Storm Rider

Chapter One- Feanaro

Feanaro touched the thick stone wall delicately. The light touch sent a familiar burning sensation through his fingers as he walked into the stone as if it was air. The job of the Warden is a lonely path to follow. It is a path of secrets, and tradition. A path followed by only those of the bloodline. The strange power of walking through walls is just one of the many secrets the Warden's keep. The fortress choses the Warden, not the Rider who occupy it. It has been past down from generation to generation and it has been the job of Feanaro for many centuries.

Feanaro has never fully explained how he moves around save to a few close Rides that he has met throughout the years. It is as if he enters another plane of existence. As if the walls are hollowed out and are not solid rock. 'Imagine the castle as if the walls were the hallways and the hallways were walls. That is how I see it. That is how I move around. As if an inverted fortress lived on another plane on top of the earthly fortress. ' Feanaro had tried to explain at one point to a friend.

The Warden sighed and began to casually stroll down his own pathway on his way to his post at the front gates. There is a stature there that houses his body. That place is the strangest part to him. Unlike the rest of the fortress which is simple to walk through and understand how the 'walking through walls' works, the gates act as a full on room. A guard house per say. At one point, a long time ago in a time when the world was split and in a burning war, the Wardens were many, each acting as a guard of mighty strength. The guarded the fortress itself, the magic within, and the property of the Riders, and at dire times the citizens that sought refuge there. But now, Feanaro was the only one, in a forgotten line of noble protectors. He sighed and reached his room within the gates.

Just as he was getting settled down at the small, old wooden table to start at his now cold lunch, He heard a tap at the front wall, that doubles as a window to the outside world so that he could see who was approaching the gates. Groaning he hung his head and stood up frustrated. Walking to the floor to ceiling window he cursed and put on a fake smile as he walked through the glass back into the sunshine of the outside world.

"Greetings my King Lark. What brings you here at this time of day? And to see me of all people?" Feanaro said putting on his best polite smile and voice.

"Cut it out Warden. I have warned you before, and I will warn you again. Do not interfere with my Riders. This is my last warning to you." The older, battle worn king said glaring at the young Warden.

"My Lord, I have not done anything wrong. I have been doing the job that was tasked to me from you. Guide new Riders to the caves, then to their rooms, then to the council. Nothing more." Feanaro shot back politely, his eyes almost giving his anger away.

The king snorted and frowned "in anycase, we are going to have important visitors within the next day. I just received the notice. They should be here sometime soon, tomorrow morning at the latest. I want them in the best lodging we have available. In my wing of course. AS soon as they are settled they are to come to my room to talk." He grumbled, "Do you understand?"

"Yeah, I got it. Important people, so don't mess it up. " Feanaro said dismissively "I have been doing this a long time my King. I will send you a notice as soon as the guests arrive. Now go back to your chair before someone has a heart attack that you are missing"

King Lark snarled and walked forward and attempted to push open the thick iron gates "Just remember I am watching you, Warden" He growled lowly.

"And you remember, that I am the only one who can open the gates" Feanaro retorted leaning on the iorn before grinning and slipped back inside just as the King lunged for him.

The Warden chuckled as the King banged his fist angrily on the gate. Smiling he watched Lark call for his great dragon. Climbing on, the King glared at the spot where the other disappeared. Recomposing himself the great black dragon took to the skies and over the high walls, back into the great fortress of the King's Riders.