Disclaimer: I own no part of Meredith Ann Pierce's "The Darkangel Trilogy" I only own the story I weave with her ideals and her stories. As well as the characters and situations. There will be some occasions that I will do flash backs from the original stories I do NOT own them, Meredith Ann Pierce does. The beginning poem also belongs to M.A.P. I would also like to say that I will be adding things from the books to fit in to the tale, so please don't sue! ! I have no money, I'm dirt poor.
Ravenna's Own Daughter
Parchment One: The Return
"On Avaric's white plain,
where an icarus now wings.
To steeps of Terrain
from Tour-of-the-Kings,
And damozels twice-seven
his brides have all become:
A far cry from heaven,
a long road from home -
The strong-hoof of a starhorse
must hallow him unguessed
If adamant's edge is to plunder
his breast.
Then only, may the Warhorse
and warrior arise
To rally the warhosts , and thunder
the skies.
But first there must assemble
ones icari would claim.
A bride in the temple
must enter the flame,
With steeds found for six brothers, beyond
a dust deepsea,
And new arrows reckond, a wand
given wings-
That when a princess-royal's
to have tasted of the tree,
Then far from Esterneese's
city, these things:
A gathering of gargoyles,
a feasting on the stone,
The Witch of Westernesse's
hag overthrown.
Whereafter shall commence
such a cruel Sorceress War,
To wrest recompense
for a land leagured sore.
With her broadsword Bright Burning,
the shadow Black-as-Night,
From exile returning,
shall dare dragons' might
For love of one above who, flag unfurled,
lone must stand,
The pearl of the soul of the world
in her hand.
When Winterock to water
falls flooding, foes to drown,
Ravenna's own daughter
shall kindle the crown."
-City of Crystal Glass: Nu-Ravenna-
Aeriel stared down at the parchment that she had just finished writing on. It had taken her a few years but she had finally learned to read and write. She had been meaning to write it all down for years now. And now she had. It was the entire tale of the Darkangels, the Lorelei, and the Ancient Ones that had happened six years ago. She still remembered it all as if it happened only moments ago. And now it was all together in written word. Aeriel slowly closed the book and stared down at the title she had given it. "Ravenna's Own Daughter."
The title suits it, she heard.
"Yes it does, doesn't it?" she replied. "I have written it all from my point of view, as well as the point of view of the others, and I left not a single thing out. See how thick the book is..?" She said in slight awe. "I'm surprised it all fit." She ran a hand along the front cover. "Six years is a long time that has passed. The world is finally showing it's signs of healing, and I've collected almost all of The Ravenna's power that was released into the world..."
Yes you have, it's for the best. You'll realize this when you see the finished product. And the world is starting to show it's signs of healing more everyday. I must admit I am surprised. I had assumed it would take longer for everything to begin to heal, or show signs of healing for that matter., the voice said.
Aeriel nodded a bit sadly, thinking of Irrylath, and said quietly. "Yes... but at what cost?" she shook her head then. "Never mind, do not reply to that. This is what I'm suppose to do now... and so be it."
The pearlstuff simmered slightly in her blood but then calmed saying no more.
Aeriel sighed softly and stood slowly brushing off her emerald green robes and brushing her waist length blonde hair back from her face then she slowly walked over to the small window that was in the room and what she saw made her smile softly as she leaned against the window pane as she watched.
What she saw was a small little girl with long black hair and emerald green eyes with dun-colored skin, and appeared to be at least seventy-two daymonths (six years) old, who was running around trying to grab at a few lampwings that were flying about. Aeriel's eyes moved to the girl's guardian who was as Black-as-Night, and also her shadow, Erin. She watched as Erin never took her eyes off the small child, and knew her daughter, was in no safer hands.
Suddenly without warning the pearlstuff came to life and commented.
She looks like her father, with the exception of your eyes, I am simply surprised at her existence. By all rights she should have never even been conceived. But that pleases you doesn't it? To know that you have something of him, something of Irrylath. Do you think to tell him then, Aeriel? To tell him that he has had a daughter by you?
Aeriel's smile dimmed a little bit as she replied simply. "I would like to, but I am not sure how he would react. I have not seen him since before she was born.. I have no idea how much he has changed.. if he.. has indeed married Sabr.. it would crush what little of my heart to know. But perhaps I shall send Erin to find out.. it is the cowards way out I know.. but.. I do still have business to conduct. After all I need to finish collecting The Ravenna's power.." saying that she turned from the window and glanced at the small pearl object that was hanging on a pedestal on the far edge of the room which was glowing slightly. It was a lampwings egg and it held the rest of The Ravenna's power.. when it held the rest.. she would prick her finger and let the rest bleed into it.. and wear the pearl upon her brow as to never lose it..
Yes, you do need to start collecting it again soon. It has been too long since you have last looked. You spent two years on that tale.. and now it is time for you to get back to business. As I have always done I will advise you against seeing Prince Irrylath, but.. since things are very much ahead of schedule I assume you will not heed my warnings and do as you will. Regardless of you being The Ravenna's heir.
Aeriel's smile returned as she stared at the pearl and said. "Yes, you are right. I will do what I want this time. I will not continuously allow myself to be ruled by you.. I will not constantly be a pawn.. being a pawn isn't what I want, I'm exhausted by constantly being ruled by you, and others, and never being able to have any control over my own life. But I would change nothing, still. I just choose to make different choices now, would you steal all of my rights completely?"
No. I have learned these past years that you need your freedom as much as we must collect all the power, and to heal this world, without it, I fear you would just give up and wish for death, maybe even get it, so I will not lecture you anymore on the matter of Prince Irrylath.. do as you will.. but I warn you don't get your hopes up..
Aerial nodded her head and said, turning her gaze back to the window. "I shall not, I am aware of it all." She saw Erin turn her head and look toward the window as if on command and shook her head turning it again toward the girl, speaking to her. Not long later she saw her daughter and Erin head back toward the building.
She watched her daughter as she walked back toward the building and smiled softly seeing every bit of Irrylath in her. Moving away from the window she walked back over to the desk and lifted the heavy volume of "Ravenna's Own Daughter" and placed it on the shelf above the desk carefully.
When she heard small light footsteps running down the hallway her eyes filled with a distinct love for her daughter. She turned just as the door was threw open and the little girl threw herself at her.
"Mommy, mommy! Are you finished writing yet? Did you see me playing with the lampwings? They're just so pretty!" the little girl named Rowan said with a little girls curiosity.
Aeriel laughed softly and said. "Yes I am finished writing, and I did see you play with them." She crouched down and hugged her daughter, Rowan and inhaled her scent. Her sweet child-like scent. Her daughter. She loved her so much she'd risk anything and everything for her, nothing would ever, ever come between them. Not even Irrylath.. she'd never let him take her away from her. If she ever told him.
"Where is Erin at, Rowan?" she asked softly.
"Oh! Aunt Erin said something about packing our things to get ready for the journey ahead of us. What journey mommy? Are we going somewhere?" Rowan asked.
Aeriel smiled and nodded slowly. "Yes, it's time for us to leave NuRavenna and travel around some more so we can collect more of that power I've told you about."
Rowan nodded her head wisely and stood back on her heels and rocked back and forth slightly. "Okay. Are you taking your book with you? The one that you've been working really hard on? You promised me you'd read it to me..! You promised!.."
She smiled even more at her daughters reaction and slowly stood back up. "Yes we'll take the book along so I can read it to you. Why don't you go help Aunt Erin pack while I gather my things up and pack all of my things as well?"
Rowan smiled brightly and jumped up a little. "Okay! I'll be back in a bit though, mommy!" she turned to run to the door and the stopped, turned, and said. "Oh! Uncle Melkior said that he'd be staying here at NuRavenna this time to keep up the house, he said that it was getting to be too dirty and dusty and that if it kept up like this we wouldn't have any place to come back to."
Aeriel stifled a small laugh and nodded her head. "Okay, go on now. "
Rowan smiled and skipped off glowing, thinking she did something important by delivering the message.
Watching her leave Aeriel shook her head and turned back around lifting the heavy volume off of the bookshelf setting it upon the desk, and just staring down at it for a moment. Tearing her gaze away from it she slowly turned and walked toward the opposite door from the one to the hall and twisted the knob slowly opening the door. What greeted her on the other side was the room she had, had for the past two years. It wasn't particularly bright but it wasn't completely dark either.
There wasn't much in the room either. Just a bed a mirror, and a trunk where what little of her clothes resided. When she traveled she tried to take as little as possible. She only took three changes of clothes including what she had on, the pearl, the crown which resided the twelve-and-one maidens that had once been an icari's brides. The last of the brides had even been her mistress Eoduin once. Had not everything gone well she herself could have been his fourteenth bride.. the last and final, and they'd have ruled.. but it didn't come to that. As her thoughts drifted slightly she could even remember the time she spent as a slave with Eoduin.
It's where she had spent most of her life as a slave. She had been mistakenly dropped by Wing-on-the-Wind and sold into slavery. She wouldn't take any of it back though. If she did she wouldn't have her daughter and she'd never trade anything in the world for her. Nothing. Not even Rowan's father... Irrylath.
She didn't know how she'd handle things if she did indeed decided to go see him again. She did know that she would not let her emotions control her how she might feel. Her heart was her own again, and Irrylath's was his again. She had no hold on him, she did not want to claim him as she once had. If he was free she wanted him to give himself to her of his own free will.
Tears slowly filled her eyes, the star shaped scars could bee seen slightly on her eye lids when she blinked a few of them away. When the White Witch marked her eyes.. she had lost the ability to cry, but within the past two years, she's regained it, she doesn't know why or how, but she has. Letting out a ragged sigh she went to the trunk and got out her packing sack. Laying it on the bed she chose a white robe, a white robe with golden trim, and another emerald green one. One she only wore for special occasions. But as she gently put them in to the sack, they appeared to just dissolve into the sack as if nothing was in there.
Aeriel smiled a little remembering the visit of the little duarough a few daymonths back. He had brought her this sack and wanted to tell her of the changes that the world underneath had gone through. He had told her that he was simply amazed at the changes that she had brought. He was one of the few that wasn't afraid of her, and understood what had happened. Shaking her head a little she put the second robe into the sack and then changed from the emerald green robes she had on into the white robes. She picked the sack up and went back into the other room pushing the door shut behind her and walked to the box that held the crown with the thirteen maiden's upon it and carefully slid it into the sack as well.
Now it was time for her to put the book in it. If she forgot it her daughter would be silent for daymonths. Laying the sack upon the desk she carefully hefted the heavy volume up and laid it down on top of the sack and lifted the mouth of the sack and slid the book into it with ease. She tied the strings of the sack to the rope belt at her waist and then turned moving toward the pearl just as Erin stepped into the room.
"Rowan's in her room packing her things." Erin said the broadsword Bright Burning at her left hip, knowing that Aeriel already knew about Rowan packing her things.
Aeriel nodded her head and lifted the slightly glowing pearl, a kindled lampwings egg, from the crystal stand she had, had it set upon.
"Are you sure it's wise to take her along this time Aeriel? She is very much looking to be her fathers daughter. If anyone where to look close enough they would see him in her, and quite possibly inform him."
Aeriel stood there a moment, pearl in hand, and then spoke quietly. "I know. Which is why I'd rather him hear it from you my Shadow, for I cannot bare to go myself. The time isn't right for me to see him again, not just yet, but soon."
Erin froze and gazed at Aerial in shock. "And what will you have me say to him? He will not be pleased. And if he is still as childish as he was six years ago he will be quick to anger. Perhaps even try to strike the messenger down again."
She took the pearl from where it rested and placed it in her hair as a crown. The golden chain gleamed in the dim light softly, the pearl hanging between her brows, slightly glowing.
Aeriel sighed softly and turned. "I realize this, but have faith my Shadow, many things can happen within six years, you know this. It is possible he has changed. He needs to hear it from me, but I cannot, will not face him now." At least not yet, she thought, one stop to make before Avaric.. I'm sorry my Shadow.
Erin nodded her head and replied. "Perhaps. He is King now after all. Perhaps he has even married Sabr and fathered children of his own by her."
Aeriel's heart ached at the thought of him with Sabr but Erin was right, it was a possibility. "Perhaps."
Think nothing of it and your heart will not hurt so. The pearl stuff said.
She ignored it and it simmered angrily in her blood.
"When shall I leave for this errand" Erin asked, her left hand resting on the sheath of Burning Bright.
"As soon as possible for we leave at solstarset this day." Aeriel said softly.
Erin nodded her head and said. "I will leave now. I'll find you when my errand is complete."
Aeriel felt slight guilt at sending Erin on this errand knowing she herself would soon be in Avaric, but had no choice, Erin was right, someone might inform the King before she could..
No sooner than Erin spoke than Melkior appeared in the doorway. "Lady Aeriel, the Pendarlon is here. He said he had a feeling you would require his services."
Aeriel blinked and glanced at Erin. Hardly anything surprised her anymore. "Yes, my Shadow shall accompany the Pendarlon to the plains of Avaric. She has a message to deliver to the King there."
Erin nodded her head. "I'll go now." With that she turned and left the room sliding past Melkior leaving NuRavenna on the back of the Pendarlon.
Suddenly little foot steps could be heard echoing down the halls and Rowan darted into her mothers room. "Okay! All finished mommy! Where's Aunt Erin?"
Aeriel smiled softly. "Aunt Erin had to go deliver a message. She'll catch up with us later." her eyes went to Melkior's and he nodded, leaving.
"Rowan, love, would you like to know about your father?" She held her hand out to her daughter as she went and sat upon the bed.
Rowan blinked at her mother and took her hand and grew very quiet.
Aeriel squeezed Rowan's hand before letting it go and lifting her up to sit on her lap. "You don't have to if you don't want to." She brushed her daughters hair back from her face with her hand.
Rowan looked up at her mother and said seriously. "I would like that mommy."
Aeriel's heart constricted in her chest and she said softly, laying her head against her daughters. "You're father's name is Irrylath and he's the King of Avaric..."
-Avaric: Tour-of-The-Kings-
A young man with dun-colored skin, midnight black hair, and soft white scars staining one of his cheeks, stood by a large arch window looking out on the plains of Avaric. His deep blue eyes slowly glanced at the storm clouds that had appeared only a few hours before.
Irrylath sighed softly still greatly amazed at the fact rain had returned to their world. It had been so for at least six years now. His eyes iced over slightly thinking back on that night when it first rained in so many years.
The night he had made love to his wife, Aeriel, for the first time. His right hand unconsciously went to where his heart lay. Not Aeriel's. His own. He even remembered the last time he saw her. He was on his knees in the sand, tears staining his cheeks, while she and her shadow walked across the sand, never looking back. He had grown up so much since then, he didn't behave as childishly as he had then. He had finally been able to emotionally mature in these past sic years. Mentally she shrugged off the thoughts and watched as the rain started out as just drops and then developed into larger drops, pouring down from the heavens, onto the plains of Avaric.
"–Irrylath, King Irrylath.." a voice entered his thoughts. He turned slightly to see his cousin Sabr in the doorway. "Yes, Sabr?"
Sabr was the female counterpart to Irrylath. She looked just like him except for her female appearance. She longingly watched him as she said softly and quietly. "The Avarclon wishes to speak with you, he wouldn't tell me of what, just that he wanted you sent for immediately."
Irrylath moved away from the window and nodded walking past her brushing up against her slightly as he walked through the doorway.
Suddenly Sabr called out before he was completely out of sight. "Irrylath! Why do you still mourn for her!? Why will you not marry me, love me, and give me children?"
He halted and said without turning. "I do not love you as I do her Sabr. I love you because you are everything I used to be, everything I wish to be again, but cannot be. I will not deny who I am, or what I've been anymore. I will not. I love her because she knows everything that has happened to me since, because she risked her life to save the life of a Darkangel, a evil creature of the Lorelei, with love regardless of her own life. And now I am who I am now, because she freed me. I love her simply because she is who she is, and cannot help but be so. She sacrifices everything to help others before helping herself. She's kind hearted and deserves better than she's been given. I cannot and will not marry you Sabr. For she is my wife in every way. The Avarclon did not say I had to bare children of my own to the plains of Avaric, just that I live here, and bring back the people." with that said he continued on his way to the Lon of Avaric.
Sabr stood in the doorway watching him go tears silently pooling in her eyes and sliding down her cheeks.
-The Stables, Tour-of-the-Kings-
Irrylath entered the stables, where the Avarclon resided during such storms, as he entered the stables the Avarclon stepped out of the shadows and spoke.
"Ah, there you are Prince, I was beginning to worry if Sabr had indeed delivered the message I bade her give you."
Irrylath nodded his head and said quietly while bowing. "Yes she found me. What is the matter? The way that Sabr was speaking made it sound as if something grave was troubling you."
The Avarclon shuffled his wings a little and nodded his head. "Indeed Prince, lately the other Lons and I have been getting a very bad feeling that something very troublesome is about to happen. Perhaps even worse than what had happened with the White Witch.
Irrylath froze. "Might the feeling have anything to do with Aeriel, Avarclon?"
He neighed softly and said. "I'm not sure, Prince. I'd have figured you'd have forgotten all about her years ago."
"No, I haven't." Irrylath spoke quietly.
"You have changed, Prince. These years past you have greatly matured. I must admit I am surprised." The Avarclon spoke with complete and utterly honesty.
Irrylath nodded his head and asked curiously. "If indeed something is happening, and it is bad, we'll become involved with it, shall we not?"
The Avarclon was silent for a few moments before speaking. "If the threat is as great as we fear it to be we will indeed get involved."
He knew that the Prince was thinking more on Aeriel. Knew that he was secretly hoping to see her again. He wasn't sure that the Prince had even admitted it to himself yet, but if not he would soon. Apparently the Prince's feelings were stronger for Aeriel that any one had assumed. Which meant he had not been under a spell at all and truly cared for the girl.
The Avarclon knew if Aeriel had just wanted to posses the Prince like the Lorelei she would not have walked away when she did, she'd have stayed. Instead she chose to leave and collect The Ravenna's power. She honestly loved the Prince. And chose to let him go, instead of to possess him.
Irrylath nodded his head and asked. "Is that all you require of me?"
The Avarclon nodded his head. "Yes, you may go now."
Irrylath turned and left the stables returning to his place at the window arch in the tower, Sabr having gone from the spot long ago.
As soon as he returned his gaze to the plains outside something in the distance caught his eye. As it drew closer he saw it was the Pendarlon and he had a rider upon his back.
When the Lyon reached closer Irrylath completely and utterly froze. Emotions swirled rapidly in his eyes as he recognized the rider upon the Pendarlon's back. It was Aeriel's shadow; Erin.
Chapters End
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