Welcome to Gaia! ::

Draped in golden embroidered cloth, like the hint of autumn leaves, she stood above the crowd of followers on a platform, arms spread out towards heaven as she took a step toward the edge. The people watched eagerly, waiting for something, though for what was unclear. From behind the crowd watched the royal family, faces expressionless. 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 drained from the trial.

The crowd continued to cheer as Arial was led away her room to rest. She had proven herself worthy of the king and would be married to him within the month. The royal family was sober but relieved as they approached her 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 sleep. They had a wedding to plan for, after all.
----
"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, as 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 he had never explained why.

The king simply glanced at Manti, which quieted the man once more. The king was in one of his moods, and of course he 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 fallen into the waiting arms of the crowd below, or became less graceful creatures, and many of these lacked the ability to morph back. Lady Arial had always been the king’s favorite, quiet and graceful with intoxicating golden eyes; he had been very pleased by this turn of events and would have no councilor try to convince him otherwise.

The hall sparkled in jewel tones as the tall Crystal windows let in golden sunlight, rich tapestries forming the walls to the kings right while the windows stood majestically to his left. Heading towards the gardens his men had intercepted him with their seperate worries, worries he had heard many times before, ever since the trial.

Ahead he saw his mother, an older but graceful woman of cool, serene features. She had said nothing to his choice of brides, though she 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, those with temperaments like unto herself.

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

"Your bride to be, she is a beautiful creature, however I do have concerns about her temperament..." Her words trailed off, though she did not 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 like 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 had not done anything after all. In truth he did not mind her quietness, even if his mother interpreted it as timidness. Arial was far from shy, she simply did not display her full authority unless absolutely necessary. He quietly reassured his mother that Arial would make a very fine queen. All of the ladies chosen had had queen potential. He kissed his mother’s 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 amongst the trees wearing long robes of her usual silver embroidered green, the design of feathers gracing the hem and sleeves, long golden-brown hair tied back from her face with a thin green ribbon, golden eyes studying the book before her. Her guards watched discreetly, 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 that in the brief time before the trials started 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 that she could shape change, though it was not until that moment of trial that she knew her form. The golden hawk was a rare and difficult form to keep, and flying was a talent that humans normally did not 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 necessary for her to attend to. She could not remember a time when she had been happier. She had the love of her king, her family was pleased with her, for once, and she had felt her gifts grow stronger since the trial.

She smiled and closed her book, looking up into the bright blue sky and 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 the feeling 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 being that it showed no grass stains. Satisfied that she had not made a mess of herself, she headed back into the castle. She carefully handed the book to a servant waiting at the door and went in search for her beloved. Though she felt someone watching her, she could see no one as she glanced around. She 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 she disappeared down a secret corridor. The narrow stairway there wound upward and upward into utter darkness, though the old queen needed no light to know 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 unlikely to be discovered. She made her way to a stone basin in which 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. She was obviously older and 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 mother’s 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, and with cold blue eyes the old queen looked upon her own countenance, as ageless as she now appeared though silver streaks showed within her strands of black hair.

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 in her pocket and resumed her watching of the future queen. She would find a way. She was determined now.

**gammar natzi**

Pretty good otherwise!

i just realized what this said...ironic?

we all suffer that particular plague...i probably should update this soon...