A/N : This tale is really a story about me and my friends, placed in an interesting situation. But it is also a story about learning to accept what life gives you, and the value of true friendship. I had to make a few changes b/c, sadly, Kyae was not good body guard. Sorry Kyae. I love yoooo. J

Part one: Royal Guards

Chapter One: Guard Duty

The Journal of Rianarus

Four Flights old today. Four flights old and still treated as a child. It is not as if my father wants to keep me young, but thanks to the temple laws his hands are tied. He has no choice, but that makes my own situation no easier to face. If I never fly, I will never be able to lead my people as necessary. Never, in all our people's history, has there been a queen who is unable to fly.

The escort went out today, on some errand, I suppose. That’s another thing. My father can not acknowledge my maturity, and so he can not acknowledge my right to know all that goes on in this palace. It isn't as if I am unable to understand what is happening. I am sure too, that I am the only one who does not know what is going on. Everyone else has their wings! Everyone else knows what my own father's plans are! But I can not dwell on that. Not today. Today is my flight day, or would be, if I could fly.

END

Two days later:

I locked my self in today. I want no one to bother me, not when the sky is so blue and I am so miserable. I think that something is happening today, because the servants were exceptionally rushed in their morning cleaning. Not that it matters. I will be the last to know. Always the last to know.

The sky is so beautiful today. I saw a few people flying out there. I wish I could follow.

Instead I'm trapped here on the ground, waiting for something that will never happen. I will never fly.

END

The Rose Palace was set in a secluded valley, high in the mountains. It had no need of walls or battlements, because the ridges that surrounded it were defense enough. There was only one way to reach the palace, and that was to persuade one of the residents to fly you in. The few people who had made it to the palace told grand tales of its rose-colored stone and magnificent surroundings. Because of the citadel's lack of walls, snowcapped mountains and glorious skies were visible from all levels of the Rose Palace. Even more amazing were the people which populated the mountain country. The Wingra Clan was the mightiest of the Winged people, and stalwart in their defense of peace. They were master negotiators, and it was said that before any battle had been fought, one of the Wingra were asked to try and find a way to peace.

Three women stood in the doorway of the Great Hall, believing everything they had heard of the Wingra Clan's home. Beautiful carvings decorated the walls, telling the magnificent history of the Clan. The four women were as different in size and coloring as they were in age. The first, and eldest, was Liri, a shadow elf. Her hair and eyes were the same pale shade of bronze, and though she studied the carvings on the wall, she held herself with a readiness that suggested her mind was not on the pictures. Milarys, the next eldest, had her hair in a neat braid, and her grey eyes studied the hall for niches and places to hide herself, should the need arise. The last woman was not looking at the etchings. Maeran, a silver haired changer, nodded to the Escort who stood stiffly at attention in front of them. "Escort huh?" she murmured to Milarys, "More like guards." Milarys grinned.

The three men stood at stiff attention, long pikes held straight and unwavering as their gazes. From broad shoulders sprouted large, thickly feathered wings, colored in the tan and white bands of the mountain birds.

The door at the other side of the room opened and a tall, darkly colored man stepped in. He was dressed in silver and grey, which accentuated the deep black of his wings. The king looked old, older than he should be, Liri thought. The history on the wall said that he had only taken power five Flights ago. She wondered how much that was in years.

The king stood at the center of the room and motioned them to come closer. With practiced steps the escort walked forward, and the women followed. The three young men bowed deeply to their lord; a few seconds later, the women bowed too, each to varying degrees. Then the guard stepped aside, their duties done.

"Welcome guests." The king greeted them formally, "I trust you found your journey well?" His words were short and clipped, like a speech long practiced. -He holds himself like one long raised in snobbery,- Liri thought disgustedly. -Royals.-

Milarys stepped forward and nodded, as an equal, to the king. "Very well, highness."

"Easy for her to say," Maeran muttered, "When she did not have to fly here herself."

"I am pleased to know that." The monarch seemed preoccupied, and he would meet none of their gazes, especially Milarys'. "I asked you three here because you are the best in your respective trades. My daughter is in need of a guard, and only the best will do. I wish you to accompany her wherever she wishes to travel, and to teach her whatever skills necessary to defend herself. Is this agreeable?"

Milarys spoke up. "How long would this--position--last?"

"For as long as my daughter requires your services. Do you agree?" The king's eyes were dark and deep like the shadows of a forest in moonlight. The light in them was watchful, and Maeran found herself disliking him.

The other two. Unbeknownst to the king, they communicated swiftly.

-Well?- She asked.

-I do not trust him, but if you two stay, then so will I-

-He is a royal, Maeran. Of course he is not to be trusted. But I will stay.-

-Then we are all staying.- Milarys turned back to the king. "We will serve your daughter, highness."

"Very well." There passed a look of a relieved father on the monarch's face, but just as quickly, it was gone. "You have my gratitude. I will send my daughter down." The monarch turned on his heel and swept away. The escort followed.

-Shall we continue this way?-

-Yes. I doubt the king has left us completely alone.- Liri's Voice was gray, emotionless. The only color in it were the brief flashes of bronze which were her signature.

-So what do you think?- Milarys's voice was rich and vibrant, a prism of color masked in shields of crystal. Silver and gold were the predominant colors, along with varying shades of ocean and sky.

Liri spoke again -I don't mind where we work. And guarding a princess can't be that hard, right? I mean she'll probably want to sit around and sew all day and it only takes one of us to keep her company.

Maeran was silent, but she could not keep the dark gray mumblings from seeping out of her thoughts. -I do not trust this place. But I will stay, for as long as it suits me.-

-You are no longer a loner, Maeran. If your going to leave we should know too- Liri quirked an eyebrow. -There should be a reason you . . .-

Her thoughts were cut off by the entrance of another person. At the far end of the hall, an unwinged girl stood watching them. Not girl, Liri hastily amended, after getting a good look, woman. Her face was longer and her eyes held the light of experience, though she still had an innocence about her that made Liri wonder. And, she did not have her wings yet. Maybe she was younger than she seemed.

"Who are you?" she asked, not impolitely. She moved forward as if to confront them. "Are you guests of my father's?"

"Your father?" Maeran spoke up. "You are the princess then?"

The girl/woman nodded her head. "I am. And you are?"

"We have been hired by your father to be your guards." Liri was surprised by the princess's reaction.

"Oh. Well. . . My father. . .I mean. . .I was not informed of this!" The princess frowned. "How can I be sure what you say is true?"

"Why would you suspect us of--" Liri was cut short by Milarys' shout in her mind. -Wait! There is something more here.-

To the princess she said: "You may know I speak the truth, princess. I am a seeker, Milarys, and my father is Eranin." The Princess stiffened--for a seeker to admit her father's name was to leave herself vulnerable to the one who accepted it. It was in the princess' favor that she made no comments of surprise. She retained her composure, and bowed shortly to Milarys. "I thank you then seeker, for trusting me. I apologize for my accusations, but. . ." She looked over her shoulder, "Perhaps this conversation would be better completed in my chambers. If you would follow me." Without turning to see if they followed, she turned towards the staircase and began to climb. The four women trailed behind her, Maeran's feeling of unease deepening. Why all this secretiveness? And why had the princess not been informed of her father's plans? She growled under her breath. -I hate intrigue!-

-So do I.- Liri said. -But Milarys must have read something in the princess, or we would all be out of here by now.-

"This job is not going to be so easy, it seems," Milarys said aloud, and the other two nodded in swift agreement.

The journey to the princess' chambers was long, and as they climbed endless flights of stairs, evidence of servants became less and less. Dust coated the stone walls and darkened the relief. The carvings were all but obscured by the dirt. Liri frowned. Why was the -princess- living up here?

They came to a heavy wooden door. Unlike many of the skillfully carved doors in the lower levels, this one was plain, with only a broken feather pattern around the frame. It looked more like the door to an unused attic than a princess' chamber. The princess inserted a heavy brass key into the lock, and held the door open for her 'guests'. A flight of stairs spiraled up into a deserted tower, dusty and drafty. The four women looked around in awe of the place. Though grimy, the pink stone walls still caught the early afternoon sunlight and a window made of burgundy glass threw rays of red light around the room. At one end of the room there were heavy curtains in place of a wall. The princess pushed the curtains aside, and the sudden daylight made them all blink. The mountains were laid before them in white-cloaked splendor and a Wingra was briefly silhouetted against the pale sky. The princess paused for a moment, looking out over her country, and Liri felt an unexpected pang of regret for the girl. -What must it be like, to be unable to fly?- A quick glance at her companions faces told Liri that they were thinking her thoughts as well.

"Your highness?" The princess turned, shaken out of her reverie.

"I apologize. Please, sit down." She gestured to the bed and the chairs. She herself sat in a strange, bowl shaped cushion-chair. She curled her legs underneath her self, spreading her flowing skirt over her knees. Her pale grey eyes perused them for a moment. Unbeknownst to her, Milarys joined in her thoughts.

- an Elf, a shaper, and a seeker. These are the guards my father hires? They seem trustworthy---at least the Seeker does. The elf's eyes are such a strange color, and the--shaper!- Milarys grinned inwardly, enjoying the candid look at herself and her friends.

The princess was right about Liri's eyes, a pale gold in the sunlight, they were lighter than her braided hair. Her slightly pointed ears accentuated her fine-boned face, and her nose could only be described as stubborn. Her chin had the same obstinate set, but her eyes were soft, and there was kindness in them. Even relaxed in her chair she seemed, tense, as though ready to run or fight. A quiver of arrows rested against her knee, and slim fingers curved around her bow.

Maeran was next to be scrutinized. Long pale hair, almost silver, fluttered in the slight breeze. She slouched in her chair, stretching out her long legs. She had her arms crossed over her chest, and a silver rose hung on a chain about her neck. Her green-blue eyes were half-lidded, and she seemed almost asleep. Curious leather sleeves covered her arms, and Milarys' -felt- the princess wonder.

In contrast, Milarys sat cross-legged on the bed, one long braid of golden hair over her shoulder. Her grey-flecked eyes watched the princess with mild interest, and a smile seemed to dance across her face. She had two knives at her waist, and, the princess correctly suspected, more hidden elsewhere. Behind her open mask, her eyes were dark with mystery.

The princess pulled away from her musings, wondering how long she had been staring at the others. Fortunately, they had not noticed her perusal of them.

"Highness?" the elf leaned forward. "Do you know why your father told you nothing about our coming?"

"What? Oh, no. He said nothing to me. Otherwise I would have been better prepared. . ." The princess gestured at the clutter on the floor. "And please, do not call me highness. I can't stand formality. My name is Rianarus, but just call me Ria."

"I am Liri. This is Maeran and Milarys." The princess--Ria--nodded to all of them in turn.

"Have you brought anything with you? I have two extra rooms, you'll have to share." Ria gestured at the two chambers off to the side of the room. "It is a bit drafty up here, but I have plenty of blankets."

"Why do you live so far from the main part of the castle?" Maeran asked suddenly.

Something flashed in the princess' eyes, but then Ria shrugged. "I like my privacy." Milarys suspected that there was more to the situation than the flippant comment allowed, but she did not press the issue. Yet.

-END-

~Same Day~

So now I have a guard. I wonder if they are supposed to be a flight-day present. Not that my father even seemed to notice. Still, I have learned to take what I get, and be glad for it. It is a good thing that I came down to the hall when I did; my father had told them that I would be coming. Strange (or not so) tha the said nothing to me. I guess he supposes That because I do not have wings I am telepathic.

Its really laughable, the position I am in now. He gives me a grounded guard. . .It is almost as if he is confirming my own thoughts.

He just came to my tower room. M, Ma, and L were settling themselves in the other rooms, which is all for the better, because they probably would not understand what happened anyway. I don't fully understand either. Not a word from him for an entire week and ten he speaks to me as if I know his thoughts. "You settled them in then?" that’s all he said. As soon as I had answered he was gone again, without even a goodbye.

It is night time now. I showed the guard the palace and the surrounding grounds, ad then we all ate dinner. They are a cheerful group, but they still treat me as something fragile. They all seem to know each other already, and that does not help me. I just want to be accepted.

~Ria~