Their Lady's Return

[sky]

ooc: continued from Falling White
fyi... though this thread does not begin in Denenvera, it will move there.... hence, my placement

bic:

… In his heart, he was elated to be returning home; even more so to be doing so with Aeolian, Wind’s beautiful leader and Airos’s blessed one.

All in the nation will rejoice upon your return. They already welcome you home.

The land beneath their wings raced past as they soared coming ever closer to home. Sculpted as were by a rough but guided hand, the landscape below looked both wild and appropriate all the same. Mountain ranges jutted from the earth creating safe havens for both feathered dragon and miscreant alike. Providing shelter from the elements and protection from predators, the high mountains had become the perfect home to numerous races for countless generations. Still as magnificent as the height these peaks bragged, they were humbled by the amazing height as boasted by the city of Denenvera.

Light from the sun gleamed nearly perfectly over those in flight. As they played with the landscape below, rays of light played upon glistened wings. Feathered, fur, and whiskers all flowed with the air currents in flight almost as if they tried to hold onto the fleeting breezes. Despite his blue hue, Caelum appeared near white against a blue sky with dabbled cloud-covering. His crystal sapphire eye shifted from the sky ahead to the lady beside.

I hope I prove to be worthy of your trust, my lady, even after I guide you to Denenvera. He had a duty to protect, but even more so, he anticipated passing his knowledge to her. However, it was ultimately her choice as to her teachers. Unwise is the choice of distrust, after all.

Caelum worked to fill the flight with conversation. He wanted to know her. He wanted her to know him. He wanted her to know what she desired to know.

Do you have any questions? About the nation? About Denenvera? Its people? Anything you wish to know? I will answer to the best of my knowledge, I promise, my lady.

[Lady Aeolian Kilith]

Shall we go, then?
Her company turned to go. Aeolian watched for a moment as his shape slithered through the sky as if he were some visible stream of air, as if he were a piece of it. She sighed.
He should have been Lord, not me.
Not sparing a final look to her friend below --she feared finding what sorrows she might have left below-- she followed her escourt sliding along helpful breezes parading in celebration.

Lands sped beneath them and soon the sea of leafy green began to grow thin and mountainous scapes grew to the heavens. Things began to look more like home, more like the village she'd left behind and the corners she used to haunt when in need of silence, to be away from those that threw words that scarred more than stone.
Aeolian closed her eyes as she flew, glad for the stretching silence and trusting in the wind to keep her close to the anonymous feathered dragon.
How am I supposed to do this? I've never been anyone before... so why should I be someone now?

My name is Caelum Gladius, my Lady. I am truly honored to soar with you.
Again he broke into her thoughts, a full voice of restrained strength and vibrating elation rising and falling in her mind with each word.
"Caelum Gladius..."
Aeolian whispered to no one as if to taste him name, to find reassurance in his freely given namesake. Crystal grey eyes shining almost silver wandered along the snake-like body. Flying a few lengths behind him, so his brilliant eye could not truly spy her, she studied the patterns of his turquoise mane as it bathed and threaded along the seam of his back.

All in the nation will rejoice upon your return. They already welcome you home.
Her eyes dropped away to watch herself twist her figners amongst each other; powerful peaks, aged and jagged alike, rached past behind her vision, a blurr of browns, whites, greys, and speckled green. Reality tugged at her insides, but as she moved to voice those insecurities, Caelum's voice filled her mind again.
I hope I prove to be worthy of your trust, my lady, even after I guide you to Denenvera.
He was trying so hard, Aeolian could feel, to make her comfortable. He seemed... so excited to be with her, a stranger until only hours ago. She couldn't help but feel she was not what he expected of her.

Do you have any questions? About the nation? About Denenvera? Its people? Anything you wish to know? I will answer to the best of my knowledge, I promise, my lady.

Silence. Aeolian let the sound of the beating of her wings fill her ears. It was so much, almost too much, for her, all at once. She needed... peace, or she'd break, right there in the sky. So for a time, she just listened to naught but the wind and slowly... it began to sing. Small tendrils weaved a melody, gusts greated a harmony, all following the rhythem of her beating wings. The song, Aeolian believed to only be within her mind, a trick her head created to calm her for she'd heard it only twice before, but it whistled and hummed even for Caelum to hear. It was as if a little voice found her, swimming though the skies, and was telling her, Everything will be alright. You will do us proud. The wind was all she'd ever had...

Opening her eyes, grey had subsided, only partially, to the blue flecks so the gaze that found Caelum's sapphire eye seemed to be jewels of unheard of color. In some light her eyes were the same shine of crystal grey, in others, they looked a rivaled Caelum's eyes with a bright cerulean blue. But it was that moment's glimpse in between colors that caught a breath: so peaceful was her soul, the sky reflected back in her eyes.

Caelum.
Her mind-voice sounded of wind chimes.
I am Aeolian Killith and I have many questions. I knew of no one else with wings until Michihito and I have never imagined the thought of someone as... magnificent as you.
She let her gaze wander, as if in ponderous thought, to the clouds. She dodged one, trailing her hand through the fluff before voicing her questions.
Tell me then, Caelum Gladiu, who are you? And why should I trust you are taking me to this "Denenvera"?

[/size][/color]

[sky]

As his words faded into the abyss of their minds, silence took hold the skies. Moments passed and a response had yet to come. Quickly, the usually confident dragon became quite nervous. His eyes searched the clouds as if they could tell him what he had done or what words he had said were wrong. Nothing came to him. Coming up blank, sapphire eyes wandered from clouds, sky, and the mountain peaks below to the space speeding by behind him. Her delicate figure with dappled clouds and the falling landscape below created the perfect picture. Everything just seemed to fit. Flowing locks of ivory white danced in the winds and seemingly perfect feathered wings added to the grace of the picture. This was indeed Wind’s Lady.

Still her silence scared him.

Relief flooded his senses his body visibly releasing tension when she finally broke the quiet; she had even used his name. His wings nearly skipped a beat upon hearing his name especially in the familiar. Lady Aeolian Kilith, he repeated over within his own mental barriers. Intently he listened. The feathered dragon’s heart raced. He became almost giddy that she thought him magnificent. Then again he grew up surrounded by others of the pure blood blessed by Airos and even her miscreants graced with a semblance to her beauty.

Caelum turned back to catch her cerulean flecked eyes. He smiled the best he could without giving a toothy draconic grin. His sapphire eyes smiling back at his Lady. Thank you, Lady. Afterwards, he fell silent again allowing her to continue.

Remaining silent for moments longer, Caelum tried gathering his thoughts forming his answer and placing his words. He searched the skies again for his words. His heart did not slow for he was more than anxious to give her a satisfactory answer without intimidating her. Perhaps that is not so easy.

I am, the large dragon began, Caelum Gladius, a guard of the Imperial Court. I am also a member of the pure-blooded Vesica clan of feather dragon. You can trust… or I hope you can come to trust me at least… because in both capacities, I am devoted to our goddess Airos and her blessed lady. I am loyal to you, Lady Kilith. He transferred a sense of assurance across their telepathic link seeking to support his words upon another level. You have my word.

[Lady Aeolian Kilith]

Aeolian had so many questions she wasn't sure if she could contain them while her draconic company formulated an answer. Thankfully he glanced at away from her for a only a moment, she felt the silence in their connection for only a moment --and was that... anxiety?-- before his voice filled her mind once more.

I am Caelum Gladius, a guard of the Imperial Court. I am also a member of the pure-blooded Vesica clan of feather dragon...
This sort of formal introduction did nothing to help the iquiry threatening to burst from his company, but Aeolian stayed her words, allowing him to finish.
You can trust… or I hope you can come to trust me at least… because in both capacities, I am devoted to our goddess Airos and her blessed lady. I am loyal to you, Lady Kilith.
Even before he finished, Aeolian trusted him. She didn't think it possible to send a false sense of emotion across a telepathic link, and if it was, she was the fool to fall for it. Still, her heart did not think Caelum the lying sort and smiled at his final promise.
You have my word.

Then... I have more questions for you, if you'll put up with them.
Her mindvoice, all chimes and wind, sounded mischevious? But the woman beating her white wings beside Caelum showed no signs of breaking her perfect composure. She looked deep in though even though no lines creased her brow; she looked fresh and crisp even though her wings propelled her forward at not-so-leisurely pace to keep up with Caelum's dragon form.

How many reside alongside you on the Imperial Court? What kind of people are they? What can they teach me? ...They are going to help me, right?
A flurry of questions, too fast for Caelum to answer before another sped along their mindlink. Curiosity, inoocent naiieve curiosity colored her shared thoughts. Just now, flying the length of the world with a creature she never imagined could exist, did Aeolian finally how ignorant she'd been to the world she lived in. Michihito taught her some, about nations and the general war prevailing over the lands, but even that knowledge would prove insiginificant in the realm Caelum escourted her toward. She needed to know more --she wanted to know it all regardless of her new position as Lady of the Wind.
Am I going to meet them all today? Are they all dragon's like you?Are all dragons part of clans like you? Well, what exactly is a clan?...

The lay of the Wind Nation rushed past as one question led to another, all before Caelum could get a word in edge wise. Finally someone was seeing Aeolian's intritive marvel with the world.

[/size]

[sky]

Of course I will. I am here to help and guide you, my Lady.

He flew in silence allowing her questions to flood his mind one after another. Caelum tried to formulate answers but he honestly did not know what to tell her or at least where to start. She was so full of life he doubted that anything he could tell her about their nation would bore her. It was refreshing to hear her enthusiasm, her thrill. It had been a while since he heard anyone so honestly excited about the Wind nation, a pleasure free of the troubles of war.

A pause in the wave of questions – Caelum’s opportunity to answer – almost as if she was taking a mental breath, trying to formulate more questions. He took it.

I cannot honestly tell you how many people are members of the Court let alone citizens of the nation and there is not enough time in the day to meet them all but I promise; you will have the opportunity to meet them. Our nation is full of dragons, angels, demons, and other beings blessed by our beloved goddess Airos. Within the Court itself are the nobility, gifted warriors, representatives, and anyone else of rank. However, within the Court is a much smaller team with whom you will come to know very well, the Imperial Guard of which I am also a member. The Guard is comprised of both advisors and warriors true to our goddess and Lady.

Another paused took the air. This time it was Caelum attempting to put words to his thoughts. The landscape sped by far below the pair of winged beings. Green, blue, and white blurred in speed while distance calls of the wild melded into the whispers and whistles of the wind. It was a marvelous flight. Peace drifted in the skies and excited ran rampant in the old dragon’s heart. He kept gentle as he continued.

The Imperial Guard has two branches, advisory and military. Each member will be there to guide and protect you. You will learn much from them and more from our people. Knowledge about our people, history, nation and law, even that of trades, crafts, and techniques is open to you. The arts of healing and skills of fighting are also available to you. Airos has blessed her chosen Lady with all the gifts of Wind. You will merely have to ask.

They were nearing Denenvera. Caelum was at least now over the mountains that shielded his fair city for miles. He could not wait to return home. Although he was a tad nervous about the welcome he would find. Who would be at the palace to greet their risen Lady? Would she find a pleasing greeting? Would she find the city satisfying? The people? Lastly, in the back of his sheltered mind, how would the people find their new non-draconic Lady after at least a decade of an empty leadership seat?

Well, to your next string, my clan is my family. Most dragons can trace their lives to their clan but some choose to leave that family to seek lives as individuals and create new families and lives apart from their ancestral clans.

He turned his head against the wind. Caelum wanted to see her eyes again, her enthusiasm again. Before continuing, he faced forward. The dragon made sure his pride would overshadow anything hint of shame before his next statement.

You could say I did as some in breaking away from the traditions of my clan. However, you could say I remain with my clan. They reside within the city’s limits and I return for their camaraderie and guidance, but I do not live with them.
That perhaps sums up the draconic family system within Wind at least. I could not begin to tell you of the Fire Dragons unfortunately.

His long silvery draconic neck curved back around so he could see her again. Sapphire eyes smiled. He encouraged her curiosity.

I hope I answered your first couple of questions… and at least whetted your appetite for more, he thought to himself. You have more questions?

Wind’s former leader realized that her questions would far exceed the rest of the distance between them and their destination. Still, he wanted to encourage her curiosity and keep her interest. Honestly, he was afraid of what the silence would accomplish. Any loose ends could be tied as soon as they reach the city and would be tied eventually with time.

[Lady Aeolian Kilith]

Aeolian listened attentively, even though her eyes did not look follow Caelum as he spoke. Grey irises gazed ahead, through the clouds to where she imagined bits and pieces of the Wind city as he described its inhabitants. Her heart leapt at thoughts of demons, angels, dragons, cross-breeds --but most of all, her heart leapt at thoughts of others like her. Humanoid with wings. There she wouldn’t be tainted. Children wouldn’t pull out her feathers. Adults wouldn’t leer, watch, avoid, whisper. Here, Aeolian hoped, she would be normal.
But normal in Aeolian's mind was not what she would recieve as a welcome. She was, after all, the new Lady of the Wind. The leader of a nation could never be simply normal.

Were it not for Caelum's mental link, he would have known nothing of her thrill. While her heart quivered in excitement, her body flew calm, coasting as gracefully as the dragon beside her. She had anticipated great things too often only to have them purposefully stolen from her; the few people she had known did not want to see her happy. Especially not after Beth. Nervousness flickered in the new Lady.
What if...? What if...?
Her mind kept questioning, but she shut down the thoughts before they could finish, before Caelum could glimpse the tremor in her exhilaration. At least, she hoped she boxed the thoughts away in time to mask her worry.

For the moment though, Aeolian listened to Caelum's answers with a continuous curiosity buzzing through their mind link. She soaked in his words, his wisdom like a sponge starved of water. Nobles, Warriors, and Representatives of a nation dedicated to flying --they had wings!-- made up the bulk of Court, but a more exclusive group was dedicated to her: the Imperial Guard, made up of choice Advisors and Warriors known for their unfaltering loyalty to Airos. And then the Dragons--
There are more like him!
But he had challenged tradition in that he had no remained with the clan. Instead, he had chosen break away as his own entity, as temporary leader of the nation.

He finished speaking, or catering to her list of demands, and took what felt like a mental breath. Aeolian turn to look at the creature beside her at the same moment to which he turned his massive silver head to look at her. Grey met sapphire.
I hope I answered your first couple of questions… and at least whetted your appetite for more, he thought to himself. You have more questions?
Aeolian smiled, all curiosity and awe when she looked at him, much like a child.
Of course I do.
She was already growing fond of him. Hopefully the others would treat her as nicely as he had. Aeolian's hopes were high, higher than they had ever been in her life.
For one...
Aeolian turned to face the horizon. White hair flowed behind her and her torn outfit; she seemed to be swimming through the air rather than flying. Her wings rarely beat, but when they did, she pushed forth with such vigor she would almost overtake her draconic companion.
The winds carried her, fueled and whirling in her happiness. They spun and twinend, she could feel them dancing patterns through her feathers at every chance they could get. She would not have been surprised if Caelum could feel them skittering over his scales or threading along strands of his mane.
Her eyes --cracked grey stones revealing a cerulean blue world-- flicked back toward Caelum before her hand stretched forward to point at the mountain piercing the clouds high above the mountain range below them.
...is that Denenvera?

[/center]

[wingedwarrior]

Denenvera, the capital of silver and blue, shimmered with a heavenly aura in the bright sun. The sun warmed the air making it feel like a nice summer day. However, Denenvera did reside in the Wind Country, so the warm air would be disrupted by a cool breeze every once and a while. The vegetation in and around the city was green with vibrancy. Summertime was coming soon and the city would glow this greatly everyday.

One of the courtyards sitting outside the city was wide and open with simple tall grasses. The wind caused the grass to create waves identical to a sea that curled against the shore. Large trunked trees lined the courtyard, providing some shade to those who decided to relax in the calm area.

Magdalena shifted against one of the tree trunks that she was leaning against. She was becoming restless from sitting still for so long. The messenger had informed her to meet in the courtyard around midday. Lucky for the messenger, he caught her as she was about to leave once again to travel about. Or, was it lucky for her?

The winds blew across the plain again causing her pale hued hair to be tossed about her head. She pulled herself onto her hunches and stood up, having slight trouble with her heavy sword attached to the small of her back. She leaned forward looking at the cloud filled sky. Figures were flying through the air, well as of now, they were just dots.

Magdalena walked out from the cover of the tree limbs. She blocked the sun with her hand and squinted to look at the figures that danced upon the wind. She could hardly tell who they were, but the funny beating her heart was making let her know. Anxious, she moved out farther away from the protection of the tree.

Years had passed since she last saw Caelum. She was, but a girl when she had joined his forces underneath him. Her clan of Battle Angels toughened the young up quickly and in that, laid the reason why she was forced to prepare herself to fight. She was immature and very much a little girl that refused to do anything dirty. Now, she had grown from a little girl to a grown woman who had knowledge beyond her years and was strong enough to hold her own in battle.

Staring up at the sky, her heart fluttered for a moment. This was more exciting than a battle, she was meeting her old friend once again. But that wasn’t the most exciting part. That belonged to the wonder of what this Lady of Wind would be like. Magdalena smiled slightly, her harden warrior exterior melting slightly in the warm sun.

[sky]

His heart fluttered as her excitement leaked to flood his mind. This was more than the old dragon could have possibly asked for – a new Lady just as full of life as the last beloved Lady. New love and grief trickled forward from old wounds. Within his brief moments of pain, Caelum noticed another apprehensive feeling but not of his own. This one seemed to sprout of nervousness from his Lady flying with him, but just as soon as the feeling came, it disappeared. He pushed the thought aside believing it to be remnant of memories long hidden drudged up mistakenly by a forbidden love. Taking a quick glimpse at the young woman behind him, Caelum turned his attention back to new hope for the future of the Wind nation, Lady Aeolian.

Caelum returned her smile internally hoping to take her attention from his wavering of confidence. He awaited her next wave of questions not entirely paying attention to where they were. However, her question, when it came after a moment of pondering, surprised him. The dragon turned his sapphire eyes back to the horizon in time to catch the sun upon the city’s singing steeples and corridors.

Yes, my Lady. Welcome home.

With his soul singing with the winds, the majestic dragon began his descent escorting the new Lady of the Wind into the city levels. He carefully navigated the grand corridors of the sky watching for the palace courtyards. Many of Airos’s children whisked passed on business of their own be it personal or governmental. Dragons kept safe distance while smaller creatures such as the winged humanoids glided with grace in and out of the narrow passageways weaving throughout the city. All the same, individuals paused to catch a peak at the woman they knew to be the Lady traveling with the pure-bred Caelum.

This way, my Lady.

Gracefully he guided Aeolian through the city’s sites. He deliberately failed to take a direct route flying at a leisurely pace giving her the chance to take in Denenvera. The winds whistled through his mane and over his scales. His pace did him well also. Long has it been since the dragon actually stopped long enough to admire the land of his goddess.

A moment more passed before their destination came into view. The courtyard was wide and sun-filled with a few trees scattered about the borders to provide shade. He searched a bit longer as he closed the distance; perhaps they had missed her. It was not until a friend from years back stepped out from underneath a tree that Caelum decided on the exact place to land.

He spread his nearly white wings in full to slow his descent momentarily hovering above the city. Touching down, Caelum was perhaps the happiest he had been in a long time. The sun reflected off his hide and the winds ruffled his mane just as they did the grasses of the field. Sapphire eyes turned back around to find Aeolian; her hair, her wings, and the city behind her made a picture to make Caelum feel whole again.

Turning back, Caelum nodded a greeting.

It is good to see you again. Thank you for coming Magdalena.

Inviting Aeolian forward with a gesture of his muzzle, the dragon waited for her to come closer. Again he assured her through their connection she would be safe.

If I may, I present Lady Aeolian Kilith. He bowed his large head in customary salute before continuing with the introduction. My Lady, may I present Magdalena of the Imperial Guard.

[Lady Aeolian Kilith]

The world was warping, alterting, shifting, as she stood there, bowing before the rough lady Caelum had introduced as Magdalena.
Time seemed to have sped up since the arrival of Denenvera on the horizon. The city had sped by quicker than she had wanted; Bodies floated about her in the air, but even then there were too many to stop for --should she have waved at them or something? She could barely remember the touch of her feet to the courtyard's field; Caelum's voice had been distant even in her mind.

There would be one piece to her arrival at the Wind City that would forever remain in her mind: the melody. Trills, whistles, humms --perfect pitch. The sound came and went, rose and fell, in beautiful patterns with little regard for natural wind patterns and Aeolian could distinctly hear each trickling of moving air as it warbled its graces to her and the Lady Airos.
Her bones hummed and she could have sworn she swelled in size. But no size change came over Aeolian upon entrance to the city. What swelled resided in her destiny as the Lady of the Wind. Powers bestowed upon her by the Lady Airos awoke at the sound of the city's melody which was the Wind singing their joy for their Goddess.

Righting herself from the bow, Aeolian smiled softly to her company.
Caelum was no longer a beast of crushing size, but a friend in need of comfort and the woman across from her was no longer scarred and blistered with misformed wings, but beautiful, strong, and proud in everything she was.

[/size]
"Thank you for keeping my home safe."
The words found Caelum's mind with strength and pride and Magdalena's ears with confidence and warmth. Her voice chimed like hundreds of small wind-chimes, a sound to complete the melody of the city around them. The air resonated completeness, a wholeness, a happiness.

More startling, almost, than the chimes of her voice were the chosen lady's eyes. Silver-grey crystals split, revealing streaks of a cerulean blue as bright and clear as sky above the trio. The blue seemed to swirl from the crevices, washing over and mixing with the silver to create a summer's sky streaked with whisps of cloud.
These, however, were not Aeolian's eyes.
These were the Lady's eyes.[/size]

"I am much indebted to you both for your hard work.
This is girl is your reward for unfaltering allegiance to me,
to Wind,
and to peace.
Much has changed since my last visit to this city.
Please, teach this girl well, keep her company and she shall protect you."

This voice hummed in the bones of Caelum and Magdalena as the windy melody hummed in the bones of Aeolian. It came from everywhere more-so than Aeolian's lips and yet, none other than the two being addressed could hear them.
[/center][/color][/size]

[wingedwarrior]

Magdalena’s eyes took in the grand view of her former leader. The dragon hardly looked different. The turquoise armor that laid tightly against the muscles and bones looked more worn than the last time she saw him. His eyes, however, had yet to change, because they were still filled with that knowledge and courage that always lingered within his irises. His body, no matter how long, still had more grace than most creatures a sixteenth of his size. His words caught her off guard, causing Magdalena’s body to give an involuntary jolt, but she instantly calmed with his serene tone.

She bowed her head acknowledging him, “It is nice to see you once again as well.” Magdalena turned her head towards the woman accompanying Caelum. Her faded velvet red eyes taking in her appearance of white and silver. She contained aspects a true Lady should have, down to the feathery wings.

Magdalena’s rather small wings fluttered anxiously for a moment, showing her excitement more than her facial expressions. She bowed down, one knee on the ground and the other one bent which supported her weight when she placed her forearm on her thigh.“My Lady....It is a pleasure to meet you at last.”

As Magdalena kneeled, her eyes to the ground, her head filled with a strong, but gentle voice. She picked her head up, got up off her knees, “She truly is the Lady we’ve been proclaiming,” she thought.

The warrior angel shifted her sword on her back and looked back to Caelum. “Shall we lead her to where she will rule from? Or does my Lady wish to tour the city more in depth?” She turned to Aeolian when she said ‘my Lady’ to formally ask her the question.

She looked at the two, wonder in her eyes. She had been immediately drawn to this woman, to serve her. It was something that hadn’t captivated her in a long time. She shifted her weight looking at her companions, awaiting an answer for either one of them.

((This isn't the greatest post, I'm sorry for that. But I wanted to get something up for you guys before I went on vacation so you would not wait. Hopefully this will be enough for you guys. Sorry again and I'll talk to you when I get back))

[sky]

ooc: I'm back.... finally.... sorry about making you wait so long

bic:

The winds began to swell and the power within the young woman standing next to him seemed to swell with them. Caelum allowed the feeling to flow through him, to sink into his mind. For the first time in ten years, the city did not feel empty to him. Their beloved Lady of the Winds had returned to them and with her the voice of their revered
goddess.

His draconic brow dropped again to just below Aeolian’s height at the sound of Airos’ magnificent voice. Her voice echoed in his mind and sang through the city. The goddess’s request came fair and gentle, but powerful all the same.

We will, my goddess, the old dragon responded trying to sound as humble as he could in the presence the one and only Lady. He stood still in the open field for a bit of time basking in the glory of the completeness of the city’s winds. It had been far too long.

It was not until Magdalena’s voice seeped into his ears that Caelum came back to the business at hand. The sensations had just felt so good to let go of them that he had not noticed when the Lady had stopped communicating to them through Aeolian and through the gentle breezes.

He lifted sapphire eyes back to Magdalena and then to Lady Kilith; his turquoise head carrying those jewels to mid-height. It is our Lady’s choice. His eyes smiled in genuine delight at saying those words. What do you wish to see or wish to do, my Lady?

Caelum communicated a sense of assurance through their mental link hoping to deter any nervousness that could surface. They were here to help her not scare her. The dragon wanted to make sure she knew that much of their loyalty.

[Lady Aeolian Kilith]

Nothing was right for Aeolian since the moment the Lady Airos borrowed her body to convey the short message. All her senses seemed to blurr together. The world suddenly became in clips of sounds, smells, and sights all layered over one another. Each fought for dominance, flying across her vision at different speeds so that she didn't know which to look at....
A child with webbed fingers playing in a stream. An archer fletching arrows. A town of elegant, perfect men and women slipping into houses and inns. A gaggle of wives doting on a newborn. A moutain cat stalking dinner on the snow peak. A three-headed dog tearing after another man. A troup of the winged peeling through the clouds. A man cloaked in black sitting among ruins with a female, a black panther poised between them. Sails on a ship out on a body of water.

Too many images. She didn't know what to make of --any of them.
...Someone was saying something. A woman, but Aeolian couldn't make out a single word. It sounded so very far away, like what she heard was the echo of this woman's voice. But that didn't seem right.
Aeolian blinked again. She should be seeing something, only one something. That woman, she was sure of it. She had been standing in a courtyard with a woman she didn't really know... and a dragon... Caelum. And... there was singing, or rather, music, in the air.

And there! On one of the ever-shifting movie screens, was a great silver dragon drawfing two figures in the middle of a grassy tree-lined courtyard. Sunlight reflected off one of the figures --armour. The other figure ...white wings, white hair... that was... her. But how...? How was she not in her own body? It didnt' make any sense.
In that place, of non-existance where she was everywhere beneath a sky at once, Aeolian reached for that image, of Denenvera, of Caelum and Magdalena who dipped a massive head and fell to a knee, of her own body.

"--Shall we lead her to where she will rule from? Or does my Lady wish to tour the city more in depth?”
It is our Lady’s choice. What do you wish to see or wish to do, my Lady?

[/i]

Aeolian blinked; blue receeded to stripe her silver eyes.
The voices were addressing her, one that woman's and one within her head. Caelum and Magdalena.

For a moment, the new Lady appeared rather frazzled and incredibly confused. The light was bright, the world solid, the voices clear. Everything seemed stable, unlike in that stange place where she had been ...floating? moments before. And still, looking between these two people she clearly knew --or well, had just come to meet-- Aeolian got the distinct feeling she had missed something incredibly important.
What in the world was that?
Aeolian stretched her angel wings, ruffling the feathers as if she shook off the thought. If Caelum had heard, so be it; she had forgotten he could link her thoughts if they were strong enough. Maybe he could tell her later, she pondered, but then, she didn't think he would know either. At the moment the two still waited for her response.

"Uhm," She stuttered out loud, forgetting to use the mental link provided by Caelum, "Anywhere is fine with me. I really... don't know anything about this place..." A bright smile peeled across Aeolian's face. Genuine curiosity drove her eagerness to please these two, Caelum with his welcoming calm sapphire eye and Magdalena with her determined awe. They looked to her with such expectation. Aeolian didn't quite know what she could do for them, but she would at least try.
"So where to first?"
[/size][/center]

[wingedwarrior]

The gentle winds curled the grass in the fields. The sun radiated brilliantly above the trio’s heads. Trees swayed while their branches danced in jerky movements upon the winds. The silver city beside them gleamed in the sunlight. It’s new brilliance had recently surfaced since the news of a new Lady created the hum of rumors within it’s walls. It all created an euphoric atmosphere anywhere near the city.

Magdalena watched, her pale red irises wide with wonder as Caelum spoke through his eyes. They, Caelum and Lady Aeolian, already seemed to have a strong bond. Though that hardly surprised her, Caelum always had a way to gain one’s trust. It was the one reason she followed him when she was younger, for guidance.

Turning her head slightly, Magdalena set her eyes upon the new Lady of Wind. She was the epitome of a wind creature. She had large wings, feathery, but they reminded Magdalena of her feathered dragon comrades’ wings, not her own clans wings. They were large for her body it seemed (considering Battle Angels’ wings are smaller), yet when she was flying beside Caelum earlier, she had quite the grace. Her skin was flawless and pale and complemented her ivory white hair and silver irises. Magdalena fingered her own hair, Lady Aeolian would not receive any bad-mouthing about where her loyalties lied, even without the Goddess Airos at her side. Magdalena always had, even if her hair was a pale scarlet red, she was always questioned as a fire spy.

She parted her lips in a sigh and pulled her fingers away from the silky strands. She listened to her Lady’s gentle, unsure words. She had left it up to Caelum and herself to choose where they were to head off to. She weighed the options.

She didn’t want Lady Aeolian to get overwhelmed when they took her into the city. If a formal Imperial Guard member and a full-fledge Imperial Guard were following a winged woman around town, it would catch the eyes of the denizens. And since the rumors were flying, they would catch wind of what was truly going on almost immediately. Magdalena decided it wouldn’t be best to see a mob of loyal, yet crazed wind citizens get overexcited and test the boundaries of their new lady.

Thinking this through, her pale velvet irises met Caelum’s sapphire pair with her new thought, “Maybe it would be best to take her to see your clan. They have been proclaiming her arrival for quite sometime now. They will be joyous to see their new Lady.”

Magdalena’s feet shifted uneasily. Fear was not an emotion she knew well, let alone express it freely. However, the Vesica Clan had always questioned Magdalena’s loyalty. Just because she had angel wings, didn’t mean she was a qualified member of the Imperial Guard. And since she had become a wanderer and dropped her position as a Guard, their distaste had grown. Magdalena’s soft velvet eyes were lost in thought as she thought about the blonde, silver, blue, and white features most of her clan had. She had been dealt a bad hand. It simply meant she had to work harder.

She picked up her head, a look of determination had been absorbed into her eyes as she looked at Caelum, “Does that sound good?” she asked Caelum, her voice soft.

[sky]

Large sapphire eyes turned back to meet silver inquiring pools. She had turned their question back at them and he did not know what to say. Of course she would trust them to know the city better than she. But… where? He searched the field for an answer. Taking her into the city would most likely prove to be an overwhelming experience requiring strong support to pull the new lady through into a comfortable station as the Lady of the Wind. That also left out the marketplace where their people flourish and laugh – she would be able to visit them soon, but not now at least.

The dragon looked to Aeolian and then to Magdalena – two strong women with independent souls. For the first time since the previous Lady, he did not have an answer. There was so much to show Airos’s chosen and so much to teach their beloved Lady. He had no idea where to begin. With everything the Wind nation offered it was easy to overwhelm any new-comer one way or the other. What made the choice harder was that Caelum had barely had the time to come to know Lady Aeolian Kilith and he did not know where to go to show her what would impress her or thrill her. Suddenly, the temporary leader realized that Aeolian may have noticed the slight distress his uncertainty caused him. He pushed the uncertainty aside to focus on choosing a destination in time for Magdalena to chime in with an answer.

Caelum met her velvet eyes. Visit his clan? His eyes widened in disbelief that she would suggest visiting the proud, pure-blooded feather dragon clan. Their lives were seeped in tradition and completely by the book. So how would they accept the new Lady he wondered behind personal barriers. She was the first chosen beyond draconic blood and yet she was the chosen Lady; Airos had proven that herself. With a conscious barrier up to protect Aeolian who has yet had the time to practice her skills, Caelum wondered how his family would greet the awkward trio. They were the first humanoid Lady of the Wind, the red-headed woman with wings still too small to carry her, and the man who had left his clan for miscreant magics. How would they accept their visit? Which non-tradition would trump which?

Looking to the skies above them, the experienced dragon finally shared his piece with both women. Honestly, I do not think that is the best place to start. He spoke with both his new and old friend in a gentle tone conveying his opinion especially to his former subordinate since speaking with dragons is not a normal occurrence for her. Perhaps we could begin with a tour of the palace, as an introduction to Wind’s heritage. Caelum looked to Aeolian and Magdalena and then back to Aeolian. Sapphire looked for silver. Of course it is your choice where you would like to begin, my Lady.

He shifted with nervous energy. His tail wrapped around the side of his leather turquoise hide and white feathered wings stretched to the sky to catch the breezes singing through the city. Caelum sighed inwardly knowing there would be much to teach her and that they would need to start somewhere. Her escort only wished they did not have to rush but with the war beginning to encroach on their borders they could not wait too long. Sapphire eyes looked to Aeolian. She was their hope in the coming era and he her guide.

[Lady Aeolian Kilith]

“Maybe it would be best to take her to see your clan..."
Breath caught in Aeolian's throat. Dragons! They had never been real in that little earthen village; they had only swum in her dreams whispering secrets she could never remember in the morning. A homesickness had always filled her when she awoke those days, as if she had been home with those regal creatures.

Maybe... maybe that is where she was meant to be, with the dragons.
After all, I am this Lady of the Wind and Caelum is a dragon...
Hope, so much hope, seeped into her thoughts. So much so that she couldn't hide it from Caelum even if she had practiced the art he had mastered. He was the second she might deem a friend, and yet, friend o rnot, she felt closer to him than Michihito. Although, that could simply be because of their thought-link.

Honestly, I do not think that is the best place to start.

But that was just her imagination and they had just been dreams.

Perhaps we could begin with a tour of the palace, as an introduction to Wind’s heritage.

Aeolian bit her tongue to keep from gawping. She had never dreamed of walking through a palace. That was just another place of dreams she never thought she's even see. Only days ago she would have ripped her wings off for a chance to fit in and live in a house and now... now her company watched her, waiting for a decision.
I guess I have to get used to his.
She was their Lady, the one meant to save them. Supposedly. She shouldn't be so surprised to have them looking to her for a final say. They had been waiting for her.
Time to be someone new, Aeolian.
She sighed inwardly and sqaured her shoulders, flexing her wings ever so slightly.
You've always wanted a way out of that life --might as well take this chance and be... something.

Just as she opened her mouth to support Caelum's judgement, her stomach made itself known and in the apprehensive silence, it rumbled it's demand for food. Color rushed to Aeolian's face as she shut her mouth to keep from looking like a fish. Shame she had known; embarassment was a new one.

In truth Aeolian would have loved a meal. Other than Michihito's scant fish dinner, she had not eaten in the past few days. Adrenaline and curiosity had pushed the pinching in her abdomen to the recesses of her mind; now that she was safe and somewhat settled it seemed she had no further excuse to ignore her need for food. Being chosen by Airos didn't make her any less mortal than the rest of them it seemed.

"Maybe... lunch first?"

[wingedwarrior]

Magdalena’s velvet eyes met Caelum’s sapphire orbs. Distress clearly surfaced their glassy surface as he gazed at her. She wasn’t sure if her own eyes betrayed her and showed the fear she was trying to hide. Caelum’s voice of reason reverberated in her mind as he spoke gently. She nodded gently at his explanation, the one she was hoping for that would trump her suggestion. She turned to Lady Aeolian and watched the hope fade from her eyes.

A small sigh escaped Magdalena’s lips. Mixed with relief, but yet the sigh signaled some troubling thoughts. The dragons would eventually need to know their Lady’s actual appearance. Lady Aeolian had been the first leader that did not have pure dragon blood running through her veins. Magdalena feared that the later they pushed off their meeting with the proud clan, the more the clan would become restless. The meeting was inevitable. She reached over her shoulder to feel the handle of her large sword to ease her insecurity.

The battle angel turned her attention to her Lady, awaiting words of a decision. Little did she know that the decision would not be in the form of words. The small rumble of an aching stomach reached Magdalena’s ears. Aeolian’s small words followed shyly after her stomach told her that she was in need of food.

Magdalena released a light, airy laugh. “I’m sure the cooks will be pleased to serve you. They have slacked off quite a bit lately. It will be a pleasure for them to work for their Lady once again.” She covered her mouth after she spoke. Once again her stoic disposition had faded, maybe it was because she was back in the presence of her old comrade. She glanced over at Caelum, she had always felt at ease within his presence. But yet....her velvet eyes met her Lady. “She does have quite the calming presence. Maybe it’s because I can be at ease that we now have a leader in these times....”

“I think we can handle getting you something to eat, besides I’m sure you are not the only one that is hungry.” Magdalena looked at her old companion, “Not ever dragons can fend of hunger for very long,” she smiled gently.

[sky]

All her excitement, the thrill that flooded their personal connection, was so much more than refreshing; it was contagious. She would certainly prove to be a willing student, a dear friend, and a great leader. Her people would be her guide. For some reason, she seemed to have shrugged off a thought, probably weighing her options.
However, it was not her head that decided upon the next course of action. Her stomach protested against the debate as to where they would begin offering a reasonable and practically informal means of introduction. What better way to become acquainted with a culture than by sampling its delicacies. Caelum nodded acceptance at her shy suggestion with a gentle draconic smile. He knew her embarrassment and nudged subtle assurance in Aeolian’s direction so she would push her uncertainty aside.

Caelum looked to his old comrade. He gently shook his head in a familiar manner understanding the calming effect of Lady Kilith’s presence. They will certainly enjoy a new challenge. Sapphire eyes looked Aeolian’s innocence only to break back to Magdalena’s pale red irises. Now that was not called for, he retorted for both to hear. The dragon wanted Aeolian to be comfortable and he figured hearing their joking would do the trick. I am not that bad, at least not as bad as you might remember me, Magdalena.

Standing back to his full height, the feathered dragon stretched his nearly pure white wings into the breeze skimming through the city and over the fields. The winds whistled through his mane and played over his feathers. It felt different now. Life was different now from when she had ruled and different from when he had watched over her throne and Airos’s lands. It felt right. Now to begin introducing their new blessed Lady to that new life.

Keeping his head at a respective level, he addressed both Lady and comrade. Magdalena, I believe you can handle this from here. I have a small matter to attend to now, but I will meet you in the main dining hall in the eastern wing. Gracefully his long neck lined with silver-blue fur pulled his head to the sky. Still he watched them with pride and happiness in sapphire eyes.

He took in Aeolian’s eyes once more, her beauty, innocence, and potential. I promise. I will return soon but you need not wait for me. Enjoy your meal, my Lady. I will see you soon. With that, he stretched his wings to catch the wind. Caelum looked to the battle angel. Take care of her and get to know her. I think you two will get along marvelously. It was a comforting whisper between friends. Honestly, he wanted them to get along; he believed it to be best for both of them even for the short time he had gotten to know the young Lady.

Pushing off, the dragon pushed against the air with powerful limbs still trying not to blow the two away in his liftoff. With grace matching that of the serpentine water drakes in their element, Caelum dove between the cliffs navigating around the palace for another time. In a moment, his tail disappeared into the secret spaces of Denenvera.


ooc: pms to both of you

[Lady Aeolian Kilith]

Aeolian thought her face would turn the color of Magdalenda's hair she was so embarassed. Magdalena didn't stop with the bright laugh and dragged Caelum into the awkward shuffle of jests. Caelum, it seemed, could not remain high and mighty with his friend poking at his larger appetite, but he did his best to keep his composure.
Now that was not called for. I am not that bad, at least not as bad as you might remember me, Magdalena.

The airy laugh hadn't helped Aeolian's blush, but the whole scene did help the group shake off the formalities and Aeolian got her first glimpse of the hearts behind the 'my lady's'. A pure-bred feather dragon, a pink-haired angel with dwarf wings, and a shunned girl with white wings. They were an odd trio to be standing in the courtyard, or so Aeolian thought, but as she smothered a laugh and a grin with the palm of her hand at the jibe and retort, she saw friends, she saw people, she saw souls.
The world was full of kind hearts; she must remember that.

But as she eyed Magdalena also hiding her mouth behind a hand, Caelum stretched his wings and spoke of "a small matter to attend". Aeolian tried not to frown as he promised to join them later and nodded in aquiescence; she would have to accept that he and everyone else had a role to play here. They had jobs and lives dedicated to running an entire nation, a job that would soon be hers.
I wonder if I'll be able to do it as well as Caelum...
She watched his magestic length coil and spring, lifting on the beatings of wings more massive than she'd thought possible. Dirt and grit from the courtyard sprayed to the sides as he pushed gusts to the tops of the angel's heads, but while she would barely have felt the small pebbles on her leathery skin, the gales twisted and turned abnormally as if to avoid buffeting their Lady and her company. And so Aeolian watched with a soft smile from within a wind barrier as Caelum slipped away into the caverns of the mountains.

As strands of white hair fell with the settling of the air, Aeolian turned to Magdalena and smiled.
"I hope we can be friends. You're the first woman willing to spend time with me."
Aeolian... had always been like this, open and happy and kind, a social being with little filter on her thoughts. She was curious and bright, with probably too much love, trust, and mercy to give. Circumstance, however, had silenced her, shunned her, pushed her away despite her attempts to flourish. Now, among entities that welcomes her, she could blossom.
"I have a lot to learn, I know that,"
She continued, letting her silver and cerulean eyes skim the courtyard and city around them before settling back on Magdalena's face,
"but I want to learn everything. Tell me everyting you know. I want to know it all."

[wingedwarrior]

Magdalena released another airy giggle as Caelum retorted. “It’s all in good humor my old friend,” she teased lightly. She looked to Aeolian, her cheeks ablaze. She looked sympathetic, a small smile upon her face to reassure her it was nothing to be embarrassed about. They may not be true humans, but they did have human tendencies, everyone of them. Considering after Aeolian had mentioned her own hunger, Magdalena’s stomach wasn’t exactly the fullest either. She also had not had a true meal in months. With all her wanderings, short stops at measly diners were not exactly her thing, especially watching the rats run about the floors.

She turned to look at Caelum as he spoke to her. She nodded softly. “If you are going to go to those dragons, be careful, their tempers haven’t gotten any better,” she thought as he turned to Aeolian. She wasn’t sure if he heard the thought, but hoped he did. She zoned out for a moment thinking about the dragons. They could be rather harsh, especially to those who didn’t fit the right criteria of wind denizens. She sighed, old customs were hard to break.

Her attention focused as Caelum spoke once again, this time of Aeolian and herself bonding. She smiled, she didn’t think it would be that hard.

She watched as Caelum took off. Instinctively, she winced waiting for loose pebbles and dirt to fly up and hit her. It never happened though. She opened her eyes, Caelum’s tail was already fading from sight. She turned to Aeolian and smiled, grateful for the gesture. Aeolian turned to her and spoke of her hope that they would be come friends. Again, Magdalena chuckled, “You will have my utmost pleasantness, I’m only rough with my subordinates and that’s mostly because they deserve it. Besides My Lady, it would be rude of me not to grace you with the same attitude you have given me.”

She continued to hold her gaze with Aeolian, finding it impossible to find a reason behind her statement. “I’m the first woman to spend time with her? She’s way too...” Magdalena’s thought paused, she couldn’t find one pleasant word to describe her new Lady, their was just too many that did describe her. Aeolian did give Magdalena that sense of childhood girl friend. One that would stay over nights and they wouldn't sleep a bit and eat unhealthy snacks when they were younger.But now older versions of their younger selves, they would speak of more important details than silly crushes that schoolgirls did talk about. She smiled at the thought of it. Magdalena followed Aeolian’s eyes as she spoke, she looked to the city and then back to Magdalena herself.

Magdalena scratched her head, puzzled, “That’s such a broad question My Lady...” She cocked her head to the side towards the city. She began to walk towards it, the signal for Aeolian to follow. “If you want to the history of the land, you are better off asking Caelum when he returns, he’s been alive longer than I have. He knows more about that. I could tell about the feud between the lands. My wanderings have given me great information on that,” Magdalena had quite a bit enthusiasm as she spoke about the war. When she wasn’t in warrior mode, she had the habit most women did, to gossip. “Or the species that wander this land, I could tell you about them. We have all the time in the world for me to talk to you. Just give me a starting point, Lady Aeolian.”

[Lady Aeolian Kilith]

Caelum had awed Aeolian into a polite submission, but with his departure, she sparkled, ready, waiting, and wanting anything that came her way. If she had her way, she'd be more than happy to wander the streets to the city and poke at everyting she walked by, but something about Caelum's draconic presence had pressed her to fill a role, be the Lady he wanted her to be. With Magdalena... with the battle angel, Aeolian didn't feel so nearly confined to her title and for that she was glad and eager. Magdalenda could teach her so much and Aeolian had little intention of not using all her resources to their fullest. She would be a great leader for Caelum and this city. She would.

And so she had posed her statment to learn everything to the pink haired angel. The response, however, was not what Aeolian expected. And yet, she wasn't sure what, exactly, she had thought Magdalena would say to such...

"...such a broad question My Lady...”
Aeolian followed without thought as they set forth for the palace and --she hoped-- food. Bare feet padded across the courtyard, passing in and out of tree shadows. Aeolian listened with an eager ear as her company delegated talk of histories to Caelum and talk of war to herself. Magdalena also offered her knowledge of the species of the regions, but Aeolian found herself wanting know not of their species, but of the kinds of hearts that they held.
"...We have all the time in the world for me to talk to you. Just give me a starting point, Lady Aeolian.”

For all of Aeolian's excitement at what she could learn over their meal, she found herself frowning fully at the pink-haired woman. In her stubborn streak, she even dared to stop their walk and cross her arms. A single strand of wind took up her emotion and swiftly swirled around her, dragging her hair up and trying to do the same with her still tattered tunic only to let it fall back to their normal places--Aeolian would have to learn to control her powers before they got the better of her.
But as she stood, mouth pursed and skewed to the side, she looked more like the stubborn, disgruntled school girl Magdalena thought of her as than an intimidating Chosen of Wind.

"I would not have you call me 'Lady', Lena."
The constant attachment had rubbed Aeolian raw. In that single response, Magdalena had used the tag a grand total of three times, but three it would seem was too many. It was for Caelum to call her, in his awe and respect during introductions and public affairs, but she did not find the new addition to her name fitting in the slightest.
"I am no 'Lady'. I never have been. Not until today, when that voice told me so, and Caelum made me so. I was the miscreant. I had rocks thrown at me."
Aeolian's eyes flashed with a confidence in her self-doubt, a confidence who she was despite the sorrow that seemed to filter in that blue of her eyes. She stepped forward, closing the gap, and sighed. Her shoulder's slumped and the hardness in her eyes all but dissappated into the blue crevaces.
"I'm just Aeolian. Please, at least to you, let me be... myself.

"Everyone else will want a Lady to save them... right?"
She already seemed weary and worn, like a leader who had seen too much of her desk not a leader newly born. The day had been long and it was going to take its toll eventually. In truth, the past few days had been long. Beth... Running from the village, crashing, Michihito. And then the two days of fever and rest. And now this: a voice without a face, a world opening up before her, a feathered dragon, and new name. She was being tossed around, feathers on a wind, with no way to make it slow down. Her name was at least something she could control. The frowning pout melted into a sad smile of hope.
"Then I would have you tell me of the other leaders."

[wingedwarrior]

Magdalena turned to look at Aeolian as she paused on their way to cross her arms and state her feelings. She watched as her lips pursed in annoyance. She spoke sternly to Magdalena. The informality was new to Magdalena. It wasn’t until recently that she would refer to Caelum simply by his name and not Lord Caelum, but it was simply due to her rank. Her eyes widen in surprise as Aeolian shortened her name. Her clan was the only one that referred to her by the shortened reference. She listened without saying a word as Aeolian got it off her chest that she felt she wasn’t a Lady.

Magdalena felt her heart strings pull when Aeolian spoke of wanting to be herself to her. She nodded and smiled, “Of course Aeolian. It’s a simple matter of formality. It was the way I was raised, but I can drop off the formality if that is what you wish. And if it makes you feel better you can continue to call me by my nickname.”

She lead Aeolian into the city, telling her about the leaders she wished to know. The city of the Denenvera though grand with silver and white buildings was dulled by the cloud cover that surrounded the mountain most of the time. The buildings took on grand architecture, like Athens at its prime in the olden days. Even the smaller buildings that were used more by the common people were made up of white brick to fit in with the grander white buildings. The sidewalks that lead denizens to the respected buildings were smooth for easy travel. The streets were bustling with wind citizens all planning their evenings or going to work or another activity. Magdalena’s pale velvet hair stuck out from the blues and silvers and other fairer characteristics of the citizens. This would help Aeolian to never lose Magdalena in the crowds.

As they walked towards the palace in the center of the city, Magdalena told Aeolian all she knew of the other leaders. She told her of the other Lady, Lady Rigel, who ruled over the lands of water. The elfin maiden though quiet, still contained the lethal undertow that was needed in times like these. The men that ruled, Lord Kaji and Lord Satazian had been a little more vocal in this warring era. Lord Kaji was a fire mage and Magdalena knew that Lord Sata was part human, but she was unsure of the other origin. Both men strong-willed lead their countries through different situations, some dangerous. Magdalena paused for a moment to catch her breath before she continued. She informed Aeolian of the only dilemma she knew anything about really that involved two earth and a water denizens who were attacked by a fire army in an uncharted region. Lord Sata calmed the discrepance, but not before one of the fire dragons kidnaped the water maiden. Magdalena’s brow furrowed, she knew that the problem had been settled between Fire and Earth, but the details were unknown to her. She then turned to Aeolian and informed her that no nation had declared war with another yet and there wasn’t a major battle going on. It seemed that there was just small quarrels that were resolved without much involvement of higher ups.

She searched Aeolian’s face to see if she had actually gotten all the information or if she overwhelmed her with too much information. She sighed, “Truthfully, Aeolian, you will have no problem getting along with the other leaders. It’s not the leaders you will have to look out for as of now, you need to watch for the rogues and the unloyal. They are the ones that cause trouble, because they have no alliance. And that’s what tears nations apart.” Magdalena’s stern face broke as she informed Aeolian. She hadn’t heard of any unloyal members in Wind, but that didn’t mean there weren’t any. She smiled reassuringly as she told Aeolian that tidbit to keep her calm. There was no need to scare her of her first day.

Magdalena looked up, the palace coming up to their right. She had spoken the entire way, hardly breaking for a breath. The wide, marble staircase almost in front of them greeted them. As they got to the front the staircase, they could see how long the staircase was. It lead up to a flat platform, the beautiful double doors sitting pretty at the top between decorative pillars.

Magdalena jogged up the steps a little bit to gain a lead. She reached her arm out towards the top of the staircase, “And here’s your new home.” She glanced over at one of the guards that was eyeing them on the steps. She couldn’t read his face exactly, but she knew he wasn’t going to rush over and tell them to get away from the palace. “Are you still hungry, Aeolian? Or did I feed you too much information?”

[Lady Aeolian Kilith]

It relieved Aeolian to hear that Magdalena would drop the honorofic, it truly did, but the sadness didnt leave her eyes. The history had come back, the past twenty or so years of a brave face, tree limbs, and the whispering of the winds. She had remembered Beth and the naiievety-shattering reality. She had always tried so hard to please the people of the village, to belong and yet...

Aeolian mentally rolled her shoulders, removing the weight in one sweeping motion, but its shadow darkened her path as she caught up with the Captain of her Guard and they resumed the walk to the castle --and hopefully lunch.
Slowly but surely, however, even the shadow burned away as the sights and sounds of the city punded at her senses. Friends called good-byes to one another as they stepped from balconies adorning the buildings carved directly into the mountainnside; families waiting with hellos and hugs atop the white rooves of the humble stone constructs hiding between the grand towers. The beating of wings --hundreds of wings-- traveling through the city filled the air above the slick walkway Aeolian and Magdalena walked while the tempting shouts of market vendors called from the simple stalls to the sides.
Over it all was the melody; the highs and lows, the sweeping arcs and humming thrums of wind sliding through the very architecture itself. And Aeolian could swear she heard she happy sighs of the clouds sifting though the streets, blanketing, hiding, protecting the children playing hide-and-seek, the travelers, her.

Still, Aeolian kept one ear open to Magdalena as she spoke, even if her eyes wandered to follow a flash of feathes. The city, she noticed, seemed to be a myraid of softer colors: blues, grays, whites, even the occasional light purple. And then there was her friend as she ticked off a list of leaders --Lady Reigal of Water, Lord Kaji of Fire, Lord Satazain of Earth-- with her bright red-pink hair and battle-proud armour. She looked only a little out of place compared to Aeolian's common place white and white, although Aeolian did notice that few had wings like hers, let alone anywhere near the size of hers.

Talk of tensions between the nations of Fire, Earth, and Water stole her attention from the sights and sounds of the city. Earth and Water had been attacked by fire only to have Fire kidnap a Water. Even though Magdalenda claimed it was the only disturbance she had heard of, Aeolian frowned outwardly. One spark was all it took to light a fire; a butterfly's wing started a hurricaine half a world away; one raindrop started the flood; one crack could cause a landslide. If the whole scenario wasn't hammered out, who knows what could come of it.
Its not your problem, Aeolian. Dont cause trouble for the people that brought you in.

The gears were turning in Aeolian's head when the battle angel spoke to comfort her. Aeolian nodded in agreeing hopes that her friend was right and the other Lords and Lady would take to her, but it was the following thought that stuck out.
"...It’s not the leaders you will have to look out for as of now, you need to watch for the rogues and the unloyal..."
Something out it sounded too true. She would have to remember it. Lena must have noticed the disquiet in her eyes for she promptly added that no traitors have been found in Wind. While that comforted her some, Aeolian still repeated the line to herself, to remember.

Any thought Aeolian might have had regarding politics or the leaders disappeared with the sight of the broad marble steps leading to a building half etched into and protruding from the Montagna Del Vento. It was by far the most beautifully carved building in the city. Aeolian followed Magdalena up the steps, gawking at the arching entrance and turning in circles as she walked, neck craned back to see up the front of the building.

"And here’s your new home.”
Aeolian stopped and stared at the short angel framing the steps with her arms.
"This?"
The word squeaked from her throat before she could stop it. There was simply no way. She was suppoed to live here? From tree limbs to gods graces, Aeolian could barely father the... extravagance and grace of the palace she was slowly walking into. She eyed the guards with their powerful wings folded behind them with awe and resisted the urge to touch plate mail specifically designed for flight; They must have thought her simple-minded.

“Are you still hungry, Aeolian? Or did I feed you too much information?”
"I-I..."
Aeolian didn't know what to say. Stunned as she was, following her guide was all she could do. Tearing her eyes from the grand entrance, ceiling sweeping high enough to fit even Caelum 's dragon-form, Aeolian pointed to the ground, food momentarily forgotten.
"Here? Im supposed to live here?"

[wingedwarrior]

Magdalena’s lips curved into an amused smile. “Of course, did you think you would be sleeping in trees and on the ground?” She snickered. The act of sleeping in trees and on the cold hard ground was not unknown to herself. She personally liked coming home to Denenvera to sleep in a comfy bed, even if she did like to travel the lands.

She sprinted down the few steps she climbed. Her armored boots barely touched the marble steps as she came in front of Aeolian. She seemingly glided down in front of her companion. She reached out and gently took Aeolian’s hand in hers, “Come on,” she said eagerly, tugging Aeolian gently to guide her up the steps.

Magdalena had to put on a tough carapace to keep up with the men she spent most of her time with and to make up for her small size. Now with a feminine companion at her side, she acted more like a teenage girl. Having to grow up so fast when she was placed into the army gave her no time to experience the female activities most girls did. Since she actually had someone to share time with who was a female, she was more than excited to spend time with Aeolian.

Once she was near the doors, she dropped Aeolian’s hand. Her feet hardly touched the ground as she glided to the doors and grabbed one of the handles to open it. The guard bowed his head towards Magdalena, looking slightly puzzled at the girl behind her, but bowed his head nevertheless.

If Aeolian was surprised by the outside, she would be speechless by the inside. The grand room that they entered into was nothing but blues, silvers, and whites. The marble floor stretched out beneath them was coated at times with a soft rug. The ceiling was high, hard to believe that there was more than one floor. A spiraling staircase sat near the back corner of the room.

Magdalena hardly had time to marvel at the interior. It left her breathless each time she saw it. One of the guards scurried up to her. Wispy blonde hair sat on his head and bright blue eyes were visible beneath his blonde bangs. He looked to be about sixteen, though looks were quite deceiving in the land of immortals, but he actually was as young as he looked. However, he was about 5'7 in height, making Magdalena have to look up at him.

Magdalena’s bewildered face became a business face quickly as her subordinate approached her. Her velvet eyes looked him over, meeting with his excited eyes. “Captain, is she...?” he whispered softly, his voice quivered with excitement as his blue eyes looked up at Aeolian. Magdalena smiled gently and nodded at the youngest of her subordinates, “Easy Tereus, do me a favor and gather the guards up. I will meet them down here in an hour to brief them. Until then, I will be in the eastern wing’s main dining hall, if you need me.”

The boy nodded and saluted her and Aeolian before walking off. Magdalena sighed gently, “He reminds me of a puppy. He aims to please and Follows. Me. Everywhere,” she annunciated the last part of her sentence to express a slight annoyance. She smiled gently, “You’re still hungry right?” Lena questioned, “We should get back there and wake the cooks up.”

[Lady Aeolian Kilith]

“Of course, did you think you would be sleeping in trees and on the ground?”
Aeolian blinked at her company.
"But --but --but!"
But Magdalena would hear none of it. She dashed a backtrack, spared a breath for a "come on", and dragged Aeolian up the stairway. Bewilderment turned to laughter as Aeolian staggered and stumbled over the first few stairs and chased after her friend.

Aeolian had thought she'd be sleeping in a tree, but if she'd had half a mind while wandering the city she would have put two and two together. A lady chosen to lead a nation wasn't going to be granted the widest branch to sleep in; No, she would receive the largest, if not the most ornate, structure as her place of rest. So everyone could find her.
A smaller matter was the significant lack of trees at such a high altitude. The tough things grew in the cracks and crags between the one-story, white-washed stone structures, spreading shock-green canopies over the roofs of the pale mountain city. The largest congregations of green were the specially designed courtyards situated about the city to bring both life and color to the capitol while farmers tended to their crops further down the mountain-side where the clouds couldn’t smother the life from the potential meals.

Magdalena relinquished her not unloving hold on Aeolian's wrist at the top of the staircase. Laughter bubbled away as the pair stepped past the two black-iron reinforced, wooden doors that fill the archway at night. Magdalena floated ahead, carried lightly by good humor and those petite wings of hers; Aeolian gawped at the ceiling that could have been a grey sky and the smooth layer of white, slightly speckled marble earth beneath it. Carved from the mountain itself, massive pillars lined the hall supporting architecture worthy of housing Caelum's prideful dragons. A well-loved, dark blue carpet ran down the center of the atrium to usher visitors to the marble staircase in the back corner of the room, but to say the carpet was well-loved would be too see it as a piece of history rather than the worn floor cover it was.
There's another floor?!
Aeolian paced slowly after Magdalena, following the sight of her angel friend in her peripheral vision. Stars winked tiredly at her from the blue carpet. Sunlight poured reflected in long rectangles off the marble. Wind brought the light blue curtains adorning the tall windows to life. People --some winged with feathers, some with leather, while others had no wings to speak of either walked or... hovered by some magic unknown to Aeolian-- came and went from the entranceway, staircase, and small doors in to the corners of the room.

By now, Aeolian had come to stand beside the battle angel, but the new Lady didn't have eyes to spare for the blonde youth with which Magdalena spoke. Aeolian found herself staring into the eyes of a painting at the far end of the hall. They were the brightest blue eyes she had ever hoped to see. Regal and soft in all her elegant splendor, those eyes that seemed to smile at Aeolian belonged --undoubtedly-- to the previous Lady of the Wind.
Lady Airos.
There was something about her... that didnt seem to want to stay on the canvas.
As fleeting as the wind itself...
Aeolian smiled, to herself, finally closing her gawping mouth. She heard not a lick of what Magdalena said, until she sighed. For a brief moment, Aeolian noted her senses seemed to pick up disturbances in the air patterns, like the wind was alerting her, but the thought disappeared as quickly as it had come --Magdalena was speaking to her.
“He reminds me of a puppy. He aims to please and Follows. Me. Everywhere.”
Aeolian chuckled at the thought as she tore her gaze away from her predecessor.
“You’re still hungry right? We should get back there and wake the cooks up.”

"...Yes."
She stated with a distracted nod.
"We should --Imp starving.
Aeolian glanced back over her shoulder. The previous Lady was still smiling, but now she hung as just a painting. Following Magdalena toward the kitchens, Aeolian let her voice wander with her thoughts.
"Hey, what do you know about the painting at the end of the hall?"

[wingedwarrior]

Magdalena paused and looked back at Aeolian. She then turned her velvet irises to the painting. Her eyes glanced over the beauty of the woman in the painting. The painting most likely did her no justice. She was probably more beautiful in person, but the person Magdalena didn’t know.

Magdalena shook her head gently, “Not personally. I know she was the former Lady of the Wind, but I was so young when she ruled over the land.” Magdalena’s velvet irises glazed over in nostalgia. She remembered being young enough that she could sit on her father’s shoulders. There had been a large gathering, the Lady of the Wind wanted to make a speech. Magdalena remembered running her fingers through her father’s blond hair while her father pointed out people in the guard, excitedly. Magdalena giggled excitedly and whispered in her father’s ear that one time he would be looking up at her there. He chuckled in a deep baritone voice, “Someday...” she heard him mutter.

Magdalena quickly shook her head, “Come on, Aeolian,” she said with a smile. She continued on her way towards the dining hall. The flashback had reminded Lena that she hadn’t visited her parents in awhile. Maybe after the briefing she would visit them, possibly take Aeolian with. She sighed, it seemed she didn’t have time to do things like before.

She walked into the dining hall. The table wide and long to sit an uncountable amount of people. Magdalena motioned with a wave of the hand for Aeolian to pick a place to sit while she made her way to the kitchen.

Magdalena walked into the kitchen to see the kitchen aides and a few cooks sitting around. They were either playing cards or sleeping. But when Magdalena walked in, they immediately came to attention. The people of the kitchen erupted into cries of “Back so soon?” and “We’re weren’t slacking off” Magdalena held her hand up, her foot tapping.

The head chief came out, bowing, “I’m so sorry. We weren’t expecting you back so soon Captain Magdalena.” Magdalena’s arms were crossed over her chest and she shook her head, “It’s alright,” she said calmly, “Just whip up your best meal.” The cooks began to mumble about who the guest could be. Some were asking Magdalena herself.

Magdalena, once again, silenced them with her hand. Their respect for others always seemed to baffle her. “Just cook your best,” she said, a small smile on her face. She turned to leave and heard one of the cooks asking if Magdalena actually had a date in a whisper. One replied that it couldn’t be possible, because Magdalena was too demanding in an even lower whisper. She sighed and ignored their comments and went back out to Aeolian. “Food will be started soon,” she said smiling.

[Lady Aeolian Kilith]

The dining hall dwarfed foyer without question. While the entrance may have been grand to fit the shapes of Wind's draconic guardians, the gathering place for meals could fit ...at least three space of equal size to the foyer. The ceiling was no higher, but it seemed so with the larger room, fit to hold a good portion of dragons as well as the bodies of men and women proportioned to Aeolian and Magdalena's stature.

Lena's deft hand flicked Aeolian toward one of the long stone tables. They ran the length of entire hall in three rows; each row dividable into a number of smaller tables three times as long as Aeolian's high. She allowed her fingertips to slide along the stone, polished smooth from use and cleaning, as she paced along the length of the nearest table. Both bench and table were solid stone, not so easily moved, but, she supposed, they were easy enough to move for dragons like Caelum. They were magnificent beasts...

With a light jump and a miniscule flutter of feathers, Aeolian hopped onto the left most row of tables. She smiled and wiggled her toes; the stone was cold compared to the lines of dark blue carpet running between the columns, but she liked it's firmness. She didn't care that bare feet --especially her dirty ones-- were completley unsanitary to have on a table, where people ate dinner.
Well, you can just say you can do as you want. You are their Lady, after all.
She couldn't resist a giggle at the outright rebellion and in her mischeif, she sprinted down the table runway. White streaked out behind her; bare feet padded the table top. She spread her wings and --she didn't try to fly, even though the wristlets of wind tried to pull her up. She wanted to run, to feel the burn in her arms and legs.
Freedom.
Laughter echoed off the high ceiling and walls.

As she ran down the lengths of the room, Aeolian didn't think of much more than the swelling of her heart. Not of war, of Beth, of politics, or hunger or thirst. She didn't think of Michihito and what he would do now that she'd gone, or Caelum and what business had called his friendship away. She didn't think about the painting in the atrium and the shoes she would have to fill.
She just... close her eyes and threw her arms wide.
You are my dearest friends.
She thought and the wind stirred. This time, she let them lift her, spin her slowly in a small cyclone.
You have never led me wrong.

“Food will be started soon.”
Magdalena.
Aeolian's eyes flashed open and the cyclone disappated. She dropped the few inches she had been lifted from the table and landed with a soft thud. Her hair danced around her bright eyes and content smile.
"What's for dinner?"
She didn't even care if Lena saw. She was too happy to care.
With a small spring, she alighted, pumping her wings to glide to her guide. Landing before Magdalena, she cocked her head with a giggle.
"Hopefully something yummy."

[ -ooc- Blah, that was so not worth the wait >.< ]

[wingedwarrior]

Magdalena’s velvet eyes scanned her Lady of Wind. She had found her dancing upon the table tops with earth dirtied feet. She sighed, it was not in her power to chastise the Lady, but surely, she couldn’t have her act immaturely. Maybe she was jealous, because if she acted like that she would be heavily reprimanded. She pressed her fingers to her forehead, she still couldn’t let the cooks come in and see their leader dancing upon the tabletops.

“The cooks are making their best, as to what that is, I don’t know,” Magdalena said. She pulled up a seat and then one next to it. She sat down in one of the chairs, and padded the empty chair with her hand. “Aeolian, sit please,” she offered, her voice calm.

The head cook came out setting two plates of steaming food on the table. The moist chicken breast was drizzled with sweet honey and crunchy almonds. The green beans, crisp, were seasoned with herbs that Magdalena could smell from her seat. The potatoes were seasoned as well to match the green beans. Magdalena’s stomach lurched, she had now realized that she was hungry.

The cook bowed, “Enjoy, my ladies,” he said respectfully. “Is there any thing else I can get for you?” he asked, coming out of his bow. “I don’t know if Lord Caelum will be hungry when he returns. Just be ready, I will let you know when he comes,” Magdalena said as she unwrapped her silverware from her napkin. The cook nodded and returned to the kitchen.

Magdalena’s stomach lurched again as she began to eat. She ate in a very polished manner. Her napkin was draped over her lap. She took bites that easily fit in her mouth and did not shove it down. Living with mostly men, she made sure she kept some of her manners. Most of the time, she was surrounded by hungry men that took seconds to complete four courses and ate like savages. She sighed, her mind drifting back to how she was to guide her Lady to rule a country.