Chapter Text
On the first day of her birth, Princess Arisa Hélia Dyaus was taken from her parents by the royal mages and placed into a cradle, blackened from the ashes of Elunia’s cremation grounds.
“She will be the future heir, blessed by the sun. Destined for greatness.” They all murmured, kneeling around the cradle, as the baby cried and flailed.
As the princess grew, two more sisters were born, though they did not face the same trials and tribulations that Arisa faced as the first heir. While Arisa was placed in a cradle of ashes, born from war and death, Thea was placed in a cradle of iron and dust, born of stardust and eternity. Illse was placed in a cradle of quartz and the purest of water, born of peace and tranquility.
Arisa was given the title and blessings of the Sun. Thea was given the title and blessings of the Stars. Illse was given the title and blessings of the Moon. Her sisters, as princesses, pray for peace and prosperity. As future Queen, Arisa knew that it was never that simple. Never that attainable.
Arisa and Thea were the only ones to become of age when their parents were still alive to take their trials. As the firstborn, the Heiress to the kingdom, Arisa 's trial was the hardest. Oh, how she screamed and she begged and she pleaded to not be sent to the cold, dark catacombs below the castle. She bartered and implored her parents to not send her away. In the end, her beloved father didn't even say goodbye to her. It was her mother who saw her off, locked her away into the bone filled catacombs. Always her mother, enforcing proprietary and customs.
The Sun Heiress wandered the catacombs, listening to the whispered voices of her ancestors. While at first, she jumped at every creak, every groan, every bit of ancient wisdom, she became accustomed to them after weeks on end of wandering and listening.
Once Arisa’s year long trial was over, and she was allowed to see the sun once again, she had changed. An air of maturity and sternness surrounded her, ancient authority guiding every action. But she never was quite right after that. Sometimes she would stare into space, before taking decisive action. As if those voices still whispered to her. As if she saw things that no one else could quite see.
Her parents died not too long after, a bloody assassination that she tried so hard to prevent. Her mother brushed her off, as she always did. Her father put his warm hand on her shoulder and murmured about having to stop with her delusions. But in the end, Arisa was right. She always was.
Once she ascended as Queen, her coronation was a joyous affair. The Elunians believed that quiet festivities would displease their ancestors, bringing curses to the land. Her sisters played music and sang joyous music, as Arisa stared into the pyre flames, watching as the precious sun necklace her father had gifted her melted. Another tradition. Another loss.
Once the sun had melted into droplets of molten gold, Arisa sat upon her new throne. Her face was impassive as the throne dug into her back, spilling her blood, a symbolic sacrifice from the Sun Queen to her land and people.
As such was the burden of the first born.