Gardens of Elvander
Jade sat upon the hilltop, her silvery crimson eyes cast toward the Harbor. The silk dress matched the grass on which she sat, as it flowed around her on each gentle breeze. Her wings were tucked in and she noticed a man down the hillside, watching her with an intent eye. His thoughts brought a smirk to her lips. Hmm, a human. We never see many of them around here. Her left brow raised sharply and without much thought, she let her wings spread out behind her. His reaction was well worth it, for the man jumped nearly from his shoes. Turning quickly, he went back down the hillside. Ah, a quick laugh for such a small deed. You'd think by now the men would have heard of the one with the human flesh afar, scales when neared. This just proved that Mother needed to let her loose a little more often.
As her near black hair rose and waved in the winds from the Harbor, her thoughts drifted to the ships, and what it would be like to be out upon the ocean, drifting to places unknown. A sigh slipped from her lips, just as something caught her eye.
Yes, it was Mother. But a change had come over her. Most would never have caught on to such a slight change, but this was her Mother that she watched. A paper fluttered in her Mother's hand, a message of some sorts. This caught her interest, her curiosity, but she held it all within. Rising to her undressed feet, Jade headed back down the hillside and into her home.
It had taken some time, but Jade removed herself from the company of her siblings, telling them that she had something of more importance to attend to. Now she leaned against the wall, listening to her Mother and the Elf Queen. The small talk was of no interest to Jade, but something had brought her Mother here, and it most certainly was not small talk. Crossing her arms over her chest, she was about to give up when the men entered for the other doorway. They were boatmen, Jade knew that much. Moving closer to the doorway, yet staying unseen, Jade listened intently to the words passed.
“We were too far away for me to see clearly, Lady.. but l saw the Vengeance take a great deal of damage to one side, and a few men went overboard. Only knowing what Lord Firestone is rumored to look like, l did see a crimson armored man go over the railing and into the sea.. we were going to investigate, when we received a call to return to Harbor.”
Her eyes flared. Firestone! Father! No, it couldn't be. There must be another that wore the crimson armor. How could it be that her Father had been ripped from her life before she even got a chance to meet him? It couldn't be so. Turning quickly, Jade fled from the hallway.
Jade flung open the balcony doors, letting the seaside winds pour into her room. Papers rose from her desk and fluttered helplessly in the air like autumn leaves caught in a downdraft. Each paper held artwork, done by Jade's own hand. But as the winds whipped them about the room, the sides tore and pulled the papers to shreds. Outside, the wind was still calm, for the wind grew wicked only after brushing past Jade's anger. On the balcony she stood, her arms raised above her head wings spread open wide. The green silk dress billowed like a sail caught and her hair whipped about like a horse's running wild.
Her Father, how could she lose him so soon after losing her Mother? Why were the Fates so cruel as to steal them from her? Never mind Azure and Dark and Raven, they had gotten to see him, but her... Why her? Why was she brought so much pain?
The miniature tornado grew in her room and began slamming the doors shut then open again. As they slammed shut, the glass shattered and rained over Jade. The shards tore into her dress, but did not harm her. They caught the sunlight and rained down to the earth below. Glowing with eternal light. Shattered like her dreams of meeting her Father.
Slowly she slumped down. The tornado of anger died down in her room. Breathing unsteadily, she looked up and watched as her Mother took off and flew out to sea, followed by her dragon. Not a tear ran down her cheek. No lump sat within her throat threatening to catch her breath and words. All that existed was bitter pain.
Rising slowly, she turned and stepped through the broken doorway. Her eyes glanced once over the destruction that she had caused, then to the 3 sets of eyes that peered, frightened, into her room. Looking down, she approached the bed and sat upon the edge. Azure, Dark and Raven quickly scurried to her and pounced the bed in their childlike manner. Their words came quickly ... ‘Why sissy do tiss?’ ... ‘What wong wit sissy?’ ... ‘Where momma go sissy?’
Laying back into the bed, she cuddled her small sisters and brother and they all drifted off to sleep.