Chapter Text
The Holy Knights of the Goddess Hathor, the Order of the Lioness, is an order of female knights sworn to protect and serve women. They take no husbands and are sworn to celibacy and chastity. The order often acts as protectors and avengers, defending women and dispensing justice to criminals who have wronged a woman in one way or another. This made them popular as guardians and protectors of queens and princesses.
Aurelia vox Flamma stood at attention in her heavy plate armor, a perfect statue for a perfect day. Today she was sworn to the Princess Oleander. To be sworn to a noble lady was a great honor in the Order. She would serve the lady for the rest of her life, unwaveringly loyal. The Goddess smiled upon such unions.
The Princess walked down the aisle of the church in a beautiful white dress. Rays of light shone upon her as if she was the Goddess herself. In traditional fashion she would reach the altar and beseech the Goddess for a protector, offering a bundle of lily’s tied with a red ribbon. Aurelia would step forward and take the princesses hand, swear the oath. The princess would take another ribbon, cut from the same cloth as the first, and gift it to the knight. The knight then takes her own ribbon (usually used to tie up her hair) and gift it to the Princess. Some princesses have taken to tying up their own hair with the ribbon, which the Lady Oleander seems to have done.
Usually these assignments were given by the church to older knights as a sort of retirement. Not so in this case. The Queendom of Oleander was in turmoil, the Queen was dead, and the princess was not yet eighteen. As they had a good relationship with the church, Aurelia had been assigned the task of seeing the princess come through the turmoil safe.
Princess Oleander herself was a pretty girl with long, dirty blonde hair. She was small compared to the massive figure of Aurelia in her armor, almost like a child for a girl of sixteen. She held herself well however, with the proper dignity of a Princess.
Aurelia took her hand and knelt. The priestess read off the oath of fealty.
“Do you, Aurelia vox Flamma, swear to protect and serve the Princess Vivian Oleander in the name of the Goddess?”
“Yes, I swear to protect and serve the Princess Vivian Oleander in the name of the Goddess Hathor.” Aurelia said.
The priestess turned to the princess. “And do you, Princess Vivian Oleander, swear to support and comfort our Knight of the Goddess, Aurelia vox Flamma?”
“I do.” The princess said. “I swear to support and comfort the Knight of the Goddess, Aurelia vox Flamma.”
The priestess nodded. “The Goddess accepts your vows, you may exchange ribbons.”
The Princess took her ribbon from her hair as Aurelia took hers. Normally you would exchange them, but the princess had other ideas. She reached around Aurelia’s neck and took her hair in her hands, replacing the ribbon with hers. Aurelia raised an eyebrow at her and gestured with her ribbon. The princess nodded and Aurelia reached around to do the same for her. Honestly it was a bad knot, but Aurelia thought the Goddess would approve of the gesture. The officiating priestess seemed to be smiling at least.
“Rise, Knight Flamma, and may the Goddess be with you.”
“And also with you, Abbess Theodora.” Aurelia held her hand to her chest and bowed to her superior, then turned to take the princesses hand. The princess squeezed it and smiled up at Aurelia. She seemed happy as well. Good, Aurelia thought. The girl had just lost her mother. Aurelia hoped to be a guiding light for her.
Together, hand in hand, they walked down the aisle while celebratory hymns were sung by the choir. Aurelia scanned the pews ranks to see the nobility who had come. It was a minor ceremony in the scale of things, so attendance wasn't required, but any follower of Hathor would never miss this if they had the chance to come. There were the loyal houses of course. House Hachi, House D’lanor, House Au Lait, and of course the princesses own House Oleander.
On the opposite side were the less loyal houses. House Sandoval, House Nagai, House Pito, all were currently aligned against the royal house. In particular she noted the Lady Dinah Sandoval, who stood next to another woman clad in knightly armor. The knight bore the crest of a rival Order to her own, the Order of the Adder. Where her order of the Lioness focused on protecting, the Adder focused on avenging, so it was rare to see one in service of a Lady.
One to watch out for. Aurelia noted.
Lady Sandoval herself was set to inherit the Duchy of Sandoval soon, as her own mother, the Duchess had died the year prior. The lady glared at the princess as they passed. No doubt she thought that poor Oleander had something to do with it, which caused this conflict.
We live in interesting times. Aurelia thought.
The last House in the Queendom sat in the back, away from the others. House Herbert. Firmly neutral in the current feud, though they have pledged to side against “whoever started conflict first” in the event of a civil war. Their army was significant enough to keep things simmering for a bit longer. She caught the eye of the Lady France Herbert, who nodded in respect. Her own Knight, Vanessa Dinarte, was a member of Aurelia’s order. That reassured Aurelia slightly.
Finally they exited the cathedral, where a carriage waited for them. Aurelia opened the door for her new lady, and she stepped in. Aurelia followed, sitting across from her.
“So,” The princess began, “what do you think?”
Aurelia smiled. “You're quite beautiful in that dress.”
Princess Oleander flushed and pouted. “Of the other houses! Not of me…”
The knight sighed, while still smiling. “Well, Sandoval will be trouble. The Order of the Adder is… less noble than my own order. I suspect they will try to play dirty. Bait you into attacking, or frame things in such a way that makes it seem like you attacked first.”
“And what if I want to attack first?” The princess asked, shocking Aurelia.
“I… would… advise against that.” Aurelia said, choosing her words carefully. “You have my support, but don't underestimate House Herbert. My affiliation with the Order will not stop them from upholding their vow.”
“Bah!” The princess spat. “Traitors. If House Herbert really wanted peace they would side with me and be done with it. It might not prevent conflict, but it would make it decisive.”
The carriage jostled them as they rode. Aurelia did not expect the princess to be so aggressive, or tactically versed.
Weren't princesses supposed to be weak little things in need of saving? Aurelia though. Perhaps I've read too many stories…
The princess continued. “I think we should attack House Herbert first. If we take them by surprise we can deal a large enough blow that even if they survive, they will provide little advantage to the enemy.”
The princesses' thinking was sound, but went against everything Aurelia believed in. What of chivalry? What of honor? “Fighting another of my own order…” She muttered.
“I don't need you for this.” Princess Oleander said bluntly. “I just need to convince my generals and the other houses. This ceremony was to secure my relationship with the church.”
“A relationship that you might hurt by attacking a party who claims to be for peace.” Aurelia pointed out, not liking her dismissive tone when it came to the church.
Princess Oleander ignored that. “I don't need you, but I want you.”
The princess leaned forward placing her hands on Aurelia’s armored legs. She smiled. “I want my loyal knight, who protects me and defeats my enemies.” She stared into Aurelia's eyes, and then lifted a hand, one finger under the Knight's chin.
“Do you think you can be that for me?”
Aurelia suddenly found the sixteen year old girl intimidating. Her heart raced, and the years of reading about knights who served their princesses like loyal dogs came to mind. A desire she thought she had long suppressed in favor of devotion to the Goddess.
What she proposes is tactically sound. Aurelia reasoned. What harm could come of obeying her?I just made my vow! This is no time to have doubt!
She offered a silent prayer to the Goddess, and gave her answer. “Very well. I will help you.”