Timeless Ties || Volturi Kings

35. Moving Forward Pt. 1

I believe that living life
Is just about
Grasping the journey
And keep moving forward

— Paula Fernandes, Leonardo (adapted translation of Tocando Em Frente)

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Alessia could barely make out anything else. One of them was speaking, but she couldn't focus on what was being said.

How could Didyme of all people be connected to Ramesses and Nefertari?

Ramesses had issued threats, and surely he wouldn't dare threaten individuals so deeply connected to his mate, like her own brothers. If his gift held the power he claimed, if he could truly foresee the future, surely he wouldn't take such a risk. Alessia harbored not a single doubt that Didyme loved Aro and Caius, meaning she would undeniably lose her mind if anything befell them. Why, then, would Ramesses jeopardize his mate, knowing this?

Were they even certain they weren't being deceived? What if Didyme had been kidnapped? Alessia had studied history enough to understand how women had been treated throughout the ages. While mates were supposedly revered or whatever, she had seen a man who killed his human mate, and Alessia's own alleged mates had treated her as they had. So, how could she be certain that Ramesses wasn't fabricating Didyme's status as his mate? And even if Didyme was his mate, how could Alessia be certain they weren't mistreating her there?

Some might consider it extreme that her mind had jumped to this conclusion, but throughout history, in various situations ranging from colonization to wars to merely making a point, women are the first to suffer and the last to be heard.

Women have historically been the primary victims in all major and minor catastrophes and conflicts around the world. The purposes behind the barbarities committed against them could vary, from intimidation and psychological trauma to the spread of disease, forced pregnancies, and even as a tool of ethnic cleansing and genocide. Regardless, the truth was that it always happened.

During periods of colonial expansion, like when Europe invaded and oppressed vast parts of the globe, Indigenous women, Black women, and women from other non-European backgrounds were often targeted for exploitation and abuse by European colonizers. These injustices encompassed a spectrum of crimes, spanning from forced labor to trafficking, sexual violence and outright rape.

Similarly, in times of war and in the aftermath of disasters, women often bore the brunt of the consequences, facing not only the immediate fallout but also enduring ongoing fears of further harm — men often took advantage of the chaos to perpetrate atrocities, knowing that society would doubtlessly turn a blind eye or prioritize other concerns.

During ancient eras, in addition to these prevailing challenges, another disturbing practice persisted and was particularly pronounced around 1300 BC: the kidnapping of women to be taken as brides. This custom was deeply ingrained in ancient societies, so much so that it featured prominently in their religious and mythological narratives. For instance, in Greek lore, stories like the abduction of Persephone by Hades, Thetis by Peleus, and the renowned tale of Helen being taken by Paris of Troy exemplified how abduction of women was not only common but sometimes even glorified.

In each of those ancient tales, the women endured horrifying experiences that Alessia found deeply disturbing to even contemplate. Even though Didyme belonged to a coven without significant influence, this fact didn't offer much reassurance, especially considering that Ramesses and the Uraei seemed to perceive them as important targets for some unfathomable reason. This left Alessia genuinely fearful that Didyme might be enduring mistreatment, possibly being used as leverage for an entire coven's gain, or subjected to other forms of abuse.