|
Post by Eric Lamont on Jun 15, 2011 20:26:52 GMT -5
I nodded. "What do you mean when you say strict?" I asked out of curiosity. In my head there were a great many things it could mean, varying from intolerance to harsh physical punishment.
|
|
|
Post by Raisa Valois on Jun 15, 2011 22:14:29 GMT -5
"Well, they're rather stern and intimidating," I admitted, thinking especially on memories of my very early years, when I still resided in the Yeshuite corner. "So much as a toe out of line or a neckline a fraction too low and you'll get a sound scolding. Not so much physical berating as their ability to make you feel like extremely guilty."
|
|
|
Post by Eric Lamont on Jun 16, 2011 0:37:09 GMT -5
I raised my eyebrows. "Oh gods! I don't think I could live such a life, especially not now, not when I've learned what it is to live in freedom. Is there no such thing as grace amongst them?" I asked innocently. The temple would be in sight any moment now.
|
|
|
Post by Raisa Valois on Jun 16, 2011 2:14:47 GMT -5
His reaction made me smile. "I think their idea of grace is very different to yours," I commented. "Though I probably make it sound worse than it is. They are fair, just a little rigid."
We began to slow as we approached a strange looking establishment, an arch doorway leading into an open space that was marked out by four pillars, though there was no roof. I turned to Eric. "Is this it?"
|
|
|
Post by Eric Lamont on Jun 16, 2011 12:53:54 GMT -5
I nodded at her response, not entirely certain of what she meant, but understanding enough so that it didn't nag at me. We came to the temple and I nodded. "Yep this is the place." I let go of her hand and stepped inside before holding it out to her again.
|
|
|
Post by Raisa Valois on Jun 16, 2011 16:00:43 GMT -5
As I took his hand I looked around. Up close it was really beautiful; apart from the four pillars there were only a few scattered artworks and a large marble statue. Elua, I gathered, from the mark of mortality on his hand. Flowers grew in beautiful but well tended profusion and blue robed priests walked around, barefoot. I stared around me, awe making me quiet.
"This is so beautiful," my words came out as a whisper.
|
|
|
Post by Eric Lamont on Jun 16, 2011 19:03:55 GMT -5
The place had a similar effect on me and I found myself growing hushed, not only in speech, but in thought as well, peaceful. "We should find one of them to talk to ... but only when you want to," I whispered, allowing myself to continue looking about.
|
|
|
Post by Raisa Valois on Jun 16, 2011 21:17:11 GMT -5
"All right," I answered, equally quiet. Now that I was here I felt as though I just wanted to close my eyes and sit and listen, but eventually I noticed a blue robed figure approaching. I gave Eric's hand a gentle tug. "There's one coming towards us now."
|
|
|
Post by Eric Lamont on Jun 17, 2011 0:15:27 GMT -5
The priestess came towards us and smiled and I smiled back. "Hello, I am Eric, this is my friend Raisa."
"Greetings," she replied.
"My friend is unfamiliar with the ways of Elua ... I thought you better than I could answer her questions," I said with a slight blush.
OOC: (( Raisa, might be better if you took over the priestess))
|
|
|
Post by Raisa Valois on Jun 17, 2011 3:55:51 GMT -5
"Oh?" the priestess turned her gaze on me, a slight twinkle in the serene eyes. Something about her stare made me blush and I felt compelled to give a deep curtsey.
"If it's convenient of course," I said softly. As I came up from the curtsey, the khai pendant I wore at my neck escaped from under my dress, and the priestess' gaze sharpened.
"A Yeshuite then?" her voice held a trace of amusement and she smiled at my surprirsed expression. "Do not look so shocked, we share a common history; it is our business to know these things. Come then, let us all sit. I shall endeavour to answer whatever questions you may have."
She began to lead us over to an empty bench by the statue of Elua, her blue robes billowing behind her, and with a bemused glance at Eric, I followed.
|
|
|
Post by Eric Lamont on Jun 17, 2011 21:46:14 GMT -5
I walked to the bench as well, sitting beside Raisa and placing my hand on the small of her back until I decided it might be better placed just touching her hand, letting her know that I was there. This was just a fun visit after all. My eyes went from the priest's to Raisa and back, wondering just what questions she might have way deep down.
|
|
|
Post by Raisa Valois on Jun 17, 2011 23:31:49 GMT -5
We sat down and the priestess looked at me expectantly. Questions were on the tip of my tongue, but there were so many of them that I didn't know which one to ask first. Then I felt Eric's hand overlap mine in a gesture of reassurance, and felt a surge of confidence.
"You said that we share a common history," I said, clarifying. "Yet you believe that Elua, and not Yeshua, is the mashiach? Even though your own teachings acknowledge him as misbegotten?"
The priestess inclined her head. "That is so. We believe Elua is our mashiach, our saviour, for he wandered the land till he came to Terre d'Ange, and imparted the most important precept to us: Love as Thou Wilt. As for the fact that he is misbegotten, that may be so. Yet he was engendered from the blood of your own Mashiach, Yeshua ben Yosef and the tears of the Magdalene. The One God, your Adonai, may have initially overlooked him, but eventually, even he acknowledged, Elua. That is important in itself; for when Elua refused to return to the One God's heaven, he barred the way to hell too. And because of that we may pass into the Terre d'Ange that lies beyond."
My brows knitted into a frown as I tried to absorb this. "But you admit that Elua was begotten as less than God, and the companions who followed him were merely fallen angels, servants of Adonai who had turned their backs on him. Yet you still worship them as deities."
"Because they are such," the priestess replied, her voice patient. "When the companions chose to follow Elua, they followed out of love. It is the promise of Elua's precept; through love, we become greater, as the companions did by choosing to defy the One God."
I became silent again and, my glance flickering to Eric, decided to ask a question in a divergent vein. "Then why do you worship Naamah so? Why is her calling so sacred that there is the entire Night Court?"
With a ripple of laughter, the priestess smiled. "That at least is an easier question to answer. I'm sure you know the basic story, that Elua wandered the earth, and the companions followed. Naamah, in particular, lay with strangers so that Elua might have food to eat; and offered herself to the King of Persis so that Elua might be freed. Her service is a sacred one that those of the Night Court and her own order enter as a holy trust in rememberance and reverence." Then, as though she could read my mind, she added. "It is not a sin, to love, to offer that gift to everyone. At least, not by our measures."
Her words left me thoughtfully silent, and though I figured I would probably think of more questions later, for now I was satisfied with her answers. Seeing that I was lost in contemplation, she turned to Eric.
"Is there anything you would like to ask?" she queried politely.
|
|
|
Post by Eric Lamont on Jun 18, 2011 0:52:59 GMT -5
I thought it over, wondering if there was really anything on my mind … And yes, I suppose there was. “I wonder … how much of what happens in our lives is ordained by the Companions … and how much is it our own luck, good or bad?” Raisa no doubt knew why I was asking.
|
|
|
Post by Raisa Valois on Jun 18, 2011 2:04:58 GMT -5
I looked at Eric as he asked his question, I could not believe I'd almost forgotten about that. The priestess hesitated for the briefest moment before answering. "Any decision we make is entirely our own, that is a gift of both Elua and Adonai," she nodded her head in my direction. "However, sometimes the gods will see fit to put us into situations that would serve their own purposes, if we are strong and willing enough for it. In short, if they know we will not let them down. In the end though, what happens in those situations, how they pan out, is up to us; I believe that the ultimate result is that we are changed and that we learn something from it."
As she finished, I looked at Eric again. It pretty much rang true with what he said earlier.
|
|
|
Post by Eric Lamont on Jun 18, 2011 2:15:14 GMT -5
Her answer made complete sense too me and was not too far off from what I had told Raisa my own opinion was. “That makes sense. I know in my life that is often the state of things.” I shared a smile with Raisa and the priestess. I looked at Riasa again. “Have anything more to ask?” I inquired sweetly.
|
|
|
Post by Raisa Valois on Jun 18, 2011 2:30:45 GMT -5
"Nothing at the moment, though after I've thought about this for a while longer I'll probably be tempted to come back." I smiled at the priestess. "Thank you for taking the time to answer our questions."
"It was my pleasure," she replied, giving a small bow of her head. "You are welcome here, whenever you feel compelled, or merely if you wish for some respite." Then, as a group of people entered, she stood to go greet them. "I must leave you now. May you rejoice in love, as Elua bid."
I watched her go, then looked up at Eric. "Thank you too, for bringing me here."
|
|
|
Post by Eric Lamont on Jun 18, 2011 12:30:44 GMT -5
The priestess kindly dismissed us and we started to walk out. “You’re welcome Raisa,” I said. “What did you think of it?” I asked with a tilt of my head, slipping my hand over hers as we walked back into the street.
|
|
|
Post by Raisa Valois on Jun 18, 2011 17:56:30 GMT -5
"It was thought provoking, to say the least," I replied with a smile as I threaded my fingers through his. "The most fundamental thing I gathered is that being an Eluite is based on acceptance and love. It makes me wonder why my mother turned her back on it all, even for the promise of salvation. I suppose though, she did it for love of my father. So in a roundabout way she was still following the Eluine precept."
"How about you?" I asked as we turned a corner. "How did you find it?"
|
|
|
Post by Eric Lamont on Jun 18, 2011 18:38:52 GMT -5
I smiled and nodded as she explained her point of view. It did seem that, even by abandoning it, Raisa's mother was following the path in which she had been raised. I took that as a distinct comfort.
"I found it informative, especially the fact that I wasn't so far off as I might have thought ... and it was interesting how intertwined our faiths are ... something I always knew, but it seemed fresher to me this time." I looked around. "Where to next?"
|
|
|
Post by Raisa Valois on Jun 18, 2011 21:09:12 GMT -5
"What you said pretty much resonated with what she told us," I agreed. "It seems strange that for all the shared parts there's still so much misunderstanding."
We seemed to slow down and I shrugged, blushing slightly again. "I don't know... I'm not familiar with any other places around here really." And it seemed a bit early for me to be going home at any rate, though I wondered if maybe he might have somewhere else to be.
|
|
|
Post by Eric Lamont on Jun 18, 2011 22:20:17 GMT -5
I thought through our options. I wasn’t ready to return to the house just yet and I could see didn’t want to go either. She blushed as much as I once did and it made me smile. “We could go watch a play... or we could go look at the palace, or get a drink, or ... anything you want to do I’m sure the city has, though I’m not sure on the price,” I told her with a laugh and a little blush of my own.
|
|
|
Post by Raisa Valois on Jun 18, 2011 22:24:45 GMT -5
My curiosity was piqued as soon as he mentioned the palace.
"The palace? Have you been in there before?" I asked in amazement.
|
|
|
Post by Eric Lamont on Jun 18, 2011 22:47:56 GMT -5
I shook my head quickly and blushed. "Oh no! I think it would be nice though. I don't know if we're allowed in or not. I still think it might be nice too look at though, don't you?"
|
|
|
Post by Raisa Valois on Jun 18, 2011 22:56:42 GMT -5
"Definitely," I grinned. I imagined it was probably the most beautiful structure in Terre d'Ange, though I'd never been anywhere near it. In my mind I was toying with the idea of sneaking in if we weren't allowed to enter. Being around Eric made me think a little more freely and recklessly. "I'm up for seeing it if you are."
|
|
|
Post by Eric Lamont on Jun 19, 2011 19:16:19 GMT -5
"Wonderful!" came my exuberant reply. I was really excited, even if we were only going to be seeing the outside I was certain that it was going to be a sight that I wasn't going to forget. "It's that way ... I think," I said, laughing a little before taking off, her hand still in mine.
|
|
|
Post by Raisa Valois on Jun 20, 2011 1:55:52 GMT -5
As we weaved our way through the crowd, I was glad that we were still holding hands, so that we wouldn't get separated.
"You think?" I teased. "I'm blaming you if we get lost."
|
|
|
Post by Eric Lamont on Jun 20, 2011 20:52:50 GMT -5
“Well don’t worry too much about it,” I teased right back, though my instinctive blush still forced its way through. “We should be very close now,” I said leading her through some of the upper class establishments and we passed by my own house, grand to look upon. I was truly blessed to have been taken in by Lessa. “That’s where I live,” I said, pointing with my free hand.
|
|
|
Post by Raisa Valois on Jun 21, 2011 0:25:04 GMT -5
I looked to where he was pointing and found it hard not to gape in astonishment. "Oh wow, that's beautiful." I had hardly even ventured past the fringes of the East Borough before so the standard of the architecture was exceptional to my eyes.
|
|
|
Post by Eric Lamont on Jun 21, 2011 1:41:02 GMT -5
“We can stop by after, or another time if you like, Raise,” I said was we rather rushed past it. The homes seemed to get grander and more spectacular until we reached the palace. I stopped a good deal away and just marveled at it.
|
|
|
Post by Raisa Valois on Jun 21, 2011 2:44:16 GMT -5
"I'd like that very much." I said smiling, then we drew to a stop at a distance, where we could see the palace entire.
"Wow," was all I could manage. "I think that's worth sneaking into, don't you think?"
|
|