The Crow, The Panther, and The Wolves.

Chapter One

Avelyn's Point of View

     I wake up to Bellona jumping on my bed, and licking my face. "Ew! How many times do we have to talk about this?! Just a simple 'Wake up Avelyn' would work" I say angrily to my panther. She does this everyday no matter how much I protest.

     "I'm sorry my Queen, but you are to meet your betrothed in 2 hours." comes Bellona's smooth voice in my mind.

     I groan and attempt to roll over and sleep through this whole fiasco, but Bellona won't let me. She jumps to the other side of me blocking my path before I can go through with my idea. "Come on Belle, just this one time please?" I ask hopefully.

     "I'm sorry my Queen, but your parents are relying on this alliance." she replies.

     "I am not the Queen." I spit out.

     "You will be."

     "Ugh don't remind me" I beg.

     With that I roll out of bed and put on my alter-ego. The Crown Princess Avelyn Grace of Wintersong, daughter of Queen Vera Alice the Determined and her Consort Gabriel. "Stupid parents making me marry a stupid boy." I say angrily as I pick out a dress. My mother's servants gave up trying to help me years ago. Just because I have a title doesn't mean I can't get dressed by myself. I decide on a red dress. The top is made of velvet then it turns into a beautiful tulle. I can't help but admire it, it is a beautiful dress after all.I quickly pull it on before finishing mt outfit with a long black lace cape, and my crown, which is a simple design. It looks as if it were made of flowers, but the metal is black, and my jewels are diamonds and rubies. Satisfied with my clothing I quickly fishtail braid my hair to one side and walk to the dining room for breakfast.

     "Avelyn Grace! There you are! The King of Foster and his youngest are supposed to be here in an hours time!" cries my mother.

     "I know Mother. Belle alerted me of the situation." I say motioning towards the dark panther.

     "Ah yes I spoke to her but I wasn't sure if she understood," she says thoughtfully.

     "Mother we've spoke about this." I say sternly, "She can understand all humans, but only my kind can understand her."

     "Yes, yes, now come eat" she tells me, "We won't be eating again until the Foster's are here and situated, then we shall introduce you to your husband."

     I want to kick and scream and tell her I am perfectly capable of picking my own husband but instead I just nod and take my seat. This is going to be a tough day.

     I busy myself throughout the day by speaking with my army. I usually have a harder time gaining their attention dressed as I am now, but I know my mother would kill me if I changed, or if the Foster's arrived early and learned that I led the army.

     When I was 7 years old my father sat me down and told me our Kingdom was going to war with the Holton Empire, he told me that since I was to be Queen someday he expected me to have at least a small understanding of what my men would go through, and he was putting me into training with the Knight's children. He promised me that I would maintain the training until my 10th birthday, and then I would never have to do it again. Little did he know I would become the best warrior Wintersong has ever seen and be leading the entire army at 17 years old.

     Originally the men and women protested. They said a Princess wasn't cut out for it, she would be too concerned about breaking a nail. So I organized a tournament. Every man and woman in the army had the chance to be the General by competing in a series of trials. There were obstacle courses, hand to hand combat, knowledge of weaponry, and then opportunities to show your skills with the weapons. If you failed the task, you were out of the competition. Obviously I won them all or I wouldn't be the General. And when I won, I earned their respect.

     I approach my knights and ask if there has been any news on The Torrin Kingdom. They were strong allies of ours before the Holton Empire attacked them. The King and Queen were murdered and there has been no news of their daughter, Ski, she was, no is only 14. I get the same news as always, there has been no new information discovered by our spies. Just as I am deep in thought of what to do to help the rightful queen get her kingdom back, I hear trumpets announcing the Foster's arrival. "Well guys, I have to go meet my 'husband'" I say to my knights, using air quotes around the word husband. A few of them shout things such as "good luck" and "don't kill him" before I make my way to the gates. I hear a caw before Kaidan lands on my shoulder, and with Bellona at my side and Kaidan by my ear, I turn to greet the royals.