[Music Recommendation: The Wolf and The Moon ~ BrunuhVille]
The preparations for Adric and his men to leave commenced with a ritual. The mistress of the rites and her maidens, all dressed in white, stood in front of the palace, each of them holding up the swords of the soldiers.
The cold breeze moving their dresses to the side, raising the wet familiar smell of the red sand they now stood on with the warm sun overhead. And with a loud voice, the ritual mistress started;
"In the cold morning, our soldiers set out. From the far mountains, the eagle sees us,
With eyes of wisdom, and wings of might,
She watches over us, through the dark of night." As the mistress of the rites slashed the sword in the air, all the soldiers got down on their knees, and the loud drum was struck twice.
Oriana watched from where she was standing, squeezing her hands tightly. When she heard from Adric that the war was inevitable, she wanted to throw tantrums and cry so she could leave with him. But Oriana knew that right now Adric needed her to be strong for him to also be strong.
The woman making the chants turned to look at Adric, walking around him three times. When she paused, she raised the sword again.
"Our past kings reigned with wisdom. May their sharp vision guide this young one on the battlefield where only blood rains! Ahhh!!" The woman’s loud shriek was heard as she moved her shoulders violently as if possessed by something, and the drums started playing.
The ritual maidens, who were standing in front of each soldier, walked around them and stopped only on the third time, with a loud scream escaping their lips.
After some minutes, they finally stopped, and the head of the ritual continued.
"Let us offer an ox, its blood in exchange for the lives of our warriors." Saying this, the woman drove a knife into the neck of a live ox and slowly pushed it inside, causing the blood to spill on the ground.
The drums started beating loudly again, and the ritual mistress danced to the tune, using the blood of the ox to stain her white dress while rubbing some of it on her face. She moved to the side, screaming,
"We now have blood on our clothes. See it once and let our soldiers return victorious! Ancient Kings of Avon, fight alongside us in this battle." The woman danced, rubbing the blood all over her. When she paused abruptly, she turned to look at Adric.
"Your Majesty!" the woman called. "You-" She turned to look at Oriana, and a tear slipped down her face mixing up with the oxen’s blood making it look like she was crying blood.
Adric noticed this. He knew Oriana was watching them at the moment, and he didn’t want anything to worry her, seeing that she was already stressed with him leaving.
"What is it you want to say?" he asked the woman calmly.
The ritual mistress moved back again, rubbing the blood on her face. She threw her head back and screamed, her finger pointing at Oriana. "The Queen!" Everyone turned to look at Oriana.
Oriana gulped. "M-me?" She felt goosebumps rise to her neck when the woman covered in blood pointed at her.
"Tell me what it is," Adric cautioned the woman, still maintaining calmness. "If you have anything to say, then say it to me."
The ritual mistress walked closer to Adric and whispered something to him.
Oriana could see Adric’s mouth move as he spoke with the ritual mistress. She wanted to know what they were talking about since it concerned her, but they only spoke in hushed tones.
After speaking with the woman, Adric turned to Oriana and gave her a sweet smile.
"The ritual is now over! Get ready to return with victory!" The mistress gave Adric a deep bow, ending the ceremony prematurely.
While Rowan and Malcolm checked their troops and got ready to leave, Adric walked toward Oriana, knowing that she would be worried after her name was shouted.
"Adric, the woman... she was talking about me, right?" Oriana asked, her golden eyes darting left and right as she anxiously waited for Adric’s reply.
Adric chuckled, moving his fingers on Oriana’s face. "Chicken brain, why would she? Except you have some secret strength that would help us win the war?"
Oriana looked Adric straight in the eyes. She could see how relaxed he was, but her instinct told her all was not well.
"Then why did she mention the Queen?"
"She meant Queen Charlotte. Let us go visit my mother before I leave." Adric held Oriana’s hand, covering her small hand with his large palm as he tugged her to follow him.
Getting to the Queen’s headstone, Adric got down on his knees while Oriana stood behind, waiting for him.
"Mother, I finally fell in love with this girl. She’s stubborn and careless. While I’m away, please watch over her." When Adric said this, a tear slipped from his eyes, but he quickly blinked it away and turned to Oriana,
"What are you doing? Come greet your mother-in-law."
Oriana quickly joined him. "Greetings, Queen Charlotte. I’m Adric’s wife, Oriana." With her small voice, she introduced herself.
Adric stood up first before helping Oriana to stand. He touched her face, looking at her with so much love. "I’ll be back before you know it. I have sent a letter to Father to come stay with you and advise you while I’m away. Don’t let the ministers intimidate you, and remember what I told you."
Oriana nodded, looking at Adric in the eyes. She bit her lips roughly, stopping herself from crying.
"And lastly, the soldiers left behind to protect you, do not send them to us as backup troops, no matter what you hear. Always wait for me to write to you first, and my letters will only be sent through Madame Rosalie. She won’t be returning to the palace; I have asked her to wait back at Demi-Monde."
Oriana listened attentively. All she could do was just nod. If she had a way of holding Adric back, she wanted to do it. She finally found happiness, and now it was being taken away from her.
"Look at me. Hey!" Adric snapped his fingers. "Is that tears? What happened to ’I don’t cry in front of people, Oriana’?" he teased her. "I will be back in no time. Alright, let’s do it this way: go to the Royal Library and check the number of battles I’ve won. And before you count them, I’ll be back, holding you in my arms."
Oriana sniffled back her tears. "Are you sure?"
"As certain as the sun rises over the palace walls." Adric muttered, bringing his face closer before he planted a soft kiss on Oriana’s lips.
When he moved back, Oriana held his waist tightly. "Adric, I want you to think of me every time you look at the night stars. No matter where we are, our sky will still be the same."
Adric nodded. "Our sky will still be the same." He rubbed his thumb gently on Oriana’s lips. "I’ll be leaving now. Let me get this war over with before sunset."
Oriana finally smiled. "Go, go. Tell them your wife has asked for you to return quickly." She finally let go of him.
Adric kissed Oriana’s lips one more time before he joined the soldiers. Climbing on his horse, Kato, Adric raised his sword.
"For the Glory of Avon!" When he brought it down, they set out to leave. The first troop on horses left, and behind them were those on foot before Adric and Rowan with the General and some of the Queen’s army.
Oriana ran after him, Freya following her behind. She waved as she watched Adric gallop away. "Come home quick."
Adric watched Oriana as the distance between them grew. He remembered the words of the rite mistress.
’I see the Queen crying and covered in her own blood if you do not return to save her.’
"Hiyah!" Adric kicked his horse, causing it to move even faster. His red hair swayed with the wind. "I’ll be back soon, Oriana," he said to himself as he advanced with his warriors for the war ahead.
The King and Queen, unaware of the horrors that would soon descend, carried each other longingly in their hearts, waiting to be together again.
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