Romance in the stone
"How can it be forbidden?"
Eyes that had been studious of the stone beneath her feet, lifted to search the face of her king. Seeking just a trace of mercy in features that could be etched from solid rock. The face of a god. The king of gods no less. Tongue flicked out to moisten her lips. Even questioning him, made mouth feel as parched and dry as a dessert dune.
Thebes had thought the matter decided. But this young goddess dared to question his decision with a question. His expression did not alter as he looked down on her, from his seat set centre of the raised dais. Other elders sat in a semi circle on both sides of him. All of which were now paying attention to the lone female that stood before their king.
"It is forbidden. You are a goddess." His words were ambrosia for the ears. Melodic. "He is a common dragon. When it is time for you to have a husband. He will be a god. He will be worthy of you." Thebes voice did not change. Not once. "And the choice of husband, will be mine Tiamat."
Tiamat curled her fingers into tight fists, letting the nails jab into her palms. All so the jolts of pain would keep her senses sharp in the wash of such majestic tones. Tones that brooked no refusal or argument. A breath was taken. Held. Summoning her strength. So when she let breath out, it would form into words. Rushed out.
"No." It was a single word. A simple word. But how such a word could cause strength to flow like liquid iron into Tiamats veins and have her stand straighter. Taller. "You can not chose who I will love. When I will love. The choice is mine and I have made it. I love Tarris."
"No?" It had a been a long time since he had heard that word. Not since he'd wrested his power from the former king of the gods, had any dared to utter a refusal. Thebes hand curled around the arm rest of his elegant throne, fingers gripping tighter as he sought to keep both features and voice. Balanced. "I am your creator. You will bow to my commands."
A small flicker of pride was pushed aside at her bravery. His creation was fearless as she was flawless. Perfectly sculptured out of white marble flesh and soft generous curves. Yet, Tiamat could not be allowed to disobey him. In any shape or form. His word was final. "Bellum. Stand." His hand gestured to the war god two seats down to his right and as he waited for him to stand. He once more addressed the goddess Tiamat. "Since you desire a husband so greatly. You shall be married to Bellum." The first expression thus far in the conversation, passed over Thebes lips, a smile. "The god of war, should have some luck taming my daughter of the ocean."
With her fingers still curled into tight fists, Tiamat had been waiting for a sudden show of fury. The king of the gods, her king, her very creator. Was known for his temper and how quick he was to strike down those who offended him. Her relief was short lived. His words stole her breath away, coal black eyes turned to fix on the rising Bellum. "I will not." The words suddenly felt hollow. Small. In the vast silence of the hall.
The pride he had felt for his wayward creation was quickly turning to anger. His hand fell against the arm rest in a hard slap, so that it buckled and broke under the assault. Rising to his feet and descending on Tiamat, so swiftly that many of the gods that watched. Missed his actions due to the sheer speed of them. He grabbed her arm, wrenching her forwards. So that his eyes would find her own. No matter how hard she tried to avoid such a fate.
"Strong of will, you may be. My goddess of ocean deep,but hark my words and hark them well." He punctuated his words with bone jarring shakes against the arm he held. "You will marry Bellum by the light of the new dawn." Thebes hissed the words at her. Cold as ice. Eyes boring down into Taimats. "And if you seek out the touch of that dragon ever again. I shall cast you down into stone." Fingers squeezed the arm of Tiamat one more time and he let her go. Turning to face the gathered assembly of gods.
Tiamat realised her mistake, seconds to late. She had taken her eyes from Thebes and the moment she looked back. He had flown his throne and caught her in a bone crushing grip around her upper arm. Breath was sucked in as she had no choice but to stare into his eyes and how she wished she did not. His power was truly awe inspiring, it wrapped around her core and sunk icy fingers into her heart. By the rise of the sun, she would be tied for all time to Bellum. As his wife. By the time Threbes made his threat, she was already numb. To his words. To his violent shakes to her much smaller frame. To everything. So when he let her go, she simply turned and fled the hall.
"How can it be forbidden?"
Eyes that had been studious of the stone beneath her feet, lifted to search the face of her king. Seeking just a trace of mercy in features that could be etched from solid rock. The face of a god. The king of gods no less. Tongue flicked out to moisten her lips. Even questioning him, made mouth feel as parched and dry as a dessert dune.
Thebes had thought the matter decided. But this young goddess dared to question his decision with a question. His expression did not alter as he looked down on her, from his seat set centre of the raised dais. Other elders sat in a semi circle on both sides of him. All of which were now paying attention to the lone female that stood before their king.
"It is forbidden. You are a goddess." His words were ambrosia for the ears. Melodic. "He is a common dragon. When it is time for you to have a husband. He will be a god. He will be worthy of you." Thebes voice did not change. Not once. "And the choice of husband, will be mine Tiamat."
Tiamat curled her fingers into tight fists, letting the nails jab into her palms. All so the jolts of pain would keep her senses sharp in the wash of such majestic tones. Tones that brooked no refusal or argument. A breath was taken. Held. Summoning her strength. So when she let breath out, it would form into words. Rushed out.
"No." It was a single word. A simple word. But how such a word could cause strength to flow like liquid iron into Tiamats veins and have her stand straighter. Taller. "You can not chose who I will love. When I will love. The choice is mine and I have made it. I love Tarris."
"No?" It had a been a long time since he had heard that word. Not since he'd wrested his power from the former king of the gods, had any dared to utter a refusal. Thebes hand curled around the arm rest of his elegant throne, fingers gripping tighter as he sought to keep both features and voice. Balanced. "I am your creator. You will bow to my commands."
A small flicker of pride was pushed aside at her bravery. His creation was fearless as she was flawless. Perfectly sculptured out of white marble flesh and soft generous curves. Yet, Tiamat could not be allowed to disobey him. In any shape or form. His word was final. "Bellum. Stand." His hand gestured to the war god two seats down to his right and as he waited for him to stand. He once more addressed the goddess Tiamat. "Since you desire a husband so greatly. You shall be married to Bellum." The first expression thus far in the conversation, passed over Thebes lips, a smile. "The god of war, should have some luck taming my daughter of the ocean."
With her fingers still curled into tight fists, Tiamat had been waiting for a sudden show of fury. The king of the gods, her king, her very creator. Was known for his temper and how quick he was to strike down those who offended him. Her relief was short lived. His words stole her breath away, coal black eyes turned to fix on the rising Bellum. "I will not." The words suddenly felt hollow. Small. In the vast silence of the hall.
The pride he had felt for his wayward creation was quickly turning to anger. His hand fell against the arm rest in a hard slap, so that it buckled and broke under the assault. Rising to his feet and descending on Tiamat, so swiftly that many of the gods that watched. Missed his actions due to the sheer speed of them. He grabbed her arm, wrenching her forwards. So that his eyes would find her own. No matter how hard she tried to avoid such a fate.
"Strong of will, you may be. My goddess of ocean deep,but hark my words and hark them well." He punctuated his words with bone jarring shakes against the arm he held. "You will marry Bellum by the light of the new dawn." Thebes hissed the words at her. Cold as ice. Eyes boring down into Taimats. "And if you seek out the touch of that dragon ever again. I shall cast you down into stone." Fingers squeezed the arm of Tiamat one more time and he let her go. Turning to face the gathered assembly of gods.
Tiamat realised her mistake, seconds to late. She had taken her eyes from Thebes and the moment she looked back. He had flown his throne and caught her in a bone crushing grip around her upper arm. Breath was sucked in as she had no choice but to stare into his eyes and how she wished she did not. His power was truly awe inspiring, it wrapped around her core and sunk icy fingers into her heart. By the rise of the sun, she would be tied for all time to Bellum. As his wife. By the time Threbes made his threat, she was already numb. To his words. To his violent shakes to her much smaller frame. To everything. So when he let her go, she simply turned and fled the hall.