"A dark and stormy night" — On this particular chaotic evening, all found shelter from the thunder and lightning. All but one. The lady of the emerald stone trudged through the mud and puddles of water. In the distance she could hear the barking of mongrels in the wind. Even as she brushed by the young trees, she knew escape was only a fantasy. The malevolent band known as the blackskull company pursued after the princess through the rain and darkness. The lady could see the glint of firelight in the trees. They were near, drawing closer. She wasn't fast enough. She wasn't strong enough. They were upon her when she felt her bare toe catch against solid stone. The princess toppled forward, down towards the mud below, but she was quick to brace her palms forward. It was not only her life she was protecting now, she knew. Turning about to face the men, she saw them sheathing their steel. More arrived, and the lady of the emerald stone caught sight of their leader. The scourge of the western isles, Merrik the Gnasher. "Haven't you been listening, girl?" the man said as he dismounted from his armored horse. "It's not time for you to go. Not yet, Princess Honey Vie." All went black for honey after that. Would she ever make it home again and taste the sweet bread that flavored that air in the castle halls?
"A circle of glowing petals" — The Luminescent Court hadn't met in it's entirety for almost 900 years. Some fae even whispered that the members had long gone into legend, and did not float the material plane with their sisters and brothers of the forest. Yet, on this night each member heard the faint cry of the grove and assembled in the great oak at the stroke of midnight. Even among them hushed rumors were uttered of a time long since predicted to come. The signs all pointed to the dying of magic and their own, eventual ruin. "I will have silence." All heads turned towards Lady Gelistial, the Bright and the eldest of the Luminescent Court. "We've felt it in the breeze. The pools of antiquity do not lie. The time has come to name the Champion to fight the material pull on this world." There was nothing but silence for a moment before a young Fae known as Marriette, the Caregiver stepped forward. "My ladies, I have seen his line with my own eyes. The pools of antiquity do not lie. He will be among us on the dawn. A new day, but never away from his fate." Gelistial smiled at Marriette and nodded. "You will go, child of the Luminescent Court. You will go, and you guide him to the path chosen for him."
"Flight in the full moon" — "These escapes have to stop, Princess. If anything, for your own safety," Merrik said as he gazed down at the innocent looking lady of the emerald stone. Even without her signature trinket, the girl wasn't anything like he excpected. After fourteen separate escapes she now harbored a mangled leg. Her flesh was torn and bruised from the mauling bite of his hunting dogs. They bound her with iron, but she was determined to flee. Each evening she found a way to slip her small wrists through the shackles. Normally, she didn't make it out of the bandit's camp. This night Merrik hunted her until dawn, and she almost disappeared entirely. The more time he spent with her, the more he realized she was anything but a lady. Vicious, even bellicose at times, she harbored a strong loyalty to her kingdom he had to admire. His men would be rich to sell her off, but each escape had brought Merrik back to her cell. Each time, he found something more he loved about her. "I never thought I would ever ask but — Can you walk?" He unfastened her iron bindings. "Come with me," Merrik said. "I'm leaving here with you." It wasn't until late that night before the blackskull company began to pursue their missing princess, and Merrik knew how to cover his tracks well. They found a small abandoned cottage in the forest to stop in, and they only stopped because the lady of the emerald stone was close to giving birth.
"Sacrifice of true love" — Honey lay lifeless against the dark grey cobblestone that composed the cottage, and Merrik held the silent infant in his arms. Tears rolled down his cheeks as he couldn't help but stare at the lady of the emerald stone's cold, lifeless face. What would he do? The blackskull company would catch up to him eventually, and now he had to raise the young boy without the care of a mother. When all hope seemed lost, he heard the sound of a small voice coming from nearby. Merrik turned quickly to spy the sprite standing on the floor. "Do not cry," Marriette said to him. "It was a destiny fulfilled and a promise kept that he comes to the material world with us." Merrik didn't understand, but he clutched the babe close to his chest. "She.. She wanted to name him.." Merrik sputtered but Marriette knew. "Gram," she replied, finishing his sorrowful sentence. "He is destined to save us all," Marriette continued before floating closer to Merrik. "Let me take him back to the forest," she said. "I will watch over him."