Two..... People Getting Married, Since towers, rulers, and kingdoms are probably taken already

Two kingdoms warring/in strife.... and the rulers of each have decided to form a truce of sorts and marry for the benefit of both, and hopefully form peace everlasting

The king of Shadows, was what he was called, primarly, though on occasion the " evil lord " or from time to time " the Ice King" was one. But the king of shadows, ruled a dark realm and he wished for the light, and that is all he had was the dark, and a title, no name for his own, for he had forgotten it through the sands of time. Shadows fallowed him like well kept pets, and darkness huged him like a mothers touch, long hair, black as ravens wing, and a mask, made from silver, and cloth, covered half his face, in something that spoke of great detail, the fabric being black, soft against his skin, and the silver making pretty roses, in fanciful knots, he had more than one, and this one he liked best, it was held on by a strap that was neither opposing or very noticable, and the frabric hung down, to cover that side of his throat, for it was no secret that he was scared and disfigured. Cursed he was, and rightfully so, for darkness fed his heart. His shoulders were impossibly wide, his gaze horribly stern, his clothing was that of a lord, one born in battle, with silver shoulder plates, in his red as blood cloak that touched the ground, fassoned by a legnth of chain to meet in the middle with a gaint red Garnet. that was at his throats center ware the colar bone met. is shirt was made of soft black, silver emprodery to day it was roses, with black glittering buttons as their centers. His pants matched his shirt, and his boots, shinned to a military perfection, the silver tips of his shoes matched that of his shirt. His belt buckle was even a rose this day. Roses, romantic but thorned. Yet the shadows, all ways clung to the red of his clock, as the darkness hugged him, the smell of dark and damp forests that wished to steal souls, clung to him, as well as the slight smell of fire, as two blue willow whisps fallowed, his face was fine featured mandly and for what was showing handsom. His one eye as Green as emeralds, and his other as red as the Garnet adoring his throat. He waited ware she had told him to meet her, on the rocking ground just outside their boarders which mused him.

Princess Illumen did not keep him waiting too long. The delicate girl wore a flowing silver and lavender kimono/dress, trimmed in violet and gold. Upon her head was a delicate silver crown jeweled with sapphires and amethysts, and worked to seem like delicate vines holding the  stones in place. Her milky pale skin looked and was soft and fair, and her smooth hair dark and shining, shimmering slightly like a clear night sky. She was beautiful. Illumen was a Changeling; a fae child swapped with a human one at birth, so her family was not her birth one, but raised her as their own none the less. She had strong magical powers, mostly over nature, but some rumored she could control the moonlight itself. However, Illumen remained a delicate looking and mannered creature mostly, soft spoken but firm in her judgement and ruling. She bowed a little at the shoulder when she met the King of Shadows. "Sire...." She greeted softly, her voice like a gentle spring breeze.

The king of shadows gaze darkened, the willow wisps catching up now danced at either side of him, his gaze was rather cold and cruel, and his mouth pressed into a scowl, he raised the eyebrow owned by his emerald eye out of habit, he stood impossibly tall, waiting several heart beats, as it seemed the dark was attempting to swallow him, and sneered yet somehow boomed and purred out his words, with his perfect white teeth, " Come to fall under my wrath, surrender looks good on you Princess." he said, looking all the more the triumphant, as he lay a hand on the ruby studded sword, clearly used for both elegant show and deadly ease. His one hand, stayed behind the clock as it wore a glove that simply resembled his mask.. and his bare hand, simply screamed strength, all most diminishing the bright jewel of a sapphire glowing blue in its setting on that hands middle finger. The hour glass that was tied to his waist, its black sands seemingly impossing on its own, seemed to glow sinister in the light of those ghostly wisps.

Princess Illumen closed her eyes and took a shaky breath. She could feel her heartbeat hammering in her chest. The changeling princess kept her eyes closed as she spoke as steadily and carefully as she could muster. "I have come to ask for a truce." She said softly. "If... if we marry, we can stop this meaningless war, and unite our lands." Illumen kept her eyes closed. It would be so much easier if it was this way; just as she practiced. "All that can come out of this war is pain and death of many innocent lives, on both sides. But... if we wed... it could end, and we all could live in peace. I am not asking for a loving and caring marriage.... more as a truce and a way to unite our kingdoms." As she finished, Princess Illumen finally opened her eyes and watched the Shadow King for his response, swallowing a little as she waited for his answer. Her heart beat as fast as a rabbits. He could kill her here and now, and no one would know. He could laugh in her face and tell her off, and renew his attack with more strength than before. It was a foolhardy plan, but she hoped it would work, for the sake of her kingdom.

The king of shadows, stood there, in that pose, all most as if he was waiting for his portrait to be painted, but in his mind, his thoughts turned and twisted, meanwhile, the wisps, grew in size and turned a rather sinister red, giving warning to a foul temper, or perhaps a nasty deed. He thought, then his mouth twitched, up into a sneer, as the whisps simmered down and once more turned a blue and ghostly hue. The darkness and shadows that had been chased away by their ghostly night now ran and cloaked him once more like hungry dogs. His voice though now dripping with poison, as she spoke rather slowly as if she was an idiot, " Oh, you do know that means your mine... a fate worse then surrender." he purred " are you a masochist Princess or just dim of mind?" he sneared a chuckle making the very act sound cruel in doing so, " Your lands, everything you possess would be mine... including " he said this last part quite rather seductively in a tone that would send revolution up many a spine, " your body." he said this in a way that made his eyes grow dark and smoky like the air about him, and the wisps did a bit of a dance as if they laughed with him at the dark humor.

Illumen shuddered as he said that last part. She couldn't help it. "If... if that's what it takes for peace... so be it." She said softly before she met the King of Shadows' eyes steadily. "If willingly signing myself away to a loveless marriage to a man who is feared like yourself is what it takes to ensure my kingdom's safety and well being, it is a sacrifice I will gladly make." Illumen was still terrified. She knew she was playing with fire, but yet she held his gaze, firm and determined on her stance. She had committed now, and if he accepted, she knew she couldn't back down, and backing out now would prove her to be a weak leader, and surely he would kill her for wasting his time if she backed out now. Her hand had been played.... now it was a matter of what happened next.

The king of shadows, simply lifted his head, drew up, into a pose that demanded to be obeyed, the wisps danced, turning a harsher colder shade of blue, and he grinned the devil's smile, a light in his eyes that meant she had made a deal with the devil, and he said though very pointedly " If you are willing to play the fool, So be it, " he licked his lips in a disgusting manner " I will enjoy breaking you." he said, as the wisps danced again as if in mock laughter, as he began to laugh that cruel laugh, the wisps danced, turning horrid shades of black and midnight blue, yet still giving light, and yet adding to the shadows that now danced across his face. His eyes boring into her soul as he waited for her to run or scream in terror from him, or faint at the thought. The Garnet blazed at his throat, as the sapphires flames danced, and the rubies dulled, giving light to what he spoke was truth.

Illumen took a shuddering breath, but despite her fear of him, she didn't run, and didn't faint, even though her fear played into her clear blue eyes. "Withdraw your troops, and meet me at my castle in three days. We will discuss the details of the marriage then." She said softly before carefully backing away from him and turning to go. Perhaps.... maybe.... she was out of the frying pan now? She wasn't sure. The King of Shadows terrified most, and she had in a way did what most were rumored to not have; face him one on one, and walk away alive from it.

The king of shadows turned into his own shadows and his own darkness, he would do that, this amused him. This had interested him, and the prospect delighted him. The wisps fell behind him again, but he didn't need their light to walk in these dark shadows and dark night. He walked as he will, doing as he pleased, and laughing as he wished, three days would come soon enough. He laughed into the night, as he waited for just that. His horrid army of people who were more dead inside than the dead themselves, no cheer, of joy, or even pleasure escaped their lips ever, neither did rage or anything. They were husks, and he commanded them, that was it. They returned to his lands, with ease, and not a whimper or sound escaped his army.

In the three days preparing for his arrival, Princess Illumen arranged what was needed. Her castle guards knew to let the King of Shadows through her gates, and in the meantime, she considered what would need negotiated for a royal union such as this one. Illumen sighed. The day had come sooner than she had hoped or expected, and she dressed herself in her usual flowing attire. Today... her fate would be planned out, and soon after, sealed with the marriage. She closed her eyes in thought. Was she really doing the right thing? She had to be. A good ruler put the well being of their kingdom before their person well being, but was this the right course of action? Binding herself to a cruel man who would more than likely use and manipulate her to his will like one of his emotionless pawns? No.... she had to remain strong, and firm. Princess Illumen took a deep breath and reopened her eyes, steadily watching the hall doors into the throne room for her guest.... and future husband.

THe shadow king today, simply wore blue, black and blue, cold and alluring, the mask he wore was a different one, this one, had sapphires, that danced in delicate knotwork, that spoke of magics. The cloth remained black, his cloak was blue, yet the same garnet and shoulder armor adorned it. his shirt was black, but silver and blue thread wound threw it, making a pattern of flames. The wisps seemed to be lively and just as amused as there master, the sword was the same, and so was his belt buckle, the only rose among the blue flames and knot work of power. He strode, the shadows still fallowing him, the darkness still holding, and the gloved had still matching the mask, this time however, his boots were more of a soft texture, yet still had matching silver toes. His gaze was cruel, just as his hair wild and for this day unkept. He strode in like he owned the damn place, and the dark the black swept in to devour the light behind him. The wisps keeping pace this time, he grinned a cruel devil like smile his voice dripping like velvet " and here we are princess, to dance in my shadows, ready to break and bend, under my searing gaze?' he all but crooned " you will do well, I am sure, to scream such lovely screams."

"King... we are to negotiate the terms of our union." Illumen said softly but firmly, her gaze steady. Her own attire was now shades of emerald and soft greens, and her crown now made of emerald and like leaved vines. "As I am sure you are aware, there is a legality side of this, and a contact must be designed to outline what shall come about.... and ensure that both parties are satisfied with this arrangement..." She took a deep breath. "Shall we go to the library to write up the documents?" She offered. Her heart was hammering again, despite how calm she tried to be. Illumen was still terrified of her fate, and terrified of this man.

The king of shadows merely laughed, as cruely as he had before, and sneared his next words, the wisps dancing in a way, as they took on a shade of darker blue, his tone cold " No." he said musingly then pased, stretching out so his hand, laid once more idly on his sword, he looked to the wall, all most out the window, " those contracts, and little tid bits, mean nothing to the likes of me, and can not and will not bind or hold me, even when magics, strong or old, even both can bind me to it. For a nameless man makes his own path, and I have not a name." he laughed heartlessly as he mused, his eyes now wild with something akin to evil, " tell me princess, what your last name will be after all this pomp and parade?" he snorted " I have not even that... and tell my Princess, for my black heart though it is black tells no lies this day.. " he grinned that wicked grin " How even the sanction of marrige partains to me.. for its true, I could marry you, " he laughed letting that sink in " and then I could bed every woman in my kingdom and no one would bat an eye.. because simply put, a ring on a man with no name means nothing." he said as the sapphire ring he did have on his finger, lit reflecting the glow of the wicked wisps.

Illumen closed her eyes and took a shaky breath. "Because.... I am going to trust you on your word." She said softly. "So far, your word has held true. You have honor, if no name to go with it, King of Shadows. You moved your soldiers as asked, and you met me here on this day, as you said and agreed you would." She opened her eyes and looked at him, her fear a little more prevalent now. "No contract nor magic may be able to bind you.... but your code of honor probably does." She said boldly.

The king of shadows bellowed harsh laughter through the castle, it echoed and crashed sinisterly off the walls. The whips turned to the black hue, and the simply sneered his words that dripped with poison, " Honor? You think I have something as foolish and usless as that, I could burn you win wisp fire, could freeze your heart as cold as ice, " he paused, lifting his gloved hand and clutched it into a fist " Or let the sand of time have you, how amusing would that be a pile of dust at my feet to dance and scatter in the wind... tell me Princess... where your pathetic notion crept into my amusement? " he took 6 steps towards her, before giving her a hot devils glare " You and this farce simply Amuses me, on a whim, I do all of this... to simply pass the time... " he said raising an eyebrow " oh, I can't wait till your mind, locked within the walls of my castle, letters being your only way of communicating to your pathetic kingdom." he laughed " hoping and praying to a god who refuses to listen to my side of the world, that you will remain, amusing, or I indecisive of which way suits your death."

Illumen made probably the most rash and stupid thing she had done yet. She closed the distance between them, stood on her tiptoes, and kissed the King of Shadows. There were tears down her cheeks as she prayed that this may help in her favor. And so, the Princess kissed him full on the lips, a hand lightly on his chest to help support her balance as she stood on tiptoe precariously on the small step to her throne. And she prayed, for while there might not be a god in his lands, it was believed to be one in hers, and they were in her castle right now.

The king of shadows, pushed her away from him in a flash, his snarl meant death, her lips had only mere lightly touched his, but that was enough to have the wisps turn to red and spout flames that licked at the ceiling, he snarled horrifically, as he drew his blade and pointed the deadly tip at her throat " How dare you touch me.." he sneered, a horrid and wicked sound, as if by touching him, she had unleashed the demonic monster that laid under the skin, " How dare you take liberties where you have no right, Give me one reason why I shouldn't thrust this blade through you, or do my worst magics yet." He snarled, the wisps hissing a demonic sound. As his sapphires as blue and perfect, reflected the deadly blaze on either side.

Illumen fell backwards onto the floor and looked up at the King of Shadows, shaking and terrified. After a long moment, she finally spoke, her voice trembling. "You... you agreed to a marriage...." she said in a small and shaky voice. "I thought.... that meant...." She swallowed and looked down at the blade at her neck and swallowed. She had thought that meant he had agreed to contact with each other. "I... I am sorry.... for angering you...." She whispered meekly. If they still followed through with this, this marriage would indeed be a lot harder and torturous than Illumen previously thought.

The king of shadows bellowed horribly nothing at all, using that action to lessen his temper so he could get a hold of it, his eyes dazzled with temper, with horrid fury, and a moment he stole, to calm his face, his composer, yet the wisps though shrinking to their original size, still held the red color of anger, and they seemed to blaze and roll as if two dogs waiting to feed on their prey. The shadows swirled behind him and he said coldly as he sheathed his sword " Rules, and you will know them as you will walk the stones of my castle soon enough... Never touch me again, or your death will come sooner than either of us mused it would." he growled then taking 4 steps back from her wisps fallowing, and then snapped " you will obey... to do much less is death."

Princess Illumen adjusted herself so she was sitting, her pulse still racing quickly at how close to death she had come. She had made sure the guards knew beforehand to not raise a hand against the King of Shadows, not wanting to lose them too under his wrath and war going. Her eyes were still wet with tears as she looked blearily at her supposed fiance. "You... aren't living here?" She asked, still processing all he said. "You are taking me... to your lands?!"

The king of shadows, raised the eyebrow of his emerald eye yet again, then snorted " No, were going to live in a hobbit hole, in the next country over behind yours... " he said shaking his head " what are you daft. Even I know the wife moves in with the husband, unless." his sinister lips curled up, and the wisps turned back to their signature blue, " Unless, you actually think that I could live here in this castle, and not slaughter every single castle staff member with glee and delight because I woke up wanting to do so.. or want your entire kingdom covered in utter bloody darkness, I was right princess you are a massakist " he all most purred " and to think this would have made such a lovely bland letter, Dear king of shadows, the light isnice, it all most made me grin, love the dead in side people." he grinned now " who am I kidding, they never write, nor do they love."

Illumen closed her eyes and bowed her head. No.... she couldn't let her people suffer.... even if she was afraid. She.... she had to be strong. "I... I will go with you." She whispered defeatedly after a moment, what remained of her earlier fight gone. "Please... I beg of you.... let me pack my things first, and make arrangements here before... before I join you."

The king of shadows laughed very amused " when you done, join me won't you.. " he snapped his fingers and a smaller timider seeming wisp appeared out of nothing, " this pathetic thing, knows the way at least." he sneered turning back into his shadows, towards home, " come little princess, come to the big bad beast that lives in the cool dark... and see what of misery is there for you, and this farce of a good laugh." he laughed then for a moment, before strolling like he would no sooner turn the place to ash, and using magic because it fancied him, snapped his fingers and was gone, leaving the small wisp to glow a soft and welcoming light.

Illumen looked at the small fire based creature in curiosity and small fascination. After some gentle coaxing, Illumen coaxed the little guy close enough for her to lightly stroke. To her surprise, this one's flames didn't burn her, but more so a tingling, warm sensation. She smiled softly, and kept the little wisp near her as she prepared her things. All too soon, everything was done, but she hesitated before she left the only home she ever knew. Illumen sighed and stroked the wisp gently as it cuddled her. "What's he like?" She asked the little one. "He seems so cold and distant, but yet... he allowed you to stay, even though he said rude things about you." She sighed softly. "Well, I suppose we are alike then in that sense. I suppose he keeps us around for amusement, but worry not. I will take care of you now, little one." She promised the wisp. Illumen allowed a few precious moments more before she collected what she needed, storing it in a giant pumpkin she would summon again later to retrieve. Illumen then went to the stables and mounted her horse. "All right, gentle wisp, would you please show me the way?" Sure enough, the small wisp lead her true, and soon they neared their destination.