الهه / کوئن *

i am a tigress. i will not weep for the likes of mere men.

[deepikapadukonesource]

[imperiahl-blog]

*  I.   /   CROWNPRINCEJACQUES.

“I take no offence from it” he replied with a shrug. He didn’t really see the point. In truth he almost preferred it, he was so used to people always knowing everything about him, and it was exhausting at times. “I am sure you speak more of mine than I do of yours I am afraid to admit. My tutors were more focused on the European languages”. 

He nodded as she spoke, he was almost jealous of it. He knew that was an emotion he should not be feeling, but sometimes it was hard not to. “Have you visited here before?” he asked, pushing his own feelings down once again. He just about managed to avoid snorting at her comment, “I am afraid that I have had little reprieve from politics since I have been here. It does not make them very enjoyable”. 

"a shame. the indian languages are beautiful.    but, i do suppose knowing them wouldn't be of use to you very often. we rarely get visitors from france." a vast stretch of mountains and salt-rich seas and deserts separated the two realms. aishah had crossed all those miles; her heart was restless, always eager to see more, experience more.

a stableboy came foreward to take the bridle to aishah's horse and lead it away,   

[imperiahl-blog]

*  I.  /  ADALIEES.

adalie had watched the figure arriving from the coast. the dark figures on the fast riding horses coming quickly down the beach. it was nearly a mile of figures and horses throwing sand up with each landing. she was standing on the steps of a courtyard watching the figures approach as a part of a greeting party. 

as the party arrived to the courtyard and hurried down the stairs, blonde hair and dress flowing behind her as she hurried down. she saw the jewelry and the silk of the woman sliding down the saddle and in a way she was awestruck, the figure was striking. “the weather is quite lovely.” she said, smiling. “and yes, that is exactly how you say it. fair weather.”

she watched the girl moving toward her,    trailing golden hair and her gown floating behind. a smile washed over her features, curling her red lips behind the wide hoop of the nath through her nose. "in my language, we say achchha mausam." it was obvious that her tongue was more suited to the syllables of her homeland. her accent was thick, but still understandable. warm, and almost lyrical when put over western words.

aishah brought her hands together,    palm pressed to palm in front of her chest, and inclined her veiled head. "after such a long ride, yours is a lovely face to be greeted by, your highness."

[imperiahl-blog]

*  I.  /  CROWNPRINCEJACQUES.

Jacques had been taking advantage of the weather by walking through the grounds. If he could have a preference then he’d have a gone for a ride but at the moment he kept being called over to try and discuss politics. It wasn’t for anything that he could actually help, but people seemed to think that he had a say in it. They thought he could just say yes, when even his father didn’t have that much control. 

“Beau temps” he replied on instinct as he heard the question. It took him a moment to realise he had switched language back to his mother tongue, something he needed to remember not to do when he was abroad. “My apologies, English is not my tongue. But yes, I believe that is the correct translation” he replied, hoping that wouldn’t be taken in the wrong way. “Did you enjoy your ride?” 

"a frenchman.    you'll forgive me, i hope. sometimes it is difficult to tell by sight alone." in truth, aishah should have spent more time studying portraits of european royalty before endeavoring to mingle with them. but there were enough monarchs in south asia alone to keep her mind well occupied. "i don't know your language as well as i should, but it is lovely to hear."

the corners of her lips slipped upward into a faint smile,    and she nodded shortly. "very much so. the scenery is lovely." behind her, her horse stomped a large, dark hoof against the stones underfoot. wind ruffled the veil over her hair, sending a few brunette strands fluttering against her face. "and are you enjoying all the talk of politics?" she asked, inclining her head toward the men deep in conversation not far from them. she knew that look on their faces; their stance. business was a universal language.

[ultimate-passport]

[imperiahl-blog]

ultimate-passport:

Akbars Royal Bathing Chamber- Delhi, India 

Known as Akbar the Great, Akbar is most famous for creating harmony between the Muslim and Hindu people. Rather than forcing Hindu’s to convert to Islam, he accomodated them by taking part in their festivals, learning the languages and removing taxes placed on non-muslims. 

He was also the grandfather of Shah Jahan, the Mughal Emperor who built the Taj Mahal.

[imperiahl-blog]

*  I.  /  BERGENIIA.

“marriage is politics, but it is boring politics. the ones that are love are much more interesting, because then there is something to gossip about. because many love matches involve something much more buried beneath the surface.” bergenia said, looking up at her guest, whose lovely voice swept across the room. “wars are won and lost with the sword and the pen. a few marriages will hardly do anything, only make the people angry and resentful. there is so much in war.”

her head tipped subtly to one side,    lips pulled into a faint and thoughtful frown. "then why do you believe all royals are desperate to marry each other, to form alliances? why two countries will go to war together against a common enemy because the prince of one has married the princess of another?" jewelry jingled as she waved a hand, her lips beginning to bloom into a small smile. "we could sit and debate why wars are won all day. every war is different. but having a powerful spouse with a large army behind them has never hurt, hm? my husband married me for my father's allegiance."

[imperiahl-blog]

*  I.  /  KINGMCTHIAS.

it wasn’t often the cold northern king made his way down to the southern kingdoms. in fact, in nearly never happened at all. the only reason the royal was walking around the foreign courtyard in unfamiliar, light garments instead of his usual heavy chain mail and furs was because the stubborn southern king had asked to negotiate the spice trade deal in person. 

mathias was set to leave by dawn, and he was eager to find the northern wind whip at his face once more. as a favor to his trade partner, he accepted to oversee the training of his knights, the southern royal wanting to instill some of the northern rigidness in his guard. the men were hacking away at wooden mannequins, some sparring with each other, when the sound of hooves overcame the courtyard. he turned, clear eyes taking in the sight before him. “too hot for a northern man’s liking, yet it could be worse.” he nodded, gazing upward at the mysterious woman and her guard. “unfortunately this is neither my court — nor my mother language. it is the correct word, though. do you have business with the king?” he inquired, eager to know more about this woman, yet his face stayed stony and cold, an impenetrable wall.

"it is only autumn."    there was a hint of amusement in her voice, and her eyes glimmered. come evening, the city would be covered in a thick blanket of mist. the season for monsoons had only just ended, leaving the river that ran through the city swollen. it was a mild time in the capital.

aishah was well aware that this was not the man's court,    because it was her own. her husband's, rather, but that was all the same. around them, the ahadis in the yard began to notice her arrival and stilled. they brought their hands together, as if in prayer, and bowed at the waist. she kept her attention politely on the northern man. "my business with the emperor is never handled in court. we prefer to speak behind closed doors, when possible." her horse had begun to bob his head impatiently, and she reached a jewel-covered hand to stroke his velvet nose to still him. "you'll forgive me if i don't recognize your accent. so many visit, and all the northern tongues sound so similar. are you an ambassador?" she inclined her head toward the sparring grounds, an eyebrow arching. "an arms master?"

[imperiahl-blog]

*  I.  /  BERGENIIA.

“i hear all the news about marriages and betrothals and how boring does that seem? i mean it hardly seems like it matters, marriage is so boring and is truly rarely advantageous.” bergenia said shaking her head. she made a few more marks in the tax ledger before closing the book and placing the quill back in its stand.

“marriage is politics. or love, for the lucky and the young.” she settled in a chair, eyes keen, voice heavily accented and warm as sun-washed sand. "but mostly politics. wars are won and lost at the altar... very advantageous, when done wisely."

[imperiahl-blog]

she had been galloping down the coastline for nearly a mile now, letting the dun beast beneath her stretch his legs. he was a hot-blooded horse, ridden by an equally hot-blooded woman. guards struggled to keep up, lengths behind her, their horses tossing their heads so that their manes flew like banners — the sound of hooves pounding down on sand mixing with the sound of crashing waves until the whole world was a'thunder. behind a veil, a smile bloomed on aishah's lips.

the sun trekked across the sky as time passed; soon the dun was trotting placidly into a palace courtyard, neck arched proudly, the woman perched in the saddle still regal though she was wind-tossed. as the beast pulled to a stop, she slipped easily down from her seat in a rustle of silk and jewelry. behind her, her guards dismounted uniformly. "fair weather today," she observed, speaking to the first person in the courtyard who fell under her gaze. she whisked the veil from her face, but left it draped over the dark waves of her hair. olive skin and near-black eyes lined with kohl were revealed from behind the opaque silk. "that is how you say it in your language? 'fair weather' — ?"