Chapter 4
“The men are looking good A.J.” Zane said as they watched the scrimmages.
“They are, it’s a shame that their training may come in handy soon. I know both you and father were praying that it wouldn’t.”
“That’s true but if it happens it happens there’s nothing really that we can do. We’re still trying the talks, but they aren’t going as well as we had look forward to. If only those two kingdoms would behave. They’re causing all the trouble. Mossy Thunder and Relics of Rodents are just names that bring trouble. Because of them some of the other kingdoms are being forced to choose sides.”
“Do you know how the Kingdom of the Albino Three-Toed Frogs, the Kingdom of the Azure Turtle Souls and the Kingdom of the Great Celestial Stone Grey Otters feel…I mean with them being neutral for so many years. It would be a shame for them to have to pick sides now.”
“I’m not sure how they feel. I was hoping to go and visit them in the next couple of days if possible. I was always nice knowing that no matter what side you were on, those Kingdoms would give you shelter. They truly are the ones that we should be taking after.”
“I agree. If you’ll excuse me, I think I’m going to go hunt Krystal down. I think I should apologize, even though it really wasn’t my fault.”
“A.J. go apologize, because you know you probably shouldn’t have said anything until she mentioned it to you, that and it’s the manly thing to do.” Zane said. “But don’t worry, I’m pretty sure she’s going to flat out refuse him. Which would make me one happy father.”
“See you around Uncle Zane.” A.J. said laughing. He remounted Honor and head down the path that Zane had taken. A.J. wasn’t in a hurry, because he wanted to think about what Zane had said. A.J. slumped his shoulders because he knew in the end Zane was right, he should have kept his mouth shut. “ I think I’ll hunt down father. I really would like to hear the story before I apologize to Krystal…I think she needs to cool down a little more.”
A.J. got to the drawbridge and dismounted Honor. He slapped him on the rump so that Honor would go back to the stable. A.J. crossed over the drawbridge and headed towards his father’s study. When he reached the door he knocked, almost hoping that this father wouldn’t be there.
“Enter.”
A.J. opened the door and stepped inside, he silently closed the door behind him. He turned to face Bryon.
“Austin, what brings you here I thought you were riding with Krystal.”
“Well I was, until I said something I shouldn’t have. I mean I should have kept quiet until she mentioned something about the whole ear piercing thing.”
“Ah you’re talking about Infantryman Quinn aren’t you?”
“How did you know?” A.J. said shocked that his father knew.
“Zane told me. He was concerned but not overly worried. What do you need?”
“This is hard for me to do. But I will readily admit that I’m jealous that Vincent beat me to asking her. But I didn’t want to out right ask her to pierce her ears for me…I mean I wanted to know the true meaning behind it all and I’m sure she’d be happy if I understood. Well even if she understood, she’s just doing what she’s been told to do.”
“Ah, I had a feeling this day would come. Come on have a seat and I’ll tell you the story behind asking a woman to pierce her ears for you.”
A long time ago, long before either of us was born, before Phoenix castle was even built, before the Land of the Northeast Raven Spirit even existed. In the Province of Leaves there was a group of people called the arctic elves. The arctic elves had a tradition that forbid the young female elves from getting married too young. They kept them in their own little section of the province. Once that young lady went to that section she got a second last name. This story focuses on one young lady; her name was Tiffany Elizabeth Rose Isabel Fallskin-Clawblossom, but everyone called her Teri. Now Teri wasn’t the most beautiful lady in the group. She had almond-shaped brown eyes and her luxurious, curly, brown hair was usual up in the most intricate braid you’ve every seen (no one else can duplicate it). She also had a graceful build that the other ladies would die for. Another tradition in the arctic elves was that the most beautiful got to “pick” whom they’d like to marry. Unfortunately it wasn’t really up to them and Teri had kind of figured this out. So when it came her turn to pick, she said she just couldn’t decided and left it at that. This was not heard of, never before had no one not picked someone. So they brought before the high chieftain (who also happened to be Teri’s father) and say “Oh great and mighty Chieftain Fallskin. We’ve had one woman who refuses to choice who she wants to marry.” And the chieftain asks who it was and the reply is Teri Fallskin-Clawblossom. Now mind you it’s unusual for the parents to learn their daughter’s new second name. So when the Chieftain heard this he had a fit. “How dare you give my daughter Clawblossom as her second last name? That name was forbidden centuries ago, because the one who had that name was an evil artic elf. You have forced me. I must banish my daughter, she is no longer welcomed anywhere in the Province of Leaves.” So Teri was banished with the only two magic spell she was allowed to keep, which was the ability to look human when need be to hide her pointy ears and her shortness and the ability to freeze anything (which actual was something all arctic elves could do).
On that very day in a different province, the Province of Pebbles, there was somewhat of the same thing going on. Only it was a young man choosing to banish himself, for having the name given to a good merfolk. Andre Lang Everett Xavier Flightcharm-Jeweltrap, or Alex if it’s easier, belonged to a select few called the Raider Merfolk. The main purpose of the Raider Merfolk was to travel the various waterways digging up things of the past and helping to put them to use in their time. Alex had wide ash-gray eyes. His thick, wavy, very long hair was the color of the midnight sky, which he kept tied back with a piece of seaweed. He was tall, well-built with fins the color of an autumn sunset. His skin was tanned from the sun penetrating the water. Alex had been a member of the Raider Merfolk for half his life. On this particular day they were actually searching the waters near the Province of Leaves. They met an older merman who looked liked he had seen better days. Alex asked if there were any artifacts that could be taken back to the Province of Pebbles. The merman said only a tradition that was started by some one near and dear to the merfolk. Not understanding what the old merman was getting at Alex asked him to explain. So the merman did…
There once was a time when the merfolk were in danger of being whipped out of the Province of Pebbles. One of the merman decided to do what he knew was forbidden, he chipped off some of the scales off of his fins and made them into necklace, earrings, and bracelets. Then he went to one of the towns that was close by and sold his creations. One of the townsfolk that saw them was so impressed he asked if the jeweler could make more, and if possible of other colors. The merman knew that if he got the other merfolk to chip some of their scales off, he could make enough to put an end to the people trying to whip them out. So he went to the King of the merfolk and talked to him about it. The King wasn’t happy that the merman did the forbidden, but agreed to command the others to chip some scales off. The merman was able to save the Province and his fellow merfolk.
Once the older merman was done Alex looked at him dumbfounded and asked what is the tradition he started? What was his name? The merman looked at Alex and said, why he’s the reason we celebrate the Day of the Bronze Fin and his name was Jeweltrap. Since him though, no one’s been allowed to have that name. Alex just had to ask the next question because his second last name was Jeweltrap, what happens if some one has Jeweltrap as a last name. Then they might as well banish themselves, it’s a lot easier then the punishment they’d get.
So to for go what ever the punishment was, he left. He didn’t tell anyone that he was going. He just went. Alex knew he couldn’t do much on the land because of his fins, so he just stayed near the shore in hopes that he’d think of something. That’s when he saw the young female. She looked sad and lonely. Alex tried not to scare her but he said excuse me. When she looked up he went on, I don’t mean to disturb you, but I’m in the need of magic, do you know where I can find some. Teri looked at Alex, what kind of magic were you looking for? Well I know this may sound strange, but my fi...legs I mean are stuck together. Teri inched closer to where Alex was and then he notice that she was an elf. Well he said I suppose seeing your ears I can tell you the truth, I’m a merman and I need legs. OH that’s easy and Teri said some mystical words and gave Alex legs.
From that day on Teri and Alex looked out for each other, then one day they were in a town. They were looking at one of the shops when Alex noticed some interesting earrings. He asked the shop owner what they were made of. Oh those, those are from a long time ago some guy named Jeweltrap made them to save the Province of Pebbles. The earrings happened to be the same color that Alex’s fins used to be. I’ll buy them. Alex handed the man some money, so the man wrapped them up and gave them to Alex. Alex went to find Teri, when he did he said, I know I don’t have much to offer, but I want you to have these as a token of the love that’s grown for you since the day we met. Will you be with me for forever? Teri took the package and opened it. She went on about how beautiful they were. Alex got her out of earshot from the townsfolk and told her, they were made be a merman by the name of Jeweltrap, he mad them to save the province I come from. Alex proceeded to tell her the tale. It happens he said that the color of the earring was the same color that my fins were. Teri, being an artic elf, can freeze most things by touching and willing it. So she froze her ears and stuck the earrings in.
“So you see A.J. that’s where the tradition of asking the girl to pierce her ears for you comes from.
Chapter 5
After hearing the tale of having the women pierce their ears for marriage it kind of made sense. Alex gave Teri something that had been important to him, something that reminded him of his merfolk days. Teri knowing that it meant that much to him took them. A.J. knew that he may just have screw things up with Krystal but he wanted to try and fix them. He had been given the earrings that his father had given his mother, so he ran up to his room to get them. He figured that she’d be at the stables, at least he hoped she was still there. Seeing as how he had already sent Honor back, he ran all the way to the stables. He stopped to catch his breath before going in. He was about to call out when he heard Wes talking.
“The way he feels. He’s ‘crazy’ about you. I mean when he thinks it’s okay and no ones around. He’s like Krystal this and Krystal that. I mean he swore up a blue streak when I told him what Vincent had done.”
“I guess, I never knew he felt that way. It makes sense though with the way he acts sometimes. I mean dad said it was him that requested my presence today.”
“See, would he do that if it didn’t have feelings for you? I mean how often do cousins really want to hang out with each other when they aren’t being forced.”
“I know, it’s just that I hadn’t expected him to know about Vincent. I had kind of hoped he would ask me. But it appears that it’s too late for that.”
“Krystal it’s never too late if A.J. is the right one for you. Just think if it comes to pass, maybe the Kingdom of the Misty Oak Sunset and the Kingdom of the North Leaf Sunrise will become one Kingdom, or you two will start a new Kingdom.”
A.J. liked the idea of joining the two kingdoms. But he couldn’t say anything to them to that he overheard them talking.
“Hello?” A.J. shouted as he walked into the stable. “Wes, you in here?”
“Over here A.J. I’m by Biscuit.” Wes shouted back. He patted Krystal’s shoulder.
*This is as far as I got on this story. I know I have the family tree somewhere for this story, not a clue where though
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