Ryia stood there, watching his figure disappear behind the trees and feeling the warmth disappear from her heart. It was always hard watching him walk away. This time especially, because he was going to put himself in harm's way in some hours.

She looked down at the ribbon in her hand, it was now a few inches shorter than it was a while ago, too short to hold her twists up in a bun like it was before. She took her long black twists in her hands and put them together, tying the ribbon around it, leaving her hair in a low ponytail.

Tightening her brown cloak around her shoulders, she turned in the opposite direction and began her journey back home.

Ryia took in the calming scene of the forest as she walked and became relaxed. It always had that effect on her. This was the reason she often found herself there, on the ground or sitting on a large branch.

She went there for the quiet time to think and draw...or when she wanted to see him. It was the only place they could meet almost every day, be alone and keep them a secret. She knew it was bad for them to keep things a secret, but it was the only way they could be together without any drama. She wouldn't be in any trouble, but she knew that he would. His family was...very complicated.

But things were going to change soon. He was going to tell them, and they were going to get married, and no one was going to get in their way.

After walking a good way, she found herself standing in front of a tall green hedge. She looked along it and quickly found the gap in it. She squeezed herself through it, and she was instantly in her grandfather's backyard.

She made her way through her grandmother's flower beds and her grandfather's vegetable beds, heading to the back door of the house. She stepped inside, pulled her cloak off and decided to head to the kitchen to get something to eat. After living there for five years, she was sure her grandmother was cooking something.

No, her parents didn't suddenly die, leaving her in the care of her grandparents. Her parents were well and alive, so were her four older brothers. Her brothers were large, muscular, tough and loud, something that was very annoying to their little sister. Her two older brothers were married, and their wives and children lived in her parents' house as well. As big as their house was, it was beginning to get a bit too crowded for Ryia, so she moved in with her grandparents who were very happy about having her there officially.

From time to time, when she couldn't deal with the crowded house, she would either find herself in the forest or at her grandparent's house, hanging out in her grandfather's study room, which was rarely used.

As she passed by the said study, she could hear voices from it. She stopped in her tracks and listened. She recognized her grandfather and Morgaine, but there were two other voices she didn't know.

Curious, she walked up to the door and knocked.

"Come in," her grandfather said

She opened the door and walked in. She smiled at her grandfather and then nodded at Morgaine, who she had become friendly with. Ryia's eyes fell on the strangers and her smile fell a bit. She didn't know who they were and why they were dressed that way.

"Ryia, you're back," her grandfather said

"I am," she said, her eyes still on the young girls

Alianor and Jacquelyn stared back at the young woman standing at the door. She didn't look like she was related to Gawain, but she certainly looked a little like her grandmother Royale. She had the same brown skin, button nose, and thick lips. She was a little petite, but her curves were very obvious, due to the tight brown corset around her abdomen, and the rather short skirt around her upper thighs. Dark brown tights were covering her legs, darker brown boots were on her feet.

"Jacquelyn, Alianor, this is my granddaughter Ryia. Ryia, these are some family friends, Jacquelyn and Alianor" Gawain said, introducing them "And you already know Morgaine"

"Nice to meet you" Ryia politely said

"Us too," Jacquelyn said, while Alianor nodded

"Come on in Ryia, we need to talk," her grandfather said

Ryia stepped further into the room nervously. She was afraid that her secret had somehow gotten out.

"Do you know why Morgaine is over here a lot?" He asked her

"You tutor her" Ryia answered

"About what?"

"The Sun Queen and the guardians"

"Why do you think I do that?"

"Uh...because she's really curious about them, and you're willing to help her?"

"Well, there's more to it than that"

Ryia brows knitted, what more could there be to it.

"Before the Sun Queen died, after locking Caine away, she told Merek that one day, Caine will return. She promised him, though, that one of his descendants will become the new Sun Queen and each of our descendants will become new guardians. For years, with the help of the Sun Queen's pendant that she gave to him, Merek had been getting visions of the new Sun Queen and Guardians, and had written everything about them this book" He pointed to the book in Morgaine's hand "Today, Morgaine found out that she was the new Sun Queen"

Ryia's eyes widened as Morgaine gave her a sheepish smile. That certainly wasn't what she expected him to say.

"The contents of the book are beginning to be revealed to her and it, along with the Sun Queen's pendant, has shown her who the new guardians are"

Gawain motioned for Morgaine to come closer. She did.

"Show her" he instructed

Morgaine opened the book to the page and held it up for Ryia to see. Her eyes squinted at the drawings, wondering what it was she was supposed to be looking at. Then her eyes landed on the hair ribbon, and it widened once again. Her hand immediately went to her hair, and she began to let her hair down. Soon, her hair fell to her back, and she held up the tie in her hand. She stepped closer to the book and began to compare. It looked exactly like the one she had.

This wasn't a coincidence, she knew that for sure. Her mother made these hair ribbons especially for her. A young Ryia had picked out the pattern and colours herself. She knew that there was no one around with ones like it.

Ryia stepped back, looking at Morgaine then at her grandfather.

"So...does this mean that..." she began but stopped, not quite sure if she had thought right

Gawain stepped forward, standing in front of her. He placed his hand on her shoulder.

"You are a guardian" he smiled

There were a few seconds of silence before Ryia said "Wow"

"Hard to believe right?" Jacquelyn said

Alianor shot her friend a look and turned back to Ryia "Jacquelyn and I are also guardians" she said "That's my grandmother's poetry book that was given to me, and that's Jacquelyn's mother's cloak" she added, pointing to the drawings in the book

Gawain went on to tell Ryia who their grandparents were. He also explained that Caine was back, and now the girls escaped through the secret passageway.

"I don't know what to say," Ryia said once her grandfather was done "This is kind of out of the blue"

"You don't have to say anything. You just need to prepare yourself for what's about to happen next" Gawain said "You all do"

There was silence in the room as they all took it in. Gawain had gone through this before, if he was saying they needed to prepare, then they needed to.

Ryia's mind went back to the book, she had only seen three drawings in there.

"There were five guardians, right? Aren't there supposed to be five descendants?" She asked and the others nodded "So, why does the book only show the three of us?"

"I guess it's not the time to know who the others are. It's will show us when it's time" Morgaine answered

"So what do we do until then?" Ryia asked

"We just wait" Morgaine answered "And I need to get home before my mother sends out a search party"

"Go ahead. The girls will stay here...if that's OK with you two?" He said turning to them

"That would be fine," Jacquelyn said

"Alright. I'll see you all tomorrow"

After saying her goodbyes and a 'be careful' warning from Gawain, Morgaine quickly left.

"Why don't you show the girls to the guest room. I'll go tell Royale we have guests" Gawain said

They all left the room, Gawain heading to the kitchen while Ryia led the girls to the stairs.

"Guess we're going to be guardians together," Ryia said as they walked up the steps

"Yeah" Alianor answered

"Maybe" Jacquelyn added

°~°~°~°~°~°~°~°

It was the next morning, and Morgaine was running through the stone streets, towards Gawain's house.

She had gotten a tongue lashing from her mother when she got home, as she expected. She was about to get a whole lecture but stopped it by announcing she was the new Sun Queen. The look of pride on her mother's face and the look of shock on her other relatives', was worth keeping it from them a while.

She woke up that morning to the pendant tugging on her neck. Once awake, she instantly grabbed the book that was on the bed with her and flipped to the page.

A new drawing had shown up.

She quickly got dressed in her usual attire and added the coat from the day before. She informed her mother she was leaving, with a short explanation and headed out.

Once she got to the house, she burst through the gate and knocked on the door as soon as she got to it. It was Ryia who opened the door this time.

"More guardians," she said breathing heavily, pointing to her pendant and the book

Ryia quickly opened the door wider and let Morgaine in. She quickly led her to the stairs.

"Alianor and Jacquelyn are still asleep," she said as they headed up the steps

Soon they were in the guest room and trying to wake up the others.

"Guys wake up!" Morgaine said shaking a sleeping Alianor

"Wake up!" Ryia said doing the same to Jacquelyn

"Mmmm" Alianor groaned changing positions on the bed

"Wake up!" Morgaine said again

"What is it?" Alianor groggily asked, her eyes still closed

"The pendant, it's glowing"

Alianor's eyes shot open and she sat up. Ryia was still struggling with Jacquelyn, who refused to even move.

"Can you come wake your friend up?" She asked Alianor who was now getting out of bed

"Jackie!" Alianor said making her way over "Time to get up" she added

She began to vigorously shake her, it was the only way she knew to wake her up. Jacquelyn began to move.

"I don't want to go to school" she groaned

"You don't have to go to school today Jackie"

"I'll stay in bed then," Jacquelyn said groggily

"No, you can't, we have to find the other guardians. Morgaine's pendant is glowing again"

There was silence for a few seconds before Jacquelyn finally sat up on the bed, her eyes still closed. Realizing she wasn't about to leave the bed anytime soon, the others sat on the bed and Morgaine brought the book, opening it up in front of them.

Another drawing had appeared again, right under the one of Ryia's hair ribbon. This drawing wasn't a simple object like the others. On one side was a Phoenix, its fiery red wings spread. It was standing on its claws and there was a sword in its wings. Next to it was a large spotted white cat, a snow leopard to be exact. It was standing on its hind legs and like the Phoenix, it held a sword in its paws.

Alianor noticed something tied around the snow leopards paw. It looked familiar, but she couldn't place it.

Both creatures looked like they were about to fight each other. Under the Phoenix were the words "Descendant of the Fire Guardian" and under the snow leopard was "Descendant of the Ice Guardian"

"Well that's different" Ryia pointed out

"Well, maybe it means something," Morgaine said

"What in the world is that supposed to mean?" Jacquelyn asked her eyes now wide open "It's not like big birds and white cats sword fight on a regular"

"Actually, it's a Phoenix and a snow leopard" Ryia informed them, pointing to the animals

"I don't know what it means," Alianor said after staring for a while "Anyone else has any ideas?"

There was silence among them as they thought. After a few minutes of quiet, Ryia finally spoke.

"Henry and Philip" she burst out, it had finally come to her

Jacquelyn and Alianor looked at each other confused.

"You're right," Morgaine said realizing it, it all made sense.

"OK, who are this Henry and Philip?" Jacquelyn asked

"Henry is Geoffrey's grandson and Philip is Ilda's" Ryia answered

"Henry's crest has a Phoenix on it ad Philip's has a snow leopard" Morgaine explained

"And today, they have a sword fight" Ryia added, a little less enthusiastic

"Oh," the younger girls said, understanding them

"So, what do we do now?" Alianor asked

Morgaine smiled "We're going to see a sword fight"

°~°~°~°~°~°~°~°

And there you have it, chapter 7! As always, if you like it, please be sure to vote and comment. And check out my new book Wright Magazine and my collaboration, Work For It.