She drifted slowly through the darkness. Her hand reached out to grasp fluttering grains of light that danced before her. As she looked down at her wrist, he saw the shining metal cuff that grasped her. The world shook around her. She was unsteady on her feet. The sound of horses' hooves surrounded her, the turning of carriage wheels. Chatter and shouts came from all angles. The noise was cacophonous.

Gently, Setia's eyes fluttered open. The haze of the world around her came into focus. She was no longer standing in the endless dark. She was lying on a pallet of furs, spread across the pillowed platform. Golden curtains draped either side of the platform, hiding the view of whatever was around her. She reached a hand out to grasp the curtain and pull it aside, and gasped at the colour of her skin, a dark gray. Her nails were long and sharp, almost like claws.

When she pulled the curtain aside, she gasped. She saw she was being carried on a large sedan! The pointed ears of the light elves below her carrying her stared her in the face. Crowds gathered on either side of the cobblestone walkway as the grand procession marched down toward the palace. Banners hung in the streets, children gripping their mothers' skirts, scurried about to take a peek at the procession.

Setia closed the curtain and sat back down, conscious of the people carrying her. Looking down at herself, she saw they dressed her in an elaborate midnight blue gown, with gossamer fabric and with gold embroidery. She ran her fingers through his now waist-length silver hair. She ran her tongue over her teeth and felt abnormally sharp canines, smaller than fangs. In her hair, he felt the pointed tips of his ears protruding. In the room's corner she saw what she knew was her large, two handed claymore, leaning against the edge. On her dress, she found a strap that must be to holster her weapon.

So, she was really here. She sighed and tried to take a deep breath to quell her inner panic. This was real. She glanced down at the cuff that was still around her wrist.

"Eli?" she whispered.

(Ding!) The bracelet lit up. Eli's dragon form slithered out of the bracelet and stood before Setia."You're awake! Welcome to Andruil." He said, opening his tiny arms. "Your mission meter is at 0%, your love meter is at -5%, court approval rating: 10%"

"-5%?! 10%? Wow, you didn't make this easy."

"You are a princess of the enemy kingdom. You can't expect your rating to be very high." He sighed. "As for the love interest... well, he hates you for a particular reason." He said sheepily. "What reason would that be?" Setia raised an eyebrow and crossed her arms over her ample chest.

"Well, I may have forgotten to mention one thing... Setia is being offered to Andruil as a potential bride for the prince." Eli stared at his claws. Setia groaned and gripped her hair. That explains the fancy dress, the grand procession. Why she was riding in a sedan instead of a normal carriage.

"So the prince and I are being forced into a marriage?" Setia asked.

"There are discussions that are going to be had. I believe the king of the dark kingdom, Altair, is hoping to start a war before then. He is looking for your information and evidence of treachery."

"So what is it I'm in the middle of right now?" Setia once again peeked out the canopy, staring at the looming gothic castle we approached, observing the cheering crowd. Some also had dark expressions on their faces, not pleased at an envoy of the enemy marching through the city. Eli stuck his little dragon nose out to see the view as well.

"We are in the middle of the welcoming procession, to welcome the bride to their new city. We are headed to the castle to be greeted by the king and the royal family."

The castle was a massive palace carved from marble and granite stone. It had a massive set of stairs that ascended to a main entryway, covered with carved moldings and statuary. On the raised dais of the palace, Setia could see a mass of figures standing before the grand doors. The royal family, waiting to greet her company.

The sedan lurched to a stop. The sound of drums and trumpets filled the air. Setia could hear people bustling outside the lift, scrambling to roll out the carpet and place the stairs next to the sedan for her to descend. The sound of a trumpet once again shrilled in the air, followed by a loud throat clearing.

"May I present: Princess Setia, daughter of Altair, kingdom of the dark." The curtain was pulled aside, just as Setia schooled her features into a mask of serene calm. A round of applause greeted her as she daintily stepped on the makeshift steps that had been placed on the side of the sedan. Her attendants followed behind her. She strapped her sword to her back.

She stared up the long flight of marble steps before her, gigantic statues of griffons rested on the top of either side of the stairway, guarding the entrance to the castle. Under the watchful gaze of the community, Setia daintily placed a hand on the large marble railing, and climbed the steps.

The surrounding silence was deafening. The cheering of the crowd had stopped, as everyone waited breaths held to see what would happen when the envoy arrived. Setia stared at her feet, trying desperately not to trip over the hem of her elaborate gown. Eli had retreated into the bracelet, away from prying eyes. Not that Setia was sure anyone could see him besides her, anyway. She heard footsteps, then a hand appeared in her vision.

She lifted her gaze to find an elf man standing before her. He was tall, broad in his chest and shoulders. His pointed ears stuck out of shaggy auburn curls, the colour of autumn. Eyes were of the deepest green, the colour of an emerald. His teeth flashed in a cocky grin, pearly white without fangs. He wore intricately engraved black Elven armour, with an enormous sword strapped to his side.

His smile widened, and a gleam lit his eye as he caught Setia's appraisal of his appearance. Setia slowly placed her hand on the elf's.

"Welcome, my princess." He bent down and kissed the back of Setia's hand with gentle lips. "I hope the journey treated you well."This was him — prince of the light elves.