Atlantis

The sound of clicking heels echoed through the grand hall as Aleera rushed towards the court chamber. The high council sat on their dieses, looking bored with the peasant woman talking. Aleera’s eyes flashed with anger as she slammed the door shut behind her to draw attention. The oldest of the high council turned his weathered gaze in her direction with a single arched eyebrow. The peasant woman dropped to her knees at the sight of Aleera and began mumbling under her breath.

“Leave us,” Aleera commanded, her voice carrying through the chamber. The peasant woman got to her feet in a hurry and scrambled to the door. Once she was out of earshot Aleera turned her attention back towards the high council. Her violet eyes narrowed on the men before her as she tossed her chestnut hair over one delicate shoulder. Her emerald green gown moved with her body as if it were a second skin, covering very little and exposing much. If a gown like this was found on any other woman in Atlantis there would be hell to pay. But no one ever question Aleera, the Princess of Atlantis, and currently the only child and heir to the throne.

“Princess Aleera,” the high council murmured as one.

“Who decreed that I marry Drakus?” Aleera snapped, her pearly white teeth flashing the men in a feral smile.

“It was a mutual decision,” spoke the eldest, “Drakus will make a fine husband and ruler. He is fair and just. We believe the gods with favor this decision.”

“I despise the man! He is a barbarian!” Aleera stomped her foot to the ground, her heel contacting with the black marble that lined the floor hard.

“Drakus is hardly a barbarian. His family holds a great deal of power in Atlantis and your parents find him suitable. You will be married before the sun sets in two moons.”

Aleera’s world seemed to tilt as these words registered. If she married she would no longer be all powerful in Atlantis. She would be like every other woman on this island, weak and powerless to men. She refused to be like that. And Drakus was the type of man who would never allow her the freedom she so desired.

“I will not marry! I am the Princess of Atlantis, I should have a say in this matter.” Aleera’s voice was teetering on hysteria and she took a deep breath to calm herself. Tears would not help this matter and it would only prove to these old decrepit men that women were weak.

“You cannot take the throne without a male by your side. You know the laws.” It was Marius who spoke now. A man she had been practically raised by. His hair still held a hint of red to it woven in the silver that had taken over most of his head. His gentle blue eyes seemed harder than normal as he addressed her and this infuriated Aleera all the more. She had thought that he of all people would understand. She had always confided everything to him as a small child. He knew how much she cherished her freedom. How could he do such a thing to her? It was like condemning her to death.

“Then change the laws! They are centuries old! Outdated and past their prime. We need a new set of laws. Ones that fit our time! Keeping women beneath your feet is barbaric. Times must change or Atlantis will not survive. A country must grow or it will cease to exist.” For a moment Aleera thought her words had gotten through to them, but she could see the answer in their eyes before they spoke.

“The marriage will take place in two moons. You are dismissed, Princess.”

Aleera stormed from the chamber, her fury renewed as she walked towards the palace doors. They were twenty feet high and were made of pure gold. Each door had a water serpent carved into it, displaying the symbol of Atlantis. The two guards whose only job was to open these doors looked at her in fright. They opened the door without a word spoken and shut them just as quickly as she exited the palace.

The sun was shining brightly above Atlantis this day, the warmth against her skin felt good as she closed her eyes to this world. She needed to go to her secret place. It was a small little cove that could not be reached unless you dove into the fresh water lake that was found on the edge of Namdarr. Namdarr was the highest mountain found on Atlantis and gave protection to the palace. It took Aleera no time at all to reach the lake and she felt a calmness take over her just at the sight of it.

Tall trees lined the lake’s shore, casting a shadow over the lake like a large blanket. Aleera let her gown slid from her shoulders and pool around her feet. Her eyes darted to and fro to make sure no one was near, and then touched her bare foot to the icy water. She plunged into the darkness and let its iciness wash over her as she dove deeper into the lake. The sun was very faint here and it was only by memory that she found the secret cave. She pulled herself up onto the cool rock and walked over to the edge that had a sheer drop into the sea. From this spot she had a view of the vast sea that stretched on for leagues and leagues until the water met the sky. She watched birds fly gracefully overhead, letting the wind carrying them to the safety of land.

Aleera leaned back against the cave’s painted wall and stared up at the exquisite artwork. Someone before her, by the looks at the chipping and fading paint, many years before, had painted onto these walls. By her head was a scenery of the very sea she had been looking out at. It was nice to think some things never changed. That something that was always moving was also constant. She wished that her country could be more like the sea. The sea moves with the times, never stays still, but always keeps the same appearance. If she could just talk sense to those old feeble men then maybe she could change things for her people. But a part of her had this foreboding feeling, something she could not explain. It was like a tingling on the back of her neck, as if alerting her to an unseen danger, but she did not know what it meant and may never.

Aleera’s eyes drifted off towards the painting on the opposite side of the cave. It was of a tree grove and a young couple resting beneath the shade of the leaves. The girl’s face was glowing with love and affection as her eyes were fixed on the man whose chest she was resting on. His own face seemed to be glowing with love as he had a hand resting against her cheek. They looked so happy, so peaceful. Aleera would give anything to have that kind of love, unconditional, forever lasting.

She sighed, pressing her palms into the hard stone beneath her. She could not hide here forever. Soon her mother would worry and the guards would be sent out for her. It was an upsetting thought to be pulled from her haven, but the thought of someone discovering it made her rush towards the entrance. She dove back into the water and resurfaced at the edge of the lake. She lay out on a stone beneath the sun, letting its heat dry her bare skin until she could put her gown back on. Just as she was adjusting her gown she heard a twig snap behind her. Aleera’s heart jumped at the noise, her head turning in its direction to see a tall man standing there with an amused look gleaming in his eyes.

“How dare you spy on me!” Aleera hissed as she quickly tied her gown and brushed her hair from her eyes.

“I mean you no harm, Princess Aleera. I am but a simple man lost and happened to stumble upon a goddess bathing before me. Who am I to interrupt?” His voice was deep and sent shivers down her spine. Aleera stared at him with caution. She had never seen thing man before and did not trust him.

“Who are you?” Aleera demanded.

“Just a man,” he replied elusively. Aleera arched an eyebrow at him in shock.

“You’ll be a dead man if my betrothed finds out you were spying on me.” An image of her and this stranger lying beneath a tree like the painting in the cave popped into her head. She quickly dismissed it, knowing it a foolish dream. She did not even know this rogue’s name, how could she possibly be having daydreams of him and her lying together?

“I think not.”

“And why is that?” Aleera demanded. The idea that he had seen all of her made her cheeks burn.

“Because I am he,” the man stated simply.

“That is not possible. I know Drakus, I met him—”

“You met me when I was but a boy. I have changed much since then as you have, my lady.” His eyes were that of the devil, Aleera thought bitterly. They seemed to be able to see into her very soul and this unnerved her.

“No. Drakus looked completely different…” Aleera stuttered. She recalled an image of them playing together as children. Drakus had been a scrawny boy whose only pleasure was causing trouble. He seemed to different back then, but as she stared into his gold eyes she realized that he and that trouble making boy were one in the same. There was no one else on this island that had eyes the color of the sun.

“You have changed,” Aleera finally agreed. The man who stood before her was tall, towering a good foot over her, with broad shoulders filled out with muscles that covered every inch of him. His hair was the color of the night sky, and ended at the nape of his neck. He was the very definition of male and made her yearn for things that she did not know of.

“May I escort you back to the palace, Princess?” Drakus bowed slightly before offering her his arm. Aleera hesitated a moment before accepting his kind gesture. “May I speak freely?”

“You have done so already,” Aleera murmured as they walked back towards the main road.

“What were you doing swimming in that lake…naked?” Drakus’s tone was light, but she could see in his eyes that he was displeased with her.

“I was enjoying my freedom.”

“Do you think I mean to take it from you?”

“I know you do.”

“You know me not, Princess. Do not assume things of me. You know nothing of what I have been through.”

“What does that mean?” Aleera stopped walking, forcing Drakus to stop as well.

“In due time, you will find out,” Drakus simply said and continued on his way. Aleera was forced to continue as well due to the fact that her hand was tucked into his arm.

The palace came into view shortly after, gleaming in the sunlight. The walls were painted with the finest paints, with crushed diamonds as its base to give it an extra gleam. Its towers went so high that you could see for miles. It was everything Atlantis.

“Poseidon smiles upon our marriage.” Drakus’s voice drew her back to reality.

“How do you know this? We are not yet married.”

“Trust me, Princess.” Drakus tugged on her arm as they made their way up the winding road that led to the iron gates that protected the palace. He stopped a few feet from them and turned to face her. “Your beauty is stunning, my lady. I cannot wait until we are wed.”

“Don’t be so sure of yourself, Drakus. Our wedding date is far off. Much can happen between the span of two moons.”

“Do not make ideal threats, Princess. They only anger me, and trust me when I say you do not want to make me angry.”

“I refuse to marry a man who thinks he can intimidate me! I am not some meek peasant woman who’s only wish and desire is to please her husband! I will never be that woman. I am a free woman and no man is going to cage me. The day we marry, Drakus, is the day Atlantis will die.” Aleera spun on her heel and stormed through the gates. They slammed shut behind her in Drakus’s face. Her temper had returned. How she despised men like Drakus!




Here’s a new story that I hope you will like. Please review and tell me what you think.