Aurora Borealis
For Love
CAMiraj@aol.com
Rating: G

Hey everyone! This story is a several-parter right now, taking place in my
own
little made up world. I?ll take this moment to warn everyone that the
majority
of my writing background is fantastical & medieval, as is this story. So
enjoy! *I?d like to remind Risa (my ed-i-tor) that without her this story
would not be here!!! THANK YOU REESE!!*

Chapter 1: The Flower of the Damned
>>      As they led her down the isle into her prison cell, Serena grimaced
and
nearly threw up.
        "You cannot leave me in here," she cried, her voice faltering and
unsteady,
still unbelieving that she was here at all. Before she had time for another
thought, she was forced into the cell by a guard?s strong arm.
        "Yes, I can." Kamen said, standing in a shadow some distance away.
He looked
mockingly at the now-raggedy Serena. "Believe me, your highness, it?s hard
for
me to see you like this. Especially since you looked so beautiful last
night,
before you killed my brother."
        "Kamen, you know I didn?t kill Jason." she cried desperately,
clinging to the
bars of her damp cell.
        "Perhaps. But you are having a fair trial. Trial by fire," he added
casually.
The tips of his mouth turned up in a devilish smile. Serena fumed.
        "But you don?t have any evidence." she said, teeth clenched. "You
haven?t
found his body."
        "Naturally. You hid it with witchcraft." he countered, sighing.
"Serena, you
will have to do better than that. I am the best advocate to be had." Kaman?s
face took on a different visage as he walked up to the bars that Serena
clung
to so desperately.
        "And I never lose."
        She shrank back from him a bit, but he turned away from her, and
began
ascending the stairs back into the world. Serena watched his shadow slowly
make the climb until he disappeared, but she could hear his voice speaking
low
to someone.
        "Oh, one more thing," was all she heard, and then saw a large guard
coming
towards her with a flaming hot branding iron.
        Long after Kamen left the prison and rode swiftly away, Serena?s
shrill
screams echoed in his ears.

>>      The trial was in seven days. That was, of course,  if she survived
that
long in the prison. The filth and squalor of it disgusted her, to the point
that she wished herself dead. She comforted herself with the fact that she
would meet Death soon, when Kamen had finished her ?trial?. She wished it to
be over. The entire situation was utterly ridiculous, the final blow being
that Kamen would win. But, after three days, she cared little of that.
        The brand had festered and bled, but now a slight scab was forming
the
delicate shape of a Fleur d?lys, or Lily of the Damned; a brand used to
identify murderers and thieves. Directly under her collarbone it sat, the
pain
of it robbing all comfort and sleep. Daily she prayed for her escape and
revenge, knowing her prayers to be said in vain...

>>      But it came to pass when the Cardinal arrived in the square of town,
and
required the presence of all his guards, save one, that one lone angel
stayed
to guard the prison cells. He was young, and the beauty that Serena had
maintained, even after three days in the cell, amused him.
        "You are innocent," he whispered through the bars, "For I have seen
the faces
of true criminals. Their guilt is their captor," he explained in wisdom.
        Serena felt the kindness in his words, but saw little benefit in
them.
        "Thank you, sir." she said. "That is the first kindness I have been
shown in
days,"
she ended wistfully.
        "But not the last," he said decisively. Then he turned on his heel
and was
gone.
        She waited for him for what seemed like hours, but he did not
return.
Finally, finding the cleanest spot in her cell, she leaned against the wall
and tried to sleep.

>>      Long after Serena?s first interlude with the soldier, a noise on the
step
awakened her. She looked up in the dark hall to see the same soldier
striding
toward her, cell keys and rope in his hands. As he fumbled with the heavy
lock
and key, she stood up and watched him curiously.
        "Tonight," he started, "you are to be prosecuted and burned at the
stake for
the cold-blooded murder of - whoops!" he exclaimed as the keys clattered to
the prison floor, awakening all those previously sleeping. Sheepishly, he
bent
and picked them up. "For the cold-blooded murder of  General Jason Carlton
of
Cathay." Finally successful with the door lock, he entered and roughly began
tying Serena?s hands behind her back, talking all the while. She didn?t
fight
him.
        "You will be taken to a scaffold in the town square, where you will
be tried
for murder and witchcraft. And if found guilty, you will be burned
presently."
He began leading her out of the cell, and she stumbled along beside him,
being
unaccustomed to the use of her legs for almost four days. He offered no help
to her, but dragged her up the stairs into the main prison hall and finally
out into the open air.

>>      There he began untying her with utmost care and gentleness.
        "What are you doing?" Serena asked naively. The guard, already taut
with
nervousness, snorted impatiently.
        "Yes, what am I doing? Risking my life for some stupid,
muddleheaded, slight
of a woman, that?s what!"
        "What?" she asked again, not quite comprehending. When he had
finished
untying her bonds, she turned to him.
        "I?m setting you free," he said, exasperated.
        Serena, astonished yet giddy that these particular events had
unfolded,
grabbed him tightly in a hug. Then releasing the startled young man, she
thanked him sincerely, but warned him of Kamen?s wrath.
        "I fear for your life if Kamen ever learns of what you?ve done." she
said.
"Then there will be two of us that he wishes dead."
        "Don?t worry about me." he said. "Now, I have designed the quickest
route for
your escape..."
        She listened earnestly to his plan and then left him with a small
token of
gratitude: a intricately detailed silver ring that he swore to wear on a
chain
around on his neck. It never would have fit his fingers...
        So, in rags, this once-upon-a-time princess roamed the treacherous
streets of
night, searching for freedom so long lost. Now a fugitive, she dared not
stop
or slow until dawn.

>>      Someone had found her, exhausted by her fear-motivated escape the
night
before. They had bathed and dressed her, and when she awoke, safe, warm and
clean in a barn loft, she could have claimed the past three days had never
existed. But the brand still sat, brooding, upon her flesh.
        Wordless, a tall woman appeared, and hurriedly entered the loft. She
set a
basin of water down near Serena?s pallet, and then glanced at Serena with
utmost curiosity.
        "I will let mother know you are awake," she said plainly, and then
left as
swiftly as she had come, her long, dark brown ponytail wagging behind her.
        "Wait-" Serena cried after her, but she was gone. Sighing, Serena
leaned back
against the hay. It was wonderful of these people to take her in, but she
knew
she couldn?t stay long. Kamen would be looking for her.
        He probably already had several huntsmen out with a bounty on her
head. She
wasn?t sure exactly how badly he wanted her dead, but she knew, in all his
wealth, he?d be able to pay a great deal. Truly, it was nothing less than a
miracle that she had escaped at all.
        She wondered about his motives, how anyone could be so callous and
unfeeling
towards another human being. Ever since she had refused his proposal for
marriage the year before, he had made Serena?s life a great ordeal,
beginning
with the sudden disappearance of her beloved parents.
        She had to get back to her castle, collect whatever things of value
that she
could find, and then flee the country-
        "Ah, I?m glad to see you up and looking alive," an older woman said,
upon
entering the loft. She was the embodiment of the younger woman- or, Serena
thought, the younger woman was the embodiment of her.
        "Here, drink this," she commanded, and shoved the glass to Serena?s
lips.
        "My name is Hepta. That drought will help with the pain. I am a
healer," she
explained, as Serena drank thirstily.
        "My thanks to you for your kindness," Serena said, after the glass
was taken
from her lips. "But I cannot stay here. I am a fugitive-" she stopped, as
the
older woman pulled down the sleeve of her own garment to reveal the Fluer
d?lys perfectly imprinted on her upper arm. Serena gasped.
        "Yes, me too. But I am innocent, as you are." The woman said. "That
is not
why I took you in, however. You were very weak, and my daughter and I feared
you wouldn?t make it through the night. But you have healed well. At any
rate,
you cannot stay here long. The guard have already swept by this house once.
Lita distracted them. But we are close to the borders; it is not likely they
will pass again. You have had quite a run, m?lady."
        "Serena. My name is Serena." she said, still bewildered at all that
was
happening.
        "All right, Serena. You must be on your way. We will give you a
horse for
your journey. Can you ride?"
        Serena nodded, trying to get her bearings.      "I think so," she
answered.
        "Good," Hepta said, smiling. "Follow me."

        Serena carefully climbed down the ladder into the barn. It was
large, as
barns go, but clean and well-maintained. Five stalls lined each side, and a
curious, healthy head stuck out over each door.
        Suddenly the tall girl reappeared, leading a well-built chestnut. He
nickered
upon seeing Serena, and put his head down to nuzzle her hand.
        "His name?s Cabal," the girl said plainly. "And I?m Lita."
        "Ah, hello. I?m Serena," she answered tentatively. She took the
reins from
the girls hands, and too keenly felt the lack of something to offer her in
return.
        "I?m- I?m sorry, but I have nothing-"
        "Don?t worry, dear," said the older woman, reappearing with a soft
bag filled
with provisions. "We know who you are. You do us an honor by being here."
        "Honor?" Serena asked, astonished at the women?s boldness. "I can
assure you,
Madame, that I do you no honor. It is you, rather, who have saved me. What
have I done but brought peril upon your house?"
        They both shook their heads, and this time it was Lita who spoke.
        "Any member of the Royal House is welcome here. Your family has done
wonders
for this land for years. We mourned the death of your parents," she ended,
bowing her head.
        "As did I," Serena said.
        "Well, you had best go now, and quickly!"
        After briefly giving her an idea of how to get back to the castle,
Lita held
Cabal while Serena mounted.
        "He has a strong spirit, so be aware." Lita said, patting the
horse?s neck
affectionately.
        Serena laughed. The horse trotted eagerly and she felt a surge of
the power
beneath her. For the first time in three days she felt an uncanny energy.
Spinning in a circle, she turned back to the barn where they both still
stood.
        "I will not forget this kindness," she called happily. "I thank
you."
        And, after bowing the best she could on horseback, she turned Cabal
in the
direction of home.
*       *       *       *       *       *       *       *       *       *
*       *

Well, I sincerely hope you liked Part 1! Part 2 should be out soon. If you
have any questions, or comments (good AND bad) they would be much
appreciated!
My e-mail address is CAMiraj@aol.com ...it only takes a minute to send mail!
I
really want to know what people think of my stories.
Until then-
                                Aurora Borealis