The King's Order

<p>Spring, Year 225, Luminous Calendar<br/><br/> Iris silently walked next to High Priestess Asterwood as they both followed behind the angry King, his men and the Prince. Her hands shook nervously while she grasped them within the long wide sleeves of her white and golden gown. Her mind rapidly scanned through everything that had just happened. The first thing that came to her mind was the question of what was happening or would happen to Beth. As much as she disliked Rose for her betrayal, she still didn't want Rose suffering for her sister's actions. Guilt sweeper through her as she thought about this and how she could have stopped Beth from saying all those disgusting things to her and the Prince, instead a part of her reveled joyfully at the thought that after years of having to endure Beth's harassment, like so many others, she could finally see Beth exposing her wicked side to the High Priestesses without her having to do much. Guilt continued to creep through her, untill the stinging feeling of embarrassment sparked from her chest and flared through her body, turning her cheeks bright red. The handsome man walking next to King James was his son, the Prince, the same man she had so shamelessly held onto while crying her heart out. Iris tried to think of other things to make the feeling of embarrassment subside but nothing in her mind was as powerful as the thought that, for maybe an hour or more, she had treated the Prince as some common man who had comforted her out of nothing but kindness. <br/> "Iris, head high. You are still a candidate for High Priestess". High Priestess Asterwood said in a low whisper, still looking at the men before her, her back straight and her head held high. Iris composed herself quickly, the bright red shade quickly draining from her cheeks as they passed through the doors that lead to the King's temporary office. The bright rays of the late noon's sun shone through the large windows in front of them and Iris fought the natural instinct to shield her eyes. "Have a seat." The King commanded them as he waved his arm towards a set of worn wooden chairs in front of the old wooden desk. High Priestess Asterwood and Iris swiftly sat in them as they were ordered and patiently waited for the King and his men to settle down. Iris couldn't help but look for the Prince who stood against the wall next to the window, he smiled and winked at her when her eyes finally found him and she quickly looked away. "Allow me to thank you for assisting this meeting without prior notice, High Priestess Asterwood and Lady.." The King stopped and looked at Iris expectantly. "Lady Iris." High Priestess Asterwood answered for her in a polite tone. "Thank you High Priestess Asterwood, Lady Iris then. Thank you both, as I mentioned earlier, we would like to have Lady Iris fulfill the Trials that would appoint her as the Divine Priestess or rule her out. Based on our records she is the only Lady that wasn't enrolled in our Trials." The King continued as he pulled a scroll from a pile on the left side of his desk and unrolled it, reading something from it as he spoke to them. High Priestess Asterwood cleared her throat before she spoke politely. "As your Majesty is aware, one of our Ladies was affected by your Majesty's and his men's arrival. She was tainted by Darkness and fell ill for six mornings and seven nights. Unfortunately, that lady was Lady Iris. After a few more days of rest, she was just given permission to leave her chambers this morning by Priestess Vera, the priestess in charge of our medical ward." Iris looked at High Priestess Asterwood with a bit of bewilderment as she silently wished that she hadn't shared this information with the King. Iris had hoped that the King wouldn't remember who she was and therefore wouldn't punish her for the incident at the Alter. <br/> "That's fine. She survived, didn't she? Not many people survive even half of the Darkness she was exposed to, much less come out of it looking like hope and sunshine." The King said with a dismissive wave of his hand and Iris fought the blush that threatened to appear after the King's last comment. "But your Majesty, she was tainted..." High Priestess Asterwood continued with a hint of anger in her voice and Iris couldn't help the feeling of shame and unworthiness that came from thinking that High Priestess Asterwood was angered by the King's order for her to enroll in the Trials and thought that she shouldn't even try to begin the Trials. "That's enough! I don't care that she was tainted! She is going to begin the Trials this afternoon and we will see if she is the Divine Priestess or we will rule her out and be on our merry way back to our kingdom, understood?" King James' voice boomed as he furiously slammed his hand on the desk, making High Priestess Asterwood and Iris slightly jump in their seats. "I understand, your Majesty." High Priestess Asterwood answered in a low cold voice after a moment. She quickly stood, bowed politely and turned towards the door with a straight back and head held high. Iris looked at her with wide eyes, back at the King, then back at her and then quickly followed suit, she gave the King a low bow and then following behind her. <br/> Iris quietly closed the door behind her and stepped into the hallway where she found High Priestess Asterwood waiting for her. "Iris.." She began in a soft voice but Iris simply shook her head. "High Priestess Asterwood, if you would allow it, I would like to head back to my chambers now." The Priestess' eyes widen with surprise and she looked down at the floor for a moment before saying in a thoughtful tone, "Lady Iris, I would prefer we talk about this matter in my office along with the other High Priestesses." Iris shook her head once again and turned her back to the High Priestess. She knew this was highly disrespectful but at that moment she didn't care, she just didn't want the High Priestess to see the tears that hid in the corners of her eyes. "I understand that you don't deem me worthy enough to even begin the Trials, but as the King said, High Priestess Asterwood, I am the last lady that has to do them so that they can finally be on their merry way back to their kingdom." Iris looked at the wall as the first tear slipped down the side of her nose but she kept her voice even and polite. "That's not what I meant Lady Iris. If you would allow me.." Iris smiled bitterly and interrupted her with a loud response. "That won't be necessary High Priestess Asterwood, I'll be heading back to my chambers now. Thank you and may The Goddess of Sleep bless your dreams tonight." Iris finished before quickly walking away, leaving the High Priestess standing there, her mouth agape in shock.<br/><br/> Iris quietly closed the old creaky door that lead to her room and walked slowly to her bed. She slipped into the covers before curling her body up into as small a ball as she could muster. She wrapped her thin arms around her knees and began to silently cry as the images of her day replayed in her mind. Everything from the moment Beth confronted her in the Garden to the way High Priestess Asterwood acted towards the King's order to let her enroll in the Seven Trials, all of it replayed in her mind. She cried with shame and guilt and then her tears turned to those of embarrassment and hurt. She felt lied to by not just Rose and her false friendship but also by the Prince who stood there and let her treat him like a commoner without telling her who he really was. She felt that the High Priestesses deemed her unworthy if one of their own would go so far as to dare speak out in opposition to a King's order. After what seemed like an eternity of tears and dark thoughts, Iris finally drifted off to sleep. Her body slowly relaxed under the warmth of her thick covers and for the first time in days she had a much needed dreamless slumber. <br/> "Lady Iris, wake up honey. We brought you something to eat." A soft motherly voice spoke to her as the covers were slowly pulled down from her face. "Mother?" Iris said with a groggy voice as she sat up and rubbed her pink puffy eyes. Tsk, tsk. She heard the clicking of someone's tongue in their mouth as she looked at the Sisters' who stood next to her bed. "Sshh, Bertha. No sweetie, I'm not....your mother. It's me, Sister Jesslyn. We were told that you have an appointment this afternoon and that you needed to be freshened up and well fed before assisting. We were also told that after a meeting you had this noon with the King, you ran here, to your room and didn't come out for supper, so we decided to bring you your food and maybe..talk. If you would like to, of course". Iris smiled at Sisters Jesslyn, Bertha, Cassie and Abby who all looked at her with sad eyes. "I would love to.." She began but stopped when her voice cracked and tears she didn't know she still had, began to spill out. Sister Bertha quickly pulled her into a warm hug while the other Sisters sat around her and whispered sweet words of comfort.</p>