She knew the story of this house all too well.  Her mother had urged her to seek other suitors, but since the loss of Arahaelon, Faira had more or less avoided any such connection again.  Andromeda had told her that Arahaelon had died with his family, but the story the stranger before her told did not mention the final fate of the eldest of her house.  The man Faira would have married, had he survived.  The memory stung and for a moment she closed her eyes, his memory coming back to her as if it had only been days since she had last seen him, not years.  When she opened her eyes again, something struck her about the man who now made his way toward her, and all at once the realization hit her herd, like a blow to the gut.<br/><br/>“Ara--Arahaelon…”  She stuttered out, but before she could say more the glint of the metal of the blade caught her eye first.  He was upon her faster, much faster, than she had expected him to be.  The women that ascended to the throne of the Empress were intended to have centuries of training before they fully came into her power, but her mother had died before that training could be completed.  Sanguenon had nearly landed his blow, when someone dropped from the rafters above, placing themselves between the Empress and her would-be assailant.  Faira knew who it was before she got a good look at the man who had intervened.  Rhys Lockbride was one of the few male members of the Empress’ Ravens, and though she had strictly ordered he not follow her here, his presence did not come as a surprise either.  He launched himself at Sanguenon, knocking the dark elf off his expected trajectory toward Faira.  Rhys regained himself quickly and pulled his bow from his back, reaching for an arrow to knock.<br/><br/>In the same moment, Aurora burst into the room and with immense speed closed the distance between the door and where Faira stood.  Aurora already had her sword, a heavy and sharp, ready to take on Sanguenon at the same speed at which Rhys intended.  They’re going to kill him.  Faira thought.  She pushed past her protects and unwisely placed herself between them and the man who had moved to injure her just seconds before.  She held both hands out to her loyal friends, hoping it would halt their attacks.<br/><br/>“Do not harm him.  He...I know this man, and I do not wish you to harm him.”  Faira had not noticed it at first, but her hands had begun to glow with a soft white light as she held them out toward Aurora and Rhys.  Aurora’s face softened, but her sword went no lower.  Rhys kept his bow at the ready, but he pointed it at the ground for the time being.  Faira kept a few feet between her and Sanguenon, but she could not stop the question that came to her lips, nor the tears that filled her eyes.<br/><br/>“What has happened to you?”  She first said, her words filled with loss and sympathy.  “And what have I done to deserve such a fate from you?  I….I thought I lost you, that you had died so long ago.”  Was this all some ploy to take her life for some perceived slight she had perpetrated on the elf that would have stood at her side while she took the throne?