A/N: here it is! The long-awaited chapter one of "All is fair in Love and War!" The story still is plotless but I'm working on it, hopefully my vacation will help me gather plot ideas. Thanks to my reviewer: Life's Phenomenon.Much love:Passes out muffins:

Disclaimer: Erm, If I said I owned Hawksong no one would believe me, and I would get sued, I think I'm safer going with the cold, hard truth. I own nothing! Except the plot...which I don't even have yet.

And without further adu; the first chapter!

With nothing on our shoulders
But the clothes on our backs
And you leave us hear with nothing
Expecting no attack
With soilders on the way

You think its crazy to think theres
Nothing to hide
Whenever theres a proposition
For me to decide on
Theres a million suggestions
With a million intentions
With the people getting richer
Off the people getting poorer
Its due for being over
Theres justice on the way

If we only knew the truth about what really goes on
And what you said
Behind closed doors
On private Lines

-- "The Truth"

by Nonpoint

Danica Shardea had recently returned from the feilds, and though to the untrained eye it would have seemed she was alone, the royal child knew atleast half the Royal Guard had followed her to watch and keep her safe. She knew very well that her mother did not approve of her roaming the feilds, to kneel beside a dying soilder and comfort him so he does not die alone.

No, Nacola Shardea, the Tuuli Thea, and her mother all the same, had made this very clear. But Danica was always a willful child; sneaky and clever. Her mother had also forbid her from training with the Royal Flight, although Rei, her childhood friend as well as the Captain of the Royal Flight had taught her what he could.

The heir to the Avian throne had just landed in the court, and the massive, spiraling tower that was the Hawkskeep lay before her. The princess released a soft sigh of relief, letting down her Avian reserve enough to show her fatigue. The silken dress, a deep shade of chesnut with golden rhinestones adorning the collar and flowing sleeves, was ruffled and slightly torn on the bottom, and stained with the crimson of soilder's blood and the dirt of the feilds. The dress had been a gift from her mother, a rare act of affection and Danica had thanked her fully. Thinking back, she decided it wasn't the best thing to wear when walking the feilds. She would have to get Erica to meand it, if she wasn't busy that is. She hated troubling another with something so trivial if they had other things to attend to. The dress could wait.

In a matter of minutes the Shardea heir had reached the enterance of the keep. Her posture stiffened and in a matter of seconds, the signs of her fatigue vanished and she was back in the familiar mask of Avian reserve she was taught as a child. A figure stood in the doorway, guarding the path to the staircase that led to the second floor. She nodded hastily to the guard, whom she knew as Karl, one of the younger guards under Andreios' command.

"Good evening, Karl" she greeted the guard warmly, but he voice held a distinguishable note of fatigue. Of which she mentally berated herself for, hoping Karl wouldn't notice.

"Good evening, milady..." Karl started; he looked nervous, despite his reserve. He fidgeted slightly, shifting his weight from foot to foot.

Getting nothing more from the boy Danica sighed, annoyed. "What is it, Karl? Is something wrong?" Her voice was calm and collected, as all avians were taught not to display their emotions, and always speak to other in a respectful manner. The lack of answers was making her unnerved.

"Nothing, milady. I was told you mother would like to see you as soon as you arrived." He answered calmly.

Danica nodded warmly to the young soilder and continued her way to the second floor, where a grounded person or intruder would be unable to continue further. The floors from there upward would be reachable only by flight. Danica took her time to shift, stretching out the process, and shedding the oddly-shaped, two-legged form of a human for a form more natural to her. This form consisted of glistening golden-red wings and feathers, that of a golden hawk. The Royal family, the Tuuli and her children all bared the second form of a hawk. Descendents of Alisdair, and worshippers of Anhamirak; the goddess of free-will and eturnal beauty.

The royal hawk landed on the sixth floor, and shifted once more. Returning to her less-graceful human form. The hawk child glanced down at her current attire, woundering if she should change quickly and then see to her mother. It may vie off some imposing and accusitory questions as well, but,...no, she was told, ordered, to see to her mother right away. Without a second thought, Danica Shardea, headed down the grand hallway of the sixth floor and stopped just outside the double-doors, crafted grandly from oak, and rapped her right hand, curled into a slight fist, on the door softly.

A melodic voice answered "Oh Danica? Is that you? Come in..." Her voice sounded slightly strained, but other than that held no emotion.

She swallowed and pushed open the doors, closing and locking them behind her, as to not be interuppted. A wave of guilt swept over Danica at her mother's dissapproving glance at her clothes. The Tuuli Thea's stern gaze unnerved her slightly, she knew her mother wouldn't approve of her intentions, even if they were good intentions. But she also wished to be a Queen who was one with her people, to be amoung them, live and walk amoung them, not to be so distant. But that was still a life-time away,...

Nacola's daughter was brought from her revivoire by the sound of her mother's monotonous voice.

"Danica...are you listening to me?" the hawk queen asked impaitently.

Danica, bowed her head slightly, embarassed by her wandering mind, turning her molten gaze to meet her mother's indentical one sent sharp bits of relief through her being. the look in her mother's golden gaze seemed concerned, but it showed Danica she still acknologed her as her daughter and not just the next royal in line for the throne. With a soft released breath, the heir answered calmly, and truthfully.

"Yes, mother, I'mlistening."

Okay, had to end it there, have to get off now. I'll update ASAP. Remember review and you get a cookie! Come on,...you know you want to ;)