《The Knight of the Fairy》
Chapter 1
Pure white snow drifted lazily down, adding to the piles of grey snow; blanketing the naked trees and rolling hills. The bleak landscape was calm, serene even as the biting winds restlessly swirled around the snow. All was quiet as a grey palomino trudged carefully through the soft slippery snow covered hills carrying a young woman. The woman had a noble yet laid back aura about her. She sat sidesaddle on the mare but allowed the horse to roam where the mare pleased. She wore an ebony lace dress that clung to her slim shoulders, the coral petticoats teasingly danced from the delicate slits made from the waist down. Her skin appeared as if she had been made from the very snow surrounding her; enhancing her raven locks. Her hair flowed freely down her back but half of it was securely bound in a plait. Lush red lips formed a half smile as she held her hand up to allow a small jet black Dragon land. The palomino snorted as if unimpressed and tossed it''s ashen mane in contempt. The woman laughed as a gentle wind tossed her hair away from her pointed ears and made her silvery wings sway playfully.
"Mistress please, come back to the palace! Your Guardia Real is frantic with your disappearing act." The rather high pitched reprimanding voice came from the Dragon, "Although they should be quite used to your frolics by now. Signora knows you do this every year!" The Dragon''s native language lacing it''s words and giving him a more pronounced accent. The woman sighed as she glanced past the winged creature to gaze at the looming castle that seemed to always be there no matter how far she ran. It''s grey stone blocks made the snow around it shine with eye watering intensity. Iron spiked palisades encircled the half frozen moat, it''s icy waters churning rapidly. The Wings of Night Clan flag flew above the tallest tower with false pride. The reigning Clan''s insignia was a gaudy sight to the woman. The flying crow looked more jester-like with the tilted crown atop it''s head while two stags locked horns in an eternal struggle for dominance. It sported an array of muddied colors and the motto was simple - "Strive for Strength". A very unladylike snort of disgust escaped the woman as she gathered her reigns, making them creak as she guided her palomino away from the castle.
"Mistress!" Squeaked the Dragon, "Please reconsider these rash actions you are making!"
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The woman tossed her hair back as she rode; urging her mare into a canter. "I refuse to be apart of their destruction. What they are doing is worse than the criminals who stole my future. Sugar coating theft and murder does not make things any less ugly or true." The palomino tossed it''s head in agreement. The dragon fell silent as it glided behind its stubborn mistress, the horse now in a full gallop across the snowy fields. In the distance; a group of riders trailed after them unnoticed.
The repetitive snow covered hillside lost it''s wonder and magical like qualities to the woman as she began to feel the stinging cold more and more. She shivered constantly and she worried for her thin grey wings. Even though she was of the Winter Fairy clan, her wings were strangely delicate and had a tendency to freeze. While other Winter Fairies could fly freely; she was limited to her hourly outings her Father had strictly set for her. Glancing up at the sky, she grimaced from seeing fat snow leaden clouds as a fierce wind started to pick up. A frown marred her face before she clucked her tongue, urging her tired mare into another trot while she scanned the bare landscape for shelter. The Dragon perched itself on her shoulder and though he disliked his Mistress''s wild ways he silently heated his tail to help warm her wings. He was a unique breed of Dragon that is bred further southwest in the Autumn Fairies territory.
"What would I do without you Sabin? Don''t overheat yourself for my benefit." She halfheartedly scolded him; grateful for his thoughtfulness. Sabin only growled in response, making her right side vibrate from the sound. The palomino nickered tiredly as she slowed to a stop and pawed the frozen ground with her hooves. "I know Avila, we just need to find shelter soon." The woman patted the mare''s neck and nudged her forward. Sabin flared his wings in a burst of outrage and as he screeched vehemently near her ears.
"Enough of this evasiveness Lady Alina WinterStar! You are the next Contessa for the Winter Fairy Clan, Maevi Starlight. Your Holy Materno would be most vexed at your attempted escape! She has made delicate alliance plans with Wings of Night as you are very well aware of. We need this alliance if we are to keep being the head Fairy Clan. You have a duty to marry Lord Ramiro Blackfrost by the next moonless night!" Sabin puffed out a coiling stream of black smoke before continuing, "He is awaiting your arrival back at the castle, I ardently advise you to turn around and go greet him properly."
Chapter 2
Alina was taken aback by gentle Sabin''s outburst that she was unable to process the howling winds churning almost drowning out the sound of his commanding voice.
"There is no need to return to the castle alone. I am here and have received Lady Alina. It is a good thing my men were watching for you, Contessa." A deep rumbling voice had declared. Alina gasped in surprise as she fluttered her near frozen wings helplessly. Sabin growled almost unable to control his flames that clawed in throat. Avila bucked Alina off her as she bolted, her neighs echoing off the snowbanks. Alina huffed in annoyance as she stared at her mare racing off like the dark fairies were after her. A swell of sadness and anger rose up as the memory of her Father gifting her Avila on her fourteenth birthday flashed in her mind''s eye. She was brought back from her reverie as strong hands gently but briskly hauled her up from the cold ground. Sabin hovered nearby, no longer growling but unsure who to watch more; his mistress or the new arrivals.
Brushing off the snow she whispered scathingly, " I do hope she isn''t killed out there." She turned to the male who had spooked her horse and rose an eyebrow; "Now I presume you are Lord Ramiro of the Wings of Night clan." Her eyes wandered from his chiseled squares jaw and crooked nose down to his broad shoulders and deep chest that tapered into a flat stomach. His long legs were muscled and he had an air of one who could easily handle anything. Bringing her eyes back to his face and finally looking into his eyes. A faint scar was picked out by the fading light of the sun that trailed from his lip to right ear. The same ear had a hoop piercing at the tip. Sandy blonde hair crowned his head that fell into his baby blue eyes that just begged to be brushed to the side. His wings were a silvery white that glittered with the intensity of new snowfall. He bowed with a small charming smile and brought her hand to his lips.
"The very same, now come; let''s get you out of this cold. One of my men will track down your horse by nightfall, tomorrow." He spoke eloquently, his voice never wavering. Alina only nodded and absently glanced back towards the spot she had last seen Avila.
Ramiro watched the Lady out of the corner of his eye, his sense of freedom balking at the thought of being tied down to anyone. He had heard of her wild schemes and even had a letter from her Mother, probably warning of a few things she''ll try. Rumors of her being adopted circled through his mind, though he doubted she even heard of them for how hushed up it was; never spoken about in her presence. His gaze wandered to the black dragon as it hovered near the Lady''s grey wings. Now that was something unexpected, especially in the Winter fairy clans. If he was not mistaken; that was a rare summer dragon from the highly secretive clan of Daybreak. The Daybreakers were very protective of their dragons; even more so when it was a pure bred black one like this one is. The only way to get a Daybreaker to part with one is to either steal an egg and kill any witnesses or have been regarded as an honorary member. Returning his gaze to the Lady Alina, he noted her uneasiness with being mount-less and having to ride double with him. He watched her as her eyes darted from his mount to the other three mounted men he always had with him. Her lips pursed and a small line creased her brows until she shook her head. Straightening her spine, she stalked up to him and though she was polite; her words had a small bite to them.
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"It would hardly be appropriate for me to ride with one of your men, so I will ride double with you." She declared as she spun to his mount and hoisted herself up without allowing him to help her. Suddenly it seemed as though he wasn''t the only one who didn''t want this marriage to happen but he kept his observations to himself as he mounted behind her. He noted that the black dragon had settled himself on her shoulder; his tail purposefully lying between her wings.
Alina sighed quietly as Ramiro said nothing to her during the uneventful ride to her now inevitable new home. Her wings worried her but as Sabin subtly heated them with his tail; she tried not to think of them nor did she dare move them. Though she hated the rules her Father had imposed on her; she knew of their importance to her very life. Her Father had cared deeply for her before he was mercilessly murdered at the annual clan council meetings. An event that happened every five years that required the Head of each Seasonal Fairy clan to attend to discuss trade agreements, the state of the world and possibly offer alliance marriages. To Alina, it was overall much more civilized than any other races who continuously declared war; that is until her Father was murdered.
After a candle mark or so Alina felt colder despite Sabin''s help and unconsciously pressed her back to Ramiro. She felt his arm wrap around her waist lightly while still expertly guided his horse with one hand. Silently she wished he would race home so she could get out of the cold faster but she stubbornly pressed her lips together and let him set the pace. She didn''t know Lord Ramiro very well yet and wanted to play the dutiful Lady, though she was sure he had heard of her wild ways. There wasn''t a Fairy alive that didn''t know of her antics. Finally; the castle she had glared at earlier loomed before her, imposing and yet elegant. She didn''t think elegance was something a male was capable of; but she didn''t dwell on it as her wings felt sore and in dire need of the heat.