(OOG: My last attempt at a DeM post in 2003; unfinished, but the first scene is mostly complete.)

Mariko's room was small and well-furnished, graced with one bay window that looked out into the garden. It was quite nice, and probably not small at all to someone who was not accustomed to large, many-roomed suites - Cyrene rather liked it, actually, if only for the memories it brought back to her. It was identical to another room down the hall, which she had spent most of her time in during her service as the Queen's handmaiden.

Funny, how she remembered that, yet could hardly recall her mother's face. But it no longer saddened her. It was human nature to cherish the good memories, and try to forget the bad.

Mariko still loved her family. She was a lucky girl.

"Does everything fit?" she called from her place by the window, turning her back to the glass to eye the dressing screen at the opposite corner of the room. Boxes and tissue paper were scattered over the rug and stacked against the wall, left that morning by the Head of Household. Mariko had been measured and fitted for new clothes a few weeks ago, and the staff finally had something to show for it. By the look of things, though, Alda intended to leave the girl with the clothes whether they fit or not.

"It /seems/ fine." There was a pause, and another rustle of tissue paper, and Mariko padded around the screen. She fiddled with the cuff of her sleeve and refused to look up from the floor, but the result of her staff's careful work was obvious. Not a seam was out of place.

Cyrene approached her with a reassuring smile, halting a safe distance away. "It will be uncomfortable for a while, but you'll get used to it. It isn't terrible, as far as uniforms go, and more comfortable than the others." She tugged at the velvet robe falling from her shoulders, drawing it over her arms. "It could be worse."

The girl flashed her a small, hesitant smile, hands clasped tightly together around her necklace. The gold chain glittered, more obvious against the plain black of the dress. High-necked and trimmed in the red of the royal staff, it was a stark contrast to the elegance of the cross. "It's okay. I have nothing to complain about."

"That may change." Cyrene smiled to take the edge from those words. "I understand Minister Levine has been supplementing your historical studies. Correct?" She waited for Mariko's timid nod. "Where did you leave off?"

"Um..." The girl still refused to meet her eyes. That would have to be fixed. The court would not make allowances for her meekness. "He gave me accounts of the last queen's... fall. I've already read them," she hastened to add, clutching the cross so the chain creaked, "but I haven't been assigned anything yet."

The queen nodded and approached the table in a slither of velvet, taking up the book she had brought from her library. It was old and the leather binding was cracked, but she didn't think Mariko was the type to be careless with something she was given. "From this point on, I will lead your studies. Levine has already been notified, and he assured me you were ready. This will be the beginning of your new assignment." She held the book out, and the girl hesitated a few seconds before stepping forward to take it.

"What... what will I be studying with you?" The idea appeared to terrify her. How /was/ she going to get along in the tasks ahead of her?

"We'll be skipping the succession for now. That shouldn't be necessary in the near future." Cyrene folded her arms, engulfed herself in her robe of state. Esari would give her soul to wear it, which only meant she was not suited to the responsibility. There were times with Cyrene wished she did not wear it either, but better her than a Solarian. "I want to focus on the state of affairs at the end of the Solaris War and directly after - that period is what most influences modern-day issues. You will soon be authorized to attend meetings, and you will need that information to follow our discussions."

"Attend meetings?" Mariko said faintly.

The queen tried to make her smile reassuring, though she did not feel it. "That is why you're here. Girls in your position don't wallow in the obscurity of the classroom. Your education will come from your own experiences in the court, or wherever you are needed."

"Will that... will it include..."

"The surface?" Cyrene lifted her shoulders in a minute shrug. "Perhaps. That depends on Solaris, unfortunately. Once things on Ignas calm down, there will be more possibilities."

"What else will I have to do?" Mariko asked, eyes still on the book. "I... the Minister didn't really tell me..."

Handmaidens usually came willingly - more willingly than Mariko was allowed. Cyrene wasn't sure what to tell her. The position was symbolic in many ways, and implied the kind of familial bond they did not have, probably would not, no matter how much time they spent together. Mariko was too afraid, too closed off, and Cyrene herself had no wish to extend her affections any farther than necessary. Centuries of losing friends and loved ones had taught her that lesson.

Perhaps it would be better that way. She still remembered the sharpness of grief at the Queen's fall, and the bitterness of Lacan's death. This girl, so young, already had to cope with the loss of one set of parents. She did not need to risk another.

Cyrene suppressed a sigh and regarded the girl grimly. The expression didn't matter - the girl's eyes were still glued to the book. "Your responsibilities are simple. You will attend meetings with me, and sit in on sessions of Parliament. Observation should be your priority right now, so you may gain an understanding of the workings of this government before you are required to serve in other capacities." She glanced out the window again, and felt the draw of the gardens below. The air would be heavy with summer humidity, but Synclair was waiting for her there. "One of my staff will be assigned to you, and if I cannot pass the orders on myself, they will take care of things."

Mariko nodded. "Thank you. I'll do my best."

Cyrene moved forward and touched the book to bring Mariko's gaze up. She didn't want to leave the girl on such a strict note. "Nothing will be required of you during the festival. Try to relax and enjoy the celebration. There will be plenty of time later to worry about things."

-

(Summary: Cyrene takes a direct hand in Mariko's education and tries to make the poor girl feel at home. The scenes that weren't written would have included a meeting with Synclair about Esari's complaints regarding admittance of land dwellers to the festival, and an informal meeting with the presiding Nisan clergy.)