A Meeting of Truth before the Last Trials

*Spring, Year 225, Luminous Calendar*

"Please, take a seat Lady Iris" Head High Priestess Antoinette said in a calm tone as she gestured towards a dark wooden chair to her left. Iris stood at the entrance of the temporary office and stared, mouth agape, around the room, where the High Priestesses along with the Head High Priestess sat around a round dark birch wooden table. An old but well kept porcelain tea set and assorted treats decorated a wine red tablecloth while equally dark bookcases completely lined three of the tall walls, all of them filled with old leather books and strange devices, herbs or strange labeled rocks of all colors and sizes. Iris's eyes finally fell and stopped at the soft array of colorful plush cushions propped against the back of the tall, almost circular like chair that Head High Priestess Antoinette was motioning at. For a moment she was dazed, not a thought running through her mind, her body not moving even an inch. Finally a question shot through her brain like a lighting bolt. 'Why, in the Goddess of Mercy and Love's name, are the High Priestesses and the Head High Priestess all sitting around a table drinking tea and motioning for me to sit down next to them?' Head High Priestess Antoinette simply continued to look at Iris with an expecting gleam in her eye, her hand still outstretched towards the chair.

"Aye child. I'ma guessing you're supposed to go and sit with them...so go" Sister Bertha whispered as she gave Iris a gentle push and quickly closed the heavy wooden door behind her. As if the clicking sound of the door was a queue, Iris finally snapped out of her temporary stupor and swiftly sat in her assigned chair. "Forgive me, your honor. I'm bewildered by the sight of all of you here." Iris said with a bit of a tremble in her voice. " 'Tis quite alright young one. We ourselves are quite surprised that we could all be here together right now." Head High Priestess Antoinette said with a sincere smile. "However, seeing as how incredibly important it is for all of us to be here this noon, it is only appropriate that we all made time." Iris looked at the Head High Priestess and nodded confused. High Priestess Asterwood cleared her throat uncomfortably, causing the other's to shift awkwardly or look at her and then back at Iris. "Yes sister, I know...Iris, we don't have very much time to discuss many of the things we, as a whole would like to, but we will discuss the most important subjects with you right now." Head High Priestess Antoinette stated calmly as she side eyed High Priestess Asterwood. "As you know, the rest of your Trials are to take place today, after supper of course. Now, while we don't know what course of fate is in store for you, what we do know is that one way or the other, the King won't leave this sacred Temple without you." Head High Priestess Antoinette continued in her calm tone as she graciously poured Iris a simmering cup of tea.

For a moment Iris stared at her in bewilderment before a series of giggles escaped her lips. "Oh your Honor, please do not play with my heart and sanity in such manner. I would never expect such cruel jest from someone like you." Iris responded in between giggles. In return Head High Priestess Antoinette just gazed at her in her calm manner, her polite smile never wavering. Iris's giggles faded as she glanced around at the other Priestesses, but only High Priestess Asterwood looked back at her, her lips trembling as if she was witnessing a tragic event in process. "It surely is cruel, however it is not a jest, Lady Iris. Whether it be out of curiosity, from his Majesty or from his Highness, the Prince, we are not sure. But we have heard many.....reports, so to speak, of the King's intentions to only leave when you have been either named the Divine Priestess or secured as a parting...gift." Iris's mouth ran dry as she listened to the cruel words being spoken in such a calm soothing manner. 'Divine Priestess? Parting Gift? I-I am neither of those.' Iris screamed in her mind as panic began to churn her stomach.

"Iris, listen to us." High Priestess Asterwood's voice rang out as she clenched her hands together. "Before you begin to spiral into panic, listen to what we have to say first. We....we each have a plan. But we need you to know what it is we have planned and more importantly, we need you to tell us which one you choose. This is your life we are talking about, and this...this is the least and only thing we can do, we can at least give you a choice." High Priestess Asterwood reached out a thin trembling hand across the table and Iris instinctively held onto it, intently listening to the Priestess quivering voice. "You have always been to smart and mature for age child. At this moment, you will have to be even more so." High Priestess Ruth said with a sad smile as she place a gentle hand on Iris's shoulder. "Thank you, your Graces." Iris responded and looked back at Head High Priestess Antoinette. " I am ready now" Iris whispered and they all nodded before they each began to explain.

'I am ready. I am ready.' Iris repeated over and over in her head. She folded the wide sleeves of her pale Wedgewood blue gown between her finger tips before releasing the folds and starting over agian. "That be enough child, you gonna go in there more crumpled then Lady Beth's reputation if you don't stop." Sister Bertha chided Iris as she fussed with Iris's gown for the tenth time. "You are not helping much with you incessant fiddling either Bertha." Sister Jesslyn said in annoyance as she swatted Sister Bertha's hands away. " Come Lady Iris, they are waiting." Sister Jesslyn whispered and wrapped her arm around Iris's before leading out her door and through hallway after hallway. Sister Bertha followed closely but stayed quiet to whole time. "Just remember, you are not alone my dear. You are never alone. You will never be alone." Sister Jesslyn whispered to Iris with a small knowing smile. Iris smiled sadly and gave her a quick nod before looking forward, her back straight and her head held high. 'I am ready.' She thought to herself as the thick wooden doors that lead to the Altar room came into sight.