Ellowen rocked from side to side gently and slowly, the baby in her arms cooing at the motion. She felt her daughter caressing her dark hair like she always did as she drifted off to sleep. Ellowen found it adorable. She began to sing to her daughter, her voice rising and falling like gentle waves on the sea. A siren’s voice, her mother had said before. The young princess’s tiny hand fell and dangled over Ellowen’s shoulder, telling her she had fallen asleep. She finished the song and practically floated across the room on near silent feet to the crib. She laid her daughter down slowly and gently. She drew in a breath and stayed completely still when the baby’s golden eyes fluttered open for a moment. As quietly as she could, Ellowen walked backwars tward the ancient wooden door. when she could reach it, she pushed down on the handle and let herself out, closing it behind her as softly as she could. As she did, she whispered, “sweet dreams, Loreley,”

“You put her down much faster than yesterday,” Dannon, Ellowen’s husband, said from behind her. Ellowen jumped and made a startled sound.

“Can you please not sneak up on me like that!” She whispered, hitting the side of his arm gently. He chuckled, the sound warm and welcoming. Ellowen crossed her arms, looking up at him.

“Your eyes are so beautiful in candlelight,” Dannon whispered, smiling mischievously at her.

“Leaning on flattery and compliments to help you now, are you?” Ellowen asked, returning his mischievous smile.

“Slightly now and then. But how else am I supposed to redeem myself after doing such sinful things such as sneaking up on you, my love? We both know that you could easily burn me from the inside and turn me to ash,” he said as he turned and began walking down the short hallway to their room. Ellowen followed. She let fire dance at her fingertips as she smiled at him.

“I suppose you’re-“

There was a crash and the sound of broken glass scattering on a floor.

“Loreley!” They said at the same time, running to their daughter’s room. Guards were already running up the stairs to inspect the commotion. Ellowen had blasted the door open with a gust of flame before she had run halfway down the hall. She focused on creating a barrier around Loreley’s crib, the golden flames beginning to snake around it. The princess was awake and giggling at the sight of the golden light. Ellowen saw her stand, or atleast attempt, and raise her fingers to touch it. It wouldn’t hurt her. She was immune to her fire.

A man wearing a midnight black coat stood inches away from the baby. Had Ellowen been a second too slow…no, she couldn’t think like that at the moment. The guards poured into the room from behind her, their spears and swords poised to kill. In a gruff, unpleasant voice the man said, “My mistress will possess The Fire Stone. No matter what you do, wear you go, or where you send her, she will be found,” and with the raise of an arm, the man was gone in a plume of smoke.

Dannon looked at her expectantly, knowing they were thinking the same thing. Ellowen’s old partners would know what to do, how to protect her. Here, she was an easy target. With tears welling in her eyes, Ellowen nodded.

“I want every soldier on high alert. Don’t leave any of them un-armed. This room and the rest of the city will be guarded with mine, and your lives,” Ellowen heard the voice of a warrior, and saw the face of a mighty king while she watched him.