Chapter 1
"Daren! Where are you?"
Ten-year-old Daren Komaya looked up from the book he was reading and pulled an annoyed face. Why did his sister have to bother him now? He was just getting used to the quiet of the warm afternoon.
The curtain from outside was pushed away, revealing his eight-year-old sister, Dalila. Dark brown hair, almost black, was plaited messily down her back (a sign that she had done it herself), wisps of hair coming loose to surround her little pixie face. A small button nose covered in a splash of freckles was wrinkled in distaste as she stepped into his room, her lips pulled into a grimace and her pretty brown eyes looking at him darkly. He suspected she was still pouting about losing their horse race the previous day.
"What do you want, Lila?" Daren asked, glaring at her with glowing green eyes.
Dalila frowned at him. "Don't be moody at me, Daren. It's Mother and Father that want you. Be angry at them." Daren sighed as he pulled himself up off of his bed and followed the young girl out to where his mother and step-father sat, relaxing by the Rose Pool.
Daren smiled at his mother, Anthea Komaya, only daughter of the High King Eldon, as he neared, and then kissed her fair cheek. Her flaming red hair was curling innocently around her face, and a few tendrils hung in front of her green eyes that were filled with gold and brown specks. He loved his mother dearly. She always seemed to understand him.
He turned to his step-father and gave the customary salute of reverence. He disliked Tamas Ginfant, whose brown hair seemed too perfect, and whose piercing blue eyes seemed to boar into his very soul every time they met eyes.
"Daren, sit," Tamas ordered, at least somewhat kindly. Daren did so at once, not wanting to upset him.
"Dalila said you wanted to see me?" he asked respectfully. Anthea nodded and bit her lip. Tamas took her hand and smiled lovingly at her, so her confidence grew. She began to speak at once.
"Yes, Daren. We've talked about you going to Hogwarts next year before, haven't we?" Daren's hopes grew. He had always wanted to go to Hogwarts. His uncle, Alec, had talked about it many times, and it sounded like a wonderful place. He desperately wanted to go.
When Daren nodded, she continued. "Your father and I have been discussing it with your grandfather and grandmother, and we've all decided. You'll stay here instead. I went to Hogwarts, so I can teach you, and your uncle Alec will come in the summer and help, and-"
"What?" Daren cried, standing up. "But you promised me that I could go!"
"Things change, Daren. Times change, too. The world isn't as safe as it used to be. Now sit down and listen to your mother," Tamas ordered, his eyes flashing.
Daren only glared at him. "Don't order me around. You may be married to my mother, but you are NOT my father!" He turned on his heel and ran away before the two adults could react.
How could she? His mother had promised that he would go to Hogwarts when he was eleven. His real father had gone there, she told him, and so had she. He wanted to be able to learn with normal students, and have human friends for a change. He wanted to be able to blend in with the crowd and not be judged immediately because he was recognized as a prince.
Daren stormed into his room and sat down on his bed heavily, running a hand through his black hair. Sometimes he hated life in Avalon, where everything was so protected. He didn't want to be trapped in his cage anymore; he wanted to be able to stretch his wings and fly away from the bondage that he had now.
His mind was made up. He was running away, and he was going it that night. He needed to be alone for awhile, and running away was the proper solution.
He only hoped he could get out of the palace without getting caught, first.
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Daren couldn't believe his luck. Not only had he gotten out of the palace, but he'd been able to snatch his horse, Ryder, as well. His journey was going smoother than expected.
He had at least until dawn before someone realized he was missing. His mother and step-father had already gone into their room, and his sister was fast asleep as he snuck past her room.
After a few hours of riding, Daren came upon a large iron gate, looking old and rusty. His mother had told him once that is he ever came upon an old gate that looked like it hadn't been used in hundreds of years, it was the gates to Avalon. He had reached his destination at last.
Jumping off of Ryder and slinging his bag over his shoulders, he nuzzled his stallion's nose. "Be good now, Ryder. Go home. Go on." The horse gave a snort before turning and trotting away.
Daren turned to face the gates. "I, Daren Komaya, heir to the throne of the High King of Avalon, seek entrance to the mortal world."
It was amazing. The gates swung open, and before him, a large forest suddenly appeared. Daren eagerly stepped through, but when he got to the other side, he found the gates closing behind him, and his homeland no longer visible. A moment later, the gates had disappeared as well, leaving him alone in the dark.
Daren was suddenly glad that he had dressed in his heavy summer clothes and a cloak, for a chilly wind whipped around him, causing him to shiver. He looked around nervously before he began to walk away from where the gates had previously been.
After walking an hour or two, Daren had to stop. His feet were hurting him already, and he was hungry. He opened his pack and took an apple out of it, making sure to keep the juice of it off of his clothes.
Soft sobs suddenly met his pointed ears. (Being an elf give you a keen sense of hearing, and sight, too.) He expanded his vision and spotted a young, redheaded girl on a clearing floor about twenty feet away, crying as she shivered from the cold.
Daren quickly began to make his way in her direction. She looked so helpless sitting there, and Daren couldn't help but wonder if she was lost.
Upon entering the clearing, Daren found the girl still there, although her shoulders had stopped shaking. He slowly began to step towards her.
"Why do you cry, pretty maiden?" he inquired softly. Her head shot up like a bullet, revealing a tear-stained freckled face, and tear filled brown eyes.
"W-Who…Who are you?" she asked fearfully.
"I'm Daren Komaya," he answered, sitting down in front of her Indian style. "Who are you, and why were you crying?"
"I'm Ginny Weasley. I was crying because I'm lost," she muttered, looking down at the ground, obviously embarrassed. Daren smiled at her.
"Do you know which direction you live in?" She shook her head. "What city?"
"Village. St. Ottery Catchpole," she corrected him. "It's a little village about 80 miles north of London."
He smirked at her. "Well, you certainly know your directions." Although her cheeks went red, she didn't say a word as he helped her up.
"Well, that can't be too far from here. How'd you get lost, anyway?" The pair began to walk in the direction that Daren had just come from.
"My mum took us on a picnic so we could have some fun. I was picking daisies on a hill when I realized that it was getting dark. I went back to where we had eaten, but no one was there. So I wandered around for a bit before I just resigned myself to waiting." Ginny looked ready to cry again.
"Don't worry. I have a very good sense of direction. You'll be home on no time," he said boldly. She smiled warily at him, but he only strode ahead.
"How old are you, Daren?" Her soft voice startled him.
"Oh, I'm ten. How old are you?" He returned the question politely.
"I turned nine two weeks ago," she answered, a little more calmly this time.
They walked in silence for a while. Neither felt like speaking, for both of the youngsters were caught up in their own thoughts.
Finally, Ginny broke the silence. "Won't your parents be worried about you?"
"What do you mean?" he asked, bewildered.
"Won't they be wondering where you are?"
"Oh!" He frowned at the question. "I don't know. I ran away from home."
She looked shocked. "Why would you run away from home?"
"Because, my parents weren't going to let me go to Hog- I mean, the private school I wanted to go to, and my mother promised me a long time ago that I could go."
"You almost said Hogwarts." It wasn't a question, but a fact. He blushed.
"You a witch?" She nodded and smiled warmly at him.
"Yes. Are you a wizard?" she asked, cocking her head at him. She could probably see that he was a mix of something.
"Part wizard," he corrected her. "I have a little bit of elf blood in me." He left out being part fae. He didn't want to frighten her.
But even being part elf didn't frighten her. Didn't even scare her for a single second. In fact, she looked positively delighted.
"Part elf? Oh! That's amazing!" she squealed, grinning up at him with excitement in her eyes. He grinned
"Did I mention I was part fae, too?" She was ecstatic when he said this.
The trip lasted until almost dawn. The sun's spindly gold fingertips were just coming over the horizon as they stepped onto the hill overlooking Ginny's house.
Daren looked at it in wonder. The house was so high that the many levels were crooked, and he was sure that it was held up by magic. The gardens were overrun, and there was a pile of boots by the front door, next to a sign that read The Burrow. It had that lived in feel, and Daren couldn't help but feel like he was home when he looked at the house.
"Oh, thank you, Daren! Thank you so much!" Ginny cried, throwing her arms around his neck. Daren laughed and hugged her back, quickly memorizing the flowery scent that seemed to radiate from her. When she pulled back, she grinned at him.
"You have to come inside and meet my parents, Daren. They'd be so pleased to meet you," she begged.
Daren smiled, but shook her head. "I'm sorry, Ginny. But I really have to go. My parents will be out looking for me soon, and I'm afraid that they'll track me here if I don't get a move on." Her face fell a little, making Daren smiled more. "I can write to you, if you want." Her head snapped up, the expression on her hopeful and full of sorrow at the same time.
"That would be lovely," she whispered. Daren grinned at her before leaning down and quickly kissing her cheek. When he pulled away, both were blushing furiously.
"Bye, Ginny. I'll write soon," he told her before turning around and hurrying back down the hill.
"Bye, Daren," she said softly, touching where his lips had met her pale skin. Then her face broke out into a grin before she let out a whoop and raced down the hill to where the Burrow stood.
"Mum! Mum, I'm back!" Ginny shouted as she burst through the kitchen door. A tired and haggard-looking Molly Weasley looked up before she let out a shriek of joy.
"Oh, my Ginny! My baby's home!" she cried, scooping Ginny up in her arms. The little girl laughed and let her mother rain kisses on her face.
Finally, Mrs. Weasley pulled away and said breathlessly, "Oh, my baby, where have you been?"
"In the forest. I thought you left me," she answered. "But there was a boy named Daren there. He helped me get back home. He said that he'd write to me." Mrs. Weasley smiled at the little girl's tale before setting her down.
"Come, little one. Everyone's been so worried about you," she said, taking Ginny by the hand and leading her into the living room.
Ginny stopped for a moment before entering the room to look back at the sun. She could see his silhouette there, but now he was joined by two other's. They looked like strong men, and they grasped his arms tightly and lifted him onto a horse. She was about to run to him when she heard a voice in her head speak.
Don't worry, Ginny. They're the people that my parents sent after me. She nodded in understanding before shutting the door behind her.
