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Draped in golden filligred cloth she stood above the crowd of followers arms spread out towards heaven as she took a step near the edge. The people watched in eagerness waiting for something, though what was unclear. From behind stood watching the royal family faces expressionless, also waiting. She seemed to almost hesitate at the edge of the platform before closing her eyes and stepping off.

For several agonizing moments she simply fell, and the people gasped as they moved forward as if to catch her, then she was enveloped in bright light and where the woman had been a beautiful golden hawk now flew over the spectators heads. The people cheered and the Royal family came to the edge of the high platform and watched as the Golden hawk banked several times over the roaring crowd before returning to the platform and surrounded by the royal family she morphed once more looking tired.

The crowd continued to cheer as Arial was led into her room to rest, she had proven herself worthy of the king and would be married within the month. The Royal family was sober but relieved as they approached one at a time placing a kiss on her brow before making their exit. The king was last to leave resting his forehead against her own before allowing her to rest. They had a wedding to plan for afterall.
----
"The Darkness shall rise and a golden hawk who flies shall bear the king's Heir, lost nations reunite under the Golden flag..." The Historian muttered beneath his breath as he kept pace with his king who seemed deeply engrossed with other matters, he had been for sometime.

"Your Majesty, Lady Arial...you are sure she is the hawk they speak of?" Head Chancellor Manti timidly interjected into his master's thoughts, he had been doubtful of this union from the beginning though never explained why.

The king simply glanced at Manti which quieted the man once more, he was in one of his moods, of course the king was sure that Arial was the one. They had tested over one thousand women and Arial was the first to become the golden hawk, many simply fell into the waiting arms of the crowd below, or became less graceful creatues, many lacking the ability to morph back. Lady Arial had always been the kings favorite, quiet and graceful intoxicating golden eyes, he had been very pleased by this turn of events and would have no councilor try to convince him otherwise.

Ahead he saw his mother, an older but graceful woman of cool serene features, she had said nothing to his choice of brides, though had seemed slightly surprised that Arial had been chosen by the Creator as her only son's bride, she had been openly supporting some of the other ladies with temperments like unto herself.

The King bowed slightly to his mother kissing her hand in greeting planning on simply passing by but her hand on his arm stopped him. The king watched his mother curious, green eyes sparkling and alive, so unlike his mothers chilly blue orbs. His eyebrow cocked silently asking what it was she required, as if on a secret cue his men were dismissed and he stood beside his mother as she gazed out the window. He thought for several moments that he might have to innitiate the conversation but finally the woman spoke voice clipped and proper, even with her own son.

"Your bride to be, she is a beautiful creature, however I do have concerns about her temperment..." Her words trailed off though she didn't glance at her son she was obviously waiting for him to take the bait and she wouldn't be disappointed.

"Has she done something that you disapprove of mother?" His voice and face were frowning, he had always showed his emotions, like his father before him.

The Old queen simply shook her head, long slender curls falling gracefully down her slim back.

"It is not what she has done my son, but the way she is, far too timid the people would walk all over her, she may have the form of a golden hawk but she acts more of a chick than the adult she is. I simply fear that she will find being your queen an uncomfortable occupation, I simply seek to look out for the welfare of my King and his kingdom."

The young king blinked and felt a wave of relief wash over him, so Arial hadn't done anything afterall, in truth he did not mind her quietness, even if his mother interpreted it as timidness, Arial was far from shy, she simply didn't display her full authority unless absolutely neccessary. He quietly reassured his mother that Arial would make a very fine queen, all of the lady's chosen had queen potential. He kissed her hand again as he made his exit not seeing his mother watch him leave before turning her back to him face colder than before.
----
Arial sat amoungst the trees wearing long robes of silver filigreed green, her usual garb, long golden-brown hair tied back from her face with a thin green ribbon golden eyes studying the book before her. Discreetly her guards watched, protecting the future queen, without seeming to, she knew they were there but managed to ignore them.

It had been a week since the trial and she tried not to think about what all of this meant. She had come to the castle after meeting the young prince Davam, and had witnessed his crowning, there had been so many beautiful talented women chosen that she doubted her quietness would have won over the king. She was surprised to discover however that in the brief time before the trials started, that she had somehow caught his eye and his favor, it was at that moment that she hoped beyond hope to be a Golden hawk.

She had known from the day that she was born, she could shape change, though it wasn't until that moment of trial that she knew her form, the golden hawk was a rare and difficult form to keep, flying was a talent that humans normally didn't have naturally. She supposed her years of dancing had paid off in that brief ability.

Though she had slept for three days afterward it was worth it, the beauties were all gone and she had a relative moment of peace here and there between dress fittings and presentations of wedding gifts that were neccessary for her to attend. She couldn't remember a time when she'd been happier, she had the love of her king, her family was pleased with her, for once, and she had felt gifts grow stronger since the trial.

She smiled and closed her book looking up into the bright blue sky feeling the sun on her face, yes almost everyone was pleased with this outcome...everyone except the old queen, the thought of her brought Arial back to her surroundings, but she was still alone.

Something about the Old queen gave Arial chills, even after the Trial when the woman had kissed her forehead, just as the young princesses had, she still felt uneasy around the woman, and the closer it got to the wedding the worse it became. She was quiet now around the old queen, almost meek, which was unusual for the normally brave and confidant Arial. She never said anything to Davam about his mother, what could she say that would not seem rude or childish?

She stood from her seat on the ground discreetly checking her dress for stains or dirt, the advantage of green it showed no grass stains. Satisfied that she hadn't made a mess of herself, she headed back into the castle carefully handing the book to a servant waiting at the door and going in search for her beloved. Though she felt someone watching her she could see no one as she glanced around and tried to ignore the sensation as she had the little odd things about her life since coming to the castle.
---
The old queen watched her future daughter in law from a balcony eyes cold as ever, until disappearing down a secret corridor. The narrow stairway there wound upward and upward in utter darkness, though she needed no light knowing her exact location. She arrived at a secret room that even her son knew nothing about, it was on no maps of the castle and so was less likely to be discovered. She made her way to a stone basin in where a pool of still water sat, blue eyes glancing at a candle nearby it lit as did the others around the room suddenly illuminating it.

She approached the pool again and slipped something from her pocket, a single lock of golden-brown hair which she held within her hand as she blew gently upon the pool of water, like a ripple from a thrown pebble the water shifted becoming a mirror in which Arial was shown, though obviously an older one already heavy with child. The old queen watched as this younger woman spoke to her husband obviously about the baby and even more obviously in love.

The old queen sneered and as if with a thought the image changed to a handsome young man, a near spitting image of his father but with his mothers golden eyes. She saw him battling something cloaked in shadow, a woman though the face was unseen.

She watched intently as the young man defeated his foe and the woman was revealed, cold blue eyes the old queen looked upon her own countanance, ageless as she now appeared, though silver streaks showed within her strands of black, an older self.

She turned away from the mirror and banished the image of herself beaten, she would not be defeated by a whelp because of some prophesy, it had to be stopped, but how. She replaced the lock of hair into her pocket and resumed her watching of the future queen. She would find a way, she was determined now.

TBC...

as I plan to do when i put the story in a regular thread, for now this was just to get my idea down before i forgot it, thanks for the suggestions though i'll make sure to add them when it goes into the regular thread, which will have a world layout.

the last sentence made me laugh, i'm definately intrigued, and wanting to know more.

another selection of Chapter One, or two. Whatever.

Amelie de Isigney huddled in the corner of the small cabin her captors kept her in. She wore nothing but a fine cotton shift, now irreparably torn and soiled. The expensive bobbin lace that had hung at her elbows had been ripped away, leaving trailing threads behind. The silk ribbon drawstring at the neck was fighting a loosing battle against abuse to keep the whole garment on Amelie at all. She had tried to keep her hair in some semblance of order, but she had lost her hair pins one by one over the past weeks. Amelie also found that without a maid and a brush to help her, it was almost impossible to keep her hair from tangling abominably, much less in a proper coif. Her hands, which were currently holding her legs as tight to her body as was possible, were barely recognizable as those belonging to a young, cultured lady. They were encased in grime, with yet more grime under torn and broken nails. Her feet were no better.

Her eyes, however, were what would capture the attention of the two raiding pirates who found her. They were wide and staring, and hardly seemed to register the sudden influx of light, or the new faces so different from those they had seen for the past weeks. They hardly seemed alive.

“Ah, better get the Captain,” murmured the shorter one, rubbing his head in discomfort. The tall one silently nodded, all battle glee fled from his face, and quickly left.
---

“Captain!” Teodosio shouted, as he came to a bumbling stop just short of Dylan.

“Just a moment, Teo,” Dylan said, not turning away from Grace, the Quartermaster. “Why is there a complete, expensive, very feminine wardrobe on board? When there are no women among the crew, and no passengers?”

Teo opened his mouth to say something, but closed it at a sharp glance from Grace.

“I have no idea, Dylan. It’s also far more elaborate than what might be expected as a gift for a captain’s wife. I’ve had the whole thing kept intact and moved to the Amethyst already. It’s a good thing it wasn’t found by one of our women, or there’d be trouble,” Grace answered.

Teo opened his mouth again, but before he could do more than take a breath, Dylan spoke.

“There’s also been a large stash of women’s jewels found in the Captain’s quarters. Which is not listed on the ship’s inventory,” Dylan said, his brow frowning. Mysteries like these were never good ones, in a pirate’s business. They tended to attract unwanted attention from rich and powerful people.

“I assume they belong with all the silk gowns and brocade shoes. I’ll have those kept intact for now, as well. Do a lot of the men know of the jewels?” Grace asked.

“Unfortunately. I think we’ll have to avoid putting into Port Fly and divvying the take for a while. I want to be sure we’re not carrying around some big shot’s wife’s things, and I don’t want the men fighting over who gets a ruby and who gets a diamond.” Dylan said.

“You’re not, sir,” Teo interjected very quickly. “At least I don’t think so.”

“Excuse me?” Dylan asked, finally turning away from Grace.

“There’s a girl in one of the passenger quarters, sir. Looks like a prisoner.”

“Uh-oh,” Grace eloquently said for herself and her brother.

Dylan grimaced. “Show me.”

“This way, sir,” Teo said, leading the way down into the under decks of the captured ship. When they reached the cabin where the prisoner had been kept, they saw the pirate Gad standing outside, holding a lantern. He quietly opened the door and handed the lantern to Dylan.

“What is that smell?” complained Grace, as she followed her brother into the small cabin.

“Don’t think they’ve emptied her bucket for a while,” Gad explained.

“Nor let her bath,” observed Dylan, as he crouched down beside the filthy girl. Her only movement was the curl into an even tighter ball, if that was possible. Her hands, at least, turned white with tension under their coating of dirt and grime. “I am Captain Dylan Romney of the Flying Amethyst, a pirate ship out of Port Fly,” Dylan introduced himself.