Disclaimer: All rights to the Hollow kingdom trillogy belong to Claire B Dunkle. Not me. This is just a loving fan writing stories for the fun of it. ^_^
So, I give you Chapter One: Fleeing Starlight.
There was in that darkness a silence so complete as to chill the soul. The quote fits this place, mused Caitren as she inhaled again the rich scent of wet earth and fallen leaves. Peace filled her soul instead. This place was perfect! The growing moon wavered in the tiny waves that populated the lake, and behind her the moon dappled forest seemed to beckon with a malicious promise of discovery. It was the reason she and her friend had came to this small retreat. The beautiful surroundings and friendly people stole away a persons troubles and crushed them under a tide of warmth and beauty. Her own poetic tendencies brought a satisfied smile to her lips, and letting the feeling overtake her Caitren began to hum in a soft, quiet tone. Her voice wasn't going to win any Grammies and she knew that but she loved music none the less and often indulged when she thought she could. The sarcastic howling behind her brought the chorus up short and she scowled. So much for not getting caught, She thought in annoyance.
A feminine figure trotted up the gravel path toward her and she couldn't stop the smile that lit her face in welcome. Brittney, her best friend grinned at her and joined her perch overlooking the lake, pushing her blond hair out of her face before sitting on the visitors bench. "Of all the places in the world we have to vacation in a wilderness preserve," She teased in mock exasperation. Caitren was terrifyingly weird at worst, and a little hippy at best. She often braided her long blond hair with beads or feathers and almost always was seen in a long skirt. Naturally when planning a trip to England she had leaped at the opportunity to stay in an eighteenth century manor surrounded by ancient woodlands. Caitren returned her friend's grin and turned back to the Lake. "Isn't it beautiful, Britt?" She sighed wistfully as a weak breeze blew in off the water. Brittney, a little less impressed scoffed and mimicked her. "It's like angels fell to earth and painted this place!" She exclaimed clasping both her hands to her breast and staring at the lake like a love struck nine-year-old. They both sniggered with delight at the joke.
"You know it's nearly three in the morning?" Brittney ask at last shooting her friend a pointed look.
"Is it?" Caitren ask absently. Her internal clock was still completely off, and the scenery was entirely too amazing to let slip away. It was as if sleeping would erase the country side and remake it, loosing the hauntingly beautiful night for all eternity. Inconceivable! railed some inner omniscient voice, i simply wont sleep then. Caitren was amused at her own inability to let the night be stolen by sleep and said instead. "I think I'll stay up and watch the sun rise." To which Brittney replied with a doubly dubious glance before sighing and warning her to be careful. She walked back to the manor to sleep herself.
Caitren watched her for a moment content to feel the small breeze stirring the torrid summer air before turning her gaze back to the black lake and it's legion of trapped stars. The trees that rose high above the sandstone cliffs were black in the moonlight, and even the grass beside the silvery gravel looked blue. It's amazing how moonlight alters perception, she noted to herself and wondered what the woodland trails must look like with so little light. The little gravel walking paths meandered in and out of the outskirts but never ventured within the forest it's self. She contemplated following one just to satisfy her curiosity. The lake was beautiful and if she moved she might loose what little breeze that there was. On the other hand it was possibly cooler under the trees, even if it was darker the paths were immaculately landscaped and was no chance of tripping. At last the hope for cooler temperatures drove her from the bench. The path crunched tellingly under her hiking boots as she followed it into the shadowy tree line.
Once inside the first line of trees the temperature dropped alarmingly. A chill raced through Caitren as the cold air licked over her overheated skin and she shivered in delight. Malicious seemed to be more than accurate in describing the forest as the feeling of being watched drained the color from her face. Her stomach cramped suddenly in response to her nerves. Instead of stepping farther along the path she stopped dead in her tracks, motionless, barely breathing. It wasn't that she had hear or seen anything, but something was there. It was an unquestionable knowledge that had her back stepping out of the trees her eyes darting as if an attack was forthcoming. making it safely back into the moon light Caitren paced backward from the woodland a another two yards before whirling on her toes and sprinting for the safety of the manor. The lighted walk ways and scenery no longer seemed so perfectly innocent.
Marak Lobsterclaw strode through the trees with Taydor and Shestyn, his other lieutenant. He came into sight of the truce circle's bordering ring of oaks and stopped glaring silently at the beautiful male lounging against the tree with his arms casually crossed over his trim chest. "Greetings Marak," The elf's voice shot from the inner columns with cold venom. Marak in turn bared his green tinged fangs and hissed a sarcastic greeting, red eyes flashing with glee as the elf king's men flinched.
"I assume you know my terms." Marak rumbled stepping fully into the circle. He cocked his head and flashed the elves a malevolent look of amusement. For the last three generations the goblins had received an elven bride for the continuance of the peace treaty. Aganir Diacollour Snarled his full lips in disgust, a tinge of green entering his own complexion at the thought.
"I know what you'll demand," He affirmed, "But I think you are unaware of the current circumstances, as well." He added his cold disdain morphing seamlessly into silky diplomacy. The goblins, like the elves are intensely curious and it wasn't three heart beats later that Marak had risen to the bait.
"And what circumstances would those be pretty~prancer?" He smirked. Aganir Diacollour's black eyes nearly smoldered in their sockets but his only reply was a smooth silky sentence.
"There are human brides in Hollow Hill Manor again." He informed the goblin, obviously believing that he held the ace in his hand. "You can't say that there is no choice anymore. You can choose one of them."
"Or I could choose not to sign your paper and raid for as many girls as I want to use." He countered laughing softly.
"You'd never make it past the border spell!" Diacollour snapped, his anger braking through his self control. In milliseconds the two young monarchs were in each other's faces snarling, snapping, and threatening torturous agonies. The four military commanders glanced at each other uncertainly. Taydor went so far as to doff the hood of his cloak in acknowledgment of the elven generals. We might as well be on good terms, he figured, this looks like it's going to take a while.