Chapter 1:
Dreams and Strangers
A figure sat cloaked by a lake, looking out over the water and dreaming. The land was beautiful and lush, it seemed like any other natural planet, even almost like earth to some. The figure lifted their hands and removed the hood, revealing a beautiful young woman, with blonde hair and blue eyes. She removed her cloak to reveal a white shirt with a brown vest with a pair of deep blue pants. She tossed her cloak to the side and let out a sigh, as a blue bird flew down beside her, she smiled at the little listener and began to talk.
“You know, it’s nice to have someone to listen when I need to talk. I just don’t understand it though. Mother and father are forcing me to marry this rude arrogant jerk! Plus they won’t let me be who I want to be, who I feel inside I need to be. It just doesn’t seem fair.” She said softly.
The little bird chirped up gleefully and hopped up and down at her. The young girl smiled and stood up, moving with a sort of dreamy grace to a tree. The blue bird chirped again and flew up after her, landing on a branch nearby her.
“If I marry I want it to be for love, not because I am forced to. You wanna know a little secret??” she asked with a smile at her little feathered friend. The bird chirped in reply.
“If they knew I was dressed like this, they would have a fit. And if they knew that I have been doing this…”she said with grin on her face, she pointed her finger towards the lake. A sudden burst of yellow sparkles almost dust like appeared and two figures appeared on the lake dancing to what seemed like a waltz. The two figures were outlined in yellow dust. The girl sat there and smiled.
“If they knew I was practicing this they would really have a fit. I can hear it now. ASTER! I TOLD YOU NO MAGIC! I WILL NOT STAND FOR IT HERE!” The girl said giggling. She smiled at the bird who started to sing a beautiful song. Aster smiled, and started to sway from side to side.
She closed her eyes dancing, as the two figures danced on the lake’s surface. Her long blonde hair flowing behind her, she began to hum along with the bird’s song.
“Oh…sometimes I just want to run away, to be free and to find myself. I want to know who I am, why I know magic, when my parents don’t. I want to have adventures and fight for truth. To meet my prince somewhere and fall in love. To be free to be who I am and not what they want me to be.” Aster said as she twirled around.
She stopped and looked out, then reached up and grabbed her hair, pulling it over her shoulder, “I don’t get it, I’ll be 18 years old in four weeks and I haven’t even had the chance to live yet.” She said softly, plopping down on the ground. “I feel like there is someone I am supposed to be, somewhere I am supposed to be. Like I am meant for something more. But I just can’t figure it out.” She said to herself again softly.
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On the other side of the forest a man rode hard through the trees, followed by a group of soldiers behind him. He dashed in and out of the trees, finally getting far enough ahead of them, to where he could duck within a cave. He sat there, watching and waiting as the soldiers rode by. He grinned and ran his hand through his brown hair. His crystal blue eyes glistening with pride. He then reached down and patted his horses neck in appreciation and spoke softly, “Too bad I gotta give ye up boy. But yer just a loaner for this get away. Can’t have those guys catching me. Besides I don’t think I can be gettin ye on the Red Stone.” He said with a smirk on his face. He pushed back a dark green cloak, revealing a pirate outfit. A dark red shirt, black pants, a cutlass on his left hip and a pistol on his right. A dark red bandanna around his black belt. He pulled it out and placed it around his head and got off, walking to the opening of the cave he peeked out, then ducked back in again when he heard the hoof beats of the horses coming back.
“King Bomani will not be happy about this! Raion must be found, before the engagement ball in two weeks! Find that sea dog! I want him in chains!” Shouted one of the men. They rode hard again passed the cave and disappeared out of sight.
Raion leaned back against the wall and smirked looking up, the red bandanna now around his forehead. He looked up at the horse and leaned back up to his feet, taking the reigns in his hands he leaned forward. “Well we better get movin, I know these guys, they won’t be comin back this way any time soon.” He said with a wink. He jumped up on the horses back again and took off in the direction he was heading the first time. Riding through the trees, he took his time, relaxing.
“Ye know, being the cap’n of a pirate ship, isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. Sure it has it’s perks, treasure, looting…the ladies.” He said with grin on his face. “But I be feelin like there is somethin missin. Hey, mind if I tell ye somethin old boy??” He asked the horse, leaning forward.
The horse bobbed his head up and down in acceptance, Raion smirked, “I’m not really a pirate, well I am, but me blood ain’t. I was born into royalty, but me parents were killed a long time ago. I was about five years old when it happened. We were goin to this place, cause somethin was happenin there. I think we were goin to help. I remember this little curly blonde haired girl. She was about two I think. I met her once when she was a baby and then again, just before all that stuff happened. I think, we were supposed to marry one day. Anyways, our ship was attacked by the Himtar and the Cap’n at the time, spared me life. Guess he thought I was somethin special or what not. I heard that family died that day and as for me, well I never got the chance to find out who I was. I became Cap’n sooner than I had hoped. But hey, here’s to danger and adventure!” He said laughing. He rode out of the forest, stopping at the edge, when he saw Aster kneeling down beside the waterside. He sat there and stared at her strangely. Almost awe struck at her beauty.
He reached up slowly and pulled the bandanna off his head, hiding it. If it was one thing he learned it was to be careful who he revealed him self to. “That girl. She’s so beautiful and there’s something strange about her. I feel almost drawn.” He said to him self softly. He hadn’t noticed the two figures dancing on the lake’s surface, he just gently spurred the horse on towards her. He stopped quietly behind her, listening to her speak softly.
“I just want to be free, I hate feeling held down. Sometimes I wonder what is really out there. I want to see the world, to ride among the stars. Most importantly I want to be myself to fall in love.” Aster said looking at the blue bird in front of her. The bird chirped, seeming almost like it was talking to her and agreeing with her. Neither one noticed Raion behind them.
“I know, I know. It’s strange and silly for me to think that way. I’m not being realistic or sensible.” Aster said sounding annoyed by the words.
“I don’t think it’s silly or strange.” Raion said with a smile from behind. Aster jumped up and turned around, she backed up looking at Raion in shock. His manner of speaking switched from his pirate ramble to a more normal way of speaking.
“It’s ok, I won’t hurt you, promise. I’m sorry I scared you. It’s just well…I saw you over here and I was hoping I could find out your name.” Raion said nicely. Aster looked at him strangely. Neither one of them knew who the other was. Raion because he never saw her picture, and Aster because of the same thing, mostly though because she wasn’t allowed in the village and her parents kept her in the dark.
Raion jumped down and grinned at her, “So you going to keep backing away or give me a chance?” he asked her nicely, he reached out his hand to her and waited. Aster looked up at him, something about his look, his eyes caught her attention. Her look softened and relaxed, she looked down at his hand and gently placed hers in it.
“My name is…”Aster thought for a moment and bite her lower lip, then looked at him. “My name is Star.” She said with a smile.
Raion bowed to her and smiled, “An honor to meet you Ms. Star. My name is…Daniel.” he said to her. Aster smiled at him and bowed to him as well.
“It’s a pleasure sir.” Aster said. Neither one wanted to tell each other who they really were. Afraid to give away the secret. Aster’s little magic trick disappeared as soon as Raion surprised her.
“So tell me miss, why is such a beautiful angel such as yourself, out here alone?? You know I heard that Himtar pirate, Brayden “The Raion” is running around here somewhere.” He said grinning at her. Aster took her hand from him and sat down again, acting like she didn’t care.
“Good, I hope he finds me, maybe I can convince him to take me away from here.” She said with a sort of air about her. Raion smirked and move up along side her.
“Now why would you want to go with a pirate?? You look like a well to do girl. Life as a pirate can’t be all that fun.” He said trying to down play it.
Aster looked over at him with a shocked look, “And just what makes you think such things of me?” she asked stunned.
Raion laughed, “Well first off, your cloths and your manner of speaking. That’s not of a peasant girl you know. There’s no way a peasant girl would have nice cloths such as you and talk in such ways. Besides that, your horse tells it all too. A nice steed like that doesn’t belong to any peasants I know of.” He said leaning back on the grass, placing his hands behind his head, making sure his weapons and his bandanna were well hidden.
Aster looked at him in shock, then turned away not caring to look at him. “You wouldn’t understand.” She said softly. Raion raised an eyebrow and rolled over on his side, leaning against his hand.
“Why not try me. Come on, I’m listening. Give me a shot ok?” He pleaded sweetly to her.
“Well your partly right, I am well to do. But I hate it. I hate living like this, I want to be free to be who I am. To see the world and the universe. I don’t want to be tied down, I want adventure and freedom. But most of all, I want to be free to marry who I want. Not be forced into it.” She said looking down. Raion looked at her softly, feeling a strange pain for her. He sat up and gently and carefully placed a hand on her shoulder.
“I’m sorry to hear that. But you know to be honest I have heard it’s not all it’s cracked up to be, you know as a pirate. They’re always being chased and death is waiting around the corner for them all the time.” Raion said softly to.
“Yeah, well to me that’s better than being told how to act, where to go, how to dress, who to be, how to speak, and worst part who to marry. I don’t care about danger anyways. I can defend myself if I have to. You know funny thing is, as hard as my parents have tried to keep me from learning how to fight and other things, I have learned to do it. I’ve just hidden it from them that’s all and I’m pretty good, but I know I could use more work.” She said again. She turned around and found herself starring straight into his eyes. The two sat there and looked at each other, unable to move at first. It almost seemed like time went by in hours, when it didn’t. Finally the two shook their heads and looked away from each other.
“Thank you sir for your ear. You are most kind to listen to the ramblings of a child.” Aster said softly, hiding a smile and her now red face.
“A child you say?” Raion asked curiously.
“Yes, that is right, I am 17 years of age, I shall be 18 in four weeks though. That is when I am to marry.” She said softly. She got up and grabbed her cloak, and walked to her horse.
“I see, well if it matters at all Miss Star, I do not see a child before me, but a most lovely woman.” Raion said, getting up, he dusted himself off and walked over to her and her horse.
“You are most kind sir.” Aster said, softly again.
“Please, call me Daniel, Star?” Raion asked gently, he reached up and turned her gaze towards him, starring into her eyes again.
She nodded in agreement, feeling a strange feeling fall over her. “Then tell me Daniel, do you believe in fate and destiny?” She asked him.
“Strangely enough I do, but if you are referring to us Star. Then I most certainly do.” Raion said gently again.
“I know this will sound strange, but there’s something in your eyes, something almost honest and true about you.” She whispered to him. Raion smiled, then leaned in and gently placed a kiss on her red lips. He pulled away and looked at her, unable to move, almost stuck in the position.
“Then I hope our paths cross again fair lady. May I see you again?” He asked, he couldn’t believe what he was asking. He was the captain of a pirate ship and here he was asking to see this girl, whom he didn’t even know, if he could see her again.
Aster looked around slightly panicked. “I don’t know…I…is there somewhere I can find you?? If my parents knew about you or me coming here, they would have a fit.” She said softly.
He nodded, “If you can come to town dear lady and you need me. Then you can reach me at the Shooting Star Tavern. There is a girl there named, Misty. Give her a message for me, she will deliver it to me. I am afraid I can not come out in the open myself to much either. There are those who don’t like me to much.”
Aster nodded, taking note, “If not me, I shall send one of my servants to do the work. I do hope to meet you again Daniel.”
“As do I, for I fear I may be loosing my heart and if that be the case I would like it back if you can not keep it.” He said with a wink to her and a smile. Aster giggled slightly, she turned around and hoped up onto her horse, Raion helping her. She nodded and lifted her hood over her head.
“Till next we meet Daniel. Be well.” Aster said pulling the reigns back causing the horse to turn.
“Till next we meet Star, be well fair one.” He said to her, bowing before her. He watched her ride off into the forest and starred. Then felt a nudge behind him, he turned around and grinned at the horse.
“Yeah yeah yeah, I know. She is to good for me, she is of noble blood it appears, but hey it’s not like she’s the princess. Besides who says she has to marry this guy??? Maybe I will tell her who I really am and I can take her away from this life she hates so much. Besides, if it’s even possible I think I am falling for her. I feel strangely drawn to her. Weird you could say it’s love at first sight.” He said to the horse, grinning, he then jumped back on and smiled after the direction she rode.
“Come on, we better get back or me crew will be wonderin where I be.” He said, his words taking on that familiar pirate ramble. Then he gave him a swift kick and took off back the way he too came.
