Tale of Two Citiies

Crowns

The definition of the word crown is the power or dominion of a sovereign. It is the symbol of a monarch's power and authority, but it can mean more than just power. To the four monarchs of Attolia, Sounis, and Eddis, it means something differant entirely.

To Eugenides, it meant torment. But it was a punishment he gladly accepted to achieve what he really desired. Though the many people of Attolia thought he was just a goat footed thief after the throne, he was after the woman wearing it. For his love for her and his fear of temptation, he refused to use the power of the throne. Because of it, he had been torn from his home and was forced to live a hellhole where everyone was out to eat him alive. The crown was the thorn in his side and he winced every time it dug into his skin.

To Irene, it meant strength. After she had poisoned her traitorous fiance's wine, she had sworn to herself that she would never be weak again. She had built a ruthless reputation and stood indifferantly as she hung the skins of her enemies on the castle walls. She was no longer helpless now that she had the throne at her back. To her, it was a tool to be twisted and turned to her advantage. She had learned as much from Relius, her trusted spymaster. She never gave her trust easily and always cut down the traitorous weeds in her court. The crown was her weapon and she wielded it well.

To Helen, it meant judgement. After her brothers had died, her father had told her in his last few moments of life that she would have to make hard choices during her reign. Only after she had made the decision of going to war with Sounis and Attolia and witnessed her relatives corpses dropping on the battlefield, did she realize what he truly meant. Her choices, good or bad, shaped the destiny of her kingdom. Though she had foreseen the volcano's lava consuming her country, she knew she could still control its destiny in the present. The crown was built on her every thought and action....