A lone figure stands on the shore; a soft breeze stirs a few loose tendrils of hair as her blue eye gaze over the calm waters that surround her island home. Her lips curl into a half smile as she hears soft scurrying sounds coming from the dune behind her. A dolphin head crests the water, making soft churring sounds while he splashes in the water.

"Eeeeeeek he intones Eeeeeek "

"I hear her Raja," the figure says, as she waits for the little girl, who just crested the dune, to draw nearer. " Hello Little Princess." she says without turning her head.

" You heard me." The little girl frowns and drops to the sand besides the standing figure.

"Yes, Little Princess, but you got very close before I heard you. You have been practicing, that and Raja informed me of your presence."

"Raja! The little princess frowns at the dolphin, floating on his side and waving at the two people, making soft sounds that sounded like chuckling. " He's laughing at me."

"No, I don't think so Little Princess, I think he just delights in your company." Smiling eyes gaze at the thoughtful child, who for all her 4 years holds more adult like thoughts than some give credit for. Again she gazes out over the water, and waits for the next string of questions she is sure will come.

"Falcon?" the child looks at the standing figure.

"Yes Little Princess."

"I heard mother say that you were standing -- she frowns searching for the unfamiliar word-- vigil? What does that mean?

"Well you know that in the outer world is a big storm, and that some of our people have yet to return home. So I stand, and watch for them and if need be, call to them, or light a fire to guide them safely to our shore. I requested this singular honor of the Queen, and she gave her consent"

"We never get storms here do we? I mean, I never heard of one, but they don't always tell me stuff, they think I'm too young. Do you think I'm too young Falcon? "

" I think, you are at a perfect age for you Little Princess. I also think that someone is looking for you, did you forget to tell where you were going again? " Falcon gazes down and sees a sheepish grin on the Little Princess's face.

" Marissa!" a voice calls from the distance Marissa where are you?"

" OOPS I'm in for it now."

Suddenly, the air is rent with a pained scream. Two sets of eyes look up into the sky and see a small form falling to the earth. Its feeble cries are answered by a flock of seagulls, that dive, and harry the obviously wounded creature. It lands in a clump of dune grass, and manages to gain cover. Falcon and Princess Marissa run to the spot. Handing her staff to the small Princess Falcon instructs her to keep the seagulls at bay. While the girl stands bravely and scowls in what she thinks is her fiercest look; Falcon kneels beside the clump of grass, and parts it. They’re panting, in both fear and exhaustion is a small bird of prey.

" Poor little thing, Falcon croons, we mean you no harm." The small bird squeaks her defiance at the large human that towers over her.

"She's scared"; the Princess Marissa kneels besides the older woman, and just gazes at the small bird.

Falcon croons softly as she gently takes the small winged predator up in her wrap.

" Marissa there you are, A lone figure strides up, Your mother is worried about you. You forgot to tell her where you were going, and you missed your morning class."

The Little Princess hangs her head. "I just wanted to--"

"She just wanted to ask some questions about Raja, and the Pod, Saran." "She was just about to return when we saw this poor little thing get blown to our shore. Falcon unveils the small creature whom in the face of light and another strange human begins to keen her fear again.

"Its' OK Morning Star, Saran won't hurt you." The princess croons softly, and with the sound of her voice the bird begins to calm.

"Morning Star? Falcon looks to the child’s face

"Well that’s what she said her name was. Her father was called Shooting Star, and her mother was called Bright Morning. So she is called Morning Star.

Saran and Falcon just look at one another and smile.

"Oh before I forget, everyone has returned, and the Queen says you can stand down from your vigil."

"Thank-you Saran, I better get Morning Star back to Hospital and check her injuries."

The exam room is quiet save for the worried noises made by Falcons' small winged patient.. The Merlin is wrapped in a soft cloth leaving only one injured wing exposed.

"It's going to be all right Morning Star, just let me see to what extent the damage is." The animal Healer spreads the wing gently noting any change in the birds breathing and movement to indicate pain. As she spreads the wing to near its full extension, the bird begins to chirp and squeak. " Hmmm , all right , all right , that tells me just what I want to know."

'Falcon? a small voice comes from the outer room.

" In here little Princess in exam 1, you may come in."

The young Princess walks into the room, pulling herself up onto a stool, she manages to slide onto the exam table, to get closer to the wounded patient and healer.

" Is she gonna be OK? The child asks, her face one of deep concern.

The small bird chirps a welcome sound and seems to quiet in the presence of the child.

"Little Princess could you hold her while I work on this wing? I have to replace a few broken flight feathers, which means I have to clip the broken ones and glue in new ones. Do not tell her that they are seagull feathers, it might upset her." Falcon smiles at her small assistant.

The Princess gently, with Falcon's guiding hands, holds the cloth wrapped body and croons softly.

'It will be OK Morning Star honest, Falcon just wants to fix your wing. She isn't gonna hurt you."

The healer snips the damaged flight feathers near the quick, after cleaning out the end she tips a feather with glue, and inserts it into the now readied space. After a few minutes she extends the wing again till the small bird protests.

"She says that hurts."

" I know, The healer's face is one of concern. Wait here with her, I'll be right back." Falcon leaves the room and soon returns carrying some strips of leather with bells attached. " We will have to put there jesses on her for the time being, and she might just as well get used to the sounds of the bell. "

"What are -------jesses Falcon" The Princess frowns at the new word.

"Jesses are kind of like leashes that fit on a hunting bird so the you can keep a hold on them while you carry them. The bells are so that we can keep track of her in flight."

"She will fly, won't she Falcon? Small eyes gaze up into the healer face. Full of hope for the small bird of prey, already the signs of growing up take shape in the child.

" I hope so Little Princess, her wing feathers are repaired as best I can. Sighing the healer goes on. "I fear for the muscles, I am not sure the extent of damage inside, the cuts from the gulls will heal, but the muscles." shaking her head Falcon lifts the small bird and carries her to a box with a perch inside. "This will be her home for a few days, she will sleep for most of the time, it will give her a chance to be quiet."

"Can I visit her? the child asks

"Yes of course, but you must wait till I am here for the time being, if your mother permits you can help me make her strong, and if the Gods will it she will fly again."

"Marissa, why are you bothering Falcon, she has work to do." A woman walks in to the exam room, she is apparently the mother of the child.

Falcon bows her head in respect. "My Princess, the Little Princess was no bother, in fact she was a great help with the injured animal. Her gift is growing daily.

"I'm sure, but she really needs to tell someone where she is going, again she has missed a class, in science this time."

"Perhaps her time spent with me here in Hospital will act as incentive, she wants to aid in the care of the newest member of the island, a small Merlin blown here by the great storm. She is young, and injured, already she has told the little Princess her name. "

"Please Mother may I?" The child turns hopeful eyes on her mother.

"Little Princess, an Amazon owes obedience to her mother, as her Queen, this is an important lesson that every Amazon must learn. Especially, A Princess, it teaches lesson that you may need one day to aid a Queen in her decisions of everyday. Decisions you may have to make later as Queen should the need arise."

The child looked thoughtful for a moment. "Falcon, a Princess has to know a lot of things , right?'

"Yes, knowledge is important." The healer smiled, she knew something was brewing in the child’s mind.

"Then for a Princess to know things she has to ask questions, and watch things." A small smile crept into the child’s eyes.

Princess Vicky's eyes narrowed, she too was beginning to sense the direction of the child’s logic game.

"Rissa, what are you driving at?"

"Well, how will I learn about my power of animal speech if I can't help with Morning Star?" The child gazed up at her mother with a look of satisfaction, thinking she had won her argument, she turns to the healer. "So when can I come back to Hospital to help?"

Falcon gazes down at the child, and is silent for a moment. Under her gaze Princess Marissa begins to squirm.

She looks to her mother who is also staring down at her.

"Please?" she whispers. Thinking that she has just ended any chance to work with the little Merlin, Princess Marissa looks between the two adults, a sad look on her face.

An amused look passes between Falcon, and Princess Vicky, and an unspoken plan is put into effect.

"I think it may be possible, if you promise to attend all your classes----" Falcon starts

"And let who ever is in charge of you, or I, know where you are off to." Finishes the child’s mother.

The child throws her arms around her mother, "I will mother I promise." then hugging a startled healer the little Princess hurries out of the examination room.

"I'll be back after lunch Falcon." she calls as she leaves the Hospital on her way to who knows where.

"Marissa--, her mother calls where are you------" the Princess sighs and turns back to the Healer who has a half smile on her face.

"Didn't we just tell her to say where she goes before she runs off?" the Princess says laughing.

"Yes Princess Vicky, we did, but young ones have selective hearing and memory."

"What of your memory Falcon, do you remember any more of your past?" the Princess inquires.

A pained expression crosses the healer face.

"Very little my Princess, the village healer says to give it time, but that I may never regain it all. So for now I have a home, and a life here, this is a place for me to grow strong and learn. What more can I ask."

"Oh Princess I have an ointment for that cut on Shatan's leg.." The two women began to discuss the care of the Queen's horse.

Days passed the little Merlin grew in strength. But alas she was reluctant to try the injured wing.

"She says it hurts when you stretch it out." The child explained, as the healer pulled gently to extend the wing to its full spread.

"I know Little Princess, but we must keep the wings moving, if we don’t exercise the muscles, they will develop adhesions, it means the muscles will stick together. It won’t heal right, and she will never become strong enough to try to fly."

The Little Princess had tears in her eyes, she felt the Merlin’s pain in her heart, but she also knew the Healer was right, and tried to convey that to the young bird of prey.

"It really is OK Morning Star, you just gotta hurt a little to get better. You want to fly again, don’t you?"

The small bird chirped its protest at the Healers pulling and fussing with her wings. No she didn’t like this one bit, and tried to snap at the hands that held her, but only succeeded in catching the hard leather glove that the human wore. Why couldn’t she make her friend see that it hurt to move the wing?

Suddenly her world went dark, for a moment her small heart beat rapidly in the feathered breast. But then she recognized the strange thing that the large human had taught her to wear.

"What is that? Princess Marissa asked. Looking at the hood that Falcon placed over the Merlin’s head.

"Its just a hood to keep her calm, we are going to walk her around the village today to a custom her to the sounds around here." Placing the bird on a perch in the exam room Falcon then went to a drawer and pulled out a small leather bundle.

"Would you like to carry her for a little while? "

Dark brown eyes lit up like the brightest stars, this alone was answer enough for the healer.

"OH CAN I ?" Princess Marissa almost danced around the room.

"This is for you," Falcon showed that the leather bundle was in fact a Falconer's glove fashioned in just the right size for the Little Princess's hand, and on it was The Princess’s device, a mark that showed that the glove belonged to just her.

Falcon placed the glove on Princess Marissa’s hand and instructed her in how to hold the bird, how to wrap the jesses in her fingers, and most important not to make any fast moves with her hand while the bird was on it.

"If you move too quickly or startle her she may spur."

"Spur?" The Little Princess frowned at yet another new word,

"You see the back claw on her foot?" That is her spur, when she catches something the back claw strikes first and triggers the claws to snap shut, and hold. But when she is frightened she may spur, or jab with the rear claw causing the foot to grab tight. To make a glove thick enough to protect against that would mean the glove would be too thick to be useable." Now I’ve added a fine layer of chain mail in the glove to protect you, so that I think you will be just fine."

"Can I hold her now?" Princess Marissa asked, excited to try out her new glove.

"Not just yet Little Princess, let us walk her around a bit and see just how excited she get first."

The Little Princess was disappointed but remembered that sometimes you just had to wait, even though the waiting was just so hard.

Falcon and Princess Marissa walked around the busy village, many stopped to admire the little Merlin, who often chirped her discomfort, but the soothing words of her friend reassured her.

Just as they neared the Royal Palace and Huts in the center of the village Falcon stopped and looked down at Princess Marissa.

"Would you like to show your mother how well behaved Morning Star is?"

"Oh yes!" The little princess breathed softly fearful that if she let out the whoop that she was holding inside she would scare the little bird and ruin her chance to hold her.

Gently Falcon passed the bird to the small hand, at first the bird fussed but realizing that it was her friends hand she was on, Morning Star calmed quickly. Wrapping the jesses in the small fingers, Falcon made sure that the Merlin was well set.

"Now, Falcon started, don’t move to quickly and just talk to her. If she gets to heavy for you let me know. She will feel your arm tremble as it grows tired and may upset her."

The healer and the Little Princess walked toward the Royal Palace just as Queen Cyan and Princess Vicky came out. Falcon went to one knee, before her Queen and bowed her head.

"Mother look." The child exclaimed.

Morning Star twittered nervously at the outburst, but kept still, trusting in her friend.

"Marissa, your manners." The Princess Vicky said softly to her excited child.

"Oh forgive me Queen Cyan." Marissa said and gave her best, even if a little shaky, bow to the Queen.

"So this must be the latest addition to our island." Queen Cyan motioned Falcon to rise.

"Yes my Queen, Princess Marissa tells us her name is Morning Star." Falcon gently removed the hood from the little Merlin.

Morning Star blinked a few times to get used to the light. Then upon seeing herself in a strange place with even stranger humans, she began to fidget and pant. Falcon quickly offered her glove to the Queen, who took it and put it on.

"Now if my Queen permits", Falcons transferred the nervous bird to the gloved hand of the Queen." The Merlin was called a ladies hunting bird my Queen, light in weight but stout of heart, they have been known to die trying to take down prey larger than themselves. But light enough for a small woman to carry easily"

The small bird, still panting, looked from person to person. She recognized one human as being with her little friend, the other large human was one who fussed with her and fed her, but who was this new human she was standing on?

Her friend told her not to be afraid that no one was going to hurt her.

Gently the Queen stroked the chest feathers of the nervous bird, it seemed to calm her.

"She likes that Your Majesty." Princess Marissa said smiling, proud of the Merlin's behavior with the Queen.

"Has she been trained to hunt yet Falcon?' asked the Queen

"No my Queen, she still favors the one wing, I'm afraid I will have to be stronger with her, to make her excersize the wings."

"What will you do?" the Queen asked.

Sighing, Falcons explains. "I will have to withhold food and tempt her with it, for short hops, that will require her to use her wings a little, and also a bobbing perch that will move, and require her to use her wings to keep her balance. But only after I exercise the wing to warm the muscles.

The Queen nodded; Morning Star calmed, and began to take in the sights around her. It is so strange, and new to her. The Humans she has decided are not going to really hurt her, the one holding her seems nice enough, so she conveyed this thought to her friend.

"Morning Star likes you your Majesty, especially when you pet her chest." Marissa informs the Queen.

"Well I like her too Marissa, tell you what, I have matters that require my attention, so could you please take Morning Star?" the Queen gently passes the Merlin back to Princess Marissa's gloved hand.

"Falcon", the Queen turns to the Healer who bows her head in respect, "I expect reports on the Merlins progress. Oh and by the way, the ointment worked nicely on Shatan's leg. I do not think it will scar."

"My Queen, I was checking the records and it is nearly time for the annual exams, and shots for the cats. If it pleases your Majesty, I will come by in the morning, to begin."

"Yes thank-you Falcon, I will leave word, so that you can have all the help you need to make the examinations." The Queen turns to Princess Vicky. " We will continue our conversation later, but for now I think a trip to the Java hut is in order, Corde is trying a new recipe for bagels."

"Can we go Falcon?" The Little Princess begged, Corde always had the best treats for her.

"I don't think Corde would like to have an animal in the Java hut Little Princess" Falcon smiles.

"Falcon, I think it will be just fine", intones the Queen, "call it -- Royal whim. Its good to be the Queen, the two of you join us, and bring Morning Star."

The three women, and the child, cross the village square heading for a hut from which wonderful smells wafted.