Information


Meliara has a minion!

Astiar the Destrier




Meliara
Legacy Name: Meliara


The Reborn Rreign
Owner: Pureflower

Age: 6 years, 5 months, 3 days

Born: October 15th, 2017

Adopted: 6 years, 5 months, 3 days ago

Adopted: October 15th, 2017


Pet Spotlight Winner
July 22nd, 2020

Statistics


  • Level: 148
     
  • Strength: 197
     
  • Defense: 10
     
  • Speed: 10
     
  • Health: 10
     
  • HP: 10/10
     
  • Intelligence: 314
     
  • Books Read: 291
  • Food Eaten: 0
  • Job: Operative for the Light


Rogue Countess to Warrior Queen

My days as the countess who helped to overthrow a king seem so far behind me now. It's been three years since the Greedy King was dethroned, the Golden Tree (formerly a sorcerer with more ambitions than common sense) still sheds its golden light over state affairs and our daughter has just uttered the spell that will allow her to cast away her diapers and dance with the older children.

The kingdom is thriving through a combination of tax reforms and strong harvest years. I've had enough reports of cabbages and turnips to last me several lifetimes but I would never admit as much, even to Danric. He says I make a splendid queen. Though I have learned much and worked hard to reduce my ignorance, I feel I will never measure up to his example. He is a pillar of light to the people of this land, listening patiently to the same petition thrice and granting each individual that same undivided attention that soothes our son on stormy nights.

I told him as much once and he laughed his gentlest laugh. He kissed me and called me his pillar of light. What I lack in political prowess, I make up for with my magic.

Though I can never be his equal in finesse (and certainly never in swordsmanship) the stubbornness that is in my blood demands that I keep trying. Even so, I do not relish playing the fool.

For the third day now he is trapped in discussions to negotiate new trade routes. I suffered through the first day as royal protocol decrees. I've been working on putting on a mask so that my face will not betray every thought to cross my mind. I'm still not very good. When Yagrasa put forward a proposal that would cut off the trail to the village of Nightdale, I very nearly threw an inkwell at her head. The twitch of Danric's hand and the slight shake of Savona's head brought me to my senses. I asked to be excused in my best court voice.

Nee and Renna find me in the royal quarters, reading the Tale of Three Queens to Viara. Evren lies contentedly in his little basket, cooing and burbling every time I give the edge a nudge with my foot. The ruffles of Renna's play dress poof out in a comical circle as she throws herself at my feet. My niece is fiercely loyal to her little cousins, telling them about her many adventures at home in the mountains. Her tales fill me with a longing to walk barefoot along unmarked trails and let my body sway to the haunting strains of Folk music.

Nee seats herself in a much more graceful manner. "Your brother is a dear but I do wish he'd guard his tongue a little more carefully around our visitors. I fear if Elenet hadn't stepped in to soothe Baron Orgomond's hurt feelings, he really would have demanded a duel right there in the courtyard."

"That does sound like Bran. At least he seems to get on well with the Duke of Aldonia."

Nee smiles. "They share the same tastes in wine and horses. I very much fear he would become a permanent court pest if not for that fabulous stable he's rumored to have."

"Do you think it's true that he has a servant in place for all two hundred and sixty-eight of his horses? Can you even imagine organizing your day around the whims of a horse?"

Viara climbs down, tugging impatiently at Renna's hand. With her usual brilliance in all matters domestic, Mora managed to find us a nanny who is not only versed in all the popular children's tales but who has formal training as a lady's guard. Katani already has Viara working with a practice sword. I have no doubt my daughter will be able to best me by the age of ten. I couldn't be more proud.

Nee notices me watching the children and our talk turns to them. Renna's latest antics involving a striped kitten and a blueberry pie have us both laughing heartily when the messenger arrives.

Her face is ashen and she can barely catch her breath. From her broken words, I gather enough to know that the king must ride at once for the eastern border. I take off running for the courtyard, heedless of my evening gown that will surely wrinkle.

Danric is already in the saddle of his gray. His lips quirk at the sight of me running the full length of the yard, my maids trailing behind like so many cackling geese. He bends to capture my hand in both of his.

"The messenger...she said...dark magic."

"A sorcerer with some minor power. Honestly, the Council of Mages will likely get to him before I can, but two of the northern barons have been taken hostage and he is demanding terms. Thayan rides with me."

This soothes me somewhat. Thayan and his sister Tianni are fully trained mages, welcome additions to our court. They once wandered from one world to the next, acting as enforcers for the Council. Though they assure us often that they have found their forever home among us, I cannot help wondering if one day they will simply vanish with all their fabulous tools of magic, never to be seen again on this world.

I watch the columns slowly riding through the gate. Thayan catches my eye from across the way, wiggling those bushy eyebrows in an impossible manner. My efforts to keep a straight face are for naught. At least I get to see Danric share my smile before he goes out seeking an adventure I'll not share.

Tianni finds me holed up in the royal library. It is that rare hour after Court and before the children wake from their naps, the hour I dedicate to reading.

Perhaps she is secretly as concerned for her brother as I am for my husband. She would never admit to such weakness, either in her words or in the stern set of her face. She runs me through my drills. For a few brief seconds, the stone chamber carved with protective ruins is transformed into a snowy grotto with a frozen waterfall forming a picturesque backdrop. A snap of her fingers lets me know she is content. Illusions are one of the most basic magics, though by no means the least exhausting. My elemental spells are lacking that total control that will allow me to advance to the next level of training. I very nearly melted a wall once with the passion of my fire whip. Vianni has allowed only small fire orbs since that day. My working gown is sweated through and the end of my braid is swinging free when Tianni finally calls a stop.

The next few days fall into their usual routine. I am there to praise Viara's efforts in the training yard. I take an active role in listening to the petitioners and arguing for or against their causes based on the facts set before us. I attend balls and concerts, pretending to enjoy the former and using the latter as my means of escape from my growing worries over Danric. He should have sent word by now, if only to say that he must stay a little longer. I check the summons stone he gave me on our wedding night every hour but its surface remains dark.

Have you ever noticed how that which you await most eagerly comes to pass at the most inconvenient moment?

I've just seen the children to bed and settled in for a long, relaxing bath when the glow of my summons stone banishes all thoughts of myself. I fumble for it, very nearly dropping it in the water. All my relief at seeing Danric's face is lost as I study the worry lines around his eyes. He clearly hasn't slept in days.

"I need you, Mel..."

The image vanishes but the glow does not fade from the stone. I skid the length of the tile floor with my bare feet, very nearly bringing Tianni to the ground. Wordlessly, she holds out the suit of armor I must exchange for my soft robe.

Evading my guard and the ladies that wait on me gives me a thrill. I am reminded of the days of avoiding would-be captors with nothing to sustain me but a few rolls in a picnic basket. Tianni and I ride through mud and rain, stopping only to snatch a few hours of sleep or a mouthful of food.

When we reach the Alna Pass, all is quiet. We find the river town deserted with only a few stray cats and chickens to welcome us. I feel as if my body is tingling, a sure sign that magic is heavy in the air. Tianni is even more affected. All the hairs on her neck stand straight up and she breathes hard.

The peaceful valley is suddenly filled with pressure so intense that we both clutch our heads and curse. It is gone as suddenly as it appeared and we are no longer alone.

His robe is tattered and travel-stained and the hair on his face grows unevenly. One eye is the blue of summer sky and the other is blood red. Tianni's hands clench into fists at the sight of him.

"Croman!"

Tianni has told me stories of this one. Once a classmate and apprentice to a great Wizard of the Council, he was stripped of his rank and robe for experimenting in life magic that has been banished on all life-bearing worlds.

She makes his name a curse but he takes no offense. Bowing at the waste, he snaps his fingers. Thayan and Danric appear, the veil hiding them from our sight lifted with the slightest hand motion. They hover in an enchanted sleep. He is running three powerful spells without even breaking a sweat.

This is not only High Magic, it is magic that should defy the limits of a human body.

"I have much to thank you for, Mistress Tianni. The prison world you abandoned me on has given me insight into the minds of the most desperate of men. That knowledge, paired with the unique resources of this planet, will grant me power such as no world has ever seen."

Tianni barks an attack spell, one she has used to stop the very forces of nature. Croman yawns and utters a counter spell in a lazy drawl. My teacher and friend is taken up in a swirl of colored mist. When she emerges, she has the shape of a swan. She honks what can only be insults, flapping her powerful wings to keep her balance. Croman's laughter is harsh and grating.

"Do not believe for an instant that I would fail to notice the queen who rose from dirt to riches. Your efforts to rise above the rabble are admirable. Join me, Queen Meliara. With your unique connection to the tree spirits, we can unlock the secrets that will allow us to shape the very worlds to our will."

The subtle note of a reed pipe is just within my range of hearing. Croman is staring at me with that look of smug satisfaction that makes it clear he considers the day won. I am short, I can barely swing a sword and my magical skills are only just beginning to develop. Croman is not the first man of great power to disregard my greatest strength. Even with the odds stacked alarmingly against me, I won't give up until I'm dead.

I come up with a smug grin to match his own. "'Tis well enough, your transformative magic, but I have seen petty casters who can do as much. If you were a real master of the craft, you could as easily transform yourself."

An ugly flush creeps from his hairline all the way down to the base of his neck. "There is nothing that I cannot do."

His ego is his weakness. If I survive this, I must write a formal letter of thanks to Tianni.

He goes through a series of transformations at a sickening rate of speed. He is a bolt of lightning, a crab, a thorny bush and a griffin all in the space of a breath. He is halfway between the forms of a lion and a dust devil when the Hill Folk arrive. He snaps back to his own true form.

Dismay registers on his face for half a second before the thrum of ancient magic overpowers whatever defensive spells he has about his person. The tree he becomes is shriveled and stunted. Usually the magic of the Hill Folk produces things of great beauty but in this case, the recipient of their spell was rotten to the core. His branches bend under their own weight, crumpling inward like paper shrinking in on itself as it burns. Not a full minute has passed before his ashes blow away on the wind.

Tianni's long limbs are once again human and our menfolk blink and stir as the sleep spell comes to an end.

Danric rushes to embrace me. We hold each other in silence, simply enjoying the knowledge that we are both safe and that we are together.

Tianni and Thayan vow to go over every inch of our northern border and renew any protective spells Croman may have disrupted.

For one whole week, Danric will be mine and the kingdom may get along without us. It has been far too long since I walked the wild passes and studied the stars.

The endless questions and stacks of work awaiting us are will be worth this little detour. I need only see the love look in Danric's eyes to know that I can handle any challenge, so long as we are together.

credits:

profile + coding by User not found: kenny.
custom cursors from oficinadehtml.
background from pinterest.
fonts: sawarabi mincho and open sans condensed.
Story by Pureflower
Based on character of the same name from Sherwood Smith's novel, Crown Duel.

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Snowy White Medieval Dress

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Gold Ruffled and Bustled Ball Gown

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