Defending Ithriea

Prologue

  "Take care of her, for my time has come, Sindari." the frail, thin woman presses her lips against the little girls forehead.
  "Anything for you, anything for my darling." the King replies, looking at the child while he holds his arms out taking the small bundle into his thick, calloused hands.
  "She looks so little in your arms." the woman looked onto the baby with love, pure unconditional love.
  "Tis time sweet Deena." the woman looks up at the king with desperation, not wanting to leave her child behind.
  The king takes the baby out of the room, stopping before shutting the door.
  "I'm sorry there's nothing I can do to save you, Deena." grim words for a womans grim demise.
  "Just save her, she will learn from a great king. In 20 years time she needs to be ready. Be ready, King. This war I cannot stop." Deena replies, pain coursing through her every nerve. Bright light and intense heat fills the room.
  "Leave now, My King. There's not much time! " A scream ripping through the womans lips, a scream of immense pain, and helplessness. The king shuts the door, baby in hand, he walks away. He cannot look to see if she was gone, for when she left, she took a part of him with her.
  Walking down the long corridor the king stops and looks down at the bundle.
  "I guess its just you and me now. What do you want to be called?" the tanned king looks at the smiling, blue eyed, baby in his hands.
The baby replies with spit bubbles being blown.
  "Alright then, how about Arieleia?" he asks the little girl in his hands. She replies with a high pitched giggle, then grabbing his finger.
  "I shall take that as a yes." Sindari shakes his head laughing along with the child.