This is the story of the Sovereign Bellona of Andromeda. The original story was written in Latin, the national language, therefore the story needed to be translated to English. Due to changes in the aristocracy, we must begin at the beginning in order to understand the events that took place.
A long time ago, a ship full of women, in order to escape the ideals of the men that dominated their life, decided to set sail in search of a new home. The original explorers inhabited Avalon. They did not want this island paradise to fall into the hands of the men they had escaped from, so a spell called the Cloak of Secrecy was cast. A small group left Avalon to seek another place to call home, they found Andromeda. This spell not only encompassed Avalon, it encompassed Andromeda and another large island as well. Andromeda is the second of the three large islands under the Cloak of Secrecy and located off the western coast of Avalon, approximately two days travel by ship, far to the north of the Aleutian Islands.
The spell erased everyone's memory of the islands location and the existence of those inhabiting these islands. Another world was created inside the Cloak of Secrecy. Time was lost and the weather changed. Outside the cloak are constant storms and bitter cold. Cell phones, computers, and cars are found in most countries. Inside, on Avalon and Andromeda however, horse drawn carriages and messenger pigeons typical. The weather on Andromeda is similar to what one would find on a tropical island paradise. The northern region however, is a bit colder with constant snow on the ground.
The elders of Avalon, the first inhabitants of the island, created the Magical Portal many centuries ago, so the archives say. The portal is a magical door, which anyone or anything has the ability to go anywhere, France, England, Spain, anywhere they desire. At the right time, one merely walks through the portal and they are immediately transported to their destination.
Many centuries ago, Avalon and Andromeda fought each other for domination. A treaty was agreed upon after much bloodshed and the loss of many lives. One of the stipulations of the peace treaty was there are to be no portals either created or used for travel to Andromeda. All visitors must arrive by ship. There are to be no exceptions.
Bellona was still a little girl, a princess just learning how to rule a kingdom. Sovereign Alessa was married to Queen Leone, the daughter of one of the council members as well as her birth mother. Their marriage, like all others was arranged, but Alessa and Leone fell instantly in love. It truly was a marriage made in heaven.
Bellona was very close to Leone, wanting to be just like her in every way: strength, intelligence, and integrity. To Bellona, Leone was someone to look up to, her hero.
As a child, Bellona had been sent to a village to learn from a well-known healer. She was sixteen years old when she received a summons to return to the palace. There was to be a formal hearing to decide the punishment of Queen Leone, who had been accused of betrayal. As a member of the aristocracy, Bellona had to attend all formal hearings. She could not decide on a verdict or punishment, but she was to be witness just the same. The message was vague, only stating that there was a mandatory hearing that Bellona must attend. She left the village immediately to return to the palace.
Upon returning to the palace, Bellona found out that over time the love between Alessa and Leone had dissolved into a distant memory. Queen Leone was lonely. She needed someone to care for her, as well as someone to care for. She found that with the magistrate of the western provinces. They had been seeing one another for quite some time when a passing guard saw them together in bed in the middle of what was described as a tango of love. The guard immediately reported to the Sovereign of the findings. Sovereign Alessa immediately rode out to find the truth for herself. There they were, naked, Leone on top of the magistrate. Magistrate's nails dragged up Leone's back as they started to rock together building the excitement between them. Alessa thought she would never see Leone do something like that with anyone else. She immediately grabbed Leone, drug her off the magistrate, and arrested her for betrayal.
Alessa was angry and Bellona was confused. Bellona believed that Leone was innocent. There had to be a mistake. Her mother, Leone would never do something like that. She would not betray Alessa. There were two witnesses that said they had seen the same thing, Queen Leone having sex with the magistrate. The evidence was there. Leone lost her place in the aristocracy and was taken to a place from which she would not be able to return to Andromeda. The magistrate was dismissed from office and cast out of society.
Alessa lost her heart that day and over time lost her will to rule. Bellona could not take the throne until her twenty-first year, until that time, Alessa held the throne. Bellona never forgave Leone for the betrayal. How could her birth mother do such a thing? Leone had shattered any love and belief Bellona held for her birth mother, for anyone. It is one of the queen's many duties to bear an heir to the throne of Andromeda. Leone being the queen meant that Bellona is her daughter. Bellona concentrated on the art of healing until her twenty-first year when Alessa abdicated the throne, claiming failing health. The next in line needed to take the throne, and that was Bellona.
Clarissant, like Leone, is the daughter of a council member. Her marriage to Bellona was agreed upon when they were infants. As soon as Bellona took the throne, she married Clarissant making Clarissant her queen. Sovereign Bellona and Queen Clarissant became the ruling family of Andromeda.
Bellona standing well over six feet tall with long dark chocolate brown hair, aqua blue eyes and high cheekbones, well-toned and tanned physique. Her queen is equally beautiful with long golden blond hair, bright blue eyes, and whose height equals that of her sovereign. She does not possess the same skills as her sovereign, not that anybody would, but is an equal in intelligence.
Clarissant knew their love was not a true love. She knew their love was superficial, but Clarissant did what was expected of her, doing her best to please the sovereign.
Alarica had been Bellona's best friend since childhood. Both of their mothers had been friends since childhood as well and thought it would be good to bring their daughters together. Time and responsibilities had separated both for many years. Now, Alarica and her family have traveled to Andromeda to encourage Bellona to go to America. Alarica thought Bellona would benefit from the visit in more ways than one.
There were circumstances that led Alarica to return to Avalon, but she did not care to express them to Bellona, only stating that there were circumstances that led to her immediate departure from America. Alarica and her family left Andromeda for Avalon. Alarica had given Bellona much to consider about finding a consors of her very own. A consors is much more than a member of the court, they hold a trusted station in the aristocracy because it is the consors that the sovereign confides in. After witnessing the relationship between Alarica and her consors, Bellona started to realize that maybe a consors would be a good thing, someone to trust, perhaps.
The sovereign needs a heart needs a soul not just a mind with logic and reason. Logic and reason had ruled Bellona's world since that day. Now, after a visit from a childhood friend, she must consider doing something she vowed never to do . . . trust.
Sovereign Bellona had visited her mother in a fishing village to tell her of her decision, not out of love but out of duty. While her mother no longer ruled Andromeda, she was still Bellona's mother. It is the duty of the daughter to let the mother know of any upcoming events . . . is it not? It was not a pleasant visit, the visits rarely are pleasant, but she was able to accomplish her goal at the very least.
After much preparation, she too left for America accomplishing and finding more than she ever thought possible. She left for America by using the portal of Avalon. Bellona did not trust the ships would weather the stormy seas and the long voyage. Bellona, Clarissant, and Desdemona the advisor, as well as several guards arrived safely in America staying at a manor not far from Avalon's.
Continued in part 1