Taking Flight: Chapter 3

The dream becomes reality

Disclaimer: The Shannara series are Terry Brooks' creations

As they entered the large home the sweet aroma of his favourite meal wafted past Raleid's nose, Lillie too smelled the food as her stomach growled. They came inside from the back door which lead into the dimly lit kitchen, and there sitting at the table were Lillie's seven sisters and her mother, Emulov. Her mother stood up from the table a look of relief mixed with anger on her face. Her expression of relief was soon gone as she saw the look of pure exultation on her husband's face that could have only come from flying. Raleid saw his wife become angry and he acted quickly, walking over to his wife and kissing her lightly on the lips saying, "How is the love of my life?" He smiled sweetly and Lillie's mother flushed, the angry now was replaced by blissful shyness. Lillieanna's father looked back at her and winked.

Then father and daughter sat down at the table together to enjoy an evening meal with the entire family. The seven other girls sitting around the table conversed lightly with each other avoiding discussion with Lillieanna. The girls all rather looked alike, they looked like Emulov. They all had light pale skin, with strawberry blond hair and simple brown eyes. Their frames were small and fragile. They were very beautiful and they were highly sought after wives, but Lillie looked nothing like her mother, she looked like her father. She had dark long hair that fell past her waist. Her eyes were a sparkling jade; she had the look of a Wing Rider, unlike her sisters. The oldest of the sisters was Srekaeps, she was almost twenty-five years old; she looked up at Lillie and said rather lightly, "What have you been up to today?"

Lillie was taken aback at the sudden request at conversation, but she responded, "Nothing special, just wandering around."

Her father then cleared his throat and stood up, he was making an announcement of some kind, "My family, I want to congratulate my sweet daughter Srekaeps. She has accepted the offer of a young gentleman who she has agreed to marry." The family praised their mature sister and the entire conversation was all about wedding plans, Lillie had to leave, she asked to be excused quietly and left to her room.

As she entered her room, she noticed a small package on her bed. Lillie sat down on her four poster bed that was lavishly decorated with fine silks and began to open the package. The package contained a letter:

Dear Lillieanna Desconova,

Training is beginning for weapons mastery and we, the High Council at the Wing Hove, wish you to attend classes. Your father spoke to us diligently about your wishes to train under the Riders Regiment and we were pleased to hear this. You will be the first women ever to attend this training session, but we are confident that you will strive to do your best. Please join the classes and we wish you all the best of luck in your training.

Sincerely,

High Elven Council Member Kaleb Yelias

Lillieanna smiled in wonderment, her father had done this for her. She had always wanted to train with the Riders Regiment, although she knew she was forbidden to become a Wing Rider, she could at least train with them. She vowed she would do her father proud. She reached for the package and tore it open, inside was a short sword that had once been her father's. Lillie then looked over to the window and there on the small table across the room was another package. She walked over and opened it. Inside was new attire that she would need in her training, she also found a small necklace. As she lifted the necklace she gasped. The necklace bore the Mark of a Wing Rider. The Mark was two rings intertwined, which represented the interweaving of the Rider and the Roc. She knew the Mark well, her father and grandfather had it branded onto the underside of their right wrists. Each Wing Rider received the mark upon graduation of the training sessions. The small necklace was made of twine and Lillie knew her father must have laboured for long hours to make such a thing of beauty. Attached to the necklace was a small note saying:

Lillie, our dreams are our lifelines to success, don't give up.

She smiled upon reading the little letter and then tied the necklace around her slim neck and walk nimbly to bed. As thoughts of training whirled around in her head she drifted of to sleep with a smile on her face.

The chapter is finally longer and i hoped you enjoyed it! Please review! thanks a lot!