Blood Moon Rising ( Adhara // Agnes )

[Karma.]

It was the church bells overhead that brought Atlas back from her foggy state of mind. She had been standing on a circular pedestal for nearly five hours as her coronation dress was pulled in, altered, and fit to her thin, lithe body. Still, her emotions ran rampant: how could she possibly stand here and be excited for her new position in the kingdom, when her parents had just passed? It was enough to make her sick.

With a gasp, the cords of her corset were pulled taut and she could almost feel her ribs snapping into place, her gentle hand slid over the bones of her corset feeling the expensive silk against unworked fingertips, even her glossy black nails barely dared to touch the fabric, undeserving of such lavish garments. Next, came the ensembles' cape, The weight alone showing its expense as it was lined in wolf fur and nearly as lavish as silk dress. This cape had been passed down from generation upon generation, worn by every Queen who had stood in her very place. The perfume of nobility wafted through the small area as the handmaidens worked diligently to ensure their new Queen was dressed to the exact specifications as those before her. They untangled her hair, matted from a restless night's sleep, and curled it on hot rods while allowing it to fall against her shoulders in stunning waves. Pieces of hair were woven into velvet ribbons fashioned with golden clasps of her countries insignia.

"Beautiful!" One handmaid chirped, while the others hummed in agreement. " Just like your mother!"

Atlas knew the compliment was just that.... a compliment, but it's stung nonetheless, the weight was so heavy on her slender shoulders. She had forgone her suiters prior to this arrangement so the idea of ruling alone... without a King next to her, brought her dread. Of course, she could never voice this to anyone, at least not in her newly founded kingdom of Seren. Far away there was another, beautiful, strong, a mentor of sorts. Their world beginning at such a young age. They knew their duties, they knew their lives would one day lead to this, but Atlas felt... behind. Her friend, her confidant, had always become a Queen and she was ruling successfully without a mate. She wanted that, but now the idea, moments before her coronation, made it seem almost impossible.

Stepping down from the circular platform, Atlas moved to the single mirror in her bedroom. She looked different draped in navy blue velvets, silks that draped over her form, and golden embellishments that popped against her tanned skin and dark hair. She was a Queen, a Queen of a thriving kingdom and it would continue to thrive as long as she lived. It was strange, upon the pedestal she had felt so small and alone, but standing before herself she could see the strength, even though it wasn't nearly as noticeable as others she had spoken with or met.

"My Queen... It's time." One of the handmaidens whispered, nervous about destroying the moment of realization for their Leader.

"Yes... oh! Will she be here? I sent a letter..." Atlas's voice was soft against the silence, nerves lacing themselves in her words.

"We have sent a messenger."

"Oh, good... good." A nod from Atlas made the handmaidens smile while two moved forward with a crown, resembling the sun with all its glorious spikes and reaches. She had only ever seen her mother wear this crown once, a time not long ago when all the kingdoms came to the castle to discuss the Silk Trade. Atlas had worn a blue velvet jumper, her silken black hair pulled up into a ponytail, and her eager dark amber eyes searching for a friend. Meetings were so boring and her mother had tended to her all morning in this same crown, she could remember it sliding down her forehead and the hasty movement to push it back on top of her head, trying to keep the Queenly appearance.

"My queen?" The small voice came from the sea of women behind her, encouraging her to push past the doors of the bedroom and to the halls where the rest of the country waited. The thunderous sound of the kingdom's people, her people, were muffled in her ears. The sunlight above warmed her skin as she walked along with the balconies of the castle looking to those who had once worshiped her parents. Would they bear the same warmth towards her?

For this occasion, the throne had been moved from the castle's throne room and to the center of the castle's garden where a secondary crown would join her current, completing the sun spikes. Slowly, Atlas walked, the velvet heavy on her body and sliding like ocean waves behind her, the long train of the cape the following suit- Aprehenion riddling her small frame. She was lead by two handmaidens in front and two in back, dressed equally as lavish, minus the fabric trains; they were a fluid unit as they made their way down the expansive steps into the garden. The Alchemist who had appointed her mother and father stood with her final crown, a smile absent from his features- she could tell he too had been displaced by the loss of his King and Queen.

"I'm sorry," Atlas whispered with a sheepish smile, worried he resented her for their deaths.

"My queen, you've nothing to be sorry for," he whispered back as she finally turned in her place, her back to the throne and his arms raised over her head. The thunderous applause, the sound of the familiar angelic hymn sung by the handmaidens in her court, all muddled together in her brain. Atlas could hear her own breathing then, and suddenly the slight pull too and fro as the last portion of her Sun crown was placed on her head, completing the spikes and solidifying the union of her new position. The thunderous applies in the burning sunlight, was nothing compared to how hard her heart was beating against the corset of her dress. Atlas's smile was slight, unbelieving of the position she had slid into and nervous for the outcome. She was lost, truly lost in the ideals of what would be best for the kingdom despite her political knowledge beforehand, this was nothing compared to putting it into play. Her only hope was her friend, someone who could make her racing thoughts calm again, It had seemed so long since they had seen each other, Atlas was sure that even as time passed, their feelings of contentment towards each other was still present... she just needed to get through this Coronation.

 

[Agnes]

This coronation was an excessively festive affair, Blanche mused. So many people, noble and common alike, cramped together in the royal gardens like slabs of cured meat. She didn't remember much of the castle, this being her first visit to the capital of Seren in quite a while, but she remembered the gardens being beautiful and quaint. Quiet and calm, a far cry from the commotion taking place at the moment. She remembered running away from her nanny after getting bored, looking for a friend. She remembered hiking up her maroon dress and running into the impressive flowerbeds and through the maze of maple and oaks, laughing and catching fireflies with Atlas. Atlas, who would soon sit on the lone throne in the garden to be crowned Queen. Atlas, whose formal letter requesting her attendance to her coronation had Blanche canceling all her plans and hastily traveling into a foreign kingdom so she could be on time.

It baffled her court, why she cared so much. Astoria and Seren were allies in war and trade, true, but it was unbecoming of the Queen of Astoria to throw the court into disarray just to attend the coronation of Seren's new queen. Some even say it came off as a sign of weakness, that Blanche was showing her subservience to her counterpart. Of course, Blanche did not heed their words; a rare occurrence for her, as the Queen relied heavily upon her council for matters of ruling and politics. Yet, she knew exactly where her advisors were coming from. Tensions between the two kingdoms were high— with skirmishes breaking out every day along the border. Making diplomatic niceties with Seren wouldn't be a popular choice with her people, especially with the Blood Moon rising soon. People were antsy. She even heard whispers of war from her own court, much to her distress.

Yet here she was, ignoring the voice of her council and her people, standing in the palace of a foreign country, waiting for their new queen to appear. In truth, her reason for making the trip was much more personal than she made it out to be. Atlas wasn't just her contemporary. She was her friend, her confidant, the one with whom she had freely shared her thoughts and fears. They grew up together, so far apart yet so close, though it felt like they had only been drifting further and further apart after Blanche's own coronation two years back when her father abdicated the throne and crowned his eldest daughter himself. It was a momentous occasion, the celebrations loud and jubilant, carrying on well into the night on that day. Blanche remembered how Atlas had smiled at her that day, and how she had embraced her and buried her face in her dark hair in a moment of pure joy.

How could she not return the favor when it was Atlas's turn? And if she knew anything about her friend, it was that she would be more melancholic and heartbroken about the untimely deaths of her parents, rather than being happy about inheriting the crown. Unlike Blanche herself, Atlas wouldn't have her father place the crown upon her head, nor have her mother style her hair by hand. The redhead felt that she owed it to her to be there for her, even if just to show her face. She wanted to console her, perhaps lend her a shoulder if she had tears to spill, but alas, she would have to wait until the ceremony was over before they could have a private conversation. It would've been better to just send a courier with her congratulations and gifts, but she'd be damned if she had to live her life as dictated by others.

Voices hushed, the magnificent doors creaking open, and Blanche knew then that Atlas had made her entrance. On cue, she signaled her honor guard, a contingent of twenty of her best knights, to stand to attention. The sounds of metal banging upon metal echoed out the courtyard as they stood tall and brought up their shields and swords, acting as a precursor to the thunderous cheers and applause that would soon follow. Blanche herself was dressed in an elegant red dress woven by the finest tailors in Astoria, fashioned exclusively for this coronation and modeled after Seren dress customs. She had decided to honor Atlas by conforming to her culture, if only for this event, and to complete her look, she wore a simple circlet upon her forehead instead of the usual jeweled tiara. This was her coronation after all; there was no need to take away any attention from the future queen. The only thing that suggested Blanche's royalty and stature was the large fur-lined cloak she wore upon her back, the roaring lion head of her family's insignia proudly stitched onto it.

Finally, Atlas came into her view after turning a corner, and Blanche felt her heart quicken as she gazed upon her friend for the first time in two years. She looked every bit the queen that she would become, wrapped in that extravagant navy blue dress and wrapped in the royal ensemble cape. She did not bow, for she was her equal, and stood tall and proud, gazing upon her and hoping to meet her eye, and frowning just a tiny bit as she saw her apprehensive expression. Already, her suspicions were confirmed to be true. Blanche would give her an encouraging smile, however, her lips curling upwards and showing her pearly white teeth, her worries not enough to mask her happiness at seeing her friend again. Although they could only talk through their eyes, Blanche hoped Atlas would be able to draw strength from her smile, and nodded subtly as she sat down on the throne, ready to take up her mantle. The second crown joined the first, forming a jagged, beautiful headpiece, and the crowd erupted into roars and cheers as Atlas was pronounced Queen. Blanche grinned in approval, finally able to call her an equal again, and as if reading their leader's thoughts, her honor guard dropped to one knee and buried their swords in the ground, saluting the new queen of Seren.

"Long live the Queen!" the crowd chanted. The knights banged their shields. Blanche stepped forward.

"On behalf of the great people of Astoria, I offer you my congratulations, Queen Atlas of Seren." Her voice boomed across the gardens, tempered by years of shouting commands to her troops in the heat of battle. The cheering falling silent to make way for formalities, and for a moment, everything stood still as everyone looked upon the two queens. The wind swept through the two of them, making Blanche's flaming red hair billow across her face. A strong, yet slender hand glided up and tucked the loose strands of hair behind her ear, and Blanche continued. "Our people have thrived together for years since our grandfathers came together and formed an alliance, and it is my sincerest wish that we may continue to prosper in friendship, Queen Atlas. I hope you will accept this gift as a small commemoration of our alliance." One of her knights stepped forward, kneeling in front of the throne-bound queen and holding up a sheathed longsword. Its pommel was fashioned with her country's insignia, and the handle was intricately crafted and studded with three precious gemstones; ruby, sapphire, and emerald. Beneath the sheath, the blade was black as night, shaped from onyx and sharpened to be razor-thin. It was as light as it was durable, and would cut through plate armor like butter. It was every bit a lethal weapon as it was ceremonial, and such swords were only given in acts of tremendous faith. "An onyx sword, crafted by the finest smiths of Astoria. May it serve you well in battle. Long may you reign."

The crowd erupted into cheers again, her speech obviously concluded, but Blanche stepped forward and leaned in, almost as if to whisper, causing some bemused murmurs from the handmaidens and causing the numerous guards around them to shift in anticipation. But, the red-maned queen simply whispered, "And something more personal from me," and produced a small velvet box, which would contain a golden firefly necklace when opened. "For old times' sake," she added with a small wink. "I think we have a lot to talk about. I'll come by your chambers after the ceremonies have concluded...?" she offered, her demeanor much more relaxed and friendly in private conversation. Then, having done her part, she straightened back up and gave her and her entourage another formal smile, clasping her hands behind her waist in a regal manner, and returned to her post so that the ceremony could continue.

 

[Karma.]

Blanche was as radiant as the sun itself. Her red dress shimmering in the noonlight, while the jeweled circlet glinted and sparked rainbows across her fair f, beautiful features. It was just as Atlas remembered all those years ago. Truly in the two years they had been apart, they had both changed, Blanche had become stronger, she commanded presence, her voice silenced rooms. She was everything Atlas had hoped to be and more. It was on this day she had a taste of it. Her presence commanded the room, a feeling she had feared as a Princess. Atlas couldn't wrap her head around the festivities; all this just for her. She would have been pleased with a simple ceremony in the forest with her handmaidens and Blanche, but she knew, per the traditions, that wasn't possible.

Seeing her friend made her giddy, excited to talk, and even more interested in what she had endured the two years they had been apart. As the new Queen listened to her friend, congratulate her on her newfound position, a smile pulled at her lips, sweet and soft, much like the lilacs in the meadows they would frolic. And it was then she straightened her posture as the knight stepped before her and knelt, bringing balance closer to the throne. the sword was lovely, the blade as black and night and the sheen alone as bright as moonlight. she leaned in curiously to inspect the mighty sword she had been presented with.

" Stunning..." Atlas whispered as she resumed her position on the throne, the crown threatening to slip from her head. She straightened it and looked to Blanche, who leaned in, presenting the little box and the delicate golden firefly. An astonished gasp fell her from painted lips and she looked to her friend, placing a warm, delicate hand on her forearm. " It's beautiful." Her voice nearly broke, and her eyes flicked to her friend's " Please... I'll need some release from this madness, will you place the necklace on me as well in my chamber? I am excited to speak with you." Her grip tightened slightly as Atlas's smile returned, reassuring her friend that she would be okay for this moment.

Slowly, Atlas stood and looked around her. Her eyes looked to every one of the kingdom's patrons.

"Thank you." Her words weren't as confident as Blanche's, but they did echo enough off the stone walls. " With the news of my father and mother passing, I worried about my position. Not if I would fall into it, but if I could rule as the Queen you need me to be." She paused, her lips quivered slightly before she took a deep breath. " I won't fail you. I can't fail you. While it is solely me, I will rule in the way of my parents through fairness and kindness." Atlas concluded her speech with a gentle cross of her wrists over her heart, bowing to her kingdom gently as not to knock off the crown. It was the same move her mother had done years prior when taking the throne. The apprehension for her rule was understandable, she had not been of noble blood, but her intentions to her kingdom were solid and known. She had lived the life of her people, she knew their needs and their qualms, and she ensured that her daughter would understand the same. The kingdom didn't serve Atlas. She served them. It was what made her family's rule so remarkable, and it had set the trend for other kingdoms to do the same. Regardless of how unprepared Atlas felt in this moment, she knew, deep in her soul, she had thousands to lean on, as well as, Blanche who she trusted more than anything in her world.

In the thunderous applause, she could only hear her heart beating, thumping in her ears as she felt her handmaidens gather the velvet train of her cape. This was her cue; she would walk down the stone path, head held as high as she could, graceful, Queenly strides. Her graceful strides turned in haste, forcing the maidens behind her to nearly jog with the velvet heavy in their arms. As she disappeared away from lingering eyes, she caught her breath, realizing in the whole exit she had not breathed once.

"Please..." She struggled to try and rip the cape off her shoulders. Her nails slipped and claws at the velvet to no avail. One of the maidens dropped the train of velvet which jerked Atlas to the side. She unpinned the regal fabric from the bodice of the dress and released their queen from its clutches. Atlas pressed her hand to the corset and tried to take comfortable breaths while the cape was neatly folded and rescued from the ground.

" You did well." One of the older maidens reassured while patting the Queens back. " And you will continue to do well, m'dear."

"Thank you," Atlas whispered as she waited for the handmaidens to resume their place beside her. " The banquet should be starting soon, and I will not require assistance. Please, enjoy yourselves." clasping her hands together, she stood before the others like she always had, simple and unburdened by her surroundings. The women nodded and placed their hands upon her shoulders, a sign of respect she had only ever seen done for her mother in her position, understanding, and unity in times of worry and uncertainty.

As the women wandered down to the ceremonial room, now open for all those who wished to attend in the kingdom, Atlast returned to her chambers. For once, the castle was silent, all the festivities were below, and the rooms were in the second and their levels. It was peaceful, just the relief she needed. Hallways were decorated in gold molding, paintings of Kings and Queens passed, their children, and their children's children. Clear unstained glass allowed the warmth of noonday to be comfortable while she traveled. Soon the blood moon would be upon them and with it Winter.

Taking her time to her room, she paused at the massive ornate doors; her initials had been carved into the wood, and she raised a hand to touch just the tip of the A. a smile pulled at her lips before she pushed them open. Without the maidens gathered in her room, it appeared lonely, but she pushed the thought aside and slid her fingertips over the corset of her dress and yanked and pulled at the silk cords before realizing her heavy crown was still placed upon her head. Releasing the cords, Atlas removed the crown and placed it on a prefabricated structure. Satisfied, she returned to standing before her full-length mirror and trying desperately to unravel the cords of the navy velvet gown.