Chapter 1
Starfire landed in a seldom-used meadow that lay a few leagues from the palace. It was close enough that if she was needed she could be at the palace in a few minutes. Starfire picked some flowers and sat down to braid them together. Things like this, although simple and perhaps childish, helped her calm down and relax. Court life wore nerves thin, even the nerves of those trained from childhood for it.
When she had finished the braid of flowers she wove it into her hair. Then, she flew over to the small stream that cut across the edge of the meadow. Starfire waded in and shivered as the cold water met her feet. In a few minutes, her feet were numb and she walked downstream, making sure of her footing before continuing on.
***
Robin watched silently from the cover of the tree's branches at the Queen of Asalen played in the water. She didn't act like most royalty he had met before. She seemed to be so childish. But, then again, Robin thought, you can't judge a book by its cover. A lot of nobles pretend to be something they're not. They have to, Court life and tradition makes them. It was many an assassin's fatal mistake, judging people, under- or overestimating an enemy could be deadly, especially the former.
He looked again at the Queen. It's almost a pity to kill her; she's so naïve and childish.
***
Starfire climbed out of the river and twirled. She danced around, partially to warm up her feet and partially just to have fun. Her advisors (and the rest of the Court) would have a cow if they saw her right now. She wasn't acting royal and dignified as she was supposed to. She wasn't elegant and calm. But Starfire really didn't care. She was having fun. The dancing she was doing was nothing like the usual restricted Court dances where she was only supposed to dance the opening dance and then retire to her throne to watch everybody else dance. Those were no fun. She only survived those because her best friend, Raven, stood beside her and talked, well, listened, and kept Star from going insane.
Raven was the daughter of a King from a distant planet. She had run off because of her father and had absolutely no plans to return. Raven hated her father. Starfire didn't know much about the enigmatic girl but she could surmise that from the little information and fewer emotions that Raven let drop through her mask.
Raven rarely spoke about her past or about anything, but she was Star's closest friend. Raven was one of her advisors and the only one who knew where she went on her excursions and even came with her occasionally. That reminded her; it was getting late and she needed to get back to the palace before her advisors and bodyguards got into a hysterical fit. Starfire jumped into the air and skimmed over the grass and flowers of the meadow before rising higher into the air and going back to palace life.
***
Robin thought back to what he had just seen of the Queen. She was quite pretty but when she danced around she was stunning. Her bright green eyes, her luscious red hair-stop that! Robin scolded himself. He was here on business and it would be the worst thing to ever happen to him if he were to fall in love with the person he had been sent to kill. It wouldn't be good to fall in love with anyone much less a definite target! Emotions were dangerous in his profession. They could cause just a moment's hesitation which could result in the finale of an assassin's part in the play.
Robin shook himself and started thinking about how he would be able to enter the Queen's Court and get himself close enough to her to kill her. A servant, perhaps, or a guard. Perhaps a bodyguard would be the best. Then he would be close enough to the Queen and have a certain amount of mobility that a servant's position would not ensure.
Plan set in his mind, Robin started toward the palace and his new life, at least for a few months.
***
Hope ya'll like it so far! Lemme know in your reviews!
Starfire landed in a seldom-used meadow that lay a few leagues from the palace. It was close enough that if she was needed she could be at the palace in a few minutes. Starfire picked some flowers and sat down to braid them together. Things like this, although simple and perhaps childish, helped her calm down and relax. Court life wore nerves thin, even the nerves of those trained from childhood for it.
When she had finished the braid of flowers she wove it into her hair. Then, she flew over to the small stream that cut across the edge of the meadow. Starfire waded in and shivered as the cold water met her feet. In a few minutes, her feet were numb and she walked downstream, making sure of her footing before continuing on.
***
Robin watched silently from the cover of the tree's branches at the Queen of Asalen played in the water. She didn't act like most royalty he had met before. She seemed to be so childish. But, then again, Robin thought, you can't judge a book by its cover. A lot of nobles pretend to be something they're not. They have to, Court life and tradition makes them. It was many an assassin's fatal mistake, judging people, under- or overestimating an enemy could be deadly, especially the former.
He looked again at the Queen. It's almost a pity to kill her; she's so naïve and childish.
***
Starfire climbed out of the river and twirled. She danced around, partially to warm up her feet and partially just to have fun. Her advisors (and the rest of the Court) would have a cow if they saw her right now. She wasn't acting royal and dignified as she was supposed to. She wasn't elegant and calm. But Starfire really didn't care. She was having fun. The dancing she was doing was nothing like the usual restricted Court dances where she was only supposed to dance the opening dance and then retire to her throne to watch everybody else dance. Those were no fun. She only survived those because her best friend, Raven, stood beside her and talked, well, listened, and kept Star from going insane.
Raven was the daughter of a King from a distant planet. She had run off because of her father and had absolutely no plans to return. Raven hated her father. Starfire didn't know much about the enigmatic girl but she could surmise that from the little information and fewer emotions that Raven let drop through her mask.
Raven rarely spoke about her past or about anything, but she was Star's closest friend. Raven was one of her advisors and the only one who knew where she went on her excursions and even came with her occasionally. That reminded her; it was getting late and she needed to get back to the palace before her advisors and bodyguards got into a hysterical fit. Starfire jumped into the air and skimmed over the grass and flowers of the meadow before rising higher into the air and going back to palace life.
***
Robin thought back to what he had just seen of the Queen. She was quite pretty but when she danced around she was stunning. Her bright green eyes, her luscious red hair-stop that! Robin scolded himself. He was here on business and it would be the worst thing to ever happen to him if he were to fall in love with the person he had been sent to kill. It wouldn't be good to fall in love with anyone much less a definite target! Emotions were dangerous in his profession. They could cause just a moment's hesitation which could result in the finale of an assassin's part in the play.
Robin shook himself and started thinking about how he would be able to enter the Queen's Court and get himself close enough to her to kill her. A servant, perhaps, or a guard. Perhaps a bodyguard would be the best. Then he would be close enough to the Queen and have a certain amount of mobility that a servant's position would not ensure.
Plan set in his mind, Robin started toward the palace and his new life, at least for a few months.
***
Hope ya'll like it so far! Lemme know in your reviews!