Disclaimer ---×
As much as I may want to, I don't own any of the characters from the book… or not yet anyway. Hehe. Don't sue (not that you'd get very much…)!A/N ---×
Haven't got it all figured out just yet, but basically this is based a year after the Tamuli. Hope you enjoy! Oh, and please R & R! Please? I want to know whether I should both continuing or not… Anyway, enough talking… On with the story… =D---×---×---×---
Chapter One
"Sparhawk…" the small voice called softly.
"Mmm…" the Pandion Knight mumbled, shifting slightly in bed. There was a slight pause, followed by a small, exasperated sigh.
"Sparhawk!"
There was something about the urgent way that it was said that woke Sparhawk up. He sat up straight in bed, and looked around to see his seven-year-old daughter sitting on the bed next to him.
"Danae! What have we said about calling me 'Saprhawk' in front of your mother?" he hissed, glancing over to where his wife was still sleeping next to him.
"She's sleeping," Princess Danae said, rolling her eyes. Sparhawk rubbed his eyes and yawned.
"Are you sure?"
Danae gave him a flat, unfriendly stare and Sparhawk sighed.
"You're right. I'm sorry," he muttered, reaching for his dressing robe as he swung his feet out of bed. His daughter was already halfway across the room and standing in between the doorway.
"Are you coming, father?" the little girl asked innocently, before dashing out into the main room. Sparhawk grumbled some more and followed her out of the room.
"What is so important that you had to wake me up in the middle of the night. It's been a year since we fought Klæl… and I'm still trying to catch up on all the sleep I've missed"
The Child-Goddess ignored him and she sat down beside the dying fire, "are you done yet?"
Sparhawk sighed again, and sat down wearily in a large and comforatble chair opposite her. "Oh, I suppose so"
"Good. I've got something important to tell you… and I'm not sure that you're going to like it"
"That's nothing new, Aphrael," he responded, drily. Princess Danae grinned impishily at him.
"But you love me anyway, don't you?" she asked in a sweet tone.
"Aphrael…" Sparhawk warned.
"Okay, okay. I don't know how mother puts up with you sometimes," she said, sticking her tounge out, before looking serious. The little girl got up and held her arms out to Sparhawk. He absently picked her up, and set her on his lap.
"Aren't you getting a little too old for this?" he asked in a defeated tone.
"I don't know what you're on about, father…" Danae replied innocently, "and stop interrupting me, I need to concentrate on what I have to talk to you about"
Sparhawk bit back a comment, and let his daughter continue.
"How gracious of you, father," she said, sarcastically, "anyway… the other day, my family and I found out something rather… well, disturbing. Some one – no, that's not right. Something is set to try and destroy Eosia"
"This wouldn't be the first time"
"No, actually it's happened more time than you've been involved in. Usually it's just on the whim of some God from another world, and we've been able to change their minds. But this time it's different. The thing that wants to destroy or take over Eosia is stronger than a God"
"Like Klæl?" Sparhawk asked, not wanting really wanthing to think about what was being said.
"Well, yes… and no"
"Oh?"
"Klæl was stronger than a God… several actually. But if we really wanted to, all of the Gods – and Goddesses – could've joined together and defeat him, and-"
"What?!" Sparhawk exploded, before remembering to keep his voice down, "are you telling me that we went through all that trouble when you could've defeated Klæl yourself?"
"Of course not," Aphrael responded, calmly, "I said that if ALL the Gods – and Goddesses – joined together. But not ALL of them would've agreed to… besides, we're getting off track here. This new threat can't be defeated by an alliance between the Gods, and that's what worries us so much"
Sparhawk started to swear, while the Child-Goddess waited patiently. But after a while, she decided to but in. "We can either sit here swearing, or we can actually try to think of something to do…" she said, like she was talking to a little child.
"What can we do? If the Gods can't defeat it, what makes you think that I can? I don't even have Bhelliom anymore!"
Aphrael pouted, "is it my fault that you decided to give up that power. I told-"
"Don't even say it"
"Fine. But what I'm getting at, is that yes it is more powerful than the Gods combined, but only slightly. There is a chance that we can destroy it, and there's a chance that it can destroy us. Neither of us want to take that chance, so we agreed on a challenge…"
"Challenge?"
"I'll explain that when the rest get here"
"The rest?"
"Yes, are you having hearing problems, father? Or maybe you're just a bit tired…"
"Don't push it," Sparhawk told his daughter firmly. Princess Danae grinned impishly.
"Yes, the rest. You need competitors in a competition, don't you?"
"I don't really want to know"
"Well, that's too bad. Go get some sleep, and I'll tell you more about it later" Aphrael said, kissing her father on the nose and slipping down from his lap. She then walked back to her room and closed the door. Sparhawk sighed, and rubbed his eyes. He wasn't really all that tired anymore.
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A/N:
Sorry if this chapter was a little bit boring, but I want to get the story straight before I go too far. Otherwise I'll end up confusing myself as well as the readers… o.0 Please Read and Review! This is my first Fan Fic, so please "be nice". I don't mind if you want to tell me how much you hate the story so far, as long as you back it up with a reason! Thanks. =)