AN/ Aha! Didn't expect me back so soon did you? Well, don't get used to it, *^_~* This is chapter two, much more interesting than the first one, though still not great, but they will get better as we go, I hope. . . Still kind of short, or good? I'm trying, really. . . Big Revelation Alert, Big Confusion Alert, everything will be explained soon enough, promise *^_^* R&R, and as always, enjoy!
~Gabe~
Chapter Two - Sanctuary
"I must be allowed to see the King!" It was getting near dusk when a strange figure cloaked in dark brown approached the Fanelian palace, demanding an immediate audience with the King.
"I told ye, King Goau has more 'portant tings ta do than ta be meetin' with lowly vagabonds such as yerself!" The old gate-guard said, becoming annoyed at the woman's persistence. At least, it sounded like a woman, the figure refused to remove her hood, and would not give her name. "Come back temorra."
"Vagabond! Why you vulgar, boorish. . ." The woman began fiercely,
"Watch it there missy," The sentry interrupted, warning in his voice, "Lessen' ye be wantn' ta spend the night in the palace dungeon, ye'll be outa here quick like, ye get me?" The man gave her a look that clearly said he wasn't fooling around. The woman let out an irritated huff, then turned smartly on the heel of her only boot, and stormed off into the shadows, muttering about barbarians and the rude. The guard watched her stalk off and shook his head, chuckling to himself.
In the shadows of the palace walls, the woman cursed under her breath.
"You couldn't even make this easy. . ." She said quietly, eyes glancing upwards. Scanning the nearby streets for anyone who could possibly see her, the woman removed a small three pronged hook tied to a strong length of rope from her pack, and proceeded to fling the hook over the plaster like wall. Giving her end of the rope a slight tug, the woman allowed herself a small grin, as she felt resistance from the other end. Bracing her feet against the barrier, the woman began to slowly pull herself upwards with gloved hands, pausing only once, halfway up, to adjust her grip. As she reached the top, the woman crouched on the small path that the sentries must walk to survey the inside of the castle. She was on the east wall, overlooking a beautiful garden. There were flowers of every variety and colour, some she had never even seen before, with small fruit trees scattered throughout, and in the center of all of this was a large white stone fountain, the sculpture, a large sea dragon, spewing a stream of water a good four feet into the air. The woman was simply awestruck by the garden's beauty.
Suddenly, a movement among the flowers caught the her eye, and the woman turned her head just in time to see as a small boy with raven black hair and a dark red tunic come running towards the fountain, followed by the most beautiful woman she had ever seen. The strange woman's hair was the same ebony as the young boys, but long and flowing, where his was wild and unruly. She wore a long, dark blue dress, with panels of cream and light blue flowers on the full skirt. The sleeves were wide and ended with a trim of more light blue flowers, as did the modest square cut neck. In her hands she held a small bouquet of blue and yellow blossoms, and the same flowers were woven into a circlet around her pale brow. She looked like a goddess of spring as she walked slowly towards the young boy, a small smile just touching her lips.
The pair sat on the small stone bench beside the fountain, the young boy giggling as he played with a blade of grass. The dark haired woman looked at the boy, for a moment, and then shifted her gaze to the shadowed flower bed they had just come from. A tall boy in a light green tunic and pale breeches strode out of those shadows, a large grin on his face. As the eyes of the woman on the wall fell upon him, her breath caught in her throat. He was so handsome, with his pale, turquoise hair flopping in his eyes, delight clear on his youthful features as he approached the pair. The young boy hopped off his seat and ran over to the youth, flying into his arms with a cry of glee. The older boy swung the younger around in a circle, before lifting him up and setting him gently on his strong shoulders. With the small boy laughing on his back, the young man gave the woman a quick kiss on the cheek before sitting beside her on the bench.
They look so happy. . . The white haired woman thought from her perch on the wall. The image of her sister's blood flashed though her mind, and she felt tears well up in her eyes, tears she had tried so hard never to shed. I'll never be like this. . . A voice in her mind said, Never again. . . She shook her head, trying to banish the painful memories. This was not the place to break down.
Coiling her scaling rope once again, and placing it back into her small pack, the woman soundlessly slid off her perch and into a fairly stable looking pear tree below. Being extremely carful to stay in the shadows, the woman made her way slowly toward a large door in the southern most corner of the garden. She guessed that it would lead her inside the castle proper, where she could try and navigate to the throne room. Hopefully, the King would be there. She had almost made it to the doors, she could all but touch them, when she felt eyes boring into her back. She turned to see the dark haired woman, attention drawn away from the two boys, who were now reading a book the older one had brought, her eyes locked directly on the retreating form.
Damn, The pale haired woman thought again, frozen in place, one hand reaching out of the shadows toward the latch of the large doors. The dark haired lady slowly stood, eyes never leaving the other woman's cowled form as she began to step towards her. All of the white haired woman's instincts were screaming at her to flee, but she seemed frozen in place, staring at the approaching figure. The lady stopped a little over an armspan away, eyes searching the shadows which masked the other's face. She seemed so calm, for someone whose garden has just been invaded by a mysterious person. Her face held no fear or anger, only interest. It was eerily calming. Then she spoke,
"Who are you, and why have you come?" Her voice was soft and musical, but insistent. By this time the older boy on the bench had noticed the lady's absence, and was now approaching the pair, the younger child following close behind.
"Mother?" He asked the lady, slight concern in his voice as he regarded the stranger,
"Shhhh. . ." She said quietly, placing a delicate hand on his shoulder, eyes moving to meet his for only a second, then flickering back to the stranger's. "Who are you?" She asked again
"My name is Estrela das Sombra and I have come for an audience with the King of Fanelia." The white haired girl replied as calmly as she could manage.
"I am Varie, Queen of Fanelia. My husband, the King, is not here. He should be returning tonight however. Why do you need to see him, and why were you sneaking in to my garden instead of using the gate?" The darker woman's expression and tone did not change, the stranger was expecting her to be more upset at the intrusion, but she seemed untroubled by the entire incident. The younger woman's eyes widened in her hood at the other's title, and she brought both of her hands to her forehead, then to her lips, then to her heart, and knelt, head down, in front of the trio.
"My Queen, I apologize deeply for my invasion into your garden," She began, her voice almost shaking, "My purpose here is an urgent one, and the guard at the gate would not allow me to enter. I meant no disrespect, your Majesty." Her eyes never left the ground as she spoke, and she seemed afraid.
"Please, stand." Queen Varie said quietly, "You are not in trouble, young lady. Now please, tell me why you are here, I might be able to help" Estrela rose, but kept her eyes on the ground.
"I am here to request sanctuary," She began, voice still edged with fear. Queen Varie seemed to wait for something further, but when it was clear that no more would be said, she spoke up again
"Why do you seek sanctuary within Fanelia?" she inquired,
"Because, I had heard that the King of Fanelia had married a draconian woman, I presume that would be you, my Queen?" Varie nodded slightly, and Estrela continued, "I know that most people consider draconians to be cursed, no offense intended to you, your Majesty, but I thought, I hoped, that if Fanelia could accept a draconian, then perhaps I might be safe here as well." The Queen studied the girl a moment and the face obscured by the dark brown hood of her cloak, and then said quietly,
"Are you draconian, dear?"
"No, your majesty." Estrela began, shame thick in her voice. Her hands slowly raised to her hood, slowly pulling it back to reveal lightly tanned skin, dark pink lips, and a small, slightly pointed nose. Her eyes were closed, and appeared larger than a human's, though not so large as to make her face seem disproportionate. As her lids slowly opened however, they reveled eyes that could never be confused with a mortal man's. Orbs of solid black focused on Queen Varie's own eyes of deep burgundy. No white or iris was visible in Estrela's gaze. Her eyes looked like river stones, made her look almost animal-like, but they conveyed emotion like no stone or beast ever could, and now they seemed filled with pain. "I am Cisne" she said quietly, long white bangs blowing in the slight breeze. "I will understand completely if you wish me to leave, or even if you wish to have me killed. If I was in your place I'm not sure that I would want one of the Soulless in my home." She said the derogatory name given to her people with shame and anger both in her voice, eyes falling back to the ground, anguish marring her features.
"Oh, my dear, of course you may stay here." The Queen said warmly, hand reaching out to the young girl. Estrela began to shy away from the touch, but stopped herself, allowing the Queen to take her hand. She raised her eyes slightly, only to see Queen Varie staring at her with caring and understanding in her face. "You need not fear anyone here, I promise." The Queen smiled warmly, and Estrela caught herself grinning shyly back.
"Come now," the Queen began, but was cut off by the blaring of trumpets from the castle gates, "That must be my husband. . ." the Queen looked up towards the sound, then towards the two boys behind her, both of whom were staring intently at Estrela "Folken, Van, lets go see your father, bring Lady Estrela with you. Your father should meet her, if she is going to be staying with us for a time."
The younger boy quickly detached himself from the older's arms and ran to the Queen, taking her hand, and chancing a small wave at Estrela. Estrela smiled slightly and waved back. The older boy approached her, with his lips quirked upwards in a friendly manner and sparkling garnet eyes which seemed to be eternally laughing.
"My name is Folken Fanel, crown prince of Fanelia, and that little imp" he said, motioning to the raven haired boy with the Queen, "Is my younger brother Van." he paused and then continued, with a deep bow, "If I may, my Lady" He extended an arm for her to take, she seemed startled, "I don't bite," he said with a grin. She blushed furiously as she took his offered arm, and followed the Queen and the younger boy, Van, through the large oaken doorway.
"I'm really not a Lady," She said quietly, sending a quick glance at Folken as they walked.
"You seem more polite and ladylike than most of the noble women I've met," He smiled at her through his floppy bangs, "You should really give yourself more credit."
"Of course, your majesty," She said, dropping her eyes once again as they rounded a corner, and headed toward to more massive doors, these ones emblazoned in gold with the Fanelian Royal Crest.
"Now don't start that, I beg you. I am a normal person, and I'm trying to stay that way. Please, just call me Folken." He said to her as the doors were opened to reveal a large brightly lit room, filled with tapestries, plush red carpets, and two large thrones on a platform. There were few people present, several servants scurried about preforming various tasks, and Estrela could just make out the figures of three men chatting in the shadows opposite their entry point, but other than those, the massive room seemed empty.
Queen Varie passed her young son to a maid nearby, and walked onto the platform, taking a seat in the slightly smaller throne upon it, just as another set of doors flew open to reveal a party of seven men, two cloaked, with hoods thrown back, and five others, wolf men.
Estrela felt a knot form in her stomach as she realized who they were.
Oh, sorry. Forgot about this. . . Standard disclaimer applies, it's Friday, I'm tired, nothing witty this time. I own nothing, except Estrela and the Cisne. . . which, btw, is Portugese. Cisne means swan, Estrela das Sombra means Star of Shadows. Yeah, kinda stupid I know, but it's the best I can do right now *^_^* Ta all
~Gabe~