Princess Azabel de Somerville
Royal (Manager)
Her Highness, Princess of the Blood; House Somerville *Voted Member of Worst Character Dynamic 2010*
Posts: 2,048
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Post by Princess Azabel de Somerville on Apr 12, 2010 18:49:10 GMT -5
Oh gods, I was terrified.. No, not terrified. I was something worse than that, deeper and darker, enough that my hands shook as I exited the carriage and I barely noticed who helped me down. The path up the the Sanctuary was miles long and just inches; it took forever to reach the doors, and not long enough. I shivered before reaching to let myself in; I'd ordered my coachmen to stay away, my guards not to follow.
I needed to apologize, needed to face my fears and allow myself to be punished. A priestess met me a few footsteps inside the door and bade me to remove my shoes and cloak; I did so without truly thinking, trying to force away memories of the last time I'd done this, at Eluas temple... with Delaunay, marrying in secret. We hadn't been married a week before it fell apart, no, we'd been married upwards of a month. A month, and it fell apart. Tears leaked from my eyes even now as I told the priestess what I was here for in a shaky voice, fear addling my wits, but the driving need, the want to make things right again gave me the strength I needed. I was here to pay for my sins in pain, blood, sweat and tears, and in the process earn forgiveness. Kushiel wasn't my direct god, but I would pay him heed tonight as I never had before.
I bowed my head in respect and followed the Priestess, going to a small room where I took everything off; every stitch of clothing, every piece of jewelry, ever hair pin. I was naked but for the gifts I was born with, and after tying my hair up in a lovers knot, I donned a light linen robe and exited again, finding the priestess gone. I stood for a moment, quivering and trying not to, my arms crossed below my breasts as I tried to figure out where I was supposed to go.
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Post by Darien nó Lothaire (D) on Apr 12, 2010 19:08:06 GMT -5
Another day at the temple meant more supplicants to endure the trials of atonement, and this one was no different. Angelique spoke to me and told me about the young blond woman that was waiting and I nodded, placing on my bronze mask and entered the anti chamber with a knock first.
"My lady," I said softly, though my voice boomed about the room; low and masculine. "Are you ready?" I bid her follow me and turned, heading into the private room where an X-shaped whipping cross waited for her.
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Princess Azabel de Somerville
Royal (Manager)
Her Highness, Princess of the Blood; House Somerville *Voted Member of Worst Character Dynamic 2010*
Posts: 2,048
|
Post by Princess Azabel de Somerville on Apr 12, 2010 19:13:28 GMT -5
At the sound of the knock, I turned, my eyes widened slightly... and in walked a man masked in bronze, near genderless in the robes he wore, the mask hiding his face. His voice was deep, the breadth of his shoulder too wide to be female; I concentrated on these little facts as I followed him, trying to call on some semblance of calm, and utterly failing in the process. I didn't speak, just moved with him, pausing when I entered the empty room. The cross called to me and sickened me both, and I felt a war raging in me, a war I couldn't comprehend fully.
I forced myself to nod as I looked at the faceless man once more, drawing in one last, quivering breath. "I'm ready."
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Post by Darien nó Lothaire (D) on Apr 12, 2010 19:24:35 GMT -5
I went and stood by the cross, holding out my hand to her. "Come." I said softly this time. "You must be strapped to the cross; be not afraid child, the Mighty Lord Kushiel loves you." I left my voice show strength that seemed to be waviering in her. I did not think that she was one of his children, she did not have the look of one, the fear so wild within her that I was sure of it. But just because she was not his by blood, did not mean that he did not take all of the children of Terre d'Ange as his.
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Princess Azabel de Somerville
Royal (Manager)
Her Highness, Princess of the Blood; House Somerville *Voted Member of Worst Character Dynamic 2010*
Posts: 2,048
|
Post by Princess Azabel de Somerville on Apr 12, 2010 19:31:27 GMT -5
"As I love him," I toned back colorlessly, following him to the cross. I was sure he would strip the robe from my form, and I waited for that as much as anything else, to be bared naked, bound to the cross, waiting for my sins to be purged. Stepping to the cross voluntarily, I looked at him with eyes a little too wide. "Where shall I put my robe?" I asked softly, my hands rising to my chest in preparation to remove it.
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Post by Darien nó Lothaire (D) on Apr 12, 2010 20:00:55 GMT -5
I watched her, so nervous that I felt sorry for her. "Does it worry you to be naked?" I asked curiously.
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Princess Azabel de Somerville
Royal (Manager)
Her Highness, Princess of the Blood; House Somerville *Voted Member of Worst Character Dynamic 2010*
Posts: 2,048
|
Post by Princess Azabel de Somerville on Apr 12, 2010 20:12:53 GMT -5
"Naked?"
It took me off guard, and I gave him a little smile as I shook my head. My hands hung suspended near my breasts, holding onto the fabric lightly. "No, it doesn't worry me... it's.. Oh sweet gods it's everything. The pain... and.."
I caught myself, coloring slightly, ironically wishing I was tied to the cross and whipped right now rather than talking. "I've never been in a position like this, but there's been enough wrong in my life that I need to do something to try to righten it."
Taking a deep, solid breath, I steadied myself and pulled the robe from my body, taking the initiative to hang it upon a hook before walking back to stand nude before the cross.
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Post by Darien nó Lothaire (D) on Apr 12, 2010 20:38:41 GMT -5
I smiled gently though it was hidden behind my mask; when she returned to me I reached out and touched her hand, gently taking it into mine. My eyes never strayed from her face, it would near sacriligious to do such a thing, but I held her hand gently in mind either way. "Its alright, the pain is but fleeting, as is the nudity. It is all in pursuit of something higher and it is your sarcifice for redemption." I guided her toward the cross, face first and lifted the hand I held up to the first manacle, bolting her raised arm in place. I shifted, moving to the other side and took up that arm as well, slow and tender as I bolted down the second.
"I will choose a flogger that is... not so harsh." I said with a gentle smile, one I knew she would hear. With that I went to the wall that held the ceremonial floggers and picked the most benign, one with simple leather straps of the softest deer skin.
"Remember to breath my lady, and don't be afraid. I will not let you come to harm; open yourself to trust." I waited, making sure she was braething before I let my arm swing back and then fall forward. In cases like these it was best to simply do it, to not wait around for them to think too much or they would fear it more. This wasn't about fear, or pain for that matter, it was about letting go.
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Princess Azabel de Somerville
Royal (Manager)
Her Highness, Princess of the Blood; House Somerville *Voted Member of Worst Character Dynamic 2010*
Posts: 2,048
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Post by Princess Azabel de Somerville on Apr 13, 2010 6:51:43 GMT -5
I tried to pay attention to the small things as they came; the smooth expanse of the wood, how it surprised me. I thought it would be cold and harsh, easy to splinter and pierce my skin... but it was warm, not much cooler than my body was, and smooth from centuries of care. Part of me wondered how old this cross was, how many people had been lashed to it... and before I knew it, I was secured.
I will choose a flogger that is... not so harsh.
Not so harsh? Was there truly that much difference? I listened to his footsteps as he walked away, then came back somewhat near me. Breathe.. Breathe. I drew in a breath as he instructed, my eyes closed against the world, and as I exhaled the first whipping fell. I flinched; even that pain was more than I was used to, but it wasn't unbearable. It reminded me of a stinging slap on bare skin, though even that I'd rarely received in my life. My skin was unblemished, well cared for... and wholly unused to anything like this. I kept my eyes closed, and waited for it to fall again.
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Post by Darien nó Lothaire (D) on Apr 13, 2010 13:15:07 GMT -5
Her hair fell over her back and I carefully moved it, tucking it over her shoulder before I let another, then another fall. I put my strength into it, but not as hard as I would for some; again, it wasn't about the pain, the pain was simply part of it.
I left another few strokes fall, a little more then a half a dozen before I stopped. "Does my lady wish to confess anything?" I asked in a strong voice, my hand reaching out to gently touch her shoulder, but held it strong, hopefully able to offer some strength.
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Princess Azabel de Somerville
Royal (Manager)
Her Highness, Princess of the Blood; House Somerville *Voted Member of Worst Character Dynamic 2010*
Posts: 2,048
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Post by Princess Azabel de Somerville on Apr 13, 2010 13:49:28 GMT -5
Again and again, kissing my flesh, biting, and I clenched my teeth, keeping my eyes squeezed shut. I concentrated on breathing as he'd bade me, but I couldn't make my body loosen and relax. Tears formed at the corners of my eyes, but not for the pain. The stinging slap of the lash hurt, but my heart hurt more, and when he placed his hand on my shoulder, I let out a soft sob.
"Pride," I whispered, refusing to look at him, at the wall, at anything. "I confess my pride is too much, and it may have contributed to the demise of our marriage."
I didn't know if he knew who I was, or what I was confessing about, but it didn't matter. Not to him, not to me; the only thing that mattered was that I speak my sins, hoping to be washed clean of them.
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Post by Darien nó Lothaire (D) on Apr 13, 2010 14:25:56 GMT -5
I let the lash fall a half a dozen more times, long red welts rising on her perfectly unmarred skin, then stepped back. I then took the laddle from the salt water and poured it over her back, letting it wash over the streaks of red where some of her skin had split enough to begin to weep blood. "Let you be clensed of your pride my lady." I said softly as I replaced the laddle back into the water. "Let the might Lord Kushiel watch over you, and may you find your way to happiness once again." I wasn't sure who she was, I didn't pay much attention to members of court (as I assume she was one of them), nor did I ever listen to gossip. But I felt sorry for her, she sounded heart broken.
I placed my flogger down and went to her, undoing the bonds at each wrist. "There is a bath, just beyond that door." I said pointing off to the side. "You clothing shall be waiting for you; the water is warm and soothing and you should take a dip before drying off and dressing."
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Princess Azabel de Somerville
Royal (Manager)
Her Highness, Princess of the Blood; House Somerville *Voted Member of Worst Character Dynamic 2010*
Posts: 2,048
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Post by Princess Azabel de Somerville on Apr 13, 2010 18:11:14 GMT -5
I pressed my face into the cross, my cheek against smooth wood, slightly dimpled to show many others had done the same thing over the years. The tears fell freely, crying for the loss of love and marriage, for the hurt we both felt. My back hurt, and with the whippings as they fell the pain of both began to blend together, just starting to merge when they ceased falling. My eyes opened in surprise when nothing else fell, but I didn't turn to look at him as I heard his footsteps, just cried silent tears, soft sobs. Water touched my back, intensifying the pain only in the way that it could with salt added to it, and I cried out into the room, louder and sharper than I had for any of the whippings.
My back stung, every movement of my arms hurt, every slight turn of my torso hurt. I wept openly for many different things as I nodded at him, not bothering to wipe the moisture from my cheeks. "Thank you," I said softly, catching his hand on impulse. Raising it to my lips, I kissed his knuckles before releasing him again, making my way to the door and closing it softly behind me.
The bath was indeed waiting, and I stood, staring at it for a long moment before I could muster the courage to climb in. It was just a little warmer than my body, and if it stung my back on contact, it too washed out the salt and made everything a little more bearable. The tears never stopped though, not even when I splashed my face with water, not when I climbed out and toweled off, nor dressing, or exiting the room and temple both. I left both the same and different than when I'd entered; broken but with a small patch of healing. Crying rather than on the verge of tears. The only thing that was different was the stiffness I felt, the flinching whenever my dress rubbed against the welts and broken skin. I'd never endured anything like that before, and I knew had Del and I never ended up the way we had, I never would have, either.
Ignoring anyone who might have seen me, I entered my waiting carriage and let it take off immediately, my back never connecting with the back of my seat.
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Post by Darien nó Lothaire (D) on Apr 13, 2010 18:17:59 GMT -5
I nodded silently to the woman, smiling beneath my masque as she kissed my knuckled and when she left for the other room I sighed a little, looking up to the ceiling. "Kushiel, I pray you look kindly on the young woman, and help her through this trying time for her." I said a pray for the girl, closing my eyes as I pulled the masque from my face, and did what I had done a thousand times before; I cleaned up and prepared for the next supplicant.
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