Naveen

Rina:

The day the bride was to arrive, everyone of importance was lined up to receive her in the ballroom. I was sick to my stomach with apprehension but I was glad to have the four people I trusted behind me.

"The lady Alia!" was announced as the doors opened and admitted the woman and her party. There was murmur throughout the crowd. She struck me immediately as gorgeous and innocent. I couldn't hate her. She was probably in the same situation I was in. I only had a moment to stare at her before I heard a gasp behind me.

Maleen:

All day I had an odd weight pressing down on my shoulders. It was uncomfortable, and I couldn't understand what it was coming from. At midday, I felt a creeping sensation of long fingers probing my body. I didn't mention anything to Wren or Dorian, wishing not to worry them.

When we assembled in the ballroom, my knees were weak with the weight and the hands were creeping through my chest and up my spine. The doors opened and my vision went white with pressure. I gasped and felt the grount rush at me as I lost consciousness.

Talon:

I stood beside Rina, gazing out over the crowd of people. I wasn't interested in the prince's bride, but I went for Rina. I was glad I had decided to go without my full armor and weapons. The humans had gone all out, eager to impress. Grand ball gowns, expensive suits, jewelry and wealth in abundance. I didn't belong in such a place and so I was more than pleased in the simple shirt and pants I was wearing. I had a blade belted on either side of my hip and my greatsword strapped to my back.

Though I didn't want to, even my gaze shifted to the door when they glided open. Standing behind the three girls with arms crossed I couldn't get the best view. And what I'd gotten was enough for me. Disgruntled as I was I didn't notice Maleen's plight until she was already falling. And as I rushed to kneel beside her that was when it hit me. Alia. Something about her sang to me. I didn't need to look at her to feel it. The metal carved into my skin practically hummed it to me.

Rina:

I turned when Maleen fell. "What happened?" I said in a hushed tone, trying not to draw attention. Dorian knelt beside her along with Talon. They attempted to revive her but she was out cold. "Take her out of here," I commanded quietly. I couldn't seem weak in front of all these people, and there were several watching us now. I was worried about Maleen, but There was nothing that I could do for her.

Dorian scooped her up and did his best to discreetly remove her from the setting. I watched the two as best I could but there was only so much attention I could afford to spend. I looked back to Lady Alia, moving down the center of the ballroom.

With Maleen out of it, and Dorian taking her away I took up her spot, standing beside Wren behind Rina. A gentle touch to the angel's shoulder brought out a smile full of worry but she had her job. She had to help Rina look important. And as I watched she turned that smile towards others who had an eye on us. Gazes softened, smiles were returned, and before long everyone was focused on the bride instead. It was after that I too turned my attention to the Lady Alia.

The feeling of humming in my skin only grew the closer the couple got. Discipline kept me from squirming, kept me from both cowering and running for joy. I couldn't figure out why this was happening, what force or magic could so energize the metal. And then it struck me. Something about the Lady Alia tickled at my memories. I wasn't sure why. But she felt...familiar.

Rina:

As she crossed in front of me, a few yards away, her face turned toward me. For a second I thought she was looking right at me, then I realized she was looking past me to Talon. Her eyebrow arched slightly and the corner of her lips twisted in a small smile before her gaze drifted over the rest of the crowd. I turned to look at him questioningly. His expression was new to me, and I couldn't discern what it meant. I couldn't only look at him for so long before turning away. There were already a few whispers through the castle about me, I couldn't feed them by being caught staring at my guard.

Talon:

My heart quickened under that gaze. A gaze that spoke of some secret, some amusement and surprise that brought her a measure of delight. I was used to being prey, some beasts meal. But to find myself possibly being someones plaything was new. I didn't know what to do. Still the tickle at the back of my mind grew. I knew her. But I couldn't figure out why or where.

Rina:

After the prince and Lady Alia had taken their place at the tables, the feast began. Everyone was talking about the woman. She was the very picture of innocents and they adored her for that. Even I felt a certain draw toward her.

After the feast the music picked up for dancing and the floor was filled with couples. I took the chance to question Talon in a shaded corner without eyes focusing on me. "Do you know something about her? Lady Alia?" I asked him searching his face.

"I don't know..." I murmured. Frowning I gazed at the floor, still unable to quite place the woman. "She seems so familiar...but I am not sure why." Beating a fist against my thigh for a moment I shook my head, "Something happened however. It might not have been her, but when she came in the air felt alive with magic."

Rina:

My brows raised at that. "Alive with magic? Like what, someone was casting a spell over us?" I asked with a frown. I glanced toward the people who had come in with her. Could one of them use magic?

"I'm not sure...perhaps so? It was....exhilarating and terrifying at the same time." Sucking in a breath I let it out slowly. "Perhaps Maleen could describe it better than I. But something was happening."

Rina:

I thought about Maleen. "Is that why she fainted?" I asked. I knew the witch was sensitive to things like that, but it was worrisome that she would be weak in the face of another spellcaster. "Is it bad?" I looked at him now with worry in my eyes.

"Perhaps." Crossing my arms I stared at the ground. Slowly my gaze returned to Rina, "Bad.....I can't say. Powerful yes, dangerous perhaps, it all depends on what and who..."

RIna:

I sighed and leaned against the stone wall. "I need to send a message to Brian about this," I said quietly, looking over the dance floor at Lady Alia who was dancing with the Prince. Why would she bring someone of magic with her? "We should speak with Maleen," I said.

"Shall we depart then?" I offered, one hand extended out to her. Now that the option was available I knew I should depart. The metal still faintly hummed to me about the magic, but with out knowing the source logic told me I needed to be wary.

Rina:

I took his hand and together we slipped out of the ballroom unnoticed. When we found Maleen in her quarters she was awake and sitting at the table. Her hands were wrapped around a mug of hot tea. "Are you well?" I asked her her. She looked over at the two of us and nodded.

"I'm sorry I made a scene. I was overwhelmed by the energy of the crowd I suppose," she said quietly. "I'm not used to that many in one room."

Talon:

I followed alongside Rina, taking a long look around the room before smiling at Maleen. "I'm glad you are okay but...whatever you felt Maleen I think I felt as well. I was wondering if perhaps it could have been magic we were feeling."

Wren:

I fidgeted off to the side by a pillar. Between the crowd of people, servants, and guards I had lost sight of Rina and Talon. I smoothed out my dress. It was elegant but simple without many of the frills that a fair number of the court's elite were wearing.

"Excuse me my lady, I know most of the court but I've never seen such a beautiful noble like you." A warm voice sounded in my ear.

I jumped slightly and turned to face the squat, pudgy man. A smile spread over his lips as I took a few fumbling steps back. "Aw did I scare you? I am a Marquess you know. I don't bite."

Another step had me bump into something warm and sturdy. Tilting my head back I gazed into an amused face. A long hooked nose, slicked back hair, and incredibly tall and thin was the man who settled his hands on my shoulders. "Don't worry. I've got you my dear." His deep voice called.

Smiling I tried to excuse myself only to be onset by a third man. Before long I felt trapped in a small crowd of males and females alike all bickering politely over me. I clasped my hands together and held them to my breast as I gazed at all of them with a shy smile.

Rina? Talon? Dorian? ....Maleen? Help....

Maleen:

I looked at him. Magic was exactly what it was. Some kind of force field of magic. "Possibly." I glanced between Rina and Talon. "The way you and I use magic is quite different though, you draw magic from the lines within your own body. I draw magic from the land. What I felt earlier was like there was another vein of power flowing through the ground. It... It wasn't comfortable..." I tried to explain but I didn't know how to put into words what had happened. It was like the magic was trying to suck me under, to shell me out.

"What I felt was....terror and elation in one. My magic originates from the moon and the light it gives. It's stored within the lines. But today those lines were humming. They felt something." I frowned. "It was like the magic wanted to rush in at the same time be pulled out."

Maleen:

I nodded and looked down at my tea. I couldn't explain it. "I don't know what it was. I don't know if it was a person or a force..." I was still feeling it, though it wasn't as strong as it had been in the ballroom. There was a weight on my shoulders, pushing me down.

"Where is Wren?" I asked after a moment. Surely just being with her would help. Rina said she might still be in the ballroom and Dorian volunteered to fetch her back.

Wren:

My crowd had grown a bit, though they had decided to spread out somewhat and I had my own personal dance floor. With not shortage of partners I laughed and smiled as I danced from one person to the next. I felt happier like this, and so long as I kept smiling and laughing no one seemed to be arguing too much. Still it was with evident joy that I found myself spun into Dorian.

Dorian:

I grasped her close and looked down at her. It was impossible not to grin at her when she was smiling like this. I was dumbstruck by her beauty. "I was thinking that I would have to rescue you from this setting, but you seem quite in your element," I leaned down to murmur in her ear.

Giggling I shook my head, "I can always be rescued. i got stuck with so many people asking me things and wanting to know about who i was...i had to do something so I suggested dancing and then I just got caught up in it!" My eyes sparkled and danced with joy though that look became teasing, "Every one of my friends had left me all on my lonesome after all..."

Dorian:

"I came as soon as Rina came for Maleen," I answered. The song shifted to a new one in the background. "May I have this dance?" I asked even though she was already in my arms and made no move to get away from me. I grinned.

I drew away from him and gave my best imitation of a curtsy. "I would be honored." Stepping back again I laid one hand on his shoulder, the other settling into his hand.

Dorian:

I twirled her around on the dancefloor happily. If I hadn't already known she was an angel, I would have guessed that she was not of this world. Wren almost radiated light when she was happy. It was impossible for anyone to not love her. Even the lady Alia, who was herself a beauty, watched her with rapt attention.