Ravanna stood in front of the Spire, the center point of the grand elven city of Navarre. Her grand red robes felt unduly lush compared to the decay that was taking place in her homeland and in her heart.
Brushing back her grey hair that belied her youthful age, Ravanna sighed and entered the Spire, climbing the long spiral staircase that would take her to the top, and to Celestia, the sweet love of her life, the woman she adored and right now, the last person she wanted to see.
As she climbed, Elven knights clad in full battle armor hurried down the stairs, passing her without even acknowledging her presence. Ravanna knew they were probably rushing to the border to escort Prince Argall, third son of the King of the East, into their lands. Ravanna tried not to think about him or the fact that soon, he would be Celestia’s husband.
The East had once left the Elves in peace, but they had grown in strength and their new militaristic King, led by holy decree, had encroached upon the Elven lands and driven them back to Navarre. Ravanna, the daughter of the Elder, had urged them to fight on, but the King had proposed an offer for surrender; the Elves could keep Navarre if his son could choose a bride from among the Elves.
So Prince Argall had come to Navarre, looking over the Elven women with his short, stubby, turned up nose as though he were shopping for a new pet, and Ravanna’s heart had sunk as he pointed a twisted finger at Celestia and said “This one.”
That night, Celestia had called Ravanna to their meeting place by the mystic pool. Ravanna took Celestia in her arms and kissed her deeply before she could say anything to spoil the moment.
They eventually pulled apart, “Ravanna,” Celestia whispered, “You know I must do this... otherwise this land will wilt and perish. It is about more than just you and I, but the fate of our entire people. We cannot be owned by the East like property...”
“So you would give up your life to be a pet to that hideous prince? You would take him in your arms and caress him like you do to me? You would bear his children and love them as your own?”
“The Elves accept that Nature’s balance brings about different unions,” Celestia said, “Humans are not the same way. They only care about procreation. That is why they have become so successful, while we have barely grown. They would bring their morals down on our world and destroy everything we believe in. Not just you and me, but all our friends, everybody here would be subject to their way of thinking. My life to save all that... it is worth it.”
“I won’t accept that!” Ravanna said, “We can fight and defend ourselves!”
“We’re outnumbered,” Celestia said, “Ravanna, this is not easy for me... I want to stay by your side forever. When I think about that man touching me, I...”
Ravanna let her hand slide into Celestia’s golden hair, combing out the strands gently as she held Celestia close to her Celestia’s head rested on her breast and she started to cry. Ravanna kissed her head, holding her close, as if with her arms she could keep Celestia safe from harm.
She looked at the moon reflected in the pool and wished she could protect Celestia from this.
~
As Ravanna reached the top of the staircase, she saw fine drapes and rich red carpet. The Elves were usually gracefully beautiful without being extravagant, but they had spared no expense to ensure that the Prince would not be offended. Celestia’s mother stood in the hallway, half-heartedly trying to hang drapes. When she saw Ravanna, she dropped the cloth and let it crumple on the floor, rushing over to the heartbroken girl.
“Ravanna...” Celestia’s mother said, giving her a hug, “I’m so sorry it came to this. No matter what, I know Celestia loves you. And so, you will always be my daughter, welcome in our home.”
“Thank you,” Ravanna said, trying to hide the tears that came to the surface, “This is all so wrong. Everything about this union is against what we believe. There is no natural power at work in this forced marriage.”
“And yet we have no choice,” Celestia’s mother said, “I can’t help but feel we are selling Celestia into slavery to save ourselves, and sullying all that we are trying to protect by doing so.”
“Yet we cannot stop this,” Ravanna said, “My father almost forbid me to came. I had to swear to him that I would not stop the wedding.” She looked down at the ground, “I made an oath, and by doing so, I am playing my part in this treachery.”
“All things turn in circles,” Celestia’s mother said, “Some day the East will fall, or the Prince will die, and Celestia will be freed. Human lives are short, and Celestia will have many years to spend with you, if you wait for her.”
“I will always wait for her. No other shall ever hold my heart.” Ravanna swore.
The door to a small antechamber opened, and Celestia came out, dressed in the finest attire Elven craftsmen could make. Red, gold and green made Celestia’s hair glow, and small gems hung from the sleeves and her hair, tinkling as she walked. A tiara set with emeralds sat upon her head, and Celestia looked calm and composed.
“You look wonderful,” Celestia’s mother said, “I’m going to let you speak with Ravanna a while, but be ready when I call. The Prince is almost ready.”
“Celestia, you look so beautiful,” Ravanna said, “I’ll never forget how you shine like the sun. You are everything to me.” Her eyes made a final plea; don’t do this, but Celestia looked away, blinking back tears.
“Please don’t make this harder,” Celestia said, “I wish with all my heart that I could abandon this charade and run away with you, but I have made a promise, Ravanna. An oath to protect all our people, including you. I cannot turn back now.”
“An Elven promise can never be broken,” Ravanna sighed, “I, too, had to promise not to interfere, and I will not break that sacred oath. I only wanted to be with you on this day, and to give you this.” She pulled a ring from the pocket of her robes.
“Celestia, human lives are short, and kingdoms fall. When all this is over, and you are released from the humans’ grip, will you marry me?” She offered the ring to Celestia.
“Ravanna, you do not know what you are saying,” Celestia said, “I may live for a thousand years, but he may keep me for eighty years. I won’t be the same person, having lived in the human lands, according to human customs, I...”
“Everybody changes with the passage of time,” Ravanna said, “That is what Elven marriage is about. Loving somebody not for sixty or eighty years, as in human marriage, but forever, for life and beyond that.”
“I cannot,” Celestia said, “I cannot betray this contract I am about to enter into. I have to at least try to love him, and I cannot do that while your ring is on my finger and our promise is in my blood. I cannot be torn apart with feelings for both of you. If I am indeed freed in a hundred years, I will seek you out, but it is not fair to prevent you having a life... with someone else.” She stuttered, her voice breaking.
“Celestia,” Celestia’s mother called, “It is time.”
“Celestia looked at Ravanna, “Truly, I love you Ravanna. I want you to find happiness.” Then she turned away, floating across the floor in her long dress, the tinkling of fine little bells following her.
Ravanna took to the stairs, climbing the Spire yet further to the very top, above the wedding itself. She looked down at the ring. With anger and pain long repressed, she threw it from the building with all her might. Turning, she made her way downstairs to the wedding.
~
Most of the vows washed over Ravanna. She looked at the faces of all the Elves in this room, all selling Celestia for their own safety. All looked sad in a guarded, Elven way, so to any human observer they merely looked calm. Across the room stood a dozen heavily armored human knights, scarred and battle-worn. This was the world Celestia would enter. Ravanna wished she could sleep for a hundred years.
As the wedding procession headed downstairs, Ravanna trailed in the very back. As they left the Spire, she broke off from the crowd, walking calmly away to her home.
She never saw Celestia say “Hang on a moment,” as she reached for something sparkling in the mud. r32;
Her new husband shook his head, “I can buy you all the trinkets you wish for, come on.”
“It’s one of my rings,” Celestia said, making a show of it. The Elves saw the ancient wedding ring of Ravanna’s family and knew it was no chance it was here. It was nature, and as Celestia slipped the ring on her finger, the promise was sealed.
Ravanna reached her home and grabbed a cloth sack, putting clothes in it for the road. She could not live any longer in a world that had sold away her beloved, and she could not erase the stain on her own conscience by enjoying prosperity while Celestia suffered. She left behind many of the fine things that she had acquired over the years and dressed in a simple traveling outfit, leaving the fine robes behind.
Making off into the forest, she left Navarre behind just as Celestia’s mother reached her home to tell her about the ring...
~
Deviant Hearts Archive | Back to main index