• As the river rolled on, so did time, but the never ending river never seemed to change just like the small town near by the river, which lived off the river for water and food, and travel. So how did it come to be that one girl would possibly be foretold at birth she would bring change to the land and its people? Was it true that the girl would change the land? How? Would time itself change with the breeze of change coming in the near future of this young, powerless baby girl’s life? If you can believe in witches, wizards, demons, and magic, can you believe this story? Let us find out now.

    So, as you should already see is that this little baby wasn’t all that normal when she was born of course. Shunned from the beginning of her life as she was born with the dreaded, and hated, so called cursed mark; which seemingly was as some would call a tribal ‘tattoo’ on her left forearm, and her right leg, both ‘tattoos’ covering all of the extremity to the fullest, but leaving her ivory skin ivory to cast off the pattern that was told in many stories from time to time to be of ‘evil’ language. The markings were not of the ‘evil’ language told of in the stories, yet a messaged from Lyns, the magical goddess from heaven whom was worshipped by all good, and shunned by all evil. This message was never to be read except by the girl herself when the time was to come when life was in peril and dawning of the dark god, Fasto, approached.

    So, finally I, your story teller today, am able to go on and tell you the good part of the story which you want to hear:

    The time finally came, Aerois, a girl foretold many great things would happen at her hand, turned the ripe age of 17 to head on out with permission to leave the small town near the never ended river of time not ending. As she packed her bag, her dear old mother, or really adopted mother threw together some food for her daughter’s long journey to find what every girl wants, love.

    “Aerois, come here.” A loud booming voice came from the out farm near the back woods of the small, yet well built house.

    With quick steps Aerois made her way to meet her father. “Yes, sir,” she replied to the booming voice as she looked up at a husky built man, whom was slaving over a fire, where he hammering down on a glowing piece of thin metal.

    “Do you remember the story at your birth? The one I always told you about how you were different and would save us all one day. Well you need something to help you for that day to come.” The voice spoke a little lower, but still sounded like a small thunder. Aerois nodded in a short reply.

    The large husky man turned and looked at his daughter with softy eyes, not usually thought could be shown from a man with his build. “Here,” he muttered before handing her a newly crafted fine bladed rapier, also known as a long sword; yet made from women. The craftsmanship was beautiful in its black metal plate and gold handle, even the main part of the blade was a faded black color.

    “Father…” Aerois mumbled looking down at the blade and its sheath before grasping the husky, sweaty man in a loving hug. “Thank you so much, Father.”

    “Don’t thank me, Daughter. Take the blade, and get your gift from your mother, then leave. Fight the darkness.” Her father demanded as Aerois broke the hug and bowed, walking off towards the main house, once again, to get what was left of her pack.

    “Mother, I’ll miss you,” Aerois whispered as she hugged her mother from behind, who jumped once noticing her daughter in the room.

    “I shall miss you, too, but you have a purpose in life. Take this food, and follow me.” Her mother, a very small woman of blond hair and blue eyes and a small figure, handed Aerois, who took never after her, the small bits of food and wrapped it in a black clot, and took her hand. “I have something I believe you’ll need in your journey.” She said as she led her daughter to the ‘hidden’ closet near the front door, and began to ruffle through its contents.

    After a short time of waiting Aerois looked at her quickly appearing mother from the deeps confines of the closet, who now held a fur; to be more specific a fox/wolf fur; that was made into a hooded cloak. “Daughter, this is my old cloak, passed down from generation to generation, it brought great luck and passed through many hardships. It will guide you and give you strengths of un-known tales. You will be safe, as long as you wear this cloak with honor for all times to come. My family will know you; help you, save you, by the significance of this cloak. Wear it with all your heart, honor if yours now my daughter.” The soft voice spoke from Aerois mother as she walked behind her daughter, draping the cloak over Aerois thin shoulders, having to pull Aerois’s long black hair up so it wouldn’t catch on the fur. “Now my daughter, you are ready.” She whispered as she kissed Aerois on the forehead after hooking the front of the fur coat together, only give Aerois enough slip in the fur to unsheathe her sword and fight, or extend her arms out.

    Aerois bowed to her mother before saying in her soft velvet like voice, “Honor shall be within me as the times to come bring hardship, joy, maybe even death. I will always remember you, and father. I know you are not my birth parents, yet at heart you are my real parents, you are my world. I will protect you and what you love. I will return once my journey is over, and the darkness is back with the other wrong-doers in hell.” Standing tall, she once again hugged her mother, the soft furred black and orange-red hood; in the face of a wolf; fell to cover most of Aerois face, before she took her pack, which was quite small and made her way towards the door with a smile. “In Lyns name I pray, protect my family, help me save them from the peril ahead.” She then stepped out of the door, after her father stepped in to comfort his wife, who had already broken down to crying into her husband’s chest as her daughter left for a long journey that awaited her.

    Aerois didn’t do as she had before this day and hung her head, covering her markings from Lyns, she wore her fox/ wolf cloak and a soft white cotton blouse under that which clung tight to her slim figure and mature chest. Contrasting the white she wore a pair of black short shorts, and a pair of black farm boots and some low cut socks. Her hood/ head of a wolf back so she could clearly see the astonishment on the towns-people’s faces as she walked through the middle of town towards the forest line, and front gate; which was made of large trees strapped together with iron binds.

    “Aerois, why do you wear my sister’s cloak?” Aerois’s aunt asked as she grabbed onto Aerois’s arm, stopping her and pulling her from the middle of the road to hide from everyone.
    “Because, Auntie, I am her daughter, I’m 17 and it is finally my time to save what you call the holy world, from darkness as portrayed at my birth.” She said with a hiss in her voice as her bright blue eyes looked down at the woman, who stood maybe an inch above her 5’6’’ height. “You will not make me look down, feel shunned, because you think I’m cursed. Never again with my head hang in your, or anyone in this damned towns, presence.” She hissed softly at the end of her warning and pulled her arm from the woman’s weak grasp.
    “Aerois, don’t you dare talk to me like that.” Auntie growled raising her hand to slap Aerois, before her forearm was grabbed by a leather gloved hand, both of the woman looking up to see a large man, whom was dressed in high priced clothing consisting of a pair of neatly kept black trousers, a long-sleeved button down navy-blue blouse, a black belt and a pair of black boots.

    “Don’t slap another, or else.” The man’s deep voice rumbled deep in his chest as he glared down at Auntie with his bright golden eyes that matched his semi-long choppy, yet royal, blond hair that was straight as could be. “Miss, are you okay?” The man asked as he looked at Aerois, his eyes calmed and his tense muscles loosened as he let go of Aunties foreman, who ran back into the house.

    “Yes, but we might want to get out of this town, unless you like being ridiculed by hateful people.” Aerois said aloud as a few of the townspeople already began to gather around. The man nodded as he walked over to a large quarter horse, that looked made for speed, and jumped on extending his hand easily for Aerois to jump on.

    A small blush crept onto Aerois cheeks as she took the man’s large hand and made her way to sit behind him, wrapping her arms around his waist, and press her face against his back, as he kicked the horse and they began to leave the town in a flat out run towards the gate, which opened with a nod from the man.

    “So, little girl, why was that wicked woman angry with you?” The man asked as he slowed his horse down to a slow canter as they walked under some high oak trees, approaching a little lake and an apple tree.

    “I’m not little, kind sir, and because I’m marked from birth,” Aerois said jumping off soon as the horse came to a stop. “See.” She muttered pulling the cloak off, to show the markings on her left arm, and he could clearly see the ones on her right leg, if he was so indecent to look there.

    The man nodded as he took the bridal off the horse and let the quarter horse walk to the lake to rest. “No, you’re not cursed, this is from Lyns, am I correct?” He muttered tracing a soft skinned finger over the markings on her left forearm. His touch was cold, yet relaxing to Aerois; she smiled softly, a blush still pricking at her cheeks and nose, ever so slowly getting warming as his fingers traced more and more. “Beautiful markings, you are defiantly not cursed, but blessed.” He muttered to himself as his honey/golden eyes traced over her markings along with his fingers.

    “Thank you sir, you are correct, but no one would believe me when I tried to tell them that.” Aerois muttered. “If you don’t mind me asking who are you, Kind Sir?” She asked with curiosity in her words of velvet.

    The man pulled away and bowed to Aerois in an honorable manner, that of a high society citizen or royal. “I, milady, am Sir Austis the Second, son of Sir Austis the great, and head of the royal guard for his majesty, King Edward,” He spoke with utmost honor in his loud, deep, booming voice that scared many birds and little creatures in the forest.

    “Nice to meet thee, Sir Austis. I am Aerois Ross, daughter of Amila Ross, and Roster Ross. I have no royal name, nor a royal goal, only a goal of saving the ones I love, and finding; as every girl wants; someone to love, and someone to love me.” She spoke with her own type of power, her voice sweet, and as if songs spoke in soft pink lips of her, as she curtsied towards Sir Austis.

    Sir Austis, whom was stunned by her voice and words, smiled softly as he grabbed her hand and asked her to stand. “Well, I, myself, and on a journey to find a partner, both in love and battle, a strong powerful woman, whom could help me protect what my majesty loves, his kingdom and future kingdom. Would you like to come with me on my search?” He asked, giving no hint that at first conversation, even he didn’t know this, fell in love with her.

    Aerois sat down, her cloak getting slightly dirty on a branch of the apple tree, above them, that was low hanging. “I would like to, but wouldn’t it be odd that I sit behind you on your fine quarter horse, in the long journey. I of course can get a horse, but sadly I would spend all my families’ gold in the process.” She said pushing the long black bangs of hers behind her soft ivory ear and smiled brightly at the man, whom was standing before her.

    “Wait here, an hour I shall return with you a horse, if you promise to stay right here.” Austis cheerily spoke before jumping, bareback, on his quarter horse, and took off towards the town, from wince they came and stole off to buy Aerois a quarter horse.

    Aerois, a little stunned, nodded as she jumped from the branch and stripped from her cloak, boots and belt that carried her rapier. “I guess I should freshen up.” She muttered to herself as she pulled off her blouse and shorts, and socks, also her bra and underwear, before stepping in the semi-cool lake of water, and stepped back towards the waterfall that was small, yet helpful as she pulled her fingers through her hair, and let the long black hair drape on her shoulders as she looked around her, floating in the open lake and smiled as she looked up at the sky. “Mother….Father….wish me luck.”

    Before Aerois knew it, Austis was walking up, his white quarter horse asleep under the apple tree. “Aerois, are you her-” Austis looked out at the lake to see Aerois bathing under the waterfall. “Oh….never mind, hurry back once you are done.” He mumbled as he scurried back towards the other side of the apple tree, where he sat down and looked down at the grass, his cheeks burning blood red. ‘How did…I can’t believe I saw her exposed…Hopefully she didn’t see me, I don’t want to be killed or ruin her life.’ He thought to himself before Aerois looked at him, she was fully dressed expect her cloak which was on the branch above Austis.

    “Thank you for getting me a beautiful horse, Austis.” She mumbled, not knowing that he saw her exposed. “Do you want to rest here, or go on towards the next town?” She asked as she sat down next to him, yawning slightly before resting her head on his broad, warm shoulder and nuzzled softly, her eyes closing, as she fell asleep.

    Austis looked at Aerois and smiled pulling her cloak down and draped it over her, before getting up to tie the horses to the stump under them, and went back to being a pillow for Aerois. “I hope you sleep well, Aerois.” He muttered before cuddling her close, so they both wouldn’t be cold that night, even though the cloak kept out the cold, but it was an excuse for Austis to hold her close.