The Forbidden Power

Prologue

Ether, a power so strong none could wield it.
A power forbidden.
Only all four elements working together could harness it.
Together, they keep it.
But alone, Ether will break loose, a forbidden power.
The forbidden power.

The wind whistled and blew rain into the grim and determined faces of the king and queen as they marched up the hill.  The baby in the queen's arms wailed, but nobody heard, for the wailing matched the wind.  A sharp silhouette was lined on the rise of the next hill.  The couple continued down into the valley.
"Greetings, Terra."
A woman, decked in a dress of leaves and woven grass, nodded to her new companions.  "Greetings, Maverick, Isabella."  The couple dipped their heads in turn.
"Terra, where is Craig?"  Isabella's robes shimmered.
"Craig is dead,"  Terra responded, her voice thick with grief.  Her tears blended with the rain, and she buried her face in her arms.  A single tear dropped onto the muddy face of the baby.  She looked up at her two companions.  "Where are Marie and Nick?"
Maverick spoke for the first time that night. "I haven't heard from them since we agreed to meet here."  Suddenly, a small wisp of cloud peeled off from the storm and swirled down to the three rulers.  It landed softly in Isabella's hand, and unrolled itself, revealing an elegant scroll.
"Maverick, Isabella, Craig, and Terra.  Nick is dead.  I could not hide my sweet Summer from Andras. I promised her to his son, Antwan, in order to save her. I made this deal to save my kingdom, and, more importantly, my only daughter.  I am sorry.  You must still go through with the plan.  Andras must not get control of the Ether,"  Isabella read aloud.
Terra gasped.  "She gave her daughter to the Fire Lord's son?"
Isabella glanced at her husband. "It was for the best.  The Fire Lord was threatening her kingdom.  She saved all of Air.  We cannot wait any longer, or we will be in the same position.  We must still go through with the plan."
The leaders nodded to each other once more and parted, the babies still in their arms.  They marched away, into the whistling wind and silent rain.
• • • •
"Queen Isabella, King Maverick," the three women, in shimmering robes, bowed deeply. "We thank you for blessing our village with your grace."
"Oh, please rise," Isabella said.  "After all you have done, and all you have promised to do for us, it is us who should be thanking you."
"Yes." Maverick agreed.  "And," he took the baby from Isabella, "Here is the child."  He handed the baby over to the women in the middle, Sarah.
"What is her name?" Sarah inquired, rocking the baby gently. She looked up at the king and queen expectantly.
Isabella and Maverick glanced at each other.  It was Maverick who answered.
"We thought it would be best not to name her.  For her own safety. That way, we won't know who she is, if the Fire Lord threatens.  Name her as you wish."
The king and queen nodded once more, turned, and disappeared into the night.
• • • •
In a place of rock and stone, two figures stood huddled together under a cover of rubble.  "What is her name?"  one asked, fingering her dress of dried grass.
"I have not named her, for her own safety."  Terra spoke. Tears rolled down her cheek, wiping away the thin layer of dirt and grime on her face.
The first figure nodded.  "I understand."  She took the baby into her arms, and looked to her queen.  "Your Majesty, do not worry.  She will be safe here."
• • • •
Back in her palace, Isabella wrote on a piece of parchment a note to Marie.  She rolled it up and held in in the palm of her hand.  Her tears began to come, for loss of her only daughter, and for loss of the daughters of the other queens.  One tear dripped onto the letter, and the parchment dissolved.  Miles and miles away, another queen cried in her chambers.  This one cried for her daughter, entrusted to an evil man.  A raindrop from her open window landed on the palm of her hand, transforming into an unrolling scroll.  On it, there were three words.
It is done.
Marie, once again, cried.