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Ch.1 Prayers to Love
Incense filled the air, as Rainia sat in silent prayer to the goddess. Her unspoken words
flowed throughout her body.
“Each day I swim in the cauldron life and transformation, reaching out for my destiny.
May the Lord and Lady grant me the stability of the Earth, the intelligence of the Air, the
passion and the courage of the Flame, the positive transformation of the Water, and the
expanding love of the Universe. So mote it be,” She repeated the words over and over in
her mind.
Her alter stood as a silent shrine to her beliefs. A porcelain statue stood at its center,
representing the Great Mother, a Dragon to her left, representing her guardian animal, a
Faerie to her right to represent the Joy of life, and before her the four elements. Earth to
the north, Air to the east, Fire to the south, and Water to the west.
She raised her hands to the sky, and laughed in rapture at the magik that filled
everything. She could feel every tingling sensation it possessed, every mood it created,
and the joy it relished in. The great Moon shone her light down in a half smile, at the
ecstasy her daughter rejoiced in.
“Great Goddess in the sky, grant me your strength and wisdom on this night of my
betrothal, I know not my groom, but I pray I will grow to love him, as you love the Great
God. So mote it be,” Rainia pleaded.
The winds wisped through the leaves of her treetop home. Lights shone brightly for the
occasion, the betrothal of the King’s only daughter was something to be celebrated.
Rainia was unhappy though; praying to love this man was different than actually loving
him. How could she love someone she’d never met?
She walked up to one of the giant leaves of the Gratch Tree she made her home in. It
held water from last nights rain. She stood over the leaf and looked at her reflection. Her
long white hair was curled perfectly and flowed elegantly with her white gown. The
gown was cut in a v-shape at the neck, and glitter stained the poetic sleeves of the gown.
The elegant flowers in her hair were the only representations of color she would were this
night, in order to look more virginal, she supposed.
“My Lady, we must be on our way, we would not want to miss the festivities,” Adibell
chimed.
“No,” She replied remorsefully, “we would not.”
“Your father waits at the great terrace to introduce you to your husband to be,” Adibell
reminded her, “This is so exciting, in truth, my Lady, I never thought this day would
come.”
Adibell had been Rainia’s best companion since childhood, it seemed only right that
she be her lady in waiting now. She was dressed beautifully too, light pink fabric clung
tightly to her and her long auburn hair cover her like a cloak. Rainia started to laugh as
she looked into the mischievous eyes of he companion.
“Well, if you think it’s so exciting, why don’t you marry him,” she questioned jokingly.
“ I would, my Lady, but my heart belongs to that of a lowly Muddflit,” she replied quite
seriously.
“A Muddflit!!! Adibell, I’m shocked. I thought for sure it would be the Duke’s son,
Jadis,” Rainia laughed.
“He is handsome, my Lady, but he is unbelievably stupid. And Krawls, my darling
Muddflit is not as handsome, but he is truly clever and witty. That’s why I’ve pledged my
love to him,” Adibell replied shyly.
“A Pledge!!! Adibell, I believe congratulations are in order. I’m so happy for you my
dear friend,” she exclaimed!
“You mustn’t tell anyone yet, I promised I wouldn’t tell anyone until we had enough
jips to buy our own hole,” Adibell said dreamily.
“ Your secret is safe with me. Now, I’m afraid we must be off, father will be furious if I
am late,” Rainia replied.
“Yes, My Lady,” Adibell said, “and may you be as happy as our Lord and Lady in your
new found love.”
“Let us first pray there is love, Adibell,” she stated, “let us pray indeed.”
Ch.2 Galeber and the Muddflit
In the dark of the forest, Galeber sat waiting. His Faerie wings flapping lightly with
breeze. He looked up at the great tree city above him. He knew the lights signified the
betrothal of the Shalites beauteous princess to the man of her father’s choice.
Unfortunately, he thought, she would barely be around long enough to meet this man.
The king of the Shalites had forgotten his pledge to the queen of the Faeries. Long ago
he promised his daughter to her as a gift, for the prosperity she bestowed upon his people.
When the queen discovered the Shalite king planned to break his oath and marry the girl
off to a prince from a different land, she was furious. The queen sat for many hours
plotting revenge on the Shalite king, before, she decided to send her favorite knight
Galeber after the girl. The princess he was assured would be very missed.
He had only one problem at first, how to get in. That of course, was quickly remedied.
He bribed one of the servants, or Muddflits as they called them, to sneak him in as a
servant. He would wait till the appropriate time then swoop down on her and carry her
back to the queen.
The Muddflit stepped out from behind the Great Gratch Tree. His silver eyes shone
nervously as he approached the faerie stranger.
“Well met, my master,” he said in greeting.
“Well met indeed, my good sir, Lokif,” Galeber replied. “Do you have my disguise?”
“That’s Dokif, sir, and yes, it’s right here,” the Muddflit, replied ashamedly.
“Of course, sorry about that. So that’s my disguise? Rather small wouldn’t you say,”
Galeber questioned?
“No, my Lord, They will stretch to fit you. Try them on, you will see,” Dokif stated a
little shakily.
The cloths were drab, and dirty. Not quite what Galeber was used to? He put them on
anyway. With his wings covered by the jacket, and his long silver hair and pointed ears
covered by the typical Muddflit hood, he was hardly recognizable.
“Good job, Lokif. These suite me fine,” Galeber praised, “ now we have a party to
attend.”
“Yes, My Lord. And my names Dokif,” The Muddflit stammered as he him led towards
the great terrace.
Ch.3 A short Engagement
“My people, we are gathered here on this occasion to celebrate the betrothal of my
daughter, Rainia Meagotholia Kilebeth of Shalineya, to the Prince Hestger Valen Tembol
of Howisopia,” King Lutis proclaimed.
That was all Rainia was able to listen to. She felt sick looking at the man she was to be
married to. He must have been twice her age, and still a prince. Her heart wreathed at the
thought of marring him, let alone sharing his bed. He was a tall, fat, bald, middle-aged
man, who was in her opinion very badly dressed.
“I cannot marry that awful pig,” she whispered to Adibell.
“You mustn’t say such things, my Lady, he is your husband to be, and therefore
deserves your adoration,” Adibell lectured her sternly.
“I cannot adore a disgusting pig. I wont, I tell you, Adibell, I just wont,” She fumed like
a child.
“My daughter, you will now rise and join your betrothed,” the King smiled to her.
She rose elegantly and walked towards her future husband, he smiled greedily at her.
He grabbed her hand, and they bowed together before the court.
“I’m very pleased with my future wife,” the prince announced, “Howisopia will be
pleased to have her as its queen someday.”
“I am glad you approve, my lord,” Rainia said rather mournfully.
“ This marriage brings joy to both our peoples, so without further ado let the festivities
begin,” the King smiled.
The sound of stalite whistles filled the air, unfortunately that meant Rainia must dance
her first dance with the prince.
“You look ravishing, my love,” Prince Hestger fawned, as he lead he to the middle of
the floor.
“Why, thank you, my lord,” Rainia replied without enthusiasm.
“My dear, you seem upset is there anything I might do to improve your mood,” Hestger
hinted, though Rainia was sure what he was hinting at.
“Forgive me, I have a splitting headache, I do not mean to offend,” Rainia apologized.
Hestger merely nodded his head as he twirled her around the floor. She was almost
certain she was going to throw up on him. How could this happen? Wasn’t she supposed
to marry a kind, handsome prince? Why did she get stuck with the pompous, fat pig?
“Try to smile, it will make us look better,” Hestger insisted as he squeezed her side
roughly, so she would know he meant business.
“ Ouch,” Rainia responded, then smiled. She did not like the coldness of his eyes,
something was missing in them, and for a brief moment she was almost sure it was
humanity that was missing.
The music slowed down and Rainia felt relief as she allowed Hestger to lead her from
the floor to her seat. Adibell was seated to her right, which brought a little comfort. She
would at least have her dearest companion as company on a night that she feared would
be her last happy memory. She would return with Hestger in the marrow to Howisopia.
“My lady, what happened out there,” Adibell questioned once Hestger was fully
indulged in conversation with the king, “ I saw you wince and then you started smiling,
like you were actually having a good time, but I knew you weren’t. You don’t like him.”
“Oh, Adibell he’s horrible,” Rainia confessed, “ He pinched my side to make me
smile; he said it was good for appearances.”
“ The insolent swine, I’ll cast an itching spell on him that he wont be able to remove for
weeks my lady. How dare he hurt a lady as refined as yourself. I’ll….,” that’s when the
King rose and everyone fell to silence.
“ I’m afraid,” he said, “ That rather urgent business has come up and the Princess will
be taking the princess tonight to Howisopia.”
“Nooo,” Rainia screamed unable to control herself. She couldn’t let this happen, no, she
just couldn’t.
“Control yourself daughter,” the king commanded, “ I will not allow such insolence.”
“And neither will the Faerie queen,” a voice boomed from behind them.
What seemed to be a Muddflit with wings dove down from one the higher branches
towards Rainia. He landed behind her and began to speak.
“This girl was promised to the Faerie queen, and since you obviously can’t keep your
promises, sire,” the creature said with irritably, “ I am here to keep them for you.” Then
he reached down and grabbed Rainia, next thing she knew she was high above the
ground, clinging to a stranger for dear life.
“Don’t just sand there,” the King yelled, “go after them.” The guards still a little dazed
hurried an attempt to fallow the kidnapper. They were to slow to catch the winged man
though, Prince Hestger was furious.
“This was planned,” Hestger fumed, “there will be no peace between our people until, the
princess is returned to me, undamaged.”
“Now just a second, Hestger,” the King raged back, “My daughter has just been
kidnapped, and you want war? Why don’t we combine forces to find the princess? That
way we could find her sooner and get those peace treaties signed sooner.”
“We shall see,” Hestger, agreed hesitated, “I’ll give you my guards for one week. I f
she is not returned to me by then, it’s war.”
“Watch your attitude Hestger, or it will be war in a few seconds,” the King said
menacingly, “It would be a pity to loose your head, so early in your life.”
“Indeed,” Hestger replied with a tinge of fear, after all the Shalineyans were known to
be fearsome warriors. “Well then, how would you like to begin the search?”
Ch.4
“O God! O God! O God,” Rainia screamed barely able to control herself.
“There’s no need to scream, girl,” Galeber said irritably, “I won’t drop you,
unfortunately, you are to valuable to the queen.”
“I’ve just been kidnapped, and you expect me to be ok with this, you brute,” she said
matching his tone?
“Well, no,” he said matter of factly, “but scream’n don’t help either.”
“I insist you put me down at once,” Rainia demanded.
“Do you really want me to do that, lady,” he asked threateningly?
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