Lost (The Secret World Of Atlantis)

Chapter 6 - A Blessing From The Gods

The morning of my blessing day, I'm awoken by soft knocking on the door by Guardians, protectors of the King and his family. I yawn with my mouth wide open and stretch my limbs. "Princess, are you awake?" one of them asks through the door, as usually.

"Yes," I answer loudly, my voice cracking. Marvellous, just marvellous. Today I'm meeting the leading aristocrats of every Royal family in the land and my voice is already protesting. Sighing, I kick the sheets off my body and stand up.

The first thing I do every morning is open the door to the balcony and step out for some fresh ocean air. The whole city is running around busily, people are decorating the streets in white flowers, probably peonies as they are included on our coat of arms. The same is happening at the gardens. Our servants are running around the gardens like bees, preparing the tables, arranging the flowers and humming happily while doing so.

I return to my room with a smile on my face, only to see four maids standing by the doors. They look even more excited than I am. One of them is holding a long bag, probably with my dress, while the others are holding up plates with my breakfast. Oh, thank God, I already thought I will have to be hungry until lunch. "Good morning, ladies," I greet them, and they bow hastily, greeting me back.

They let me sit down in an armchair and provide me with food. I try to eat as quickly as I can, while still minding my manners. Even if I know these girls wouldn't judge me.

"Did you sleep well, Your Majesty?" one of them asks, while taking me to the bathroom, where two other maids are already finished with preparing the bathtub.

"Yes, thank you. I feel quite well-rested," I answer politely and take my nightdress off, descending into the rose-scented water.

A few minutes later, I am wrapped in my morning gown while the maids are braiding and curling my hair. Half of my hair is falling over my waist, while the other half is braided up and the girls are putting small white flowers in it. After that, they do my makeup and equip me with some diamond jewellery, accented with gold. I already know that the tradition for the blessed one is to wear a golden outfit, but I don't know what to expect. I just hope father kept it simple when he was ordering the dress.

As if reading my mind, one of the maids brings that long bag into the room and puts it on the bed. It sits there until they are finished with me. She motions for me to open it and I slowly pull the bag up. I gasp at what awaits me. The smooth, see-through golden fabric actually doesn't look too over the top. The sweetheart neckline is continuing into off shoulder sleeves, which are cut open at the elbows and fall to the ground. The dress is complemented by a golden lace belt around the waist.

"Can't wait to put it on?" a maid asks, and I nod. How can father know my taste so well? I am so thankful, that he understands simple and royal can walk hand in hand. He couldn't have done a better job. As I slip into it, I already feel blessed. The fabric feels amazing against my bare skin. "Would you like to look at yourself, before you leave?" the maid asks again and I nod, heading towards the mirror in the walk-in closet. I stop in my tracks as soon as I spot myself.

"Wow ... I look ..." I trail off, not able to finish my sentence.

"Heavenly, my Princess," another maid says shyly, and I look at her, smiling.

"Be careful there, we don't want to upset the Gods," I tell her, and they all nod seriously. Then one of them checks the clock.

"Oh dear, we need to go, we're almost late!" she squeals and we all head towards the door. They hold my trail as we descend down the stairs, making sure I don't trip over it.

We arrive at the foyer just in time, my father already pacing around nervously, while the Queen and Zara are standing by the door calmly. "Finally, I would almost come up and... Wow ... you look beautiful, sweetheart." I take a twirl for him, and his smile reaches his eyes. "Your mother would be so proud to see what a fine young woman you have grown up to be," he speaks fondly, and I thank him by returning a sincere smile.

"Ariston, the guests are waiting," the Queen speaks in a bored tone. I sigh quietly. Does this woman ever get over herself?

"Yes, let's go," he says, not even turning to look at her and offers me his elbow. I take it and we walk to the door, waiting for two Guardians to open it up for us.

As the sunlight blinds us, we are greeted by the joyful clapping of our guests. There's a sea of unfamiliar faces in front of me, making me nervous, but I still manage to put a smile on.

Father gently pulls me forward, to make me move, or else I would be standing on top of those stairs all day. I scan the crowd anxiously, trying to spot someone I know, but no luck. Only as we almost reach Silver, my ride to the temple, I see my grandparents, aunt and uncle waving at me. I raise my hand at them gracefully, just like I was taught the other day.

I begin to turn my head forwards, when I lock eyes with a pair of icy blue ones. I almost stop in my tracks as I see Eros smirking at me. The corners of my lips lift themselves up against my will and I mentally slap my idiotic self. Only then I notice Elena, jumping up and down from excitement as she almost waves her arm out, trying to get my attention. I wave back discreetly, blushing deeply at her mischievous smile.

We reach Silver in a few steps and father helps me mount him, so I can sit like a proper lady. As soon as I bury my hands in his mane, our bond awakens.

Well, well. The other one is here again. I assumed he wouldn't leave you alone today, Silver speaks with a hint of jealousy in his voice. I look over my shoulder confused, flinching in surprise as Silver begins to move.

Hey, you could have warned me about that! And who exactly it is you're talking about? I ask him, not daring to turn around again.

Wait, you really don't know about him? He is even worse than I imagined. I am getting more and more annoyed with every word he speaks, because I still have no clue who is he talking about and precisely why.

Silver, stop playing games and tell me what this is about. I am not in the mood for this, I snap at him. I am met with silence. Wonderful, there is no way he would talk to me now.

Mind your attitude, Princess, he says after a while.

I am truly sorry, I say to him, meaning every word. Will you tell me about this man? Please?

I can't. Not when he is hiding the bond from you. He must tell you himself, I can't say his name even if I wanted to. A bond is sacred and if one of the pair isn't aware of it, no one else can tell them about the person they share it with. Of course, no one can notice when someone is hiding that they share a bond with someone. It's different with me, because we are, too, connected with one. But truly, Arya, you are better off without him, he finally tells me.

So, one can be bonded not only with a magical creature, but also with another person? I ask curiously, my mind already racing with different possibilities.

Yes, I've just said that. And it is awfully annoying, because our bond cannot move forward when you don't know about the other one. This is why I can't reach you unless we have a physical touch, he explains to me. I furrow my eyebrows. I wonder who is the coward that wouldn't tell me, that we share a bond. Oof, if you knew ... Silver snorts at my thoughts. I hate it when he invades the ones, that aren't meant for him. My dear, you truly need to learn how to shield your mind.

Can you teach me? I ask hopefully.

I'm a Pegasus. My magic is very different from yours. But I can give you some advice from what your mother told me about her ability to shield her mind, he says.

I could kiss you right now, I tell him jokingly and he snorts.

Outrageous! Go enjoy your blessing day now, I think I've had quite enough of you, he mumbles, and I laugh, removing my hands from his mane.

I was so deep in our conversation, that I failed to observe the streets of Dairelis properly. The citizens did a wonderful job.

Every corner, window and door is decorated with bouquets of white peonies. Meanwhile, their blossoms are floating above us like stars and occasionally even a few white petals fall to the ground as if it were snowing.

The closer we get to the temple, the more peonies are floating above us. People are waving at us from the streets or the windows in their homes with white handkerchiefs. I raise my hand at them, waving it slightly, to let them know I am grateful for their lovely gesture.

As soon as I lay my eyes on the temple, a knot forms in my stomach. I don't exactly know what is going to happen inside. I don't even know if the Gods will accept me.

I let father help me with dismounting Silver and take a deep breath. He gives my shoulder a gentle squeeze and it's all the encouragement I need.

My feet cross a blanket of white petals, brushing a few away with the train of my dress. As soon as I step into the tunnel, the crowd behind me grows more and more quiet. I can hear their footsteps moving across the stones as I walk towards the door at the end of the tunnel.

The closer I get, the more nervous I'm becoming. I take in the marble doorframe, that somehow looks even more magnificent from up close, while the door almost takes my breath away. It is made from walnut wood and decorated with gilded carvings, divided into twelve motifs. But as I reach out with my hand, trying to study them, the door swings open.

It reveals the most majestic view of a hall, shaped like a dodecagon. Marble can be seen in everything I lay my eyes on. The walls are divided into twelve sections, each containing a monumental statue of the Olympian Gods. Their serious faces look quite intimidating.

The hall is illuminated by a massive glass dome, bigger than any I've ever seen. My gaze follows the sunbeams, falling onto a set of stairs, that are surrounding the very centre of the temple. Only then I notice a young woman standing there, her peaceful expression watching the newcomer. Me. She is wearing the most transparent dress I've ever seen without any shame.

I hesitate for a moment, then descend down the staircase with an uneasy feeling in my chest, my eyes never leaving hers. Her presence makes my racing heart calm down a bit and as soon as I step into the centre, she greets me with the warmest smile I've ever seen.

“Welcome to the temple, child. My name is Iora, and I am the Mother of the Maidens of Artemis,” she speaks in a melodic voice. “You have nothing to fear. Just open your heart to the Gods and they will accept you as their own. We shall begin the ceremony as soon as everyone is gathered around us.” I just nod, because I'm still too nervous to say anything.

I watch as the crowd of people, pours through the door and all around us. You can imagine my shock as all of them, men and women begin undressing. They tie their clothes at their waist, revealing only the upper part of their bodies.

“This is how we pay our respect to the Gods. We reveal our hearts, showing them, that we have nothing to hide,” the Mother suddenly whispers into my ear, making me flinch in surprise a little. “But we, the Maidens, never undress. Our bodies can always be seen through the thin fabrics of our robes. It symbolizes, that we belong to the Gods, thus no mortal being is allowed to touch us,” she continues, slowly moving in front of me.

I can see her eyes scanning the mass of naked torsos, making my heart beat somewhere in my throat. Can we just get this over with? It's killing me. She finally turns to me with a smile.

“We may begin now,” Iora says quietly. “First, we greet each other, after that I will undress you and give you my blessing. You will have to close your eyes then, so the Gods may reach your mind. Is everything clear?” I gape at her, frozen in shock.

“I have to be completely naked for this?” I squeal quietly. She just stares into my eyes in silence, which oddly enough seems to calm me down. But all these people … They will see me without any clothes on.

“Faith is what brings us together in the temple. We are all the same under our clothing and we believe that the Gods will treat us all equally as we meet them in our death. Don't feel embarrassed. Believe in our Gods,” she reassures me quietly enough for just me to hear it. I think of my father and how excited he was about this day. I can't ruin it for him.

“My Gods, I reveal to you my humbled heart,” I speak up loudly, my voice echoing around the hall. Iora smiles proudly, her hand reaching out to my face.

Her thumb draws a circle on my forehead, the symbol of infinity, as she speaks: “Your spirit lives in us.” She steps behind my back, untightening my dress, then reaches out to my shoulders, pulling it down my body.

As she does so, I am horrified to hear gasps and murmuring from the crowd. My cheeks are heating up from embarrassment and I would gladly grab my dress and pull it back up, but Iora stops me. 

The whole hall falls deadly silent as she steps in front of me and looks straight into my stomach. Am I fat or something? I glance down to notice what is bothering everyone so much. It's my belly button piercing. Atlantis's symbol of w****s. Wonderful, now everyone thinks I was born in a brothel.

“I demand respect! You are in the house of Gods,” the Mother states in a mighty tone, that might make the dome shatter. I glance up quickly, just in case, but the glass is still on its place. As I look back down, I notice Iora staring into my eyes again. “And only they can judge us,” she finishes, making the crowd fall silent again.

She turns back to me, her expression softening up. Her fingers then slowly reach my eyes, closing them shut. She cups my head in both of her hands and I can feel the heat radiating from her skin.

For a while, nothing happens, but then suddenly a warmth spreads from my head all the way down to my toes. I could swear, that I can hear the hooting of an owl, right next to my ear. I get the strange feeling, that someone touches my head, but it passes soon enough.

As the hooting tones down, another wave of warmth hits my body, this time stronger. With it comes the sound of the ocean in a seashell. I can also hear a horse neighing, but faintly. This time I can swear that someone touched my head, but it can't be Iora, both of her hands are on my cheeks.

When I already think that this is it, no more strange sensations and sounds, I am met with an unpleasant surprise. My body is met with the strongest heat wave that I've ever experienced. I feel like my insides are burning and it almost makes me scream in agony. Soon the heat tones down a bit and I hear a funny sound. Something that sounds like … combing your hair? I can't make out what that could that mean. As it begins slipping away, I can clearly feel someone touching my head now, running their fingers down my hair.

“Open your eyes,” Iora says, startling me a bit as she pulls me out of my trance. I pull my eyelids up and gasp at the unexpected sight. Three statues are gleaming in a golden light, two women and a man.

“Welcome, child of Athena, child of Poseidon, child of Aphrodite,” the Mother speaks loudly and the whole temple repeats after her. The echo of those words can be heard for quite a few moments.

As soon as she pulls the dress back up to cover my body, other people begin dressing up, too. We say our goodbyes and the crowd moves apart to let me lead them again. I finally believe now. Gods are real and three of them have claimed me as theirs. It seems odd, that I've had no faith in them until this day.

My excitement quickly disappears as father comes to help me mount Silver. I wonder what he has to say about my belly button piercing, I never told him about it. In fact, it didn't occur to me, that he would want to know about it. The traditions in this land are a lot different from the ones on Earth.

But as I look at him, he only congratulates me, not saying a word about my slip in the temple. However, he does tell me we are in need of a conversation … Wonderful. He is mad at me.

The moment I touch Silver, I pour all of my thoughts and feelings about the events at the temple into his mind. I don't get an answer for quite a while.

I understand nothing. You need to calm your mind, before you tell me about what happened in there, he says slowly. I sigh, he is right. All I served him was a big hot mess.

I apologize. Let me try again, alright? I tell him and take a deep breath before repeating everything. I try even harder to replay all the memories the way it happened and leave my emotions out of them this time.

Why would you disgrace your body with the symbol of sluts? I thought you knew better, he tells me, sounding quite disappointed. My blood boils.

I've had this done while I was on Earth, clueless, that Atlantis even exists. How could I have known that it presents something bad here? I burst out, angry, that he even suggested I would do this on purpose.

Yes, but it's still bad. You're going to have big problems, because everyone, that matters something here, think you have come from a brothel, he continues.

But why should I worry about that? I'm a Princess, they won't lock me up, will they? I ask him, already panicking a little.

Of course they won't lock you up. You're first in line for the throne … But you will have a hard time finding a suitor, he says after a moment of hesitation. I don't know what to tell him, because I am a little shaken. Why would I already need a suitor? Your father is coming to speak to you, he tells me before he shuts his mind from me.

I straighten up just in time to see him coming from the crowd. I signal Silver to slow down a bit so he can catch up with us. As he does, he motions me to move closer. I lean down a little and he looks over his shoulder. He probably wants to make sure no one is listening.

“We will have to wed you,” he tells me quietly, almost making me fall off the horse. Literally. Luckily, he is there to grab me and push me back up.

“Are you mental?!” I whisper-yell at him. “No way!” He sighs, clutching his chest like I gave him a heart attack. Drama queen. I should be holding my chest like that.

“Arya, you've caused quite a scandal with … that thing. We need to assure you meet a good match quickly if we want to tone it down a bit. Someone needs to put in a good name for you, someone from another Royal family,” he explains. When he sees the way I'm looking at him, he sighs again. “Alright, I won't say another word of this today. But we will talk about this. The sooner the better. For now, just enjoy the blessing party, that is coming.”

Before I'm able to answer him, he retreats back into the crowd. My mind is a complete mess again. How can I enjoy the party, when I know he will be looking for a suitor in every young nobleman, that will as much as look at me?

Now that sounds like a big problem, Silver suddenly speaks in my mind. I groan out loud, I seriously need to learn how to shield my mind from him. That you do, my dear.