Disclaimer: All characters belong to Tamora Pierce and I'm writing this fan fiction out of fun and love for Tamora Pierce's books.
Note: This story is set between The Immortals and Protector of the Small. But just pretend Protector of the Small is not out yet okay...=)
The Great Battle
Chapter 1
Daine awoke as Skysong the Dragon tugged at her shoe.
" What is it Kit?" Daine asked. Then it hit her. She could sense it, the cold and dark feeling of fear throughout the kingdom. In every animal, every beast, she could sense it. Something dreadful had taken place and everyone was trying to escape!
" Numair! Wake up quick! Something terrible has happened!" She yelled, throwing on some clothes.
"Daine, what's wrong?" Numair appeared at her door. Sleeping only next door, he could hear her cry plainly.
" I don't know. But I can feel it! Like something has been released! The animals are uneasy as well!" Daine cried out. " We have to get to Alanna and the others!"
A year had passed since the battle of the Immortals. Daine had gone to Pirate's Swoop to stay. Numair had followed her, after being persuaded by Alanna.
" But its only in the middle of the night! Is it that urgent to wake her now?" Numair yawned.
" YES!" Daine answered forcefully and jumped out of bed. Kitten followed her.
Alanna yawned sleepily as she came down the stairs with George at her side. "What's all these commotion about Numair? Keep your voice down or you'll wake to children." She narrowed her eyes, " What do you want and this unearthly hour? Why, it's only dawn!"
George grinned. " My dear lioness, this called early for you? I thought you used to get up at this hour to practice?" he asked mischievously.
" YOU!" Alanna glared at him.
" Hey, if you want to fight, do it later but now, Daine has some important news!" Numair said urgently.
" Ah yes, what is it Daine?" George asked, becoming serious again as he saw that Daine looked pale.
" I don't know! I feel like something bad is going to happen, something cruel and evil have been released!" Daine clutched at her head. " Something bad is going to happen! I can feel it in my bones!" she moaned. " We have to warn the king! I wish I could tell you more but....."
Kitten made a few chucks and whistles which always comforted Daine.
She smiled weakly, " Thanks Kit!"
Alanna walked over to her and gave her a hug, stroking her head. " There there, calm down Daine. You won't be able to think straight if you carry on like this." She said soothingly. She signaled to one of the servants to get her some medicine to cool her down.
" Da, Ma, what is it?" Thom, Alanna's eldest son was standing at the landing.
" Hush Thom," Alanna shooed him away, " Nothing has happened."
But Thom disobeyed. He walked over to Alanna and cuddled up to her, " You have to go away again Ma?" he asked piteously.
Alanna sighed and said, " Darling, Ma won't go away unless I have to." After which she turned to George, " Get him back to sleep will you dear? Daine here needs me." She gave him one last hug and sent him off with his father. 'Poor Thom,' she thought. 'It seems as if he's growing up without a mother. If only I wasn't the king's champion.....' Alanna shook her head, it had been her dream to become a knight. 'But it doesn't seem so helpful to being a good mother....'
Daine calmed down and some colour came back into her face. " Thom needs you. I'll talk to George instead."
" It okay. Hurry up and say what you have to." Alanna said.
Daine sat up. " We have to warn King Jonathan! I feel that something terrible is going to happen! All the animals sense it too!"
" But what terrible thing?" Alanna asked patiently.
" I don't know! Ask Kit, she seems to know." Came Daine's answer.
Alanna thought for awhile. " Hmm....maybe Tkaa will know. But he is at the palace. In the meantime, why not you try and contact your animal friends to find out what kind of terrible thing is going to happen. Meanwhile, I'll go and get prepared in case we need to get the Jon as soon as possible." And she got up and left.
" Daine?" Numair called out softly.
" I'm fine Numair. Go and prepare as well okay? If the situation is as bad as I'm feeling it is, we're in for a wild ride. We'll need some of your strongest and best spells." Daine replied and started to meditate.
She called out to the People, 'Animal friends, what is happening?' She asked silently, speaking to them in her mind. Already, she could feel them bustling anxiously around, like they were getting ready to move.
' Animal friends,' she called again. 'Cloud, Spot, what is up?' she asked the horses. Hearing no reply, she got up and went to the stables.
Over there, she got the shock of her life! The horses looked as if they were going mad and the stable boy could not handle them at all.
Daine immediately walked over and began to quiet them down, " Hush, its alright, nothing is going to happen." She blushed scarlet at this white lie but 'I have to tame the horses!' she excused herself.
She walked over to her personal mare, Cloud. 'Cloud, what on earth is going on?' she asked sternly. The mare shrank back behind her in terror. Its them! Its them! Cloud cried out in fear, her eyeballs rolling back so that you could see the whites of her eyes. She was going crazy and if Daine did not do something soon, she will become mad!
" CLOUD!" Daine yelled, this time out loud. " WHO"S THEM? CALM DOWN!!!!!!" This time, her shout was so loud that it hurt every animals' ear, getting their attention.
Its them....the horrible beasts! Their coming, their coming! Cloud whimpered, cuddling close to Daine.
" What beasts? There is nothing now, nothing to be afraid of now." Daine comforted Cloud gently.
A wild neigh distracted her from Cloud. She turned around and saw Darkmoon kicking around as if it were in a daze. The rest of horses seemed to be doing the same thing! They wanted to get out of that place!
"CALM DOWN, EVERYONE!" Daine shouted again. "THERE IS NOTHING HERE! DO YOU HEAR ME? NOTHING TO BE AFRAID OF!"
At her sound, the horses quieten down, but they were still fidgeting. Daine had to tell Alanna.
She rushed back to the house and dashed into Alanna's room.
" Daine, something's gone wrong?" Alanna asked her worriedly as she saw Daine very flustered and drenched in sweat.
" Alanna, the...." Before Daine could finished, 2 beams of silvery light shone in front of each of them.
" Badger!" Daine cried out and buried her face in his fur! " Just when I needed to see you!"
" Be careful kit, bad times are coming for Tortall." The badger warned wearily.
Daine looked at him. He certainly looked different. For one thing, he looked worn and tired and there were a few gray furs of his body. Something Daine had never expected to see from a badger god.
" What's happening? Why are all the animals behaving so weirdly?" Daine asked.
The badger looked at her and said very sternly, " Get everyone out of Pirates Swoop and to the Palace by noon kit."
" But...but....what is happening? Tell me! I don't understand...." Daine protested.
The badger pounced onto her and snarled, " Do as you're told kit!"
Daine knew better then to provoke him and surrendered. " Has my father any message? Can I ask him what this is all about?"
The badger softened at the mention of her father. " All will be revealed in due time, but get everyone out of here first before its too late! There's not one minute to be loosed." He instructed and vanished.
************
Meanwhile
Out of the other beam of light came a woman who was extremely tall, even taller than Numair and whose beauty was indescribable. Her white and pure porcelain skin revealed that she was no mortal.
" mother goddess," Alanna gasp. She had not appeared to her for more than ten years already!
" My daughter," the goddess sweet but terrible voice rang out, " Bad times have come for Tortall. Be prepared for the worst, for this year would be the worst year ever. But never fear, for fear itself will lead to your downfall. Keep your wits about you and success it yours. Good luck."
" But..but..." Alanna stammered, but the goddess had gone. Alanna reached out to the ember-stone she wore on her neck. It glowed a bright purple and was warm to touch. A dawn understanding fell onto Alanna; the stone was re-filled with more magic, and from the goddess herself!
She turned to Daine to see if she had seen the goddess as well but Daine beat her to it. " The badger came and told me we have to get everyone out of Pirate's Swoop before noon today. And who was that woman?" Daine looked strickened.
" She was Mother goddess." Alanna replied.
Daine led out a gasp. Mother goddess??? " You...you...are on speaking terms with the Mother goddess????" she squeaked.
Alanna nodded seriously. " She came to warn me that Tortall is in danger. Lets go, we need to act fast."
**************
All characters belong to Tamora Pierce but the idea belongs to me.
All comments to livewire_87@yahoo.com
(c)Lady Marianna of Silvermoonsky (livewire)
Note: This story is set between The Immortals and Protector of the Small. But just pretend Protector of the Small is not out yet okay...=)
The Great Battle
Chapter 1
Daine awoke as Skysong the Dragon tugged at her shoe.
" What is it Kit?" Daine asked. Then it hit her. She could sense it, the cold and dark feeling of fear throughout the kingdom. In every animal, every beast, she could sense it. Something dreadful had taken place and everyone was trying to escape!
" Numair! Wake up quick! Something terrible has happened!" She yelled, throwing on some clothes.
"Daine, what's wrong?" Numair appeared at her door. Sleeping only next door, he could hear her cry plainly.
" I don't know. But I can feel it! Like something has been released! The animals are uneasy as well!" Daine cried out. " We have to get to Alanna and the others!"
A year had passed since the battle of the Immortals. Daine had gone to Pirate's Swoop to stay. Numair had followed her, after being persuaded by Alanna.
" But its only in the middle of the night! Is it that urgent to wake her now?" Numair yawned.
" YES!" Daine answered forcefully and jumped out of bed. Kitten followed her.
Alanna yawned sleepily as she came down the stairs with George at her side. "What's all these commotion about Numair? Keep your voice down or you'll wake to children." She narrowed her eyes, " What do you want and this unearthly hour? Why, it's only dawn!"
George grinned. " My dear lioness, this called early for you? I thought you used to get up at this hour to practice?" he asked mischievously.
" YOU!" Alanna glared at him.
" Hey, if you want to fight, do it later but now, Daine has some important news!" Numair said urgently.
" Ah yes, what is it Daine?" George asked, becoming serious again as he saw that Daine looked pale.
" I don't know! I feel like something bad is going to happen, something cruel and evil have been released!" Daine clutched at her head. " Something bad is going to happen! I can feel it in my bones!" she moaned. " We have to warn the king! I wish I could tell you more but....."
Kitten made a few chucks and whistles which always comforted Daine.
She smiled weakly, " Thanks Kit!"
Alanna walked over to her and gave her a hug, stroking her head. " There there, calm down Daine. You won't be able to think straight if you carry on like this." She said soothingly. She signaled to one of the servants to get her some medicine to cool her down.
" Da, Ma, what is it?" Thom, Alanna's eldest son was standing at the landing.
" Hush Thom," Alanna shooed him away, " Nothing has happened."
But Thom disobeyed. He walked over to Alanna and cuddled up to her, " You have to go away again Ma?" he asked piteously.
Alanna sighed and said, " Darling, Ma won't go away unless I have to." After which she turned to George, " Get him back to sleep will you dear? Daine here needs me." She gave him one last hug and sent him off with his father. 'Poor Thom,' she thought. 'It seems as if he's growing up without a mother. If only I wasn't the king's champion.....' Alanna shook her head, it had been her dream to become a knight. 'But it doesn't seem so helpful to being a good mother....'
Daine calmed down and some colour came back into her face. " Thom needs you. I'll talk to George instead."
" It okay. Hurry up and say what you have to." Alanna said.
Daine sat up. " We have to warn King Jonathan! I feel that something terrible is going to happen! All the animals sense it too!"
" But what terrible thing?" Alanna asked patiently.
" I don't know! Ask Kit, she seems to know." Came Daine's answer.
Alanna thought for awhile. " Hmm....maybe Tkaa will know. But he is at the palace. In the meantime, why not you try and contact your animal friends to find out what kind of terrible thing is going to happen. Meanwhile, I'll go and get prepared in case we need to get the Jon as soon as possible." And she got up and left.
" Daine?" Numair called out softly.
" I'm fine Numair. Go and prepare as well okay? If the situation is as bad as I'm feeling it is, we're in for a wild ride. We'll need some of your strongest and best spells." Daine replied and started to meditate.
She called out to the People, 'Animal friends, what is happening?' She asked silently, speaking to them in her mind. Already, she could feel them bustling anxiously around, like they were getting ready to move.
' Animal friends,' she called again. 'Cloud, Spot, what is up?' she asked the horses. Hearing no reply, she got up and went to the stables.
Over there, she got the shock of her life! The horses looked as if they were going mad and the stable boy could not handle them at all.
Daine immediately walked over and began to quiet them down, " Hush, its alright, nothing is going to happen." She blushed scarlet at this white lie but 'I have to tame the horses!' she excused herself.
She walked over to her personal mare, Cloud. 'Cloud, what on earth is going on?' she asked sternly. The mare shrank back behind her in terror. Its them! Its them! Cloud cried out in fear, her eyeballs rolling back so that you could see the whites of her eyes. She was going crazy and if Daine did not do something soon, she will become mad!
" CLOUD!" Daine yelled, this time out loud. " WHO"S THEM? CALM DOWN!!!!!!" This time, her shout was so loud that it hurt every animals' ear, getting their attention.
Its them....the horrible beasts! Their coming, their coming! Cloud whimpered, cuddling close to Daine.
" What beasts? There is nothing now, nothing to be afraid of now." Daine comforted Cloud gently.
A wild neigh distracted her from Cloud. She turned around and saw Darkmoon kicking around as if it were in a daze. The rest of horses seemed to be doing the same thing! They wanted to get out of that place!
"CALM DOWN, EVERYONE!" Daine shouted again. "THERE IS NOTHING HERE! DO YOU HEAR ME? NOTHING TO BE AFRAID OF!"
At her sound, the horses quieten down, but they were still fidgeting. Daine had to tell Alanna.
She rushed back to the house and dashed into Alanna's room.
" Daine, something's gone wrong?" Alanna asked her worriedly as she saw Daine very flustered and drenched in sweat.
" Alanna, the...." Before Daine could finished, 2 beams of silvery light shone in front of each of them.
" Badger!" Daine cried out and buried her face in his fur! " Just when I needed to see you!"
" Be careful kit, bad times are coming for Tortall." The badger warned wearily.
Daine looked at him. He certainly looked different. For one thing, he looked worn and tired and there were a few gray furs of his body. Something Daine had never expected to see from a badger god.
" What's happening? Why are all the animals behaving so weirdly?" Daine asked.
The badger looked at her and said very sternly, " Get everyone out of Pirates Swoop and to the Palace by noon kit."
" But...but....what is happening? Tell me! I don't understand...." Daine protested.
The badger pounced onto her and snarled, " Do as you're told kit!"
Daine knew better then to provoke him and surrendered. " Has my father any message? Can I ask him what this is all about?"
The badger softened at the mention of her father. " All will be revealed in due time, but get everyone out of here first before its too late! There's not one minute to be loosed." He instructed and vanished.
************
Meanwhile
Out of the other beam of light came a woman who was extremely tall, even taller than Numair and whose beauty was indescribable. Her white and pure porcelain skin revealed that she was no mortal.
" mother goddess," Alanna gasp. She had not appeared to her for more than ten years already!
" My daughter," the goddess sweet but terrible voice rang out, " Bad times have come for Tortall. Be prepared for the worst, for this year would be the worst year ever. But never fear, for fear itself will lead to your downfall. Keep your wits about you and success it yours. Good luck."
" But..but..." Alanna stammered, but the goddess had gone. Alanna reached out to the ember-stone she wore on her neck. It glowed a bright purple and was warm to touch. A dawn understanding fell onto Alanna; the stone was re-filled with more magic, and from the goddess herself!
She turned to Daine to see if she had seen the goddess as well but Daine beat her to it. " The badger came and told me we have to get everyone out of Pirate's Swoop before noon today. And who was that woman?" Daine looked strickened.
" She was Mother goddess." Alanna replied.
Daine led out a gasp. Mother goddess??? " You...you...are on speaking terms with the Mother goddess????" she squeaked.
Alanna nodded seriously. " She came to warn me that Tortall is in danger. Lets go, we need to act fast."
**************
All characters belong to Tamora Pierce but the idea belongs to me.
All comments to livewire_87@yahoo.com
(c)Lady Marianna of Silvermoonsky (livewire)