Opal

Claire O'Neil, 14, US

Calliopeia looked around the hall, silent, filled with light from the Xacean suns setting in the north. The golden light danced on tall, arches, painted turquoise and salmon. Finally, at peace, she moved to the center of the hall. For a week now, she had been surrounded by sisters, servants, friends and all varieties of women wishing her well in her marriage, sewing the wedding tunic, crafting jewelry and planning the banquet. It had been totally overwhelming for her. Now they were all out, leaving the bride to be to ponder her new role in life.

Calliopeia had thought hard about the marriage. She had no say in it, so all she could do was to accept her role and try to lead her people well as the new Xacean queen. Besides, the man wasn't half bad. He was a strong, country man, the son of a tlaedai, or nobleman. Almost harsh features, square jaw, and very dark hair that always seemed to hide his eyes. Her thoughts again drifted to his eyes. The Xaceans classically had blue eyes, but his were brown, almost the same color as his hair. He was quiet, but that was all Calliopeia could tell. She had only known the man for a week. Now, a day before the wedding festivities began, it was time for Calliopeia to visit the temple of Neth.

In a land of male domination, Neth was the women's solace. The goddess was the protector of women and nature, the healer, the comforter and the guardian of fertility. Since the dawn of time, Xaceans had worshipped two gods, Neth and Tyarol, the man and woman who were first. Worship was exclusive, the women prayed to Neth, the men to Tyarol, and that was the way it had always been. The ceremonies and procedures were kept secret from the opposite sex. Normally, formal worship of the gods began the day that the child turned 18, or the child's date of marriage, whichever happened first. Calliopeia had never been to the temple of Neth before, a year from the date of her marriage would have been her first time in the temple. Not quite knowing what to expect, Calliopeia pulled on her fur cloak and left the palace.

It was late, half after the sundown, and the streets were deserted, on the hill close by, Calliopeia could see the great dome of the temple. She glanced at the sky. Thousands of stars glimmered back from beneath the thin veil of clouds, and the green moon sank lower in the horizon. She quickened her pace, pulling the cloak tighter around her body. It was silent as she approached the large bronze door, ancient lettering spelling a welcome to the worshippers. The door opened, and Calliopeia bowed to a priestess, clad in white. Inside, incense perfumed the air, and a long hall, made of tawny Tchearl wood led the way to several chambers and one great stairway. The stairway seemed to be carved entirely out of one piece of the wood, and vines grew all up it. Calliopeia gasped in wonder as the priestess smiled and led her forward. Up the stairway, they proceeded in silence until the sound of a flute greeted them. The priestess opened a door, and the tow women bowed to each other as Calliopeia entered the room.

Incense smoke drifted thick past Calliopeia's face, again revealing vines and an immense tree, larger than anything she had ever seen before. A staircase led down to where a canopy of leaves seemed to cover something. The flute played stronger, and Calliopeia moved down. She brushed aside the leaves to reveal a woman with black hair and green eyes, playing a flute, as if in a trance, after a few moments, the melody came gracefully to an end, and the woman put the flute down.

"Welcome to the temple of Neth." Calliopeia bowed again, and the woman smiled at her.

"Why have you come to us child?"

"This is my first time at the temple. It is my wedding day tomorrow, and I was told to come here to seek blessing."

"Yes, that is the custom, though you may not get what you expect. Sit down." The woman's blazing eyes held a tone of strong equality that Calliopeia was not used to. Her being a princess, it was standard for her never to be looked in the eye or addressed by name. She sat slowly.

"Take off that cloak; it is quite nice in here." Again, the same mystical smile crossed her face.

"Are you prepared to do your duty as queen? I am not here to judge, but to be an outlet for all that you must be feeling." Calliopeia was silent for a while as she pondered this.

"I am resigned to my duty. I was born for this, and I will do what is asked of me" Another smile.

"That is good. You show determination of character. Your face reveals your mind." The woman opened her hand, and 10 stones appeared in her open fist, gleaming on her tanned skin.

"I hold here your destiny. Each of these stones tells you a part of your future. Speak to me; what do you think these mean?" Calliopeia smiled. Throughout her childhood, her nurse had taught her about gems and their spiritual meaning. She could do this.

"This first one is ruby. I will have material wealth and pride." A smile from the priestess.

"Go on child."

"And this is emerald, seclusion and spirituality?" A faint note of doubt crossed Calliopeiaâs face. "But how?"

"Continue."

"Amethyst, um, royalty and power. Granite, strength and endurance."

"Correct."

"Limestone, age and fertility. Crystal, artistic talents. Hematite, loyalty and friendship. Jade, grief and pain" Calliopeia paused, there were only tow gems left. "Quartz, a great journey, and, Opal, a part in the magic pattern?"

"You have read well, Child. All that you have read is true."

"The magical pattern? But queens rule the earthy powers! I have no part in spiritual matters!"

"Maybe your destiny is not that which you think it is. Take these stones with you. Here, put them in this." The priestess handed Calliopeia a silken bag, large enough for all of the stones. The priestess bowed again to Calliopeia, and picked up the silver flute. Silently, Calliopeia bowed back, and left the tree and the room.

A part in the magic pattern. Calliopeia pondered that strange thought as she left the beautiful temple. Looking at the sky, she realized the meeting had lasted only a short while. She quickly changed directions and headed into the a glade. Pushing aside vines and overgrowth, Calliopeia reached the crystalline pool. Even in the darkness of night under all the trees, the pool shone like a mirror. She looked into the water at her reflection, deep brown eyes stared up at her. She touched her black hair, brushing it away from her porcelain skin and she laughed. She looked like a doll that the artist had colored wrong. Her striking black skin made her look whiter paper, and her eyes were a strange color. She touched the water, brushing its coolness over her face.

As she sat down , she pulled out the opal, looking at the fire and ice that gleamed simultaneously from the jewel. "Part of the magic?" She pulled off her cape and gown, down to the fitted linen shift she wore as underclothes, and walked into the water. She felt the pearly substance glide over her skin lightly, and taking a breath, she dove. Succumbing to the feel of the water, she let herself sink, slowly at first, but then as though she were falling through air. She cried out, but no sound escaped her lips. Suddenly the motion stopped. She closed her eyes, and darkness overcame her body.