...17...
I AM HERA-MERA
She was only vaguely aware of her surroundings all through the journey to the throne room.
All of her mind was dwelling on him and him alone.
There was his masculinity that refused to be masked and that his scent that made a stamp on her feeble mind.
Well, it wasn't as if it was always feeble.
It was only like that when it came to him, her enemy, the beast.
She had no defense whatsoever against him and how he caused her to feel.
She was utterly powerless to the charm he heavily oozed and his oh so appealing masculine sexuality.
'Brace yourself,' he said, his voice bringing her out of her train of thoughts.
She came back to the consciousness of reality and listened to him.
She realized then that they must have arrived at the throne room.
She looked around for only but a short moment, taking in the prettiness of her surroundings.
The throne room was grand from the outside.
It looked like a miniature castle.
It was made of stones and despite the fact that it might have been mighty old, it looked extremely new, spick and span.
'We are here, aren't we?' she asked him although she knew that they had arrived.
He nodded behind her.
She felt him do so.
'Yes Mine, we have arrived my throne room. I shall dismount with you now,' he informed her.
She nodded at his words.
He gripped her waist then and dismounted from the horse.
He did so alongside her, with that feline like grace she continually admired in him.
'Whoosh!' she said with a smile.
He returned the smile.
'That was fun, was it not?' she asked him.
'I don't know, maybe, if you enjoyed it then I also did,' he stated.
She groused under her breath.
'You, sometimes you are no fun at all. Do you know that?' she said to him with a pout.
He basically ignored the question and said to her.
'Welcome to my throne room! This is your first time so I suppose I should give you a tour when the gathering is over. Shall I?' he queried.
Her eyes lit up at his proposal.
'Really?' she asked him, unsure of what she had heard.
He nodded his answer.
'Really really?' she asked again with surprise in her almond shaped eyes.
'Yes,' he answered.
She smiled broadly, genuinely pleased with him.
'I shall take you on a tour.'
'Yes, yes you can,' she told his enthusiastically.
She did a little jump alongside an excited squeal.
'I would definitely love that. I would appreciate it if you do so. Infact, I definitely look forward to it,' she said to him.
The guests behind them were flummoxed, befuddled with the entire ongoings.
Who was this woman and why did she have their stern Emperor doting on her like some sort of henpecked husband?
The Empress dowager had not even informed them of such happenings occuring in the Linamine palace.
What exactly was going on here?
'Let's go then,' he said taking her hands.
She noticed then that the rest of their party had not moved without him.
Oh! She was sorry that they had been keeping them standing there, and waiting.
She nodded then at his command and immediately began to follow him into the throne room with Xiera and Cora just behind them.
The first thing she could think of when she stepped into the grand throne room was power... and then authority.
Its interior spoke of ancient wealth and grandeur.
It accurately represented the man that owned it, the one by her side, the Emperor of Linamine.
Well, off course it should have for it was a part of the mighty Linamine palace, iridescent, resplendent and magnificent.
She had no choice other than to help but admire the large beautiful throne room.
And she tried so hard to overcome the effect the awe of that wholly magnificent and bedazzling edifice was having on her at that very moment.
It was gripping.
It gave off some sort of homely and yet dominating vibes at the same time, especially to her
'What do you think of it?' he asked her as he led her around the people gathered in the throne room to the front line where his throne which was plated in gold was situated.
It had stairs afore it.
There were seven steps to the stairs.
Statues of dragons lined the side of the golden stairs.
They looked as if they were ready to vomit fire.
'It is too beautiful', she answered him truthfully.
He cocked her a brow.
'I can not really begin to describe just how beautiful it is.'
His lips began to curve slightly.
But it didn't turn into a smile before it vanished completely from his face.
'You will have to be quiet now,' he said as they approached his throne and everyone stood to their feet.
She looked at him, confused.
'We will talk later.'
She noticed then that it was just four of them, only her, him, Cora and Xiera walking towards his throne.
The rest had joined the gathering they had met and they were all standing.
'What are they standing for?' she inquired then, curious.
'No one sits before the Emperor does so. It is an act of disrespect,' Cora explained to her.
'Oh!' she murmured.
He suddenly came to a halt at a seat just before his throne -It looked like one for highly distinguished guest.
She looked up at him wondering why he did so.
'Your lady shall sit here,' he said to Xiera in a jussive voice.
'Yes My Lord,' she addressed him with a small bow of respect.
She then turned away from him and proceeded to hold her lady's hand as the Emperor and his aide went on to his throne.
She guided her lady to the seat just as the emperor climbed the seven stairs and took a seat on his gold plated throne.
'All hail the Great Emperor of Linamine!' Cora announced to all who were present.
They all bowed in respect, even Rose did so, following the tide.
It is said that if you go to Rome you have to behave like the Romans.
And if you go to Europe you have to behave like the Europeans.
And if you go to Africa you have to behave like the Africans.
So, she did so because she didn't want to be viewed as odd or worse still, disrespectful by the large number of people who were present, the ones that her seat caused her to face.
'Begin,' he said to Cora.
'We shall begin this gathering on the Emperor's order!' Cora announced to all.
They all took their seats as applause broke out for a moment then died down.
A woman at the forefront stood up then to speak.
Rose studied her.
She was dressed in pretty expensive clothes but she looked completely out of place.
She began to wonder about just what was wrong with the woman.
'Greetings to the Emperor! 'Greetings to all!' she said. 'My Sovereign Liege, we have assembled here formally begin the Empress choosing ceremony. This ceremony has become a dear custom for us, to unite the seven arms of Linamine and bond them with the royal blood. It is none other than the Empress Festival which is also called the Empress choosing ceremony.'
There was another applause.
The woman continued after it had died down.
'My Sovereign Liege, We are all present for the presentation of the Empress candidates. The Committee and the cabinet members are present. Shall we begin presentation My Sovereign Liege?' she asked the Emperor.
'Proceed,' he said to Cora after a moment of silence.
'You can proceed!' Cora announced after him.
The spectators cheered at the go ahead signal from the Emperor.
'The Empress Festival has therefore begun from this moment!' The woman announced in a happy voice.
The spectators cheered once more.
She turned to Miss Cieya of the seven towers who was sitting close to her and gave her a signal to take over.
Miss Cieya quickly stood to her feet while the woman returned to sitting.
'Thank you Empress dowager,' Miss Cieya said with a slight bow of respect.
Rose realized then who the woman was.
She must be the Emperor's mother.
She smiled softly to herself.
'My Sovereign Liege,' she began. 'Shall I summon the seven candidates which each arm has brought forth to grace this contest?' she inquired.
'You may,' the Emperor said nonchalantly.
'You may summon the seven candidates which each arm has brought forth!' Cora announced after a bow to the Emperor.
'I shall do so My Sovereign Liege,' she said to him with a bow.
She clapped her hands twice and seven ladies filed out from a door at the other side of the throne room.
They all lined up afore the Emperor with their heads bowed.
'My Sovereign Liege, here are seven beauties from the seven arms; brave at heart and fair to look upon; quick with the sword and strong in will. They are at thy service My Sovereign Liege,' she stated.
She sat down and Sorceress Zuera of the enchanted island took over, coming to the seven ladies who still stood with heads bowed, unshaken.
She stood afore the Emperor and offered a small bow.
Then, she began to speak.
'My Sovereign Liege, I shall introduce the seven candidates at your command,' she said.
'Do as you wish!' he said.
'You can introduce the seven candidates!' Cora announced after a bow to the Emperor.
'Then I shall begin,' she announced to all present.
She went to the fist lady on the line.
'Raise your head higher child,' she told the lady.
The lady swiftly did as she was told.
'Princess Hera-Mera Dracon, the only daughter of King Dracon of the Draco kingdom and affianced to the Emperor from birth,' she introduced the stunning red head beauty with pure white skin and everything else dark and contrasting.
She seemed like the most attractive of the seven candidates.
Rose ears stood at the mention of the word affianced.
She was puzzled in wether she had misheard or not.
She shrugged it off.
She must have misheard what was being said.
'I greet the Emperor, my Sovereign Liege,' she said with a graceful bow.
'Hera-Mera,' he said sitting up, more alert than he had been since the meeting started.
'Yes My Sovereign Liege,' she answered him politely.
'You are thrice more beautiful than I remember. You are looking far more dashing than I expected,' he said in a matter of fact way.
The lady smiled but did not blush.
Rose concluded that she was a hard mature woman as her eyes widened at his compliments.
She had not misheard.
She was sure of it now from the way the two love birds were flirting afore her!
What the hell?!
He was really affianced to the nonsense woman?!
And what was he doing all this time with her, Rose?
He was flirting with her, that is what he was doing.
Was it that easy for him to compliment every woman and toy with her head?
The asshole, he deserved to die!
How dare he?!
She stared at him pointedly, her gaze almost burning holes through him.
He felt her gaze, cold as ice yet hot as fire, and ignored it.
'Is that so My Sovereign Liege?' she replied the Emperor with a question.
It was audacious of her to do so.
The Emperor chuckled.
'Shall you not thank me first Hera-Mera?' he asked her.
'Am I obligated to?' Hera-Mera answered again with yet another question.
Rose's heart tightened in trepidation.
She had thought that she was the only one who had the privilege to behave unruly with him.
But, there was yet another person and she was looking at her right that instant.
She and the Emperor were even affianced and they knew each other well enough to flirt and exchange exciting banter adequately.
She was ruined.
Oh sorrow!
'I think so,' the Emperor stated.
'Well, I do not think so. You did not compliment me. I am beautiful My Sovereign Liege. It is a fact and you only just stated it. I really don't have to thank anyone for speaking the truth to me you know.'
'I am having a hard time deciding if I missed you more or if it is your sassy mouth?' he said to her.
She grinned happily.
'You missed me more but you enjoy both,' she said to him.
'Right? How sure are you flower?' he inquired from her.
'I am Hera-Mera.' They shared a smile.
...OmaPhinaPhire