Wednesday, September 26, 2007

Child of Prophecy Book One Chapter One Part One
Smoke rose above the forest from the huge bonfire that was built in the middle of a small village of thatch-roof homes. Around the fire in a half-circle stood twelve young Mensolte girls, garbed in elven-styled dresses and long cloaks, the hoods pulled over their heads. Near the middle, stood a girl, slightly taller than the others, with purple wings. Each feather on her wing seemed to reflect the firelight as if they were jewels. She sighed and adjusted her night-blue dress. This was going on for what seemed like eternity. She shifted her weight to her other foot. All her life, she had watched the other girls become women and she dreamed of the day that she would finally participate in Línsolä, the ceremony that announced girls who turned twenty as official women on their tribe. Now she was quickly hating the ceremony.
Maybe it’s because I was sitting down then.

The green-winged girl next to her nudged her.

“This is taking forever, isn’t it, Ravyn?”

“Yeah, my legs are killing me.”

“Mine went numb long ago.”

Ravyn grinned at her friend’s comment. She jumped when the fire suddenly flared green, catching her attention. Her friend sighed with relief.

“Finally, we’re coming closer to the end.”

An elderly woman with white hair and wings turned towards the twelve girls.

“I know all of you know what to do from here, after seeing this done many times. Even so, I will refresh your minds as to what you are supposed to do.”

She started to pace in front of the girls.

“I will approach each of you with your mother. You will remove your hood when we approach. Then your mother will place a coronet on your head. Then you will remove your cloak and turn around. Spread your wings so your back is revealed. I will throw a powder on your back, praying to the Eldar to bless you. Sometimes a sign will appear on your back, revealing the Eldar’s plans for you. I will interpret it, but only so you will hear. Then, with your mother, I will announce you as a woman of our tribe. I will start on the left, and that would be you, Míolë.”

Ravyn lowered her eyes and bit her lip, trying to hold back a tear. A mother, through-out her childhood, that was one thing she longed for. But, according to the village elder’s wife, her parents died in the war. So, ever since she could remember, she was pretty much raised by all the women in the tribe, especially the village elder’s wife. I wonder was Shäc-té will do when she reaches me. Ravyn stood lost in her thoughts. A gentle nudge in her side brought her back to reality.

“Ravyn, your next.”

Ravyn looked up to see Shäc-té approach her. There was a hint of sadness in her old eyes. Despite that, the soft smile on her face was reassuring. She reached out and placed her hand on Ravyn’s cheek

“Dear Ravyn. For as long as you can remember, you have had no mother to call your own. You were raised by the love of all the women in our tribe. If I could, I would have them all come up here and participate in pronouncing you a woman of our tribe. But, obviously, I can’t do that. But, there is one woman who I believe has been the closest thing to a mother for you.”

Shäc-té motioned for someone to approach.

“Lady Lïrlina, will you please come forward.”

The village elder’s wife approached her with a wooden box in her hands. Her soft blonde hair fell down to her mid-back. Her gold wings reflected the fire, reminding everyone of her position. Shäc-té bowed to her when she reached them. Ravyn started to bow, but Lady Lïrlina stopped her.

“No, Ravyn. There is no need for that. I don’t come to you as your superior, but as a mother.”

Ravyn stood in awe of Lady Lïrlina, completely forgetting what she was supposed to do, until her friend nudged her for the third time.

“Your hood.”

“Oh.” Ravyn fumbled with her hood.

Once she removed it, her purple hair fell down to her shoulders, framing her deep purple eyes. Lady Lïrlina smiled gently at her then spoke so only Ravyn and Shäc-té could hear. Ravyn’s friend leaned over, in hopes of hearing what was said.

“Ravyn, I know I can’t replace the mother you never knew, but I’ve watched you grow over the years and I am proud of you. As proud as any mother would be of her daughter. I am happy to do this, even though your mother did request that I do this.”

Lïrlina opened the wooden box to reveal a coronet of silver, molded into the form of vines with leaves and small blooms. Each leaf was covered in emeralds and each bloom was covered in amethysts. Ravyn gasped at the sight. No other girl had been given a coronet such as this. The others were given coronets carved from wood and colored with paints, or made from flowers and vines. Ravyn almost backed away, as if refusing the elegant coronet. It was true Lady Lïrlina had no children of her own, but there was no way she could accept Lïrlina’s coronet.

“I know what your thinking, my dear. But this is not mine. I was given one made from the flowers found in the forests. This coronet has been in your family for ages. It is a precious family heirloom and rightfully belongs to you. This coronet is as old as our race.”

She leaned forward and whispered in Ravyn’s ear.

“It is said that the Eldarian goddess Arhîthiâ, herself, gave it to your ancestor.”

Lïrlina stood back up and handed the box to Shäc-té then lifted the coronet from the box. She gently slid the coronet over Ravyn’s head. A small arc in the front of the coronet, fitted over her uni-horn perfectly. The moment the coronet was positioned on her head, Ravyn felt something within her stir, causing her to suddenly feel ill. A faint dizziness started to slowly over take her. The urge to sit down became stronger. Ravyn clinched her teeth and curled her hands into fists in an attempt to calm the strange feeling that ran through her body.

“Ravyn, you okay?”

Shäc-té placed a hand on her shoulder. Ravyn looked up and stared into Shäc-té’s worried eyes. Ravyn nodded.

“All right, then. Remove your cloak, then turn around. Don’t forget to spread your wings.”

Ravyn lifted her trembling hands and removed the brooch that held her cloak in place. She let it fall to the ground, revealing her entire form. Small gasps were heard among the onlookers. She looked so – stately, almost as if she was of royalty. Ravyn’s slender form was accented by the tight bodice that clung to her upper body. At her waist, the skirt of the dress flowed down to her feet. The neckline of the dress plunged low, revealing a good amount of cleavage, making Ravyn feel extremely self-conscious. The sleeves of the dress fitted her upper arms, then at the elbow, flared out, covering her hands and reaching down to her knees. Ravyn turned around and spread out her wings, revealing her bare back. The back neckline of the dress plunged down to the small of her back, making it easy to move her wings.

Shäc-té approached her with a small bowl and started to mutter a prayer under her breath as she scooped up a small handful of powder from the bowl. When she finished praying, she threw the powder on Ravyn’s back. Gasps began to echo through-out the tribe as red lines began to form on Ravyn’s back. Ravyn grimaced in pain. I thought this wasn’t supposed to hurt!

Shäc-té suddenly drew a sharp breath when the sign was completed.

“A dragon.”

Lïrlina whispered softly under her breath. “A fire dragon.”

Shäc-té shook her head.

“I know not what this means. No one has ever born the dragon. Except – no”

Lïrlina looked down, as if concealing her thoughts. Ravyn’s friend examined Lïrlina.
She knows something.

Ravyn suddenly let out a small squeal of pain. Hidden by her wings, something else was being formed on her right shoulder blade. But this time, it felt as if it was being burned into her skin. Her friend averted her eyes towards Ravyn when she heard the short squeal.

“Ravyn?”

“I’m fine, Kenthy. Just fine.”

After Shäc-té regained herself, she motioned for Ravyn to face everyone.

“Ladies and gentlemen of our village. I now present to you, Ravyn Ér-tíya.”

Ravyn forced a smile. Under that forced smile, she burned with strange pain and dizziness.
What is wrong with me?

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