Part of Chapter One By Kateri

Just a new story I started. I have NO idea where it's going and what will happen! It doesn't have a name eaither. By the way "Ceili" is pronounced (KAY-lee), it's Irish! :)



Chapter One: To Athena

It was a cool crisp morning, the mist was rising off the mountains and the sky was turning from pink to blue. All around the city of Durbana the villagers were waking up and beginning their day. Durbana was one of the biggest cities in all of Airloniea, it was home to many men, elves, and dwarfs.

One of these people was sixteen year old Ceili, the only daughter of Ramon and Fayla, the Duke and Duchess of Durbana. Being the Duke and Dutchess made them second to only King Ferdimon, the king of all Airloniea. So Ceilie and her family were very much looked up too and respected. Being the Duke's daughter, Ceile lived a rich and exciting life, but Ceili didn't even seem to know her own power, and lived no differently from any other city girl her age.

"Ceili!" Ceili didn't answer but took one more glance in the mirror hanging on her bedroom wall. Today was a very exciting and important day, and she needed to look her best. She took a look into the glass and smiled, her black hair was pulled gracefully back into an elegant knot, one only elves could master, she was thankful for the hundredth time that her maid was an elf from the Giddien Forest. Ceili checked her dark green velvet dress that showed the tips of her tanned shoulders and framed her small hands with long flowing sleeves. Nothing was out of place.

"Ceili!" Ceili's dark eyes shone with excitement, it must be time to go! "Ceili! Please hurry!" It was Ceili's maid, Solna. Yes! It was time to go at last! To go see King Ferdimon!

"I'm coming!" called Ceili, dashing down the stairs. "Tell me, Solna, how do I look?" She spun around, her skirt flying.

"Perfect! Simply beautiful! Now Ceili, you must quit wasting time! It's time to go! You know how long it takes to get to Athena, and the carriage is waiting outside, love."

"Oh of course!"

Ceili ran out onto the stone front steps with Solna right behind her. Ceili and her parents, along with Solna, were going to spend the summer with the King. Her father had been called by Ferdimon to help aid against the Northern Riders, since they threatened more and more every day. The riders were from the waste-lands up North of Airloniea, they were fearless, war-loving people, who loved to trouble the peaceful Airloniea. The attacked a few times a year, often raiding villages and ruining crops, no doubt they struck a fear into many Airlonieans, but Ceili was not one of them.

She saw this whole outing as a fun adventure, and she felt no fear or worry. The Riders had always been driven away eventually, why should this year be any different? Besides she and Ferdimon's daughter, Marianna were going to be far too bust having fun to worry about the Riders.

"I'll leave the worrying to the King and my Father." she had told her friends.

As the carriage raced through the cobble-stone streets, people came running out of shops and houses, hoping to catch a glimpse of the Duke and his family. Most of the crowds were all fair headed Airlonians, but there were a few elves and a handful of dwarfs here and there.

Cieli raised her hand to her own dark hair. Why was she so dark? Everyone else in her family was as pale as the other Airlonieans. Blond, fair-skinned, and blue eyed. But here was Ceili with raven-black hair, dark eyes, and while though skin wasn't dark, it was darker then her parents'. "Why?" she wondered to herself.

But a sudden voice brought her out of her thoughts. "Ceili."

"Yes, Father?"

"I forgot to tell you before we left, but Ferdimon told me that his daughter won't be at the castle while we're there. She's been sent to her Aunt's for the summer."

"Why?" asked Ceili sadly. She had been looking foward to Marianna's companionship that summer. Who could she visit with now?

Her Father sighed. "For safety. Ferdimon doesn't feel safe having her in Athena with the Riders so close."

Ceili laughed. "Well that's ridiculous! It's not that dangerous, is it?"

"I don't think so." answered her Father "If I thought so, I wouldn't be bringing you or your Mother along."