Uprise of the Rebellious Princess

From Dreams We Live Part 2

Yacanex saw one miserable tear after another fall from her wide almond eyes. He tried to clean her cheeks, but she shook her head, bit her lip, and turned towards him with much gloom in her semblance. She stared at him but quickly casted down her eyes.

"And still we may lose the war?" Atotoztli said. Then she swiftly shook her head and lowering her voice she continued, "I am forbidden to see you. My father –"

"What?" Yacanex interrupted.

"Listen! My father knows about us," Atotoztli said, "we had a big fight over this. The following days he instructed his people to have you watched, and me too for that matter. We are not in good terms, and I don't know what else he will do to stop me."

"I never realized this would be taken so badly."

"Me neither," said Atotoztli, "but we have allies, service workers inside the Palace. We must fear from my father, but also my sister and their personal guards."

"And perhaps all this because of my humble origins?" said Yacanex annoyed.

"No," replied Atotoztli, "those are efforts to not see me happy." She gazed over her shoulders and moved closer where Yacanex was sitting. Almost in whispers she asked him, "Please, Yacanex, tell me if you will continue to see me."

"Oh Atotoztli, doubts still rise at this point? I will be with you –there's no turning back once a heart clings to love. We shall be together no matter what."

"Till stars shut their eyes?" asked Atotoztli.

"Till the moon falls down!" replied Yacanex with a smile.

"You better fulfill this promise!" said Atotoztli.

"It is no difficult task nor a hardy impediment to overcome, for love has no grounds to be a promise but a necessity," Yacanex explained.

She embraced him, and he wrapped his arms as well around her feminine body.

"Never give up on me, Yacanex," said Atotoztli with strong whispers, "especially now that the storm seems to loom over us."

Suddenly he felt a hand in his chest, a hand that at first was timid in intentions but dared to travel over his muscles. So Yacanex moved his hands over her long back while still hugging her. His hands met in the deep rift that runs down to her lower body. When Yacanex's fingers went inside the rift, his pectorals were squeezed by her hand. And as his hands traveled further to her lower back, Atotoztli curved her body and her breathing grew faster. His rough hands went over her soft waist, then separated from each other as they journeyed over her hips. He was aroused more and more as his hands separated even further from each other to the point of waving goodbye, continuing their trek over the roundness of the ample hips and thighs of the Lady of Colhuacan. She curved her body caressed his muscles.

"I’ve never –you know –" said Atotoztli a bit shy, but with lustful eyes.

"Hush, my Atotoztli.”

He felt her fast-moving eyes gazing all of him. He knew where this might lead, so he tried not to force anything and see where it goes.

"If there were a man to do it with, you would surely be that man. If there were a time for doing it, this would be the time to make it happen."

"Are you certain of what you speak of?" asked Yacanex.

Atotoztli sat properly, straightened her black hair, and cleared her throat, bearing an immense smile. It was not a dark evil smile nor a light-hearted one, but he was able to see that her lips reflected true bliss. So he sat as he previously was, pretending he saw the pond and the day's beauty. At the corner of his eye, he could see Atotoztli looking at him, but then turned away also pretending to be watching the passing ducks at the water. He would have thought she was not interested in the topic if it weren't for her raised eyebrow. He knew he was tested by Atotoztli, so Yacanex decided to play along. He was like any other man carrying the elemental cravings any male has, especially the lustful hunger that Atotoztli's enticing body woke in men's flesh. But he hushed his flaming inner desires of the flesh in the name of love. Moreover, he did so to respect whatever time she needs to hold on to her untouched maidenhood. He did not feel honest by not giving in to his desires, but his will to wait was even greater than any concept he had on matters of honesty. However false and deceiving he felt, his will for awaiting her was stronger. Yacanex wondered if he was suddenly discovering his true self. Atotoztli might have made him feel what in all truthfulness he was. What sort of woman of exuberant tantalizing forms and heavenly face would make this man –deeply tangled in explosive passions –into such a loving and thoughtful being? Certainly not any woman can pacify the roaring beast within a man, but at least her true love for him was what made the difference. Yacanex believed she did a tremendous difference in his life. He turned towards her, with grateful eyes. She smiled back with her cute dimples.

As the day passed, they strolled around the pond, along butterflies that hovered over the delightful flowers, under the greenness of the trees, and the laughter of small children.

"It is a lovely part of the city," said Yacanex, as he gazed upon the beauty that surrounded him.

"Yacanex," said Atotoztli with earnest eyes, "I brought you here because it was a dream I had since I was a young girl –to come and stroll as couples do."

"I'm honored. Thank you for letting be part of your dreams."

"Oh Yacanex. I include you in my childish dreams, when I should be sharing my life with you in the Palace, with my family, and my daily noble chores."

"But this is your life, dear Atotoztli. Your dreams and ideas make your life. Your day-to-day existence is only the stream where you ride them."

"And still, I wish it was different," Atotoztli said sadly. "People I hold dear are not at my side as I desire –My mother, you. Even my friends inside the Palace cannot seat with me due to their lesser origins. I would have liked my mother guiding me on womanly matters. I would love to have you at the palace in the place you deserve. Why is it that we are tethered to the wicked instead of our beloved ones? It is such an agony to live. Why all we yearn is unattainable? Perhaps you are right –only dreams are the ones which drive us to live."

"From dreams we live," said Yacanex.

Suddenly something caught Atotoztli’s attention towards the street. It was a group of well-dressed officials heading uphill, on the way to the palace. Many of them displayed a cape hung in the back and over an arm. Others wore feathered headdresses, not the size of the ones used in public dances, but still elaborate in their design. One of them stood from the others, proudly holding a finely-made round feathered fan.

"Emissaries!" said Yacanex.

"From the High Capital," added Atotoztli. "I recognize many of them, and they never come from Tenayuca all the way here."

Upon hearing Atotoztli talk about politics, Yacanex quickly remembered the original reason he was visiting Colhuacan.

"This is odd," continued the Lady, "something is happening, for many of these people have no reason of being here."

"Atotoztli, I need to ask you something. It could be related with this."

Atotoztli stared a great deal to the group of official as it went up the street towards the city's heart. She meditated for a brief moment and then turned to Yacanex. She wore a serious semblance that even her beauty could not hide her worried thoughts.

"I have to go!" Atotoztli uttered slowly and paused, almost as if she was unwilling to say that. And so she repeated faster this time, as if she needed to reassure herself about a harsh reality, "I have to go!"

"But, please, I have to ask you something.”

"I’m sorry, but I need to go. Something's up, and I need to be at the Palace".

She was about to leave, but Yacanex stopped her. She turned towards him confused.

"I have a map.”

"A map?"

"Yes, an official map from Tenayuca crafted by the Dominion." He perceived her confusion, so he elaborated, "At my land we have come upon a map. It speaks of changes in politics, major changes. Some of them have already happened, bringing sorrow to the people. I fear this delegation from the Huey Altepetl might have something to do with this map and the policy change contained in it. The problem is that we cannot read it properly, there are things we do not comprehend".

"Do you carry this map with you?"

"Yes. I trust no one to interpret it, but you".

Atotoztli's semblance grew more worried, especially as the group of emissaries disappeared after reaching the top of the slanted hill. She crossed her arms for a moment, as her eyes rapidly jittered one side and the other.

"Remember the garden we found ourselves under the rain? The night Tlaloc brought upon us a thunderstorm?"

"Certainly," he replied.

"Meet me in front of the garden entrance. Not at the entrance, not inside the gardens, but in front across the street." She paused for a moment and then resumed, "Let's do this well into the night".

"I will be there" Yacanex nodded.

Atotoztli gave him a good glance, and then nodded with a stoic semblance. She grabbed his hand, but as soon as she grabbed it, she gently let go. She walked fast until she disappeared over the hill and into the heart of the city.