Robidas 

Robidas Eathelin hated the capital. He hated coming here, with its judgmental people who mocked and scorned him. Ever since his match with the Princess Allegra had been announced, the national mood towards Elves had soured. There wasn’t outright hostility or incidents of racist or xenophobic prejudice - not yet, at least, but the closer the wedding day came, he was sure tensions would boil over. It was a fortnight away, hardly time for him to reconnect with his would-be bride. 

His retinue finally stopped at the gates of the citadel. As a diplomatic envoy, he was allowed to come and go as he pleased. He looked up at the sky: storm clouds. Never a good sign. His navy blue cloak was adorned with sapphires picked out to resemble a waterfall, the sigil of his clan, the Clan of Many Waters. 

The Waters Clan had held the Sunflower Throne for decades, all under the same sovereign - Robidas’ father, Tyrisus - he was the Elves’ Pathfinder, their equivalent to a king, also known the Lord of All Ways. Every elf aspired to one day return to the Skyvaults and rejoin Zebulon Stargazer, their god. But Tyrisus wasn’t here, not on this inauspicious day. No, he would never deign to sully his boots by stepping onto Human soil.

Robidas held his sword close to him, his shoulders coiled like springs ready to pop. As befit his rank as the Stormchaser, the warrior sent to meet any trouble head-on, he carried a sword called the Serenity. Like the Dyrnwyn, it too was made from immortal steel, but it wasn’t a longsword in the same vein as its cousin. No, it was a watersabre.

He had been told to meet Princess Allegra in her solar. After all, she had been dismissed from the presence of her father. Ordinarily Robidas would have to stop and pay obeisance to his future father-in-law, but the servant who brought him the letter at the magnificent gates had summoned him to Allegra’s apartments specifically. 

“Princess? It is I, your beloved.” The words felt strange coming from his mouth, like honey left outside on a cold day. He was besotted with his betrothed - what man, human or elf, wouldn’t be? - but he could sense all the same that she didn’t feel the same way about him. Either way, their marriage was not meant to be for love. It was a strategic alliance to bind the two realms closer together after centuries of allegiance to one another. 

“I’m behind the screen,” Allegra responded. Robidas turned his back, too well-mannered to gaze on her while she changed. He’d have to get used to that at some point - seeing her body unclothed - but it was unseemly before they were wed. Elven social customs seemed befuddling to humans, but it was what it was. Allegra emerged from behind the screen, clad in simple robes of jasmine terry cloth. Wearing that elaborate confection for her coronation and the summit afterwards was exhausting. She personally thought that whoever invented corsets should be put in one just to see how it felt. 

“Hello, my love,” she said, striding forward to greet him with a hug and a kiss, but before she could embrace him, Robidas dropped to one knee before her.

“My, my, actually proposing are we?” Allegra smirked at him. In reply, Robidas upheld his sword with both hands. 

“As discussed, my lady. My sword in exchange for your hand.” Allegra gasped. She knew enough about Elven notions of etiquette to not unsheathe the blade right then and there, but she didn’t think this would actually happen. Elves were famously stingy with any items crafted from starmetal, and well, immortal steel weapons of any description were hard to come by. 

“Rise, my lord. As it happens, I have one more favor to ask of you.”

“Anything, my lady,” Robidas said as he regained his feet. “Speak.” 

“Get me out of here - I need to follow my brother into hostile terrain for when he inevitably gets into trouble.”

“As you wish.”