Blood Pae of this era. They could be different than those of the past. I hope that they are. But, if you choose to pursue a position of leadership once more as a member of the Faun council, then if..." she paused, then corrected herself, "...when Rais finds out about your marriage to the angel, then your fate will depend on the actions taken once given a way out of it. If you are still married then, Rais will see it as deceit and betrayal, and I would not wish to be in your hooves. The best outcome I can predict comes from your immediate choice to annul the marriage when given the solution. You were simply trapped in a bad situation that was out of your control in a land you were still learning about, but as soon as you were offered a solution, you took it. In this case, I might suggest being up front with Rais as well, as honesty could aid your cause, rather than him possibly finding out about this past marriage through other sources. However, I cannot make your choice for you," she said sadly.
"I can only give you the information you need to make your decision. And you do not have to tell me right now what it is; I will tell you what I learned in my inquiries nonetheless. Understood?"
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Posted: Wed Jul 03, 2013 8:51 pm
What the seer spoke did more than echo the words of her mellon. They personified it, gave it a real face, real emotion, someone to believe. The two of them were correct in their thinking. Now she faced a true choice: to live a quiet life of normalcy with her husband and child, or give it all away for the sake of her people, her responsibility and her power. There could be no coexistence, that much was clear.
Yet... Was it worth it...?
How she had changed in the months since the dance. Immediately after, there would have been no hesitation, yet now she paused. Clairvoyance was right; was she even worthy to lead anymore? Or was this the final of her tests in her legitimacy?
The choice would not need to be made at this very moment, yet would time change her further, instill further doubts into her? There could be no reservations, no regrets, no matter the decision made. Ultimately, it would decide her destiny. Perhaps she could return to power, but perhaps not. Was the mere prospect, the possibility, enough to cast away her second family? Or would she ever be able to grow past the shame felt in the marriage, in his difference in appearance.
Which was she more willing to risk...?
Nodding once the princess took on a serious, determined look. She had already decided upon opening the letter that there would be no going back. After such a vision, such a horrific experience, she would have a hard time even looking at Aquos, not to mention being wed to him. The aversion she had felt towards his appearance when they first met made perfect sense now; they were not meant to grow close, a pae of the elements and one of blood.
"Understood."
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Posted: Wed Jul 03, 2013 9:47 pm
Sensing the determination behind that single word, Vanya nodded solemnly. "Very well." She took a deep breath, then began relating what she had learned.
"I spoke with the spirits first," she started, then frowned. "Or attempted to. 'The spirits' is a collective term. On an individual basis, some can be less helpful than others. At first, the only answer I could get was some nonsense about a 'teapot', followed by hysterical laughter." She shook her head as a sign of irritation. "I never could figure out what that was all about."
"I do have more reliable sources, however," she continued. She'd managed to summon her personal guide in the spirit world, who had been much more helpful than the cackling tricksters. "If this had been a normal binding done in a Faun wedding ceremony, I could have helped you," she explained sadly, shaking her head. That really would have simplified things, considering they could have fixed this hurriedly and discretely. "Unfortunately, what I learned was that the bond created by this deity is extremely powerful. So much so, there is only one thing that can break it. Another deity. But it had to be one in particular. I had to find that information elsewhere."
"Luckily for us, we have an ally in the south," she continued. "A demonic demi-goddess loyal to the Tree named Silvana. She is a daughter to one of these deity, Artemis, one who has treated our people with respect and lead some of our lost brethren home in the past. I thought if anyone, she might have access to information on these other deity. Luckily, she was able to help. After I inquired about one who created bonds between Pae, she easily gave me his name: Hymnaios. When I asked if there were any remedy to his arrows, though she seemed a bit curious, she gave me the answer as she knew it. He has a brother named Anteros, who is able to remedy or nullify the effects of any of his brothers' magic arrows. She even gave me instructions on how he might be summoned from Venus' Temple for such a purpose. Apparently, he has a bit of a history in 'fixing his brothers' mistakes.'"
Vanya reached to take Celestia's hands in hers. "The choice is now yours. I've done all I can to help you make an informed decision, my friend."
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Posted: Wed Jul 03, 2013 10:10 pm
As she listened more and more of all the troubles Vanya had gone through to help her be rid of this 'problem,' the resolve in Celestia's heart to end it all grew and blossomed. There was no longer any hesitation felt. While she did feel a bit of embarrassment regarding the tea set she had taken from the garden, considering Vanya seemed to not know anything more about the situation, she would overlook it as ramblings made by the spirits. Tricky ones, they were, ones that would be guiding her into the future.
If her state of mind were better, she'd ask them what they foresaw of this decision, if it was the right way to go. But, despite how clearly this all seemed at the moment, perhaps because it was all clear at this moment, she understood that she could only think this way because of Vanya; her mind was still severely stressed by the images that, even now, were nearly always playing in the background.
Ah... So the brother of that demon of a god was the only one that could lift the curse. Well, not literal curse, but their binding together. There were only two further questions remaining. "How am I to summon this Anteros to the temple of Venus?" she asked, pausing for quite a while before breaking eye contact, speaking in a much simpler tone. "And... Must Aquos... Must my husband be present with me to be rid of the bond?"
It would be much easier to do this without him, to simply break all contact with him and vanish. One day he would come to forget her, perhaps to hate her, but he would move on and find someone more suitable to love.
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Posted: Wed Jul 03, 2013 10:43 pm
"It sounds like a simple enough process," Vanya answered. "I'll give you directions to the Temple. When you get there, you light some incense on the altar and beseech the deity you which to summon. In this case, Anteros. Then explain your situation, everything about the maze and the arrows at the party," she nodded, patting Celestia's hand. "And...while it's normally customary, I understand, for the couples to do this together, it is not necessary. You may do so alone."
She paused, trying to get a read on her friend without being too invasive. Frowning a bit, she felt that she'd thrown far too much at her friend today, far too much to absorb. She'd likely have more questions about her vision in coming days as she learned to process the information she'd been given, raising further questions about the war and other happenings in the past.
But that wasn't what worried her now. "Celestia, if I could offer some final advice? I have never been in this position of course, so it's only my opinion. It's just...if this is what you are choosing to do, please remember: you are simply undoing something that was done to you against your will. If somehow...for some reason, this was meant to be, wouldn't you have rather known by finding out for yourselves before being forcefully bound? And if not, then...who is to say that this bond was not keeping the both of you from finding someone meant for each of you, still out there somewhere?"
"Even if sometimes we feel trapped by circumstances, that things are out of our control, or even that we're pressured into accepting something...there is always a choice. Fight for those choices, Celestia. Only you can make them." Not entirely sure where the words had come from, Vanya nevertheless had to admit to herself that it was what she believed. Whether in her own self-inflicted exile from the Tree, or her choice upon her return to take the position as Seer...they had been her choices, even if some may have thought them pressed upon her. And she regretted none of them.
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Posted: Wed Jul 03, 2013 11:06 pm
Again, her friend seemed awfully in tune to the early feelings she felt towards this divorce. Originally it was only looked at with shame, a problem she had to overcome as quickly as physically possible. Towards the man Celestia felt no love; they were little more than close acquaintances at the time of their binding after all. Many sleepless nights had been spent with thoughts about what should happen if either of them were to find someone that actually took their breath away, stole their heart. It would be impossible to pursue when bound to the soul with another.
It simply would not do, and, at this moment, as she had when leading her people, she would again allow her heart to lead her. Rather than allow herself to be content in the situation, she would better it for herself and those around her.
Even so... There was no way that she would be able to face her husband again for some while; she wondered how long it would take before she could face anyone again without grotesque images surfacing in her mind. Perhaps Vanya could give her some of the soothing potion to carry with her before the images settled themselves out more? It might be a cowardly way to do such a thing, but it would be for the best that she break their souls alone. Celestia would likely write him and Skyla a card explaining her decision, generally, of course. Abandoning her daughter would be the hardest part; she really did find the girl to be quite dear to her. Naturally, the directions would be unneeded, but she felt it rude to let her friend know that after searching for them.
Smiling lightly, the princess nodded and bent forward to rest her hand on Vanya's. "Thank you, my dear friend. I... I understand what must be done, and I believe I have come to understand myself more." The smile softened some as she returned her hand to her lap. "I, however, believe that I need some rest, and you as well. How late has it become, I wonder."
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Posted: Wed Jul 03, 2013 11:26 pm
"Late," Vanya answered simply with a tired smile. "I think, we have both learned some things tonight," she chuckled softly, still flushing a bit when she thought about what she'd seen of her past life in the dream. Awkward as it would be, she had further investigations to do as well, to answer questions that had arisen.
"Please, I know you've been through much tonight, but...if you need anything else, any time of the day or night, whether questions and inquiries as things come to you or comfort and understanding, my door is always open. I know it will take time to absorb everything you overheard...and with time, the 'other images' will fade as well," she added pointedly. They would not disappear or be forgotten completely, but they would not remain as fresh as they seemed now.
"Oh, that reminds me," she frowned, seeming to think for a moment then crossing to get something from her satchel. She returned with a tiny flask, placing it in Celestia's hands. "A gift...and an apology in one," she admitted. "You have been through so much, and I've felt such exhaustion before. You need rest without worries of nightmares. This will give you a full night of dreamless sleep. Take it and rest well when you get back to your room." With that, she embraced the fauny warmly. While she regretted the trauma that her friend had experienced, she'd never had someone who understood what sorts of visions she experienced on a regular basis. It was...strangely comforting to her that someone understood now, and she'd do anything necessary to ease the pain for her friend, when she could do little for herself aside from learning to cope with it.
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Posted: Thu Jul 04, 2013 7:46 am
A visible sigh of relief left Celestia's lips as she saw Vanya returning with another vial. Even before she learned of its contents, what it would provide her, she knew that it would surely help to ease her coming sufferings. The fact that it ensured a night of rest was particularly reassuring, as the spirits knew how badly she was going to need it. Taking it, she returned the embrace with one of her own. "Thank you so very much. I believe only you understand what I will feel as the potions' effects fade in the morning. Should the images become too much, trust that I will seek you out, and I will find you for help in calming them."
Who knew how many weeks, months, or years it would take to fully cope with what she had seen this night. Perhaps if there had been multiple visions, baby steps of increasing violence, the dream would not have created such a shock or trauma, but that was not what had happened. It had been a sudden slap about how cruel and fickle the world really was and, if nothing else could have, instilled a sort of fear in her towards the blood pae.
Once does not simply overlook an attack on themselves, even in a dream, so easily.
"I... Will also return when I have finished what must be done. Likely, despite all that I have been shown and all you have said to me, I will still need a 'shoulder to lean upon,' so to speak." Pausing, she shrugged. "As well as some guidance as to how to tell of the Valentine's night and what was done to me to my sister and, as you strongly suggested, to Rais."
Touching Vanya's shoulder once more, Celestia smiled softly before turning to return to her alcove. There she would return to her bed, take the vial, and take a much deserved, sound sleep.
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