Meekah was the King of the Greatlings, making him more powerful than any single creature in the world. Everything took his word as the final judgment; he was all-powerful, even if he had yet to use that power for any real purpose. Nira had no choice; she had to acknowledge his status in some way, so she always made sure it was the smallest way possible.
She stood a little taller as she continued; not making eye contact with Meekah or Ahriana at any point. Though it was a solid argument Ahriana had made, Nira had never been one to just nod and say well stated, I was wrong. In fact Ahriana was nearly certain, the word wrong and I had never been uttered in any sort of order from Nira's mouth.
"Ahriana, that is nothing more than an excuse for your behavior, a very poor one. I know perfectly well you put little faith in the prophecy; or the words it has to say in regards to your future. You spend an inordinate amount of time trying to circumvent its words. Warrior or not, you will one day be Queen and need to act appropriately, or risk further endangering the noble name of this house. There are expectations that you will adhere too or I will take matters under my own control and direction."
Someone else's mother would have stopped right there if not before. Someone else's mother would not have wished to inflict emotional damage on their daughter. However this was Nira and Ahriana had the pleasure of calling her mother.
"What if you do have a match as the prophecy says and one day he hears these stories what will he think? I would not even deign to request such a man ignore such a sullied bonded." Nira kept her eyes averted from Ahriana as she spoke. Meekah just kept watching her, a low rumble emitting from his chest that vibrated through the floor.
Nira actually believed that Ahriana might care what some man, who strolled into her life, after causing so much pain by his sheer absence, might possibly think if he ever did arrive. Ahriana was not going to wait for a man who may or may not exist. She would not live her life waiting on a dream. It was just plain absurd, a feeling which she had shared with both her parents multiple times through the years of failed ceremonies.
Ahriana sighed, reminding herself that Nira did indeed have a vast power, and was possibly willing to use it on Ahriana, if she was pushed. It had become a considerable worry in recent years. Ahriana thought carefully, said the words in her own mind first, giving Meekah the chance to guide her, and then carefully controlled her voice.
"Mother, if I do have a bonded then what will he care? If he does care then he is not my bonded now is he? Is this person not supposed to be the match for THE WARRIOR and THE POWER BEARER? If that is the case he will already know the fact that I am no pampered Princess." Though Ahriana had tried to control the pitch and edge to her voice she was still a little snappy by the time she finished speaking.
Anger flashed quickly across the sharp defined plains of Queen Nira's face. Her eyes grew darker, it was an odd sight, and one Ahriana though accustomed too, was always slightly disturbed by. It meant she had won this argument, which was a victory no matter how dark the Queens eyes grew.
A small half smile formed on Ahriana's sculpted face, a glitter in her green jeweled eyes. Nira's jaw tightened as she viewed the result of her attempt to put fear in her stubborn daughter. She saw the contrast in their features, knew that age had begun to pull at hers, while making Ahriana all the more beautiful, jealousy always made her emotions slip.
It took immense effort on the part of Queen Nira to speak with Ahriana , but it was nothing compared to the monumental amount of control and careful thought it took on Ahriana's part, with her quick temper, and youth her mouth often spoke before asking her mind if she should. Nira's need to crawl as far under Ahriana's skin as possible, always goaded the situation further than necessary. Meekah stood, feeling the heightened emotions and sensing magic electrify the air.
Ahriana could not converse with the Queen as if Nira was Kynzi or Fairsh. She had practiced all her life, but it still grated her nerves, which inflamed her temper, which led to slips of the tongue that caused Nira to fly off into rages.
Nira fed the anger that tightened her jaw and brought a throbbing vein out in her neck, she began to shout and pace in front of Ahriana gesturing wildly. Anger fed her power, and her eyes turned nearly black.
"Be rational Ahriana; that man is in love with you. Can you not see that? Surely you know that no man, no matter how kind and lonely, will spend that much time with a woman without either having emotions or starting to develop them. For you to ignore that such a man as he might consider the idea of having you as a bride is irresponsible. In no world, fantasy or dream will I allow my daughter to marry such a creature as Fairsh. No rank, no prospects for title, and his family name is not even in the book of lords."
She was snapping and snarling at Ahriana like a feral dog. All she lacked was the foam at her mouth and the image would have been complete. Ahriana half expected bolts of energy to come flying out of her wide darting eyes. She had said all of this before, she had said it many times before in fact, none of it had ever mattered. King Kieven counted Fairsh as one of his most promising soldiers; he was on the path to be General of Imerald.
Ahriana knew better than to strike her mother, one did not strike their mother, no matter if that mother was someone as completely horrible as Nira. Even if Ahriana had not been royalty, it was an action you did not take against your mother. Even knowing that, and mostly agreeing with such societal rules, there were days and repeated moments in those days that Ahriana had to use all of her personal will power to keep herself from striking Nira, because she was commonly saying simply horrible things that would cause the most peaceful of beings to hit her. Who believed such things? Why would anyone take the time and effort to form such absurd beliefs? Those questions would never be answered by anyone who hated anything illogically.
"Why would Fairsh have any feelings for me at all? He has been a friend to me through my whole life, why would he suddenly decide friendship was not enough? You can ask Meekah if you do not believe me, Fairsh is simply a friend and no more. Once again this conversation is some fantasy you have created, mother."