Chapter One~ Failure of a Prince

       Deep within the ancient forest, the sun could barely be seen through the thick growth and low hanging branches of the primordial flora. Just beyond the forest the sun shown love over the crest of the looming mountains scarcely three miles from the archaic city of Anamalia. Arrwin, the Lady of these woods, strode through the dense growth assessing the damage the band of Hellawes had wrought the night before. The grass, once so green and lush, was now dyed crimson from the blood of the innocent. The bodies of her people had been buried that morning but the earth still spoke of death and bloodshed. She had forced herself to help bury those who had not survived the attack, it was her responsibility and her duty to protect her people from the horrors of war, and if she failed as their leader she would punish herself accordingly. Arrwin's thoughts once again lingered on her sister the Lady of the Lake. How easy her life must be, no threats of war and no people to protect, how she wished she could trade places with her. Conjuring the image of her late grandfather, the mighty Pan himself, for the millionth time since his death the year before, she no longer hoped to fill his place as ruler, he had given her people a Golden Age and what had she given them? Pan, the beloved Lord of the Dance, and she Arrwin, what was she? Shifting form, she sprinted through the trees, pausing at the edge of a large meadow her senses prickling with an unknown scent. Sniffing the air with her keen snout, the scent of death and decay assaulted her and for the first time she noted the eerie silence of the forest. Changing back into her human form she rested her hand atop the hilt of her sword balancing on the balls of her feet preparing to pounce on any who dare come upon her. A twig snapped behind her but she paid no heed, she would wait for her quarry to present itself. The moments ticked painfully by until a man swaggered out from behind a monstrous pine tree. Arrwin swung to face this suprisingly handsome intruder. "State ye name and purpose." The man cocked his head, pivoting slightly toward her.
    "Who are you to ask my name Lady? Is this perchance your forest?" The mocking tone in his voice did not mirror the playful fire raging within his deep set blue eyes. Arrwin hid a sly grin behind a menacing scowl.
    "As it so happens sir, this is my forest. I am Arrwin, Lady of these Woods and all the Wild Woods within the four kingdoms. Who sir might you be?" Visibly alarmed the man stumbled back in a futile attempt to run away. Instead of making the escape he so wished for he found himself face down on the damp soil atop a large rock. "If I were you, I would not attempt to run in these woods, one who is unfamiliar with their terrain could easily become lost and disoriented. It would be a sad thing indeed if you were found by a hungry creature and were not fast enough to escape your fate. A name is all I ask."
    "Finias, the name is Finias, the son of Vlkodlak your sworn enemy." With the mention of the Hellawe king's name Finias watched a storm rage in her brilliant emerald eyes transforming them into a shade of grey he never thought possible. He waited for her sword to slide out of its polished sheath gliding toward his unprotected throat. Closing his eyes he waited for the inevitable but when he did not hear the scrape of metal against metal he opened his eyes to find Arrwin staring intently at him.
    "Have you been sent here to kill me?" she demanded. Finias let out a bitter chuckle,
    "No, fear not milday for my father would never trust me with such a delicate mission. He would rather me dead, one less mouth to feed. I am a disgrace, nothing more to him or to my brothers. I am sure he prays nightly for my sudden, violent demise." Arrwin lowered her sword placing it in its iron sheath. Never before had she seen a creature so pathetic, she would not allow herself to kill a creature that looked as he did. There had been rumors floating about the kingdom of Vlkodlak and his family, it was rumored he had a runt son whom he hated more than the Witches he had made it his life mission to destroy.
    "Are you the failure of a son then?" A flash of hatred darted through his icy eyes,
    "Yes milday, I am the oldest child of Vlkodlak, but instead of being the favored child as it is my inherited birth right to so be I am despised by him with an insanse passion. He murdered my mother because of me. I have been cursed by the very gods who blessed me with life. The only people who reside within the Hellawe tribes are the Shapechangers and the occasional marksmen but here I am and I am neither. Vlkodlak believes I am not truly of his blood, you see instead of taking the form of a wolfbeast as I should I am cursed with the form of a sleek, black raven. I take flight and feel the wind beneath my wings instead of the hard ground beneath my paws." Finias's words flowed in and around Arrwin, he sounded so sincere, so full of hatred and resentment it frightened her. She pittied him yet she knew that was not what he wished. He wished for a place to call home and he wanted to be accepted but that would never be. The transformation of a raven was a magical trait and it was of the Witches, not that the people knew the gift of trasformation came from the Old Lands and the Old People, that knowledge had long been forgotten by the people. The Witches no longer lived in peace but in fear, they themselves were feared because of their immense power and this knowledge of the Great Mother put them in danger. The people Arrwin ruled over were descendents of the Old Lands yet they saw themselves as a seperate peoples.
    "Do you have an understanding of transformations Lord Finias?" When Finias did not respond Arrwin continued. "It means things are not always what they appear. The shift into the raven form is a very magical thing and as your father suspects is not a Hellawe trait. This allows me to believe you are of Anamalian lineage not that of the Hellawe. If you wish to go back to Vlkodlak and the life you have always known I shall allow it but once you leave you will not be protected or be pardoned at any other time forthwith. If you wish to stay, I am willing to discover the path to you true lineage. The choice is yours." Doubt shown brightly on his face but he did not move,
    "If my heritage does indeed lie within the planes of Anamalia I should be allowed quarters within your kingdom?"
    "You may only stay within the kingdom if you are truly Anamalia. I would not put my people at greater risk if you are not one of them. I am giving you fair amount of warning however, all healthy Anamalian men and women must train and serve in the Anamalian Army. I have no doubt you are well versed in the arts of war and battle but you are going to be put in the midst of battle against those you have known your whole life. Would you be prepared to kill them if it came to it?"  Finias stared into the distance trying to gather all his thoughts and emotions into coherent words but none seemed appropriate. He could do nothing but nod and beckon her to show him the way.
    Arrwin could not help but ponder the advantages as well as the consequences of his presence in the city. Finias would have vital information on the Hellawe strategies and their weaknesses, however should the wrong person discover his presence her people could be placed in mortal peril. Arrwin ignored her practical voice and ushered him beside her, taking the almost hidden path to the River of Truth. They reached the ancient banks of the River of Truth within a full marking of the sun's progression across the sky. Ordering Finias to kneel at its edge she sat beside him dipping her finger into the river. As she placed her thumb upon his forehead  she whispered,
    "River of Truth grant me knowledge into this man's origin. By all the powers that be, as I command it so mote it be." A small wave appeared before them as a face took shape within the water. The water tumbled in a small current as the face began to speak.
    "He is indeed Anamalia, and he shall aid you in achieving great things for hard times are ahead. Dear Lady of the Wood your hardest days have yet to come. Within a fortnight you shall have to leave your precious forest in search of those who can help you defeat the Hellawes. I advise you to seek allies where you would not expect them and trust in those your instincts tell you to fear. In doing so you shall find yourself in the midst of those who shall fight to the death. There are two women in your future, when well met on a field of battle the power of three shall fulfill the There is one thread that shall link the three of you together for all eternity but beware my Lady for the Hellawes are not the only evil for which you seek. The allies you would not expect sleep where only the dead can yet they are not. They are pale yet dark and are strong but not in the suns hot glare. Blessings of the Great Mother be with you fair Lady." With that the wave was gone leaving Arrwin confused. Finias sat up glancing expectantly at Arrwin.
    "What words of my lineage did the River speak? Am I of Anamalia descent?" Arrwin nodded her head completely preoccupied. Standing up she brushed the dirt from her skirt and began to walk away with Finias close on her heels. 
    They arrived in the heart of the woods with Arrwin leading them to her castle nad her home for almost as long as she could remember. Finias had never seem anything so amazing, it was not a kind of castle he had ever imagined. It was wrought from greens and overlapping willow trees. A canopy of interwoven branches held it together from willow, rowan, hawthorne, oak, hazel and ash trees. There were truncks of broken trees bound together with ivy in the front of the castle making beautifully intricate columns. All around the greenery were faeries and slyphs and yet the most magnificant thing of all was the enormous elder tree growing out of the center of the structure. Arrwin eyes Finias with amusement as he stared at the castle in complete awe.
    "It tis beautiful isn't it? Well come on we can't stand here dawdling all day now can we? We have to get you settled and find you a change of clothes, everyone will know you're a foreigner dressed like that. They might get into their gossiped ridden heads that I'm courting some mysterious stranger from a far away land."
    "Why would they gossip about you courting someone? Are you not married?" Arrwin's eyes narrowed at the very thought of marriage.
    "Me married? Goddess no! I am supposed to have an arranged marriage to a son of the wood Gabriel, I however have no wish to marry and I refuse to marry a man I have not a care in the world for." Without another word she led him through a series of doors before stopping in front of an unusually small door. It smelled of pine and smoke and had a rough ancient look to it with protruding faces of different animals carved upon it. Arrwin knocked twice and stepped back. The door swung open to reveal a stout old man in his mid seventies. He bowed to Arrwin, smiling revealing a set of crooked or missing teeth.
    "What can I do for ye today Arry?" Arrwin glided into the room motioning FInias to take a seat on one of the three tree stump chairs that were positioned in a circle around the closely quartered room.
    "Master Gimbli may I ask you a favor? I would like to know if you could get this young man here a set of new clothes and then bring him to Master Driftwood and have him select a combat partner." The man she called Gimbli eyed Finias curiously but turned back silently to Arrwin.
    "O' course I will Arry don't you go 'bout worryin' now." Arrwin smiled and bowed herself out of the room leaving Finias alone with Master Gimbli. "So young sir what mi' your name be?" Finias studied the rough rosy-cheeked man and decided he liked his jolly nature.
    "My name's Finias sir."
    "Well if Finias be your name me young sir I'm much obliged to be meetin' ya. Me name be Master Gimbli and dear young Arry wants me to be clothin' ya so off we go then."

Reviews

[J]

What an abundant imagination you have! I am truly star struck by those who have the gift to weave intricate plots of fantasy and bring to life characters not of this world. Already the intrigue is building, and I am anxious to get on with it. I love the River of Truth, yummy! Well done, my friend! I shall return and carry on.

j

[James Watts]

This was wonderful first chapter. The imagery was beautiful. Wonderful flow and the world you have created is detailed vividly. Excellent work.

[DarkIriswriter]

this is an awesome story so much imagination and details in it.It makes me feel like I am seeing through the characters eyes.


sara

[BrightEyes]

creating believable magical beings is difficult enough - mastering the world in which they live is amazing. This is a wondrous place you've built with your pen here - occupied by equally beautiful beings - well done here.

[DowntoEarthDreamer]

yay, another awesome beginning, i can't wait to read more. you always have such wonderful ideas and the perfect way of describing without over describing. great job!

[Dezaraye]

Always, you are so descriptive and so creative. I love hearing your stories ... you have so many flowing within you!

[wizthom]

why do i feel as if i am about to be taking on a magical journey ,of mystical saga unfolding into a world of enchantment and wonder Am I of Anamalia descent? wizthom

[Captain Blackheart (The..]

I do agree about an intresting story. There is a lot thats happened to pave the way to this point, it is good that a story has a rich and deep history. Wonderful introduction to the character and intresting to find out where there paths will take them. Very imaginative....

[ElJays Nicholas]

You certainly have the beginning of something very special, Brette! I can't help but to see certain similarities between your creative mind and that of Tolkien's. It leaves me to wonder what will come of the story. What kinds of creatures will I meet? What enchanting lands you will guide me to? What battles will rage? I am enthralled by the spirit of this story. Much love to you....

[Annalisa]

This is beautiful and interesting, tough slightly hard to read. With the text so small and it not being double spaced or something it is hard on the eyes. But other than that formatting issue this was lovely.