#osroes

[daryun]

Bonus Sketches by Hiromu Arakawa in the manga 'The Heroic Legend of Arslan' volumes 21 and 22

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One of the bonus sketches from manga Vol. 21. Looks like there's another one too but I haven't managed to find a full image of it yet.

I really like this one, not only because I'm pleased to see Hilmes feature but because of the composition. The shadowy, mad-looking Gotarzes, whose mind was addled by the influence of sorcery. Osroes, whose eyes betray the inhuman decision he made about the child he raised as his son and pretended to love. Andragoras, with darkened eyes, looming over Hilmes in the foreground. Of them all, Hilmes is the only one whose eyes are clearly visible/drawn normally, and even then it feels symbolic that his right eye is partially obscured on his burned side.

The dark and bloody history of the Parsian royal family literally looming behind him, its mark left on his face. I hope he can break free of it.

[anusharao96]

Oh dear....

This entire revelation of Hilmes' true parentage is so gross but what truly shook me is that it was this man's wish to kill Hilmes.

Osroes was everything to Hilmes. We have seen how much he revered his father's remembrance. His pure, justly father who, he thought, got murdered by Andragorus. Apart from the murder attempt on himself, it was also his father's death that he wanted to avenge, by taking the throne. The cause of all of Hilmes' miseries was the man he devoted his life to :'(

We have seen Hilmes crumbling, panicking many times before and he fought his fears to come back stronger each time. But this time, it's different. It seems Andragorus has snatched away the very foundation of his person. What happened with Hilmes is cruel. And absurd.

He's always so high and mighty so it's kind of....difficult watching him going through identity crisis like this T.T

One character that I took only as seriously as Gieve until now, caught my interest in this chapter. Yup, that's Queen Tahamineh :'D

I never thought I would feel sorry for her but here we are. She's an example of a cursed beauty that people desire, use and accuse for being used at the same time. She was displaced from her roots, handed over from one king to other like an object and bore the blame for everything when the kings and kingdoms failed for whatever reasons (Note what happened in case of Lusitania). Then, she lost her only child and the ability to bear children. She couldn't do anything thing to change her own and her daughter's situation. She's been so powerless, and all of that pent up angst she let out on Arslan.

It's understandable how she would feel. What I don't understand is, though, that how could she resist loving Arslan? He had such a lovable personality even as a child. How could anyone not love him? Maybe her anger thawed at some point and she had to hardened herself consciously. She must have battled with a lot of conflicting feelings.

Anyway, Arslan did nothing to deserve such bitterness. She could, at least, have loved him as just a child, if not in the capacity of a mother.

Until this point, Arslan showed much understanding for her. It is only when he learns that she never tried to connect to him even as a person, let alone a son, that he finally reacts sternly. He is horrified at thought that she expected Arslan to hit someone he called his mother. And also at the reality that his supposedly mother is as ignorant of his feelings as a stranger would be.

Here in this panel, she feels something other than disdain for Arslan for the first time. I think she got a glimpse of who Arslan really is.

[lbashes]

PREVIOUS     (x)

Osroes takes her as his wife. Not because he has to, not because she hails from the Kingdom of Maryam and he is the heir of Pars and because their union would pacify their two kingdoms but because he loves her and she loves him, and how young and naive they are, to think the world could ever let it be so simple.

Because Osroes is king, and an heir he needs. Because it has now been years since they were wed to one another and Tahamine has yet to bear a child, because the people want a son and she has not laid with her husband once, because Osroes is a good man and he won't force himself on her if she refuses to give herself to him.

Tahamine knows her place. Knows she's still too young to bear a child but she is a powerful woman; she is the queen of Pars and Osroes is her husband and she loves him, so one night she slips to his room and lays with him, and he gives himself to her, entirely.

The next month, the people learn their queen is with child.

The next year, Pars goes down in flames caused by the rage of Andragoras.

NEXT     (x)

[breadje]

Songs of a Beauty

Title: Songs of a Beauty Author: A Chinaweeb (my friend) Characters/Pairings: Tahameney, Andragoras III, Osroes V Rating: T Warnings: There will be blood (in later chapters) Summary: The tale of the path of ashes left behind by the mirror image of Ashi A/N: I came across a poem in the film House of the Flying Daggers (highly recommend watching because it's awesome) which naturally reminded me of dear Tahameney. So I wrote Tahameney's life while loosely using the poem as guideline. I know my writing is awful but have fun anyway

Prologue on AO3

The bells rung in the high city, bordering the Parsian empire. In the castle, far above the mist of the lower city, a child was born. Her mother had called the seers whom upon their arrival delivered a prophecy which worried the local lords. It told of beauty so unparalleled that it would influence all in the known world. Upon the birth and announcement of the child, priests and priestesses from far and wide were called in to bring offerings to any god that would hear them, that they might show mercy on the people surrounding this child.

But not just fear was heard amongst the many lords that served in the court of this small kingdom. They schemed, they plotted. The beauty – so they said with hushed voices, behind closed doors – could be used as a bargaining chip with the Parsians. She could be married to Osroes, the prince who would take the throne once his father passed. This would buy the lords of this kingdom safety from the expanding empire. When they walked about the castle corridors or passed the tents of their men, they would hear the whispers about the Parsians. “Immortals” they would hear. Yes, this kingdom feared the Parsians more than the wrath of the gods they abandoned to plead for forgiveness for whatever they had done to deserve such a destructive child.

 But fate has a way of toying with those subjected to her will.

 Years passed and the child grew. She strode through her chambers when she was two and recited ancient poetry by the age of five. She was not a joyous child, but she was not as cold as she would one day become. At the age of twelve she was more beautiful than anyone in court, by age fourteen she rivalled the goddess Ashi.

The generals began to grow concerned. Soon the time would come that the Parsians needed a wife for their crown prince. So far, they had remained out of the flames of the Parsian fury but it would not last long, this they all knew.

And so came an official request to have the most beautiful lady in all of the known world marry the Parsian soon-to-be king.

 ‘Open the gates! A messenger from Ectbatana approaches!’

‘Open gates!’ echoed the commander on the wall.

The messenger rode into the castle at a staggering speed.

He did not stop to tie his horse to a post outside the castle and ran inside, directly to the main hall.

‘My Lord! My Lady! Prince Osroes will personally ride here to assess whether Lady Tahameney is a worthy bride! He brings a small protective army as well as his brother; the prince Andragoras. They shall arrive within days!’

The king and queen exchanged worried looks. The reception of a Parsian army within the city walls could go wrong in a multitude of ways. However, if it meant they could avert the rage of the Parsian army it might be worth it. Fairly quickly they had concocted a plan to handle the arrival of two Parsian princes. They ordered their servants to find the most gorgeous dress and the most fragrant perfume for their daughter to wear during the banquet they would hold to receive Osroes and his brother.

Away from the throne room, a young girl – only sixteen – sat on a chair as servants buzzed around her. Two were doing her hair making sure it looked even more silken than it usually did. Two more servants were running in and out of the enormous room adjoined to this one, which held a vast collection of dresses. Jittery, they held up one after another in front of or next to the quiet princess. With impassive look on her face, she watched sceptically as the servants ran about. She wondered what type of guest would illicit such determination to make everything in the palace twice as splendorous as it had been before and even more ostentatiously glamorous. Because she was a girl, she had not received politics and diplomacy lessons. Instead she was taught the arts and other matters, all of which exclusively reserved for women. It made no sense in her mind. What sane person would challenge their military? She had seen them from the tower whilst standing next to her father when he gave encouraging speeches, emphasising the nigh insurmountable strength of their troops. Or when her brother had praised them for defeating yet another fierce enemy. The girl rolled her neck which was getting stiff while the hairdressers did their utmost to make her hair look even better than it normally did. She wondered what kind of man Osroes was for a moment before her mind returned to indifference.

‘My Lady?’

‘I’m ready. Take me to the throne room.’

 ‘Her Royal Highness, the Princess Tahameney!’

As she was announced, the massive doors to the throne room swung open and revealed the stunning girl behind them. The entire hall fell silent as she strode across the middle of the hall before sitting down next to her mother, by her father’s left hand side. As she sat, Osroes stood.

‘The stories of your beauty seem to have been more than rumour.’ He spoke. ‘Indeed your beauty rivals that of Ashi herself.’

The princess acknowledged the praise with a cold nod towards the powerful prince. As she glanced at him and his brother once more, she spotted a glint of something unidentifiable behind the eyes of Andragoras. She quickly dismissed the thoughts and ate quietly. While her parents and the princes discussed the possibility of marriage, she took the time to evaluate the princes. Osroes was a reasonably handsome man – especially when compared to his younger brother. He carried him with a grace becoming of a future-king. He was well-spoken and eloquent man and actually took the effort of thinking before speaking. The same could not be said for Andragoras who was corrected on more than one occasion by his older brother, and reprimanded at least as many times for not following etiquette. Just for a moment Tahameney was glad that she was to marry Osroes and not his obnoxious brother. Even if her parents only did it to solidify their own position in this world, the young princess was glad that it was Osroes who would serve that goal.

The prince in question stood up as he spoke to her father. ‘My lord, will we have the honour of witnessing your daughter’s dancing and musical talents tonight?’

With a flick of the king’s hand, instruments and musicians appeared from the small doorways on either side of the great hall. When they had prepared they perfectly-polished instruments which were all tuned to perfection, Tahameney rose. She gracefully strode to the middle of the hall where room was made to facilitate dance. With a cold nod, she ordered the musicians to play a piece. As she started moving, the guests grew more quiet as, one by one, they were captured by the grace of this young girl's movments. The young lady floated across the floor as though carried by the wings of angels. When the movement and her dancing stopped, a total silence fell over the hall. All the lords were baffled by the talent that this girl possessed. She made a light bow as she walked over to one of the instruments. She would recite a Parsian poem which would be suitable to the occasion – which meant one about their hero-king, Parsians sure loved their wars. She decided she would play no more than one poem, for her voice had very much the same effect on the great hall as her dancing had. After a long silence, the Parsian heir started clapping loudly – not knowing what else to do. He had no words at the ready. Hesitantly at first, the rest of the lords and ladies in the hall joined

When the young princess returned to her chair, she received a satisfied look from her parents. Once more Osroes stood up.

‘Truly your beauty and talent are without parallel. You might one day surpass the Goddess Ashi herself!’

The smallest of smiles played on Tahameney’s lips. She had this man wrapped around her finger. The safety of her parents’ kingdom would be assured.

[innerchorus]

Familial resemblance. (This image is what came to Narsus's mind in Chapter 29 when he first considers the possibility that this silver-masked man is Prince Hilmes. Hilmes looks more like Andragoras than Osroes here, maybe a visual hint at what's just been revealed? They have the same frown lines, lmao. And the hair/hairline is similar, too.)

[innerchorus]

Arslan Senki Chapter 125

I'm not going to cover the whole thing, just a few bits and pieces that are most interesting to me. My heart rate still hasn't calmed down, and the way this chapter ended is not helping! (No Zandeh yet, sadly... next time for sure!)

Losing my shit over these glimpses of TINY BABY ARSLAN and his birth father. Sad that we didn't get to see his mother too, though.

'Marzban' though, uh... I'll have to check the raw to see what it says there but I'm pretty sure in the novels it says that he rode off to battle with the rank of 100-rider captain. Honestly, Marzban feels like a totally inappropriate and way too attention-grabbing promotion for a man who needed to be killed off without anyone suspecting anything out of the ordinary.

I wonder what, if anything, will come of the 'Tahamenay's lost daughter' plotline in the manga? Will we ever find out the truth? Will it be different to the novels?

The end of the conversation between Tahamenay and Arslan felt very fufilling. Can't help but admire Arslan.

good panel GOOD PANEL

The end of this scene was slightly different to the novels, but I don't wanna drop spoilers here in case it comes up in the next chapter or so.

OKAY onto the last quarter of the chapter which is back with Hilmes and Andragoras...

What a horrific way to refer to the child he raised.

Hilmes trying so hard to rally himself after hearing all this, but when he hears Andragoras's reason for telling him all of this (which is totally on brand for Andragoras) he loses any composure he'd regained; he must sense that it's true.

I do think it's impressive that despite having the foundations of his world effectively shattered, he doesn't just let himself crumple, and his thoughts even turn to what Bahman said all those months ago, leading him to follow that line of reasoning in full and ask Andragoras who Arslan truly is.

He's cute here.

But of course Andragoras isn't prepared to answer that question, and the chapter ends with the two of them crossing blades for the first time aksdhjfshshj I am going to be an utter nervous wreck next chapter.

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Details about Hilmes not having been named crown prince (which has not been directly mentioned in the manga so far, as far as I recall, but it is an interesting tidbit of his canon backstory in the novels):

'If a king were to die, he must have a successor to take his place. Usually it was the king’s eldest male child who would continue the royal line, but as Osroes’s son was only eleven years old at this point, the ceremonies formally naming him crown prince had not yet been held. Osroes had kept from doing so on account of younger brother Andragoras and his supporters. After all, powerful enemies lay on either side of Pars, and if a mere boy of eleven were to take the throne, it would no doubt stir the ambitions of those various nations.' (Book One, Chapter 2, part iii)

This paragraph explains the situation, but it should be noted that this is from a rather early point in the story. Given where the manga has reached now, we know that it's likely not just because of pressure from Andragoras and the faction who supported him that Osroes didn't name Hilmes crown prince. Unlike Andragoras who, although he didn't care for Arslan, fully intended him to inherit the throne, Osroes raised Hilmes with what appeared to be love, yet never planned for him to succeed him or even live beyond his death.

Andragoras named Arslan crown prince in Pars Year 311, when he was just 5 years old. Osroes could surely have done the same for Hilmes even if it came with a caveat that should he die before the boy was of age, Andragoras would act as regent at first. But he doesn't ask this of Andragoras before he dies; instead, he asks him to kill Hilmes, the boy who was never going to become king.

Incidentally, I do think this (not being named crown prince) is a sore spot for Hilmes. Take a look at Chapter 39, where he infiltrates Peshawar Fortress and runs into Arslan:

Hilmes can't bear to refer to Arslan in terms other than 'Andragoras's brat', 'spawn of the usurper' etc etc. When Arslan confirms his identity by stating that he is "Arslan, Crown Prince of Pars" it's no wonder that this in particular is what Hilmes's apoplectic rage is focused on.

Also, whenever I see the bonus gag manga from Vol. 6 it makes me think of this fact.

Yeah, definitely don't call him "crown prince", Zandeh, because he never was. The thought of Zandeh ever calling Hilmes "my prince" though.