Serenity ran down the forest path in complete fear. The Eagle was flying high above her at amazing speed. There was no hope in changing form, he would catch her the moment she felt the air under her wings. Serenity heard the call of the Eagle as it shot down at her and grazed her shoulder with its talons. She kept running knowing that now she had no chance of changing form, she could not fly with broken wings.
Then, up ahead, was a man. He was sitting on the forest floor leaning up against a large oak tree. Serenity screamed with pain as the Eagle made another gash on her other shoulder. She felt blood pouring down her arm and staining her white shirt. The man up ahead had heard her scream and looked up at her. He saw her running towards him and stood up, pulling a sword from his belt. He held the sword out in front of him and Serenity took in his grace and beauty. She ran to him and landed in his arm.
"Please, help me," she cried. He stared at her as the Eagle took his human form. He walked towards the man that Serenity had ran into as he pulled out his own sword. The Eagle was made up in well built armor, the man had none.
"Run," the man said to her as he moved forward past her. Serenity looked back at him as the Eagle attacked with his sword. The man blocked the sword and looked back at Serenity. "Run!" he yelled this time. Serenity ran.
Her bare feet were starting to ache and the cuts on her shoulders were still bleeding. Serenity looked over her shoulders and could not see the Eagle or the man she had run into, who was now defending her. Suddenly, a bird soared over her head. She looked up in fear of seeing the Eagle. She could not tell what kind of bird it was. Serenity picked up speed, for her life. The bird swooped down in front of her and took its human form. Serenity came crashing into his body. She looked up at the face of the man who had just saved her.
The man that had been sitting under the tree was tall and handsome. He was well built and had insanely sharp red eyes. Serenity was scared to look directly at them. He had pale skin and jet black hair. His lips were fair and tempting; if Serenity had known the man, she probably would have kissed him. He looked down at her with a serious look.
"Why were you running?" he asked in a strong calming voice. His hands were holding her upper arms with great strength. Serenity suddenly felt fear inside of her. He was intimidating her with his beauty and charm.
"If you were a slave of the Eagle's you would run too," she said. He stared at her dangerous blue eyes that made her a mystery. He moved his hand and felt the back of her neck. He felt soft feathers mixed in with her blonde white hair.
"You're a dove?" he asked looking her in the eye. She still was not looking him in the eye.
"Yes," she whispered.
"Do I scare you?"
"Yes," she whispered again. Her eyes fell on the man's sword. It was covered in bright red blood. "Did you kill him?"
"I would have killed anyone who dared to threaten a woman as beautiful as you," he said stroking her hair. He pushed it out of her face and behind her ear. Serenity smiled at the man's charm.
"Thank you," she said.
"Come," he said turning away. "You need to get cleaned up. You also need some food and rest."
"Thank you," Serenity said following the man. He wrapped his arm around her.
"Will we be expecting more of your friends?"
"I don't know," she said looking back behind her.
"Alright," he said.
The man led her through the forest to a large gate. He entered the city that was inside the gate. Serenity looked up at the large towering palace that was at the far end of the city. The city was built on the edge of a cliff; the palace was built on the side of the cliff. Serenity saw bird's flying from the windows of the palace out into the open blue sky. They walked down the street of the city that was in the middle of the market. People stopped and stared at them as they walked by. Other's greeted the man with a hand shake or a wave.
Serenity had never seen a place of such diversity. There were different kinds of birds and different kinds of snakes. Children ran past the people playing games and adults argued over the prices of goods. There was a large stage with women dancing on it and men playing music.
"Adrian," cried a man walking up to the man who had his arm wrapped around Serenity. "Adrian, your mother has been looking for you all day. Thank the birds I've found you. Come on come on, there's no time to be courting a young lady. She is beautiful, I must say." Serenity felt her cheeks turn red and looked away from the man who had saved her, Adrian, and the man he appeared to know.
"Marcus," said Adrian in a nice voice. "Calm down. I'm on my way to the palace now. And I'm not courting this woman. She was injured in the forest and needs a place to stay."
A look of surprise and worry came over Marcus's face. He was a round man, tall, like Adrian, but not attractive. He was balding, obviously much older then Adrian as well. Marcus leaned close to Adrian as they continued to walk through the crowd. Serenity heard what he said too.
"Adrian, you can't just be loaning out the rooms of the palace like it was an inn," Marcus said. "What makes you think you can trust this girl if you found her in the forest? She could be a criminal from another territory. That could start a war!"
"I saved her life Marcus," snapped Adrian. He glanced at Serenity who was enjoying the sights of the city around her, but still listening. "And I trust her."
"Oh, you trust her," said Marcus in a sarcastic voice. He looked at Adrian's glaring face. "Oh, you're serious."
"Of course I'm serious."
"Well you don't usually trust people," said Marcus. "Because of what happened last time."
"I don't want to talk about that," Adrian said. "Go to my mother and tell her I'll see her once I get this young lady settled in," he added pointing to Serenity. She looked at him.
"My name is Serenity," she said.
Adrian looked at her and smiled. She smiled back at him and turned away, continuing to look at the sights around her. Adrian turned back to Marcus.
"Tell her that I'll be with her once Serenity is settled in." Marcus nodded his head and transformed into a fat sparrow. He flew off to the palace. Serenity lost site of him as he flew in front of the sun. "You'll have to excuse my babysitter Marcus; he worries a lot about things that he shouldn't worry about."
"Your babysitter?" Serenity said. "Aren't you a little old to have a babysitter?"
"Yes, I am," said Adrian. "He's my care taker."
"You're parent's don't take care of you?" Serenity said this while looking straight forward. Adrian looked down at her, but she didn't look at him.
"My parents did raise me," he said defensively. "It's hard being the queen and king of a society that just ended a war."
"I didn't mean to offend you," Serenity said folding her arms. She flinched at the pain in her shoulders. "Ouch," she said touching the scratches. Blood was still coming from them. "You're the prince?"
"Yes," Adrian said. Serenity nodded, that's why so many people were staring and greeting him. "I think your name is very beautiful."
"Thank you," she said still not looking at him. They had just finished walking up the front steps that led to the doors of the palace. They were wide open, allowing the warm breeze to blow through them. Adrian led Serenity through them and down the large entrance hall. There were some curved stairs at the end of the hall that were sheltered by a glass window instead of a wall. The stairs curved up, and the window followed. Serenity stared out the window as Adrian led her up the stairs.
"Your palace is amazing," she said staring out the window at the deep valley that the cliff fell to.
"Thank you," Adrian said as he stepped onto the landing. The window ended as the stairs turned into a hallway. The hallway was long with many doors. At one end was another staircase and at the other was a large window that went up to the ceiling. Serenity loved that the sunlight was allowed into the palace in so many places. The Eagles hated light. They had almost no windows in any of their buildings, including the palace, where Serenity used to live.
Adrian pushed open a bedroom door as a pigeon walked by carrying some towels.
"Mary," he said to the girl. She looked at him with a smile.
"Yes your highness?"
"Will you please come and help Serenity get settled into this room when you have taken those towels to where ever they belong?"
"Of course," Mary said. She smiled at Serenity. "I'll bring a healing kit too." She added seeing the cuts on Serenity's shoulders.
"Thank you," Adrian said allowing Serenity to enter the bedroom. He followed her in. She stopped in wonder at the large bedroom that she was in. The ceiling was high, and there was a large window with two glass doors that led out onto a balcony over the valley. The window touched the ceiling of the room. Large thick curtains hung down to the floor. They were tied back to let the light in. There was a large four poster bed across from the window with its own curtains that were also tied back. The room was an off white with soft yellow colors for the bed sheets and other furniture that filled the room. There was a large closet, filled with clothes and a huge bathroom with a tub the size of a hot spring.
"Thank you, it's lovely," said Serenity sitting down on the bed.
"Good," said Adrian standing in front of her. "If you need anything ask a servant. I will come get you for dinner." Serenity nodded her head.
"Thank you, Adrian," she said as he walked to the door. He looked back at her. "For everything," she added.
"Of course," he said and left the room.
Mary entered the room soon after Adrian had left. Serenity was in the bath tub, which was filled with steaming water and bubbles. Mary entered the bathroom and smiled at Serenity.
"Hello," she said. She put a box down on the counter of the skin. "You must be worn out."
"Yes," said Serenity. "I haven't been able to wash myself in a couple of weeks."
"I turned down your sheets for you," Mary said kneeling by the tub. "His highness said that you would like to sleep before dinner."
"I don't know if I could," said Serenity washing her legs. "As tired as I am, this place is too beautiful to miss because of sleeping."
"True," said Mary opening the box and pulling out some bandages. She began to cut them into reasonably sized pieces for Serenity's cuts. "But if one does not sleep, then they will miss the detailed beauty of the palace from being so tired."
"You are right," said Serenity yawning. "Could you hand me a towel, please?" Mary reached over and handed Serenity a towel. Serenity held it up and stood up behind it. She climbed out of the tub and wrapped her body in the towel. Mary unplugged the tub allowing the water to empty.
"Here," she said coming to Serenity. "Let me patch these cuts." Serenity stood still as Mary put bandages on her cuts.
"Thank you," said Serenity. They walked out of the bathroom.
"I'll get you something to wear," Mary said going to the closet. "Something that covers your shoulders so you don't see those bandages."
"Thank you Mary," Serenity said as she sat down in front of the mirror. She picked up the brush that was on the table in front of her and began to brush he wet hair. Mary appeared behind her holding up a dark blue dress that matched Serenity's eyes. Serenity turned around after seeing Mary's reflection in the mirror. She stood up and went to Mary. "It's lovely."
"It matches your eyes," said Mary. Serenity took the dress and studied it. It was a low v-neck that had some ripples of material. The sleeve would cover her shoulders, but they opened and the material hung down revealing the arm. It was long and dropped to the floor. There was a slit up the side to the mid-thigh. "Go put it on."
Serenity took it and went into the bathroom. She changed quickly and reappeared out of the bathroom. She twirled in a circle in front of Mary. Mary noticed that her hair was already dried.
"It's wonderful," Serenity said. She stood rocking back and forth, holding the dress up with her hands. "What shoes will I wear? I don't have any."
"There are some silver sandals in the closet," Mary said as there was a knock at the door. Mary went and opened it. "Hello your highness." She opened the door wider and Adrian appeared in the room. Serenity spun around again.
"Thank you Mary, that is all," Adrian said.
"Of course, your highness," Mary said leaving the room. She closed the door quietly behind her. Adrian stared at Serenity; she had stopped spinning and was standing still. She had stopped moving completely.
He smiled at her. "You look beautiful."
"Thank you," she said.
"Are you ready for dinner?"
"No, I have to get my shoes," she said disappearing into the closet. Adrian smiled and sat down in a light yellow arm chair.
"Did you take a nap?" he asked from the chair.
"No," she said reappearing and holding two silver sandals. She sat down in another chair and pulled them onto her feet. She wrapped the straps up and around her leg then tied them in tight bows, just under her knee. "I took a bath."
"Ah," said Adrian standing up as Serenity did. She looked at him, he was oddly silent.
"Is there something wrong?" she asked.
"No," he said closing his eyes. "You look wonderful, nothing is wrong."
"I didn't mean about how I look," she said walking to him. "I sense something."
"Doves can sense when a person has problems?"
"We're birds of peace," she said brushing his cheek. "We know when peace is not present."
"It's nothing," he said with a charming smile. "Just what my mother wanted to see me about."
"And what was that?" Serenity asked, still afraid to look him in the eye.
"Why won't you look me in the eye?" he asked gliding his fingers over the skin on her arm, ever so softly. He was sending chills into her blood, chills she had never felt before, not like this. She looked up, gaining the courage to look at his blood red eyes. She looked at them directly. They memorized her, opened him to her.
"I am," she whispered.
"Good," he whispered back to her.
"What did your mother want to see you about?"
"She wanted to talk to me about the festival next week," he said looking away from her.
"Oh? And that's a bad thing," Serenity said walking around him. She went to the door and opened it. He came and held it open for her, allowing her to pass. She walked out into the hall and he followed. They walked down the hall together to the stairs.
Adrian answered Serenity as they walked down the stairs.
"It is a bad thing," he said. Serenity looked at him. "I'm supposed to pick a mate soon. I'm 23; it's time for me to have a mate. I should have children by now, as my father pointed out."
"And this is a problem because?"
"I want to pick a mate out of love," he said as they reached the bottom of the stairs. Serenity followed Adrian down an open hall to a large dinning room that was out on an open patio.
"The Eagles pick a mate judging how well they can produce and take care of children," said Serenity as they entered the dinning room. "The male Eagles pick their mates. The women have no choice."
"I'm sorry to hear that," said Adrian pulling out a chair for Serenity. She sat down and looked around the table. There were two other people sitting at the table.
At the head was a beautiful older woman. She must have been the queen Serenity thought by the way she was sitting and by where she was sitting. If she was the queen, that made her Adrian's mother. To the right of the queen was a man, he looked exactly like Adrian did; only he had streaks of gray in his black hair. They both had a warm smile on their face as their son sat down.
"Mother, father," Adrian said once he was in his seat. "This is Serenity."
"Hello Serenity," the queen said. "You can call me Danica. And this is my husband Zane."
"Hello," Serenity said as food was placed in front of her.
"Are you a vegetarian?" Danica asked.
"Yes," said Serenity.
"So am I," said Danica. "Zane and my son both eat meat."
"It's because we're serpents," said Zane as he cut his meat into smaller pieces.
Serenity looked at him confused. "But when I was in the forest, I saw Adrian flying."
"I'm a half breed," Adrian said. "The only trait I have of a bird is that I take the shape of a hawk. A black hawk."
"Oh," said Serenity smiling at him. She couldn't stop looking at his eyes now; they were so captivating. Adrian stared at Serenity's eyes in return. There was silence across the table and Danica and Zane both noticed the connection between their son and the young dove.
"How'd you two meet?" Zane asked breaking the silence. Adrian looked at his father.
"I saved her, from an Eagle that was chasing her," he said to his parents. A look of concern came over Zane's face.
"We have always had good relations with the Eagles," he said. "You didn't cause any trouble did you?"
"No," said Serenity. "He saved my life your highness."
"Zane," he said. "Please call me Zane."
"Sorry," she said. "I ran away from the Eagles, I was a slave in the palace. They sent a soldier to come and get me. Adrian saved me from the Eagle."
"He was about to kill her," said Adrian.
"Why did you run away?" Danica asked.
"If you were a servant of the Eagles you would have run too," Serenity said putting her fork down. She was no longer hungry. Adrian noticed this action.
"Are you not hungry?"
"No," Serenity said. "I'm very tired. Please excuse me," she stood up. Adrian stood up also, out of politeness. "Good night. Thank you for dinner." Serenity left the dinning room quickly.
Adrian stared at her body as she walked away. He sat down and began to eat slowly. He knew his parents were going to ask questions, it was just a matter of when.
"She's charming," Danica said. "You obviously have feelings for her."
"They are just feelings mother," said Adrian looking up at her golden eyes. "I told you I will marry when I find a mate that I love."
"But Adrian, it would work out so well," said Zane. "She's a dove. It would remind the people of the peace your mother and I have worked so hard to keep."
"I know," said Adrian looking back down the hall where Serenity had disappeared too. "I know, but it's too soon. And I don't think I'll know by the festival either. She's so young."
"How old is she?" Danica asked. "She can't be that much younger then you."
"I think she's nineteen, maybe twenty," he looked at his mother again. "Hell, for all I know she could be younger then that or older. I don't know her. And I won't fall in love with her until I do. And I won't marry her unless I love her. So don't get your hopes up."
"You are such a negative person," said Danica. "I'm going to bed," she added standing up. "See you all in the morning. Good night Adrian."
"Good night mother," Adrian said. Danica disappeared in the same direction Serenity did. Zane also got up from the table. He walked to his son.
"Good night," he said. "Just don't push her. She's a bird; they aren't as open as we are."
"Yea, I know dad," said Adrian. "Good night."
Adrian sat at the table alone for a few moments thinking. Then he stopped and stood up. He walked quickly up the stairs and down the hall to Serenity's room. He stopped in front of the door and breathed deeply. He knocked on the door, hoping she wasn't already asleep. He was about to turn away when she opened the door. She smiled and rested her head against the door. Her blonde hair was tied in a lose pony tail and was resting on her shoulder. He could only smile at her. He reached out and stroked her blonde curls.
"Are you going to come in or just stare at me in the doorway?" she asked. He smiled more and walked into the room. The lights were still on in the room. She had a see-through nightgown on that showed off her body amazingly. Adrian felt himself get excited. He wanted to have her right then and there, but he controlled himself. She was a bird, she would want it slow and when she was ready to want it. Adrian closed the door behind him and said nothing. She turned and faced him, being only five or six feet away from him.
"Adrian?" she said playing with her hair.
"Yes?" he said moving closer to her.
"Will you teach me how to defend myself?" she asked looking up into his eyes.
"You seem strong already," he said.
"I am strong emotionally," she said. "But I could never defend myself against an Eagle."
"I understood," he said coming towards her. He pulled her body close to his, so her breasts were pressed against his strong chest.
"You make me weak," she whispered, almost scared.
"Don't be," he said. "I want you to be strong."
"I can't," she said.
"I'll make you strong," he whispered. Then, he leaned down and kissed her lips as softly as possible. To his surprise, she didn't push him away in fear; she returned the kiss in strength.
Adrian moved down to her neck and kissed it once before she recoiled. She stepped away looking at him with uncontrollable fear. Her hands were on her neck. He also took a step back. He was hurt, she had openly accepted him by returning his kiss and then she recoiled.
"Forgive me," she said. "But I am not ready for that."
"I am sorry," Adrian said. "Good night." He left the room quickly and slammed her bedroom door behind him. Serenity stood for a long time. She didn't know why she remained where she was. She felt horrible; she had offended and hurt Adrian.