SOMNUS
He wasn’t sure what compelled him to send for her.
Somnus had been restless. That was particularly new, and the taciturn sovereign had thought back to a recent, warm summer afternoon, soft laughter, and the splashing of dolphins in the river. Eulalie had promised herself that if he needed a partner to take a relaxing stroll with, that her door would always be open. Hesitance and uncertainty was a new plague that had nearly stopped him from sending Alba to fetch the ivory and sunshine lady. Why? Had she been serious in her offer?
He had thought back to that day, recalling the sincerity of her voice, the conviction in her eyes. She had meant it, he was sure. After a bit of internal deliberation, Somnus had sent Alba off to search for Eulalie regardless of his own misgivings, and they had returned together. A simple question had left his lips, tight with tension from the stresses of the day, a soft pleading of, ’Care for a stroll, my dear?’
She had agreed, Oriens bless her patience and understanding, and here they were.
The meadow was just as lovely and beautiful as Somnus remembered. The summer heat did little to dampen the beauty of the place, save dry out the grasses, making them brittle and perceptive to the threat of a wildfire. Flowers were still in bloom; red poppies, violet lavenders, others that he did not know the name for… But the flowers were not what captivated his attention. The evening wore on, the sun dipping beyond the horizon, and night soon fell upon the two members of Dawn. Alba fluttered on ahead, diving down before cresting upwards, weaving through the air with a finesse Somnus knew he would never master. The barn owl was giving them space, but also on the lookout for an evening snack. The Dawn King would let her be.
“It is quite nice,” Somnus agreed, offering the pale lady an affectionate smile, letting himself stretch out as they walked. It seemed almost surreal, the peace and tranquility that surrounded them now. “I do not dare try to comprehend the workings of the Gods, but perhaps they did.” The summer heat had died down, and the temperature around them was mild and comfortable. All in all, it truly was the perfect summer evening.
As Eulalie mentioned the stars, her words whimsical, Somnus’ emerald eyes ventured upwards. He slowly came to a halt, head tilted towards the heavens as he regarded the twinkling lights from above. Stars… Beautiful, yet mysterious. Obvious, yet shrouded in the unknown. The Dawn King’s knowing gaze slid sidelong to offer a brief look to Eulalie, for the stars were not the only thing that so raptly captivated him that night. Clearing his throat, Somnus focused, once more turning his eyes skyward. When he spoke, he did so with notable reverence, the elegant lilt of his accent informative yet soft, as though speaking too loudly would ruin the tranquility of the moment.
“In my travels, I’ve learned many a thing in regards to the stars. Different places give them different names. Each constellation contains a different history. I’ll tell you of one that I know, from my time spent in Vhallen… I learned it from a man who was once very dear to me.” The constellation in question was just to the southeast, four glowing lights situated in the point of diamonds. There was a fifth star, located just in the center, yet its glow was far fainter than the four surrounding it. Stepping closer to Eulalie, the velveteen down of his folded wing inevitably brushed against her side, but Somnus was focused. He motioned with his muzzle towards the heavens and the constellation in mention. “Do you see it?”
“That is known as the Crown of the King, and the one in the center is the Lady-Knight’s Heart. It is said that the First King of Vhallen loved a valiant lady-knight, and she, him. Bound by duty and obligation as they were, they could never outright express their love for one another. Beneath the moonlight however, they found solace in each other’s embrace. It was there, beneath the moon and the stars, that the First King and his loyal Lady-Knight confessed their affections for one another. For many moons they met in secrecy, continuing their private affair.”
The dunalino frowned, recalling the tale as told to him by his patient, beloved King. It ached, but it was not near as painful as it once had been.
“War broke out. The King was slain defending his Lady-Knight, for he could not fathom living in a world where she no longer breathed. It is said that she screamed her pain to the heavens, and in memoriam to her grief, the Gods tossed the First King’s soul into the stars to form the Crown of the King. The Lady-Knight gave birth to twin sons, and raised the Princes to ascend in their father’s footsteps. Just after their second birthday, the Lady-Knight was struck down during a revolt defending her son, for she also could not stand to live in a world where her sons, the last legacy of the First King she had so passionately loved, no longer breathed. Her sons knew how their mother’s love and devotion to their father had moved the Gods into action, and so they did the same; screaming their loss, their agony, and ultimately their love, the Gods took the Lady-Knight’s soul and tossed it into the breast of the Crown of the King, reuniting the two lovers at last.” Unbidden, Somnus smiled, and he did not try to hide the emotion swimming in his eyes. “The many stars that surround them are the souls of their children, and their children’s children. The legacy of Vhallen’s King’s start there.”
It was a shame then, that Somnus had let the Last King of Vhallen perish. It was surely a failure that would haunt him until his dying breath.
@Eulalie – Sooo, I hope that she doesn’t mind a story. <3
