Aether Winds

Chapter one- Phantasia

By- IceWind

A/N:

This is my first fanfic for The Protector of the Small books by Tamora Pierce. The names, places, things, ect, all are credited to her. This fanfic is set in an alternate universe. I.E: Joren is NOT dead, Cleon and Kel are not together (hehe), and other incidents that have I messed up on and don't feel like making it exactly like the book. Please REVIEW *grins* and as long as its not flames on how Kel and Cleon should be together or something of that trivial nature, flames are fine. This story is PG-13 for anything that might come up lol.

Hmmm…. The name I got for the chapter *points up above* is kinda strange lol. I just thought of it *blinks* I don't even know its it's a real words, oh well. *chuckles* Please tell me any mistakes I might have on my stories, this series right now will probably be long… ^.^ hehe. The chapters might have long intervals between them, one because I'm lazy, two because of school, and three I'd probably run out of ideas on what to do.

Important: Whom do you want Kel to end up with? Joren or Dom? *coughs* and no its only them, no Roald, Neal, or Cleon please. Right now I'm leaning more towards Joren…. ^.~ Can you blame me?

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She was there, yet at the same time wasn't there, without a seconds thought she gave up trying to understand, she let it embrace her and let it begin…

She couldn't see anything before her as she blindly ran. The sounds behind her were lessening, the screams and howls of others echoing after her. She didn't, couldn't, remember what was happening, all she knew was to run, and run fast. Her breath came out in heavy gasps as she forced her weakened legs to pump harder. She didn't know where she was going, only one thing flashed through her mind, to run away. A fall, she stumbled over roots and rocks through the darkness, getting up with a choked sound and a yank to get her skirts free before continuing with her flight. Unheeded, hot, heavy, tears dripped down from her eyes, to drop like crystals to the ground…

A light, she jerked her head up frightened, body shuddering slightly. It sang in her very body and beckoned to her enticingly, just out of reach. Without a seconds thought she plunged into some brush over to the light. The branches tearing rents into her dress. The light glowed steadily, not like some flickering torch. She burst into a small clearing and immediately stopped in her tracks, chest heaving heavily, sweat mingled with tears dripping down the side of her face to fall unto the ground.

In the middle of the clearing was some sort of stone altar. Made completely out of stone, it stood there. With a start she realized that it was only one piece of stone, not made with smaller pieces melted together. It stood out boldly, daringly. The altar had some moss growing at its base and looked ancient, though it did not even have a chip broken off. Broad flat stones, sunk into the earth, with words inscribed on them encircled the altar, written in a language unknown to the girl. On top of the altar was a glowing crystal. It was of the purest white and the shape and size of a tear. It seemed to glow in the inside and flickered slightly. With surprise the girl noticed that it didn't rest on the altar, rather, above it. The orb hovered several inches from the top of the altar and glowed softly.

A crash, the sound of feet running, she whirled around from the sight before her to look back at the brush. A look of fear crossed her face as she listened and heard the sound of people running, getting closer to her. She looked around widely, searching for a way, any way, out and away from them, those after her. Panic crossed her face as the sound got louder, then she locked eyes with the crystal. It hovered there and glowed… that's all it did… a thought crossed her mind, "how come nobody spotted this before?" The thought suddenly disappeared like wind had sweeped across her mind. She paused for a moment before walking as in a trance like state towards the crystal, eyes locked onto it, thoughts disappearing. An owl hooted from up above, breaking through to her, she stopped abruptly and shook her head, eyes full of confusion. The girl took a step back, chilled and frightened, but the sound of footsteps came louder, to loud. She locked her eyes back onto the crystal, somehow realizing this was the only way out… away… With brisk steps she reached the altar and gently closed her hand over the crystal.

It blinded her, she couldn't see anything, but the bright white light engulfing her. Panic appeared in her mind for a moment before she forced herself, for about the first time that night, to think rationally. "I accepted it, so I will accept whatever fate this crystal will do to me." At that she closed her eyes, opening them when the footsteps were right upon her. She stared into the frightened faces of her parents, each one panic stricken, both covered in light wounds. "NO!" she screamed when she realized her mistake, what she thought was following her was in actuality her parents, she thought fiercely at the crystal, "Let me go! Let me go to them!," but it was to late…

She saw her mother form a tearful protest at what force was pulling at her, her father silent, but a look of grief settling over his features. She opened her mouth to cry out to them… but the force was to strong, pulling her. She flickered in front of her parents before vanishing right before their eyes. A wordless scream echoing throughout the air.

Her mouth was in the form of a silent scream as she woke up from the intense dream. Keladry of Mindelan, otherwise known as Kel, sat up in her bed, her mind racing and her chest heaving as if she had just ran up the entire hill, at top speed, that the training master, Lord Wyldon made them jog up. With a start she found out she couldn't remember what had woken her up and made her frightened like this, she racked through her mind, desperately trying to remember. For some reason it was important for her to know what had happened and with a tired sigh she found that she couldn't remember any of it except for a tear shaped, glowing white crystal.

Kel gave a growl of frustration, running one hand through her short mahogany brown hair, her hazel eyes staring at the wall like it was a legendary object, something to be scrutinized, like the Dominion Jewel. She gave a slight frown thinking to herself, I've had dreams like this all week, all having to do with some crystal and me never remembering the rest, what does this all mean? She was thrown out from her thoughts by a grunt and a soft snore, next to her bed. She leaned over and found her dog, Jump, sleeping on his back and snoring, with a sigh she reached down and pushed him until he was lying back on his side. Before when she was a page she had figured out that Jump only snored when sleeping on his back, now that she was 18 and a knight, Jump was getting older, and more tired. Everything is changing, it seems, except for me… how frustrating. With another sigh she realized that she wouldn't get back to sleep again so she get out of her bed and stepped silently onto the floor. Something fell off her, glinting, onto the now vacant bed, and rested there shining softly in the dark.

Kel, interest piqued stooped over and picked it up. With a startled gasp she started into the palm of her hand, trembling slightly, uncertain of what it meant. One slight tear shaped crystal laid in the palm of her hand, perfectly white and in every way the same as it had been in her last dream. She held it up to the moonlight, now curious, and studied it carefully. Her mind babbled to herself, When… how…? I thought they were only dreams! Hazel brown eyes were widened and shock emanated from them, her mouth formed one word and breathed it out softly into the air, "Goddess…"

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A/N:

I think that I should stop it right here… *grins* Short I know, but the next chapters, I promise, will be longer then this one. I'm very detail oriented as you have seen up above *points and chuckles* I hoped you like the first chapter of Aether Winds and will come back to read some more! ^_^ Remember to REVIEW and tell me who you want Kel to end up with, Joren or Dom. I can't promise you which it will be, but… *shrugs*

My e-mail address is flyby311@hotmail.com and put Aether Winds, so I know what the e-mail is about. Anything you want to add/criticize/comment/whatever you guys just review it… please? Thanks for listening to me ramble for that you get a lolly *hands person a lolly*