The night was covered in a shallow mist of moonlight and fear; war was whispered in the cold air among the closest families. A shadowed figure hovered for a moment at the edge of the woods, their arms gently wrapped around a squirming bundle before they entered the ebony forest of Dívraya. A sigh of relief passed the shadowed figure's lips, as if a burden had been emptied from their heart and removed from their aching shoulders.

Tears fell on the sylvan coated floor, matching the beaded raindrops that managed to break through the dense canopy above. Noiselessly the figure crept deeper into the woods, the moonlight barely reaching the moss that slept quietly on the ground. Time escaped through luminescent moments too slow to calculate. Tthe bundle let out a helpless cry--it was a baby.

"Shh, shh my love. We are almost there," a tender, motherly voice protruded from the shadows; cradling the babe ever closer.

Darkness tore his fingers around every corner of the path and gnawed his way through the hearts of the trees. An ominous figure seemed poised to strike and it seemed to whisper their names through the breezes with a violent tongue. Shadows feigned themselves as invisible assassins, clawing maliciously and trying anchor themselves to the hope of the Sîrfalas Clan--to the world.

Pushing away the urge to shudder the cloaked woman proceeded deeper yet into the forest, undeterred by the stillness and sudden quiet of the twilight. Her eyes rested upon the moving bundle in her arms. She held her breath for in just moments she would give up the most precious thing to her, her only daughter. Tears lined her eyes, creating small shimmers of sadness that seemed to be bathing in the reflection of moonlight.

A booming but affectionate voice spoke through the silence, "Lady Sîrfalas. We have been waiting."

She curtsied politely, though to who she could not say, for no visible creature seemed to create a physical presence, "When my daughter was born, you offered her protection," her voice was strong and determined despite the ache she felt welling within her heart.

There was no answer, so she continued, "I beg of you, Master Túrien, to take her, away from the war, away from the destruction and tragedy."

A gruff but sincere reply came from the creature, "Lady Sîrfalas, we are indebted to your family. We offer our protection to your child. Bring her here."

With a trembling mind and a grieving heart she walked towards the voice slowly, calculating the seconds she had left with her daughter. Softly, she kissed the babe's forehead and lovingly gazed at her child, "You are strong. You will break the land of the tyranny about to befall us. You are our only hope. When you become queen, evil will cower in fear and slide back to the depths of where they came. You will be Eärwen Sîrfalas, The Dragon Queen--our savior."

Her heart begged her to stay with her child, but she knew she could not, her people needed her, they needed to know hope was not lost. Looking into the startling emerald eyes of her daughter, Eärwen, she smiled meekly and kissed the child once more.
"I will be back for you," she whispered.

"It is time to go Lady Sîrfalas," the voice had turned smooth and kindly as a form stepped out of the shadows and into the milky moonlight.

Looking up, Lady Sîrfalas' gaze rested upon the young man now standing before her; it was her child's guardian, her protector. He smiled and placed his hand on her shoulder, "She will be safe my lady."

She merely hung her head, unable to speak for fear of crying and upsetting the child while sadness overwhelmed her heart and mind. Her silver tears fell swiftly to the ground as she handed the most precious thing she had ever know, over to this young man. Her uneven breathing, caused by her emotions, was the only interruption to the silence as the man looked up into Lady Sîrfalas eyes.

Nodding she returned his gaze and watched as he disappeared further into the darkness; she could do nothing but wait. Incapable of restraining the pain that tugged at every part of her she fell to her knees, sobbing hysterically. The burden she would have to be carry would only become worse as the years wore on, she knew this. It would never get easier but in order to destroy the chaos she could not keep her daughter with her, for she would be in danger as long as her whereabouts where known.


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"Come quickly Túrien!"

A small form blindly ran across the moss covered forest paths, leaping gracefully over trees discarded limbs and branches. Her spry step quickened as she approached the magnificent sound she so longed to hear: footsteps. Her tiny feet carried her deftly across the forest's rivulets and scattered leaves until she caught a glimpse of a cloaked figure riding towards her. A wide smile spread across her dainty visage, illuminating it with the brilliance and happiness of youth.