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Part I: In which we hear a declaration of love, the crashing of wondrous waves, and a plot being hatched for the sake of beauty.

Once upon a time, at the most beautiful place in the world, a man named Andrew wrapped his arms around the waist of the woman he loved. Colleen was her name and she sighed, leaning into him, comforted by his warm breath on her neck. They stood, many years ago, looking out from the giant cliffs across the ocean.

She was an uncommon beauty who had never been conscious of the effect she had on those around her; nor had she ever a thought of how to use it for her benefit. Soft and gentle with a playful, kind spirit, she had drawn Andrew to her and once she had him in her grasp, she swore she’d never let him go.

Andrew also knew, from the first time her head tucked into his shoulder, that the two of them fit together as if they had been carved from the same piece of wood. They had come to this green land to be joined in marriage and face the future together. But, of course, fate laughs at the plans of lovers. It laughs hard and it laughs with cruel intentions.

“I can’t believe this place,” she said, her breath getting lost in the excitement. “It’s amazing.”

“There’s nothing like it anywhere else,” he whispered into her ear. “Very much like you.”

She giggled. “We are married tomorrow, you know. You can stop feeding me lines.”

Andrew gasped in mock outrage and spun her around to face him. “How could you consider my honest declarations of love mere lines?” His left hand drifted out and tucked away a stray strand of her blonde hair.

Colleen’s bright blue eyes sparkled in the dimming light. “Honest declarations? I thought you were just after my money.” She leaned forward and pressed her lips against his. “I love you,” she declared through the kiss.

“And will you still love me when my clever lines run out?” he smiled.

She kissed him again with speed and spun loose of his arms, laughing and moving towards the road. “Your lines weren’t that clever. I just let you think they were.”

He groaned and started after her, oblivious to anything else but his bride-to-be and the limitless possibilities ahead. As they moved farther from the cliffs edge, the crashing sound of the waves below swallowed the music of the two lovers and their playful chase. Those stoic cliffs had seen many such couples play out their affections over the years and they would see many more to come so they paid no special notice, but someone else, someone older than those cliffs, did take notice however and she was not a trifle.

Stepping out of shadows cast from nothing, a woman shimmered into sight; a soft and strange gentle glow gathered around her. The near transparent material from her gown moved with the rhythm of the pounding waves and her bright red hair refused the orders of the wind, preferring to move as best suited it’s fancy. It danced like flames around her shoulders as she went from darkness to wondrous light. Her pale skin held the rays from the setting sun and sharp emerald eyes gleamed with mischief, malice, and envy as they followed Colleen’s retreating form. This woman moved with the grace of a warrior, delicate and precise. Her name was Ériu and she was a queen.

“That one is most comely is she not?” the queen asked.

Another figure stepped from the strange shadows and fell in right behind the unearthly woman. He was very tall and very thin, dressed plain and dark carrying a deep sense of gloom.

“She is indeed comely, Lady,” his deep voice answered.

“I have found the court somewhat drab of late.” Ériu frowned and somewhere off in the distance a crow screeched. “I do not like things to be drab. My displeasure with those who say they serve me grows.”

“As you say, Lady.”

She waved her hand through the air and an image of light formed in her palm. Colleen, two inches tall, turned in front of the Queen’s face.

“This one will lighten up my court as she is a thing of beauty. She shall be ours, I think.” Another wave and the image vanished, Ériu turned sharply to her companion, her eyes tight and determined. “Locate Connal and that idiot friend of his Gaghar. Tell them if that woman is not improving the look of my royal court by the time my Lord King Husband and I take seats for the Weltis Feast, then I shall redecorate the throne room with their insides.”

“They will be commanded such, Lady.”

For the first time since stepping out of the shadows, the great lady smiled. “Beauty for beauty’s sake, Blaine.”

The tall dark man nodded and bowed as Ériu twisted around into nothing and vanished. “For beauty’s sake, Lady.”