Out of Our Element

Ember had glanced over at the group of royals again just in time to see Cain looking at her, becoming a bit startled and quickly averting her eyes. She blushed as she hoped that he hadn't caught her, and silently hoped he was not the prince of the Light kingdom, the prince she knew she was arranged to marry, since she was still a bit put off by him. Something about the ark haired prince just didn't sit right with her, though to make herself feel better she tried to shake it off as just being nerves. She took in a breath to steady herself as she looked for her room, fearing she might have gotten lost when she turned a corner and was thankful enough to find it. She set her things down and changed out of the tight, uncomfortable formal wear her parents had forced her to wear and put on something else. It was of lighter material, looser than her first dress, yet still elegant enough to make her a presentable princess. Ember sighed as she sat on her bed for a moment, collecting herself, then left her room. She was worried, since she couldn't remember the last time that she had felt so on edge and at risk of losing control over her emotions. Simply blaming her current situation and new environment, she went over in her mind what she had taught herself over the years to keep herself from simply losing it for no good reason and remain calm, slowly finding her serene state of mind again as she walked back through the halls to where she had been, to introduce herself to the royals that had gathered in the courtyard. However, once the fire princess got back there she found herself hesitating in the doorway then simply hanging back, finding that she had yet to shake enough of her nerves to approach so many royals at once. Noticing that there was a stone bench to sit on not far, Ember decided to simply wait until she was approached or called to before she would introduce herself, observing the area and taking it all in as she once again tried calming herself. Every now and again, she'd glance at Cain out of the corner of her eyes, but not only him. She kept an eye on the other royals as well, but in her opinion so far he seemed the one that would most need to be watched.





Lotus nodded of Azure's acknowledgement of her once she was noticed and beckoned over, stopping in front of the Light prince and bowing before she straightened and look at him with that ever calm and neutral look on her face. "You need not apologize to me my liege. I'm merely glad that you are unharmed in however many hours you were here without me." she stated in a somewhat formal manner, something she tended to do every now and again without really meaning to, before a very slight smile graced her lips for a moment before she continued. "However, if it's all the same to you my lord, I would recommend not coming such a long distance and staying by yourself without me for so long again. Not only would your parents have my head on any other occasion for leaving you alone for so long, but I am also appointed to protect you from anything at any time. Who knows what could have happened...though I suppose I'm only worrying. After all, you are safe and sound, and that is all that matters." she said as she bowed again. She was not the type of protector to scold, or be overbearing, being observant enough that she could be by his side or several paces behind and still get there in time to protect him if needed, and she always would if the need arrived. Lotus grew silent for a moment, then tilted her head. "Have you met your fiance yet, my liege? Or met any of the other royals here?" she asked only out of curiosity. She wanted to judge his reaction to anyone he may have met, to see if there was anyone she would have to be keeping an eye on around him, or trying to protect as well whenever Azure was around them, or even if she just happened to be on some sort of break and come across them. Lotus fixed her hair a bit when she felt her snake, Garter, slithering around her neck, probably looking for warmth or a more comfortable position he could hold on to her with. I didn't bother her, and never would, since Garter had yet to ever hurt her.

Demetria had woken up early the morning she and her twin brother would be sent off to marry the respective royals to whom they were betrothed. This had been decided with neither her nor her twin's approval, but Demetria knew that this was what was best for the kingdom. That was the only reason she had gone along with the plan-that and she would finally be able to stay with her brother for longer than few minutes. With her duties as the future heir of the Earth Kingdom and both of them being prepared for this...arrangement with their prospective spouses. Demetria look out of her window and caught a glimpse of her brother taking his stallion and riding out.
He's already going? Why wasn't I told to leave with him? she frowned as she put her book back on her desk and gathered up her skirts.

Just as she was about to rush down the hallway, a harried maid bowed and entered her room.
"I was told to inform you that it would be best if you leave now for the neutral kingdom." she said, still facing the floor.
"Understood. Now leave my presence at once, I can get dressed by myself." Demetria dismissed the maid, a young, spritely girl. She was probably picked for her looks and another candidate for the Earth King's harem, depending on how she acted around the King. The King was Demetria's father, even if he didn't really bother showing up around her, other than to tell her where to go or who to meet. Demetria took that as a sign that he trusted her enough to not have to dictate everything to her. To think otherwise was something she was incapable of.
"What to wear..." Demetria placed a finger on her upper lip and tapped it absently as she perused her closet. The quickest way into the Fire Prince's mind would most likely end up with her wearing something revealing, but that could be uncomfortable. And she would hardly wear something comfortable if it wasn't fashionable...Demetria wrinkled her nose. She ended up picking a plain, dark green shirt that revealed her shoulders, dark pants that clung to her legs, and sturdy boots. Good enough. she sighed and went down to her mother's room in the main part of the seraglio. Being in a tower that overlooked the seraglio was a rare freedom that Demetria had been granted by her father, and she rarely went into the seraglio that she and her twin had been born into if she could help it.
But this was a special situation, and Demetria knew her mother would want to wish her well. A few words and a cup of tea later, Demetria marched out of her mother's room and towards the stables where she greeted her gryphon Cadell happily.
"Hello, dearest." she crooned and Cadell rumbled with pleasure. "We're off to see a new place, and I'll get to see my brother. Won't that be fun?" And with that, Demetria lead Cadell outside and mounted him before letting him have full rein and only nudging him to the side a bit whenever he veered off the path.

When Demetria and Cadell finally reached the neutral kingdom's grounds, Demetria saw that the Water and Air Royals, the Fire Princess, and the Light Prince and his Protector were already there. A servant approached Cadell timidly and Demetria slipped off of Cadell's back, murmuring reassurances to the gryphon that she would see him soon so that the servant could safely take Cadell away. Demetria turned back to the royals and approached them. The Water Royals were apparently having a little spat and the Prince was staring at the Fire Princess' breasts, which were indeed...noticeable. The Air Prince seemed like the happy-go-lucky sort while the Air Princess seemed a bit cold-but Demetria couldn't exactly gauge that without interaction.
Dmetria had noticed all of this without anyone noticing her, and she slipped over to her brother's side quietly, greeting him with one of her rare, true smiles before watching the scene around the two of them unfold. There was no reason for her to interact with anyone directly unless that person was her betrothed. Or...someone interesting.

OOC: Sorry for taking so long, I've had a hectic week.

Allen looked at Eliza and shrugged. "We all have to marry someone we don't even know. I acutally don't recall who I'm suppose to marry." He rubbed the back of his head as he then gave out a chuckle. Honestly he wasn't thrilled with this little arrangement but it wasn't like there was much he could do about it. The best thing out of it was his sister was here so he really couldn't complain. He couldn't help but laugh a bit at the way Crystia treated her brother. From what he could tell the two of them got along great and cared about the other.

"It's...interesting. If we can all manage to not kill each other here and wed, I think peace will reign for the most part. Though it's hard to say if everyone will be so thrilled about it. I mean my entire life I had been told that the chances of me marrying for love would be slim. I knew at a young age that I would probably be marrying a princess or a high noble." Allen shrugged. "I'm just hoping whomever I'm to wed is kind. And I also hope for whomever my sister is suppose to marry is also kind to her. What about you, Crystia?" Allen turned his head to look at Eliza whom was hiding behind him. Eliza had asked him if she was not pretty. He shook his head. "You are quite beautiful, Eliza. Have some confidene in yourself. You just hit a sour patch with Cain, that's all." He spoke softly back to her.

Cain gritted his teeth as he gave a yelp when Crystia smacked him behind his head. He gave her a sharp glare as if to say how dare you do that! "My manners are just fine if you ask me." He mumbled. "And I know it's a bad habit of yours. And you expect me to wake you up huh?" He grinned. "If I'm not busy I'll try to." He smirked. By not being busy meant that he literally had nothing else to do. Including that he wasn't on the prowl to sleep with one of the other nobility.

Cain shifted his gaze when someone caught his eye. It was the Fire Princess again. And holy hell was her outfit stunning on her. Left little to the imagination. He left his little group without another word as he walked over to her. "Prince Cain Oceanus of the Water Kingdom." He bowed slightly as he then looked up and locked eyes with her. "Might I add that you are quite stunning, my dear?"

Azure nodded his head. He knew Lotus understood, but he still felt bad. He did not want to get her into trouble for his own actions. "I know you said I do not need to apoligize but I do feel like I should. I really am sorry, Lotus. I've been here for about five hours already figuring out this place. That is way too long to not have you by my side. You give me the sense of protection when I am having my mind clouded with other things." He knew Lotus took her job serious enough. Thankfully she wasn't fully protective of him and gave him a short leash. That was his parents job to keep his leash short. He shook his head when Lotus asked if he met anyone. "I have not. Honestly you're the first I have actually seen since I've been here. Though from what I figured most of the nobility is just ariving now." Azure noticed Garter and he was not bothered by the snake at all. At times, Azure allowed Garter to slither on him or under his garments for warmth.

[/font]" she said, just barely able to see them from where she was, if she leaned far enough. "I do believe I also see your intended bride. It was the fire princess, yes? Hard to miss red hair like that." she commented quietly. There was another prince talking to her, and though for some reason that gave her a bad feeling she did not dwell on it. Even if Lotus decided right from the get go that she wasn't particularly fond of someone, she never let herself judge others until they'd proven her initial impression of them right or wrong. She noticed also however that a majority of the royals seemed to be without their protectors, and wondered if she was really the first to get there to protect her charge. She wondered if they were there and just not with them, or if they had yet to arrive. Either way, though, she decided to keep an eye out for at least the fire princess until her protector arrived as well, or unless Azure instructed her not to.[/font][/ul][/ul][/ul][/ul][/ul][/ul][/ul][/ul][/ul][/ul]