Atlantis 1: Rise of a Princess

chapter 7

The arena stands were bustling with people eager to find their seats. There were people from all areas of Atlantis. From rich to poor. All were in attendance this day.

Once everyone had found their seats The Atlantean horns sounded the royal entry. At the end of the arena the gates open up and The king's chariot enters with the king standing boldly at the reigns. His brother standing tall by his side. The chariot was being pulled by the finest of all Atlantean horses. Raised by the king's brother himself. As they entered the spectators cheered & applauded as they made their way around the arena floor. When they came to a stop in front of the stairs to the royal box a stable boy was waiting to accept the reigns as the king and his brother made their way up the stairs to their seats.

The Atlantian Horns sounded once again & the area gate swung open wide. The crowd went silent and all immediately knelt down as the princess carriage rolled in. After her carriage was fully inside the gate and the gate swung shut the crowd began singing a song that had became a traditional to her birthday melody. This was a completely unexpected occurrence for the princess. Diablo was taken aback by their singing and she waved to them all gratefully attempting to hold back the tears of joy that threatened to overtake her. As the crowd sang their song her carriage made it's way around the arena. They finished just as the carriage stopped at the royal box. When the crowd completed the song everyone went wild in cheering as Diablo made her way up the stairs to her father's open arms. She melted into her father's loving arms and her hugged her lovingly. "How am I doing on surprises so far?" he asked her with a smile on his face. Still enjoying her father's warm embrace she looked up into his eyes and said "Best birthday ever daddy." He smiled and giggled a bit and told her boldly "I'm not finished with you yet." "I can hardly wait to see what else you have up your sleeve." she said gleefully as she took her seat.

(page 60)

Next came the call for the opening entertainers performance. The gates opened and a group of men came out flipping and bouncing around in an endless array of acrobatics. There were some with others standing on their shoulders and as the were running around the ones they carried juggled balls. There were jokers who played tricks on other jokers and danced merrily around. The kings dancers danced in a line weaving their way in and out of the others.

From out of nowhere right in the middle of the entertainers a lightning bolt struck the ground. It was a blinding flash that caused everyone to jump in spite of themselves. When the light faded from the bolt Tural Ravenclaw stood where the bolt had struck. He drew his arms back and then thrust them forward and then up clapping his hands once as they moved upwards. Beams of light shot up out of his hands into the sky. As the beams went up Tural began moving his arms rhythmically bending the beams of light back and forth to his will. Everyone watched as the beams folded and bent. Then the beams started to form pictures as they mixed with clouds and stars. The first was of the princess. She was a baby in her mother's arms with her father standing proudly alongside. Next came a picture of the princess as a little girl running through the castle with her father giving chase. Both smiling as they ran. Next came the princess in her early teenage years. She was reading a scroll and seemed so intense into what she read. Then came a final picture of the princess standing boldly but in this picture she was no longer a princess. She was a queen Standing in front of the castle with children playing at her feet. As Diablo looked into the eyes of the queen in the picture she felt as though the queen in the picture was staring back into her eyes as well and somehow there was an understanding between them. The picture faded into an array of fireworks causing the crowd to go crazy with applause.

(page 61)

Jerl was down in the gladiators area of the arena awaiting the call for the combatants parade. It had been the better part of twenty years since he had last been in a fight in the arena. His gladiator days had been long over and as he looked at himself in the reflection of his shield he wondered if he was truly up for this fight ahead. There were seven others who had entered besides himself. Seven more lives that would see their end upon his blade. He closed his eyes and took in a deep breath to still himself inside.