A Woman Scorned, A Man Betrayed

[MunaZaldrizoti 8037]

 

"A Woman Scorned, A Man Betrayed"

"Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned"

 

 

Spoiler

 

Art by: Zallis

 

 

Zeralia sat slouched over her desk, flipping through several large, dusty tomes as the candles next to her slowly melted into stubs. She had been awake all night, her eyes barely able to stay open as she squinted at the almost-faded words written on the yellow pages. Her long fingers traced every sentence, every paragraph, hoping that such action would aid in her search. "I have to find it....I must find it." The wind blew in from an open window, sending tingles up her spine. She heard music and laughter coming from the street below, but she often blocked it out, allowing it to become more of a soothing background noise. With every turn of the pages, Zeralia grew more tired, and occasionally she might even allow her eyes to close for a moment, only to snap them back open and continue reading. As she slowly began to near the end of the large tome, after almost a full day of intense study, she came across two pages, stuck together by some sort of seal. The wax was red, a symbol of a flame pressed into it. Thinking it to be some sort of dream, or hallucination, she reach down gently, to pull off the seal and peel the two pages apart. Zeralia peered down, bringing her magnifier to her eyes in order to read the paper, the writing proving to be quite small. As she read, her lips tightened and her eyes widened. A small grin appeared upon her face. In a fit of excitement, she carefully tore out both pages, pushing back her chair with some force and striding over to her alchemy table. Seizing a few vials, some tubes, and two or three pots of ingredients, she set to work like a woman possessed. "I have found it! I have what I need. He will pay....He will die."

 

Donnel sat tall in his oaken seat, his rough hand intertwined with that of his fiance and betrothed, Amelia. It was the day of their wedding, and they were holding a morning feast, to welcome their friends and family in a formal manner. Donnel and Amelia sat at the end of a large, long feasting table, white linen and silk draped along the tops. Fruits, sweets, meats, and other special dishes were placed all along the table's expanse, and every guest drank from a silver cup, studded with onyx gemstones. Being the Mayor of the city, Donnel had decided to spare no expense in this wedding and the events involved, as he had failed to do with his first wedding festivities. His first wife, Zeralia, had been the love of his life when they met, when they were young and carefree. Overtime, though, she became a prude, and began to delve into the magic and alchemical arts, which he often denoted as 'unnatural'. He had their marriage annuled, as she was barren and never consummated the marriage, and he happily regained the exciting life he had before. Zeralia had moved away, to his knowledge, and so he felt free to marry again, this time to the daughter of a wealthy baron nearby. With such a wedding, Donnel's status would rise to that of his wife's, and that only pleased him more. She was beautiful, yes, but the title of lord was what he wanted, for himself and his family. At the conclusion of the meal, the couple rose and led the large herd of guests towards the beautiful church that had been constructed for this very marriage, a symbol of their town's growing importance. The bells rung in announcement, and Donnel's lips slipped into a prideful grin.

 

Zeralia, cloaked in black wool, slinked about the crypts beneath the Church, most of the tombs and graves empty. The two men she had hired to aid her, a pair of lowly beggars, followed her every move, lusting after the mina she had promised them after their jobs were done. Stopping at each altar, she placed small wine casks on each, doing the same in all of the unsealed coffins that lay underneath the new building. Stepping over the body of the recently-slain priest, Zeralia, done with her job, walked to the exit and turned to face the two. "You two shall stay here, and light those fuses when the final bell tolls, to announce the beginning of the wedding." The two brutes simply nodded, almost slobbering on themselves, to which Zeralia rolled her eyes and turned to leave. She shielded her eyes with a hand as she emerged into the daylight, and picked up the wooden planks she had laid to the side. Sliding them into place in front of each the doors, she smirked to herself, "Two less beggars to bother everyone, less nobles to bring us all down." The woman trudged across the field beside the church as the final bell tolled. It was only a matter of time until her plans came to fruition, so she ducked behind a hedge and awaited her victory.

 

Donnel stood by the main altar, gazing out over the guests that had come to see him wed. A large majority of them, of course, were kin to his blushing bride, but some officials in his own town had been invited to join the festivities as well. Lady Amelia had her hair braided and pinned, her gown the purest white and lined with pearls. Donnel himself was in a fine white doublet, a golden chain about his neck and waist, to show off his own wealth. His bride held white jasmine in her small hands, and smiled at him lightly. "She is lovely," He whispered to himself, "And just the woman I need..." He looks behind him quickly, yet the priest was still not here. Amelia strode forth to join him, and looked about. "Where is the priest? You did tell him the right time, didn't you?" Donnel simply shrugged, and his future wife simple puckered out her lips. 

 

After waiting for sometime, Amelia began to grow distressed, "I....I....," She began, "Is this...a sign? Does the Creator not wish for this marriage?" She looked about, almost in shock. Donnel tried to calm him, but it seemed the waiting had given her time to think and brood. "Yes....yes, that's it. The Creator doesn't want me marrying a simple mayor, a peasant man!" She looked at him, her face scrunching up. Amelia threw down her bouquet, and turned to address the crowd, "Forgive me...this has all been a mistake, a waste of time. Please, let us simply exit. I can't take being in this humble church any longer." The bride stepped down from the altar, linking arms with one of her brothers as many of her other kin began to follow her to the door. As Amelia reached the door, attempting to open it, she found nothing but resistance. "W-what is going on? Who locked this door?" She stepped back, going to try it again, but to no avail. Her father went to a side door, but also found it locked. The other guests began to worry, and quickly made their way to any door they could find. Every single one was unmovable. "Let us out, "Amelia cried out, "What is going on?" Suddenly Donnel heard something, the feint crackle of a tree branch, or a camp fire. He sniffed the air, and smelt smoke, but when he moved to the window, he saw nothing outside but lush forests and his town. The guests were distracted by their need to leave, but then the crackle began to grow, and then loud splits of wood could be heard from somewhere beneath them. "What...what is that," one of Donnel's stewards called out. "Most likely just a creaking support beam," Donnel said, uneasy. The smell grew stronger, and the guests became more distressed. A few screams sprang up, yelps of worry, but Donnel tried to remain calm, still standing tall at the altar. The cracks turned into rumbles, and the roar of a great fire bellowed from beneath their own feet. Donnel's eyes widened, and he looked to see Amelia staring at him, true fear in a face that was previously so vain. "Creator...." Donnel whispered, before the great flames burst forth from the floorboards, and Amelia turned to ash before him. The many guests screams and cried out in anguish, and then Donnel was covered in a blanket of flame himself, his final thought being on the fate of his first wife.

 

Zeralia giggled to herself, watching the flames as if she were watching a play. The screams made her smile more, and she knew her work was done. "Alchemist's Fire....what an incredible substance." Zeralia pulled out her wine flask, and took a long, prideful sip. Lowering it from her lips, she gave a final smile towards the burning ruin before turning and slowly leaving, happy that the man who had betrayed her, for such trivial ideals and wants, had been betrayed in the same way.

 

 

((OOC:))

I was inspired to write this after learning of Alchemist's Fire during Roleplay, and whilst listening to the new Game of Thrones soundtrack. I hope you all enjoyed it, and I hope to bring you more

music-inspired stories very soon!

 

 

 

 

[YouKnowItsJuno 269]

((Methinks you take lots of inspiration from Cersei blowing up the Sept...))

[MunaZaldrizoti 8037]

1 minute ago, AnotherJun said:

((Methinks you take lots of inspiration from Cersei blowing up the Sept...))

((Perhaps......and perhaps I was just in the mood to blow something up, in one of more unique LOTC-type ways :3))

 

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Moved to the Archive. It shall be sorted into the appropriate category shortly.