Hiya! Me here! Just like to say sorry for not updating other stories but I am having problems at the minute. I think it is a mild case of writers block since I'm doing my exams! But hopefully all will be ok once they are over, so thank you for your patients. And to Angel I accept your apology that I received in Family Tree. J

So on with the story…

Xx Jez xx

Sisters of the Silver Sun

2

many years ago……

The night sky was alive with the many stars and the moon looked down sleepily over a vast kingdom in the heart of a peaceful valley. Tall mountains stood proud and tall but with a hidden secret like most of them do. For twas on the other side were steep cliffs, though difficult to ascend, they were near impossible to descend. So it had been for many years that all who entered the kingdom never got out, unless it is by flight or death.

But it was not such a sentence to eternal hell and suffering as one might think, no, this fair kingdom was under the rule of the brave and merciful King Joel Redfern, and his beautiful and benevolent Queen, Collette Harman.

Long ago there had once been two settlements in this forgotten place. One was a band of Redfern vampires who had stumbled across this quite by accident, and the other was a circle of 13 Harman witches who had spread out in search of their independence.

The two settlements had lived in harmony for many years and it wasn't until the joining of the youngest two that the two clans decided that they should unite and make this their kingdom.

So the years went by, and as more travellers stumbled upon the hidden palace, the kingdom grew and grew.

Until one night a band of unlikely creatures arrived. There were twenty of them altogether. They came into the main street seeking help. The newly crowned king and his new wife were only married a few weeks. They had been thrown into this responsibility at quite a young age, with her being only 17 and him 19. However they were both strong and level headed. They approached the travellers along with the guards and it was to their amazement to find that the new arrivals were in fact Centaurs. The head, chest and arms of a human, but the lower body of a horse. They were magnificent and awed the people.

They were gracefully welcomed into the place, where they told of how they had fled their old kingdom after being in a ferocious battle and had come across this realm and now hoped that they may dwell here amongst them. They said they would reside in the woods to keep out of the way and would help in any way possible.

Well the king and the queen both thought they would be a good asset to the army. So those that wanted were trained to army standard. The women centaurs found work in crafts with the women of the village and other centaurs who didn't want to join the army helped out the locals with chores.

And the leader, Theron Griffin, he became an aid to King Joel. Helping him make important decisions with a resourceful and philosophic manner. And his mate, Nara, she became Queen Collette's best friend. They shared many secrets and Nara would help Collette with her dresses and accompany her everywhere.

Life was great. And respectful. They witches would celebrate the holidays together and the centaurs would star gaze and tell stories and the future from the stars.

During the October harvest there was two joys of celebration. It was of the proclamation that Queen Collette was with child and that Nara had just given birth to a son, Thorne Griffin. But most excitingly was that her majesty was expecting twins. Who would together change the kingdom and raise it to the light in days of dark. Now no one from the kingdom were entirely sure what that meant, but no one saw the nervous glance that Theron cast skywards that night.

The months passed and the seasons changed and soon June had arrived and the whole kingdom was alive and buzzing waiting the arrival of the twins.

And then it happened. On a clear and moonlit night it started. Everyone was awaiting the arrival. And then the news came. "The first born is a girl!" a cheer rose, but that would soon dwindle for at that moment terror struck. The trusted Theron turned on the guards and tried to get to the queen and the first baby.

Everyone acted fast. The ambushers were being kept out of the chamber and it was in that moment that a decision was made. The queen's most loyal and powerful witches performed a powerful spell that would delay the birth of her other child so that the king and herself and the baby could get away.

The faithful and devoted followers fought with all their might to save their king, queen and princess. But the battle wasn't looking good. Many had been killed. But they still fought even if just to distract them so that the others could escape.

They crept silently and swiftly through the castle and down to the dungeons. They had had only a select few dig a tunnel to the outside world. This was a major secret that had been carefully done over the years. Only a select few knew about this.

Down in the tunnel they hid, and led by their captain they headed out to the other side of the great mountains. They came across a small hut just at the entrance to the forest. They knew this was where Joel's older brother and Collette's older sister had gone to live. They wanted to live outside the kingdom and try to keep up with news from the outside.

They banged on the door and it was soon answered by a woman.

"Collette? Is that you?" she took a look at her face, "Come in quick." She ushered them inside.

"What happened?" she asked as soon as they had sat down.

Collette and Joel told the whole story. Collette's sister, Susan took the baby to hold.

After they had finished Susan and her husband (Joel's brother) Peter, had a quiet discussion in the corner.

"Collette? Joel? We have had an idea." Susan said turning back to them.

"What we will do is go down to the harbour and get you both on the next boat to England. We will assist you and come with you." Peter told them.

"Oh thank you!" Collette said hugging her sister.

"It's ok." Susan whispered.

"Now the boat doesn't leave for three months so we will have to be very careful and lay low." Peter informed them.

"Right it has been a long night. We best get you two settled into a bed. And Captain we have another room that you may reside in."

Three months had passed and there had been no sign of trouble. Everyone was waiting nervously around. Peter and Susan had left early to get down to the harbour and check things out. They were going to meet the other two down there on the ship in the cargo hold. That way it wouldn't attract as much attention.

They were all just about set to leave when the door crashed and in came a hooded figure, but they knew it was Theron.

"Go run! Get out!" The Captain had jumped in front and was doing all he could do protect his king and queen.

As the captain did his best, Joel and Collette ran out the back and into the forest and headed for the docks.

They heard another crash and the sound of pounding hoofs on the soft forest floor.

The centaurs were all cloaked and bore torches and had now started to chant or hum some ancient tune.

Joel was leading Collette through the trees on the other side of the mountain. They were going as swiftly and deftly as possible. The salt could be tasted in the air, and they could hear the sounds carried by the centaurs behind them.

That's when they saw it. It was a boat, and it was leaving the harbour. In one swift movement, Joel swept Collette up as she was clinging tightly to a bundle, and then he jumped up and landed as delicately as a cat on the ship.

He put Collette down and they turned and watched as the torch lights lined the harbour and disappeared into the distance.

Collette started to cry.

"What's wrong?" Joel asked.

"I just can't believe we got away." She sobbed.

"Don't worry. It will be alright. You'll see." He held her close to him as they sat there under the starry sky, watching the torch lights flicker away in the distance.

The small bundle in her arms stirred and a sharp pain went through her belly, and she whimpered in pain. Joel quickly gathered her and the baby up and snuck down into the cargo hold. Where he placed the three month old baby in a makeshift cot using an empty crate, and then helped his wife deliver their second baby, as quietly as possible into this world, with the aid of their brother and sister.