A Jewel in the care of a Queen of Beasts.

[Thalia Rist]

[member="Quietus"]

Thalia's time thus far at the citadel was a solitary one, her body not moving from the room she stayed in, she had not eaten much in that time and even now sat with food untouched before her. She ran her eyes over to the wall and started to stare at it as she had the days before, replaying that night, that day. Her mind simply absorbed in staring at the death of her father and now her mother before her eyes. Even when she had been taken and delivered to Beastia, the woman she still idolized to a point from the stories she had been told. It was like a part of her was gone and she didn't know what to do.

She no longer was there for her people, instead some puppet was on Onderon's throne so the Sith could use her people like a slave labor force and she knew sooner or later they would simply become sacrificial lambs to the slaughter for the dark powers they needed. It caused her to cry many nights. Not out of her own place, not out of what would happen to others, but rather that the world she knew was gone and probably would change for good if she ever returned. She didn't even understand the point of having her brought to this place, why did Beastia care if she was alive, what was the point. She wanted to ask but she still couldn't even bring herself to move from the place she still sat as her eyes died down from what life they had during those thoughts.

 

[Quietus]

Give her time. They said.

Let her grieve. They told her.

She's nothing like you. She's only a pup that's just been orphaned. They explained.

A week had passed with no sign of the once-Princess of Iziz. No hint of her even leaving her room. The servants reported little movement and often brought back trays full of cold food. Quietus was not known for her patience, but she had tried her best for this little girl. Made herself busy with preparations for Scarside Ridge. Visited the tribes nearest Iziz to explain new agreements with the Sith. Even went to far as to have what could be salvaged of the Princess' things brought from the palace to the citadel in an effort to help her acclimate.

No dice.

"I should probably accompany you." Volden was hot on her heels after learning that a secondary tray of untouched food had left the room today, sending the Beastia into a seething fury he would not wish upon anyone.

"You can't talk to her like this, you'll knock the thing out. She's nothing but a wisp - not even Evelyn Dorn status," he was having to trot to keep up with her as she stalked down the hall and up the central spiral staircase, "perhaps I should go instead."

She didn't stop, didn't bother to heed his words. Up, up, up the stairs, deliberate stride after stride, the air was electric with perceived offense. Down the hall then, no sound but the words of Volden persisting after her. Why he was attempting to stand up for the girl she could not even fathom, but in all her years of raising the upstarts of the jungles Quietus had no sense for such a spoilt child as this. No gratitude. Only disdain for a life saved from a very possible torturous end at the hands of the Sith. She wouldn't stand for it, not at her expense.

[member="Thalia Rist"] would absolutely sense her coming - an impending doom in the form of a beastly fount of power. The door opened with a snap and closed so forcefully in Volden's face the walls shuddered and he stumbled backwards.

"Thalia!" the man called through the door, "Tha-hrk-"

A face of chiseled stone looked across the room at the sulking figure, mental influence extended back to silence her associate from the encounter.

If you insist on languishing away like this, her voice split into the girl's thoughts unheeded, the telepathic tone carrying with it the weight of the mantle the woman bore, then you can finish your life off back under the care of the Sith.

 

[Thalia Rist]

[member="Quietus"]

She had felt the woman coming for a while yet she did not expect what she felt the moment that door opened. She had been beside herself, thinking for the last few hours on how to make the woman who had destroyed everything could pay. She would make sure that the woman paid some how, when she did not know. Her eyes were more focused now on that end point than ever and in a moment all her planning in her head evaporated with the appearance of Quietus.

Her body had been strong for the moments that Quietus was there, standing, before the words would tear into her mind. She may not be eating but her stress kept her from being too hungry. She was significantly thinner, not so much so that she looked like a skeleton but she was borderline in danger from the point that she was at. Her eyes started to lose their light though the moment the words hit her mind and for a moment fear touched her and she stared before a faint flicker returned and she spoke.

"I want her dead." She turned her head away as her body shook. She knew it was a childish wanting, that revenge was simply stupid especially against that woman. The Sith ruled this planet now, they ruled Iziz. They hold her own people hostage with a puppet all because of the damned republic using her home as a capital. Every one of those thoughts brought forth a different feeling. Fear, despair, failure, anger, hate, and a number of other feelings she could not even name.

 

[Quietus]

The Beastia's narrowed gaze went dangerously thinner at the young woman's retort but it grew something perhaps a level worse in her expression: mirth. A slow, beastial grin cracked across her face bearing two rows of lethal fangs for the once-Princess to see. So perhaps there was some fire in this sad little whelp after all - remarkable given her feeble existence otherwise. A girl who couldn't even venture outside for fear of fainting now hoping to kill a Sith Master.

Or have a Sith Master killed, Quietus thought with a derisive snort that quickly whisked away her grin.

Stoic in her silence, Beastia pointed to the small table nearby where [member="Thalia Rist"]'s latest meal sat going cold.

Sit down, the command issued to Thalia's thoughts forcefully, and eat.

"Do as she says Thalia," Volden's muffled voice through the door, "it's for your own good!"

 

[Thalia Rist]

Thalia found the woman's gaze more oppressive with every new second, but not of one that she expected as the grin appeared. It carved further into her though, with that grin that seemed to peel back her skin and expose her organs to the woman. All she could think of was how long till her body did kill over and as her eyes went to the food she felt nothing. It was empty, no hunger, no longing to eat. The only thing she honestly and truly felt was betrayal and anger but not at the woman who stood there... only confusion at her.

Why did she do all this, what was the point of for what she could understand as grooming and caring. Beastia had no reason to see Thalia survive this but here she was, insisting that Thalia eat in person. Her shoulders fell with her head as it nodded. Her body seemed to follow the motion of her head as it lowered itself into the seat but before she ate, the question escaped her thoughts and left her lips. "Why do you care for my living... i don't understand why you for what i can tell saved my life."

[member="Quietus"]

 

[Quietus]

Eat. The insistent command, sharp and prickly in the mind as though an intangible cactus had been used, or so Evelynn Dorn once describe it right before being tossed over a cliff several years ago. Beastia waited with ever waning patience for Thalia to do as told, still as a statue until the first bit of food lifted to lips.

Several hundred years ago I created the Irontown Treaty with the then ruling King and Queen. While you are familiar with the public arrangement there was an agreement made in private that was not placed on record.

The statue moved finally, clamping a hand upon the back of a nearby chair and pulling it from the table. Quietus took a seat across from the girl, scrutinizing the manner in which she picked at the food. An invisible hand of the Force went forward and pushed the tray towards her with further insistence, eyes narrowing again with a suggestive raise of a brow. As if to say you eat, I talk. Again she waited, silent until another bite was taken.

There is a reason your precious city was not overrun by the Beast Tribes all those centuries ago. A reason you had a throne to sit your pretty little rear on. The same reason you are alive today and not in the clutches of the Sith. Balance. Do not suffer any delusion that I hold some fondness for you or your family - what I do is what must be done for the continued prosperity and survival of my people and their culture.

Another pause, Quietus gave the food and the girl a pointed look. She waited for another bite.

The agreement between myself and the monarchy was for the sake of all people of Onderon. All of your reigning ancestors bent the knee to me and vowed to follow my lead in times of duress, to acquiesce to any command given, and in return they maintained the public facade of being in control of Iziz with the knowledge that a promise of immunity from the Clans would keep them and their city safe.

The woman leaned forward, green eyes the color of the heathen jungles boring into the Princess unblinkingly.

Onderon has been mine long since before you were even a wish, hope, or a dream of your parents.

And then the stare relented as the woman eased back into her seat, head tilting to one side in the tune of bone and wooden ornaments clinking within the long tendrils of wheaten hair.

So why do you suppose I took you in, then, Princess, instead of letting the Sith have their way with you?

 

[Thalia Rist]

The first bite was the hardest one to take, her hand shaking as she took it an ate from the food before her with her eyes down at the floor. She tried to think, tried to wonder and even as she was told the words she already knew that this was a reality. She wasn't stupid or naive, and as more than anything else she actually looked up to the woman infront of her. But yet... there remained one singular fact and that was a misunderstanding as to what was going on now. She explained how the monarchy was essentially held with that threat of invasion and to her it didn't matter. Again she had suspected something similar for the longest time, but it wasn't a problem to her.

But there remained one thing that hit her as surprising. Balance. The woman spoke of balance, as that being the reason or the beast tribes never invading. She understood that and it was not a hard thing to but why would that matter now of ll times. The balance was already changed and there was a new king for her to create this balance with. What was the point of keeping Thalia alive when that balance could be maintained without her family blood. "I must say that i do not understand Beastia... You said it was for balance but if you wanted to keep balance you don't need me. The only instance where i would be needed would be when the Sith run from this planet, as we both know it will happen sooner or later. But even then they put in a new monarch, one which you could have put in its place without me being around. So unless your plan is replacement once the Sith are gone, i fail to see your point..."

She knew the words would probably incite a less than welcome reaction, but she had to ask what the woman meant. It was bugging her now and as she sat there her mind raced to scan over every detail that would help determine just what the woman's point was.

[member="Quietus"]

 

[Quietus]

Beastia's lip curled at the girl's unfounded answer.

The people of Iziz have no love or respect for the interim leadership instituted by the One Sith, make not mistake about that. If there are any actual supporters they are a minority. Your family, your bloodline holds the true sway of the people, and as long as you are alive there is hope for them. As long as I keep you alive there is maintained respect for me and my people that we are continuing to honor our end of the treaty.

The woman sighed, looking the girl across from her up and down with obvious distaste, You are a fool if you think getting your throne back won't mean another war. Until you are mentally prepared for such an outcome, it will never happen. Iziz cannot be taken by the feeble or the weak.

[member="Thalia Rist"]

 

[Thalia Rist]

[member="Quietus"]

Thalia stared at the woman as her hand halted again over the plate of food. For a moment she said nothing before smiling at the woman with her eyes meeting Beastia's. For a moment it seemed strange her smile as she nodded and the words that came from her was all the more curious. "I can promise you that i never thought it would change again without another war. Even if not with the Sith, this new... puppet would not simply yield his new power." Her smile faded as she thought on Beastia's last words and for a few seconds she could only be silent and unmoving before she took a new bite from the food infront of her and as she ate her mind focused on those words.

Feeble or the weak. That new man was but a puppet but she was no better than he was. Her mere existence was as a puppet and she had accepted that long ago but even then was the fact of her own defectiveness. Her heart was enough of a problem that she would never be a strong one like others, no instead she would be ever having to watch her own condition in the hopes that things would get better. There was no cure and as she sat there she pushed a portion of the food across the plate. "And yet you protect someone who is weaker than their puppet? People's want for my family's rule will vanish when they understand how weak i myself am and how inexperienced i am."

 

[Quietus]

You are just a pup, hardly close to your prime.

The Beastia's eyes strayed from the girl finally, panning across the chamber towards the large bay windows overlooking the gorge over which Halcyon Citadel perched. She could hear the distant calls of the beasts as they drifted, small orange specks in the distance, across the skies like tiny flames.

There is plenty of time to make you strong.

[member="Thalia Rist"]

 

[Thalia Rist]

[member="Quietus"]

"Strong... that is something i never honestly thought would be possible. I only know how to control my heart from day to day. Even now i can barely keep it in control.." She looked at the woman for a few seconds and then more precisely her throat. "Maybe im being weak, i don't know but i don't do it because i think im entitled to any of the life i had. I understand what my position had been but even if i do one day get it back, all that will happen is for the next interplanetary force to do the same once more."

 

[Quietus]

A sneer of dark mirth stretched the Beastia's face, umber lips peeling back to present a ghastly grin of long, lethal fangs.

You know nothing of possibilities, Princess. Power and strength come in many forms and one day no one will question your authority.

There was more than one way to keep a kingdom that did not involve war or bloodshed. Kuat had proven that, and only a short while ago the Beastia had, too. Not a single Beast Tribe Warrior need lift a finger against those of the One Sith and here they were, jungle empire intact just as she willed it. The smile dissipated soon enough and with a sharp jerk the woman pushed out from the table to stand.

You will eat, said her telepathic voice to [member="Thalia Rist"]'s thoughts, and this afternoon you will begin your training in the Inner Sanctum. Volden will provide you with new robes - your days of pretty dresses, jewelry and crowns are over ... for now. This is not a request, Apprentice.

Clipped movements carried the woman to the chamber entrance, the door swinging open and slamming shut behind her by whim of the Force alone. In a short while the overbearing presence of the Beastia seeped from the chamber and halls, following her movements through the Citadel to haunt other people elsewhere.

 

[Thalia Rist]

Thalia watched the woman's body leave her room and for a few moments she chewed on the food that she had in her mouth before looking back down. What was left was little as it were, and the time she had mention would come soon enough to the point where she would immediately finish the food before her. "New clothes... If only she knew how little i actually cared about pretty dresses..." She smiled to herself and knew that Volden knew she didn't care to wear simpler clothing. It was common for her to try and explore the City and she had had to hide her appearance more than a few times before in order to do so.

None the less, once she finished her body would move to get red, switching into simpler underclothing, followed by a simple shirt and set of trousers. The robes she mentioned would be by along with Volden soon enough but she would atleast be ready to change into them when he arrived rather than waste his time with having him leave just so he wouldn't see her. None the less Volden was so much softer than Beastia, it made her curious why he was so different from the woman and something she would need to find out. It was strange but that was something she had to figure out on her own... where she belonged in this world.

[member="Quietus"] (do dedo)

 

[Quietus]

Some time later...

A knock.

"It's Volden, are you decent?" the door handle twisted after affirmation and Volden swept fluidly into the room. On his left arm lengths of dark green material - her new robes, Volden held out the m out for her to take, "Your new wardrobe."

He motioned to the young woman to dress and took a seat at the small table where she previously conversed with the Beastia. His eyes did not follow after her, but instead turned to a datapad withdrawn from one of his pockets, "You will be training with the Beastia's children who are now old enough to begin honing their otherwise savage skills with the Force." Spoken like a man who had been at the foul end of childish Force games, "It is imperative that you express to me now any previous training you've had with the Force."

[member="Thalia Rist"]

 

[Thalia Rist]

[member="Quietus"]

Thalia was more than prepared to change as she saw the new clothing, her hands moving through the fabric with carefulness to make sure she didn't rip anything. Granted she knew that she couldn't do that if she wanted to without a good deal of force, but that fact didn't change how gingerly she touched it. This was who she was now, this was who she had become and this was who she was expected to be from this moment on. It was almost amusing and for a few seconds she wondered still why she was investing her own personal time in training Thalia who might even just kill over if her heart goes out of control.

"Thank you Volden... sorry about all of this." She looked down towards a tray that was empty of food this time. She had put the man through enough that she knew it couldn't have been easier for him with her acting like she had before. It was then he said smoething about Beastia's Children and Thalia adopted a rather surprised look on her face, pulling the clothing onto her and looking at him as she pulled her hair out of it. "I didn't know she had children, and no, ive only had enough to keep my heart from beating out of control and causing me to faint like i used to when i went out into the streets... exploring." Sneaking away from her studies would have been the correct phrase, and Volden had known more than enough that she was the adventerous type, the Citizens of Iziz bringing her back to the palace when she collapsed during her adventures into the city. Every time she was told about how dangerous that was, and how she could have been hurt, but at that point the Citizens knew it was her and watched out for her. She missed the bakery in the third sector of the city, they had the best bread there in the morning.

 

[Quietus]

"Three children to be exact, though the Beastia would claim that all the people of the tribes are her children in a way, but only would she evicerate an entire planet for the sake of these particular three."

The man quietly tapped notes onto the datapad as Thalia explained her previous training. They were aware of her condition not only from the words of her now deceased parents, but from the Beastia's ability to sense the weakness within her. The woman was...intimately, intrinsically familiar with and aware of the flow of blood in all creatures, disturbingly so at times, so this came as no surprise to Volden when she had initially remarked on it to him after their first meeting in the flesh with the Princess.

"Is that all? Who was the Master that taught this to you?"

[member="Thalia Rist"]

 

[Thalia Rist]

[member="Quietus"]

"Don't really remember his name too well, just some Jedi that showed up and taught me that much before leaving me to live as i normally had in the past... On the note of the children though, im going to assume that after today, ill be sore after every training session?" She looked at Volden with the same adventurous smile that she used to have. Seeing him did make her feel like she was still in the past sometimes and while she did still hurt and want nothing more than to simply lay at the head of her bed... she knew that was no longer and option.

So with little more than just her head looking up at the ceiling as they walked, she prepared herself for what she assumed would be a long day and one which would find her laying on the ground, exhausted and out of breath. After all, she had figured out that Beastia did not take it easy in most of the cases that she had come to learn about, and training had to be no different.