The Lands of Long were a beautiful place, unharmed by the fires of dragons. It was said that a Blue Maiden came and blessed the lands with fresh water and green grass a long time ago, and whether it was true or not, the springs still danced with crystal clear waters and the winds blew through the moist green grasses.

On a tall, grassy hill, the white walls of the Palace of Long stood proudly. The beauty of it's gardens were said to be the most beautiful of all the Lands of the Dragons, and it's defences just as great.

And here, amid the beds of roses and between the lily filled ponds, is where the story begins...

A girl no older then seven dashed through the garden pathes, looking for someone in particular. Growing frustrated, she carefully grabbed the skirts of her dress (a difficult task with the small box she was holding) and ran towards the lake, cutting through the archery range and getting her slippers wet with morning dew.

"Father, father!" she called as she grew closer. A man who stood staring out at the lake slowly turned to look at her, sillouetted in the rising sun. "I found something!" She drew to a stop when she neared the man, but not fast enough. He reached out and grabbed her before she fell into the lake, chuckling.

"What is it child?" the man asked, kneeling down to her height. The girl grinned at him happily.

"This!" she said, presenting him with the box. It was engraved with silver teardrops. "It was mother's, wasn't it? She loved water!"

"That she did," the man smiled at her sadly. "And that it is... have you opened it?" the girl shook her head, casting a curious glance at the box. He nodded reassuringly, and she opened it.

Inside was a silver and blue tear-shaped stone hanging on a thin, silver chain.

"Wow..." the little girl said in awe, gazing at it lovingly. "It's beautiful..."

"And it's your's," the man took the necklace, and clasped it around the girl's neck. "There... it suits you perfectly... you have your mother's beauty." the girl blushed, and hugged him 'round the neck.

"Father," she said quietly into his ear. "Tell me a story..."

"Which story, m'dear?" he asked, sitting down and looking back out to the sunrise.

"The one about the Blue Maiden," the girl requested. "And how she came here and blessed our lands."

"Ah... the Blue Maiden," the man smiled sadly again in reminise, and pulled away from his daughter to look at her. "Well... once upon a time, as all good stories start, the good King of Long sat out in his garden. His late wife had died, and as much as he missed her, and never wanted to lay eyes on another, he ws required to marry again, until he had a child...

"Thats when he first met the Blue Maiden, in this very spot infact. She walked across these very waters, tiny ripples the only evidence of her trail. She was hurt, and badly bleeding... and in her arms, a child. The good King, his heart of pure intent, took both mother and child into his arms, and brought them back to the palace. He personally cared for the Maiden, keeping a careful eye on the child as well, and as the Maiden grew weaker and weaker, he found his heart grew weaker with her, for once again, he had fallen in love. He did not know this at the time, but he had."

"And the Maiden loved him?" the girl interrupted, causing a true, blissful smile to come to the man's lips.

"Very much so," he said lightly, eyes dancing in morning light. "So much, infact, that with her lasts breathes, she asked to be taken back to this lake, to his very same spot, with her child. The good king did as she asked, and craddled her here as she died. But she still had another request... she asked to be stripped of her clothing, and bathed in the water.

"Now, the king protested at this. 'You skin is so pure and untainted!' said he. 'And well to your scars heal... I cannot let you be dirtied by these tainted waters; just sitting here in this filth is enough to disrespect you.' But the Maiden only smiled, and asked again to be bathed in the waters of the lake, and reluctantly the king did so, pillowing the child in his cloak on the ground.

"The most peculiar thing happened when he lowered her into the lake; she laughed. Laughing, she died, but before she did, she said this: 'You shall raise my daughter, and Kiara you shall call her. You shall live to be known forever as a great king, and forever shall your lands be pure and green if you do this for me... raise my daughting lovingly, and lovingly the lands shall treat you.' Without another word, she fell back into the waters, and as she sank into it's depths, they were cleansed of filth...

"The good king took the child into his arms once again, and called her 'Kiara, Princess of the Lands of Long'. And that is how the Blue Maiden blessed our lands... that is how the Blue Maiden left a mark so deep upon our family."

"And you named me after her," the girl smiled up at her father.

"Yes, Kiara," the man smiled. "You are my little princess, as you shall always be..."