Secret Rose Retelling

Prologue

Marina looked about the room at the anxious faces in a daze.  The baby didn't seem to be coming fast enough.

"My lady, you have to push again.  I can feel her head, now push.  Push," yelled the lead mid-wife.

"Not so much noise we don't want to draw attention to this.  We've got to make it to the ship as quickly and quietly as possible," warned the head of the guard, Aviq Quarim.

"You try giving birth and then tell me if you can have the child without screaming," Marina screamed while pushing yet again.

"My pardon, my lady, I'm just concerned about yours and the child's safety."

As Aviq was saying this there was a horn sounding in the distance and suddenly the cry of a young babe as she was born.

"She is here Queen Marina."

"Her name will be Ania Tilde Sarita."

"We must go..."

"The queen needs rest!"

"There's no time mid-wife."

"He's right.  Put the babe in front of you Aviq in a sling. I will climb on your back. Can you manage?"

"Yea, my lady, I will."

As Aviq was saying this a guard burst in yelling that the king was dead and the enemy had breached the walls.  No one knew what the enemy looked like for any that looked upon the Garris' faces didn't live to tell of it.  The preparations were quickly made and Marina with Aviq headed out for the ship hidden deep within the castle grounds.

It was swift moving to the ship and the guard were all there to protect Aviq and his precious cargo.  They heard horrendous screams come from in the distance.  It had already been agreed upon by the king that, if he was unable to keep the Garris at bay, the queen would go with Aviq to an as yet undecided planet for her protection and their child's as well.

The Garris were just emerging from the castle as they made it to the ship and entered it.  Aviq made it to the cockpit and without preamble started the engines and took off.  Marina would never forget the ugly faces of the Garris and how even uglier their leader, Martie Hargarris, looked in his meanness.  They were white as snow with big black eyes, the hair reminded her of snakes so grey it was hard to look away, and their bodies were reedy and thin to grotesque proportions.  She would never forget ever.

They heard the screams of both Garris and their people, the Avilana.  They were headed to Earth.  The closest inhabited planet where they could lose themselves in the populations and never be suspected.