Silver tears of the Moon

Silver tears

A/N: Hey guys, this is my first book. The main character's name has been stuck in my head for a few years and I finally have inspiration to use it a story.

There are some creatures you have probably never heard of and elven translations, so I added an index for you and how to pronounce some of the names in brackets. There is a * above them. Enjoy. I've suggested three songs that go well with this chapter.

Glossery:

*Sprite: tiny fairy-like creatures who pride themselves as incessant pranksters.

*Reaver: A form of fighting that focuses on two-handed swords and battle axes.

*Drakes: Kin of the dragons. They are similar to dragons but are smaller, about the size of a horse, and more lizard-like.

*Lunara: Elven goddess of the moon, hunt, protection and motherhood. First female and creator of the elves and other sylvan folk.

*Sova'ni: Elvish title "The protector".

*Mi ma'chid: Elvish for "my child".

*Mi di'len: Elvish for "my little/young one".

[David Arkenstone: Merlin's secret]

Queen Kayela Lunarie smiled as she gazed around at the assembled guests at her daughter's celebration with soft forest green eyes. Creatures from almost every province in Vleotora were invited; from the oldest dragons to the *sprite queen herself. Fairies as small as leaves were perched on tree branches and zipped through the air, laughing their small twinkling laughs. The Elven queen looked down at her daughter. The small babe gazed about her with bright crystal blue-green eyes at all the magical creatures gathered in the glade of the moon goddess, Lunara. The Queen looked to the west of the glade. The palace of Azura stood proud under the starlit sky. Its high walls were patterned in shadow, moonlight and witchlight. Large tree branches melded with the buttresses and spires, and flowering creepers crept up the walls. The glazed windows emanated a soft glow which spilt out onto the surrounding barracks and open stables. The griffons and hippogriffs were roosting in their nests for the night while the unicorns strolled out of their stables to dance beneath the moon's gaze with the partygoers.

The Queen turned her attention back to her guests and noticed her husband beckoning to her. As she walked towards him, she had to often stop to allow the guests to admire the new-born princess. Eventually she made her way up the stairs of the staging area and stood beside her husband, King Taleisin. She turned to the crib beside them, a gift from her mother, and laid her baby in it. Her husband offered her a glass of elven wine. She took the glass and watched as he raised his own, calling for the guests' attention. The glade rippled into silence.

"My friends," began the king in a deep melodical voice, "It is not often that an elven royal is born. It is even rarer for a royal babe to be born on an auspicious night. She came into this world when the moon was full and the goddess of this glade hunted with her loyal animal companions. For this reason, my beaming queen and I have chosen a huntress's name. Welcome Yerathiel (Ye-ra-thee-yil) of Azura!"

"Hail Yerathiel Lunarie!" shouted the assembled guests.

As each guest laid their gifts at the foot of the crib or bestowed a blessing upon the child, each looked down at her gazing happily from her crib. Many smiled back. As the last creature, an old dragon, laid down her gift, she said:" May your family only ever know peace and happiness."

But it was not to be. For in the shadows, a secret organisation of humans consisting of mages and mercenaries had been gathering to attack Azura. These people hated all humanoid magical creatures who were different from them.

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[Veigar Margeirsson: Final reckoning]

"Sound the alarm!" the gate guard shouted. Drakes screeched through the air, waking all the sleeping inhabitants throughout the palace grounds and castle district. The King and Queen leaped out of their bed. The King grabbed his bow and knives while the Queen grabbed their wailing daughter. They looked out the window and saw a large fire engulfing everything within its reach. Guards and stable hands were rushing about, trying everything they could to extinguish the flames, but to no avail. Fire drakes swooped overhead and breathed in as much of the flames as they could before releasing them into the night sky. The fire would dim and shrink before leaping up with renewed determination. This is no ordinary fire, it's mage fire, the queen thought to herself. Her breathing became more erratic.

"Run, to the Glade, now!" The king yelled. They ran for the double doors of their bedchamber. They sprinted down the hallway passed a throng of guards and servants that moved out of the way to allow the king and queen to get through. The king yelled at them to get themselves out as fast as possible. Finally, they ran out of the main doors and into the courtyard. The air was filled with acrid smoke. The sounds of fighting and screams were everywhere. They turned towards the worn footpath leading from the eastern side of the courtyard. They dashed through the smoke and crowded servants, stable keepers and guards who were still battling to put out the fire. Figures began to pour out of the shadows, cast by the fire, draw out weapons and cut down everyone in their path.

A human mage leaped out in front of the path and raised his hands, opening his mouth to speak an incantation. Queen Kayela reacted first. Where the mage had been standing, a young maple tree grew. It swallowed the mage whole and left not one trace of him. They kept on running. The queen saw a young elven girl. The girl was cradling a baby in one arm while, with the other hand, trying to keep her unicorn from bolting. She pointed them out to her husband and he ran off to help them escape a mage and a *reaver who were charging up behind them. Black smoke from the burning buildings hid him from sight. She continued running.

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[Two Steps from Hell: Broken dream]

The queen staggered as she reached the farthest edge of the glade. The spells that she had cast had sapped her strength. Her wounds drained her. She slowly made her way to the river at the border of the glade. There she gathered several large leaves and reeds and, with her magic, built a small crib. Then she laid her daughter in it.

"Lunara, *Sova'ni," she prayed, "Protect our daughter and may she one day walk again in your moonlit glade." Silver tears ran down her cheeks as she placed a crystal locket around her daughter's neck and kissed her forehead. She looked up and saw a pure white direwolf appear on the opposite bank of the river. The direwolf gazed straight at her. Their eyes locked in mutual agreement. She turned back to her daughter.

"I will find you again. I promise," she wept as she pushed the crib into the current. The direwolf leapt into the river and snatched the crib in its jaws. It swam back to the bank and shook the water from its fur. It briefly gazed back at her before bounding away between the trees. A sudden crash made her turn. Another three mages ran at her, hatred and triumph in their eyes. The Queen raised her arms to make her final stand.

The direwolf raced away from the fire, smoke and screams of the dying. Soon there was silence. The baby had stopped crying and slept peacefully while the direwolf ran on effortlessly, faster than any wolf could, without stopping. The scenery changed beneath the direwolf's paws, the grass became less lush and silvery and the trees became smaller and duller. After nightfall, they passed by the outskirts of a farmhouse. A village peeked out above the trees that stood behind it. The direwolf placed the crib down on the riverbank. It raised its head, letting its howl reverberate across the gushing water. A couple of water nymphs rose out of the river and swam to the bank.

The direwolf left the crib in their care and bounded away. A safe distance away, it saw a figure of a tall elegant woman appear between the trees and gaze at the baby. The direwolf went up to her.

"Well done," the woman said, stroking the direwolf's head. "Now I need you to go back to Azura. The battle has ended. I do not know how many have survived but they will need your guidance." The direwolf nodded and raced back the way it came. The woman looked back towardsthe child. "I am sorry *mi ma'chid. Your path will not be an easy one but youwere chosen for a reason," she lamented before vanishing in a shower of moonlight.    

A/N: Thanks for reading. Comment your opinion and what you think will happen or the king and queen's fate. Please vote if you enjoyed the chapter.