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Daystar x Shiara is the het ship between Daystar and Shiara from the The Enchanted Forest Chronicles fandom.
Canon[]
Meeting and traveling together[]
Daystar is a young human man, while Shiara is a young human woman who is also a fire-witch. The two met shortly after each ventured into the Enchanted Forest for the first time. Daystar was acting on rather cryptic instructions from his mother and carrying a magical sword. Shiara was fleeing a number of wizards, who sought to study her due to her inability to use her powers at will. Shiara responded by burning the staff of the Head Wizard and then escaped into the forest.
Unfortunately, Shiara became trapped by a magical hedge and was unable to escape. Her crying over the situation drew the attention of a passing Daystar. Managing to enter the hedge by being polite to it-something he learned from his mother-Daystar approaches Shiara, who is immediately suspicious. Having failed in her attempts to get through the hedge, she suspects him of being a wizard. Daystar suggests that the hedge might be easier to enter than to escape, which Shiara concedes.
Eager to get out, Shiara tries to persuade Daystar to try opening the hedge so they can both get out. Daystar declines, however, thinking the inside of the hedge a good place to stay the night and not sure he should assist Shiara until he knows more about her. Disappointed to find that Daystar isn’t the brainless hero she thought he might be, Shiara introduces herself and explains that wizards are pursuing her. Shiara demonstrates the characteristic temper of a fire-witch when Daystar appears skeptical of her claim that she is one, her hair bursting into flame. This is followed by tears of frustration, and Daystar kindly offers Shiara a handkerchief.
Daystar apologizes for upsetting Shiara, who is reluctant to say much about her altercation with the wizards. Shiara is baffled by Daystar’s apparent aimless wandering in the Enchanted Forest, and annoyed when he questions her reason for entering the region. After another failed attempt to get Daystar to open the hedge, Shiara expresses contempt for him. She soon begins crying again, and Daystar lets her use the handkerchief again. He also apologizes, as he seems to aggravate her without meaning to.
Shiara is actually surprised to find that Daystar wants to speak to her and doesn’t regard her with fear. She then explains how she struggles to use her magic, with most of her displays of power accompanying fits of temper. Added to her already prickly personality, this has left her with few friends. Moreover, she is constantly being told what she should be capable of, which adds to her frustration. Indeed, her initial outburst at Daystar came from the belief that he was starting in on just such a lecture.
After explaining her altercation with the wizards and ensuing flight and entrapment by the hedge, Shiara asks about Daystar. Following some discussion, the pair decide to stick together as they explore the forest. As they continue talking, Daystar finds himself enjoying Shiara’s company. However, he is reluctant to experiment with his sword at her suggestion, even when she taunts him. Shiara later helps Daystar take off the sword after he struggles, and she examines it herself with his permission.
Daystar comments that he feels the sword tingling, but Shiara gets no sense of it. When both of them touch the hilt together, they receive an unexpected shock. The two soon retire for the night, and the next day the hedge opens at Daystar’s request. Shiara initially finds his courtesy ridiculous but is forced to change her tune when the hedge allows him but not her to leave. Reluctantly, she takes his suggestion and apologizes to the hedge, though she scoffs at the notion that she should try to be more polite in general.
Disliking her attitude, Daystar starts to leave on his own after commenting that Shiara’s rudeness is likely a factor in her lack of friends. This actually moves Shiara, who apologizes and is thus welcomed to travel with Daystar. He is impressed when she declines to try some unknown berries, fearing that the usual fire-witch immunity to spells might be as unpredictable in her case as her magic. As the two walk, they chat about their respective upbringings. Daystar, having had a rather sheltered upbringing, enjoys Shiara’s company and finds her accounts of town life fascinating.
Meeting foes and friends[]
The two eventually come to a stream but are then attacked by a wizard. Following the encounter, the pair find the wizard’s staff cut into three pieces. Unfortunately, while they’re examining the fragments, Daystar is hit by a stored spell. Shiara anxiously works to revive him with water and is so concerned that she fails to notice that his right hand has been badly burned. Afterwards, she becomes furious, and Daystar privately feels grateful that her anger isn't directed at him.
Shiara examines Daystar's arm, having had some experience with burns, and quickly determines both that the injury is bad and that they'll need help to treat it. They set out, and soon Shiara is helping a declining Daystar to walk, though her efforts are hampered because Daystar is forced to hold the sword due to his sheath having become soaked during the fight with the wizard. Fortunately, the two soon run into a cat whom Shiara senses was sent to find them, and she persuades a reluctant Daystar to follow it. As a result, the two arrive at the home of a witch named Morwen, whom Shiara quickly interrogates about being able to help Daystar.
Once they're inside Morwen's cottage, Shiara orders Daystar to put down the sword, but he refuses. Fortunately, Morwen agrees with his course of action, and Daystar then introduces himself and Shiara to their host after Morwen introduces herself. Shiara becomes impatient when Morwen delays taking action to heal Daystar and then starts to cry. Daystar soon learns that she blames herself for his coming to harm, and he only adds to her distress when he graciously offers her the use of his handkerchief again despite being unable to reach it himself and being fairly certain that it's soaking wet.
Morwen enlists Shiara's help as she performs a spell to heal Daystar's injury, during which Shiara has a hand on his injured arm. Shiara gasps as the spell takes effect, only for Daystar to later bump into her and apologize after it's been completed. As they share the specifics of Daystar's injury with Morwen, Shiara again becomes furious. Later, Morwen instructs Daystar to rest while she and Shiara have a chat in Morwen's library. Apparently not liking this idea, Shiara is about to object but then looks at Daystar and accepts.
When Daystar wakes up some time later, Morwen informs him that Shiara is waiting for him out in Morwen's garden. Upon finding her, Daystar notes that Shiara is in better spirits, but she doesn't say much about her time with Morwen. When Daystar learns that Morwen is going to gift Shiara a kitten, he has mixed feelings about it but expresses pleasure for Shiara's sake. They talk together for some time afterwards, and Daystar learns that Shiara and Morwen have agreed that Shiara and Daystar should stay in a couple of Morwen's magical spare rooms for the night. Though still a bit leery of Morwen given their recent acquaintance, Daystar decides to agree with Shiara and accept the offer.
As the pair are leaving the cottage the next day, Daystar lets Shiara exit before him but it nearly tripped by one of Morwen's cats. Shiara briefly becomes concerned for him, especially when he reacts oddly upon accidentally touching his sword hilt again and once again feeling a number of strange sensations. Trying to feel each of them out, he soon discovers that one of them leads his senses towards Shiara. Not understanding him initially, Shiara briefly becomes annoyed with him until he's able to explain that the sword allows him to locate magic. She is later baffled, and annoyed, when Daystar and Morwen have a silent exchange as Daystar understands that the sword is leading him to something, but Shiara doesn't comment.
Daystar and Shiara talk as they continue their journey, with Daystar explaining a number of things about the nature of the Enchanted Forest to the largely ignorant Shiara. Later, Daystar is about to mention how the forest is changing the further they move into it when they are interrupted by Suz, a talking lizard whom Daystar met previously. Daystar introduces Shiara to Suz, having told her about him previously. When Suz informs Daystar that he and Shiara are on their way to see someone named Kazul, Daystar questions what Kazul might want with either him or Shiara. Suz voices the belief that Kazul won't be pleased that Daystar has a companion, but Daystar refuses to leave Shiara alone in the forest.
Somewhat indignant, Shiara asserts her ability to fend for herself and informs Suz that she's a fire witch, which alleviates the lizard's concerns. As the conversation continues, Shiara ends up insulting Suz, which Daystar admonishes her for. Shiara apologizes, though insincerely, to Suz at Daystar's prompting. Daystar interrupts the exchange in order to prevent Shiara from offending the lizard again.
A princess, a wizard, and a(nother) fire-witch[]
Continuing their journey, the two take turns watching Shiara's kitten as it travels with them. Daystar doesn't really care for Shiara's choice of name for the kitten-Nightwitch-but seeing Shiara's pleasure at it refrains from commenting. The trio later encounter a princess lost in the forest, and Daystar doesn't really care for the casual way in which Shiara speaks to the other girl. Shiara later becomes alarmed when Daystar, in defiance of some of his own earlier advice to her, offers a service to the princess only for the princess to ask for Daystar's sword.
Shiara protests when Daystar goes to offer the sword to the princess, and she tries to argue against him handing over what they've learned is "the Sword of the Sleeping King." However, Daystar feels bound to turn over the weapon, in spite of Shiara's rising anger in response. She ends up literally turning her back on him, only to be startled when Daystar's gesture provokes a significant display of magic from the forest. When the princess retracts her request in fear, Shiara makes sure that Daystar is free to reclaim the sword and then asks in annoyance whether he's going to do so. When Daystar himself then questions the princess as to the situation, Shiara's reaction is equal parts anger and horror.
Daystar reproves Shiara when she threatens the princess, but she snaps back at him and insists on dealing with the woman. They soon learn that the princess was acting on the instructions of Antorell, a wizard and long-time enemy of Daystar's family. When the princess bemoans her situation, Shiara remarks cuttingly that she's "even dumber than Daystar." She then tries to persuade Daystar that they should leave, but Daystar objects to leaving the princess by herself. Shiara reminds him of the princess' earlier deception, and she threatens to leave on her own if Daystar refuses to come with her.
For his part, Daystar is upset by this proposition, knowing that Shiara is largely ignorant of the workings of the Enchanted Forest and feeling torn between helping her and helping the princess. Before Shiara can leave, however, Antorell appears and attacks them, only to be driven off himself by the sudden arrival of a young dragon. Shiara and the dragon exchange looks that worry Daystar, but upon realizing just how young the dragon is Daystar relaxes. When the dragon comments on Shiara's impoliteness, however, Daystar urges Shiara to offer to do it a favor, and she complies to his relief. His relief abruptly dissipates when the dragon asks for Shiara's help in finding a princess, and Shiara promptly offers to let him take the one they've been speaking with.
Daystar immediately takes Shiara to task for what he sees as a terrible action, but Shiara defends herself. The group is then interrupted yet again by the arrival of the princess' love, a knight with whom she has run away from home. Daystar and Shiara manage to work things out so that the knight and the dragon face each other in a sort of practice bout, ideally with neither of them coming to harm. After setting up an arena of sorts, Daystar starts off the bout at the knight's prompting, earning him a contemptuous look from Shiara. Daystar is later surprised when Shiara begins behaving somewhat more cordially to the princess, which she later explains is based on seeing the princess' genuine regard for her knight.
After the knight and princess have been sent off to see Morwen, the dragon makes a remark that prompts a giggle from Shiara. Choosing not to acknowledge this, Daystar shares their story with the dragon, who soon informs them that Kazul is none other than the King of the Dragons. Shiara is baffled upon learning that Kazul, whom they've been told is female, is King of the Dragons, but Daystar explains that the ruler of the dragons is called king regardless of their gender. Daystar quickly resolves to continue Shiara's education on the Enchanted Forest, before Shiara turns to him with the question of why their search is taking them to see Kazul. Having no more idea than Shiara does, Daystar expresses the belief that it's something he has to do, which Shiara responds to with a sigh.
When Daystar suggests that the group, now including the young dragon, depart before Antorell or any other wizards arrive, Shiara readily agrees. The young dragon then takes them off on a new route that is supposedly shorter, with Shiara urging a hesitant Daystar to pick a route. As they travel, Daystar gets a sense of being observed and shares this with Shiara after she picks up on his unease. Shiara takes his feeling seriously and begins watching out for any possible pursuers. The group unexpectedly runs into an invisible castle, and Shiara is even more unexpectedly able to learn about it using her fire magic.
The castle's owner, unfortunately, proves to be another fire-witch, and one of incredible malice. To Daystar's horror, she turns Shiara into stone, apparently intending to use her for some nefarious purpose. Daystar tries to find a way to convince her to reverse the spell and then prevent her from repeating it. The fire-witch offers him a chance to depart, not seeing anything useful about him, but Daystar refuses to leave Shiara behind. A brief battle then ensues, and with difficulty Daystar manages to overcome the fire-witch only to find that Shiara is still trapped in statue form.
A kiss, a magician, and more wizards[]
After briefly discussing the matter with the young dragon and trying to puzzle out a solution to the problem, Daystar once again encounters Suz, who suggests that Daystar try kissing Shiara to break the spell. Daystar considers the idea and, though he guesses Shiara might not be particularly enthusiastic, actually finds the suggestion appealing. Embarrassed to realize this, he quickly carries out the plan and is overjoyed when Shiara is restored to life, though she is startled in the process. When Suz is terrified by Nightwitch, Daystar blames it on the kitten's age, briefly annoying Shiara who believes he is referring to her.
Shiara surprises both Suz and Daystar by apologizing for Nightwitch's actions, before turning a glare on Daystar and demanding an explanation for what's happened since she was last aware of anything. As part of her insistence, she sits down and gives him an expectant, look, but finally cuts him off and looks at him oddly when he gets to the part she does remember. Once again embarrassed, Daystar apologizes, but Shiara quickly changes the subject to something Daystar mentioned about his confrontation with the fire-witch. The two are soon discussing the differences between their confrontation with Antorell and Daystar's clash with the fire-witch. Daystar is distracted, however, by the return of the sense that someone is observing them, which Shiara notices and expresses concern over.
The group decide to try and get into the fire-witch's castle and see about assisting her other victims, only to find that the building has vanished. Shiara briefly becomes worried that the fire-witch was not, in fact, dispatched by Daystar, and is not only relieved but fiercely pleased-to Daystar's brief astonishment-by the dragon's assurances that the woman is dead. The party is soon on their way again, and when Daystar again mentions feeling a sense of someone following Shiara is dismissive due to not having seen anyone on their trail all day. However, upon learning of Daystar's concerns, the dragon takes action, and the group find that they have been tailed by an elf named Janril.
In speaking with Janril, Daystar introduces the group and earns a frown from Shiara, who is suspicious of this elf and his interest in Daystar's sword. Shiara objects to the idea of letting Janril go, but when Daystar expresses the belief that they should she surprises him by agreeing after an aborted protest. Responding with a glare, Shiara claims that she simply doesn't want to get into another argument with Daystar. Once Janril has departed, Shiara asks whether Daystar actually believes him, and picks up on Daystar's annoyance with the whole situation around his sword. Daystar chooses not to share with her that he's feeling nervous about it, and Shiara starts to make a suggestion when they are interrupted by the impatient dragon.
Continuing their journey, the group comes to a clearing where they sense magic, and they attempt to cross after some hesitation. A wall of flames materializes in response, and Shiara tackles Daystar to the ground in order to beat out the flames on his clothes, being immune to such effects herself. Though initially annoyed, Daystar apologizes and thanks her for her concern on his behalf after she explains things. Finding themselves near a bizarre structure, Daystar asks Shiara about it only to annoy her, particularly after he mentions the other fire-witch's castle. Soon enough, they encounter this new structure's occupant, whom Shiara mistakes for a wizard and begins speaking rudely to despite Daystar's protests.
The group soon learn that their new acquaintance is a magician named Telemain, whom Daystar begins to take a liking to. However, Shiara remains angry over the harm Telemain's fire wall nearly did to Daystar. Daystar is quick to interject and explain their difficulties with wizards, hoping to avoid Shiara making Telemain angry. They soon discover that Telemain is a friend of Morwen's, and Daystar shares their story with him. Shiara gives Daystar a frown when he shares her history with the wizards, but she offers no other objections. Both Daystar and Shiara are startled when Telemain references a war, once fought between dragons and wizards, that appears to be stirring once again.
As Telemain sets about some private preparations, he provides food for his guests, and Daystar and Shiara agree to accept the invitation. When the magician then offers them rooms for the night, Daystar looks to Shiara for agreement, and after some thought she accepts. When Shiara is surprised, and then annoyed, by one of Telemain's magic staircases, Daystar points out once again that their host is a magician. After Shiara wonders aloud about another aspect of the tower, and Daystar is somewhat flippant about it, she gives him a glare before going into her chosen room for the night. Daystar considers the situation and decides to wait until morning to apologize to Shiara, both to let her temper cool and because he's not entirely sure what he did to make her mad.
On Telemain's advice, the group set out for the Caves of Chance, hoping to pass through them and emerge from an opening near where Kazul will be waiting for them. Shiara surprises Daystar again by apologizing to Telemain for her earlier attitude towards him, even making Daystar stare in astonishment but showing no signs that she's aware of his behavior. Later in the morning, both Daystar and Shiara realize that they're hungry at the same time and stop to eat. Unfortunately, they then encounter more wizards, and Shiara calls Daystar over to where she's taken shelter as the dragon sneezes in allergic reaction to the presence of the wizards' staffs. When Antorell joins the other wizards, who are after Shiara while Antorell wants Daystar, Daystar tries to put himself between Shiara and their enemies so he can defend her with his sword.
Into the Caves of Chance[]
Distracted by the wizards, Shiara doesn't take note of Daystar's actions, and Daystar ends up yelling to her to act after one of the wizards immobilizes him. After freeing himself from the wizards' spell, Daystar once again takes position in front of Shiara as the wizards attempt to target her. Daystar is able to thwart the wizards' attack with the sword, and they flee when the dragon manages to attack Antorell. Once Daystar points out that they'll probably return with more help, Shiara agrees with his suggestion that they continue on their way.
When the dragon comments on a new tree that grew during the fight with the wizards, and notes that it's the second such tree to have done so recently, Shiara turns to Daystar and declares that it must be because of the wizards. Daystar is skeptical, and ultimately realizes that it's not the wizards themselves, but their interactions with his sword. Shiara herself turns skeptical, as his fight with the fire-witch didn't produce a tree, but Daystar notes that she sounds as though she does at least partly believe his suggestion. However, she quickly suggests that they lay the mystery aside in favor of getting out of the area before the wizards return.
Once the three arrived at the entrance to the Caves of Chance, Shiara began looking in her pack before calling Daystar's attention to something. This proved to be the revelation that their packs, gifts from Morwen, had magically changed contents. Shiara and Daystar briefly argued over who would be the first of them to descend into the caves, and settled the matter with a coin toss that Daystar won. After Shiara and the dragon joined him, Shiara urged the group to get moving again, but Daystar suggested that they sort out their equipment. Shiara didn't understand the point of this, until Daystar reminded her of Telemain's warning that they should carry anything they didn't want to lose in the Caves of Chance in one or the other of their hands. Conceding this point, Shiara helped Daystar get his swordbelt and scabbard off so he could carry them all, though she did again question whether it was truly needed.
Shiara would later support Daystar against the young dragon in a dispute over their route. When Daystar tripped, Shiara-who had been ahead of him-returned to offer some assistance. As a result of this, Daystar dropped and lost their lamp, and the two worked together to recover it. Daystar also discovered a strange key but set off some kind of magical trap that forced the group to flee. Shiara later urged him, somewhat sharply, to determine whether the key was magical by using his sword. They then encountered the key's guardian, a creature known as a quozzel, which Daystar didn't think appeared dangerous but which Shiara warned might be.
Based on Daystar's own caution, Shiara suggested that he keep the key in one hand, and she agreed to take charge of their lamp so that he could manage it and his other burdens. Shiara would later question Daystar as to their path, and Daystar did his best to reassure her based on the advice Telemain had given them. When they arrived at a narrow path and Nightwitch went ahead, Shiara insisted on going first after her cat and Daystar agreed with little protest. The route ended up subjecting them both to a dusting of black rock, which they helped each other try to clean off. Shiara later cried out a warning to Daystar as the tunnel started to collapse, and Daystar returned the warning and dropped his bundle from Morwen in order to try and push Shiara to safety.
Daystar was knocked out during the collapse, and upon regaining consciousness he called out for Shiara first. While being attacked by the quozzel, who had caused the cave-in, Daystar spotted Shiara unconscious nearby. After the quozzel was temporarily driven off, Shiara began to regain her senses, which was a great boost to Daystar's mood. Daystar then confronted the quozzel, but was interrupted by a now awake Shiara calling out to him for an explanation. Daystar offered one and then asked how Shiara was, and he became concerned when she cried out in pain. Shiara determined that one of her arms was broken, and she replied to Daystar's inquiry about helping her by asking him to keep an eye on the quozzel.
Though Shiara insisted she was fine, Daystar was doubtful but determined that it would be best if he heeded Shiara's wishes so as to keep her from losing her temper. When Shiara questioned him about Nightwitch and the dragon, Daystar noted that he hadn't seen them after the collapse, and he was quite glad to see Shiara's resulting anger directed at the quozzel and not himself. As Shiara threatened the quozzel, they learned that a wizard had set the creature to guard the key, and Shiara came to stand beside Daystar as they interrogated the creature further. They were then rejoined by Nightwitch and the dragon, who had found a party of dwarves. Daystar asked one of the dwarves if they would, if nothing else, attend to Shiara's broken arm.
Shiara called out a warning to Daystar as the quozzel prepared to attack again, and Daystar would swing the sword to protect Shiara from a falling rock dislodged by the creature. He then asked about Shiara, who responded rather tartly until Daystar clarified that he wanted to know whether she had suffered any additional injuries. Noting that she hadn't, she actually surprised Daystar by thanking him. Both were then further startled when the dwarves reacted in surprise to recognize the identity of the sword Daystar was carrying. Failing to get any real information about the weapon out of them, Daystar repeated his request for one of them to attend to Shiara's broken arm.
Kazul and the Castle[]
Daystar was somewhat exasperated when Shiara was once again less than polite, this time to a dwarf who came to look at her arm. After watching the dwarf work briefly and realizing that he couldn't help Shiara at the moment, Daystar turned to his own thoughts. Once Shiara came up to him, her arm now bandaged, Daystar looked her over only for Shiara to responded in annoyance. Daystar was surprised when Shiara commented that it wasn't her first experience having an arm broken, and upon seeing his curiosity clarified that she had attempted to steal apples from the Prince of the Ruby Throne. Appalled but seeing that Shiara was truly ignorant of the severity of her actions, Daystar explained patiently that the Prince of the Ruby Throne was a sorcerer known for protecting his apples.
Having made this point to Shiara, Daystar politely asked whether Shiara had any other enemies he should know about, and noted after she responded in the negative that it would be helpful if Shiara had better control over her fire magic. The dragon surprised him by noting that Shiara had attempted to use her magic against the quozzel, a revelation that embarrassed Shiara. As the friends discussed all the times Shiara had managed to make her magic work as she wanted it to, Daystar and Shiara realized that it had only begun happening since her arrival in the Enchanted Forest and since she and Daystar had both touched his sword at the same time. Somewhat exasperated, Daystar considered the matter further and suddenly realized that there was an additional element: Shiara had only been able to use her magic after being genuinely polite to people. Shiara was less than thrilled by this discovery, blaming the sword and shooting a glare at Daystar before turning her back on him, which prompted a sigh.
After finally reaching a staircase leading out of the caves, Daystar and Shiara both went ahead of the dragon so as to avoid being behind it in the event of a slip. They emerged on a hill, and Daystar spotted the Castle of the King of the Enchanted Forest surrounded by large energy bubbles. Shiara then drew his attention to the two hundred dragons assembled near the castle, and Daystar acted as spokesmen for their group, introducing Shiara first. As one of the dragons led them to meet with Kazul, Shiara kept close to Daystar but let him take the front position. Speaking in a whisper, she questioned Daystar about their destination only for their dragon guide to hear and reply to her.
During the walk, Daystar was briefly distracted by an area of great devastation around the castle, and Shiara had to prod him to get him moving again. Upon reaching Kazul and being introduced to her, Daystar bowed, and to his relief Shiara imitated him. Both Daystar and Shiara were shocked when Kazul revealed that Daystar's mother, Cimorene, was not only a former princess but also her former princess. When Kazul led the group to her own personal residence, Daystar and Shiara traded a look before following, and both bowed to the dragons whom they passed on the way. After Daystar shared his group's story, he was appalled when Shiara questioned Kazul about the sword with her usual lack of etiquette.
Upon learning that Kazul is preparing for the war to resume the following day, Daystar wonders whether he and Shiara are going to be caught up in it, only for Kazul to inform him bluntly that the two of them already are. He becomes concerned at the idea of the dragons battling against the wizards, knowing that the latter will be after him and Shiara specifically. Daystar would later question whether Kazul wished for his and Shiara's help against the wizards, only to be informed that his task was to enter the castle and free the King of the Enchanted Forest, who had been imprisoned there long ago. Shiara, not liking the idea of Daystar going into the castle by himself, insisted on going with him and noted that accompanying Daystar sounded less hazardous than being involved in a battle outside. Much to Daystar's relief, the conversation between Shiara and Kazul was interrupted by another dragon with dinner, preventing Shiara from possibly provoking Kazul to anger.
During the meal, Shiara and Kazul both examine the key Daystar found, and Shiara then returns it to Daystar upon his request. Afterwards, he asks if their discussion was at an end, as he wishes for the group to get some rest before the next day's excitement, pointing out Shiara's broken arm. The next morning, Shiara and Nightwitch join the young dragon in collecting Daystar from his sleeping quarters. Shiara and Daystar exchange a look as they anticipated Kazul's signal to run for the castle, and Daystar again senses Shiara's magic as he places his hand on the sword's hilt. Upon breaking through the shield the wizards had erected around the castle years earlier and stepping forward, Daystar stumbles and is caught around the arm by Shiara.
The two make their way inside the castle, with Shiara warning Daystar to use caution with his sword. Daystar helps Shiara up after they dove through the front door and asks after her arm, and Shiara responds by questioning their next move. She becomes annoyed when Daystar refuses to put away his sword, but she accepts his reasoning that he'd prefer to be armed if any of the wizards follow them into the castle. In the midst of their search, the pair encounter a grumpy talking gargoyle, and Shiara eventually urges Daystar to leave it so that they can continue their search. However, the gargoyle ends up giving them helpful directions to the castle's great hall.
Upon finding what appears to be the King of the Enchanted Forest asleep on a couch, Daystar is suspicious, but Shiara brushes him off and urges him to take action. A force of wizards then arrives in the doorway, and Daystar is immobilized by one of them. Shiara begins creeping towards him, and Daystar notices and hopes that she has an actual plan. Once she's close enough, Daystar urges her to employ her magic, but Shiara explains that she's unable to do so. Daystar then realizes that it's been some time since she was last polite to anyone, and a crestfallen Shiara apologizes for her impotence. The wizards' doings distract Daystar, so much that he fails to hear Shiara whispering to him until she's done so for the third time.
Revelations and decisions[]
When Antorell, who is among the wizards, approaches Daystar intending to torture him for information, Shiara is able to use her magic to attack him. Daystar, meanwhile, is inspired by an earlier comment of Shiara's and throws the key he's been carrying into a large brazier in the center of the hall. This proves to be part of the process of breaking the spell that has trapped the King of the Enchanted Forest. As such, the wizards attack in response, and Shiara warns Daystar to take cover before doing so herself. Daystar wishes to follow her but is unable, but he manages to complete the ritual needed to free the King. Upon meeting the King, Daystar realizes that he's met his own father, and he promptly introduces an astonished Shiara to him.
Shiara, overcoming her surprise, questions Daystar about this sudden revelation, and he assures her that the information is new to him as well. While Daystar's father, Mendanbar, attends to a number of captured wizards, Daystar and Shiara wonder aloud about Morwen, who they saw join the battle, and Antorell, who disappeared in the confusion. In a silent exchange, the two agree to go looking for Antorell, and come across Morwen and an injured Telemain in the process. After learning that Antorell passed them, Daystar and Shiara continue their search for him in the company of Mendanbar. Arriving outside, they are greeted by Kazul arriving with Daystar's mother Cimorene, who greets King Mendanbar with affection upon their first meeting in years.
For once, it is Shiara who reprimands Daystar for impoliteness as he stares at his embracing parents, making Daystar flush with embarrassment. Daystar then introduces Shiara to his mother, and they discover that the young dragon has captured Antorell. The wizard unleashes a final attack on Cimorene, but Daystar-now in command of the magic of the Enchanted Forest-thwarts him. Shiara is greatly bewildered by this development, and she is soon bursting with questions over the matter. She then accepts King Mendabar's offer to join him and Cimorene inside while they explain things.
At last, Daystar and Shiara hear the full account of Mendanbar, Cimorene, and their friends, and Shiara then questions how Daystar is suddenly able to use magic. Daystar then questions whether Cimorene might be able to help Shiara learn to use her own magic, commenting on how much help Shiara has given him since they met. Shiara protests this, noting that Daystar did quite a bit for her as well. This leads into the pair of them sharing their story with Mendanbar and Cimorene, with Shiara letting Daystar do most of the talking but adding occasional comments. As a result, Mendanbar deduces that the current politeness-based block on Shiara's powers is actually something that the two of them unintentionally did when they touched the sword.
Mendanbar explains that the sword sought to grant Shiara's wish to be able to use her magic and Daystar's wish that Shiara would be more polite. Furious upon learning this, Shiara looks angrily at Daystar, who apologizes and tries to make the best of the situation. However, Shiara is not appeased, and she begins weeping until Cimorene orders her to stop. Cimorene then suggests that Shiara become Kazul's newest princess, which will give her some positive experiences while she waits for Mendanbar and Daystar to figure out how to undo the spell. Daystar is puzzled when Cimorene also mentions that it will give Shiara helpful future experience and then mortified when Cimorene voices her belief that Shiara will be the next Queen of the Enchanted Forest-in other words, Daystar's wife.
Shiara is silenced by this suggestion, but Mendanbar politely points out that Cimorene may be getting ahead of herself. At the feast celebrating the recent victory, Daystar and Shiara sit together for a time at the middle of a long banquet table. Growing bored, Shiara suggests that they leave, but Daystar is reluctant to do so out of politeness. Shiara surprises Daystar by announcing that she has decided to take Cimorene's advice and serve as Kazul's princess, but he expresses pleasure at her decision to stay close by. Some days later, when Telemain mentions a forthcoming wedding, Daystar avoids looking at Shiara, but the two of them and Mendanbar are all surprised when Morwen announces that it is she and Telemain who are going to be married.
Upon realizing that Shiara will be leaving the castle in order to accompany Kazul to the dragons' home in the Mountains of Morning, Daystar is crestfallen and embarrassed for not having processed that this would be occurring. The two speak briefly as she's about to depart, and Daystar notes that he's going to miss Shiara's constant company. When he expresses this, Shiara points out that she's going to be visiting fairly regularly at least until he and Mendanbar can remove the politeness spell. This cheers Daystar, and he cheerfully hopes that removing the spell will be a lengthy process, and that he will have time to find other reasons for Shiara to continue visiting even after it's been lifted.
Fanon[]
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Talking to Dragons, the first book of the series to be written-though ultimately the last in chronological order-follows the relationship between Daystar and Shiara for the majority of its plot. However, the pairing is surprisingly not as popular as ones that that were less prominently featured in the novel. This may be because these other relationships received more attention in the prequel works. The few fan works that feature the pair mostly explore the idea of their relationship continuing after the series’ current ending.
There are 7 works tagged for the relationship on AO3.
Fandom[]
- FAN FICTION
- Daystar/Shiara tag on AO3