Her eyes were green and her hair was mahogany brown. Her face was pleasantly round with a few freckles on a radiant complexion. She was shorter than most and on a good day she was over five feet. This is her twentieth summer, her name is Morena Sevenstreams. Her parents are the royal jewelers, they live extraordinarily comfortable lives.
She is to be wed to the captain of the guard on harvest day in autumn. This will be a political marriage, just an exchange of wealth and title. They have met once when she was of age.
He was led into the entry way with his guards at his sides.
"I am here to meet my bride!" he called throughout the house alarming the ladies maids.
"My lord you are welcome in this house throughout your days" said her ladyship .
Her ladyship was quickly joined by her lovely daughter Morena.
"My lord" she said dipping in a nervous bow, egger to please her fiancé.
"My lamb, I have a gift for you. I know of your families work with jewels and I have brought you this rare stone" he brought forth a sack that was larger than the largest of watermelons.
He inserted his large hand and brought forth a massive oval shaped rock that was the color of emeralds.
"oh my lord how generous" she said with a soft smile.
"here take it in your hands, don't worry it is light as a feather" he placed the large stone in her delicate hand.
She gasped as she felt how truly light this rock appeared; it felt as if she had put her hand in ice the rock was frigid. Its surface was completely smooth and when you knocked on the rock it sounded hollow.
"My lord thank you, you are truly kind. This must have cost you a fortune." she said genuinely.
"My lamb, your father has repaid me that fortune my giving me you" he said kissing her free hand
"good day my lady"
And with that he left the house with his guards trailing behind him.
Once he was out of site she handed the stone to her maid and ordered it to be put up in her chambers.
"At least on good thing shall come from this loveless marriage" she muttered to herself
Morena was spirited and very stubborn. She was very different from the people of Coren. Coren was a large city north of the coastal region of Forodwiath. The people never ventured south towards Angmar, for fear of the evil lying there. They lived in a rich, costal town, with plentiful markets and varying exports. They were known for their gold work and delicious food. They hardly had visitors and were glad of it; everyone was well aquatinted with one another.
Later that night as Morena laid herself down to sleep on her large feather mattress and snuggled up in her blankets. But, as she drifted off into sleep she heard a gentle "crack"
She shot up from bed snatching the little knife from her dresser.
"Whose there! I demand you to come out at once"
The large room was dark and only small bits of light shone in through the balcony. The moon was covered by clouds and offering little to no light. She could hear her own heart beat pounding in her chest. She sensed something was amiss, but all was well. She plopped back down on his mattress and resumed her slumber. But not a moment later did she hear
"Crack...crack...wobble..."
She flew from her bed and stood upright.
"Show yourself immediately"
She slowly turns around scanning the room. Everything was how she had left it but she almost forgot about the new addition to her room. She raced to her closet throwing open the doors and scanning the items for her gift.
"Crack...wobble...crack"
There it was again but it was coming from the sack that the stone occupied. Her small fingers were shaking nervously as she undid the knot. Before she could untie it she felt something moving in the bag. She dropped the bag and gasped backing away. As the bag fell she heard a cry of pain. But it was not a human cry or a cry she had ever heard before. She sunk to her knees scooping up the bag in her arm. A whimpering sound came from the bag. She pulled open the top a peered inside.
She didn't know whether to scream for help or stay silent. The stone was not a stone but an egg...