Temple of Aarus

Kingdom of Draoidh

Anastasia was sitting in the carriage looking outside at the temple. She was waiting for the royal guards to inform the High Priestess about her arrival. Ileus and Haldir had also gone with them. A dozen guards were standing around the carriage.

Built on a small plateau in the forests that surrounded Draoidh, the temple was surrounded by a beautiful valley of golden daffodils and buttercups with hints of dandelions. It looked like a thousand garlands of the most vibrant blooms were scattered around the temple. Those were the colors of which the dreams were woven, as soft and happy as the finest silk. Since it was early fall, the Beech and Elder trees around the temple were still green. Dry leaves barreled on the ground as pleasant cool breeze swept over the blooms. A smile wormed on her lips when she flowers swayed like a ripple in the lake. She savored the beauty of the wilderness wondering when will she come back again or even see it. The place was such a riot of colors that it was hard to believe that the arms of winter were about to embrace the earth.

The temple rose between the wild garden like serene, yet powerful entity. Built from white marble with gilded edges, it reflected the sun's rays. There were two towers on either side of the main sanctum. A narrow cobblestone path led to the entrance. It had taken them an hour to come to the temple. Though Ileus had created a portal to step right outside the temple, he said that due to spells and charms, there was no other way to reach it other than by the carriage or on foot.

Anastasia took in a deep breath of the fragrant flowers and tucked her wings tightly. Her husband had unshackled her wings for all to see even though she had said that they would hate her with her wings. "I don't care, Natsya!" he had replied. "But you are my wife and they better understand it. You are the most important person for me. I will not allow anyone to suppress your identity as the fae princess."

Anastasia had stared in his warm amber eyes. "That's a bold move, Ileus. You won't be there with me."

"You are my warrior girl! Kill anyone who tries to harm you, okay? Mother would overlook it." 

She had chuckled.

Tension cruising through her mind, Anastasia looked at her hands in her lap and while she wondered about the paintings, her attention was diverted by a woman who appeared between the trees several yards away from the carriage. Her white robe that at least three layers of fabric was fluttering in the wind. A silver belt on the waist accentuated her slender waist. Her face was covered in a veil over which was a thin silver circlet sat. Her black hair was tied in a low bun. The woman came to stand in the front of the carriage. She was immediately stopped by the guards.

Upon seeing Anastasia, a wide smile came across her face. She bowed at her waist. Her sweet voice trilled, "Your Highness, "I am Tamara, the High Priestess. I have come to receive you." Her voice was so pleasant that Anastasia's tension eased a bit.

The guards didn't remove the spears they had crossed in front of her. For a moment Anastasia was puzzled as to how come Ileus or Haldir didn't come, but she bowed back. She was about to open the door of the carriage when a guard opened it for her. He stood on the side and helped her step out.

Anastasia walked towards Tamara with a little caution.

Seeing her hesitation, the priestess encourages, "Please come," she waved her hand towards the temple.

Anastasia followed her and the whole lot of guards also followed. She didn't know why, but Adrianna had asked all of guards around her to offer her something to eat. The moment Anastasia ate the fruits offered by the guards, things changed. They were now surrounding her and following her ferociously.

They started climbing the stairs and that's where the guards were forced to stop. The spells warded them all and only allowed Anastasia to walk with the priestess.

"Sorry, Your Highness," said the priestess. "Only you are allowed to come in."

Anastasia nodded and accompanied the priestess inside. They walked through a corridor that circled around a courtyard, the floor of which was cracked at places and tiny grass erupted. Tall statues of gods stood as columns supporting the ceiling all around. Anastasia was mesmerized at the way they were so beautifully sculptured. She tore her gaze from them and looked at the overhead canopy of trees laden with oranges and plums and apples. The trees grew outside the courtyard, but their branches had grown inside.

"The Crown Prince is waiting for you along with the Shaman in the main chambers of the temple," said Tamara. "It is right that way," she pointed to a door that was straight ahead several yards away.

Anastasia pulled her gaze from the trees and looked towards Tamara but her mind stuttered when she saw her going towards a group of people.

Several women stood beneath a large canopy, some veiled and some with hoods. They all had similar silver circlets over their heads. Their attire mainly consisted of white billowing gowns. The way they stared at Anastasia, unnerved her. Their stares carried a sort of fury, which made her feel so out of the place. Her wings rustled with anxiety as instincts flared. They murmured seeing her.

"Why have you come here, fae princess?" said one of them. "You do not belong to Draoidh!"

"We have to offer more prayers to the deities to ward off an omen like her," said another one. "God save our crown prince."

Anastasia's breath hitched. She quickened her steps to reach the door of the main chamber. And where was Tamara? She seemed to have disappeared in the group.

The door opened and Ileus stepped out. "Anastasia!" he called her and she felt relieved. She gave him a wide smile and realized that the women stopped speaking. But their hatred had thickened the air.

Ileus' brows furrowed. "Where is Tamara?" he asked, seeing that his wife was walking alone.

Anastasia pointed her chin to the group in the courtyard. Ileus' jaws became tight. Suddenly the High Priestess came rushing towards him. She knelt on the ground in front of him, her body shuddering in fear. "I am sorry, Your Highness," she said. "I had gone to see a fellow priestess who has injured her leg. It's my fault for leaving the princess alone."

Stunned by what she saw in front of her, Anastasia stared at Tamara. She scanned the group of women who had again started doing their work, as if what just transpired between them was a delusion. Anastasia wanted to run away from there because she was feeling trapped. And the behavior of the priestesses hurt her deep in the chest. Lilette was not wrong when she said that the seeds of hatred had been planted. She willed her anxiety and anger to go down. She had to stay calm if she had to pull three days in the temple peacefully.

Ileus was so angry that he didn't speak to Tamara. When Anastasia came to him, he circled her shoulders and led her to the main chamber with the High Priestess following them.

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