The wind howls around Nalani, blowing her hair back in a wild storm of black. But she does not mind it, she welcomes the elements caressing her skin and elementals never truly get cold and even though she wears a sleeveless dress she still does not feel cold as she walks forward. 

Nalani is the last queen to take her place on top of the rocky cliffs for the Disembarking for she took a long time while walking on the path through the meadow much to Vivianne's annoyance as all the Westwoods continued to hurry her as they accompanied her. Everyone else has assembled on the beach below her, their faces all illuminated with lit torches that keep burning at the same pace thanks to her fellow elementals. She wishes she could've been the one to control the torches rather than having to stand here and wait for the suitors to row to shore. The torches are silly really because they aren't really necessary, as it is just passed sunset. 

But in a few hours the Quickening will begin and then the torches will definitely be needed. Those hours in between each ceremony will allow sufficient time for everyone to feast and for the queen to change if they wish. The priestesses and Black Council will also make the necessary preparations on the beach for the Quickening and her sister's poison feast will be checked. Though Nalani supposes that is not really necessary either, she has heard tales of Carina's strength and great resistance to toxins. There was a rumour that on her birthday the feast wasn't poison but Nalani does not believe in such rumours. She doubts its truth and accuracy. 

She takes her place on the makeshift pavilion and looks down at the people below. They all smile but in reality most are bloodthirsty savages who love to see sister kill sister. The monsters of the island all see her and smile, some cheering though they are soon silenced by the glares coming from the Arrons. The poisoners and the shadows are the only ones who do not clap or cheer for her but the rest of the island is eating from her palm. Instead with the shadows and poisoners, she's greeted by their scowls but she does not mind, she sends a wicked smirk of her own back down on them and some look away from her. 

Smiling in satisfaction she takes the opportunity to look at her sisters. 

At the front and centre stands Arwen, the epitome of darkness and shadow in appearance, especially as she is surrounded by Radurons yet Nalani sees her expression.

It is quite blank strangely, with an echo of sadness and her eyes don't glitter with the sinister malice that Nalani is expecting. Interesting. Arwen's eyes only stare straight ahead in determination to find something or someone. Probably that suitor that everyone says she has around her little finger. The one that Vivianne had raged about because he did not visit Rolanth or meet her. But Nalani doesn't much care, especially not for her sister's little lapdog, she doesn't care if he's a Valostran royal. Rowan has been keeping her company and satisfied. She doesn't need a silly suitor for that.

Arwen is beautiful, there is no doubt about that, it is no wonder that suitor lost his heart in a matter of months to her. Her cheeks are rosy in a permanent blush, the cosmetics highlight her features, her light skin is like pearls, perfect with no imperfection, her nose is thin and perfect while her lips are plump and pink. Everything is perfectly in proportion. Her long black hair gleams a little too brightly and her smile looks too stiff, but it isn't a real smile, only a pitiful attempt at one. Her expression is the only imperfection. 

What catches Nalani's attention the most about her appearance is the crown of obsidian pearls that rests content as it floats in amongst her sea of black curls, a clear and bold symbol. That Arwen is the true queen.

Nalani almost snorts at how intricate and ridiculous the crown looks. It is out of place. It is not ugly by any means, it is a masterpiece of shadow and jewels but she is the only one with it. So it draws attention which is probably the Radurons intention for their queen. 

Arwen's posture is sickeningly perfect, making her seem quite tall even though she is of average height as though someone has forced her back to be completely straight day after day so she can use her height to intimidate. Nobody can possibly be that perfect everyday. She doesn't care about Arwen's dress, though it is spectacular, but she pays attention to the way Arwen rubs and holds her wrists constantly. Well the shadow does until Cierra Raduron pinches her and mutters something that makes the young queen stop immediately and force her hands to the sides like an obedient pet. Still Arwen does not stare at Nalani or Carina, as if they are nothing to her, she only stares right ahead, barely blinking as Nalani turns her eyes to her other older sister. 

The poisoner, Carina, stands on the furthest pavilion surrounded by a sea of the most important Arrons. But the rest of the Arrons are down on the beach judging from the array of ice blonde heads that Nalani spies. She turns her attention to Carina once again and starts to properly look at her. 

The poisoner is quite petite with sharp striking features. Her waist is unbelievably tiny; her corset is so tightly laced up that she should definitely be collapsing from a lack of air right now but she stands tall with sickeningly straight, perfect posture and that classic Arron air of arrogance, coldness and superiority. Though she doesn't quite look as tall as Arwen despite the impeccable posture. 

Carina is pale, paler than both Nalani and Arwen but her lips redder and more vibrant than them both. It is as though her lips have stolen all the blood. It is a little bit of a shock to see hair as dark as hers and eyes as pitch black as hers. No one has hair this dark or eyes this soulless. It's like staring a mirror expect the mirror is cracked in places. Every crack is a difference between them both. She didn't see it so much with Arwen's hair and eyes because she didn't look at Nalani once and that imposing crown on her head takes the attention away from her hair. 

To Nalani's horror, she sees a giant bright vibrant green snake next to Carina, it's length and the sheer size of the reptile taking up nearly the entire pavilion. It's golden eyes glow with a malice that Carina shares as she tenderly caresses the snakes scales who's arched up to meet her small pale hand. 

It is odd that the snake is here beside the queen, almost with the closeness of a familiar to a naturalist queen. But that's impossible. Poisoners can't have familiars. Nalani feels uneasy as she looks away from the snake, gulping. A horrible death surely awaits Arwen or herself at the fangs of that snake if Carina orders it. The thought makes her shudder. 

She takes a quick glance behind her at all of her Westwood family. Vivianne, Rowan, Hestia and Vivianne's brother Mathias along with his son. Even her maid and friend Kali is there, looking beautiful in the Beltane dress Nalani had purchased her. She feels a slight sense of regret, she has barely spoken to Kali since arriving at Innisfuil Valley.

Then she looks to her new war gifted guards. The Vatros twins. Juliette and Jonah. Both with long hunting knifes strapped to their sides and probably a dozen other concealed weapons. And then the Murtra siblings.

Morrigan, her favourite verbal sparring partner, who nods at her with a grin as she catches Morrigan's eye and then Achilles. Bastard, she thinks resisting the urge to scowl at him and light his damn balls on fire. That would teach him a lesson about kidnapping and poisoning her. She'll play along for now, let him believe that she forgot everything. But she remembers and she will make him pay. He suddenly catches her eye and looks slightly puzzled for a moment and almost shrugs at her as if to ask What are you looking at? It makes Nalani want to just punch him in the face. Forget any magic. A punch would be more satisfying. 

Suddenly, Nalani hears Vivianne, "Nalani turn around and pay attention," she snaps, "this is an important ceremony." 

It's not that important in her opinion but nonetheless Nalani begrudgingly turns back around and looks ahead obediently for once. She takes comfort as Hestia squeezes her hand in reassurance beside her and the feeling of comfort increases as Rowan brushes his hand gently against hers at her other side. Both Westwood siblings stand beside her tall and united, as they are here both as guards and friends. 

"I love you Nalani," Rowan whispers so quietly that Nalani barely hears it but she does hear it. A small smile makes it's way upon her face. 

"I know," she whispers cheekily but with affection and she brushes her hand against his again. 

"I just wanted you to know that in case everything does to hell," he says very quietly. 

Nalani smiles again but it is one of slight sadness. Everything could go to hell quite easily, everything could go wrong for her and she could die, leaving Rowan alone in this world. She thinks he's in denial sometimes of the fact that she's a queen and it is her duty and fate to kill or be killed. He has such confidence that she will win, Nalani thinks he will be truly broken if she loses. But she'll humour his notion of them living a united happy life together for a little while longer. 

"Then I suppose we'll go into hell together then," she whispers, turning her head subtly to face him and he does the same. Rowan gives her one last nod and a smile of reassurance and love before he turns away from her and she does the same. 

No one can truly know about them. He is not a mainlander so he is not suitable to bear the triplets with. An official match between them could never happen. Nalani thinks that he knows this, he just can't accept it. But he must realise that her life is not her own, it has always belonged to the Goddess. And the Goddess does not care for some teenage love story, she craves queensblood. And she will get that blood one way or another and then the gifts of the island will be replenished. 

Drums start to play. How dramatic and unoriginal Nalani thinks, rolling her eyes. If only she and Rowan could be alone right now, rather than her wasting precious time. 

The families all step away from the three queens who now all stand completely alone as they all glance at each other quickly. She instantly misses the warmth of Rowan and Hestia but soon gets used to it. Nalani sees Carina give her a deadly smile and the fire queen sticks her tongue out at her. Nalani knows this is childish but she can't resist. It turns Carina's expression murderous much to both Nalani's delight and terror. Arwen did give both sisters a quick glance but not enough to see her real expression. 

Soon Nalani is bored by all this waiting and sighing in impatience, she plays with a loose curl out of habitat, taking delight in making her hair more wild. But that is how it should be. She wants the suitors to see a wild elemental queen who will not be trifled with. 

The drums continue to play as Nalani watches the suitor's row to the shore in longboats as their impressive war ships remain further back, as to not become run aground as they remain anchored in the bay. The mainland galleons are too large to possibly sail all the way to the shore anyway so the longboats are safer. Odd flags decorate their ships and longboats, it must be a mainland custom, all with different colours and symbols. She recognises some. Centra, Bevellet, Salkades, Valostra. They are the richest and most famous countries. There are others but she does not recognise them and honestly she does not care. She did not pay enough attention to Vivianne or Hecate explaining mainland history to know anymore or care. With that thought she wonders how the midwife fares, it will be strange to go back to the Black Cottage eventually when she is queen and her own midwife as a child will aid her in bringing the next triplets into the world. The Hecate will care for those next three unfortunate souls just as she did with Nalani and her sisters. 

While she's been concentrating on the grander flags of the war ships out some distance in the bay, Nalani forgets that the suitors have nearly reached the shore and spies a quick look at them as they all swiftly climb from their boats and walk on the beach towards the queens. They are close to the suitors now, even though they stand a little way above the rest, the cliffs they stand upon aren't really cliffs at all. But they still portray the right image of the queens being above any mortal beings. The daughters of the Goddess.

All of the boys are smiling, one's teeth is so white that Nalani feels blinded just staring at them. They are all eager puppies and their eyes are already lustfully glued to each queen, for all three are beautiful and all three are deadly. Even though the cliffs the queens stand upon are not too high they are still high enough to prevent any real pleasantries and introductions but that is better. The Disembarking is only a ceremony, only first impressions and a few quick blushes. After this there will be a small feast and party before the real ceremony will begin. The Quickening. 

The first boy bows, to all three queens, nearly falling as he bows so low to Arwen that it looks as if he might topple right over. He attempts a seductive smile but it looks out of place on him. He still has baby fat as he is clearly the youngest of the suitors. Carina half curtsies to the suitor, still a wicked gleam in her eyes as he gulps in intimidation though he cannot take his eyes off of her. Arwen nods, regal and formal as ever, not offering him even a pity smile or glance. Nalani smirks at the boy suitor, giving him a suggestive wave and raise of her eyebrows, to her delight he goes red and she cackles as he becomes flustered and embarrassed. 

The next few are boring and Nalani does not pay much attention though she takes note as a handsome dark haired tan one bows, with confidence and without hesitation as he smiles with no fear at each queen. Carina smiles as she sees the handsome suitor and she flicks her tongue out slightly, mimicking her snake in a disturbingly identical way and the snake hisses and her smile grows.

The suitor's confidence and perfect bow does nothing to stimulate a reaction in Arwen and she still offers the same nod to every single one. When the handsome suitor finally bows low to her, Nalani gives that wave again but this suitor's gaze stays on her body a little too long and she swears she can hear Rowan's growl of anger from behind her. Nalani raises her eyebrows at the tan suitor's boldness but he only winks at her as he walks away, a swagger in his step. 

Finally the last suitor appears. He's quite good looking but not with muscles like her Rowan and without his tan. Only just a man by the looks of it, pretty sky blue eyes and light brown hair. He's dressed in a vibrant blue that matches his eyes. He ignores Carina who gives him a truly loathing glare and her snake bares its fangs in warning and hisses. Still the suitor ignores her. He must have a death wish, Nalani decides as she sees Carina's murderous expression fixated on him. The suitor then moves to Arwen. She is the only one he bows too. 

In turn, he is the only suitor Arwen acknowledges as shockingly a warm smile is plastered on her face. Nalani sees that it's genuine. A small smile makes its way into the elemental's face as she watches the exchange between them both. She sees the rage on all of the Arrons faces, seething like angry hissing snakes as they watch them both, just as the whole island watches. Nalani knows who this is. 

So this is Klaude Vale.