Champions Vol. 02

"I pretend to be angry with him because it is what he wants. He believes that it means his efforts are working. In truth, as annoying as his actions can sometimes be, he does make eternity interesting."

Laurena was not sure how much of that anger had really been false, but she could certainly agree with the spirit of Nefertari's last statement. An eternity with Tlacelel would be interest.

"From what I have witnessed so far I see that you are enduring the trials well," the spirit of the Fallen Champion continued. "I know that sharing these memories can be difficult, but simply discussing these issues is not enough. You must experience them, as we have, so that the lessons you learn here linger beyond these walls.

"My beginning as a Champion was very different than yours. I was the second Champion of Eros, although in my land he is called Min. After serving the God of Love for over six centuries, his first Champion, Amyntas, asked to retire. After so much time he wanted to live out a peaceful life, with a wife and children. So Eros searched for his replacement, and found me. I learned how to be a Champion from my predecessor. Unfortunately, Amyntas was a demanding teacher," she said with a frown, "and I rebelled from some of his instruction the moment I was free of his oversight.

"I made mistakes, many of them I could have avoided if only I had trusted my teacher and put aside my own stubbornness," she continued with a sigh. "I will only share one of them with you, because some of them you will never make, and some you will make no matter what you learn from my experiences."

Laurena wanted to protest that she would never willingly repeat in her own life the actions she had experienced in the shared memories. But the spirit of Nefertari fixed her with a hard stare, and her protests died unvoiced.

Nefertari floated forward, and reached a spectral hand toward Laurena's temple. "So we will journey together into my memories, and relive a mistake that I truly hope you will never make. Are you ready for the Trial of Jealousy?"

Laurena jumped at Nefertari's question, and an image of David and Sapphire lying together without her flashed through her mind. Unlike the other trials, she had a sneaking suspicion of how this one would go; and she was absolutely not ready.

Closing her eyes, Laurena took a steadying breath. She had to do this, no matter how painful it would be. Calmer, she opened her eyes and replied, "Yes."

Nefertari touched her fingers to Laurena's temple lightly, and just like before the light flashed...

* * *

As the memory began She was seated at a great table. She did not bother to look at herself, knowing that She was seeing this memory through the eyes of Nefertari. Around her were the royalty of the land as well as honored dignitaries from adjacent nations. It was a gathering of peace, and the signing of a treaty of cooperation under the eyes of Min. She was there to witness the act, and confer his blessing on the agreement. She was also lonely.

As strange as it may sound, the Champion of Min sat in a great hall surrounded by people and felt well and truly alone. She had been a Champion for over a century now, and the friends and companions that had followed her in the early day had either left to have families, left to lead regions in trouble, or simply gotten too old to continue following her. Three times now She had had to watch men and women that were as close as family leave her, and each time they took a part of her heart with them. She still had friends, but they were men and women too young to remember the world as it once was, and they would leave her as well someday.

Looking across the hall She saw a man and woman leaning towards one another. The man's back was to Her, but the woman was obviously beautiful, and the loving smile on her face as she talked with the protector of her heart was like a knife in Her own soul. Would She ever find something like that? Even if She did, how long could it last? Twenty years? Sixty? Then She would be alone again, and the pain of it would be so much greater having had such love only to lose it.

Noticing Her attention, the woman said something to the man, and he turned his head to look at the Champion.

My god! Her heart leapt as She looked into his eyes. He was Perfect!

The man bowed his head in respect towards Her, and She could not help herself. She motioned for him to come to Her. She must know more about this man.

He turned to his companion, but She could not hear what was said because the hall was noisy and they were far away. Then the pair of them rose from their seats and approached Her.

Damn, She did not want the other woman there, She only wanted to talk to him.

As the man walked over She noted that his build was larger than the average man of the region, but he was not bulky or brawny and he moved with limber grace. His face was regal, and his eyes glittered with intelligence. He was also the most handsome man She had ever seen.

"It is a pleasure to meet you, Champion." When he spoke his voice was deep and soothing, like the rumble of the storm clouds that brought life-giving rain in Her homeland. It reached deep into Her soul and tugged at desires long forgotten.

"My name is Akhenaton, this is my future wife Nefertiti," the man continued, introducing the woman with him.

"It is a pleasure to meet you Akhenaton and Nefertiti," She replied in Nefertari's voice. Damn that name. Ever since She had become Min's Champion the people of the Amandure had begun naming their children after Her. Nefertiti was just one of the many variations of that trend. It made Her feel old, something that She very much did not want to feel at this moment.

"What brings you to the celebration?" She asked politely, hiding Her true feelings.

"My father," he replied, pointing toward one of the Amanduran dignitaries who had traveled in for the signing, "insisted I come along to learn more of our neighbors. When we learned that you would be here as well Nefertiti begged me to bring her, in the hopes that she could meet her namesake."

Akhenaton smiled at his fiancée, who blushed in embarrassment. The girl was obviously overcome by the chance to me 'the Great Champion'. Pushing down Her pique, She politely asked, "Is it everything you expected Nefertiti?"

"Oh no, Champion," the young woman replied quickly. "You are so much more beautiful and regal than I expected. I cannot believe that I share anything with someone like you, even if it is only part of a name."

She chuckled. The girl at least recognized her betters, which was something.

"What do you do in your homeland, Akhenaton?" She asked, steering the conversation back to the object of Her desires.

"I am training to become the next ambassador," he explained proudly. "In a few more years my father will retire and I will replace him."

"Ah, diplomacy. An endeavor I prefer far more than conflict," She said leadingly.

"So I have heard, Champion," Akhenaton replied respectfully. "Today we celebrate your successful negotiation of a lasting peace between my nation and our neighbors. I have heard that it was a difficult task."

"Not as difficult as some have made it out to be," She offered with the expected level of humility. "The trick is always to start with what is shared, not what divides, and work from there," She explained mysteriously, hoping he would ask for more.

"If it is not too forward, perhaps we could continue this discussion later," Akhenaton suggested. "I am certain you have many duties tonight, that I would not want to keep you from. My party will remain in the city for the next week if you can spare the time and desire to school me in your ways of negotiation."

She smiled happily. For this man She had plenty of 'desire' to spare, and She would like nothing more than to 'school' him, about many things.

"I believe I would enjoy that," She replied.

The memory faded as the pair bid good evening to her...

"That is absolutely genius!" Akhenaton's voice expounded as the next memory began. She was seated beside him on a bench, and they were in a great outdoor garden. She felt a great swell of pride as this young man She felt so strongly for complimented Her intelligence. It was rare that anyone ever understood Her way of thinking about problems, let alone appreciated them. Yet Akhenaton understood Her completely. He was the first man in over a century that was able to keep up with Her thoughts, and he could even challenge Her with his questioning mind.

After their first meeting She had spent every afternoon with him in the garden, discussing politics. The first two days his bride-to-be accompanied him, but soon grew bored of their talk. The next day he had shown up alone, and She had rejoiced in not having to share his company. She had even convinced him to remain in the city another week, so that they could continue his 'education' in negotiation.

"Thank you, Akhenaton," She replied with a smile. "But if you will permit me I wish to change the subject for a moment."

"I am your servant and student as always, Nefertari," he replied.

The sound of Her name on his lips made Her shudder with desire. She had insisted he dispense with Her formal title and use Her name when it was just them. It had been nearly a century since any man had been permitted such familiarity, and the thought that Akhenaton alone now possessed that part of Her caused Her heart to swell.

"I wish to know why you have not attended worship services," She asked him teasingly.

"Uh...um...err," he stammered.

"There is no judgment here, Akhenaton," She assured him. "I just wished to know why I have not seen you there."

Taking a deep breath, he sighed and answered Her, "It is Nefertiti. She does not want us to attend services here. She says she is not comfortable doing so with strangers in a foreign city."

Nefertari wanted to smile at that answer, but kept a mask of sympathy on Her face. It was time to apply Her skills.

"I can understand her discomfort. It is often hard to be away from home, and this city is the capital of what was once your nation's enemy," She began. "But you are the son of the ambassador, and will one day be ambassador yourself. The time you spend with me during the day is noted by the royalty here, and it speaks very well of your character in their view. But your absence from worship has also been noted, and that is beginning to cause concern among them. You are a representative of your nation, and your actions, no matter how inconsequential they may appear, are of great import at a time like this. Rumors are beginning to spread which suggest less than noble reasons for your lack of attendance. I urge you to convince Nefertiti to change her mind, before your absence from worship causes irreparable harm."

Akhenaton lowered his head in shame. "I did not realize the implication that might be drawn by my absence, Champion," resorting to Her title in his distress. "I apologize for any strain this has put on you, and I promise that I will be there tonight, with or without Nefertiti."

She reached out Her hand and cupped his chin, raising it until he was looking into Her eyes. She released the restraints on Her smile, allowing Akhenaton to mistake its true meaning. "Mistakes happen my student, it is part of life. The important part is that they are learned from."

Reassured by Her smile and gentle touch, the man She desired more than anything else in the world smiled back. Everything was going according to Her plan...

"You have to help me," Akhenaton's frantic voice heralded the start of the next memory.

"What is wrong?" She asked calmly.

"It is Nefertiti," he explained. "She completely misunderstood your joining us for the Blessing. I tried to explain to her that is was a political move, and that you were merely showing that I had not lost favor with Min for my absence from worship; but she refused to listen. She said that you were trying to seduce me, and that I was pretending that I could not see it because I wanted it to happen."

"That is terrible," She replied compassionately, hiding Her secret joy at the success of Her ploy. She was so close to Her goal, it would only take a little more work to ensure success.

"Bring her to speak to me. I will explain everything to her and she will see the error of her thoughts," She continued.

"I will try," Akhenaton replied gratefully, "but she is very angry, and is threatening to leave and return home without me."

"I will remain here, and wait for her," She promised.

Akhenaton hurried from the room, and the moment he was out of sight a wide grin spread across Her face. It would only take a little more work to drive the silly little girl away. Then he would be all Hers...

"She has died," Akhenaton wailed. The feeling of supreme satisfaction of the last memory was at odds with the confusion She felt from Nefertari in this new one.

"What happened?" She demanded. She was sitting in Her lavishly appointed guest quarters at the palace, and it was late in the night.

"Nefertiti, she took a horse and rode for home alone," Akhenaton explained through his sobs. "She was angry with me, and when she heard that I had come to see you she assumed the worst. She left everything in our rooms and rode for home with naught but the clothes on her back. The city guards helped me search for her, and we found her on the road. Her horse was nearby with a broken leg. Her neck was broken. They think she was thrown when the horse stumbled."

"I am so sorry, Akhenaton. She was a lovely young woman and would have made an excellent bride," She said compassionately, moving to embrace the sobbing man. As he accepted Her comforting touch, She crowed in glorious triumph inside. This was even better than she could have imagined! Now there was nothing standing in her way...

"She was right!" Akhenaton's rage filled scream began the next memory. "You were trying to seduce me! And fool that I was I could not see it. Why would you do such a thing!?"

She was angry, defensive, and scared of losing him. She had finally admitted Her feelings to the man She loved, and his response had surprised Her. Nowhere in Her plans had She expected him to reject Her.

"I love you, Akhenaton," She yelled back. "I have loved you since the first time I saw you. But I never tried to come between you and Nefertiti. That was a figment of her mind. She was young and insecure, trying to compare herself to the Champion of Min. It was ridiculous. I would have kept my feelings silent forever if she had not acted so stupidly."

"Do not dare to blame her!" he raged, spittle flying from his lips. "She was a pure, kind, and honest soul, who wanted nothing more than a husband who loved her. Instead she got me, an idiot that allowed himself to be seduced from her by a master manipulator. Hear me well, Champion, I forsake you. I forsake everything about you. I forsake your god, and your love, and your politics. You will never see me again after this day, but know that I will spend every moment from now until the end of my life hating you, and grieving for the love that I lost."

Turning, Akhenaton strode angrily towards the door, walking away from Her forever.

No! He could not leave Her!

Angrily She lashed out with Her magic, trying to close the heavy doors to Her guest wing of the palace before he could leave. But She was too distraught, and lacked control. She had not used magic for more than cleansing in decades. She missed the doors, and instead struck Her love, hurling him forward with great force. Too great a force. He flailed in the air and his head struck a pillar outside with a resounding crack.

Gasping in shock, She rushed to him, summoning the strongest healing spell She knew. There was still time. She could still heal him, and then convince him to stay. All was not lost. But as She reached him She knew it was too late. His chest was on the ground, but his eyes -- eyes that had once sparkled with intelligence and happiness when they looked upon Her -- were now dull, staring up at her lifelessly...

* * *

Laurena recoiled from Nefertari the moment she returned from the memory. How? How could a Champion of Eros do something like that? How could she have continued to be a Champion? How could Eros not have immediately fired her and exiled her in disgrace. It was unfathomable.

The spirit of Nefertari sighed. She seemed accepting of Laurena's reaction.

"You are the first person that I have ever shared that memory with," she said. "Eros nearly stripped me of my position after that. Instead I spent the next five centuries struggling to atone for it. I died in service to our god, but I did not do it for him. I sacrificed myself in the hopes that I might somehow redeem that single tragic mistake."

Laurena shook her head angrily. How could Nefertari think that this memory was necessary? Yes, she had feelings for David, but she knew that he and Sapphire loved one another. She had accepted that. There was no way that she would ever think like Nefertari. Ever.

"I can see why you would never share that memory with another," Laurena replied acidly, "but I question why you would show it to me. I am nothing like you. I would never do what you did."

"Really?" the spirit of Nefertari replied. "So you are certain that you would never manipulate someone to get what you thought you deserved?"

"No, I..." but the denial died on her lips. Laurena had manipulated people to get her way. She had done it most of her life. It was not until she tried and failed with David that she realized the cost of such actions. Even afterwards, she continued to try, even attempting to enlist Sapphire in her machinations. If not for Exitibus, she might have tried again. But, after the pair had saved her life, she could not. No matter how much she had wanted David for herself, she knew then she was unworthy of him.

But was she? She was a Champion now, like him; and Sapphire was a mortal. A Dracian of course, with their longer life spans, but she was still mortal. One day she would die, and Laurena and David would still be here, having aged not at all. It was then that Laurena realized she had not given up on David; she was merely biding her time. She still wanted him; she was just waiting her turn.

Seeing the realization on Laurena's face, Nefertari nodded in recognition. That was the lesson she had tried to impart.

"Now you see. You gain much by being a Champion, but you also lose much as well. You must learn to let go, and not cling too tightly to what you cannot have. Your belief in yourself is strong, perhaps too strong. No matter how well you think of yourself, you must understand that you are not entitled to take what others have. Their love is their own. If they choose to share it with you it is a gift, not a right."