When the Star Became an Empresses

FYI: This is story is fiction with some historical factors mixed in. I am trying my best to stay true to the Aztec and Chinese empires but there might be some errors. I ask for your forgiveness in advance and hope you will see past this and read the story for the romance it is. Thank you and enjoy.


Chapter 1

They first arrived in my grandfather's time. They were ship wrecked and near death. It isn't our custom to take in strangers. These strangers with pale yellow like skin. Their hair was as black as ours but their eyes. I doubt I will ever get used to eyes like theirs. Black like the night but shaped like almond slants.

It wasn't until my father's reign that these strangers could communicate with us. The younger ones had learned our tongue, or traditions and adapted very well. Unlike most strangers, they were not sold off as slaves. Instead they were kept in the palace like pets. My grandfather was kind, he even took one of the women as his concubine.

These strangers told us to call them people of the East, for that is where they came from. They said their country was large with many strange animals. They too had an Ahuitzotl (king) that ruled over the people. By the time I came of age, most of the few strangers were palace servants. Except for a couple of men whom my father trusted as councilors.

Manauia was one such councilor. He was a little older than myself. He had studied hard and acted as the main translator between us and strangers. He was very kind to me and answered many questions I had. He was even better than the native tutors that were kept to teach me.

As the only legitimate princess, the company I kept was very selective. I was born on a night in which many shooting stars could be seen. Thus my father named me after them, Citlali. The star readers had said I was meant to become a strong leader and ruler, my destiny was greatness. Of course a woman could not become a Ahuitzotl so their predictions were not taken serious.

if their predictions had been taken more serious, would I still be home? If my father had not been selfish and married me off at the time most girls should have been wives, would I still be home? Manauia told me once that in his culture, no one thinks about what ifs but of what is. It does not matter how many I drill this into my head, I still miss my palace, my home, my old life.

New strangers were coming toward us the night I had seen a shooting star. I had taken it as a sign of good luck, of good things to come. Some might say I was right, but I will never agree. These new strangers were also people of the East. Manauia and I were practicing his native tongue, Putonghua. I had always taken an interest in the way his voice changed when he spoke to his elders. I made him promise to teach me and for over a year he had.

"Again Citlali," Manauia said.
"It's late I'm tired. Can't I read or translate the writing instead?'
"No, it's the speaking you need to work on. How can you improve if you only work on what you know?"
"Fine. Yi, er san, si.."
"The si is flat again."

I sighed. I really was tired. I had gone into the jungle to hunt wild boar. Though no one approved of my hunting, it could not be said I wasn't any good. The hunting took longer than expected. By the time I got back to the palace, the sun had set. "Manauia, what did I miss at the council today?" I eagerly tried to change the subject.

"Not much. We had a messenger from Ahmakiq. They said large canoes much like the ones my elders came in were spotted. But your father did not take them serious. The Ahmakiq Ahuitzotl always sees one thing or another. It might a trap to invade the city while we are away in their land."

"Do we have a reason to think the Ahmakiq would want to invade?"

"No but it's better to stay on guard. Now how do you pronounce si?"

I smiled at Manauia. He knew me so well, my dearest friend. I had hoped he said my father had spoken of a marriage for me. I am seventeen new suns into the calender. Most girls are married by thirteen suns. My father's excuse has been that no man is worth of his princess. He has the star gazers say that due to my unusual birth, no man matches my signs. "It is pronounce si. Was anything else spoken of? Anything of interest to me?"

Manauia sighed, he knew what I wanted to hear. I also knew he had hoped that one day I could be married to him. This is why I suspect he has not been married as well, though he is twenty suns into the calender. When I first realized these feelings I was not sure what to think. He was councilor so statues was not the issue, but he was a stranger. My father has taken one as a concubine but as a woman I did not have the freedom to choose whomever I wanted. Quickly though I began to like the idea of Manauia as my husband. He was kind and patient. In his own way, he was handsome. Tall with midnight hair. He hunted so his body was in excellent shape. Sadly, he did not have the nerve to ask my father for me.

I looked out the window, "Manauia, you should just ask him. Worst comes to worst, you could point out I am well over the age of marriage. In a few moons it won't matter I am the Ahuitzotl daughter, I will be considered too old."

He blushed and took my hand, "Citlali I will ask him once the messenger leaves. I have been waiting for the day you turn eighteen suns. Though this society see you as old, in my elders country you are the perfect age for marriage. You are not old."