"How do you know this, Arianah?" Ophelia asked, her elemental stones laying dormant. "Have any one of them called us... called you a heretic?" She was feeling defensive for her friend, knowing Alona to be polite as she could to those who were ignorant to her ways. "Your mind has been opened to so much noise now that you are a follower of Elyria. I know the feeling, it was hard to cope with sometimes. You need to close your mind to others’, even though I know it’s difficult to." She said directly at Arianah, the mare’s unique way of knowing so much about the world going on around them something that would end up bringing them closer to war with the star children than Ophelia would like - especially since she didn’t know what side she would be on. "It is easy for us to judge both ways, but we must refrain if we want to rebuild our home. On your ventures away from Hoof Prince, did you not run into others who found your beliefs strange? "
"If you turn your back on those unlike you, unlike us, we run the chance of this kingdom falling apart further than it already is." Pausing, Ophelia looking at Alona with the greatest apology written on her face. "The elements, our reliance on them, it’s appalling. It’s no wonder Courant used her powers against us." Ophelia added darkly, shaking her head slightly. Winter had set in upon them, the cold in the air signifying something deeper than she could put a hoof on. Snow had started falling softly, the flakes tiny and insignificant. "I told you, Arianah, that I would hold your spot of Queen safe until you returned, which you have. But I feel my time in the Silver Lakes has come to an end if your opinion of the Star Children and others who are not like us cannot change. Lately, I find myself like them - believing in their ways more than these damn elemental stones that attach to us like tumors."
Perhaps it was blasphemy for someone so heavily involved in her religion, to be the guardian of a temple, to be thinking such things. She was, somehow, Galadriel’s daughter but she also was a daughter of the stars. Her history was something she could not ignore, the only mortal to be taken as a lover of the gods since Rapier and no one could deny her almost goddess-like reputation. Opehlia’s good friend, Tia, had achieved Goddess status by obtaining Immortality, Magic, and all of her elements. How could Ophelia hold faith in mere mortals with elevated powers?
Ophelia
These violent delights have violent ends and in their triumph die
Like fire and powder which is as they kiss, consume.
|