Night's Omen

The grey castle walls loomed over the rolling landscape of Avishyven, and though the breeze was cool, the air itself was still slightly humid and warm from the departing summer, so the temperature overall was comfortable. Coloured leaves, like small flames, mottled the grounds and created splashes of colour against the otherwise low and misty scene. The trees were mostly barren, and the forests dense save but for the path that wound down the mountain and over the hills that lead to the castle. It wasn't until the courtyard that things became clear, and even in the setting sun rays of light broke through the cloud cover and shined down on the tiny patches of green grass left in the yard.

There, solitary, clad in a beautiful dress of winter white and rich charcoal, was the princess Titania. Her long luxurious blonde hair was left to hang loose, though not straight down - it was thick and curled, with pearls and other gems strewn throughout, catching at the crown of her head in a gentle but subtle up-do. She stood perfectly still, and perched at her arm, over which an unattractive leather glove covered, sat a white owl that matched her dress so much so if neither moved, they seemed to blend into one. The owl, Elwyth, made soft churr noises in its throat as the duo stood in total silence otherwise, as though waiting.

Like clockwork, just as the sun slipped nearly completely behind the mountain, hooves, a solid heartbeat, thundered across the path towards the castle gates. From the window nearest above the courtyard, a handmaid cried out, "Princess, it's an hour 'til the guests are due!" The Masquerade was intended for Titania to choose a suitor to take as her husband; it was an Avishyven tradition. Lords came from all over the lands to have their chance with the legendary beauty of the enchanted kingdom - and it was enchanted, make no mistake. Though magic was rare, it was accepted, and the royal family as well as the guard and most of the townsfolk had some level of skill (although the princess and her mother in particular were two rather powerful enchantresses).

Titania turned; as she did, the owl merely turned his head to face the other direction, giving the break-neck impression that owls tended to do. "In a moment!" she called. "I'm waiting to receive the hunting party!" And no sooner had she said it than did her parents arrive through the gates, accompanied by several friends and members of the guard. Titania could see the small mage-lights trailing behind them, slight yellow glows leaving trails on the retinas if one stared too hard at them.

As her father dismounted, he was already heading for her. "Darling, why are you not inside preparing for the ball? Your guests will be arriving soon; we only returned so late because your mother insisted on chasing down an extra piece of game," he added, tossing the stubborn queen an irritated glance. The woman, also tall and blonde and lovely, tossed her braid back with an impudent smile and held up a rather handsome fox by its tail.

"Your father tires of buying me furs from other lands, so I have decided to catch and make my own," she said with a satisfied tone. She grinned more broadly as her husband shook his head.

"What will I do with the two of you? You don't need men at all, unless you've got something you can't reach," he accused, though he laughed his hearty, tired laugh. "Go, clean yourself up my love," he said, ushering his wife and her newly killed wrap past him and after his daughter.