Chapter | 1

Sherani, Plague of the North, Destroyer of the third Militia and Queen of the Decayed, a long, hefty title for a child I knew once. A story told to children to scare and keep them in line, a myth to those who did not live through the hell of the Third War, a story to those who love gruesome, bloody battles. I, in my growing years, have reflected much on the time I spent with the young princess, as I was her mentor and tutor. A bright, witty, beautiful child whom had everything given to her, whom had every door open to her, a shining star that burned so brightly.

I guess we'll start from the beginning, the birth of the first born to our wonderful Queen, Alexandria.

Year 340, the main city of Nuven..

The child cooed happily in her mothers arms. Queen Alexandria looked down upon her newborn daughter with bright sparkling from her cool purple eyes, with a soft hand she took a blond ringlet from her daughters head and let it cord around her finger. With a soft smile, the Queen mused that this child would grow into a beautiful young woman but as swiftly as the thought entered her mind a darker one sank into the place of the warm, mothering thought. With a shiver down her spine, she glanced deeply into her child's eyes and saw a dark flame ignite. The Queen stared transfixed as she watched the tiny dark light flicker and flame and then completely die out. The coldness left by the flame would not be shrugged off but she could no longer dwell on this sign then the King entered the chambers.

"My Queen.."

He mounted the two steps to the raised bed and sat down beside his Queen, glancing down as the blond headed bundle of joy that she had delivered for him. His smile he could not contain as he took the child from the mother and held her close to his armored chest, cooing at the little bundle with unrestrained happiness.

"She is the essence of beauty, like her Mother."

Alexandria smiled softly, the ebbing cold fading from her shoulders as soon as the baby was taken. She pushed the dark thoughts away, deep within her mind, locking them up tightly as to not be seen again. No child of hers would welcome such a flame into her heart.

"Have you thought of a name, Alex?"

In the privacy of their bedroom, Rory would call her Alex and she smiled delightfully, sharing this secret bond with him was only one of the reasons why she loved this kind, understanding man.

"Not as yet, I was waiting for you, so we could decide together."

She watched Rory walk around the room with their daughter, her soft happy noises emanating throughout the room, basking them in a daze of love. Rory walked to the window and stopped, looking down into his daughters eyes he saw them change from her Mothers soft purple to his amber shade. Never had he seen such a thing happen but no sooner had they change did the child begin to cry. Alexandria bid him to bring her to her.

"She's probably hungry, my love."

Rory brought their daughter over and set her down into her Mothers arms, watching as she began to feed their child, he felt a warmth in the pit of his stomach begin to throb as he watched his tiny family. Always having wanted a family, he felt the most powerful love for the woman who had given him his hearts wish. Alexandria's long ears twitched as she watched her daughter nurse, he smiled, remembering the first time he had met her in the Elven Capital, a young noblewoman, she had made a name for herself in the politics of their High Council, as smart and witty as she is beautiful and kind. He was entranced by her the moment he saw her and after a lengthy courtship he made her his Queen.

He would never forget what she gave up to be his and he would forever repay her for the things she has given him, not only council, friendship, unbending trust and loyalty but love and life, happiness and joy. She would ride the bad times with him and weather wars for him, she is a one in a million Queen and he was lucky to have her.

What about Alexandria? After you?"

He watched as she shook her head, the blue of her hair sparkling in the setting sun.

"I would rather not have two of me running around here. How about Ceroni? After your Mother?"

He shook his head this time, "No, I wouldn't want to call such a beautiful child after such a shrew."

They both laughed and then fell silent, each thinking of a suitable name for such a precious little girl. Alexandria looked down into the face of her sleeping baby, deep in the recesses of her mind, thinking of a name suitable. Like the soft breeze of a fall wind, a name began to whisper in her mind, she listened as it began to hum louder and louder, pounding against her ears with a rhythmic beat, like drums to war. It would not cease, it would not be banished.

"Sherani.."

She had whispered it so softly as to have been almost missed by her husband, had he not been intently watching her pained expression. He reached out to her, his touch making her eyes snap open and look at him curiously. Rory knew that within her bones was the wisdom and powers of her people, whom could always sense trouble, whom could always see into the mist and find information. Her people were weak physically but what they lacked in strength they had made up for in intelligence, wit and political knowledge.

"Sherani, Rory. We'll name her Sherani."

Rory thought on the name, tested it upon his lips and when he wasn't satisfied enough he looked down at their child and called out the name. Amazingly enough, she awoke, her changeling eyes focused on her father in the most serious of stares. It was unnerving that a child so young would look so menacing with such a stare. But then the child began to smile, as if she liked the name herself. That's when Rory nodded, satisfied with the name.

"We'll present her when you're recovered, my dear. No sooner, no later. I don't wish for any resistance, you will rest."

He leaned forward and place a kiss on Mother and child's cheek, with a smile so wide it almost reached his ear he left them to deal with his many duties and obligations. Leaving Alexandria to watch her daughter, falling even more in love with her, feeling even more possessive, as if an unknown entity were trying to steal her away.  Alexandria watched her new little baby, the way her eyes changed in the light, the soft curve of her baby face, the rosy plump little mouth cooing and the way she looked at everything with a wisdom far exceeding her very tender age. The chill ran up her spine again, she was scared for her, for her husband, for her child in that instant.


Five years later...


Her tiny footfalls echoed through the castles hallways, her delightful little squeals following fast as she ran from her Mother. Alexandria played with her daughter throughout the castle, tickling her, planting tiny kissing onto her cheeks. Their time together today had been a day of frivolity aside from Alex's tight schedule, she set aside this day to be with her baby. They ran down the hallways together, dancing barefoot on the marble floors, even running past and saying hello to the King amidst his war council.

They finally both tired out inside the Castle's garden. Colors of pink, green, yellow, shots of blues and sparks of orange were abound in the tiny little garden, several marble benches lined the meticulously sculpted walkways. Alex watched her daughter delight in the various colors of the garden, reaching up to touch tiny butterflies and dragonflies that buzzed around pollinating. When she couldn't catch them, her face screwed into a disappointed scowl. Alex laughed, then began to think of a way to make her smile.

Slowly, Alex walked over to Sherani and kneeled down before her. She waved her hand in a circular motion several times, all around them the gardens various sounds completely stopped, the wind picking up and licking their bare feet. Sherani watched on in amazed silence, watching her Mother's hands work the wind as tiny little buffets of blue light began to appear around her hands. Alex then stopped, laying her hand palm up to the sky as flat as she could, her free hand came up and began to draw against her palm. When she was down she watched her hand intently, almost laughing as Sherani began to do the same. Then, in tiny little sparkles, little blue butterflies began to appear from her hand. Sherani's expression became one of absolute delight, watching the butterflies shoot upwards and twirling around her in blue and purple streaks, she giggled and danced around.Alex watched her daughter with a soft smile on her face, nothing made her more happy then when her daughter was smiling.

A quick downwind from behind her drew her attention, from the doorway she saw Miles, the Grand Magi standing and watching her child intently. With a smile she got up and was about the greet him when he raised his hand for her to stop. His eyes were plastered on the child, never moving. Curious, Alex turned back to Sherani and with wide eyes watched her create butterflies of red and green just from her laughter, a soft golden glow emanating off of her tiny body. Scared, Alex ran for her child and hugged her tightly, the butterflies once fluttering around them vanished within an instant, her daughters soft gasp echoing through the garden. Alex held fast, her eyes now on Miles, his blue eyes looking only at Sherani in what one would call a curious look.

From that day on, the Castle would never be the same.