Setting
'Greetings Xanan.
However hard this is personally to write, consider that I am. For generations now, our people have fought for our differences, cultures, and magics. For claims of land and people, power and integrity. My King, my husband, as well as yours, sacrificed their lives for these things. Now the day has come where our numbers are as low as the leaves that remain on the limbs of your trees during your Autumn celebration. My Spring brings no hope for a future. I fear extinction has breached our boarders of Ufaria. As the leaders of this grand nation, I beg that you would peacefully meet with me at Urt Falls within the Orlpar Forest. I wish to delegate a possible solution to both mine, and your peoples' prosperity.
I wait for your response.
Signed,
Imizael, Queen of Felia'
Imizael was known for her connection with the land. She sealed the letter with her family crest, and stood to approach her open window. When she looked out and down from it, she could see the entire land that laid before Castle Felia. It was brightly colored with lush life. It soothed her soul to look out upon her land. She knew within her heart, that it was worth saving. That, perhaps, fighting was no longer an option.
Raising her hand to the wind, she hummed a short tune. Instantly, a red cardinal landed upon her forefinger. It wore a saddle, of sorts, upon its' back. This would suggest that it was a royal carrier. Imizael fastened the letter securely, and cupped the birds frail head with her other hand. "Take this beyond your borders, to the Queen of Xana. There, you will surely find her quarters located at the top of the tallest tower, in the darkest of rooms. Let nothing stop you, and no one see you. For this, your Queen will be eternally grateful." With a kiss on its' head, the red bird flew off into the blue sky. Imizael would raise her hands high above her head, palms outward. A gust of wind blew from her, to guide the bird along its' trip.
The queen stepped back from her window, and closed the white wooden shutters. She grabbed her shawl from off her seat, and draped it along her shoulders. Breakfast was held within the main hall of the castle, every morning, at the same hour. Something she looked forward to. Tradition was a hard thing to uphold within times such as these. Imizael was not above making new ones. Recently, she had accepted and insisted upon everyone within to eat together. It would build moral strength, she was sure.
Walking down the corridor, and winding steps, she entered the Main Hall. Before her sat a long, wooden table, with gold linings. The Queen was magical indeed, and was prideful with her capabilities. Nourishment, and aide, were her strong suits. She could produce food and drink with merely a thought. This also came helpful with plants, and water, mostly. For those that would arrive injured, medicine was not far from reach so long as their Queen was nearby.
Uttering a few words that were barely understandable, beautiful colors began to dance around the room. Streams of green and blue skirted from bowl, to cup, filling each with fresh fruit, wine, and earthly vegetables. The bells within the tower would ring soon, signaling the meal to the castles' occupants.
Thinking she was first down she hummed a little tune, her tigers paws not making a sound as she made her way to the breakfast table. "Are you hungry girl?" she asked rubbing the tigers neck, the tiger purred in response. "I'll get you something" she added and dismounted the tiger, as she noticed the queen.
"Hello your highness, how did you sleep?" she asked, sliding into a chair, putting her finger to her tiny chin, deciding on what to eat, she picked up a sausage and handed it to her companion, who purred in happiness. She herself picked a few grapes and apples, taking another sausage, handing it to the tiger.
"Your magisty, would you mind procuring a steak for her?" she asked in her sweetest voice. She then began eating again, and petting her companion behind the ear.
As important and dependent that Imiazael was upon Kona's skill, she sometime's questioned whether the girl was 'all there', or not.
"Kona, perhaps you could explain something to me?" She arched a brow, waving her left hand slowly before her face. Before the tiger, on the floor, appeared a raw thick cut of bear meat. "As your beast there is of wild nature, would it not be better for it to hunt its' own food?" The queen tilted her head to eye the animal beneath the table, "As opposed to dining at my own table?" As much as the Queen valued the presence of Kona, she sometimes wished the woman would let her beast out to run and be wild to catch its' own food.
"A little after breakfast I'll let her out for a run" she said half to Imizael, half to her companion.
When the tiger was finished, she rubbed against Kona's legs and ran upstairs for a nap. "So what is on today's agenda?" she asked with a smile, dabbing her lips with a napkin.
She chewed her food, and swallowed. "I'd prefer we wait for Essarae before we discuss the days events."
"Agreed" she said before salting more melon pieces.
The wind was blowing softly around the castle, Aeron caught the scent of the food in the main hall and his stomach grumbled, he laughed again and scratched the back of his head.
She enjoyed teasing Aeron. He had been a confidant for her since her father had passed. Her mother had grown distant, no doubt weary with worry regarding their people. The Drow had proven to be very relentless. Even though life clings to their power, the Felians found it hard to strive forward without a king. Talk had been spreading about the village regarding Princess Essa's marrying, giving them a King before the Xanan Prince took his reign. If the Ferian were to take a new King before the Xana, that would give them a leverage so direly needed.
The bells chimed from the tower, announcing breakfast. "I suppose we should gather for food, then." She slid her sword into the hilt upon her hip, and dusted her hands off. The fighting arena, located within the large courtyard, was enclosed with iron gates. Essarae walked to the opening, and exited through the gate. Nearby was a fountain, that continued a flow of spring water from the forest. The mystery behind the fountain was something that her father took to the grave with him. All the Ferian knew, was that it was one of the cleanest sources of water around. Essarae dipped her hands in the water, and cleaned her face. Running her hands through her hair to position it from her face, she took long strides towards the Main Hall. She looked back before entering, "Hurry up, Aeron. I could hear your stomach over my own. Let's eat."
"Good morning, mother." Essar bowed, raising and acknowledging Kona next, "Lady Kona."
Essa took her seat, next to her mother. Aeron's permanent seat was situated next to her. The two had been friends since childhood. After the passing of her father, the King, the Queen accepted his position as guard and best friend within her daughter's life.
The princess dug into a platter of fruit before her, as her mother stood from her chair.
"I've an announcement." She folded her hands before her, but before she could begin, a crow's call came from the eastern window. The queen looked up, and noticed it to be the Xanan carrier. Imizael raised her hand, granting the bird permission for access. He landed gently on her hand, and she removed the letter. She quickly broke the seal, and read over its' contents.
It was obvious to the people before her where the letter had arrived from, with the Xanan seal on its' front. She set the letter upon the table, and again addressed her party.
"It has been decided to cease war against the Drow. I will be making arrangements to meet and discuss the ins and outs of this peace with their Queen Rebecca. No one is to attack any Drow seen or approached on or outside of the grounds, as of this moment." Imizael sat back down, and sipped her wine.
Though usually, Imizael was one for discussion and delegation, it appeared as if she had already made her mind up regarding this situation. Kona was to be just as surprised as the rest, being her usual council advisor as the Mage of Felia.
Kona's eye brow raised in concern but knew it would be no use. "As you wish" she said bowing her head to the queen, she then stood and rushed off towards the door, "You know where you can and can't go, if anything happens, come straight here. I love you" she said to her companion as she kissed her forehead, allowing the tiger to lick her forehead.
Kona then returned to the table. She smiled at Aeron just now noticing the woman was there.
Essarae's attitude had been troubled ever since the death of her father. Now it seemed as if she would rather die than uphold an order from her Queen mother. "I demand you calm yourself this instant. I will hear no such nonsense. Your father died in hopes of peace, and you will do your part in seeing that it's achieved." Imizael's tone left no room for argument. She too rose from her seat, and turned her back on the Princess, leaving the Great Hall for her personal quarters.
Essarae turned her attention to Kona Rose, "I suppose you played a hand in encouraging this brilliant idea!?" She stormed from the table as well, leaving Kona and Aeron at the table by themselves.
_____________________________
Within her personal quarters, the Queen sat at her table to scroll another letter to the Xanan Queen, Rebecca.
Please feel welcomed within my home. I will be expecting you and your personal guard anytime from now until then. Although our numbers and supplies are low, I would be honored to host a feast in celebration in you accepting my offer at Peace.
Signed,
Imizael
To her cardinal carrier she attached the letter, and let it off. Her daughter would see beyond her selfish ways, Imizael was positive. If she saw that the Xanan people too wanted peace, she would have no choice but to honor her father's last dying wish.
She walked outside and began searching for her tiger, she let her fingers dangle as she walked along, feeling the grass go past her fingertips, stopping to smell the flowers on her way to the forest. How dare she accuse me like that! she thought to herself, feeling the red rise in her cheeks, her hands began to shake and she could sense a few snakes around, when she gets mad, she tends to reach out to other dangerous animals. She sat down in a bed of flowers to calm herself down.
The snakes slithered around her, as she calmed down, so did the snakes. "I won't be needing your help today" she whispered to the snakes, her cheeks went back to their pink self, her face smoothed out to become a face of calm, she stood, and continued looking for her companion, she could sense her around, and another presence.
She quickly ran to her companions side. When she got there, she saw another white tiger, it appeared to be male. taking a few vines from the tree, she wove it into a collar and leash and placed it around the tigers neck.
Leading both tigers back to the castle, she smiled to herself, and briskly went back to her quarters.
"Come in, Aeron."
She stood with her arms crossed, not moving an inch as she invited the man in. "You remember playing down there as kids? Back when life had some kind of a normal sense to it?"
If Aeron was to look down, he would see what she saw: three children playing hide and seek, with birds and squirrels climbing and flying around, above, and on the walls of lush, green bush below. Most of what grew down there, her father had planted himself. This thought brought to her to peer towards the west of the garden, where there sat a rose bush. This particular bush, she had planted herself, with her father.
"When life was simple?" She turned around to look at Aeron, "When we used to sneak out of our rooms and run down there after bedtime?" She laughed out loud, before her eyes started to glow with insecurity and anguish. Before Aeron could reply, she hopped upon the balcony barrier, and shimmied down the vines, dropping to the ground about halfway, and landing squarely on her feet. "Keep up if you can, slacker!" She yelled up to her companion, before taking off running towards the castle gates.
"The reason why you dont have a prince yet is probably because you're just too fast for any of them to catch up" he laughed as he brought his sprint to a fast jog when he got close enough. Lightening the mood was all he could think of doing at a time like this, to get her mind off what had just happened. "So where are we off today?" he huffed as he drew nearer to the princess.
"I do not have a name but your Charlotte has been calling me Charlie" he said to her as he sat in front of her.
Kona smiled, "Then Charlie it will be" she said with a charming smile. "You both will be allowed out in the morning until dinner time, in which time you will have to return to have a safe place to sleep" she added.
"That sounds fair" he said back.
"You will be getting a collar and saddle" she said in a tone that made sure he understood she did not negotiate. She placed a collar of leather around his neck and rubbed his ears softly.
- 17 posts here • Page 1 of 1