Graciana's Funeral - part 3
From FiranMUX
Anarinuell: Palace District -- Temple of Soli
The central room of the temple is spacious and warm, the circular floor ringed by arching columns of white and pearl grey marble reaching to the high ceiling. Set within an outer ring of blue rimmed with gold, the tiled floor bears the comforting sign of Mother Soli in the center. A stone basin of clear, scented water is set just inside the entrance, and the spicy aroma of incense wafts out from censers hanging down from the dark wood rafters arching above. A smooth, attractive pink and grey granite altar opposite the entrance also bears the sign of Mother Soli carved into the front. Two doors in the back wall, on either side of the altar, lead to private quarters and private consulting rooms. Sunlight fills the room with a warm glow.
Contents: ~;*Vine and flower woven basket*;~ 5 echinacea flowers 5 buttercup flowers 14 iris flowers 5 lavender flowers 5 rose flowers Vase with Figures of Children Large Marble Sculpture of Priestess Graciana
After several long minutes, the flames burn down until there are naught but embers, and eventually these also die out. But instead of a grey ash where the body of Soli's High Priestess once lay, there is now a dusting of pristine white sand.
Mauvia finishes her singing and rises to her feet, still sniffling. She walks Ty over to Nalia, murmuring softly, "I think its time that I get home dear... I don't think I can be around people right now." The elderly woman looks to the dust pile that was once Graciana, wiping away at her eyes with her palla. "I'm almost certain you want to keep Ty with you." And, he's very worried about his grandma, best to leave him with his ma.
Junia smiles quietly at Philander as he kisses her cheek, then squeezes his hand back. "Thank you for being here," she murmurs quietly to him, then releases his hand, letting him go where he will.
Philander enters the Sacred Path.
Philander has left.
Taria's eyes blink several times at the sand. Sand? She hardly noticed it really... at first. "Pretty," says Taleena, pointing. Taleena always thinks anything white, and sparkly is pretty. Definitely not her Ticanee genes.
Oriana blinks the tears from her eyes as she watches the pyre, a little puzzlement on her face. She cuddles her baby to her and smiles a little, sad smile "oh" she whispers softly, brushing at her tears.
Inaya looks to the altar, at the sand and smiles. Fitting that Graciana would have been so pure as that. She wonders what the priests and priestesses of the temple of Soli will make of it, and what should be done with it.
Quonasi shushes Taleena as he fights his natural curiosity. Wouldn't be polite to go investigate the funeral pyre. Especially with all of these people here.
Olena's eyes widen a little as people start to notice the sand, drawing her attention to it. She murmurs one more quiet prayer.
Junia rises to her feet and slowly begins to pick her way through the crowd, heading towards Taria. Taleena brings a soft smile to her lips, before she focuses her attention on the Ticanee Clan Leader. "Your Honors," she murmurs softly, inclining her head to Taria and Jalil as well.
Fidelia does not notice Philander kissing her sister's cheek. Because otherwise she'd have to kill Philander more quickly than she intended. Instead her gaze goes to the sand, and a small smile curves her lips, through the haze of tears. That was Graci, alright.
Jalil stands for the longest time, until what was once Graciana no longer resembles anything vaguely alive. With Ojitar's hand still in his, Jalil walks up to the pyre, marvelling at the white sand. He looks around the temple curiously, as if expecting to see Soli herself standing among them. He sifts his fingers through the white sand -- sand, not ash! -- and takes a tiny handful and makes a fist around it, not letting go.
Nalia has been watching the pyre, her eyes not having left it from the moment she'd burned it. The ash... different. Odd. What... She doesn't seem to make any connections at first, and simply stares quizzically at the... odd looking ash.
As people look at the remains, Yasha turns her head as well and arches her brows. "Look, Sal, look, it's white sand." She smiles through all her grief, and then stands, to wait for Lady Nalia's attention, so she can safely return Talion to his mother and take Marsalos home.
Lianna blinks at the altar, certain that she must be seeing things through teary eyes. Rubbing at them, she looks again, but no.. that's not grey ash. It's the most beautiful, softest, cleanest sand she's ever seen.
Oriana closes her eyes momentarily as if in prayer.
Sabinus gazes at the glint of the pure white sand where Graciana's ashes should be in momentary confusion, and then a faint smile touches his face despite the grief in his eyes. What does it matter what the sand means? After all, Graciana was such a quietly extraordinary person; how could her funeral be anything but quietly extraordinary as well?
Mauvia sets down the Toddler Tyrontino.
Nydiam looks to the pyre with curiousity, now. He hmms, "Interesting. Methinks the gods are among us." He glances upward and then looks to Zeysani.
Taria overhears Nydiam and twists her eyes around to glare. Nevermind that they're in a temple where gods are supposed to be. Ever since that Tomis incident, Taria doesn't want gods to be too close. Ever!
Inessa smiles faintly at the white sand and nods, allmost reassured. She stands and gives Ibania a weak smile before turning to head quietly out.
Ibania whispers, "She is where she should be, then."
Quonasi mutters something about inexplicable miracles and walks over to Taria once more. "Oshta...I'm going to head back to the mansion. Would you prefer I bring the children with me?"
Oriana keeps her eyes on the sand for a long moment, love shining in them as she glances up towards the temple ceiling then down the the floor again, a little sigh coming from her as she finally closes her eyes to pray again "oh Lady" she whispers in an almost inaudible voice.
Now how is she going to convince the Initiates to gather these ashes. Nalia looks towards Oriana, trying to catch her attention.
Fannisha is willing. She's still staying against the wall, waiting for the people to thin out before she tries to help again.
Nydiam looks back at Taria and shrugs, not knowing why she was glaring. He avoids her glare and looks back towards the pyre.
Ojitar smiles at the sand. "We need a pail."
Zeysani looks over to the pyre. "Graciana was not your ordinary woman." she murmurs to Nydiam, "Why should her funeral be any different?"
Quonasi swats Ojitar gently. "Behave. This is not a beach."
Ibania gathers herself and her children, "I. I think I am going to step outside."
Oriana looks up again finally from her prayers and glances towards Nalia when she sees her. She walks quietly towards her, shifting her baby to her other arm. She wipes at the tears in her eyes and curtsies carefully to Nalia when she reaches her.
Nydiam nods thoughtfully to Zeysani's words, "True." He comments quietly.
Sabinus makes his way out of the audience. He offers a nod of greeting to the departing Ibania, to Taria and even to Ojitar and Quonasi...but his path seems aimed towards Fidelia.
Olena finally rises to her feet as her husband does, and makes her way toward the exit.
Ibania returns Sabinus' nod, and also nods to Zeysani and Nydiam, pausing only a moment, "At your cenvenience, I'd like to speak to both of you."
Nalia gives a shake of her head at the curtsey, "No, no need," Her attention back to the sand, her smile grows as her realization does. Worthy of her, it is. "Graciana's... Ashes," Sand, really, "I would think that they would wish to be saved, for the Temple?"
Jalil gives Quonasi a look that says, essentially, touch my kid one more time and I'll kill you. He's not in a great mood as it is.
Fidelia leans down, and, cautiously, reverently, just touches a grain of sand with one hand. Her smile remains, the tracks of her tears still visible over her olive skin.
Mauvia enters the Sacred Path.
Mauvia has left.
Curiousity getting the best of her, Fannisha moves forward from the wall to join in the crowd, peering down at the odd sand left behind.
Quonasi gives Jalil the look of the long suffering caretaker in the absence of Ojitar's real father, but doesn't actually say anything more.
Taria nods to Quonasi. "Please take them home now." She kisses all four, a rare show of affection from her to the children, and sends them off.
Nydiam looks to Ibania, then to Zeysani, then back to Ibania, "I am available, now, if you like. Sister?"
Olena has left.
Argus has left.
Argus follows Olena.
Zeysani inclines her head in agreement.
Zeysani starts following Nydiam.
Ibania starts following Nydiam.
Ibania lets Nydiam choose the place.
Taria keeps Ojitar with her then.
Sabinus finally stops near Fidelia, though leaving a respectful distance. "Lady Fidelia," he offers quietly, in greeting. No 'Del', today; formality, propriety...all things Graciana valued, and so Sabinus makes every effort to show them here.
Quonasi slips out, murmuring something to Ibania as he passes out the door.
Nydiam inclines his head and then leads the two leaders out off the temple.
Jalil gives both Ojitar and Judanus big hugs. "Take good care of your mom. Don't let her get into trouble."
Nydiam offers a nod to Quonasi, before he departs.
"Of course. Please let me know when you would like to meet, of course," Nalia reaches out for the woman, and gives her a soft pat on the arm, comforting the little she can during such a time, but her eyes only move away from the sand for a flicker of a moment.
Nydiam enters the Sacred Path.
Nydiam has left.
Ibania and Zeysani follow Nydiam.
Ibania has left.
Zeysani has left.
Jalil stands and nods his head to Taria. "I shall handle that matter of oaths soon," he says. "Take care."
Yasha remains quietly waiting for her aunt, even though Talion has begun to fuss a bit and Marsalos murmurs something that sounds like pee-pee.
Quonasi enters the Sacred Path.
Quonasi has left.
Inaya remains near the pyre, looking at the sand for a long, long time. Her tears have ceased, but there is still that grief-stricken look on her face, though the sand is somewhat comforting to her, since it is so much like Graciana in it's pristine purity.
Taria smiles at Jalil. "That would be a good thing. I know Ojitar would like to spend time with you."
Ojitar looks up at Jalil and says, "I wanna fly to the meet the sun. Lord Argus said I can have a griffon."
Taria looks down and says, "You are NOT getting a griffon."
Fidelia reaches up to brush a strand of hair, fallen loose from her hairpins, back from her eyes. She hasn't completely mastered Graci's knack with hairpins, even with longer hair. "Lord Sabinus," she greets gravely.
Jalil grins at Taria. "Maybe a little one. When you're old enough," he says to Oji.
Oriana nods again, her own eyes moving back towards the sand a gentle breath being drawn in "so beautiful" she whispers softly, a gentle smile through her tears "I think I know just the thing".
Jalil adds, "But a ride is definitely a possibility. We'll fly waaaay up in the sky."
Taria frowns. She hates the beasts, truly she does. "I think you should learn to use a sword, and fight on your feet." At Jalil's comment, however, she looks panicked, and meets his eyes. "When you're very very old, maybe you can have a ride. Like, when you're 35."
Jalil laughs. "Oh, it'll be fun. We'll fly so high that Zutiv himself will say, 'Hey, do you mind keeping it down over there?'" He winks at Taria.
Jalil says "But your mother is right. You should learn to fight with a sword. Do you still have the practice sword I gave you?"
Sabinus glances to the sand which marks Graciana's pyre, a light of wonder in his eyes for a moment. Then he turns back to Fidelia; as he takes in the faint glistening trails of tears on her cheeks, one hand twitches upwards as though to reach out and wipe them away...but then Sabinus stops himself. Instead, he swallows once and says, "The whole Republic has lost a treasure...but your family feels that loss more than most. You have my sympathies."
Ojitar looks positively enthralled at this idea. Flying really high is really cool! And suddenly Jalil's his hero again. Maybe. "Yes," he says about the sword. "I can use it against the Cadimonster when she comes to kill us," he says. Taria winces.
Jalil twitches a bit. "The Cadimonster is no longer a threat, dear boy. No need to worry about that." He looks up at Taria questioningly.
Taria gets a petulant little look on her face at Jalil's statement. It's almost girlish! From a clan leader! "Now there's just the Leylamonster." She smirks. Is there any pity for Arcadia's death? None. Taria is likely going to throw a party back at her manor.
Fidelia swallows, straightening proudly. "Dame Graciana was very dear to all of us," she replies quietly. "And will be missed." She looks away. "I almost hope, now, that my aunt will not return. I don't...really want her to see a world without Nanny Graciana."
Jalil smirks at Taria. "Cute."
Graciana was Yasha's teacher about how to be a prim and proper gossip, and while she waits for her aunt's attention and because Talion gets rather heavy in her arms, she has her ears open, with that innocent expression on her face. Graciana taught her well.
Taria smiles and feigns a curtsey to Jalil. "I'm sure his honor is very busy...?"
Nalia motions to Yasha as she waits for Oriana, and reaches out for her son. "Thank you, Yasha," She says, sure that the infant is cranky and hungry by this time.
Yasha sets down the Baby Talion.
Jalil smiles softly. "Terribly," he answers honestly. "But nothing that can't wait. I'm the Clan Leader, after all. I don't feel like doing much of anything today. Why?" "Anytime, Lady Iberik. I should take Marsalos home now, and have a word with Mes Hanna. I wouldn't survive another full festival day with him. I am exhausted."
Yasha's eyes remain red-rimmed and she does look the tired part.
Taria smiles at Jalil. "There's nothing pressing. You do need to get those oaths taken care of, however. I know the boys would like to see you." And with that, she adjusts her hairpins, which are stabbing into her head. She hopes Graciana's happy!
Oriana prays softly again a moment, then finally with a little sigh, looks back up at Nalia. "Do you have anything I might gather the .." she pauses, glancing back to the remains of the pyre "the ..sand in" she whispers softly, shifting the sleeping baby to her other arm again.
Fannisha moves up closer to Nalia and Oriana, asking quietly, "Would you like me to go to the temple and get an amphora, High Priestess?"
Jalil nods. "I'll see to that, perhaps. I should go." He looks around and, now that the crowds ar thinning, he suddenly wants out of here. "I'm gonna go."
Taria enters the Sacred Path.
Taria has left.
Jalil enters the Sacred Path.
Jalil has left.
Sabinus surrenders to instinct, reaching out to place a hand on Fidelia's shoulder gently in a gesture of friendship. What can he say to that, after all? That a world without both Dame Graciana /and/ Queen Sabine would be worse? For all practical purposes, Queen Sabine /is/ gone, with less physical evidence left behind than Graciana's miraculous, gleaming sand. That Graciana isn't truly gone, merely resting? Fidelia is a priestess of Unot, and kows that better than anyone...and the words ring more trite than truly comforting. Instead, Sabinus finally just says softly, "I know."
Tightly holding onto Marsalos' hand, Yasha somberly leads him out of the temple, now able to swing her cane again.
Yasha enters the Sacred Path.
Yasha has left.
Inaya stands alone, holding onto her son's hand, quietly and sadly looking at the remains of the sand on the pyre. Finally, she departs, walking slowly away as she shuts a door on an important part of her history, "I'll never forget you, Graci.." she murmers as her feet trod the path out of the Temple.
Inaya enters the Sacred Path.
Inaya has left.
Fidelia pulls her palla over her head, the wool shadowing her features. She glances back to the miraculous pile of gleaming sand. "We've a new path ahead to tread," she tells Sabinus simply. "And we must learn to break our own paths, now." Her mouth quirks sadly. "Even I have to grow up a little," she says lightly.
"Mes Fannisha, that would be a wonderful idea, I thank you," Nalia looks relieved at her offer, nodding towards both of them. "Will that be sufficent, Mes Oriana?"
Tergus arrives from the direction of The Sacred Path.
Tergus has arrived.
Sabinus squeezes Fidelia's shoulder once, and smiles sadly. "I know," the Chimeran proxy says. "We all have had to. And now we see if we can live up to the examples our parents and predecessors set..."
Oriana nods quickly looking from the sand to Nalia to Fannisha. She smiles softly at Fannisha "thank you" she whispers "thank you so much that would be perfect".
Fannisha dips her head to Oriana and Nalia, saying quietly, "I'll go and get it, then. I'll be right back." And with that, she turns to hurry out of the temple and to the temple of Unot to get the amphora and something to sweep the ashes..err, sand, with.
Tergus isn't sure what exactly is going on but he slowly moves a little further in and towards Nalia. He tries to keep his foot fall silent as to not interupt the events that are transpiring.
"I suppose," Fidelia says very quietly. "It is time for us to be the parents now, too."
Sabinus swallows once, and nods in reply. "Though it's odd to think of our children growing up without knowing Dame Graciana..." One more brief squeeze of Fidelia's shoulder, and then Sabinus lets his hand drop to his side. "I..." He trails off whatever he was going to say, and simply finishes, "I am sure you and Lord Banik will be proud of your children, like Graciana was proud of you."
Fannisha comes in a few moments later, a bit flustered as she did hurry so as not to keep everyone later. She has an empty amphora under one arm, and a broom to sweep the ashes with in the other. She walks slowly once she enters the temple back towards the sand and Nalia and Oriana.
Fidelia's cheeks redden slightly, but she merely replies, "I don't think Graciana was proud of me. I wore tunics and neglected my hairpins, and had no poise or backbone."
Oriana stands, still looking at the pure white remains of the pyre, the same awed, sad smile on her gentle face.
"Thank you, Fannisha." Nalia says to her as she approaches, and eyes the... sand, where ashes should be. "Mes Oriana... do you wish to sweep the sa...er, ashes into the Amphora, or for me to?" She seems... hesitant to touch them, but at the same curious.
Sabinus shakes his head. "She was proud of you, De... Lady Fidelia." A faint smile touches his face. "I spoke to her about you, once."
Fannisha speaks up, "I would be willing if neither of you want to, as well." She crouches down to set down the amphora, holding the broom upright as she waits for the decision of who will sweep them.
Fidelia's mouth wavers in a wry smile. "Would she have told you if she was disappointed in me?"
Oriana looks up at Nalia "I am happy to do it High Priestess" she whispers gently "unless you wish to help at all, actually it would mean a lot to me if I could at least help to do it"
Nalia looks from Fannisha to Oriana, sighing a touch. "Oriana should do it. It is... only proper, truly."
Tergus remains silent in the background, not wanting to encroach on all this priestly talk. He however makes sure that he stays close enough so that Nalia knows he is here.
Fannisha nods and gently hands the broom over to Oriana, asking, "Would you like me to hold the amphora so you can sweep them in?" She's trying to be as helpful as she can.
"Maybe not," Sabinus concedes. "But she spoke about you with pride, Lady Fidelia. She was proud of how you stepped up and took lead for the clan when your sister was ill. She was proud of your resolve on things you believed in." He shrugs, still smiling slightly. "If she was disappointed in your tunics or lack of hairpins, she never spoke of that part to me." He glances over, as the Unotians and the Solians gather that strange, miraculous white sand, before adding, "I should go. There are things to be done here, and I shouldn't take up your time."
Oriana smiles softly to Fannisha "thank you" she whispers quietly, then looks around a moment, wondering where to set her sleeping child.
Fidelia takes a deep breath at Sabinus's words, and blinks rapidly, turning away to hide her tears. "I should go on my way, too," she whispers, voice suddenly choked. "I'll see you later, Sabinus."
Fidelia has left.
Sabinus cannot quite restrain himself; he reaches over to brush one of the tears away from Fidelia's cheek. "Be well, Del. If you need anything, ever..." Then remembering himself, he trails off and turns to leave the temple quickly.
"I can hold her, if you'd like," Nalia says, slipping the sleeping Talion into her other arm, and noticing Tergus as she does. Sitting somewhere she did not notice through her tears, he must have been. She smiles softly to him, her eyes filled with comfort she can't physically give with the prospective arms full of babies.
Sabinus enters the Sacred Path.
Sabinus has left.
Tergus moves and offers to take Talion from Nalia so she can do more if needed. He gives her a soft smile as it looks like she needs more comforting then he does. Nalia sets down the Baby Talion.
Fannisha crouches down by the amphora, tilting it towards the ground at one side of the sand so Oriana can sweep it in.
Oriana sets down the Baby Soliana.
Nalia hands Talion over to Tergus, and then turns to take Soliana from Oriana. She has indeed had a bit of a rough day, but nothing she'd share, at least not here. Her sad eyes are red from crying, oddly for her, yet she still stands, stoic as she watches the pair gather the sand for posterity.
Oriana carefully hands her baby to Nalia "thank you High Priestess Nalia" she whispers softly "and thank you for such a wonderful ceremony as well" she adds, smiling sadly again before turning to take the broom and begin sweeping the sand carefully into a pile
Fannisha remains crouched down, quiet, with a somber expression, but more out of politeness as she never knew Graciana. Her eyes focus on the white sand.
Oriana carefully brushes the sand, sweeping it gently, in fact reverently into the amphora that Fannisha holds. She sighs softly as she sweeps "oh High Priestess" she murmurs softly "we will miss you so much"
Tergus comforts Talion as Nalia does her prestly things.
Nalia quietly rocks Soliana in her arms, watching the sand gathering still with interest. "Yes, we will. She is with Unot now."
Fannisha still stays quiet, tilting the amphora now and again to ensure no sand falls out.
Oriana brushes carefully so that every last grain of sands is gently swept into the amphora. She sighs softly when she finishes, looking around at the pyre area "I think that is it" she murmurs, checking one last time then smiling softly at Fannisha "thankyou.." she adds quietly.
Fannisha nods her head up to Oriana, tilting the amphora back one last time as she picks it up, then ready to exchange it with Oriana for the broom, "Do you want it? Or do you want me to take it somewhere for you?"
Nalia whispers softly with Tergus, at at the last thing he says, the apples of her cheeks rose up, and she sighs with a true smile, her first of the evening.
Oriana shakes her head "no" she murmurs to Fannisha "it's alright I'll take it to the temple..thank you though it's very kind of you to offer." She gently hold the broom out, ready to exchange it for the amphora, looking at the container with a curious, sad look.
Fannisha nods to Osiana, carefully handing the amphora over to Oriana's spare arm, then taking the broom. "I'll put the broom away, then."
Oriana carefully take the amphora and looks to Nalia to take her baby back. She smiles as the little one is returned to her and carefully tucks her under her arm. "Lets take you both home" she whispers softly and nods to Nalia, Tergus and Fannisha "thank you all so much" she adds gently "thank you"
Nalia hands the baby back to Oriana. "Thank you as well."
Nalia enters the Sacred Path.
Nalia has left.
Tergus follows Nalia.
Tergus has left.
