Pride of Lions
Latif
The blazing sun sat high in the sky, far above the royal fortress of Lion’s Den. The glow of the sun was further enhanced by the light reflected from the white walls of the great castle.
Lion’s Den was built by Marcus I Aurelius as a royal seat and as a way to commemorate his conquering of Ashara. The citadel was raised on Landing Point, the peninsula jutting out from Pella and the place where Marcus first stepped onto Asharan soil. The castle was only finished after twelve years, at which time Marcus was on his deathbed. Marcus’ son and heir, Drusus I, ordered the imprisonment, and eventually the death, of the architect and the laborers. He decreed that no one but the royal family would know the layout and design of the fortress.
Ringed by an outer and inner curtain wall, the keep was made of granite. Composed of the King’s Tower, the Roaring Tower, and the Diamond Tower, the Purple Keep was held to be the strongest part of the castle. A barbican stood outside the walls, before the moat, while towers rose from each of the four points where the walls connected to form a corner. Inside the walls, a huge city gradually came into being and became known as Austrasia, which was the land from which Marcus I had sailed.
The light emanating from the sun not only hit the walls, but also struck the stained glass windows of the throne room. As the light touched the multicolored windowpanes, cascades of rainbows were sent throughout the chamber. This storm of light was further emphasized by the glare from the various jewels adorning the many princes in attendance.
Latif Antigonus was among the large number of great lords present, though jewels were absent. Tall, gaunt-faced, and ebony, Latif was clad in a simple, black doublet bearing the sigil of his House: a yellow eye. Simple garments for a simple man, thought Latif as he eyed his peers decked out in their finery. They preen like peacocks. Latif observed them all, living up to the motto of House Antigonus: “All-Seeing.”
Slender and exotic, Lady Johara Menander was clothed in a low-cut gown made of light blue and white silk. Prince Omari Ptolemy wore a swordbelt made of silver and amethysts as well as a steel sword possessing a hilt fashioned in the form of a star. Light-eyed and black-haired with caramel skin, Queen Aaliyah still remained one of the beautiful women in Ashara, or at least in Latif’s mind. In a gown of damask slashed with silver velvet, she shamed each of the ladies in attendance, especially Latif’s own dowdy wife, whose wide frame was draped in an old yellow samite gown.
The princesses Aiesha and Syana came closest in matching their mother’s beauty. Aiesha’s gown was made of silver silk and vair while Syana wore silver brocade and lace. Their grey eyes and resemblance to their mother was startling to Latif. Such a girl as Syana will be lost on a fool like Omari, he thought.
Suddenly the great oaken doors to the room flew open. Shakir Alexander, the First of His Name, strode into the hall looking every inch the king he was. Gods, he looks just the way he did the night we captured Lion’s Den, thought Latif, reminiscent. As Shakir swept into the room, every eye was drawn to him. The king was resplendent in a doublet made of cloth-of-silver. The sigil of House Alexander, a white lion, was sewn into the double with purple silk. Walking the length of the chamber to the throne, his footsteps were dogged by a heavy cape made of yet more cloth-of-silver. A ferocious lion’s head was picked out on the cape in diamonds. Having effectively put his courtiers to shame, Shakir joined the rest of the royal family on the dais, home to the Diamond Throne.
According to post-Conquest legend, the Diamond Throne was made of solid diamond. It is said that when Marcus I landed at Pella, the Diamond Throne was sitting atop the highest of the Ten Sacred Hills, which form a half-circle around Lion’s Den. Marcus saw it as a sign from the gods and proceeded to conquer Ashara. Upon the conclusion of the war, the Diamond Throne was placed in Lion’s Throne.
In actuality, the so-called “Diamond Throne” was made of high quality glass and embedded with large diamonds. It wasn’t created until nine years after Marcus’ death by his grandson, Drusus II. In his finite wisdom, Drusus set out to add an air of mystique to the throne but only served to begin the rumors of the House of Aurelius being mentally unstable. Despite the blunder, the monarch’s seat continued being called the Diamond Throne and it remained a wonder to the court’s visitors.
Once Shakir climbed the dais, a young man, aged sixteen or seventeen, stepped forward. Serving as herald, he called out in a clear voice, “All hail His Most Serene Majesty, Shakir Alexander, the First of His Name, High King of Ashara, Prince-Elector of Pella, Lord of Lion’s Den, Augustus, Autokrator, Basileus, Dominus, Imperator, Invictus, Pius Felix, Pharaoh, Shah, Nobilissimus Caesar and Aurelius Maximus.”
As the crowd of nobles responded, “All hail,” with their hands over their hearts, Latif had a sudden thought. How can a man acquire so many titles within less than twenty years?
The herald continued, “All hail Her Most Serene Majesty, Aaliyah, of House Aurelius, Queen-Consort, Augusta, Basilissa, Domina, Imperatrix, and Great Wife.”
“All hail,” cried the onlookers.
“All hail Her Serene Majesty, Aiesha, of House Alexander, heir to the Diamond Throne, Princess-Electoress of Mazaka, Lady of Heartwood, Protector of the Heartwood, Princess of Ashara, Princess of the Blood Royal, Princeps Iuventatis, and Princeps Senatus.”
“All hail.”
“All hail Her Serene Majesty, Syana, of House Alexander, Princess of Ashara, Princess of the Blood Royal, Archduchess, Madame Royale, and Infanta.”
“All hail,” they said for the final time, bowing to the royal family. The herald retreated and a page came forward. He handed Shakir a long piece of parchment, as well as a bottle of red ink and a pen. This brought a smile to Aaliyah’s face and a twinkle to Aiesha’s eye. Shakir’s face remained hard.
“Rise,” commanded Shakir in a voice that reverberated throughout the chamber. Every lord and lady rose to face their king. The moment of truth is upon us, thought Latif.
“Noble princes, you have been called to court to demonstrate your loyalty to the Diamond Throne and to pledge your allegiance to House Alexander. In my hands I hold a document called the Pragmatic Sanction.
“The Pragmatic Sanction is a legally binding decree that has been designed for one single purpose: to ensure that my daughter Aiesha accedes to all my lands and titles. By signing this decree, you will be recognizing Aiesha as my successor as well as pledging your swords should anyone be tempted to contest her claim.”
“And if we refuse to sign it, Your Most Serene Majesty?” asked Prince Sahir Leonnatus, playing devil’s advocate.
“Any lord who refuses to sign the Sanction will be viewed as a traitor, and all his lands and incomes will be forfeit to the Crown. He will also be tried for high treason and rebellion against the Crown, and if found guilty he will be beheaded and his head will be stuck on a pike on the walls. His head will serve as a warning to all would-be traitors,” replied Shakir coldly.
The naked threat hung on the air: sign or lose all, including one’s own life. Only, everyone present knew Shakir’s word to be more than a threat. His word was law.
Shakir sat on the Diamond Throne with a grim face; his family’s faces matched his own mood. Aaliyah was no longer smiling and the twinkle in Aiesha’s eye had long since faded. Only Syana seemed to be slightly happy; she was gazing at Omari.
The herald once again stepped forward, placing a small table on the dais. He sang out, “His Serene Majesty, Latif Antigonus, Prince-Elector of Xanthos, Gordium, and Aspendos, Lord of Brighteye, Mistgate, and Heavenhall, Grand Cupbearer, and Shield of Arsakia, now comes forward and proves his allegiance to House Alexander.”
Just my luck, I’m the first, Latif thought as he approached the dais. Dipping the quill in the red ink, he penned his name to the document without a second thought. Of course he would support the daughter of his king. Shakir then lavished his first smile of the day on his old friend. Latif smiled back, and he was filled with the memories of that fateful night that Shakir had become king.
It was an especially dark night when Kamil Asander had come to Shakir’s war tent and changed his allegiance. Up until that point the outcome of the war was nowhere near certain. Prince Makeen Neoptolemus and Prince Jubair Philotas had blockaded Lion’s Den to cut off supplies, but the besieging force was made up of only ten thousand men. Prince Khayri Archon and Prince Fatin Taxiles were racing toward Lion’s Den with the intention of breaking the siege. If Kamil hadn’t switched sides and opened the gates, Shakir’s force would have been caught between twenty thousand men and the walls of the great castle. Luckily, Kamil’s betrayal gave Shakir enough time to take the castle and kill Lucius IV. By the time the loyalist forces arrived, Shakir had already claimed the Diamond Throne.
Luck, thought Latif, has always been on your side. Let us pray that your luck has not run out when you need it most, old friend. Latif stepped to the right side of the Diamond Throne, symbolizing his loyalty.
“His Serene Majesty, Talib Antipater, Prince-Elector of Thessalonica, Lord of Sunpointe, Grand Usher, and Guardian of the Ten Ports, now comes forward to prove his allegiance to House Alexander.”
A man aged at least sixty years, Talib’s features were still fine, his back still straight, and his walk still proud. As one of the few lords to defy Shakir during the War of the Lions, and as one of the even fewer to retain his lands and titles, Talib would defy Shakir no more. He stepped to the table, signed his name rather hastily, and stood beside Latif.
“His Serene Majesty, Duwan Asander, Prince-Elector of Halicarnassus, Lord of Viperfang, Grand Standard-Bearer, and Guardian of the South, now comes forward to prove his allegiance to House Alexander.”
A young man of an age with the page began to walk forward, nervously. He was a handsome child, with a handsome castle as well as handsome lands. He would make Syana a much better husband, thought Latif. Syana must’ve thought so too, because she could not remove her eyes from the boy. Duwan signed, and stood next to Talib. For the rest of the ceremony, he and Syana made eyes at each other.
Needless to say, none of the lords present felt brave enough nor proud enough to deny their overlord their signature. When finished, the document had sixteen signatures.
-----
“That was ill done, dominus,” said Latif. After the conference was finished, Shakir had retreated to his solar. As his oldest friend, Latif was not far behind him.
The solar was a rather large room, but smaller by far than the throne room or council chambers. Containing eight full-length windows that contained window seats, the walls of the solar were covered in various tapestries and paintings. A small bed was pushed up against the wall, while a table and two chairs faced the window.
“What was ill done, Latif?” asked Shakir, his voice full of weariness, as he sat down in one of the window seats.
“May I speak frankly, dominus?”
“Don’t you always?”
“Shakir, this is insane. You just forced the whole realm to support a woman’s claim to the throne.”
“What was I to do? They had to be made to sign the document somehow.”
“Dominus, they would have signed the document regardless; none of them would risk earning your displeasure. By threatening them, you are setting yourself up as a tyrant.”
“A tyrant? Simply because I would see my daughter in this same position when I am gone? I think not. I have ensured that Aiesha will become High Queen of Ashara.”
Latif knew better than to argue with his liege, so he tried a different angle. “Well, dominus, will you allow her to marry?”
“That depends. I want my daughter to rule in her own right, not as a puppet to her husband. Who do you deem suitable?
“I have the perfect prince in mind, dominus.”
- This story isn't based on any of the TW games. I was just writing something and I wanted a little feedback. Thanks.
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Re: Pride of Lions
Originally Posted by FlyyGemini08
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