Elvaeria, Ep. 7

Hey everyone!! Here is some more of Maedaeria, newly renamed as Elvaeria!! Tell me what you think! I know this one is wicked long.

xoxo

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As Kateri, Emily, and the Pegasus waited in the lounge of the Place of Councils, they talked over the many frightening events which had taken place that day.
“After I left you, what happened?” Emily cried impatiently. “And where did you come from, Honored One?” she added, looking admiringly at the fantastic Pegasus before her.
“Before we answer any of these questions, I think we should all introduce ourselves properly,” Kateri said. “I’m afraid I don’t even know your name, Honored One.”
“Nor I yours, until I heard it spoken with the title ‘Princess’ before it!” exclaimed the Pegasus, smiling faintly. “So you are the Elvin Princess?”
“I am Kateri, Princess of the Elves, yes. This is Emily, also one of the Elvin princesses. She is my cousin.”
“Which of you is the daughter of Lidaera, Queen of the Elves, and as such, the heir to the kingdom?”
“Kateri is. My mother is Lidaera’s younger sister, Cilnaera.” Emily said, adding, “But we still did not know your name! Won’t you tell us?”

“Dear ones, I cannot blame you for not knowing this ancient tradition, because it has been so long since a Pegasus such as myself has walked among you, but it is the way of the Pegasus to only impart her name to those she truly trusts and admires. But as it is, I have now come to the conclusion that I can trust you, and that indeed, I do admire you. My name is Vaerizanda.”
“Oh, how beautiful,” Emily gasped, her eyes wide.
“Heaven Sent….that’s what it means, right?” Kateri asked, smiling.
“Yes, that’s right. But now, I shall tell you my half of the story.” Vaerizanda said, as she took a sip from her bowl of the same strange, whirling mist that the two elves were drinking.
“Now, where to start…Hmm. My friend, Kaezira is her name, had been traveling for weeks….But wait, no….No, it is necessary to go even farther back than that.

“Kaezira, the woman from whose gown this small piece of material comes from,” Vaerizanda began again, indicating the piece of cloth with her snout. “is a simple peasant from the land of Linaeria. She is the daughter of a farmer of no importance, her mother has been dead these many years, and she does not even know her name, as apparently it is painful for her father to speak of it, and he has told her nothing of her mother. She has no title, no significance to anyone, except those who know her as the sweet and loving girl she is. She is truly amazing. She has a heart larger and truer than anyone I have ever before met before .
“I met her one day in the forest; she was picking berries for a pie. Well, we formed an immediate bond. Since then, we have been fast friends. But not too long ago, she traveled into Elvaeria alone. She was looking for me, in fact. She traveled deep into the forest. Too deep. She became lost. After hours of searching through the forest for the way home, she came to a small hut. Hoping that whoever lived in the hut would be able to help her, she naively knocked upon the door, not knowing that evil exists even in the seemingly peaceful Land of the Elves.
“What she saw there was too horrible for words. An entire family slaughtered. She nearly fainted than and there, and she would have, had not circumstances forced her to keep her wits about her. For, you see, the murderer was still there. A outlandish creature, she said. A monstrous creature! I myself have never laid eyes on him, but she described him to me thoroughly. She did not wish to tell me, it frightened her even to think about him, but I made her, for the more I knew about this monster, the safer I could keep Kaezira.
“Well, as I was saying, the murderer, some kind of monster, was still there. He was dressed in a long, black cloak, and in his arms he held a girl. She was a gorgeous girl, Kaezira said, and she seemed to be unconscious. He stared at Kaezira, stared and stared. Then, he slowly stepped from the house, and, spreading enormous, black wings, soared up into the sky, after whispering three words to her. ‘You are next.’”

“How horrible!” Emily exclaimed. Kateri remained silently, her eyes large.
Zaerizanda was watching her. She looked at her, her eyes searching, before continuing.
“After Kaezira told me all this, I knew it was no trifling matter. I told her we had to flee from her home, for the monster would surely come after her. I was sure it had some way of searching her out and discovering where she lived. She was heartbroken, for she loved her father dearly, and she had a brother who was in the Lindaerian army, and who knew when she should see him again. At first, she refused to go, but her father, hearing of the horrendous affair, would not hear of her staying where she could be in danger.
“So we set off. For weeks we have been traveling through the forest, going through the safest routs. You may think it foolish to travel through Elvaeria when that is where the monster itself must live, but, though you are of the ancient and honored race of elves, even you have little knowledge of the secrets this forest holds. Even though you are of the noble race of elves, you, and your elders with you, cannot image the mysterious contained in Elvaeria’s depths. I knew we would be safer in the forest than anywhere else. I knew especially one place where the beast would surely never find us….The Kingdom of the Elves.
“We had been traveling two weeks, with no sign of danger, when suddenly, we felt as though we were being followed, watched. Before long, we knew the monster was on our tails. There was nothing we could do…We simply continued to travel, staying one step ahead of the creature.
“We were so close to reaching the Kingdom of the Elves…Closer even than we thought…When Kaezira fell and hit her head on a rock. This injury was not too severe, but it held us up for two days. When we were at last able to move again, the creature was right behind us. We had nothing to do but run. Run we did! We sped through the forest, doing all we could to reach the Kingdom of the Elves before we were overtaken. We would have made it, had not I in my carelessness run under a low hanging branch. Though this branch was high enough not to harm me, it knocked Kaezira right off my back. Then, before I knew what had happened, I had tumbled into a hole…what I now know was the well…and everything suddenly went black!” Zaerizanda broke off with tears in her eyes. “My fault, all my fault!”
“Oh, Zaerizanda, it’s not your fault! Truly it isn’t—” But before Kateri could go on, the door burst open and aged Meginia was before them.
“The Elders are ready for you!” she breathed.

Maedaeria, Ep. 6

Here is episode 6!! Sorry to everyone who still is not in the story yet! I'm working on it!! in the next couple of episodes you may spy a couple of new characters!! I'll keep you alerted! :)

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As Kateri and the Pegasus slowly descended to the forest ground, no one uttered a word, until at last, awe in her voice, the Pegasus finally spoke.
“Do you mean…?” she cried, as they landed with a thump by a bush of deep red berries.
“Yes.” Kateri said, overcome with amazement. “I think this is the Everlasting Stone..... The Lithos Athanatos.”
“Good heavens. What makes you think a thing like that?” the Pegasus said, her eyes wide.
“Because," Kateri whispered, "I think that that well, the one we fell into, was truly the Lost Well. I think it was the enchanted well out of which this Land of Elves sprung.”
“Could it be?” the Pegasus cried, shocked. “Could it truly be? Heavens, it was a stroke of luck which brought me into that well. But I have to ask -- even in the midst of this amazing discovery -- how in the world did I get into that well? Do you know?”
This reminded Kateri of the frightening affairs that in the first place had led to the discovering of the Lithos Athanatos.
“I don’t truly know,” she said hesitantly. “But I think I might have an idea.” Pulling the white piece of cloth out of the pocket into which she had put it, Kateri, sliding from the back of the Pegasus, held it before her. “Do you recognize this?”

Suddenly, the Pegasus’s dark eyes grew to twice their normal size. She kicked, rearing. Neighing, terrified, she seemed unable to control herself.
“What’s wrong?” Kateri cried, as the Pegasus trembled and ninnied, terror in her eyes. “Please, calm down!” Putting her hand tentatively on the frightened animal’s side, she looked into her eyes. Slowly, the Pegasus’ fast breathing slowed.
“I’m sorry,” she murmured. “That clothe….it is from my dear friend’s gown… I remember now! I don’t know what happened….it all took place so quickly! For weeks someone had been following us…we didn’t know who…Oh, I don’t know what to do!”
“Please, please, try and stay calm. Why don’t you wait until we are in a safe place before you tell me your story?”

The forest was growing dark. Although just that morning Kateri would not have been in the least frightened to travel though the forest in the dark, her trust in the goodness of all its inhabitants had been shattered through the events of the afternoon. Now, she knew she would not have been able to make the journey alone, for though she could in know way be called a coward, and though she was in fact one of the bravest of all the Elvin princesses, she now knew that there were those in the forest who could and would attack her. These beasts were indeed far too powerful for her, for she was still a young Elf and a novice the ways of white magic.

Nonetheless, the Pegasus and Kateri reached the kingdom of the elves in safety. As soon as Kateri passed through the enchanted gate through which only those who wished no evil upon the elves could enter, she was surrounded by friends.
“What happened?” cried Emily. “We’ve all been so worried. It’s taken you ages to return. Some of the men went out to try and find you, but you were no where to be found!”
“Princess Kateri,” a deep voice said, and the girls, looking up, found themselves facing one of the Elders, a group of wise and respected elves who dealt with all matters of importance that occurred in the Elvin Kingdom. “You must follow me. Honored One,” he added, turning to the Pegasus, “We are amazed and privileged to have you here with us. Please, follow me as well. And you, Princess Emily.”
The group of elves around the two girls and the Pegasus parted for Kateri, Emily and the Pegasus.

A little while later, Kateri, the Pegasus, and Emily sat in a small lounge in the Place of Councils. As the Princess of the Elvin Kingdom, Kateri, and her friends as well, now had to appear before the Council to explain what had happened to her while in the forest. The Elders were gathering at the moment. Suddenly, the door opened, and a beautiful, aged elf came in carrying a tray on which glasses of a strange, misty substance stood.
“Here, dear ones, drink this. It will calm your spirits.”
“Oh, thank you, Meginia.” Kateri tried to smile, taking one of the glasses from the tray and sipping from it.
“I’ll leave you to yourselves for now. But let me warn you, you shall be summoned soon. For now, sit here and collect your thoughts. I’ll come get you once you are called for.”

Maedaeria, Ep. 5

As the creature soared into the air, a sudden gust of wind blew Kateri's dark hair about her face. She stared up into the blue sky as the monster slowly turned into a tiny dot, until he, and the young woman with him, disappeared completely from sight. The forest, ancient and serene, was silent all around her. A small, white strip of cloth on the leafy ground caught Kateri’s eye. She slowly knelt down, taking the small piece of cloth in her hand. Suddenly, she heard a rustling of leaves, a ninny, a fearful cry.

Kateri straightened up, looking anxiously around her.
“Who’s there?” Kateri cried. Her own voice sounded strange to her: faint, fearful. At first, no one answered, but then, a soft, “help me!”
“Who are you, where are you?” Kateri called, her pluck returning to her.
“Where am I? I haven't the slightest idea! I fell into some sort of pit…maybe an old well. I don't know what happened... I can't seem to remember a thing...”
"Oh, don't worry, I'll find you!" Kateri searched around carefully, cautious of where she placed her feet, lest she fall into the ditch too. This turned out to be a rather ineffectual caution, because suddenly the ground gave way beneath Kateri and she tumbled down into a deep, dark crevice, landing at the feet of a chestnut mare.
“Ow,” Kateri cried, rubbing her head.
“Oh dear, I hope you’re not seriously damaged. I didn’t mean for you to all into the pit too.”
“Why, you’re a talking horse!” Kateri exclaimed gleefully, staring up at the horse. “Of course I’ve known talking beasts….But they have grown so scarce under Syncrad’s rule…I haven’t seen one in hundreds of years!”
“Oh, I’m not just a talking horse. I’m a Pegasus. Now, if you help me out of this tangled web I’m caught in, I can fly us both out of here.”
Standing up, Kateri saw the lovely, soft wings of the Pegasus. Her eyes wide with admiration, she quickly starting bending back the think brambles that the mare was caught in.
“Oh, thank you,” the mare said gratefully once she was free. “Now, climb on my back, and I’ll get us out of here!”
Kateri scrambled onto the high back of the Pegasus, and they were about to soar out of the ditch when suddenly Kateri exclaimed, and tumbled of the mare.

“What is it?” the Pegasus cried, startled. Turning around, she saw Kateri digging around a large, round rock frantically. “What are you doing?” Suddenly, Kateri had the round stone in her arms, and a torrent of cool water was rapidly filling the well. Kateri rushed to the mare, clambering onto her back.
“Go, go now!” she screamed, and the mare kicked off from the ground, soaring out into the sunlight.

Kateri and the Pegasus circled the forest.
“What happened back there?” the horse cried, indignant.
“See this stone?” Kateri asked, reverently holding the circular stone before her.
“So? What is it?”
“In this stone rests the fate of Elvaeria, Linaeria, Maedaeria, and all the world.”

Maedaeria, Ep. 4

Okay guys! here's more!!! I decided to be in the story... I'm Marinka! You don't get to see much of her in this episode, but she'll appear more later on!

I again apologize for the long delay in introducing MC (Ania) and Bethany (Bethleyom) into the story. It simply means you're going to have a grand entrance!!! ;)

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Marinka peered down at the two elves, her wings quivering with interest. One of the girls had raven black hair; the other dark brown. That they were elves was certain, for they had the tall, graceful forms and the pointed ears, and wore the long, flowing gowns made of a shimmering Elvin material impossible to duplicate.
“Come on, Emily,” the taller one said, as they hurried through the forest on winged feet. “We’ll get it now. The feast starts in an hour.”
“What are you doing out here, Marinka?” The voice was stern, and so was the face.
“Oh, Father,” Marinka turned, her pointed face guilty. “Nothing. I was simply enjoying the cool autumn breeze.”
“You should be out with the others, doing mischief to those who trespass in our forest.” Floritzel frowned at his daughter. “And these wings, ridiculous! Dull, dreary, lifeless brown?”
Marinka looked down at her mouse-brown wings. She blushed.
“Why brown, Marinka? Dirt brown? Look at the beautiful colors around you! Gold, red, brilliant orange, violet, blue, yellow! Fall is full of dazzling colors. Why brown?”
“Father, it’s not my fault if my wings are brown!” Marinka’s wings drooped, her voice low.
“Well, you could at least try and be like other pixies! Why sit here all day, when there is heaps of tomfoolery and mischief to be done! After all, Marinka, you are the daughter of the King of Fairyfolk!”

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Kateri pulled Emily after her.
“We’re almost there,” she smiled.
“I think I hear them calling us,” Emily replied anxiously.
“I hope they won’t be too angry,” Kateri grimaced, looking down at her sodden Elvin gown. “We did get a little grubby, didn’t we?”
“Well, at least we know that baby’s going to be okay!” said Emily.
“That’s true. Now come on!” Kateri sped up, only to abruptly halt. “Do you hear something?”
“No…Why, do you?” Emily whispered, looking nervous.
“I – don’t know. Here, you go on without me. I want to look around.”
“Oh, but Kateri, we’re in enough trouble as it is! You don’t want to be late for the feast too!”
“It will only take a moment….Go on.” Kateri smiled reassuringly at Emily. The younger girl shrugged.
“Alright, but you’d better hurry! See you.” Emily said, before dashing off, waving.

“Hello?” Kateri called. “Anybody there?” Something scuffled behind an enormous tree, shaking leaves and cracking twigs. Kateri slowly crept toward the tree. Peering around it, she saw a horrendous sight. A tall, black figure stood over the fallen body of a young woman, her golden hair spread over her face, concealing her features. The figure, draped in an aged, midnight black cloak, slowly turned, revealing a face swathed in black material, only the beady black eyes visible. Those eyes sent shivers through Kateri’s body. They seemed to peer into her very inner soul. She froze with fright. The creature, the man, or whatever it was, looked at her. Then it slowly, deliberately, turned its back on her, leaning down and picking up the strange woman. It turned once more, looked Kateri in the eye. Suddenly, out of its back, strange, hideous wings sprouted, wings twice the size of the creature itself. It gave Kateri one more searching glance, took a step forward, and whispered. She didn’t understand it, but she knew what it meant.
“You’re next.”

Maedaeria, Ep. 3

I know, I know. Ridiculous! A third post in ONE DAY??? But I'm just in a posting mood, I guess. And apparently a writing mood too. Here is some more of Maedaeria!! I just wrote it. I know I said the next episode would have Bethany and MC, but it turned out they won't be introduced until the next one, maybe even later!! Ahh!!! SORRY GUYS!!!

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The sun was getting lower in the pale blue sky. The air grew chill and a sharp wind began to blow. Adrastius slowly traveled through the King's forest. He would reach the edge of the forest in less then two hours, but the hike was made more difficult and dangerous because of the child in his arms. It had long been believed by the peasants of Maedaeria that this forest, vast and lush, was enchanted. This belief was only strengthened by the fact that though the land of Maederia grew more barren and empty as the years past, this forest continued to grow and flourish.

During King Syncrad's rule, disaster upon disaster had plagued Maedaeria. Syncrad was an ambitious king; it was his wish to expand Maedaeria as far as the Western Sea, passed the land of Linaeria. Linaeria was a peaceful, prosperous country, one which had never been anything but an ally to Maedaeria. When King Syncrad ascended the throne, he almost immediately declared war on the nation. Already, Maedaeria was suffering from plagues, famines, and countless other evils. It was not hard, therefore, to blame affluent, blooming Linaeria for Maedaeria's troubles. Many people, especially the nobility and gentry, agreed with Syncrad and supported the war. Ever since, war had been a constant. Only the closest of Syncrad's supporters were protected from having their children, at the young age of fourteen, drafted into the war.

Ridiculous taxes were laid upon the Maedaerians, making it impossible for almost anyone to prosper, other than the King and his nobility. To make matters worse, in the last year, a famine, worse than any that had befallen Maedaeria before, had set in. The land was parched by endless, boiling sun. Rain refused to fall; cattle dropped like flies; rivers dried up; fields were wastelands. Only in this forest, secretly known by most as Elvaeria, the land of the Elves, did animals prosperous and multiply, plants grow lush and fertile, and rivers flow fast and brimming over with cool, clear water. Yet none were allowed to enter into this forest, and any who were heard to call it anything but the King's Forest could suffer the penalty of death.

The War had now reached its seventh year. It was an ungodly war, in which countless gruesome horrors had taken place. The Maedaerian soldiers were feared more than death in both Linaeria and Maedaeria. They were trained to be merciless, cruel. Stories of the executions of hundreds of innocent Linaerians were whispered of, as were others tales...tales too grisly, too unimaginable, to utter without quavering. The barbarous, inhumane tactics of the Maedarian forces were one of the only things that kept Linaeria from defeating Maedaeria. As it was, the war was caught in a deadlock. Maedaeria was in the midst of a horrible famine, but it was a much larger, much more populous country than Linaeria, more advanced in weapons and war tactics and with a vast army. Linaeria, on the other hand, had no finely trained soldiers, no ingenious military tactics. It had only a handful of unfailingly patriotic men.

Adrastius leaned against a sturdy tree, staring helplessly at the child. It was screaming. He was in a clearing. The tall, brilliantly foliaged trees leaned in, making a canopy above them. The little bit of daylight left to them filtered through the wide, red, orange and golden leaves, speckling the ground with color. Kateri and Emily sat in the branches of one of the lofty trees, hidden.
"Do you think he'll leave the baby here?" Emily whispered, pulling her shimmering, Elven-made cloak around her shoulders.
"I hope so," Kateri replied, peering down at the man holding the child. "If we don't return soon, people shall start to wonder."
Adrastius stiffened. For the hundredth time that day, he thought he heard whispering; felt as though he were being followed. He glanced around him. What if there were soldiers hiding behind the trees. He shivered, thinking of the horror stories he had heard about Syncrad's soldiers. Nonetheless, he straightened up.
"Who goes there?" he called, trying not to sound as fearful as he was. Though no answer came, he was sure someone was there. "If you wish something from me, come out and ask me face to face! I know you're there!" He looked down at the babe, who continued to wail loudly. "Oh, nevermind," he whispered, holding the child closer to him. "If anyone is there, apparently they don't wish me harm, or they would have attacked me by now. I could hardly get more vulnerable, what with only a bow and a few arrows, and a child to carry. Poor thing, you must be starving." He looked around the clearing, thinking how much more the babe could suffer.

"Where's he going?" Kateri wondered aloud, as the man left the clearing. "This is the perfect place to leave him!"
"He heard us," said Emily, her chin in her hands.
"But how? How can a mere human hear us? We're elves!"
"He doesn't seem so bad, you know," Emily said. "He's really gentle with the baby."
"Yeah, except for the fact that he's planning on leaving him to starve to death somewhere in this forest."


The trees were becoming farther apart, the pathway wider and wider. Surely he was reaching the end of the forest. The baby's relentless screeching made Adrastius' head pound, and his stomach ached from hunger.
"Almost there now, little one," he said softly, smiling at the baby.
"I don't think he's going to leave the baby at all!" Kateri cried.
"I think you're right," Emily sighed happily. "So we don't have to worry about taking the baby to a loving home after all."
"Well, I think we should stay for a bid longer...just to make sure," Kateri said, "After all, he could simply be planning on giving the child a swift death, rather than a drawn out one."
"Ooh, do you think so?" Emily cried, staring at the young man.
"No, I don't. But better safe than sorry. Come on."

The two followed closely behind Adrastius, until at last he reached the very edge of the forest.
"Home is not far from here, little one," he said to the baby, gently caressing his soft head.
"We can't go with him to his house," Kateri said, disappointed.
"Oh, but why?" Emily exclaimed.
"You know what would happen if we were seen, Emily. It would be dreadful. We're never supposed to leave the Elvaeria. Don't worry, I don't think anything will happen to the baby. He's in safe hands now."

It was a short hike from the forest to Adrastius' hut. The baby cried pitifully. Adrastius had little doubt that he had eaten nothing for many, many hours. He hurried as quickly as was humanly possible. At last, he reach the door of the hut, out of breath. He dashed in.

"Audrina!" he called as soon as he entered the small hut. A faint cry reached his ears. "Audrina?" Fear washed over him, a greater fear than any he had experienced that day. He rushed to the tiny cubicle which was the bedroom. A young girl lay on a stack of hay covered with a threadbare blanket. Her face was streaked with tears, and in her arms she held a newborn.
"Adrastius," she sobbed.
"My love, why...our son?" he breathed, looking down at the still baby. But something was wrong. The baby did not stir, nor even seem to breath.

The child in his arms was wailing loudly, and Audrina stared wide eyed, bewildered, at him.
"Where did you find that child?" She cried, trying vainly to sit up. "How...?"
"Audrina, our son..."
Tears shone in Audrina's eyes.
"Stillborn," she whispered.
Adrastius didn't move. He barely breathed. Stillborn?
"Adrastius, the baby...Who's is he? Here....give him to me."
Adrastius, as though in a daze, passed the tiny child to his wife. She quickly began to nurse him. Immediately the babe stopped wailing. Into his own arms Adrastius took the silent, still, white form of his son. How cold he was, how pale. Yet, he was beautiful, perfect.


"Adrastius, this child is at death's door." Audrina's quiet, pain-filled voice brought Adrastius back to life. His wife, delicate, pale, looked beseechingly at him. Her eyes. Never had he seen anything to match her eyes. They seemed to take up her whole face, golden, encircled in long, dark lashes. Some though them grotesque. To Adrastius, there was nothing as beautiful. "Where did he come from?"
"I found him. No... He was given to me."
"Where?" Audrina's large eyes grew still larger.
"I -- I know you don't like me to go into the forest, Audrina...But...I had to, I had to get something for us to eat. I went hunting in Elvaeria. I was caught, and the man, he was no soldier, but a nobleman, threatened to have me hung. Instead, he gave me this child, and told me to leave him in the forest to starve. He said if I didn't, the penalty would be severe."
Audrina looked down at the child.
"You can't. We can't do that, Adrastius."
"No, I know that. But he expects proof... He will be back in three days to see the child's body."
Audrina's golden eyes shimmered.
"These clothes are finely made," she said, fingering the newborn's beautiful, silken dress, and his lovely blanket. "Surely the dress of a nobleman's child. Why would they wish him killed? He is beautiful, strong. He is protected, by someone, something...How else could he have stayed alive, with no mother, no food for nearly a whole day? He is meant to live, Adrastius."
Adrastius did not reply. He was staring at his own son.
"I know what we can do," he said.

Maederia, Ep. 2

Hey! So here's a bit more.... Not much, but a bit. None of you are in this part of the story....But I'm going to be introducing Bethany and MC in the next episode, hopefully! :) JFYI, I decided to make Scyncrad (the king) have a DAUGHTER rather than a sister, about whom he had the dream. Wait...does that make sense?? I mean he wants to kill his GRANDSON rather than his NEPHEW.

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Lord Mendris slowed his horse to a trot, his startling eyes pools of blue. Icy masks, hiding all feeling and thoughts. It was impossible to decipher what went on behind them.
“Wretched peasant,” he muttered to himself, his voice gruff. “I wish I hadn’t had to scare him so badly, but if I hadn’t, I doubt he’d do as I ordered…”
“And why did you order it?” A clear, high voice questioned, echoing from somewhere in the shadows of the lofty, colorfully dressed trees. Medris spun around in his surprise, nearly toppling off his horse.
“Who’s there? In the name of the King, may he live forever, you’d better tell me!”
“Why did you want your own flesh and blood murdered so mercilessly? Why did you wish for the slaughtering of innocent blood? Do you not remember?”
“Remember what? Who are you? What do you want?” Medris spat, his face red with fury.
“Are you a coward, Mendris?”
“How dare you!” Mendris swung himself off his steed, heaving his heavy, bejeweled sword from its sheath.
“Do you not remember what was done for you at your birth? Have you forgotten?”
“How do you know my name? SHOW YOURSELF!”
“To kill an innocent is a crime too heinous to voice. Much evil and affliction shall befall you for this sin.”
A shadow of fear crossed over Mendris’ dark face. His blue eyes widened.
“But I didn’t kill him! How could I? My own flesh and blood? My cousin's grandchild? Even in a purely practical sense…What if Syncrad was ever to regret murdering his daughter’s child? He is growing old and has still produced no heir. There may come a time when he laments this act. And then who else shall the blame fall upon, but me? I washed my hand of the crime! I gave the child to a herdsman! His fate no longer rests with me!”
“You are right, Mendris. Your fate now rests with him.”
“Who are you, demon? Why do you hide? Reveal yourself!” But no answer came, no matter how loudly or how long Medris called.

* * *

Anaera’s eyes shot open. She was sweaty and pale, her long, curly black hair damp and limpid. She looked down at the bed beside her, expectantly, hopefully. There was nothing there but her own empty arms. She sat up, her hands outstretched.
“The baby!”
A lady-in-waiting was by her side in but a moment.
“Dear Princess, please, you must rest. You are exhausted.”
“No, no. My son, where is he?” Anaera cried, trying to get out of bed.
“Please…you must lie down, your Highness! Do not excite yourself!”
“I want my son.” Anaera’s eyes were wide with fear, her face lost of all color.
“Mabia, go and get the medication,” Kaelos, Anaera’s old nurse, now lady-in-waiting and long time companion, shoved the younger girl away, frowning at her. “Here, dear one, lie down.” She gently pushed Anaera back onto the bed. She then pulled a chair close to the bed and smiled kindly at the princess.
“I brought you some soup. Eat some, it's your favorite.”
“Thank you, I’m not hungry. Kaelos, I want my baby, please! I just want my baby.”
“Anaera, you must eat. It was a strenuous labor….full of difficulties…”
“Kaelos, you must tell me, as a friend… Where is my son? Please…” Anaera’s eyes peered beseechingly into Kaelos’ round, slightly wrinkled face. “My child…”
"Here, dear Princess, eat your soup."
“Kaelos! Tell me. Is he dead?” Anaera’s face was deathly white with fear and apprehension. A dark shadow crept over Kaelos’ face as well, her eyes revealing not only fear, but doubt and guilt. She hesitated.
“Yes," it seemed difficult for her to utter the small word. "Yes, dear one. He is dead. He was ... stillborn.”
“No, no, please. It can’t be! ...I heard him cry! I know I did.”
Kaelos’ eyes widened. She shook her head.
“You were suffering the heavy pains of labor, you were under the influence of heavy medication…You must have imagined it.”
“No, I swear I heard him crying, Kaelos.” Anaera put out supplicating arms. “I know he was alive!”
At that moment, Mabia returned with a steaming cup. Kaelos quickly took it from her, gesturing for her to leave. She looked down at the young Princess and mourning mother. Tears sparkled in the old woman's eyes as she leaned over her.
“Here, drink this, Princess, it will help you rest, and take the pain away,” quickly Kaelos poured the hot liquid down Anaera’s throat. Moments later, the princess was deep asleep.

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Pronunciations:

Kaelos - KAY - lohs

Maederia, Ep. 1

I've written a bit more than this, but I'll post the rest later! :) And btw Emily, thanks for the idea you left in the comments!!! hehe.

So, tell me what you think!!! Do you like it?

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Kateri quietly crouched on the leaf strewn forest floor. At her waste hung a small sword bejeweled with diamonds and rubies. On her shoulder hung her Elvin-made bow, sturdy and polished. The sound of voices drifted through the cold October air.
“Tell me your name, herdsman.” A stern, deep voice commanded.
“Adrastius of Peluesius, my lord,” a voice replied, nervous, agitated.
Silently, Kateri tiptoed forward, peering through the brilliantly colored leaves of a tall tree. One of the men was tall and dark, draped in a fine cloak of rich blue. Black hair covered his eyes. In his arms he carried a bundle, but whether it was anything more than an armful of cloth was impossible to tell. A huge warhorse stood next to him, black as night, with a white star on his forehead. The other man was dressed in a patched tunic, a bow in his hands, and a threadbare sack slung over his narrow shoulders.
“What are you doing in the King’s forest?” the lord barked.
The herdsman, Adrastius, quavered under his fierce glare.
“My lord, forgive me, I meant no harm. This forest is swarming with creatures that his most royal Majesty, the King, may he live forever, never touches. My wife is with child, and we are starving. My lord, I only wished to hunt some rabbits for a stew.”
The lord growled, snatching the young man by his tunic.
“Never let me see you in these forests again, thief. If I ever do….Why, it’s ridiculous of me even to let you go this time! You should hung by the neck for this criminal thievery.”
“My lord, no, please, I beg of you….Be merciful!” Adrastius begged, nearly weeping with fear, though not for himself...for his wife and unborn child. How would they survive if he was killed?
“I shouldn’t be. Give me one good reason. And yet…if you could be of assistance to me…”
“My lord, anything!”
The lord hefted the bundle in his arms, revealing that it was nothing less than a newborn babe.
“This child’s fate is death. Take him and lay him in an exposed part of this forest. Leave him there for three days. On the third day I shall return, and you shall show me his body. If you do not follow my orders exactly, you shall suffer horribly.”
“M-my lord?” the young man said, shocked, indeed, disgusted, staring at the tiny child.
“Do you hear me? There shall be grave retribution if you do not follow orders.” With that, the nobleman roughly shoved the babe into the herdsman’s arms, mounted his warhorse, and galloped away.

The young man stood in the forest, tenderly holding the sleeping child in his arms. Kateri crouched behind the tree, watching him. Suddenly, a small hand touched her arm. She jumped in surprise.
“I’m sorry!” Emily cried. “I didn’t mean to startle you.”
“How long have you been there?” Kateri breathed, brushing some of her raven black hair back from her face.
“Long enough to know that that rich young man was awful! How could he wish such an evil fate on an innocent baby?”
“I don’t know, but I agree he was horrible. Most humans are. Sometimes I feel as if we elves were the only creatures left with any good in them,” Kateri said sadly.
“Come on, we have to do something. We can’t let that shepherd kill that poor baby!”
“You know it’s forbidden to meddle in human affairs, Emily!” cried Kateri, though only half-heartedly. She too longed to help the babe.
“But Kateri, we have to! No one would ever know!”
“Well....okay,” Kateri agreed. “Come on, we'll follow him. When he leaves the baby, we'll carry it to some other family, one which will love him.”

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Pronunciations:

Adrastius: Ad-DRAY-stius

Pelues - Pel-oos-ius

Prologue

An evil, powerful tyrant.

An unquenchable group of rebels.

A long, harrowing quest.

Add you guys into mix and we've really got a story!! ;)

Well, I've been working on the story!! Here is the prologue..... (None of you appear yet in this part of the story.)

*Edit* I decide to change it around a bit and make him a lion instead of a mule. ;)

*Edit 2* I decided to make Anaera his daughter rather than his sister.....

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Prologue

Syncrad awoke abruptly, his forehead sweaty, his dark, gleaming eyes wild.
“Daerperst!” he bellowed, throwing back his thick, luxurious covers, brushing his hand against his brows, wiping away the cold sweat.
“Your most royal Majesty, my lord,” the servant appeared immediately, bowing low and muttering greetings carefully adorned with admiration and awe for the royal personage.
“Get me my mantle,” Syncrad said impatiently, his brows creased with anxiety. “And call the wisemen to my royal chambers without delay.”

When the wisemen arrived, King Syncrad was as cool and collected as ever, but questions were obviously hovering impatiently about in his mind.
“Please, sit.” He ordered the moment he saw them, gesturing to some silken sofas positioned before him.
“You royal Majesty,” they bowed, before seating themselves.
“To get immediately down to business, I have had a dream, and I would like to hear your interpretation of it. It was a strange dream. Ridiculous. Frightening. Evil. Well, in the dream, my daughter, Princess Anaera, gave birth to a lion…This lion was a monstrous thing…it covered the whole of Maederia and far beyond its boundaries. And in my dream, this monster, this lion devoured me whole.”
For a few moments the wisemen sat in silent contemplation.
“Your royal Majesty, with your permission,” one of the wisemen, Teslivai, finally spoke, a glimmer of apprehension in his eyes. “It appears from this dream that your daughter, her royal Highness Princess Anaera, is to give birth to a son who will usurp your throne, becoming King of Maederia, and shall expand the boundaries of the Maederian Empire.”
King Syncrad sat still, his eyes glinting maliciously.
“Do you all agree on this interpretation?” he murmured, glaring at the other wisemen gathered before him. Hesitantly, regretfully, all of the wisemen nodded.
“You may go,” the king whispered, his voice cold and hard. Quickly the wisemen, bowing fearfully, left the royal chambers.
Abruptly, with a roar of uncontrollable wrath, Syncrad threw a majestic basin, adorned with jewels of blood red, from him. The bowl crashed to the ground, where it broke into a million pieces. The rubies alone shone brilliantly, unscathed, in the light of the countless candles which glimmered in the dim room.
“Dirpust, get me Mendris.”

“I say kill him! Kill him!” Syncrad screamed, as his cousin and Royal Councilor, Lord Mendris, stood before him.
“Your royal Majesty, you know that the babe is not even yet born,” Mendris said hesitantly, startled, baffled.
Syncrad, aware of Mendris’ bewilderment, could not bring himself to tell him of the prophetic dream. As evidenced by the dream itself, even family could betray you, and what if Mendris was to use this news as a weapon?
“Listen. When she gives birth, take the babe away before she sees him, don’t let her even hear him cry. Don’t ask why, don’t ask anything at all. Just do it! Take him away…slaughter him! I want him dead!”