Gaunaka 12

'The divas shall not be worshipped any longer!'-Xerxes the Great

--- Amestris POV---

Amestris, Xerxes' queen, had previously been oblivious to her husband's affair. There were so many women in his world that she was quite desensitized to his sex life. So long as the other wives and concubines gave her the respect her office as the mother of the heir-designate deserved, she was content.

However, after hearing her son's questions the previous day, even she, desensitized as she was, was a bit disturbed.

Currently, her head filled with what she had learned from her son, she was passing the time weaving and sewing, as most other women did in the empire. However today, she was sewing something special, it was a gift for her husband, Xerxes I.

It was a beautiful long-sleeved gaunaka, an old Iranian-style coat prized by the Persians. After all, it was the gaunaka that a Great King donned during their coronation, giving respects to their nomadic ancestors who went through so much hardship.

The gaunaka was well woven in many colored threads and was sumptuously decorated with intricate patterns. Most importantly, it was the work of her own hands, the product of endless hours of careful labor.

Finishing the coat, and satisfied after seeing the impressed reaction of her courtiers, Amestris took the coat to her husband. Meeting the king in his private courtyard, she presented him with the gift.

Very pleased with the coat, Xerxes put it on, At that moment, all Persians would have recognized, the garment itself became imbued with the essence of majesty - that special, sacred charisma known as farr or khavaneh which oozed in and out of the body of the king. Any gaunaka worn by the king became saturated with the profound religious aura of the royal Farr, but a garment made on the loom of the queen was particularly special.

The gaunaka was made in purple, white, and gold threads and decorated with gilded hawks motifs. The Great King's gaunaka was a magical talisman and the Persians believed that it possessed the supernatural powers of the monarchy.

Amestris' gift was an important expression of the courtly code of elite obligation. In giving Xerxes so valuable a gift Amestris brought her husband into a nexus of obligation.

---Artaxerxes POV---

Artaxerxes, having just woken up was being dressed by a dozen or so maidservants. While he was being dressed, it was usual for the maids to tell Artaxerxes all the comings and goings of the palace gossip, so he could stay informed.

After all, news and intel spread amongst the servants like wildfire. "I heard, my Prince, that King Xerxes received a gift from Lady Amestris yesterday." One maid spoke. "Oh?" Artaxerxes said. Curious as to what it could be.

Noticing their young prince's interest, another maid said, "Yes! I heard it wasn't just any gift...but a gaunaka, woven by the Queen herself!" Immediately afterward, the maids broke out into a ruckus about how wonderful the gaunaka must have been and how handsome the king must have looked.

Developing a headache, Artaxerxes dismissed the maids from his chambers and contemplated the event's significance,' A gaunaka huh? I'm still not entirely familiar with Achaemenid customs, but even I'm aware that's a big deal'

'At the very least, it'll boost the King and Queens reputations among the empire's populace, due to the level of reverence held towards this talisman-like coat'

Deciding it was a much-welcomed piece of good news in the recent dreary court drama, Artaxerxes grabbed his set of gloves and headed out to his routine horse practice.

-----

---Xerxes POV----

It was while wearing his new robe that Xerxes decided to visit Artaynte. In a happy and giving mood, Xerxes told the girl to ask for anything she might desire as a reward for her many favors, and he promised to grant it.

Artaynte doubted the king's word, so Xerxes pledged his oath to give her what she most desired.

Artaynte spoke, "I wish for the robe"

Xerxes was stunned. Backtracking, he tried offering her other gifts - cities, unlimited gold, an army of her own - but to no effect. Nothing would do for Artaynte but the robe. Browbeaten and dizzy with the incomprehension at what had just occurred, Xerxes gave it to her. Delighted, she put it on and gloried in wearing it.

In demanding the symbolic coat, Artaynte laid claim to the sovereignty of Persia, not for her of course, as it was impossible for women to rule in Persia, but for her already powerful family

-----Artaynte POV-----

Strolling down the inner palaces zigzagging corridors, Artaynte reveled in the gawking stares courtiers and servants gave her when they saw what she wore. It was a gaunaka.

Not just any gaunaka, it was the gaunaka of the Kings, woven by the hands of the Queen herself. Something worth entire kingdoms was hers after twirling the king around her thumb. Artaynte was a materialistic woman, and she wasn't shy to show off the priceless gifts given to her by the king.

Her priceless gaunaka aside, she wore an elegant Tyrian purple gown flowing down her body and trailing on the floor behind her. She wore various bracelets, with the common theme of rosette engravings studded with precious stones. Appearances-wise, she was a relatively short woman with medium-length brown hair and dark green eyes.

'With this gaudy coat, my father's legitimacy for the throne will increase' Artaynte thought with a smirk, glancing at the cloak resting on her shoulders with disdain.

If it hadn't been for her father's incessant pleas and promises of reward, she would have never left the comforts of home to suffer all these hardships.

---Amestris POV----

Hearing what had befallen her gift for her husband whom she had toiled on for endless hours, for the first time in her life, Amestris was enraged.

Hearing the entrance to her door open, she saw her beloved son, Artaxerxes. "Mother! Are you alright?"

Smiling at her son's concern, Amestris responded, "I'm fine Arta, never underestimate a woman's will." Patting her adorable son on the head she steeled her resolve, realizing that acting rashly would only benefit her enemies.

"We can't let them get away with this Mother! They humiliated you and our family!" Artaxerxes was indignant, he had wanted his mother to be furious and stomp out any opposition.

Staring straight into her son's eyes, Amestris said with gritted teeth, "Don't worry little Arta, Masistes and his daughter's days are numbered. Always remember this Arta, when you have a weed infestation, you must rip them out by the root, or else they'll grow back faster than before."