Cursed By The Gods Book 1 and 2

Chapter 28

An endless stream of servants came in and out of Emilia’s room. Ileana stood by her mistress supervising the beauty care the maids administered on her, she guided the young maidens on her best to style her mistress’s hair and chose the clothes she would wear according to what she knew was Emilia’s preferences. Emilia sat quietly in front of the mirror and let the maids perform their duties on her. Her heart was racing as she anticipated the ceremony where she would be crowned as queen of Camelorn. She less concerned about her elevated status as she was about her husband’s. She was glad Octavius was taking his rightful place as king of Camelorn, she sighed to herself as she realized that if they had run away as lads like they had planned to do when she realized she was pregnant Camelorn would have lost the best and most responsible leader they would ever have. She had Angus to thank for encouraging them to find another way to be together, her only regret was that she had given up her child and even though Ilena always did her best to reassure her she had done the right thing at that time she couldn’t help but feel she was being punished with barrenness for her actions.

Years after she had offered child as a sacrifice to the Fates of Intavia she worried that the god may have done more than just take her child at that moment. Just like humans, the gods were cunning and very tricky beings who would do whatever for their pleasures. While King Philip had lain in bed sick her fear had been that her actions had caused his illness and now that she was still without child even after more than a decade of marriage she suspected Fates must have tricked her and taken her womb. Her hands automatically went to her stomach, she squeezed at the flatness and whispered a silent prayer of blessings to the goddess of fertility. Ilena had told her the goddess would attend the ceremony and had encouraged her to make personal requests to her, Emilia didn’t know the goddess but she was willing to meet her and ask for blessings.

From outside she could hear the soldiers assemble, waiting to accompany the royal household to the temple of Robos. Some of the village maidens had woven baskets and picked the flowers they would use to accompany her and Octavius to the temple. She had heard them practice the songs they will sing behind the castle and while they were at that the stable hands had taken extra efforts to brush the horses and polish the saddles upon which they will ride. The priests had arrived early in that and were now waiting down in the hall to follow them to the temple.

Just as the maids slipped the last pin into her hair and placed the dark red cloak on her shoulder, her door flew open. Camelornian soldiers stood waiting for her in the passage. They had their swords strapped in the sheath around their waist, some of them even had medals pinned to the shoulders of their uniforms.

“It is time, my lady,” the one who appeared to the captain of the group said. He gestured to the maids to leave and waited for Emilia to rise, as she approached him he side stepped and made a way for her to pass. The rest of the soldiers divided themselves in two rows and stood at either side of their future queen, Ilena took position behind Emilia and together the whole group walked downstairs.

Emilia took deep breaths to quieten her racing heart. The closer they got to the hall the more her heart sped in anticipation. Octavius was waiting for her together with the nobles, her palm became sweaty and wiped it down the front of her gown. As they rounded the corner that would take them to the hall she heard the noises of the people waiting there, they exchanged pleasantries but mostly she could hear them wish Octavius well. They finally came to the entrance of the hall and at her entry the hall fell silent and looked in her direction. Like her, Octavius and Angus were surrounded by soldiers who had one hand on their swords in case of any threat. Octavius was in a cream tunic that had gold-threaded edges and brown sandals, the priest beside him held the golden robe he would be clothed with crowned as king.

She watched as Octavius turned to look at her, watched as admiration filled his eyes and breathed a sigh of relief. It was pleasing to know that even though he had been occupied by worries that he refused to share with her he still loved her.

A smile spread across his face an instance before he slipped from his group and walked up to her to kiss her soundly on her lips, she clasped his arms in happiness as the people around them cheered and hooted.

Octavius felt love rush through him making him weak and giddy. Emilia was the balm he needed to heal Ashterah’s brutality to his soul. He wanted so much to hold her by his side all the time, when he turned around to see her he had offered a small prayer of thanks to the gods for putting her in his life.

Emilia moved back slightly even though it was the last thing she wanted to do.

“Let’s not keep anyone waiting,” she whispered to him.

He nodded and tucked her hand into the crook of his elbow. Damn Ashterah if she died of jealousy when she sees how much he loved his wife regardless of her cruelty. He led her to their horses behind the priest in their simple tunics and dark cloaks and helped her up. At Angus’s command the gates were thrown open revealing a huge number of people standing before the gates, the villagers had their best tunics and sandals on, the girls with the flowers dropped them in little bits on the floor singing the songs they had practiced, the people pumped their fists in the air and hailed Octavius as they passed. The whole village followed them, hailing and singing as they approached the temple arena, children waved olive branches and old clothes with the royal coat of arms painted on them, dogs ran in between the legs of people seeming to catch the excitement. There was great joy everywhere. Some women went ahead of the whole group carrying bowls of food wrapped with clothes, jars of wine and water and lots if plates and cups. They wasted nothing, everyone had contributed to the great celebration of the crowning.

As they neared the temple of Robos in its glorious golden splendor, Octavius caught sight of the gods already seated at the entrance. Helena sat on her sapphire throne, on one side of her was Nukis; god of thunder and on the other was Ashterah in a flimsy red gown. She had a knowing look on her face as he crossed her right leg over the left watching Octavius. He gritted his teeth and reached for Emilia’s hand, watched with satisfaction as Ashterah’s face contort with anger and jealousy. She sat up straighter in her red and golden seat with a murderous look on her face. Octavius reveled in the fact that she couldn’t show how displeased she was without raising a few brows, most especially her mother’s. He also noted with satisfaction that Seumas was not present, he figured ‘Ash’ as he had called her must have threatened him not to. Termla the goddess of justice was there and so was Willa, goddess of purity and fertility. All the gods were in attendance except the smaller, insignificant ones like the goddess of excess, the god of misery, no one wanted Sadis the guardian of the Hell Realm in their celebrations, Horoda the goddess of powers under the earth was absent too.

As the group neared the temple and the gods they fell on their knees and hailed them.