Thursday, November 5, 2009

Peregrination - Chapter 7

CHAPTER 7

After two weeks of recovery, Serena stated everyone well enough to return on their Peregrination.

This time around they went around carefully through out the woods, with Weather and Anneliese as their guide.

"NO! We need to go this way! The land will lead us straight to the desert if we cut through here!" Anneliese said arguing with Weather.

"But if we go that way we will run right into Nettle Thistle nymphs! Do you value your life at ALL?" Weather replied arguing back.

"UGHHH! It will be quicker this way!"

"It will be safer this way!"

"SERENA!!" They yelled in unison.

"What?" Serena said cautiously.

"Which way should we go since your the leader?" Anneliese said, gesturing towards the way she predicted to go.

"Umm, well we want arrive alive don't we? Even if it does take longer." Serena said slowly then blocking herself a ready to attack Anneliese.

"HA! Told you, Annie my friend! This way we go boys!" Bosted Weather as she leaped towards the long way.

Anneliese gave Serena the evil eye for the longest while while traveling..

They approached many challenges during their expedition through the woods, encountering disturbing dryads, of which Bard got hypnotised again, and nearly got lead off by a nymph. It took them 2 weeks to get to edge of the forest, where it meets the desert.

"We made it through the forest, ALIVE. Who knew," Serena said out loud to herself. When entering the forest she had had her doubts about making it through alive, or just backing out completely to go home. But she knew this mission she had to complete, or die trying. However, she would prefer not dying. What is in store for us now? What sort of dangerous will we come upon in the desert? All we know that lives in the desert is the faeries, great wyrms, and the world portal. It's oging to be nearly impossible to find the world portal, even if we do we are going to need a faeries help to navigate through it.

"Serena," Eric asked, interrupting her thoughts.

"Huh, yes? Sorry, I was just trying to organize my thought process for the moment there." Serena said.

"Forgive me for interrupting, but what shall we do now? It seems like we are at a dead end even though we have the whole mass of a never ending desert in front of us."

Serena had yet to consider what to do yet, she thought that at first that they should go quickly to find the mountain, on which, the faeries reside on. Then again, maybe they should visit the Great Wyrms, because they could be useful later on. "Lets camp here tonight, so we can discuss our options."

After the had prepared a meal of plants (that were safe to eat), and everybody had pretended to eat the strange looking salad, except Weather who ate it up. They sat around the small camp fire they had made and started to debate upon what they should do next.

"I think we should go to the Great Wyrms and ask for their aid in combat and their wisdom in other such matters!" Eric stated, Bard agreeing with him.

"We should find the faeries! That way we can go straight to the world portal!" Weather argued.

"Who knows how long it's going to take to find them?" Anneliese replied.

"May I suggest something, my fellow travelers?" Serena said clearing her throat to gain their attention. The group quieted down to listen. Standing up on a rock so the group could see her clearly she said: "We shall go visit the Great Wyrms, that way we can gain their alliance, and possibly they will have an idea where we can find the faeries."

"I Second the notion," Eric stated standing up.

"Me too," Bard said getting up to stand by Eric.

Anneliese also stood up to go stand with the guys. Weather however was still sitting, pondering whether or not to go along with. Slowly she got up, saying: "Only because thats whats everybody is going to do anyway, so I might as well go with it."

Serena smiled, "Atleast we have came to a conclusion, let us depart tomorrow morning. Good night."

~.~

It was a very solemn morning when they set off, not that anyone was mad at each other or anything they were just very tired. The silence of the group seemed very peaceful, so nobody wanted to be the one to break it first. So no one even spoke until lunch time.

"Does anyone have any idea where we are going exactly?" Weather asked, of course she would be the one to break the calm silence. The group looked at each other shrugging, when they turned to stare at Anneliese.

"What?!" Anneliese said, who was in mid bite of her jerky.

"Your suppose to be out navigator! Do you know where we are?" Eric enquired.

"umm, yeah. We are approximately, like..." Anneliese started as she pulled out her map collection. Thumbing through several maps she found the one she needed. Going along the map with her finger she passed the Forbidden Forest, going down along a dark brown area. "We are about an eighth into the desert, so we should be headed near the area where the Great Wyrms inhabit." Anneliese finished, wiping her brow. Whew, she thought, for a moment I thought I had gotten us lost.


The group continued on into the desert, after lunch, everyone started getting tired and grumpy, quibbling was soon to take place.

"UGH! It's so hot!" Serena complained, Anneliese agreeing with her.

"This is the usual weather for me," Said Weather, leaning her head back as to soak in the heat.

"Hey! Remember we live by the ocean so we are use to cooler weather!" Bard said.

"Boo hoo hoo, you wimps! If you can't take a little bit of heat, who do you expect to be amongst the dragons? They are HOT!" Weather laughed.

Oh yeah, Serena thought, I forgot about that. Wyrms, breathe fire. Of course they are gonna be hot.

"Wow, guys you know something?" Weather started, beads of sweat starting to form on her forhead. "It is kinda hot out here.." She said starting to breathe hardly.
Then everybody started to notice it too.

"Wow! Why is the heat even mroe intense than usual?" Eric said as he started sitting on the ground, becoming drowsy with the heat.

"I think I know why," Weather said who also sat down on the hot dirt. "DRAGONS!!!!" She yelled pointing ahead of us. And sure enough there was a dragon, not one but 3 of them!"

There was a reason the dragons were called Great Wyrms, was because the were great! In size that is, they had yet to prove themselfs in wisdom. The smallest of the dragons were atleast the size of 3 elephants. The largest of the group was about 3 times the size of the smallest, so 9 elephants.

As the group drew closer, the heat became nearly unbareable.

"Ugh.." groaned Anneliese, as she started crawling on the ground to become closer. When she started coughing from all the sand.

"We hafta keep going guys!" Eric said as he and Bard took off their shirts which were drenched in sweat.

I hate you, thought Serena over and over in her head, since obviously she was drenched in sweat and couldn't take off her shirt. But that thought soon left her head when she felt something, almost like a cool breaze. She looked around trying to see where it came from, when she saw the dragons blowing cool air onto them allowing them to get closer. Slowly the group got up, they started walking to the wyrms cautiously. When suddenly Serena heard something, but she didn't hear it with her ears, but it was as if it was in her brain.

Why do you come here, Serena, Dauphiness of Oceanus?

Whoa, yep, I'll give them credit for being wise too. How could they know my name? Serena thought staring at the dragons, trying to guess which one said it.

Are you going to answer my question or not? Said the voice again, when out of know where a higher pitched voice came in.
Hey, Marty! Your scaring the kid! Hey sweetheart are you coming to ask what we think your going to ask?

What the-? Serena thought, then she shook that out of her mind, then she thought: Yes, probably.

Well then come with us then, said the friendlier voice.

Okay, thought Serena.

"Hey guys! They want us to follow them!" Serena said guestering to the dragons.

"Are you sure they just don't want to eat us or something?" Weather said, shivering at the thought.

"No! I'm serious! Come on guys!" She finished as she trotted off after the dragons, who were not to mention pretty fast for their vast size.

Peregrination - Chapter 6

Chapter 6

"Serena! Eric!" Anneliese cried as she and Bard ran into the room.

"Oh my gosh, you guys, how did you escape? Are you all right?" Serena asked excitedly as she jumped at them.

"Well once Anneliese was caught, I started cutting off the Scares, a large one attacked me at my leg pulling me off. Thats when she became slightly concious again and cut the rest of the vines off her and came after me. It was terrible! Once we got set free, we followed the blood trail inti the woods, we saw where you had hit your head on a tree root!" Bard finished. Wow, Serena thought. Everybody since the day of this journey has been injured. It's only have been three days! Should we continue on? We have to! Oceanus is depending on us. Plus, how would get back anyway? We have come to far into the forest, plus I'm pretty sure Anneliese isn't quite sure where we are.

"Serena," Anneliese said. Serena shook out of her thought process to turn her attention to their guide.

"Yes?"

"Are we going to continue on? I thought I knew where we were going, but the forest is constantly changing so its hard to mark."

"Yes, we must. Tarigot is counting on us." Serena replied.

Anneliese bowed and went back into a different chamber, with Bard tagging behind. Eric started to stir, then his eyes popped wide open.

"WHERE AM I??!" He said sitting up, then falling back down on his bed again in pain.

"Oh no he popped his stiches!" Weather cried running over to put them back in.

"What happened?" Eric asked painfully, squiming from the new stiches Weather was sewing in.

"You were lead by a nymph into the Scares where you were attacked, and luckily i was there and i got you back to the dug out." Weather replied.

"What about the others?! Bard, Anneliese, and Serena?"

"We are fine!" Serena said as she walked over to where Eric was laying. "A nymph that disguised itself to look like you lead us into the Scares pit! We were all attacked, Annliese and Bard not quite so much. We are all fine."

"Those scars on your face.. did those plants did that to you?" Eric asked.

Scars? On my face? Serena hadn't even looked in a year in the past week, much less today. She ran over to a small piece of mirror and saw all these smal white scars that covered one side of her face. She gasped.

"The vines got a hold of your face, when you hit your head leaving an open wound. They would have attacked your brain if we hadn't gotten there on time."

"These scars will go away won't they?" Serena said checking herself for any new scars she seemed to miss.

"No, scars that from the Scares, stay forever. Thats how the Scares got their name. I'm sorry to say but you seem to have a lot of them. Especially on your back, leg, and face." Jareth said melancholy.

Forever scared. These scars will be a constant reminder of what had happen to all these people. Because of my urge of this peregrination. Serena thought blaming herself. Weather came up to her saying, "Don't worry though! They will fade away on you eventually, leaving just tiny lines!" Trying to cheer her up.

"It's not me, it's them now they are scare too!"

"Serena," Eric started as he tried sitting up once more. "it's okay! Really! Besides the scars make me look more dangerous don't you think?" He continued showing off his arms, where large white scars stood out amongst his tan skin.

"I shouldn't have forced ya'll to come with me!" Serena said her face turning as white as the fading scars on her face.

"You didn't force us!" Bard said butting in.

"We came on out own will, because you know I wouldn't have come if I didn't want too." Anneliese said. "And honestly, Serena, in the beginning I was coming only because of me because my father had me betrothed to an old duke and I didn't want to marry him, so I came along on this journey to get away from it all. I think we all did, and we would have never thought about coming if you hadn't came in and made it happen." She said finishing.

Serena sat down on her cot thinking about what has all been said. Then replied, "As soon as everyone has recovered fully we shall set off again, no matter what sorts of carnivorous plants we come upon." Serena said laughing at the thought of being eaten by a plant.

"And I," The pixie like voice jumped in, "am coming with you! What if you guys DO get into another sticky situation like that? Who is going to get you out other than me? I know these woods better than anybody (except Jareth of course) and have lived here for 2000 years!"

Serena started to object, but new it was no use. Who has ever been able to change a pixies mind?

Peregrination - Chapter 5

Chapter 5

They started through the oddly colored clearing that was tinted a gray green color. It looked like it was almost moving by itself.
'Hey are you sure you know where we are going, Eric? This is not the time to be playing games man!" Bard said as his feet started sticking to the ground.
"Of course I know what I'm doing," Eric replied in a raspy voice.
"Wait a second," started Anneliese "THATS NOT ERIC!" She shouted. What was supposedly suppose to be Eric started turning a light green color, his eyes turning red. His hair basically a patch of green leaves.
"It's a nymph! He is portraying Eric! What have you done with him?" Serena shouted pulling out her sword.
"He is in a better place," The nymph smirked as her disappeared amongst the brush at the sides of the clearing. Once he disappeared, something was happening. The ground started moving.
"What's happening?!" Screamed Anneliese as she fell over into the viney ground. But they were soon to find out.
These gray green vines started popping out of the ground attacking Serena. It grabbed onto her leg, thorns popping out of the vine as it attached it self to the skin on her leg and started crawling up underneath. All the was understood was the screaming of torture. The horses had been long gone by now, having only been nymphs betraying them. Bard went after the vine that had attaclked Serena trying to pull it out. But Serena knew better, taking out a dagger on her belt she cut open the skin where one could see the vine was. Blood spilled out everywhere as she pulled it out in agony. She also had to slice off a vine that had attacked her arm and was pulling her down.
"Guys cut open there areas the vine has affected you!" Serena said frantically tossing a dagger to Bard who was furiously attacking the vine that had attacked itself to his leg. Serena limped over to Anneliese, helpless with 5 vines feeding off of her. Taking her sword she steadily cut open the areas where the vines were on her. Anneliese screamed and fainted at the site of all the blood and horror of it all. Bard, finally freed came over to help Serena with Anneliese. When Serena was suddenly dragged off into the brush area by a large particularly thorny vine. Screaming as she was dragged into the woods. Bard got up to help but Anneliese started going under so he stayed to help her wake up and bandage her wounds.

Serena screaming soon came to a stop when she got in hit in the head while being dragged by a tree root that was pertruding from the ground. All went black. When she became concious again she didn't know where she was. All she could see was dirt. Dirt everywhere. She tried standing up but she was to weak from the loss of blood. Then she heard a grackly voice saying: "Lay Down, everybody is weezy and worn after being attacked by the Scares."

"What-?" She started but then she fell back into sleep. She woke up soon after feeling sore, but then a sharp pain on her back where the main vine that had dragged her off attached itself and took her off. "What the heck happened?" Saying outloud to herself.

"You were attacked by Scares," said a light friendly voice.

"Who are you? Where am I?" Serena said, sitting up and looking around when she saw Eric. The REAL Eric laying on a cot across the room from her.

"Eric!" She exclamed while attempting to get out of bed. She couldnt because of the pain. Laying back down she asked out loud: "What were those terrible things you called 'Scares'?"

The pixie like voice answered again: "Scares, are a type carnivorous plant that attach themselves to a warm blooded animal and goes underneath the skin, hitting the blood stream, traveling up it into the brain to attack the main nerve system so to prey will be easier to eat. Nasty things arent they? Your lucky that your a half breed of a faerie, or you would have never survived. The last one had attached its self on your back and wrapped itself around your vertabrae."

"Faerie? I'm not part faerie! I'm Serena Starfire, Dauphiness of Oceanus, of the European region, daughter to King Garmon and Queen Lesiel."

"How long has it been since you've seen your mother?" Asked the grackly voice from earlier.

"I havent seen her since i was 4. She..umm.. disappeared of some sorts."

"Well I guess thats something your gonna hafta learn on your own."

"Hows Eric? DId those Scares get him?"

"Sadly yes, but you were worse off then him. He was tricked into that area by a nymph. But we were able to retreave him." Said a pixie like girl with bright orange hair that was but in all layers.

"Whoa, what are you?" Serena asked staring at her.

"I'm Weather, I'm a nature magician."

"I thought they quit taking apprentices a long time ago?!"

"What are talking about man! We are the original nature magicians!"

"OH my word, your a pixie! Thats why you look so young!"

"Cha!" Weather said taking a small leap to Serena.

"Your lucky that we got your friend here before another Scare got to him! He was partly dead when we got him!"

"WAIT! What about my other friends? Bard and Anneliese?! they were attacked too!" Serena said standing up then screaming as she layed back down again.

"Chill, they are in a different chamber in the Underground right now taking care of the horses. They werent attacked as much by the Scares as you guys were."

Serena let out a sigh of relief. Eric started mumbling something in the cot across the room.

Serena attempted one more time to get up.. surprisingly successfully. "How am I able to do this now? I wasn't able to earlier!"

"Because you are part faerie, you were able to heal easily!" Weather said as she was putting a sauve on Erics wounds.

"I'm not part faerie! It can't be. My dad is a normal humam, as so was my mother..." Serena said pondering the thought..

"Ah, your thinking about it hard now!" Said a old man with a long white dirty beard.

"Theres a chances she was part (gulp) faerie?" Serena asked the older man.

"Ah I see that you can figure things out fast," The man replied. "My name is Jareth, and I'm the nature magician master."

Serena looked at the scragally bearded man, she thought she had recognized his voice, but she just didn't know where from. Then suddenly it hit her, "You use to be part of my father's court weren't you? You helped Oceanus keep all the aquatic animals in line! But soon after the disappearance of the stones you disappeared also, like my mother..." She finished fading off. The Man nodded as he walked off to small cupboard and started grabbing some strang looking ingrediants.

"Yes I did leave the court, part faerie's cannot stay in one place for very long with out the precense of the stones. We actually live off the stones, basically, but if they aren't there we hafta go back to the mountain where we live orginally."

"Wait, if I'm part faerie how come I don't have the urge to go to this 'mountain'?" Serena said jumping up nearly hitting her head on the dirt ceiling.

"You just happen to have the tiniest drop of faerie blood, allowing you to live amongst the humans and faeries, which is rare." Jareth answered as he added some special looking spices onto Eric's wounds.

Serena pondered back and forth, her thoughts all scrambled as she tried to sort things out. My mother was part faerie? How is it possible? Why didn't my father tell me? Did he even know? She sat back down on the bed and soon fell asleep, he brain in overdrive.

Peregrination - Chapter 4

CHAPTER 4

The Forbidden Forest looks innocent when on the outside, but once you enter you can see the evil coming out of the trees. The Coppice Sophia Stone, had made all the trees, nymphs, dryads, and carnivorous plants live with each other in unity. That was when the elfs still lived in the forest. When the stone was stolen, the elfs moved out forseeing that nothing good was coming out. The spores in the poisons plants would never reach any living animal or human when the stone was still there, but now everyone was dying from ailments caused from the plants. To each person his own soundtrack came from the forest, to some it would be loud noisy and awful, to others it would be silent.

There are three stages to the Forest, one, was you had to get through the nymphs and dryads domain; two, you had to get through carnivorous plants; three, you had to get through the area where there were quick sand and trap doors into vine plants where one would suffocate and die. Our group was about to now enter the nymph dryad's area.

Everyone felt there presence of something.. not of their species when they got deeper into woods. The whispers of the nymphs whispering sent chills down the veratbraes. Every single crack or snap of a twig left them on the edge of their sattles, they were all holding on tightly to their weapons, like they would help. Dryads that one could barely see unless one would look for them were hoping around from tree to tree, glaring at strangers with their evil yellow eyes.

Hisssss......
They sound came over from a large willow tree where a old gray dryad was sitting underneath it. The dryad nodded toward them to come closer.

Beware! You should have never entered these woods! the dryad whispered.

"We had to come."

I know, I know and I knew everything.

The whole group sucked in there breathe, when suddenly Serena felt something grab her arm and pull her into a tree. Screaming as loud as she could, but for some reason known of the company could hear her. Then thats when it dawned on her, that the yellows eyes of the dryad hypnotized them.

"HEY GUYS! Look over here! ugh-!" She shouted as she was being pulled farther and harder against the tree. "GUYS!!" She kicked a stone towards Eric which hit him on his head making him flinch shouting "OUCH! What the heck was that for?" Then he turned aroundn seeing the situation Serena was in. "GAHH!" He said as he jousted the tree with his sword, dropping Serena from the tree.

"Are you okay?!" Eric asked urgently. "Don't worry about me! Get Bard and Anneliese! Watch out for the dryads eyes they hypnotize people so they can become dinner!"

Taking a large rock Serena threw it over towards the dryad who turned on her and was charging at Serena when she stopped, because she couldn't go any farther because the shadow of the tree was as far as a dryad could go. "Hurry get them over here!" Eric started dragging Bard as Serena grabbed onto Anneliese.

You will never make it out of the forest alive!! The dryad said as she disappeared into the willow tree.

"whoa what happened?" Asked Bard as he shook his head trying to get out of the daze. Anneliese took a little bit longer to rouse out of hypnotise.

Once she arose from the coma like hynotise, which took awhile since she had already had dramatic shock from earlier that day from the griffin. But once she got up she as ready to do anything. She understood that she had to get as far away from the tree as possible. Scurrying over to where the rest of the quartet was standing.
"What happened?" She asked panting, her face pale white.
"You were hypnotised by the elder dryads eyes." Said Serena who was panting heavily.
"Wait where did Eric disappear too?" She asked looking around. No one noticed his a disappearance when he came out of know where leading the horses that had fled when the dryad appeared.
"Oh there you are! Thank goodness you got the horses before something else did." Serena said thanking him.
"No problem," he said wearily. He was acting very tired and strange, but that was probably because of all that has happened in the last 5 hours. "Shall we continue on? When catching the horses i saw a path though there that looked safe." Eric said pointing through a clearing.
"Brilliant! That would be perfect! On ward company! We need to get through this forest so we can camp for the night. It would be dangerous to do it in the woods." Serena noted as they set off once again, with not quite so much as a bounce in their step as before.

Monday, November 2, 2009

Peregrination - Chapter 3

This chapter is a short one. I'll probably add onto it in December when we edit. :D Enjoy!
~M
CHAPTER 3

There was a cold silence through must of the ride through out the fields to the forest with, of course, the occasional mumbling of "what have i got myself into?" or "ohh geez". But other than that they were silent. They crossed 2 small streams, one of which Blastride was scared to cross, mkaing him buck, and Eric getting all wet. But that was there one and only humor relief of the day, because after that things went down hill. When setting out the land scape and deciding where to go Anneliese forgot about one important thing to look into: the creatures that live and protect the forest. Her mistake was about to become very prominant when suddenly-

"Oh my gosh, what was that-?" Serena said looking around, there had been a large shadow that had passed of the quartet. The hair on her neck now standing.

"Thats probably nothing, just a cloud..." Bard started "that was moving pretty fast." He finished gulping thinking of all the worse things in the world it could possibly be.

"Or it could be a GRIFFIN!!!" Cried out Eric as Blastride came down recognizing danger, he started to buck. The group scattered about trying to get away from the griffin that was swooping down amongst them. Serena dodged the griffins claws just as it started heading to, Sereward Anneliese.

NO! Serena thinking quickly jumped off Spinnweather heading toward Anneliese who was on the ground curled up trying to protect her self from the griffin that was picking at her. Taking her sword, Serena stabbed the griffin taking off a talon. The griffin screeched backing off of Anneliese who was now covered in blood. Both hers and the griffins. Serena ran toward a windbreak, knowing the griffin wouldn't be able to get under the trees. Screeching the griffin was slwoing down because of blood loss. When Serena turned around with sword in stab position running full blast at the now landed griffin. She stabbed it, but only hard enough to wound it, but not kill it. The griffin laid there breathing heavily. Going up to the griffins head Serena looked at him saying: "You foul pitiful beast! Why doesth thou attack innocent people?" The griffin replied through telekinisis, "It has been my duty for many years to protect anyone from going into the Forbidden Forest, because of all the dangerous that lie there. When the Coppice stone disappeared the dryads and nymphs, including all the plants with any source of life started to over run the forest trails, where it was unsafe for anyone to get even close." Serena bowed her head as she kneeled all the way down to the griffin. "It is our mission to retrieve the Sophia Stones, and it requires us to go through there. Will you please allow us to pass?" The griffin closed his eyes as if to sleep and replied: "You may go ahead, but I must warn you, you will most likely not com out alive. Dauphiness, I am old in my years, will you do me a favor?" Serena leaned closer to listen. "remember me as Euphraim, protector of the Forbidden Forest, King of the Skies." Serena knodded silently, then said: "I will remember you, and we shall hold you a place of honor in the kingdom, Oceanus." Euphraim smiled as he laid down his head and fell into a deep sleep that he would never wake up from.

Serena returned to the group mourning the griffin.
"Well did you get rid of him," Anneliese asked nursing her arm where the griffins talons had cut her.

"He died, but he will be remembered in the Oceanus kingdom for eternity."

Questions popped up on the others faces. "He was the forest guardian protecting us from what was inside." Then suddenly they understood. They took a moment of silence before entering on into the woods.

Peregrination - Chapter 2

Hey guys! As most of my readers know, nanowrimo started sunday! Well I have been writing furiously since. :) For fun and so I can know what people think about how my book is going I'll be posting chapters on this blog. I have also put them in Notes on Facebook, but not everyone has a facebook, or pays attention to my notes on facebook. More later!
~M

CHAPTER 2

Trumpets blared signaling the bridge to come down to allow visitors into the castle.'Well here goes nothing.' Thought Serena. The Lady Anneliese had arrived. Serena was about to approach her about having her accompaning her on the journey. Anneliese was hard to break down, but eventually one could get her to do something if there was something for her to gain. One might ask, why would one want to have her part of this expedition if she was useless? But indeed she was not useless. She was one of the fortunate of those on the monarchy that was tutored by an elf. An Elfen tutor specialized in all languages and landscape. Making Anneliese quite useful when coming upon different areas that have been unexplored for many a long time.

A large black carrige pulled by Kelpies came into the courtyard. Serena who had been hiding in a secret cubboard in her chambers had finally came out to great her guest, and hopefully future expeditioner. Anneliese stepped out of the carrige with the assistance of a footman. Her long black hair was braided and twisted into a knot that was set on the back of her head. She was wearing a dark red dress w/ black trimmings.

"Dauphiness Serena," Anneliese said as she curtsied.

"Lady Anneliese," Serena said as she forced a smile, giving Anneliese a nod to get up.

"I Thank you for inviting me to your lovely castle!" Anneliese started as she and Serena started walking into the formal hall. "But do tell, there are rumors going around that you are leaving soon to search for the Sophia Stones. Fact or crap?"

"I can honestly say this is true." Serena said trying not to trip over the dress she was wearing.

"Interesting.. I'm guessing you had called me here to join you? Because of my knowledge in languages and land scape I'm a guessing?"

"Sheesh, you read my mind!" Serena said casually laughing. "Well.." Serema started up again. "will you consider joining?"

"If you must know," Anneliese started.

"Yes?"

"I have already came packed. Of course I shall join you! BUT"

Serena groaned.. of course there is but, there always is with Anneliese.

"I want credit for finding the Sophia Stones. Oh and I want to be there as an equal, not just a sidekick."

Serena innerly sighed. "Yes! Of course."

Anneliese smiled. "So when do we start?"

~.~

"WHOA!!" Eric cried as he was thrown off Blastride, the horse. Groaning he stood up, dusted himself off and was about to get back on when Bard came riding up behind him laughing.

"Ha ha! You make me laugh trying to attempt to ride that hardly broken in horse! Doesth thee want to die before this expedition?"

"Atleast i was brave enough to choose a challenge, not being safe with an old croon." Eric said smriking back.

"Pssh. Whatever," Bard said loping off towards the other side of the stable, calling it a day.

"Come on Blastride, you know I will be able to ride you properly by the next full moon! I won't let you get to me. Nothing ever has, and nothing ever will." Eric said hoping back onto the horse. "OKay lets try this again. YAH!"

~.~

With all the preparing it took the foursome thought that the day would never come when they are to set off. However when it did. It seemed like it had came in no time. Serena had been waiting for this day, but when they all gathered for them to start off she felt like there was something missing but didn't know what it was.

"Well guys today is the day we leave to retrieve the Sophia Stones!" Serena said with sigh. Some start off speach.. not exactly what she was going for. Not quite so encouraging. "Lets head off!" She tried saying cheerfully not succeeding.

"Which way Anneliese?"

"Through the woods would be best, since it goes straight through to Taroole."

"OH YES, right through the FORBIDDEN WOODS! There is a reason why they are FORBIDDEN ya know!" Bard said smartly.

"Shut up, child. I know what I'm talking about. Even if you are part elf, that doesn't mean you have the brains of one." Anneliese replied smirking.

"Man, you just got BURNED!!" Eric said laughing nearly falling off Blastride which had taken forever for him to get on her.

"We are going through the woods then," Serena stated heading into them. The others falling quickly behind. They had know idea what was about to unfold before them and the dangerous that were in store.

Peregrination - Chapter 1

No one knew what sort of power the three stones contained. Except possibly the faeries. However, even they didnt know the Sophia stones power's extent. What made these stones unique was the fact that they actually learned, allowing them to acquire unlimited power. By studying their opponents weaknesses and strong points, they weren't defeated easily. Oceanus, the blue powered stone, protected the European region, which was mainly surrounded by water. It kept mermaids, water nymphs, tsunami's, hurricanes, and other aquatic disastears from destroying the kingdom. Coppice, the green powered stone, protected the Oriental region, which was located in the middle of the great forest. It protected its people from evil dryads, plants, and animals. Lastly, the red power stone, Pyro. It protected the mountains in the Indian region. Preventing volcanos from eurpting, and goblins attacking the Dwarves and their mines. Those three regions together made up most of the world of Tarigot. However, there was one piece a land that wasn't appointed to any of these regions and that was the Taroole Desert. Nothing protected the desert because there was nothing there to protect. The only reason one would want the power of it was because of the secrets it contains and of the World Portal. Great Wyrms, Faeries, and the Enchantress were the only ones brave enough to live there. The Enchantress, lived in the world portal, but not by choice. She was stuck there. It was the punishment for stealing the stones, Coppice and Pyro. However because she was sent there, there was no way to get the stones back. So now Oceanus, was trying to protect Tarigot on its own, but was starting to fade with out being able to be connected to the other Sophia stones.

CHAPTER ONE

Serena Starfire, Dauphiness of the European region, protected by the quickly fading Oceanus, of the Sophia Stones, was tired of all chaos and havoc that was going on. Not only was the Asia and India regions affected by the disappearance of the Sophis Stones, Coppice and Pyro, but now was the European region. The hurricanes were getting worse and the sea predators were becoming more verocious, not allowing even the most experienced sailors to go out onto the seas.

With out the stones, keeping unity in Tarigot was nearly impossible. War has been going on, through out the whole land. Many wounded, even more killed. Even her own father on his near death bed. That was when she couldn't take it anymore, when she saw her father come in on stretcher with half his body covered in blood. From then on she vowed to herself she would find a way to make peace through out the kingdom. Now, 8 years later, at the age of 17, she decided it was the time.

"Father, I am going on a journey to retrieve the Sophia Stones and there is nothing you can do about it." Serena stated boldy when she bursted into her fathers chambers.

"Serena-! Are you mad? Have you been taken by a fever of some sort?" Said King Garmon, sitting up in bed, his face full of pain.

"No I have not! As soon as I'm able I will be departing to the desert."

"TAROOLE? No there is know way I'm going to allow it!"

"What are you going to do about it? All you do is lay here all day doing nothing!"

"You know if I could be out there on the front lines I would be! but I'm physically not able too!"

"Please- I honestly want to do this! I will take upon myself full responsibilty for this expedition."

"BUT-"

"I will let you know when I shall depart." Serena said exiting the chambers. Usually she would be more respectful of elders, especially her father. When her mom had disappeared all those years ago she had grown up amongst the Parliament. That made her strong and hardwilled.

She ran out into the courtyards where the knights were recruiting new young men to become knights and soldiers. All the young "men" were merely boys.

"Sir Laurie, I am in need of your assistances!"

A man about 6 1/2 tall turned around, he was balding with a fiery orange beard.

"How can I asist thee, Dauphiness?" Sir Laurie replied bowing.

"I need two young knights, as quickly as possible if you please."

"All our knights are in battle right now, however there is some of our knights in training. What do you need with them?"

" Peregrination. I'm off to Taroole's world portal."

"Dauphiness! If you please, that is unsafe!"

"Of course it is you imbecile, I need two knights... how well have these knights in training done?"

"They are the top in their class, ma'am." He said as he turned around and called out to two young men practicing their swordplay. "This here is Bard, he is a half breed, part elf, he has had 2 years of training and has succesfully came to the top of the jousting class. Now this here is Eric, he has a family history with faeries, that might come in use if you travel into the desert."

"Excellent, boys please come with me." Serena said as she turned and walked off nodding towards the stables.

Bard and Eric looked at Sir Laurie, who jestered them forward, then looking at each other shrugging they ran off after Serena.

"Excuse me-, erm Princess?" Bard panted as they caught up with.

"You shall address me as Dauphiness or Serena.. none of this princess crap. Please and thank you." Serena spit as she entered the stables.

"Well then.. Excuse me,.. serena?"

Sighing Serena turned around eyeing Bard. "Yes-?"

"What exactly are we needed for?"

"Peregrination. We are heading to Taroole's world portal. Eric- is it not?" She asked Eric who was catching up to them.

"Yeah.. (breathes) it's Eric." Leaning over trying to catch his breath while talk at the same time, unsuccessfully I might add.

"Well, Eric here is going to help us find the faeries's mountain. They are the only one's who know where the world portal is located and with Eric here," nodding to Eric. "Is going to help us. Because only those who have actually seen faeries or are one can find the mountain. Got it Bardy oh boy?"

"umm-yeah?"

"Good. Now I'll need both of you to be ready to set of this coming fortnight. By then my female companion will have arrived. Also you guys are gonna need horses. Jame's will help you find some that you may like." Serena said as she walked away to her horses stall.
~.~
"Spinnweather!" Serena cried as she went up to her horse. Spinnweather was a gift from her father on her 10th birthday. He was a knabstrup horse, that basically looked like a dalmation but in horse form.

"How would you like some sugar cubes? I know their your favorite!" She said putting her hand out which was filled with sugar cubes that she had snatched from the kitchen earlier that day. Spinnweather whinnied taking the cubes gratefully.

"Are you ready to go on a long trip? It's not going to be pretty, but it will help Tarigot." Serena said suddenly becoming quiet.. She said farewell to Spinnweather, then left lugubrious heading back to her chambers to ready herself.
~.~

Eric and Bard looked at each other shrugging.
"Well atleast we dont hafta stay and do trainging for awhile.. how long do you think this is gonna last?" Asked Bard.

"I don't know.. I have a bad feeling about this. But atleast I can get out of fighting in this pathetic war."

"My friend that is the truest thing I have heard all day." Bard said walking off toward one of the stable hands..
"Excuse me? Are you James? Dauphiness Serena said we were to talk to James about getting us a couple steeds for this Peregrination she keeps talking about."

"Yes I am he. Hmm I believe I have the 2 perfect horses for you. Your both knights in training am I right?"

"Yes sir" Replied Eric.

"Excellent, come this way." James walked off towards the arena. "Over here we have newly broken horses that might suit your taste. Pick one anyone!"

"Brilliant!" Bard said as he trotted down to a pinto horse. Eric stood there for a moment looking around.

"How about that black horse over there?"

"OH WOW.. hmm well if you really want him. He is our newly 'almost' broke horses." James said hesitantly.

"Yes, i'm positive." Eric said firmly, yet thoughtfully. As a young child his father always had put him down saying he needed to be a man and try to do hard things. Eric grew up the youngest of 4 sons. When he ran away from home he came to the castle hoping to become a knight. At first they rejected him because he was to young and scrawny. However, King Garmon had allowed him to live at the castle with the other pages and squires until he had been old enough. Now he felt that it was his duty to go on this expedition with the Kings daughter
.