Zarah braids my hair into intricate plaits as she sings a song in trig. I'm proud to recognise most of the words, though others I still don't understand. I am wearing a delicate but warm navy blue dress with long sleeves. Zarah places white flowers in my hair. They are exclusively found in Azgueda, as they only grow in the snow. I think I remember they are called Trillium.
There is a knock at the door and Zarah gives permission. Roan, dressed in a warrior suit enters the room. Normally, I should have worn armour too, but I've never worn armour and I'm not used to the weight of it, so Zarah insisted that I wear a dress. Zarah, who after tonight I will officially call mother, or in trig, nomon. As much as I miss my parents, Zarah is doing a good job of taking care of me. Sooner or later I would begin to see her as a mother figure and I chose early.
"Wow, but you look like a princess." Roan smiles. "My future strisis (younger sister) will have a lot of suitors." I chuckle at his nonsense.
"Roan is right." Zarah comments finishing my hairstyle and puts me a tiara made of silver with little blue gems to match my dress. "But you are not allowed to have a partner until you are twenty." She tells me very seriously, but I know she is trying to hide a smile.
"Until she's twenty?!" Roan asks, alarmed. "I would forbid her to have a partner until she's thirty."
We all burst out laughing, until it hurts to breathe. A guard enters the room and warns us that everyone is already in the throne room, even the commander. I've only seen her during the dinners. I've been busy training with Roan and the bitter witch. I haven't seen much of Zarah either, she has also been busy preparing for the coronation and having meetings with the commander. I'd like to know what they're talking about, but Zarah hasn't said anything.
We leave the room, as usual Zarah in front and Roan and I holding hands behind. We walk through the corridors, all the way to the throne room. With every step my nerves are growing. I'm going from being Clarke Griffin kom Skaikru, to Clarke kom Azgeda, Skai Prisa. Despite being the princess of Azgeda, everyone insists on calling me sky princess.
Finally we reach the throne room. The wooden double doors are closed and there is a guard on each side. I take a deep breath. Tonight my life is about to take a drastic turn, one that I want to take. The guards open the doors and Zarah begins to enter followed by us. Advisors, representatives, guards and peasants kneel. Everyone in the room but the commander, she kneels to no one. I feel her gaze, but I keep my eyes straight ahead. I feel her scanning, sizing me up.
Roan and I pause before climbing the small stairs that lead to the thrones. Zarah, however, continues up and sits on hers. Everyone stands, while Roan and I kneel.
"Today we are gathered here as many times before, however the reason is very different than before." I know what she says not because I understand, but because Zarah translated for me what he would say in the speech before he came. "Today, my nephew and Prince of Azgueda Roan, and Clarke, Skai Prisa and future princess of Azgeda, will become my family, my successors." She pauses for effect. "Prince Roan kom Azgeda, do you accept your title and the honor of becoming part of my family?"
"Sha, Naiplana." He answers in a strong voice, without hesitation.
"Very well, join me." Roan stands and walks to his throne to Zarah's left. I look up slightly and he smiles at me, giving me support. "And you Clarke, Skai Prisa, do you accept this title and the honour of becoming part of my family?" Her voice seems to grow softer as she addresses me.
"Sha, Naiplana." I reply as loudly and confidently as I can.
"Very well, then join me and my son." I rise and walk gracefully to my throne on her right. "People of Azgeda, today we have gained a strong warrior and two more than capable successors. Now celebrate, welcome your future leaders."
"Long live the prince! Long live Skai Prisa!" All sing in chorus, except the commander who remains impassive.
I smile on my throne. I turn to Zarah, sorry, my now ai nomon. She smiles at me with sweetness and pride. Beyond, Roan holds up his fingers in a silly sign of approval. I let out a giggle and Zarah gets up to start walking towards the main square, where the feast will be held. Roan stands up second and offers me his hand, which I take, and we walk serenely behind. The commander follows us and the whole village follows her.
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We are greeted by cheers and congratulations as we leave. It's the first time I've left the castle grounds since I entered. The snow-covered streets are lit by lanterns. People dressed in their best clothes, laughing, singing and dancing. Food everywhere and merriment is noticeably present. Children run here and there and play with their friends. Maybe I'll make some.
Ai nomon seems to notice my excitement because he says. "Go ahead and enjoy your party."
I smile big and give her a kiss on his cheek before running off and mingling in the crowd with Roan close on my heels. I'm sure Nomon sent him to keep me out of trouble, I can be very naughty when I put my mind to it. And this is one of those moments. I stop abruptly, so much so that Roan crashes into my back, but thanks to my training I don't fall. Bitter witch is sitting alone in a corner drinking what I think is alcohol. I smiled ghoulishly.
"Oh no. I know what that smile means." Roan begins to scold me in advance. "Pick on whoever you want, but not Ritha."
"Why not with the bitter witch?" I ask quizzically. I mean, who doesn't want revenge.
Roan laughs at the nickname but turns serious quickly. "If she finds us out, do you have any idea what terrible punishment she'll give us?"
"Then she can't find us out." I say and start walking towards an alley to spy on her and come up with a plan. Roan is not by my side yet, but I know he will come. He won't let his strisis get into any trouble on her own. He finally arrives at my side.
We're watching her for several minutes, when a salesman walks by with a can of pink paint. This is my chance. I ran after him with Roan at my side. The salesman stops when he sees us following him.
"You brats, don't you have anything better to do." He yells at us. I understand do, better and things, which I gather he doesn't want to talk to us. Roan frowns, I guess he disrespects us, otherwise he would be nice. The salesman finally looks at us and his face goes from annoyance, to astonishment and finally to terror. He should have thought better of his words before speaking to us like that. "Umm, I'm sorry, Your Highnesses. If I had known it was you, what can I do for you?" I lift my chin feeling superior. I don't know what he said, but I must fix this situation.
"Gonasleng?" I ask him so I can join in the conversation.
"Sha, Skai Prisa, how can I help you?" The salesman is nervous.
"How much for the pot of paint?" I said very seriously. I don't owe him respect, he owes it to me.
"Nothing, Skai Prisa. It costs nothing for you. It's yours." He handed me the pot and I grinned.
"Mochof, have a good season." I turn away, ending the encounter. Roan glares at him for a few moments and then walks beside me. It's strange, he's the eldest, the one who will reign one day, and yet I'm the one who settles things with the people. Strange, but it works. I'm the face and he the brain. Interesting relationship.
We go back to our hideout. "What do you have in mind?"
"Well, throw it at her, Duhh." I reply with obviousness. "And before you say she'll realise it was me if I throw it at her, I won't do it that way." Roan had opened his mouth to lecture me but closed it at my comment. "You see the beam over there." I point to a wooden beam above the bitter witch. "It's sticking out of a house. If I climb up there, I'll throw the paint and hide in the house. That way she won't find me." Roan ponders before nodding.
I climb the house with a rope in my hand. When I get to the top, I slip the rope through a metal ring nailed to the roof and throw it down. Roan ties the can and I start to pull the rope up. After a while I succeeded. I give Roan a thumbs up to let him know it's done and he nods. I watch as he approaches the bitter witch and they begin to talk. The woman seems just as hostile as ever, though a bit affected by the alcohol.
I stand up and grab the paint can. Trying to keep my balance, I walk along the beam, as close as I can to the bitter witch. I try not to stain myself, or the floor to give myself away. If they find paint on my dress or hair, they'll know it was me. I get close enough and Roan sees me. He looks down immediately so as not to arouse suspicion. They talk some more and then he walks away. He walks a few yards and turns to look at me. He nods and I take a breath. Here we go.
I tip the can and all the paint falls on the bitter witch. She gasps and everyone starts laughing. I run inside before anyone sees me. Inside the house, I find a hole in the middle of the stairs and hide in it. I hear the downstairs door open and someone comes in. They splutter as they walk, so it must be a bitter witch covered in paint. The laughter and cheers can still be heard from here.
I hear footsteps approaching and the bitter witch enters my line of sight. I cover my mouth to keep from bursting out laughing. This was worth it. Her eyes are red from the paint, but they seem alight with fury. If I didn't know she isn't going to find me, I'd be terrified. She climbs the stairs and lets out a cry of anger when she finds nothing. Finally she goes back downstairs and exits the house, provoking even more laughter. I wait for some time before I come out of hiding.
I go up the stairs and out onto the roof. I go down the side of the house, in the same place I came up. Roan is waiting for me downstairs. As I hit the ground we both start laughing loudly, attracting the attention of some people. We laugh non-stop until tears come out and it hurts to breathe but we don't stop. When we manage to calm down, he shakes my hand and we go back to the party.
Ai nomon is sitting at a table and seems to be looking for us in the crowd. When she sees us she motions for us to come and sit down. It is a table with only four chairs. Ai nomon's in the middle and one on each side.The last one in front. We take our usual seats, Roan on the left and me on the right. Nomon stands up and says a few words and then we start eating.
"Naiplana!" An angry shout pierces the square. I look up and it is the bitter witch still covered in pink paint. Roan and I look at each other and cover our mouths to keep from laughing. Some can't hold it in and there are giggles. Nomon looks puzzled by the state of her warlord, but then seems to try to hold back a smile as well. Bitter Witch starts to approach and Roan and I go back to looking at our plates and eating. "You must find the guilty!" she points to the painting.
I want to laugh, if I don't I feel like I'm going to explode. But if I burst out laughing I'll be found out. I must use all my self-control and acting skills to hide it. Ai nomon looks amused.
"Ritha, I'm sure it was just some harmless children." She waves her hand, not making a big deal of it. I noticed a presence approaching, one I had forgotten was present at the party.
"Some very disrespectful children." Comments the commander. Now yes, no one laughs, things are getting serious. Heda glares at me, as if she knows it's my fault. Just as I'm about to confess, she turns to the bitter witch and they talk in trig. I let out a relieved sigh, it was close.
Nomon talks to them and the bitter witch ends up leaving in annoyance. I guess they're not looking for the guilty. The commander takes a seat in the empty chair and we all go back to eating. A tense silence settles at our table. No one knows what to say or do. When Heda finishes, she gets up and walks away, leaving us alone. I let out a sigh, now more relaxed.
"So, did you see who did it?" asks ai nomon regarding what happened to the bitter witch. Roan and I look at each other with complicity, but we shake our heads and continue eating. "Really?" She asks again, raising her eyebrows, not believing us. "It wasn't you?"
"Noooo." I answered half naughtily, stretching out the "o". She raises her eyebrows even more. "Maybe we were?" She smirks. "Well yes." I resign myself to confess.
"Mmmmm." she mutters. "That wasn't nice." she chides us, but the smile doesn't leave her face, or ours.
"But she's a bitter witch." I defend us.
"Bitter witch?" she asks amused.
"Yes, that's what I call her. Because she's a witch and a bitter one." I say confidently, and Roan nods his head in support.
"Next time try not to do it at a celebration, or in a public place." I'm surprised she doesn't tell us not to do it again, but I'm not complaining either. "She's my warlord, I don't want public humiliation. Image is important." She says this last bit seriously. We nod, we know she's right. "Now go and dance. The people will like to celebrate with their highnesses."
Roan and I get up and head to a part of the square that is free of tables, which has been decorated to form a dance floor. On a platform, men and women are playing music I've never heard before, but I love it. Several people have formed couples and are dancing happily. Roan approaches the musicians and talks for a few moments and they begin to play another song.
I recognise this one, it's the one Roan used to teach me the traditional Azgeda dance. He approaches and offers me his arm, asking for this dance. I grant it and they make a place for us on the dance floor. In the distance I see Nomon watching us and I smile at her. Suddenly I feel nervous. Everyone is watching us, now I'm their Skai Prisa, I don't want to make a fool of myself by making a mistake.
"What's wrong strisis?" he whispers to me.
"What if I make a mistake?" I whisper back in fear.
"You won't." he replied confidently. "You're a great dancer, you'll do fine." his words try to pass on his confidence to me, although they're not entirely successful.
(Optional song Soldier, Poet, King by The oh Hellos) (Imagine the song in English is in trig)
The chords start and I take a breath. Roan starts to sing and then I follow him. I try my best to dance, without making my steps look disastrous. With every move well done, I gain even more confidence in myself and begin to loosen up and calm down. My movements come out more naturally.
People start to join us and we sing in chorus. Soon a crowd forms on the dance floor, barely leaving room to breathe. I'm having fun. Children, adults, old people, everyone is dancing. I even think I see the bitter witch, probably I'm getting too excited.
We get to my favourite part of the song. We bow to our partner when there is a pause in the music and the routine changes movements. The song slows down, exploding into an even more upbeat and lively rhythm. I change partners, with an old man and then a rather attractive young man, but soon find myself back with Roan, returning to the previous routine, as the beat becomes slow again.
The upbeat rhythm plays again and we change partners again. This time I find myself with a boy smaller than me and a girl maybe older or the same age as me. Maybe she is short. I return to Roan for the end of the song, ending up sweaty and with big smiles on our faces. A new song comes on again and he leads me in this new rhythm.
We dance until we can no longer ignore the pain in our feet. Even in training I have never been so tired. The moon is shining brightly, it must be very late at night. Suddenly I realise how sleepy I am. My eyes are heavy and it's getting harder to move. Nomon catches up with us and notices my state. After I let out a big yawn, she orders Roan to take me to bed, as she has to stay at the party.
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I just undo the last braid and would give anything to fall asleep. There's a knock on my door and I give permission, as it's Roan for sure. Both of us in our pyjamas lie down on the bed. Since that night when I had the nightmare I don't want to sleep alone and Roan does it with me. I ask him to tell me a story and he is happy to do so.
It is about how the first commander came down from heaven, just like me, and helped our people. In return they made her their leader and we have served the commanders ever since. I yawn rather tired, today has been a great day.
"Reshop, bigabro." (Big brother) I say in a tired voice, before my eyes close.
"Reshop, strisis." I hear him whisper before I fall into the arms of Morpheus.
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