"Her Most Sublime and August Majesty would be more than happy to receive His Holiness' gifts personally at the appointed hour." The Consul said with a nod of his head as he gestured for the Pope to follow, "The legionaries of the Azure Army's Honor Guard await the Supreme Pontiff's review."
They eventually were all lead to a line of black limousines which were waiting to drive them to the Arcalcassë Palace. The pathway that they drove on, the Meridian Way, was adorned with hundreds of marble statues of guardians against evil spirits and omens that lead straight through the gatehouse to the palace. It was built in a ravine surrounded by the Holy Oronruan Mountains, a massive square - the Menelwaruinë Square - sat before the Gateway of Perpetual Balance, two monolithic stone doors decorated with an azure dragon on the eastern door and a red-golden phoenix on the western.
To the left and right of the Gatetway, two large white
[1] banners embroidered with silver and grey accents hung from the rafters almost the length of the gates. In old Sarati
[2] were the words:
Tári Nacilmë, Cunda i Valóro, sérë manulyassë, which meant, 'Queen Viktoriya, Guardian of Sessifet, peace upon her soul'.
They drove through a massive tunnel hollowed out from the mountain after passing through the Gate of Perpetual Balance. The sides held inscriptions of auspicious prayers carved into them. There were large cracks throughout the tunnel that seemed to illuminate as the convoy drove through, from tectonic and earthquakes the tunnel had been repaired many times throughout the centuries in a fashion that the Arda Tuluvans call
entaminnlaurëa, or ‘to repair with gold;’ the art of repairing something with gold or silver lacquer and understanding that the piece is more beautiful for having been broken. The philosophy behind it encompasses the concepts of non-attachment, acceptance of change and fate as aspects of human life.
Like all things in Arda Tuluva, symbolism and meaning was everywhere. Even in the names of buildings and gates; the first was the Gate of Perpetual Balance: a reminder that a balance in all things brought harmony and kept Heaven appeased. For as Arda Tuluva’s most famed philosopher, Mindarúcina, once said, “Rituals and regulations are what keep the world from spiraling towards chaos.”
The second was the Gate of Supreme Tranquility: a reminder to the Empress that she must keep peace and tranquility, a tranquil state secured the Dynasty's hold on the Mandate of Heaven. The last was the Gate of Heavenly Brilliance: with Heaven's grace the Empire would remain the center of the world and civilization would continue to flourish. Each Gate might have become smaller as they progressed, but each was more beautiful and more adorned then the last. The Gate of Heavenly Brilliance seemed to have been cut from a dream. The artistry and craftsmanship was perfectly done. Like all things in Arda Tuluva, great care was taken to achieve a vision of beauty, of greatness, of sublimity.
Usually guests of the Throne would have been housed at the Hall of Tranquil Longevity. However, the Hall was under renovations and technical upgrades at the time. So it was decided by the Imperial Household Bureau (which ran the daily operations of the entire Arcalcassë Palace complex) that the Pope and his entourage would be given the run of the Palace of Great Benevolence; which was larger - and in some respected grander - than the Hall of Tranquil Longevity, however it did not offer the same splendid view of the gardens.
The Arcalcassë Palace itself was in a rather somber mood for it was in an official state of mourning since the death of Lodja's Queen was announced. After the return of the Autárimë Empress from her journey to Lodja it was published that Viktoriya was "a great friend of the Throne". Therefore, white banners embroidered with silver and grey accents adorned many buildings, the servants and various Palace officials wore white tunics over their robes. The members of the Imperial Clan wore white silken robes embroidered with silver zinnia flowers, in homage to the flower that Viktoriya had given to the Empress on her visit. But the Throne was determined to keep face and continue the scheduled Papal visit. Upon arrival at the Palace of Great Benevolence the Consul bade farewell to the Pope and had informed His Holiness that he shall be entertained at the Pavilion of Abundant Grace later that evening.
The Papal contingent had taken the opportunity to relax and freshen up before the appointed time to depart for the banquet. Once they arrived in the antechamber Pope Peter was approached by high ranking servant, who bowed low before speaking, "Your Holiness, if you would." He gestured to a doorway with another bow. He was lead into a room that was empty save for an ornate chair that, strangely enough, was facing directly at a thick purple curtain that spanned the width of the room. The servant gestured to the chair before he took his leave. Peter finally took a seat, and once he did the curtains were drawn and a sheer white silk screen appeared before him, through the screen Peter could clearly see the Empress, who was also alone, wearing beautiful white and grey silken robes with black accents and the soft colors of purple and blue forming patterns of branches and flowers. Her ornate hairpins and headdress were silver decorated in diamonds and pearls.
"We thought it prudent to become acquainted with Your Holiness before you commence negotiations with Our ministers on the morrow." The Empress said. Her voice was soft, delicate, yet held the dignity and awe of her station. "It is known to Us what Your Holiness desires between the Celestial Empire and Holy See. However. Your Holiness. Before We consider giving Imperial Consent to those who govern in Our Holy Name; We shall know who the Young Pope is."
