Aetherian(Part 1): A War Begins

Belle

 Belle relished seeing the snowfall on Mistral. She grew up in the cold and savored every moment of it as she lay in the snow on the Ivory Tower's highest platform. It was midday, and the clouds still blocked out the sun. For the people of Mistral, winter only came once a year, but House Vestarr and the other northerners lived in winter. Anyone that lived north of the Icewood knew that it was difficult to survive where the rivers and lakes were always frozen and that some of Aetherian's deadliest creatures came from the northern snow. That was why soldiers trained in the Snowlands were always the toughest. Belle wanted to fall asleep in the cold snow before Prince Roderick found her. She was happy at the sight of him, though. He was fifteen, now, but hadn't grown an inch.

"Hey," she said.

"Aren't you cold?" Roderick asked as he laid down next to her.

"I'm used to it," said Belle. "This is what I grew up in."

"Right," Roderick admitted. She could feel his hand holding hers, and her heart began to race. Belle could also sense a feeling of nervousness in him, but it wasn't from being with her.

"I something wrong?" she asked.

"A little," Roderick confessed. "It's about my father and brother."

"Prince Vorian?" said Belle. "What's wrong?"

"Vorian doesn't trust you, Belle," said Roderick. "Or your sister, or your brothers, or your parents, and he does not trust Trevor." Belle suspected as much. When her father was named the Head Counselor, she felt anger, as well as distrust from him for every day after.

"Why?" Belle asked.

"After my father appointed yours as the Head Counselor, I just knew," said Roderick. "He's always been concerned about where the Guardians' loyalties lie."

"They serve Zenartha's people," Belle reminded.

"I know," said Roderick. "But that's his problem. They're warriors and they don't serve the King."

"Well, they've never been expected to," said Belle. "Melody says part of the Guardians' oath is to never fight for a King or lord. Believe me, she's told me a hundred times."

"Vorian doesn't seem to recognize that part," Roderick suggested. "He's been warning our father for the past three months, but he doesn't seem to be worried about it. The only Guardian he doesn't trust is Trevor."

"Trevor?" said Belle. "Why?" She knew why. Valeria Karvine was across the world and was halfway through conquering Alessia. All Belle could think was that Valeria was trying to take Alessia to gather a fleet to sail to Aetherian, and King Robar would have to fight yet another war to keep her from taking the Dragon Throne from him.

"Turns out, he has an older sister across the world," Roderick answered. "She's on her way here."

"Trevor has another sister?" Belle asked, trying to pretend like she didn't know about Valeria. "Did he know about her?"

"I doubt it," Roderick answered. "Until recently, anyway. I won't lie if I didn't know about Andrella until just now, I'd be pretty angry."

"I can't blame you for that," Belle admitted.

"Vorian and my father are going to try and get Trevor to tell his sister to stand down in court today," said Roderick. "I don't know what they think will happen. They don't know each other, and they're both blood of a Guardian."

"How will that help?" Belle asked.

"I fought with Guardians two years ago," said Roderick. "They let me in on a few of their powers. They can tell if someone's lying to them, which means that Trevor and his sister will be able to tell if either one of them isn't being honest with one another."