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[Aerie]

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It was a bright sunny day as a group of avariel elven guards were making their rounds, patrolling the skys. They were greeted by another group of avariel that were on their way in search for food for their big religions celebration of their worship of the winged elven goddess known as Aerdrie Faenya. The gatherer group searched at least four hours that day. They would have made better time, if it was not for the most carefree of the group, Seria.

Seria was a very young and spirited averiel, long blonde hair cascading down her back, her eyes as blue as the sky. She enjoyed her freedom of flight, always challanging others to races as well as hide and seek. The others, whom usually take pleasure in her passions, were not as patient that day. "Seria!" One of the males called out. "We have no time for that! Much has to be done for the celebration!"

The smiling Seria suddenly lost her glee, her shoulders slumping as she said, "Oh very well.. but how can you not enjoy such a wonderful day?" With that, they resumed their gathering. They finally started to make their way back. Seria sighed to herself, sad that she could not enjoy her freedom more. "Maybe they will let me go out after the gathering is done?", she thought to herself.

They finally made it back to their villiage. The villiage was beautiful. Tall magestic white marble pillars, Many of which held statues of mystical winged creatures such as Gryphons. In the center of the villiage, stood a large white marble temple with a large statue of Aerdrie Faenya on it's roof. Around the Temple, many elaborate homes, made of the same marble, resided.

Seria helped carry the gathered food to be prepared for the celebration. Alot of time would be needed for the feast to be prepared. Knowing this, Seria approached the high elders asking if it were ok for her to go for a flight. "As long as you do not travel too far outside the guarded boundaries." one of the elders said, with a stern look to his face. "Seria nodded humbly to the elder, "yes m'lord, i shall not go too far." The elder's stern look turned into a warm grin as he patted her affectionately on the head. This elder was her father. He then said, "please let your brother Roofellows know, for he worries when he cannot find you." She nodded again and went off to find him.

Her brother was studying in the library on the many lores of the surface elves. Seria came up to him giving him a kiss on the cheek as she said, "suilad brother, I shall be away for a little while to stretch my wings." As he looked up to her with a smile and nodded, she then looked at the elaborate pictures of the other elves in the lure books. "It would be nice to meet a surface elf some day... I wonder what kind of customs they have? Her brother then frowned as he replied, "promise me sister, that you will not go seeking the other elven races, their customs are strange and somewhat, less significance to us." Before she attempted to reply he then said, "I am sorry sister, I just worry about you sometimes, I know you enjoy your freedom, but someday you must settle down." She nodded to satisfy his feelings, but only then, she will be free to enjoy her time alone, before the big celebration.

She then took off into the air, spreading her wings she flew higher into the sky and with great speed. She was among one of the fastest of her kind, no one could top her in a race. She passed the guards, waving to them with a giggle. AS she continued to fly, she was away from the sights of the guards. At first the guards worried for her safety, but even they remembered trying to catch her one day and having trouble doing it. "She will return by dusk." one of them said, sharing a knowing nod with the other.

"I did it!" She smiled to herself, "I am free to enjoy my freedom and to explore!" She flew for some distance, curious of the surface elves, wondering what one looked like face to face. Descending partially, but not close enough to be seen, she gazed upon a large elven villiage with a large palace in its center. To the outskirts, there was a beautiful lake. "I shall take my rest there.", she said to herself. She decended quickly skimming the lake with her toes. She let out a loud giggle as water, warmed from the sun, tickled her. However, she got careless in her escapades, and collided with a very handsome blonde high elf basking in the sun. Luckily, she was uninjured.

Afraid at first, she struggled to her feet in attempt to flee, but then gazed upon the eyes of this elf, who was just as startled by her. Her gaze seemed to happen forever, her heart fluttered... "what was this feeling?" she asked herself. She never had these kind of feelings towards the possible male avariel suiters in her villiage. The high elf, his blue eyes gazing hers said, "Hello, I am Ruval." Moments have passed since she first layed eyes upon him. They talked alot, and shown alot of affection for each other. Seria felt as if she knew him her entire life. Dusk was approaching as she realized she had to go. The elders, especially her father, would be angry if she was not at the celebration. She then had to take leave, pressing her lips gently to Ruvals for a parting kiss.

She had just come on time. Any later, and her brother would have alerted all the guards for a search party. They feasted that evening in front of the temple. Fine wines were sampled as well as fine fruits. Music played as they froliced. The celebration then ended, each avariel retiring to their homes, in wait of another day.

Each afternoon, Seria would let her brother know she wanted to spend some alone time on the wing, then would fly off in search of Ruval. They spent their precious times together. She would often sing to him.

Day after day, the elders were curious as to why Seria always left on her own. Her brother became worried again. The last such meeting Seria had with Ruval, was more than just time spent together Their love and passion were expressed in ways she never realized. Seria felt a passion inside that she just could not contain. But then the thoughts of her brother, and elders entered her mind. "What if they find out? Perhaps I should spend more time in the villiage so they will not catch on." She then explained to ruval of her brother and elders. He understood. They parted with a kiss, looking forward to seeing each other again. She finally made her way home.

She was questioned that evening by her brother on her excursions. It took her all evening to convince him that nothing has changed. She was very unused to lying to family, but how else would she protect her new passion? The next several days to a month, she spent in her villiage assisting with the daily tasks. Then one day, she woke up nautious. The elders and healers were summoned. They were ever so worried. The healers examined her and came to a conclusion: she is pregnant.

The elders were confused, wondering whom the father would be. None of the males acknowledge having any encounters with Seria. The elders then kept her under strict watch fearing the worst has yet come true, the father being of a different heratage. Over the course of nine months, Seria and Ruval missed each other. She would send him messages on the wind, though her white dove. He would then send messages back, attaching them to the same bird.

At the end of the nine months, Seria finally gave birth to a healthy, female elven baby. But this infant was not typical of an avariel. "Where are her wings?" one of the elders asked? "The father must have been a high elf!" exclaimed another, whom looked the baby over comparing traits to those in the lore books. As if in fear, the baby began to cry. The elders stopped their exclaimations and fixed their eyes on the crying infant. With innocent eyes looking all around, the baby continued to cry. The elders, although angry, became more gentle around the infant. Roofellows picked up the infant, and handed her to Seria. Seria's father than said softly, "you are never to see that surface elf again, but you will keep the infant and raise her to follow avariel customs." "you are also never to send messages to him ever again." he said. "Do not think for one second that i do not know you been keeping contact with him." "Now, please chose a name for your infant.", he said, his features becoming more gentle again. "Aerie", she said softly.

For days, Seria took care of Aerie. She loved her so much and sang to her every evening, the same song she sang to Ruval. Aerie would often smile, her blue eyes twinkling, as she would listen to the song that escaped the lips of her mother. But then Seria would think of Ruval again, her heart breaking a little each day inside.

Then one evening, at the stroke of midnight, Seria felt a panic enter her heart. As if knowing something was about to happen, she gathered the sleeping Aerie in her arms, placing her in a basket. She then snuck into her brother's room, placing the basket on his dresser. She then snuck out of town and took to the sky.

Panic raced in her heart as she flew towards the elven villiage where she first found Ruval. As she finally came in view, she noticed something was different. The villiage, surrounding the castle was engulfed in flames. She searched everywhere, flying over the villiage, in seach of Ruval. She overheard some other elves crying for Ruval's name. One of them shouting "we must rescue him from that beast!" Hearing this, Seria descended and demanded where this beast had taken him.

Glimpsing Seria as their only hope, the high elves pointed to a group of montains to the east. She then took off. The elves stared at her in awe, as they never seen an Avariel.

Seria flew towards the mountains as fast as she could. The beast would be easy to follow, as the scent of its flames, and trail of its fiery destruction, provided a easy trail. She then came upon a immense cave. She then suddenly heard a male voice cry outloud from inside. "He is still alive!" she thought, as she rushed in, not aware of the dangers that lurked inside. As she went deeper into the cave, she noticed the cries stopped, only to be replaced by the loud crunching of bones. Seria's heart sank, as she just witnessed the death of her lover.

For out of the shadows, a low growl sounded, the head of a large Ancient Wyrm ascended, then turned slightly, his eyes dialated after feasting on Ruval's remains. It turned it's massive head, it's imense teeth protruding from its maw. Blood dribbled from its jaws, the lead of Ruval stuck in between its teeth. Its pupals dialated, from round, to slits. Seria let out a scream, half fear, half anger. She took a bone from the wyrm's previous kills and rushed at it, poised like a spear hitting the wyrm in its face. The bone barely made a mark in its thick hyde.

The wyrm bellowed its fury as it quickly turned around. Seria, realizing that she must escape with her life, turned and spread her wings, taking off and flying out of the cave. She flew faster now than ever before. She flew far from the cave, thinking she lost the ancient wyrm. Then suddenly, she felt a draft as powerful wings flapped above her. She looked up face to face with the snout of the Ancient Wyrm. "How can it move so fast?" she thought, as her face became pale with fright.

With a lightening quick reflex, the wyrm snatched up Seria into its powerful jaws, crunching down on her. Seria instantly died. With another quick movement, the Wyrm hovered into the ear, tossed the dead avariel into the air, and caught her again into her jaws. The wings of the Avariel were torn in its massive jaws, some of it falling to the ground, near the lake that the romance had first started.

The following morning, Seria's father and brother, accompanied by the guards, made a thorough search for their missing beloved Seria. After what seemed like endless searches, they found what remains of her, the wings that once graced her body. The scent of burnt buildings, and the particular scent on the remains gave them the hint that it was the work of dragon kin. They took the remains home, and had a ritual. Seria would be missed, but even more so, Aerie will know a harsh life of having no parents, and feeling out of place. Roofellows knew of this and feared for the worst, for the infant. He then volunteered to raise her like his own child.
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