Ep. 62- Dawn’s Roulette
ext. gatehouse morning
The gatehouse of the fortress’ outer walls in the cool fade of the dying night. The structure springs to life, cranking gears and shambling chains pulling up the iron gate. As the heavy wood doors open, daylight pours through the widening gape. The knights and squires gathered at the gatehouse shield their eyes, compelled to drop to their knees against the oppressive rays.
The fates fully open and The Sun, who sits atop his warhorse, can be seen. At his back are the outlines of 3 more members of his retinue, also on horseback, silhouetted against his own brilliance.
int. throne of swords day
A large, clean-kept throne room. Pure white pillars and pristine stone floors, smoothed and clinical, a spartan arrangement which extends to a simple throne set at the end of the room. The throne itself is cast of black iron, upon which sits the Old Queen of Swords. Next to the Queen stands the Young Queen of Swords, the Young Knight of Swords in tow at her side. Numerous knights line either side of the central aisle to the throne, all on bended knee.
A disturbance in the air, a winking light- and the bald visage of Strength appears to the opposite side of the Young Queen, flanking the throne. The Old Queen hardly turns her head to acknowledge her, and we see her normally firm jaw tremble a bit as she speaks, her hands gripping either side of the throne.
OLD QUEEN OF SWORDS
Have you come to offer aid, Major Arcana?
STRENGTH
I have only come with a question.
OLD QUEEN OF SWORDS
I have not changed my mind.
STRENGTH
I see.
OLD QUEEN OF SWORDS
You have no right to criticize if you do not have the will to exercise your own power.
STRENGTH
This is not my battle.
OLD QUEEN OF SWORDS
There will be no battle.
STRENGTH
(eying the Young Queen of Swords)
I wonder.
The Young Knight avoids the searching gaze of the Major Arcana. Strength’s own gaze lands on the young knight for a moment, her flashing eyes scanning the small girl- one moment knowing, another, quizzical.
YOUNG KNIGHT OF SWORDS
Don’t stare at me.
STRENGTH
(mollifying)
Apologies, that is rude of me. I was just wondering…have you made up your mind?
YOUNG KNIGHT OF SWORDS
I follow the Queen’s word.
STRENGTH
Which Queen?
YOUNG KNIGHT OF SWORDS
The one on the throne.
STRENGTH
What if that changes? Is it not important to have your own ideals to fall back on, should the office you rely on change?
OLD QUEEN OF SWORDS
She respects the institution. Everyone in this room does. Those with power may not understand- may have the freedom to do as they please- but those who must rely on one another for survival respect the need for structure and authority. It is all we have.
STRENGTH
(to the Young Queen)
And how about you, my old student?
The Young Queen of Swords stiffens at this accosting.
YOUNG QUEEN OF SWORDS
My mind is made up.
STRENGTH
(smiles)
Of course it is. I just thought it’d help for you to say so out loud.
Strength waves her hand, opening a new portal of rippling arcane energy.
STRENGTH
I’ve always puzzled over those who associate the breaking dawn with hope. Is it not more like a roulette we chance with? A new chapter that might be just as bad as the last, if not worse? The dawn promises only change- it never promised it would be a pleasant one. Good luck, Old Queen of Swords. May the rising sun defy my own expectations- but if it does not-
OLD QUEEN OF SWORDS
-Then I will do what I must- to save the most I can. Goodbye, Strength.
Strength smiles tightly in reply, nods, waves and heads through the portal. The massive wooden doors at the head of the throne room begin to creak open as the solar rays of the Sun’s retinue begin to pierce through the widening gape of the entrance.
