The Five Realms

[Author Point of View] The biting wind whipped through the jagged peaks of the mountains, carrying with it the scent of pine and the distant roar of a waterfall. Sat on the cresent of the Human Realm, was the meeting point for the four races selected for the journey. Prince Salem, of the Vampire Realm, a man sculpted from shadows and moonlight, with dark, almost blue thick hair, pale skin and eyes like liquid silver, shivered despite the unfeeling nature of his inherent existence as he glanced across the mountainscape. Vampires lived - but they seldom had need for their heart to beat, air to breath or their blood to run - the shadows kept them warm. Only, something about the human realm brought a chill he couldn't ignore. He tugged his obsidian cloak tighter, his silver eyes scanning the pass with an impatient frown. Beside him, Princess Liana of the Fae, a slender creature of light and nature, with near-glowing skin, dazzling hair that shone like rubies in fire light and large, hypnotizing eyes the colour of moss, tapped her foot, the delicate bells woven into her braids chiming with each movement. Her forest gaze flickered with a mixture of boredom and thinly veiled disdain. "Honestly," she murmured, her voice like the whisper of wind through willow leaves, "must this little mortal woman take so long?" Across from them, Prince Caspian of the Dragon Realm, a towering figure wreathed in an aura of raw power, let out a rumble of amusement that shook the very ground beneath their feet. Though he could take human-form, he had chosen to arrive in his true-form, forgoing the need of a horse. Currently, he was a mountain of bronze and muscle, scales glinting in the weak sunlight and an enormous head that lazed on a jagged stone, his blood-red eyes opening to stare at his friend. “Patience, little flower. The humans are fragile things. Perhaps she fainted from excitement and we should go find the little thing.” He smirked, his deep voice laced with a predatory amusement. Prince Kaine of the Werewolf Realm, a man of athletic build and restless energy, shifted beside them, his amber eyes reflecting the sunlight. "If she's fainted for any reason-" he paused, and bounced on the spot beside Caspian, trying to warm himself from the icy chill of the mountaintop. Caspian rolled his eyes at his Wolven friend, knowing he could just take wolf form and the cold wouldn't be an issue - but he could see the anticipation and edge that was set in Kaine's shoulders, keeping his friend in human form. Kaine continued, rubbing his hands together."It's from sheer terror. To be presented to the King of the Five Realms...as a human bride?" He shuddered dramatically, suggesting his distaste for the idea, Liana gigging at him before he stretched, the movement highlighting the lethal power contained beneath his tailored leather tunic, a cloak of wolf-fur lining his broad shoulders. "She'll be fine, as long as she's smart and was trained well. She's probably just enjoying the view." Salem said in a low, assuring voice, pulling a shield of shadows over him as the sun began to rise over the mountains, bathing them all in the orange and gold light, as well as the valley of sparse humans towns below. Liana frowned. "Shame it isn't as pretty as I thought it would be," she murmured, disappointed. "Even the view from Sal's kingdom is nicer - and that's volcanic mush." Salem scowled at her, not approving of someone talking ill of his home -even if she was right- earning a bright, charming grin in return from his Fae friend. "You know I love the sky at night," she winked at him. Salem smirking at her and crossed his arms over his chest, nestling back against the weathered tree that had somehow survived all these years. It was his third time doing such a task, only this time - he was glad to have the company of his friends. The quartet had been begrudgingly tasked with escorting the human bride from her tiny kingdom of Endor, through the others - the Wolven Realm of Lunara, the Fae realm, the Forest of Elmdar, the vampire home Bainemore, and the Dragon kingdom, the Vale of Night, until they arrived at The Kingdom of Stars. The bride was chosen for her beauty, a beauty said to rival the dawn and had caught the King's interest from a young age, being presented to him after her eighteenth birthday, where he accepted her again and now, she was to escorted to him and would become the new Queen of the Five Realms. They each shared a look, one that spoke of untold memories of the last two Queens who had been brought to the King some years ago. They were all good friends, the heirs to their respective realms. Having grown up together in the Royal court, they had always thought of each other as siblings, but the new bride was unknown, and the situation was more than a little irritating. None of them wanted this wedding. Another gust of wind swirled around them, carrying with it a different scent, a human scent, sweet and unfamiliar. It seemed to hum in the air. It drew all of their attention, the princes tensing as they gazed towards the opening, Liana taking a lithe step forward with excitement and curiousity mixing. A figure, bathed in the pale light of the early morning, appeared at the crest of the pass. She was small, almost delicate, and possessed a grace that belied her human fragility as she scaled the uneven path with ease, humming to herself. Her hair, an unbound cascade of spun gold, caught the sunlight, creating a halo around her. Her eyes, wide and the colour of storm clouds, held a mixture of trepidation and a quiet, unexpected strength. She was dressed in a simple, pale blue corseted dress that suggested at her peasant-born heritage, a small satchel slung over her shoulder that looked like it would come apart in a harsh wind and boots that made her look like a child playing in her father's clothing. But it was the way the light seemed to cling to her, the subtle curve of her lips, and the perfect symmetry of her features that made their collective breaths hitch when her eyes met theirs. "Oh," she squeaked, her voice soft and feminine with surprise as she took in the group before her, her eyes widening further noticing the enormous bronze Dragon lounging to one side on the rocks of the cliff edge. Beautiful. They all thought, unable to look away from her as she took a hesitant step forward. A silent current seemed to erupt the moment she was within reach of them, a magnetic pull that snaked out from the small human and wrapped around the four powerful royals, binding them to her. The air crackled with an unseen energy. Each of the royal quartet felt a jolt, a sudden, undeniable recognition. Their eyes locked on hers, and a primal, yearning sensation, a hunger that went beyond anything they had ever known, seized them. The world seemed to shrink, to focus solely on the woman who had just entered their lives. A woman who, somehow, had irrevocably changed everything. She gave them all a shy, but beautiful smile. "Hi, I'm Penrose," she introduced herself, a little breathless, feeling her heart pound in her chest as she greeted the four most beautiful beings she'd ever seen, feeling the same magnetic pull she didn't understand. She fixed another smile, despite her nerves and glanced over her shoulder at the landscape that spread before her, the only home she'd ever known - and was now leaving for good. "Sorry I'm late, I got distracted with the view." She admitted, surprised when the Fae woman and Dragon started to laugh, the Vampire's lips twitching into a smirk. The Wolf remained silent, his eyes fixed on Penrose, stunned, but gave her a small, understanding smile she returned, relaxing sooner than she thought herself possible around such powerful beings.