Fic: 'Delight Thyself in the Lord'
Username: kith_koby
Title: 'Delight Thyself in the Lord'
Characters/Pairings: Nammah, Naamah/Elua.
Summary: "For Love of Blessed Elua." But what was this love Naamah, angel of pleasure, had for Elua?
Rating: PG-13
Spoilers: None, pre-series.
Word Count: 1,096
# of Scenes: 1
Disclaimer: I own nothing. I am merely a humble beggar, sampling from the table of Jacqueline Carey, who must dwell with the angels she writes about. I gain no profit from this work beyond the joy I had in writing it.
Notes: Will be posted on Fanfiction.net under my username Meneldur and on Eglantine House here on LiveJournal.Fourth entry in the Seven Companions of Elua series, now dealing with Naamah. Reasons were rather obvious from the start, but I needed time to express them properly. Title comes from Isaiah LVIII, 14, and I find it very fitting. I invented their hereditary trait, having already used it in one of my fics and because that was the only trait I could really think of for descendants of Naamah. 'Envers' is French, meanings 'towards', so I took it a bit further.
Once more, I owe thanks to my dearest cousin (and favored beta reader) jeweledhibiscus for her help, patience and advice.
This time I dedicate this to the Head of House L'Envers, our beloved Jenna, and to all of her House. As always, feedback is solicited and appreciated.
'Delight Thyself in the Lord'
So it came to pass, that Elua and his Seven Companions: Naamah, Cassiel, Anael, Eisheth, Camael, Azza, and Kushiel fled Persis and its king. And when they had touched land and disembarked from the boat that had carried them safely there, they rested; for they were tired from their rescue of Elua and from the journey, and though they had the power of angels, it had been sorely tried. So they slept that night, and much of the morning besides; but when Elua woke and was composed once more, he went to Naamah; and together they walked, leaving behind them a trail of flowers, until they reached a small hill, where they sat together.
And Elua wondered at Naamah's deeds, and wished to know why she had done them. And so he said: "My lady, why did you come for me? Do you not serve my grandfather, the Lord? And if you did indeed care for me despite all, why did you give yourself to the King of Persis? Is it true what they say then, that there is not one in the world you would not lie with?"
But Naamah laughed when she heard these words, and was carefree. "My lord Elua, I lie with whom I will, when I will, how I will; and it is not the business of any but me. The Lord created me thus, and I am the angel of lust and desire; I do what I wish, for such is my nature. And it is that which led me to you, and to lie with the King of Persis."
Still Elua questioned her, and continued to ask. "If that is so, my lady, are you not merely as a wisp of cloud following the wind, since so you follow your own whim? And why do you stay with us, and continue to accompany me? I cannot give you what my grandfather has."
Then Naamah stilled, and became serious. And she answered slowly, as one who had considered what she would say. "It is true that I followed my desires, and naught else; but always it was so because they are my desires. They give me joy and I am the angel of pleasure; and so I do as I will, for I know it will give me what I want. So I follow you, my lord Elua; for the Lord has retreated to the Heavens, and wishes not for pleasure, but only for peace and His will. But that is not for me; and moreover, you offer the promise of love, which many desire, and I among them; and I wish to see what it is, that so many wish for it."
At this, Elua was doubtful, and said so. "But I cannot promise you any pleasure on my road. Indeed, my path has been hard, and it will be long still; and I do not know what will happen on the way, but I am certain not all will be pleasant, and there may be pain as well."
And Naamah smiled gently at Elua's innocence, and explained. "You do not know true pleasure yet, my Lord Elua, for it is found in many places. And my desires bring me pleasure, so if I desire to travel with you, that is my pleasure. Truly, joy may be found in everything the Lord created: pleasure and pain, gain and loss, war and peace, and many others. But I came with you because I sought love; for that is said to be the greatest joy of all, and never have I found it before I followed you."
So at last Elua understood, and his heart was glad; for he wished to share his love with all, and it comforted him that he would have such worthy devotees. And he kissed her, and took her as his follower; and they lay together that evening and night, teaching one another. Namah showed Elua of the manifold ways of pleasure and joy; but Elua instructed her on love, and how it increased and transcended pleasure, becoming holy and beautiful.
And so they went on their journeys; and whenever Naamah lay with others, she did so for her pleasure, but moreover for love of Elua, which gave her more joy than she had ever found before. And at last they came to what would be Terre d'Ange, and Naamah took for herself the province that would be called Namarre, which was beautiful and fruitful, with many rivers. It was a place of pleasure even before Naamah, and ever a place of joy after her. And a shrine was founded for her at the source of the river which fed it, which was afterward called the River of Naamah; for they said of her that she was the source of their happiness and pleasure, as the river was the source of their bounty.
Naamah gave birth to many children, for she had the pleasure of many lovers; but her oldest son was named her heir, and he took for his wife one of the daughters of Kushiel. And her descendants kept her violet eyes and sun-kissed hair, which were said to dance with merriment when she was pleased; and they were also easily roused to pleasure, finding it in nearly every place, as no other mortals could. For that they were called L'Envers, which was a play on words; for it meant 'towards', that is that they were always heading in the direction of pleasure; but it also meant 'about to come soon', and referred to how easily they became aroused, the legacy of their ancestress Naamah, angel of pleasure.
Title: 'Delight Thyself in the Lord'
Characters/Pairings: Nammah, Naamah/Elua.
Summary: "For Love of Blessed Elua." But what was this love Naamah, angel of pleasure, had for Elua?
Rating: PG-13
Spoilers: None, pre-series.
Word Count: 1,096
# of Scenes: 1
Disclaimer: I own nothing. I am merely a humble beggar, sampling from the table of Jacqueline Carey, who must dwell with the angels she writes about. I gain no profit from this work beyond the joy I had in writing it.
Notes: Will be posted on Fanfiction.net under my username Meneldur and on Eglantine House here on LiveJournal.Fourth entry in the Seven Companions of Elua series, now dealing with Naamah. Reasons were rather obvious from the start, but I needed time to express them properly. Title comes from Isaiah LVIII, 14, and I find it very fitting. I invented their hereditary trait, having already used it in one of my fics and because that was the only trait I could really think of for descendants of Naamah. 'Envers' is French, meanings 'towards', so I took it a bit further.
Once more, I owe thanks to my dearest cousin (and favored beta reader) jeweledhibiscus for her help, patience and advice.
This time I dedicate this to the Head of House L'Envers, our beloved Jenna, and to all of her House. As always, feedback is solicited and appreciated.
'Delight Thyself in the Lord'
So it came to pass, that Elua and his Seven Companions: Naamah, Cassiel, Anael, Eisheth, Camael, Azza, and Kushiel fled Persis and its king. And when they had touched land and disembarked from the boat that had carried them safely there, they rested; for they were tired from their rescue of Elua and from the journey, and though they had the power of angels, it had been sorely tried. So they slept that night, and much of the morning besides; but when Elua woke and was composed once more, he went to Naamah; and together they walked, leaving behind them a trail of flowers, until they reached a small hill, where they sat together.
And Elua wondered at Naamah's deeds, and wished to know why she had done them. And so he said: "My lady, why did you come for me? Do you not serve my grandfather, the Lord? And if you did indeed care for me despite all, why did you give yourself to the King of Persis? Is it true what they say then, that there is not one in the world you would not lie with?"
But Naamah laughed when she heard these words, and was carefree. "My lord Elua, I lie with whom I will, when I will, how I will; and it is not the business of any but me. The Lord created me thus, and I am the angel of lust and desire; I do what I wish, for such is my nature. And it is that which led me to you, and to lie with the King of Persis."
Still Elua questioned her, and continued to ask. "If that is so, my lady, are you not merely as a wisp of cloud following the wind, since so you follow your own whim? And why do you stay with us, and continue to accompany me? I cannot give you what my grandfather has."
Then Naamah stilled, and became serious. And she answered slowly, as one who had considered what she would say. "It is true that I followed my desires, and naught else; but always it was so because they are my desires. They give me joy and I am the angel of pleasure; and so I do as I will, for I know it will give me what I want. So I follow you, my lord Elua; for the Lord has retreated to the Heavens, and wishes not for pleasure, but only for peace and His will. But that is not for me; and moreover, you offer the promise of love, which many desire, and I among them; and I wish to see what it is, that so many wish for it."
At this, Elua was doubtful, and said so. "But I cannot promise you any pleasure on my road. Indeed, my path has been hard, and it will be long still; and I do not know what will happen on the way, but I am certain not all will be pleasant, and there may be pain as well."
And Naamah smiled gently at Elua's innocence, and explained. "You do not know true pleasure yet, my Lord Elua, for it is found in many places. And my desires bring me pleasure, so if I desire to travel with you, that is my pleasure. Truly, joy may be found in everything the Lord created: pleasure and pain, gain and loss, war and peace, and many others. But I came with you because I sought love; for that is said to be the greatest joy of all, and never have I found it before I followed you."
So at last Elua understood, and his heart was glad; for he wished to share his love with all, and it comforted him that he would have such worthy devotees. And he kissed her, and took her as his follower; and they lay together that evening and night, teaching one another. Namah showed Elua of the manifold ways of pleasure and joy; but Elua instructed her on love, and how it increased and transcended pleasure, becoming holy and beautiful.
And so they went on their journeys; and whenever Naamah lay with others, she did so for her pleasure, but moreover for love of Elua, which gave her more joy than she had ever found before. And at last they came to what would be Terre d'Ange, and Naamah took for herself the province that would be called Namarre, which was beautiful and fruitful, with many rivers. It was a place of pleasure even before Naamah, and ever a place of joy after her. And a shrine was founded for her at the source of the river which fed it, which was afterward called the River of Naamah; for they said of her that she was the source of their happiness and pleasure, as the river was the source of their bounty.
Naamah gave birth to many children, for she had the pleasure of many lovers; but her oldest son was named her heir, and he took for his wife one of the daughters of Kushiel. And her descendants kept her violet eyes and sun-kissed hair, which were said to dance with merriment when she was pleased; and they were also easily roused to pleasure, finding it in nearly every place, as no other mortals could. For that they were called L'Envers, which was a play on words; for it meant 'towards', that is that they were always heading in the direction of pleasure; but it also meant 'about to come soon', and referred to how easily they became aroused, the legacy of their ancestress Naamah, angel of pleasure.