Uprise of the Rebellious Princess

Thus My Heart Speaks

It was a place so beautiful, surrounded by gardens, flowers, tall pine trees, and small creeks with running water. Although he could only discern shadows, the beauty that surrounded him was undeniable. Under the darkness of night, coldness began to sting aided by the light drizzle. Still, nothing mattered because he was with her. It would have been a joyous moment if it weren't for her heavy tribulations. Yet Yacanex still felt a fulfilling sensation of comforting her in what he judged to be her darkest hour of her life. He barely met Lady Atotoztli moments ago and felt the need to help her at such difficult moment.

“I love this spot during the day. These flat boulders under the trees offer an excellent place to rest and gaze upon the gardens. Behind the green trees and lovely flowers rise the volcanoes magnanimously,” explained Atotoztli. Her watery eyes revealed genuine awe towards nature and its marvelous creations. Her delicate hands gestured to convey what she was so gladly explaining.

Yacanex became so infatuated by her passion. Him being passionate about many topics –as he was always reminded by his friend Ocotoch –made him identify with her vivacious display of emotions. He started to like her. He wondered if the vast differences between the two of them could interfere in the future.

“The view is always gorgeous with the white snowy volcanoes in the background as perennial watchtowers of the valley,” said Atotoztli. “Here on the green trees birds happily chirp in their innumerable languages, flowers boom, lizards rest on the rocks, and the occasional skittish water otter ventures upstream. Right now is dark and damp, but believe me all of it is here. Too bad it’s nighttime.”

“Just because it can’t be readily seen doesn’t mean it is not there in front of us,” Yacanex replied somewhat thoughtful as he glanced into the shadowy garden. “It can be trees, volcanoes, and surely emotions too.”

“Emotions?”

“Sure! They hide so well.”

“Like hatred!” she affirmed sadly.

“Like love!” He added.

Atotoztli sat on a half-buried boulder as her eyes delved into a state of contemplation. He kneeled beside her, gazing at her eyes. She had a serious and concentrated face, all of her feelings ceded to a stoic semblance. The sober image into which she transformed reminded Yacanex of a beautiful statue he saw many years ago, probably in his childhood. He could not remember which teotl that statue was of, or where it was, but it was a foggy memory that suddenly emerged deep within the pit of his forgotten mementos. That figure impressed him deeply that distant day, eroding inside his mind until now. Alas, the joyous sight when women appear like statues! While statues remain frozen in stone for the ages, women are chiseled in our memory for a lifespan. The image of female beauty is thus carried well into the otherworld –statues only remain forever on this earth.

The Lady’s arms embraced her folded legs. She turned towards him, resting her head on her knees. He could sense her eyes looking directly into his very heart. Yacanex felt as if she could see past his eyes into him, at his thoughts and his emotions. It was such a personal connection to feel her eyes touching his inner light, tapping into something no one ever had, not even himself.

She tried to say something but halted as she opened her lovely lips. Her lower lip was a bit thicker than the upper one. Under her lower lip lied valley separating her firm chin. Her upper lip was crowned with two towering pyramids that guarded a profound long valley upwards. Both guardian pyramids had their bases joined together to form an exquisite tip in the middle of her upper lip. Stunned by her beautiful lips, he forgot about her eyes. Yacanex’s view went up again and found her eyes piercing eyes.

Atotoztli lowered her bending knees in his direction and advanced her left arm to be closer to him. Her body became a curvaceous silhouette –her waist, the prominent roundness of her hips, the elegant thickness of her thigh, till her elegant calf where her white dress ended. He approached likewise, ever nearer to her eyes. The Lady smiled once. Then her lips, her black eyes, and her even darker eyebrows turned solemn, and she said:

My spirit was utterly down

As it became viciously drawn,

The appalling loath against me,

Viler than any enemy:

My family! Oh, delusion!

Let hate be hate till the ages.

But well-concealed malignity,

Within walls of family,

Shall be thus abominably

More for treason, than hatred being nigh.

Noxious sentiments devouring

The core essence of reality

My inner light weakening!

My inmost heat dwindling!

My soul won’t withstand one more day.

Withering in woe to dismay

Worried, we sink amongst hatred

But can’t heed love, hidden or shown

Are we to spend our years in mud?

Or step forth and seize our true love?

Best to sink with you in full weight,

Than mudding my heart in a spate.

He was amazed that she shared the same feelings he had. Such meaningful words came from her beautiful voice. Yacanex was not sure if he truly heard her, or perhaps his mind rearranged the words to make them appear grander.

“You know, at first I was stunned by your beauty. Oh, your beauty! You had me with that distinguished posture you do when standing straight, then I noticed your visible kindness you carry everywhere, and now your openness to your inner feelings captured me. I enjoy being with you, with your laughs, your tears, your emotive eyes, your words, and you, all of you,” Said Yacanex. “Probably you don’t need me to say it.”

“Say it!” said Atotoztli. She quickly moved closer to him. Her eyes grew larger, her mouth half opened, and her eyebrows in expectation.

“I have fallen in love with you, Cihuatecutli.”

“Again!” she insisted.

“I love you.”

Atotoztli stood on her knees to approach him. She was above him, staring impatiently.

“Again,” she whispered.

“I love you… Atotoztli.”

She approached her lips. Yacanex knew a kiss was about to happen. His heart accelerated its drumming, goosebumps wildly rushed over his skin. He stopped breathing as her appealing lips almost touched his own. Her sweet exhaling breath jetted over his face to gently caress his mouth. She came closer till the tip of both their upper lips touched. There Atotoztli stopped. She exhaled for a second time, her warm air cascaded into his nostrils. The anticipation was extraordinary for Yacanex, as both their lips remained so near. He turned his sight upwards and saw her playful yet candent eyes fixated to him. Maybe she was waiting for him to give the final step. So he mustered courage to make it so, even if he might appear to be taking advantage of her. He did not wish for his behavior to be erroneously interpreted. Nevertheless, his base manly lust could not resist any longer being so close to a ravishingly gorgeous face. His mouth watered, his face was boiling hot, his belly sparkled with nervousness, and his thumping heart about to boom into pieces. Such was the allure of having Atotoztli so close, so ready, and expecting him. As Yacanex’s lips began their final push to complete the kiss, she slowly retreated backward, almost as if she was giving him time to catch with her. Flabbergasted, he just remained where he was. He did not know if she just got into a playful mood or laid out a quick test of some sort.

She smiled, stood up in haste, and walked away from the boulder, descending into the moisty grass towards the small stream. He preferred to remain there, as she wandered near the water run. The rain appeared to be more abundant by observing how the long white dress of the Cihuatecutli began to stick to her body. Her skin was seen through her now transparent clothing. It almost seemed to Yacanex that the dress lusciously wrapped all of her body to enhance her every fine line, her enticingly exquisite curves, and such female valleys and mountains that encompassed an intensely fiery sight to see. She wandered around a pool formed by the stream’s meanders. Suddenly Atotoztli stopped to stare deeply into the calm water.

Yacanex remained seated for a moment, as Tlaloc desired to keep his presence in the form of constant light rain. Then he decided to go and see what was of great interest for Atotoztli at the stream. As he approached, he noticed her white dress glow at the reflection of the small pool, creating an eerie white image at such placid waters. The ghostly image was sometimes interrupted by the eventual errant wave that came from the riffled waters upstream that descended into the peacefulness of the glide, where the water slowed its excitement.

He stepped towards her side when suddenly he could see the Moon reflected in the waters of that cold summer night. She was very hazy behind the clouds but still illuminating them in silver hues.

“You both glow exactly the same –white and otherworldly,” said Yacanex in true admiration to such sight.

Atotoztli giggled as she turned towards him, “Surely Metztli is more beautiful to people than this soaked mortal”.

“Yes, it’s true.”

“Really?” answered back Atotoztli, pushing him playfully.

“Metztli is indeed revered by all people. You in the other hand are to be revered only by eyes and hearts. You see, the lady –bearer of the rabbit –always displays beautiful shapes transcending the ages. Your silhouette, there, reflected in the water, transcends my heart and permeates my being.”

“What feelings saturate your heart?” Atotoztli asked intrigued.

Yacanex wore a solemn semblance. He sighed profoundly. “None other than raunchy lust and base lewdness!” joked Yacanex.

Atotoztli tried to push him again, with much intention this time, but he teased her. She ran after him, so he decided to sprint away from her. Both were running alongside the stream banks full of gaiety. Joyful laughs and raucous screams filled the misty night as they frolicked. They ran, jumped, and sometimes engaged in whimsical struggles, slipping on the wet grass while exhaling guttural laughter. Neither the obscurity of night nor the cool mist could deter them from their mutual enjoyment.

Time passed, but not for them. They were immersed at a most pleasant moment that dissipated ordeals that carry no resolution but only the ailing burden to one’s heart. They focused on each other, and the marvelous experience which none of them had experienced in their lives. But then, out of nowhere, his mind was flooded with thoughts. Such an extraordinary set of events that led to the finding of each other and their mutual affection –events that could have never taken place, for they lived starking separate lives. As he deepened into such thoughts, Yacanex stopped the playful jumping and jogging to lovingly gaze at Atotoztli.

At the very edge of the stream bank, the young man squatted to rest. Mighty Tlaloc up in the thunderous heavens decided to pour down a heavy rain upon them. Atotoztli approached him looking up as the rain showered them completely. The storm brightened the dark gardens a couple of times in a roaring spectacle.

“Perhaps we should take cover, or else one of the lightening fragments of the celestial water vases smashed by Tlaloc’s minions could fall near,” Atotoztli said calmly but still wary.

But Yacanex took no attention at the flashy heavens or to the deep booms of the tlaloques’ racket far away. Instead, he was immersed in her beauty. She looked back at him for a brief while, rapidly returning to her whimsical mood. Splish splashing here and there, Atotoztli took momentum and then ran to try to playfully capture Yacanex. He was taken by surprise and could not even stand up correctly to sprint out of her way. As he tried to rise, he pressed his left foot at the soaked tall grass and slipped, immediately falling back. He could see Atotoztli could not stop her energetic race, and the speedy inertia took her flying over him, landing in the middle of the cold brook. The big splash disrupted the riffled waters. Yacanex turned towards her in great distress. Atotoztli emerged, rushing out with a deep, loud gasp. He decided to go into the stream and aid the Lady of Colhuacan, diving the closest he could to her. Splash! The shock of the cold water made him puff incessantly. The water was colder than it appeared. The brook had a stream bed not deep enough, but still the water covered them to their belly buttons. He immediately helped her. She required more calming than aiding. He caressed her shoulder and arms vigorously to bring her warmth and comfort.

In those freezing waters he discovered her upper piece dress had a long vertical rupture from her left shoulder downwards, which made it possible for that side of the dress to loosen itself out. Her left breast was fully exposed, half her back, and part of her stomach. At first she looked confused at what he was staring. As she followed where his eyes were piercing, it was then that she found herself half nude. He was amazed at such beauty, perfection encompassed at a female body. The spectacular view felt more intense, as the heavy rain showered her dark n****e that was visibly hardened by the cold summer night splash. Its round base delineated quite starkly the dark-brown summit of her breast staring quite invitingly towards him. Raindrops flowed over her shoulder, chest, and her nude voluptuous bosom. The droplets traveled around the roundness of her bare breast until it cascaded down her body without touching her belly.

As enticing as it was to Yacanex’s manly eyes, he sensed an even more powerful element that diverted his gaze from the appeal of her exquisite body upwards to the charm of her enchanted almond-shaped eyes. She was staring at him! Focused on his reaction, Atotoztli awaited his next move. He could see the Cihuatecutli had both her arms dropped down, both hands inside the brook’s waters. She did not move a bit or even varied her earnest semblance. There was an almost unperceivable dropping of both her shoulders backward that lifted her exposed breast proudly towards the stormy heavens. Just a bit was enough for her prominent breasts. Their faces flashed as the thundering clouds raged in fury, and the heavenly rain kept pouring towards the mortals. And thus she waited, under the gargantuan explosions of the storm she remained still. The flashes grew more continuous scintillating their eyes. Yacanex could feel her eyes creep into his mind. It seemed the upper heavens were determined intensify the rain. So he looked upwards for a quick instant, then returned his eyes towards her beautiful eyes. It was such a spectacle of beauty heightened by the wrath of nature. As the storm’s air began to pick up, the affected part of her dress waved. Its movement made him turn again to her body. His eyes rejoiced amply at the beauty of her shapes. Atotoztli was not thin like meager twigs that barely hold foliage, for she had a powerful body as firm as a trunk that holds the whole of the tree. But let no words of her sturdy body fool you because it seemed licentiously delineated by the hands of the oversexed Tlazolteotl herself. She had an otherworldly waist and hip curves, feminine parts elegantly proportionate but still scandalously prominent and appealing, thick legs, and delicate arms. That fantastic image was what Yacanex observed with admiring eyes.

But Yacanex heard neither his eyes who admired a magnanimous flower nor the wantonness that sparked a fire of desire in his mind. He extended his hand towards her curvy hip, submerging it underwater and touched her left outer thigh while lovingly staring at her eyes. His fingers wandered as she exhaled an almost muted moan, until he grabbed the cloth of her upper dress. His hand raised half her blouse from under the water, much to the amazement of Atotoztli. As the wet clothing was to be put on her left shoulder his other hand helped to place her dress back in its place. When he finished covering her, the cloth slipped over the nudity of her bosom until it stuck briefly at her hardened n****e. The stubborn round hill wished not to be covered, but Yacanex was stubborn as well, and probably more. He lifted a bit the dress to avoid any more impediments, successfully covering the Cihuatecutli of Colhuacan.

Atotoztli seemed astonished, her semblance filled with questions. Under the weight of the storm and the never-ending flashes from the heavens, she asked, “What happened?”

He put his hand under her ear. Caressing her skin he said, “paramount disappointment to my eyes and utter betrayal to my mind, but nothing more than obedience to my heart.” He drew closer to her, with both their bodies together when he added, “My lady, Atotoztli of the altepetl of Colhuacan, thus my heart speaks.” His hand went to the back of her neck as he approached her mouth. The heavens cracked and daunting rays emerged making all seem like daytime, then obscurity fell back again. Finally, a loud boom shook the earth, the water, and all things under the storm. Yacanex kissed Atotoztli in her mouth. First their mouths were closed until passion confidently overran them to fully embrace each other’s lips. And so the kiss turned into an overt declaration of a love swiftly born but long awaited. A love sealed under the falling clouds, the cold of the night, the freezing waters of the brook, the witnessing shadows of the trees, and the unknown of what their lives are to become.

Were they destined to be pulled to each other in such amorous fashion? It is not for ordinary mortals of this earthly world to learn of such heavenly designs. But the repercussions in the political, and even social spheres, were indeed to be tested dearly. In the most profound corners of his mind, Yacanex wondered about it, and he guessed she shared the same idea. But it is a minute preoccupation hidden by the here and the now. Yacanex could not care about what was to come. He was self-imprisoned in the present by a cage of extasis, blanketed by an overload of mesmerizing sweet love –hence, blind to consequences that could undoubtedly rise in time to come. But who can blame on the blindness of events that are yet to happen? After all, things in the horizon of the future are unforeseen, clouded in the fog of the unknown at the realm of endless possibilities. Numerous outcomes may result from this tender love that was born. Many possibilities like the four hundred beautiful voices of the centzontli bird that alleviates travelers’ tiredness –or on the contrary, as much as the four hundred rabbit spirits who sink into drunkenness many wretched mortals to despair. And perhaps its tenderness could prove to be the fragility of this newborn affection. Tender love is an exquisite marvel that shakes the hearts of lovers, as well as the envious intrigues of others. Tender means not strong –thus feeble to the most minuscule trial.

As Yacanex kept kissing his newfound love under the storm that soaked the old Toltec realm, he took refuge in the goodness of tender love. His passionate heart burned in exhilaration, and her response was unequivocally mirrored. There was no tomorrow to think, only today existed. Their arms firmly embraced, lips interlocked, and their drumming hearts rushing into a sparkly warmth within their chests.

Both their lives joined the same course by an array of extraordinary circumstances, where each path alone meant nothing. For some reason, their paths intersected that summer night, at that exact spot in the whole world, and with the sonorous spectacle of Tlaloc under which their romance came to be. There was also the aid of the lady teotl Chalchiuhtlicue by heating up the moment with her cold river waters. The background of trees, plants, and terrain Quetzalcoatl so diligently set for ages served at that exact moment as the stage for a newborn love to ignite. The losing struggle Yacanex had with his coarse inner self, Tezcatlipoca, the enemy within, which made him cling to an anchoring rock. The high artistry with which Atotoztli was licentiously molded by the temptress Tlazolteotl, sensual teotl of raw and permissive steamy enticement. And the unbalance of Chantico within Atotoztli’s family, the ultimate blow that directed the Cihuatecutli’s life to Yacanex’s path. The trail is now one for both lovers, a walk that shall go through the same landscape. Be it a perilous somber territory they are stepping into, or pleasant meadows of happiness awaiting –they have now knotted their destinies, intertwining whatever glories or defeats the heavens and the earth bring forth.

The passion which Yacanex now thrived upon had a new purpose in his life. Previously worried about public affairs at his small community, his heart was now fixated to Atotoztli. Energized by his revigorated inner tona –source of one’s life and consciousness –his heart and mind blossomed to exalt the majesty of loving Atotoztli. His purpose was high and profoundly overpowering, for there is no greater purpose in life but that of love. The randomness Yacanex had in life fuelling his explosive personality took him astray in fruitless mood swings. Yet he had now no sight for scattered petty ideals flickering in the distance but for one sole purpose, Atotoztli.

Love is not meant to be a burden –it can be many things, but never a burden, or it should not be named love. Sages of old or even brute drunkards lost in intoxicated thoughts, all have attempted to define what love is. And so love can be anything to anyone. His affection towards Atotoztli was not a load in his heart, but liberation. This is what Yacanex felt love is from within his warm pumping heart. He found his meaning in life so unexpectedly, in the rarest of places. His life foundations were shook, what he thought was no more. His liberation of heart and spirit came at the moment he fell for Lady Atotoztli. The Yacanex that for so long incisively criticized with ranting loathsome the pipiltin and the powerful, now was amorously attached to the Lady of Colhuacan. And not just any sovereign –as he well knew –but the most beautiful one in the whole Domain.

“Many could question me for being with her, and some will even call me a two-faced unprincipled man who does not live by his words, but I found my true calling. A call for love cannot be so readily ignored by those who’ve always fought for high ideals,” thought Yacanex to himself, as he walked with Atotoztli in the early arrows thrown by the sun. They walked grabbing their hands towards the exit of the garden. Tonatiuh, the all-bountiful sun, was not visible yet, and still his solar darts pierced the eastern fluffy clouds. As they walked out of the gardens, they stood for a moment, turning their attention towards the spectacle of magical colors that the eastern clouds presented. The scene relaxed them in contemplation as the heavens began showing themselves to mortals once again. “This! Love is what we should cherish as the ultimate ideal to zealously protect,” Yacanex kept meditating in his mind while gazing at the colorful clouds.

She seemed to enjoy viewing the sky’s morning colors in his company. It was a marvelous closing for such a hectic night. The colors began changing as the light flooded once the golden supreme presence of the Sun was visible. A new day thus began, as the yellow-haired Tonatiuh indiscriminately shot his solar arrows with supreme authority. As the full golden disc appeared over the volcano range, the mighty sun reborn from within the dead took command of his dominion, and the reign of darkness was defeated once more.

People began appearing, some with great haste and others in a slowly confident pace. He realized their perfect moment ended, and both must return to their lives. Even when each had to go back to their regular activities, be that within a palace or in a small town in the woods, their paths were now interwoven with each other’s affections of love.

They strolled for some street blocks, trying to enjoy every step, every smile and every minor gaze to each other. They walked as commerce reemerged with tents being erected, white bundles of goods opened on the street, men carrying cages of birds and little animals on wooden racks on their backs, women setting to prepare food in wide terracotta clay ollas, hairless dogs confidently following the aroma trail left by the warm food, and children running with much celerity towards the city’s downtown where school was waiting. The slow pace turned into a speedy bustle. Here and there, merchants shouted their respective products, each with a peculiar voice and tune. Both of them walked into a street packed with colorful tents. The street was turned into an open and improvised market. They walked through, crossing the paths of yummy odors of tamalli ready to be sold and the hearty warmth of atolli beverages floating under the tents. Then they reached the final block before the city’s Main Square. There, as the street opened to the vastness of the plaza, Atotoztli cut Yacanex’s path.

“What happened?” he asked.

Atotoztli stared with great consternation towards the plaza for a moment, as her antsy eyes attempted to seek as far as she could. He worried about her sudden change. The serene lady became again the uneasy and broken person he met in front of the palace last night. She turned back to him with afflicted eyes.

“I forgot my Father might have sent the palace guards to search for me,” she said, “After all, I stormed away from his reunion.”

“What will you do with your family?” wondered Yacanex.

“I just don’t know. I just –just… I forgot the quarrel I had with my father and sister. Well, you helped me forget about it. And yet, everything came back to me once I saw the square. This –the heart of the city –is home to me, and thus the reminder of family affairs.”

Atotoztli sighed as she stared at the city’s square.

“Things will remain unchanged as we go back to our lives,” he said, “I for one know that the annoying c***k on my wall will still be there, unfortunately.” Both exploded in a brief laughter. He just whimsically nodded. Then he elaborated, “even though our hearts had far too many changes in the course of a night, things we left at home did not. And what goes for things goes for people, situations, and troubles. A newfound love transforms one’s world thoroughly, and still the world remains dully unaltered.”

“As long as our hearts remain, let the world fall,” she said.

“To oblivion?”

“To idleness. To carelessness. To its very end, if necessary. The world may plummet, but our hearts shall never fall apart,” she concluded.

A larky grin grew slowly on both their faces, as they stared each other with a renewed passion rekindled in their hearts. He suddenly felt the softness of her hands grab both his own unsuspected hands.

“Now I must leave! They will be looking for me, and they will find me. But I don’t want to get you involved in any troubles with my father, least with the High Ruler.”

He felt her grip tighter and more powerful, an undeniable sign of her goodbye. It was needless to utter any more words. She started walking away, their arms extended as their hands did not let go. As she kept separating herself, their hands were set loose. She gave a final gaze to him with her beautiful almond-shaped eyes and her cute candid smile, and then she walked away.