Uprise of the Rebellious Princess

We Both Loose On This

Her eyes were tightly closed ready for the signal, which it was going to be magnanimously unequivocal. Her breath was all she could hear amid the quietness. She supported herself with her knuckles over the ground while crouching. Then the air was instantly disturbed with deep thumps hastily slamming into her ears. The powerful repetitive sound pounded the air, making it vibrate. Atotoztli jumped up along with the hundreds of dancers who formed the gigantic circle formed on Colhuacan's Main Square. The jump was very high and energetic indeed. As they touched the ground, they danced to the rhythm of the big drums as the smaller ones began playing.

They danced in many circles going outward till the largest encompassed the rest. She danced in the smallest of all the circles, and every move she made was the guide for others who were exactly behind her in the outer circles. Everyone in the inner-most circle led their respective line behind them. Their moves were all synchronized with a marvelous precision. Once the initial moves were performed, Atotoztli bent down to grab her two rattles. And again everyone jumped exactly at the same moment as flutes and ocarinas were introduced into the musical ensemble. So the moves in that colossal dancing wheel became more energetic and rapid. The drums’ rhythmic thumping uplifted her mind and body to a fast-paced dancing. As she danced, her arms movements made her rattles created different sounds according to the music. All rattles sounded at the same time. And so the Lady of Colhuacan danced, swirling in her own place, and then hopping to the back. Then more swirling as her torso was exquisitely twisted and her arms wobbling lightly to the opposite side. She jumped forward, swirled, and then jumped once again in her place this time.

She knew the tricky part was near, so it was time to pay attention not only to her own moves, but also to those next to her. She took a good amount of breath as she energetically bent over and touched the ground. Focused, Atotoztli rose up in a high swirling jump and landed dancing as the music changed to a wild, fast-paced tempo. The huge dance circle began rotating, making each dancer to engage in swifter movements. The moving wheel was surely a sight to see, she could hear the people praise them. The pace made her limbs jolt to the excitement of the quick drum beats, hurried flute melodies, and now the big copper tetzilacatl joining with its metallic throbbing. This movement was her favorite part of this particular musical piece, especially because she was able to take to the limit her physical dexterity with those ethereal metallic sounds. A melodious tune with much stomping beats. It was a transcendental feeling, which filled her heart with joy. There were hundreds dancing with her in the city's square, but she felt as one with all life, tapping the different world plains. She enjoyed it fully, even though the sweat began sliding down her neck and landing in-between her breasts. She ignored any fatigue for fear of untying the knot of the connection she reached with the music. No wonder she had a well-rounded thick athletic body. Atotoztli took advantage of her physical aptitudes and used them to push herself.

The entire city assisted to the great dance held in honor of the founding of the city. And even when the festivity had a beautiful display of musical and artistic performance, many went to admire Atotoztli. The ritual choreography was the same for all, but she had a very unique form of executing them. For some reason, the Lady stood out from the others, maybe by injecting her own signature into every move. Surely she was fond of individuality, even when doing the same movements as the others. Not just men, but women too admired her dancing. Parents pointed their children towards her movements. Many admired her for her athletic abilities, others for her stately appearance and others for her gorgeous looks. She was the pride of the Colhua people.

Sweat droplets jumped, escaping her body, but not one single feather slipped from her colorful attire. Atotoztli’s moves were wildly fast-paced though they retained grace. Fair Atotoztli wore a feathered headdress tall and as wide as her shoulders, rich of blue hues all the way to the middle. The top part was an assortment of dark and earth-colored feathers -the falcon feathers were in the front whereas the long eagle ones were behind. All of it was crowned by an incredible array of thin yet cluttered peafowl feathers. The bright blue of her feathers shone under the solar arrows of celestial Tonatiuh. The front of her head diadem exhibited a fine work of delicate plumed artistry forming her name symbol of two blue birds with long curvy peaks over the horizontally flattened water symbol.

As the music ended, Atotoztli just remained still with her eyes closed. She inhaled deep into her body the sacredness of the burnt copalli fumes that emanated from the dedication vases. Her head turned to the blue heavens, elongating her body. Suddenly the Lady felt her concentration broken by a sensation deriving from this earthly world. She slowly became aware of her surrounding sounds, but her eyes were not ready to open. All her senses of the flesh began appearing as the tranquility of her inner-self dissipated by the world's noise.

"What pulls my attention so powerfully that it breaches into my mind?" Atotoztli asked to herself.

As she slowly opened her eyes to adapt to the brightness of the noon sun, her view was blurry as she could only discern lights and moving shadows. As she focused, Yacanex appeared from the sea of haziness with a loving semblance. Surprised, she amply smiled as he slowly walked towards her.

"Come Atototzin!" said a dancing companion.

"This way, Atototzin!" said another of her friends in a hurry.

But Atotoztli just nodded while heading towards Yacanex. They eventually met somewhere near the northeastern corner of the main square, in front of the city's tall pyramid-shaped main teocalli. For a moment, they just gazed in loving rapture. His hands grabbed her, but she set loose of them to jubilantly embrace him with wide open arms.

"You came!" Atotoztli exclaimed as she squeezed him to her chest.

‘And fail my pledge?’ said Yacanex.

I promised my heart to feel your hearth,

my sight to gaze upon your light,

and appease my lady’s high plea

to have me nigh when patience runs dry.

His hands caressed her face. She was worried her sweat might deter his affections. But he did not object and slipped his hand over her wet skin to her neck. She felt his manly grip on her back head. Yacanex tilted forward to reach her lips. She let herself to the coming kiss with a liberating sensation of desires. Atotoztli was surrendering to his lips. A kiss in public. A kiss that would be seen for all eyes. And surely a kiss to be witnessed by her father. And where was her father? Her eyes turned swiftly towards the main temple. And there she saw her father with a puzzled semblance. Atotoztli avoided the kiss and pulled away with a powerful force from her lover.

"What happened?" Yacanex asked intrigued, "I did wrong to pursue your kiss?"

"No, no," replied Atotoztli, "it is not you. You must know that." She remained silent for a moment, but she noticed the worried eyes of Yacanex. She felt compelled to give him an explanation. "Oh, Yacanex. Maybe I am the problem. Please don't turn towards the teocalli, I caught a glance of my father watching over us."

"Up in the temple? Amongst a group of tlamacazqui and ambassadors?"

"Yes, where his personal fan is hoisted. Oh Yacanex, I am so sorry to bring you unwanted burdens."

"It is not your fault at all. Listen; you have done no harm, but actually prevented it."

"Yes, it's my fault!" she answered frustrated, "for not leaving this luxurious life and flee with you to some foreign land free of burdens."

"Oh, you want us to go far away? I expected to live at the Palace and host lavish get-togethers," joked Yacanex.

"Oh, stop," she pushed him playfully, holding her laughter, "this is serious." But her semblance became solemn. She felt saddened and responsible. "I want to let you know that this love I feel for you is sincere, but my position… you know, being a pipiltin… being daughter of the Tlatoani of this nation… I fear you may feel discouraged or even offended by problems that may arise from this fact."

"And I want to let you know, that this love I feel for you is sincere as well," said Yacanex.

She nodded with a broad smile.

"I am serious, Atotoztli, my love is truthful too. And my fears are that you may be the one that could run away to seek a more stable relationship. In all trueness, your family, this country, and the entire Domain might feel I do not deserve to be with you. And they will be correct! Yes! You are the one that loses the most. But let them think that, for I did not fall in love with the Lady of Colhuacan, but with you. I love you, your heart, your being, and your body."

The preparations for the next part of the festivities interrupted their conversation. Atotoztli felt more relieved from his words.

"Will you be all right?" asked Yacanex. "Probably you have to go now."

"Certainly. Will I see you tonight?"

He nodded. She realized none of them wanted to leave first, so she had to be strong and do it. Atotoztli smiled and departed towards the Palace. She walked, passing through packs of people that were running to the center of the square. Then the Lady slowed her pace and turned towards Yacanex. She caught him staring at her father's seat on the high teocalli. Atotoztli turned her gaze up to the pyramidal temple too, and her father was observing her. He had his hand above his eyes to cover from the sun which flew up the heavens. His father got distracted as Tecpactl approached him from behind to whisper something near his ear. He nodded as he continued observing her. Tecpactl looked at Yacanex for the briefest of moments and then returned to the shadows behind the seat of rule. Her eyes came down and caught Yacanex leaving, making way through the waves of people.

"Yacanex!" shouted Atotoztli.

She saw him turned in the distance. Excited, he smiled in wonder and walked towards her.

"Can you hear me?" she shouted again loudly, trying to be heard through all the racket of people that were preparing for the next stage of the city festivities.

He jogged towards her and shouted back, "A bit! Yes!"

"You do realize we both loose on this?" she shouted.

He slowed his jogging pace, with his eyes clinging. She gathered forces, not to run to his arms, but to remain still there, in front of his father.

"It is not just me, anymore! Not just you! But us!" she shouted, "The two of us!"

"Of course!" he nodded. They stared for a moment while people kept crossing between the both of them.

"Till stars close their eyelids forever to their demise?" Atotoztli yelled out exhilarated.

"Till the rabbit on the Moon’s bosom falls down to this Earth!" Atotoztli shouted back nodding joyfully.

The people that were passing by were baffled with what they were saying to each other. Some stopped for a moment with disconcert. Both Atotoztli and Yacanex chuckled as they saw the shocked faces of the strangers. She smiled wide. As she continued her own way, she noticed Tecpactl nearby only observing. Atotoztli was puzzled but decided to go back to the palace.