CHAPTER I:

The Story

"Tell a love story again. Please, please, please!" cried all of the little girls sitting around Frent, an old man in their town that told many stories. Alexander's best friend Marcus looked at him and whispered. "How many times do we have to listen to this sappy stuff? I don't know how the girls like it." A few of the other boys sighed and picked up some dirt from the ground they were sitting on and threw it.

"Hey boys the girls listened to the story of William the Beast Slayer yesterday. Just try and bear with me." All the boys moaned out an "Ok." Everyone scooted in closely so that they could hear the story. "I don't know it's not too bad. I kind of like it." Alexander whispered to Marcus while looking at the ground. "That's just 'cause you like Laurel." Marcus replied. "Ya…well you like Sandra." After he said that both the boys realized they were talking very loud and all of the Girls were staring at them.

Both boys began to blush and look down. "Great job idiot," Marcus murmured. "You started it." Alexander replied in a whisper. When they looked up the rest of the girls had turned around except Laurel was looking at Alexander and Sandra at Marcus. When the two boys and girls looked at each other the girls smiled, turned around, and whispered to each other as they giggled.

"All right now let's start. Hmm which one should I tell today?" He sat their rubbing his beard as the girls called out names of stories. After a moment, he looked up and told them, "Ahh, here we go. You haven't heard this one yet. A long time ago in our own beautiful country of Lïor when it was a very peaceful time before the elves, dwarves, and almost all other magical creatures went into hiding. There was a…" He was cut off when Alexander asked in a very confused way, "Wait you said almost all other magical creatures went into hiding which ones didn't?"

Frent looked at him both amazed, and confused how to answer it. "That is a very good question," He explained. "But there is a time and a place for every thing; if you be patient and wait your question may be answered. Anyways where was I? Umm… Oh right there was a king and queen of all races: Dwarf, Griffin, Dragon, and even of the Krod. All except for the humans and the elves, the humans only had a king and the elves had only a queen.

"The two were deeply in love but were forbidden to get married because the elves thought of the humans as a lesser race. If they tried to get married and someone knew they would be over thrown be their advisors. Their love still burned hotter than the sun and they had to meet. After three months they decided to get married and they went to a country across the sea to the south called Meŕ. When they returned some people spotted them kissing and reported it to the advisers of the elves." Frent paused to take a drink of his ale and clear his throat.

Alexander now began to visualize what was going on and imagined what everyone looked like.

Frent looked at the kids eager faces. Even the boys wanted to hear more. He continued, "Anyways, the elves were all furious and banished their queen Shȍnn from their lands. They threatened to wage war on the humans. In an attempt to make peace, the human king's advisors threw out their own king Chastȓ. The two met up and both knew not even banishment could keep their love apart. They sold their jewelry and any expensive things they had with them and disguised them selves as peasants.

"They both knew it would be hard to keep their identity a secret but they figured out a plan. Shȍnn was going to let her hair grow long and wear a hood to cover her ears. They also went to a land of humans because they knew humans would not realize who they were. They settled in a small village close to the forest so Shȍnn would feel at home. They opened up carpentry, and one year later had a son. They changed their last name so no one would realize who they were. Shȍnn had immortality though, so she had to kill herself after her husband died so they would not be detected.

"After all, of the banishment and turmoil there was a great distress in Lïor. The dwarves were mad at the elves for causing this because they were great friends with Chastȓ, and they took away their supply of gemstones. To retaliate elves stopped supplying everyone with their linen and wonderful fruits. We humans stopped supplying the elves with meat.

"In an attempt to solve the dispute the empire created a council consisting of five members of each race. They would live in Edmȋr, a central city of our country, and solve all of our countries issues. As always, the men grew greedy and wanted more power. They tricked the griffins, that were easily influenced, into killing the dragons and the rest of the races were poisoned at one of their feasts. One of the men found a book the elves kept with them and figured out the spell that the elves used to make them selves live forever and used it on them and on the griffins they rode.

"Unfortunately when they said the spell two things went wrong: the first they did not possess enough magical power, the second was that they did not pronounce the words right. The result was that they turned into horrible creatures, but they still had immortality. They became very twisted, and some say their body resembles that of a spider. They have four eyes on their head and hunge fangs coming out of their mouth. Their skin turned dark, they lost their hair, grew an extra pair of arms, and have the ability to climb up walls.

"They soon became the leaders of our land. Their main leader is ZanBenrotix who was the most powerful and deceitful of humans. That is how our horrible form of government came about. Do not despair yet young ones there is still hope for there are people searching for the heir to the throne so that he or she may bring peace to us and rule over the humans and the elves." Frent looked at the kids satisfied and amazed faces. He knew there would be a barrage of questions soon.

"What city did the two lovers settle in?" cried one "What did they change their name to?" asked another "You said elves were immortal but the queen killed her self" yelled Alexander. "Well no one knows what city they went to, but we do know that it was a small city with not too many people. As for their name they never shared any of that with anyone. About their immortality, they do not have true immortality but age a lone can not kill them they can still die though" "Do you think they settled in our city Frent?" some one asked. "Well the king or queen-to-be could be any of you, you never know. Just remember all of your questions will be answered when the time is right."

Just then, a few guards came over as they always did to Frent. "Run along now kids." He told the children with deep concern. They all ran back to their parents because most of them had chores. Alexander started to run off but decided to stay with Marcus in hiding behind a tree as they listened to the conversation. "You're coming with us for treason against the empire. Don't even try to run. How could you escape we have you surrounded?" On guard said as five other guards circled Frent.

He let out a big sigh before saying, "Humans with their questions. Just remember, if you wait you may even find the answer to your question even if you are unaware you have come across it." Just then, an animal came out from the trees that looked like a wolf, but it was as large as a horse. Frent looked at the guards with a deep concentrated look and whispered "Ȯffen sȋer ïrher meinѐg." He then closed his eyes and started whispering very quietly.

Then all of the sudden the guards looked at each other and one said, "wait this isn't the man we're looking for." At that, they all turned and left.