Orion

Ten Years Back

   "Mai," the voice of the eight year old heiress to Invernest peeked up with those unusual coppery eyes of hers towards the older boy standing at her side. Auburn tresses groomed to enhance her small heart shaped face in a fancy braid atop her crown. Such adoration radiating from her much innocent gaze. "Why do you suppose the black robed ones have come to my home?"
   Two years Orion's senior Maidak Orivaen was the epitome of the future ruler of his own small kingdom borderline on Invernest. Since the two's fathers were the best of friends, the two were forever together which developed their bonding friendship. "I don't know Orie," the fib flowed easily out of his mouth, wishing to keep all worry from the petite girl sitting beside his standing form. "Their appearance is not wanted I can tell." His voice growing grim when remembering their father's upset looks when the magic users came.
   "I know," whimpered the young girl as her eyes flittered towards the door of the castle. "I have never seen my father so upset before."
   "As of mine Orie," his eyes too, those strange golden green looked up towards the window to the conference room where he knew the two kings sat with the black robed ones. Deterring his gaze away only to focus on the girl beside him, those strong protective feelings began to flare back to life. Maidak knew why his father came to Invernest; their father's had hoped Orion and he would wed so they set up a betrothal when the girl was born. "But.. I promise you Orion Shandalar of Invernest that I, Maidak Orivaen of Leharn will always protect you."
   Orion giggled, so touched by her childhood friend whom she had always secretly adored by the pact he just made to her. She would make sure he never forgot this oath he made here and now under the great oak of the royal gardens. "I," the little girl could not help but cup her mouth as more childish giggles burst forth from the little rosebud lips of hers. "Lady Orion Shandalar accepts." The act of trying to look and act like a lady erupted in another fit of giggles, but she did jump to her feet to brush her lips quickly in a chaste kiss to his lips
The ten year old was taken aback by her innocent kiss to his lips causing his eyes to widen with awe and amazement only then to have his cheeks ablaze with a warm blush. Her kiss to him was both their first he knew for Orion was shy around everyone else, including children their own ages. Most of the other noble families and their children looked down to Orion only because her fascination with the forest and the love of nature. Yet many of the younger girl's her age secretly envied Orion for Maidak's constant appearance around her for he was expected to be a handsome figure like his father.
   What both children did not seem to notice was the burning hazel eyes of a robed man lurking in the shadows, witnessing their tender little scene. What he could stand not was the adoration the boy was showing the girl, a girl that was proclaimed special by her coppery eyes. Drakle continued to watch the two knowing that he had to do something fast unless his comrades wanted the two powerful kingdoms to unit with these two before him. No, Invernest and Leharn should not become one, the black robed man promised.
   Stepping away from his shadow's and into the light of the dawning of day, Drakle approached the two children with a scowl on his swarthy and bulbous features. Maidak instantly pushed Orion's small body behind his, thinking that whatever the man intended to do. He would be the first to be struck not his precious Orion. How the boy wished he had a sword or a dagger but his father would not let him train with such weapons yet. "What do you want here robed one.. Go away.. leave this place that you are not welcomed.," bravely the ten year old stood up to the mage.
The sight only caused those cold features to look more ferale as Drakle actually laughed at the boy's bravado. "Pup," his voice oozing out to cause the two children's skin to crawl with chills.
"Don't call me a Pup," angrily shouting back. Maidak's young's face turned red with rage at being called a child.
"Mai..I'm scared," Orion whimpered as she peaked around her friend's shoulder only to jerk her head back to rest on his back.
   Maidak reached his hand back, trying to lay his hand on Orion's shoulders or head to assure her he would allow nothing to happen to her. "I know Orie," he kept his voice a whisper as he decided a plan of attack. "When I say run.. go get your father and mine..alright."
   Startled copper irises shot up to look at the side of her friend's face to find he was serious about this. "But Mai..I can't leave you."
   "You gotta Orie.. I promised to protect you.. No do as I say and," well the boy never did get to finish his words when a blast of cold air hit him, enveloping his young stick body with a greenish blue glow. Orion so scared she began to inch back a few steps, her eyes so teary at the sight of Maidak's body transforming, twisting and stretching into a different shape. The boy only groaned out in pain from the spell the mage cast on him.
   "Stop it..you're hurting him!," Orie screamed out. Big fat tears streaming down her tiny face as Maidak's body fell flat to the ground, different than before. His body was changed into that of a wolf, but Orion never cared as she rushed to her friend's newly transformed body to cradle his face into her arms and lap. The process had exhausted all the boy's strength as he remained in the sweet utopia of sleep, hearing faintly Orion's soft crooning words. "You!.. Why did you hurt him?.. We done nothing to you!..Why you do it?," unable to keep herself from crying as she stared up harshly at the mage.
   Drakle only shook his head at the girl with a dry chuckle, his duty was completed. The Heir of Lehnar was now a wolf, so making Orion free for others when she grew of age because she could no longer marry Maidak. "I need not explain myself little one.. Your friend well he'll be able to keep his promise.. Oh I was generous when I changed him.. He'll grow in human years instead of the wolves natural time.. So he'll live out his life in that form." The black robed one continued to laugh as he turned about, leaving the sobbing girl with her childhood friend.