Pari lay languidly in one of the inner courtyards.  Her tiny body was sprawled over soft pillows and nearby a canter of incense burned.  At the center of the courtyard was a gorgeous fountain with sirens singing and spilling water from upturned hands.  All around was a magnificent garden of exotic and colorful flora.  Beautiful tropical birds came to visit and sing their songs to each other.  A slave held a huge umbrella over her while two others had large fans of bird feathers cooling the sleeping girl.

The young princess dreamed fitfully.  The city was burning in her dream.  Something was tearing it apart.  She felt the fear of her people and the animals which lived there.  There was death.  Destruction.  And blood.  She was covered in blood.  Something wet and rough rubbed against her face and woke her from her dream.  Lavanya towered over her, licking her face.  Pari giggled and pushed the beast away. [b] "Stop, stop my darling heart.  Please, I am fine."[/b]  The tiger shifted and lay down next to her on the pillows.  The Maharajani sat up and stroked the great beast, rubbing her ears and scratching beneath her chin.

[b]"Thank you, my sweet sister.  I did not dream well.  Perhaps this new incense was not a good purchase, hmm?"[/b]  She kissed Lavanya as the tiger chuffed and rubbed against her.  The girl leaned back against the pillows and stared up into the blue, cloud-bespotted sky.  She hoped the dream was not a sign of things to come.

"Maharajani!" a voice called from the halls leading to the courtyard.  She did not move as a servant of her father appeared.  "Most beautiful and precious of princesses, an Elven ship is approaching.  Your excellent and gracious father wishes you to get ready should this be an envoy of good tidings."  Pari sighed and sat up, looking the servant over.

[b]"As he wishes,"[/b] she responded.  She was much too comfortable to want to move, but when father commanded all obeyed.