//------------------------------//
// Chapter 3: Outlanders 
// Story: The Kiss of Winter 
// by Skyblitz 
//------------------------------//




"Are we not welcome here?"





Thunderous booms echoed from the cliffs as the surf crashed against the rock and exploded upwards in sprays of pure coldness. The icy, ebony sea surged through the channels between the rocky archipelagos to the north in great swells, rising and falling in foam topped waves that finally washed onto the distant shores of a mist shrouded realm.
Amid the great black waves, a proud long-ship adorned with golden sails was carried northward towards Cervidas' southern shoreline, a vessel built from light featherwood, crowned with a figurehead carved in the likeness of a screeching eagle. Shouts and calls erupted from the deck as a party of hardy griffin sailors heaved great oars through the dark waters, chanting deeply as they worked to bring their leader to shore. 

Standing boldly upon the prow of the swift ship stood a tall, imposing figure, even for a griffin. His hazel tinted feathers were streaked with grey, those around his head completely coloured in the latter. His beak was cracked, his eyes old, yet his talons sharp. Around him was a sash of red velvet decorated with markings of high rank, both political and military. A great cloak of the same colour whipped behind him as the winter winds battered his ship and crew, causing the aged warrior to hiss angrily. The sooner they reached land, the better.
For five days they had sailed, braving the harsh waters beyond the Bay of Rocs. The wise old leader had been sent by his Windlord, the mighty Stormfjær, to answer the White Hart's mysterious summons to Concordia, something which did not sit well with Commander Tordenvrede. He never trusted the deer, like many of the wise members of every race across the world. Even peace loving Ponykind knew to be cautious when interacting with the northern people. The griffins prided themselves on being a hardy and strong people with a proud heritage in conquest and battle. But even Tordenvrede had to admit that in many ways, the deer were the epitome of resilience in the world.

"Commander!" called his aide, "we're going to land to the north-east in the cove beyond that rock spire. It should be large enough for us to take shelter in for the night." The old griffin nodded slowly, sighing in relief at the sight of the Deer-Realm's beaches. Yet the sea continued to fight them, forcing the crew to heave ever harder against the currents, until at last, battered and windswept, the mighty ship Lynnedslag hauled herself up upon the bleak coastline like a whale.

"Let's get moving as quickly as we can!" Tordenvrede bellowed as his companions disembarked. "Concordia is still another day away from here, and the snows will hinder us. I won't risk flight in this region; there's been talk of dragons and harpies in these skies." His company all nodded solemnly. He knew that they longed for the open air after so long on the waves.
The commander's aide, a young griffin by the name of Lysvinge, oversaw the logistical procedures from the deck of the Lynnedslag, a clipboard clutched in his black talons as he ticked off the supply carts rolling off the ship bearing food, weapons, clothing and barrels of water and wine. Such things, Tordenvrede hoped, would not be needed in great amounts on their quest into the heart of the bleak forests. Cervidas was renowned for the beauty of its summers, but the wrath of its winters even more so. With a resigned huff, the old griffin tightened the strap around his shoulders, where a long rapier lay in its sheath, the golden engraved guard glinting in the moonlight.

"Hurry it up, griffins! We have a mission to fulfil!"





Roe Brook, as settlements went, was purely divine to the party of ponies coming down the valley slopes. The heavenly scene before them was tempered with rustic charm as the finer details of the clustered wooden lodges came into view, and Cadence cooed with delight at the sight of faery lights dancing through and above the streets. The great frozen lake beside the village was glimmering a brilliant blue, reflecting the waving luminescence of the auroras above.
A low cobbled wall marked the boundaries of the town, broken only by two arched gates crowned with naturally sprouting white snowblossoms. The scent of chestnuts and roasted vegetables wafted to Shining's nostrils, and the Prince inhaled with a very satisfied grin on his face.

"It's wonderful here" he heard his wife say. "Everything is so beautiful!"
Indeed it was, and as the party of ponies made their way into the town, it seemed that Ebon Horn's words on the deer folk were correct. Despite the dark hour, the group was greeted by no less than a dozen deer of all sizes and ages. They were mainly the variety of the village's namesake, but Shining spotted two elks and a reindeer among the curious crowd. A wave of excited chattering swept over the unicorn's ears as their new hosts exchanged looks of curiosity and wonder; some fawns gazed in awe at the crystal armour of the guards.

"Hail, honoured guests!" came a smooth voice from the rear of the crowd, which parted to reveal to an elderly doe, decorated with a necklace of small brass bells which heralded her approach. Her hazel coloured fur was streaked with regal tones of silver. Her eyes possessed a certain sad dignity, one which Shining found to be oddly moving.
"Hail, and welcome to our home of Roe Brook. The forest winds sent word of your coming, and my people and I offer you shelter for this evening."

Shining bowed, as was custom, and walked up to meet the doe, who despite the fact of being a full head shorter than Shining, the white unicorn felt some sense of deference to her. 
"Thank you for your generosity. Trust me," he turned to Cadence and White Lance, "we need the rest after tonight. What do we call you?"

The doe smiled. "My name is Capreola, fair Prince. I've been the Watcher of this village and it's people for three generations." 

"Watcher?" asked Cadence. 

"You would call it Mayor or Mayoress, good Princess. We also act as the protector of the town against the creatures of the deep woods that would do us harm, and in recent times that has been growing more difficult by the week. But enough of such dark matters, my aides will show you to your lodges. Some of our citizens have already offered to take up your party in their homes for the night." 

A trio of stags approached to relieve the travellers of their burdens, and began to escort the ambassadors in small groups into the village, chattering excitedly and asking questions about far-off Equestria. As the royal carriage and rickety supply cart disappeared down a covered alley, only the two monarchs and their guard stood with Capreola. 

"How did you know we were coming?" asked White Lance curiously, half gazing out across at the frozen lake as he spoke, so captivating its beauty. 

"The forest winds, as I said" giggled the elderly doe, gaining a furrowed brow from all three ponies before her. She continued. "We deer can feel these regions of the world in a way that no other race can. The ground beneath our hooves is like an extension of our bodies. Nature is our friend in these lands." Cadence shook her head in wonder; the deer were truly the masters of the Northlands. Shining opened his mouth to press further, but the sight of an approaching young doe stopped him. 

Her steps were delicate yet determined, set with purpose, and her deep brown eyes reflected the same as she locked eyes with Shining's. Her coat was of a fair brown, streaked with darker patches and peppered with white flecks the colour of virgin snow, and she wore a wreath of mistletoe and snowroses around her neck, set with six silver jingle bells. As she approached the party, Shining suddenly found himself blushing furiously. 

"Ah, my daughter, come to us!" laughed Capreola suddenly. She extended a foreleg over the shoulders of the young doe, embracing her warmly, although the gesture wasn't returned. "Pardon honoured guests, but allow me to introduce my daughter, Aralana."

Cadence smiled and bowed. "It is we are who are honoured" she said graciously. But Aralana ignored her comment entirely, instead flicking her head to the side before swivelling her stare towards Shining. Her dark, woodland coloured eyes seemed to shimmer in the aurora light, and she gave a very slow, controlled blink before turning to give a curt smile to Cadence. 

Shining gulped. 

"I've never heard the wind so agitated before tonight, when your coming was told to us" she began, she voice like her mother's in almost every way, only smoother, sleeker, like quicksilver poured upon silk. "But we are glad nonetheless. It's been many years since any from beyond our lands has come to visit us. You're the first newcomers I've ever seen in my life." The final word was marked with another glance at Shining. 

"A vision of grace, as always!" laughed Capreola, "be a gem, and escort these three to our lodge. They shall be staying with us tonight." The young doe nodded once and gestured towards the largest house at the far end of the village beside the lake. Shining, Cadence and White Lance all began to trudge through the snow to follow their hostess, but the Prince kept his eyes averted from the ravishing young deer. Though he could feel her eyes upon him all the way up the cobbled path. 
Shaking her from his mind, Shining followed his wife up a set of grand oaken steps to the carven door of Capreola's lodge. The building was a fine example of Roe craftsmanship, with the thick double doors crowned by a wooden arch carved in the likeness of trees set with flowers. A set of four, tree trunk think pillars bore aloft the weight of the upper floors, forming a wide covered porch above the party as a pair of guards opened the entrance. A blast of wonderfully warm air buffeted the party, causing all three ponies to blink away the heat before bursting into huge smiles. 

The interior of the great wooden lodge was the exact opposite to their Bridgetown accommodation. A rich golden fire blazed in the centre of a tall hall, set with wooden pillars set with mistletoe and holly. An upper viewing gallery overlooked the entrance, and the roof was set with wonderful carvings of winged does and winter flowers. The fire's light bounced around the room, casting dramatic shadows behind the pillars, and Cadence gasped at the elegant wall hangings and tapestries. Two long tables set for dining ran down either side of the fire-pit, with a third set horizontally upon a raised platform at the rear. 

"Life's good for some" gasped White Lance, removing his helmet and letting his sky coloured mane fall around his shoulders. Shining grinned at him.
"Oh yeah, 'cause life in the Crystal Palace is so bad" he quipped. White Lance shrugged and smiled, but Cadence turned to the silent Aralana, who stood at the doorway, unmoving, her face a mask of perfect mystery. 

"I want to thank you again for allowing us to stay here tonight. I have to admit, Cervidas is nothing at all as I expected; it's so beautiful! And you and your people are so welcoming."

"Yes, believe it or not, Equestria isn't the only land with civilised folk" came the short, clipped reply. Cadence's smile faltered slightly, and, sensing the unknown tension, backed away from the doe. She walked back over to her companions, still keeping her faded smile plastered to her face before whispering to her husband.

"Did I say something wrong?"

Shining hesitated. "Um, I don't think so..." he trailed off, and his eyes met Aralana's again as Capreola, thankfully, arrived to properly welcome them all. 

"Now, Your Highnesses," she began, and nodded to White Lance, "and good sir, we've given all of your rooms to stay tonight, and our kitchen has been informed of your presence, and have begun preparing this morning's breakfast. We usually awake before the noon, and I would suggest that your company do the same if you still wish to arrive at Concordia in time for the talks. If you'd like to follow me, Your Highnesses, I'll take you to your room, and Aralana will escort your companion to his."

Shining and Cadence didn't hesitate in following the old doe, and White Lance seemed more than happy following her daughter, though the same could not be said for her. As the royals made their way up a flight of stairs leading to the upper galleries, Shining stole one last look at the mayoress' daughter, and flinched a little at seeing her deep brown eyes staring back. 



           

"Well... that Aralana is certainly, something" mumbled Cadence as she levitated the great padded quilt over her and her husband. Shining gave a half murmur in agreement, trying desperately to focus on the task at hoof. After that proved fruitless, the white unicorn decided to gain a better look at their chambers. 
They were large, but still retained the rustic, cosy feeling of the rest of the lodge thanks to a glowing fireplace set into the far corner beside a round window. A pair of winged armchairs set together at the foot of the wide bed, and a small door led to the room's ensuite bathroom, this time, spider free. Cadence had since cleansed herself with a rosewater bath, and Shining could smell the fragrant aroma emanating from his wife's mane, tied up behind her head in a pony ponytail. 

"You haven't worn your mane like that for a long time" he smirked. 

"A bit of nostalgia never hurt anypony" Cadence said back, propping herself up with her forelegs. Her magenta tipped feathers ruffled as she sat up against the headboard and leant on her husband. "You feeling okay, honey?"

"Of course!"

"Liar."

Shining sighed as his wife once again smashed his thin veil of pretence asunder, as was the routine. The young Prince had yet to know why he even bothered, and White Lance's now rather wise words rang in his head: "Mares know everything before it happens, then know it better as it's happening, and finally know all there is to ever know about said thing after it's happened - even if you don't know that something's happened."
The pink alicorn implored Shining for an answer with nothing but her gaze, but he hasn't about to admit to her of his impressions - or worries - of Aralana. She was just a young doe that may or may not, have taken an interest in him. He actually considered it a compliment. 
"I think I'm just gonna take a walk"
Cadence protested immediately. "You've had hardly any rest, Shining. We can't afford to be on the back hoof tomorrow at Concordia. It's too important!"
She was right, of course, but Shining wasn't going to let a thing like that stop him. He'd been through too much that night to care. Wordlessly, he hopped out of bed and went for the door. 
"What's up with you?" Cadence asked, a slight edge to her voice. But Shining paid no heed, and exited into the dimly lit hallway, determined to find some air. Cadence, against her better judgement, didn't follow.   

As Shining trotted down the hallway, he pressed a forehoof to his head. What was he thinking? He knew that Cadence was only trying to help, and the unicorn halted, pausing to consider returning to his room, to let his love wash all his worries away. But his pride choked that back, and he resolved to continue onwards. If she followed, that was her decision. 
But Shining knew that she probably already knew by now what was plaguing him - she was the Princess of Love, after all. The doe, Aralana... she was unlike anyone that Shining had ever seen. There was something about her, something that the white stallion couldn't quite place his hoof on. She was beautiful without a doubt, but there was something else beneath her eyes that Shining could feel rather than see. 
"Dammit, get a hold of yourself" he whispered to himself as he rounded a bend. The corridor led outwards onto the great balcony that overlooked the village, and Shining let out a deep sigh as he escaped into the cool, moonlit air. His breath came out in great plumes of fog as he perched himself against the cobbled wall. 

"Trouble sleeping?"

Shining jolted at the sound, his internal guard scolding himself at being so lax, but all that faded as White Lance made his way onto the balcony, his mane still retaining its shape from having worn his helmet. "You should really get some sleep, buddy. The Crystal Prince needs to be all bright and perky for the Deer tomorrow... or this morning now, I guess."

"I know..." Shining murmured.

"But?"

Shining didn't answer immediately, instead choosing to look out across the aurora streaked sky, as if hoping that some divine message would be the thing that gave him all the answers he needed. But no such message came, and the white unicorn turned back to his friend. "I guess..." he began, "I guess just kinda have a bad feeling about all of this. I mean, the trip so far hasn't exactly been smooth."

"I have to agree. It's already had one too many ice dragons for my liking" White Lance quipped, propping himself up beside Shining. "Summer Rose would throw a fit if she really knew what was going on." The Prince chuckled, and took a breath before continuing. 

"I dunno. I mean, we've gone through so much in the guard. I've fought in nearly a dozen battles, but something just seems off about this whole trip. "

"Maybe you should talk to Cadence?"

"Maybe." Shining stopped, the brown form of Aralana floating into his mind. "But there's something else that only happened when we got here. Did you see Aralana?"

White Lance smirked. "Oh yes, that I did. She's a fine specimen, no doubt, but not my type. What about her?" The unicorn's smile faded a little before returning with a vigour at his realisation. "You've got the hots for her, haven't you?"

"N-no!" Shining stammered, a little too quickly. White Lance simply grinned like an idiot, punching Shining on his foreleg. 

"Damn Shiny, guess the Princess of Love isn't that good in the bedroom, I take it."

Shining gave his friend a stern glare. "That's not true at all! Not that it's any of your business anyway. No, the problem is that... there's something about her, something that's kinda, I dunno... off-putting, but not in a bad way. Well kinda in a bad way. She seems proud but..."

"Where in Equestria are you going with this?" White Lance interrupted. 

Shining tried to formulate the words in his mind, but nothing seemed to happen as his eyes turned to the open archway that led back into the lodge. His pupils widened and constricted again quickly as the graceful form of a certain doe loomed in the hallway, blocking out the candlelight and casting a sharp shadow over the pair of stallions. 

"Good evening" she said serenely, still wearing her collar of mistletoe and jingle bells, which rang ever so lightly as she walked with poised grace onto the balcony. She took a greedy lungful of the chilly air, closing her elegant eyes as she did so. The sight made Shining's heart quicken. "The night is cold, yet it seems that the two of you would rather be here than in your chambers. Why is that?" Her voice held an undertone and set even White Lance's teeth on edge. 

"W-we just fancied some air. And we would never pass up an opportunity to see the valley. It's um, it's very impressive" White Lance forced out. Aralana raised an eyebrow and shook her head ever so slightly. 

"Liar" she stated bluntly, forcing Shining to gulp as she echoed Cadence in both word and tone perfectly. It seemed she cared not for Shining's royal status and spoke freely to him without any hindrance. "This is about tomorrow, isn't it?"

The pair of unicorns stayed silent until Shining eventually croaked a half hearted "yeah."

"I thought as much" Aralana continued, an air of presumptuousness in the timbre of her voice. "Mother says that dignitaries from all across the known world have been invited to Concordia for this summit, that something like this has been unheard of in Cervidas for many decades."

"Sounds about right" said White Lance.

"What it sounds like is that you have a heavy weight of responsibility resting on your shoulders, ponies."

"Also sounds about right."

Aralana ignored the guard, instead turning to the Prince, who struggled to hold her stare. "Mother says that no one knows why the White Hart has called for such a meeting at this time or for what reason. Our ruler isn't as in touch with the common folk as Princess Stella."

"Celestia" Shining corrected, regaining some of his composure at the mention of his monarch. Her name seemed to steel his resolve against this strange feeling he was experiencing. 

Aralana chuckled lightly. "My mistake." Her eyes fell to Shining's flank as soon as she uttered the words. "I've always been fascinated by the concept of 'cutie marks' and what they symbolise. Is one bound to their talent for the rest of their life or are you still free to choose whatever pathway you wish?"

Neither pony spoke for a second, giving each other wary looks. This wasn't lost on the wrong doe.

"You don't trust me?"

"It's not that" Shining blurted, slightly louder than was necessary. His ears pressed against his head as his voice bounced across the valley before fading away. 

"Then what?"

Again, both ponies remained silent, silently debating whether to voice their uneasiness. White Lance could no longer deny it. There was an air about the young doe that didn't seem right, but any other words to voice such suspicions were non-existent. Aralana instead snorted derisively. "You could at least humour me."

"With what? There's nothing to tell."    

"Fine then, keep your secrets. I'd have thought that those who hail from the land of Love and Harmony would be more friendly, but then again, we deer are so uncouth and uncultured in the shadow of such esteemed guests."

"It seems we're not the ones with the problem" said Shining stoically. The doe laughed.

"Oh you mistake me, young Prince." She emphasised the final word by taking a few steps towards Shining, her delicate hooves tapping the stone as gently as water droplets upon a pond. "I have absolutely no problems with you or your kind. I'm just so curious of your home, of your people, your lives." Her voice dripped with a smoothness that put quicksilver to shame. And each word seemed to echo in Shining's mind as his eyes locked with her's. "Will you indulge me?"

She was almost pressed against the white unicorn, her forest brown fur inches away from his. White Lance took a step towards the pair but ceased as Aralana shot a glance in his direction. For reasons he could not express, the guard was halted in his tracks by her gaze. He took a step backwards, suddenly feeling incredibly small and weak, and for a moment White Lance thought of simply walking back inside to his chambers. 
But a desperate unspoken plea from his best friend, who was now sweating in the icy coldness, caused him to stop and stand his ground. As Aralana raised her snout to the panting, frozen Prince's, White Lance spoke up.

"What do you think you're doing?"

The doe stopped moving and let out a grim yet ravishing smile. She pulled her head backwards, stepping away from the petrified Prince before laughing. "I think our little game ends here, gentlecolts." She turned to leave the balcony, her bells jingling as she did. "For tonight..." Aralana disappeared, and Shining let out a deep breath that he didn't seem to notice he was holding.  

"What the hay was that all about?" he croaked weakly. 

"Celestia knows, but I can see what you mean. She's trouble, for sure."

Although out of sight of the two ponies, Aralana smirked to herself behind a corner, her jingle bells chiming as she made her way to her private study on the highest floor of the lodge. As she did, the doe blew out the candle-lit lamps leading upstairs, creating a wave of shadow that followed her advance to the summit, and finally leaving nothing but darkness in her wake. 


~***~
    

The morning sun crested the eastern mountains of the Ronariá Laoraná, casting away the last vestiges of night with a warm rosen light. The auroras danced themselves away into the lightening sky, joining the retreating stars as the snowy banks began to glimmer in the early dawn. White snow eagles called to one another from across the pine forests, and it was one of these calls that found its way to the ears of an unintentional listener.

Cadence groaned lightly and fidgeted under the covers as she groped blindly to find her pillow. Upon doing so, she immediately pressed it to her head in an attempt to block out the offending bird, but only to some measure of success. Eventually, the young alicorn simply resigned herself to the fact that she'd have to get up sooner or later. A great chiming bell sounded in the distance, and Cadence huffed as she sat up, convinced that the world was doing everything in its power to rouse her from her comfort. In the end, the world won. 

The young Princess managed to pull herself away from the bed, letting out a long yawn as she stretched out her wings. Her mood immediately dropped slightly as she saw that Shining was not in fact beside her, his body absent from the bed. Untying her mane from its ponytail, Cadence quickly ran a brush through the triple toned strands before walking out into the hall. The sounds of activity downstairs caused her ears to perk up, and she followed the smell of cooked vegetables down the flight of stairs to the main hallway in which she had first entered. 
The three great tables of the hall were occupied by around a dozen deer, all members of Capreola's household, and a certain two ponies. Shining sat beside his friend on the raised dais table, the seat on his left empty. Smiling at the sight of her companions, Cadence trotted forward to join them before being greeted by a welcome voice. 

"Good morning, Princess. I trust you slept well?" said Capreola as she took her place at the centre chair, decorated with carvings of holly leaves. Cadence returned the greeting and sat beside her and Shining, who smiled weakly as she set herself down. 

"You okay, honey?" she asked, not wishing to say anything that would lead to anything negative. She had been rather taken aback when Shining left the previous night, but she had resisted the urge to go after him. She had figured that he just needed some time alone, or with Lancey. Odds were, he was probably with Lancey. 

"N-nothing. I just needed some air, like I said."

"You never came back" Cadence stated, not unkindly, but with enough force to get her emotions across. Shining sighed and turned to his plate of food in front of him. 

"I know, but... I just needed to clear my head. The trip's just been a bit, eventful for my liking. It's rare that we have to deal with all this crap anymore." Cadence put a reassuring hoof on his shoulder. "And um, well... I guess you've already guessed the rest with her" Shining motioned his gaze towards Capreola's daughter as she glided over to her mother's far side, offering nothing but a cold silence to her three guests. Her mistletoe collar had been replaced by a shawl made from dark green wool

Cadence frowned. "What do you mean?" Shining blanched, his white fur turning even paler as his brow furrowed. Had he just dropped himself in it? 

"You, you couldn't sense it? You couldn't feel what I felt?" He gulped heavily. This had never happened to him before. Cadence had always been his life, his love. He'd never even thought about another mare ever since the pair had married over two years ago. The idea that this doe could usurp his orderly mind was troubling. "I thought you could feel sparks of, well, desire or love... those types of feelings."

Cadence began to understand, and her expression actually softened, much to Shining's surprise. "Shiny, don't worry. I won't blame you for looking at other mares, or deer, in this case. I won't force you to do something like that. You are a stallion, after all" she giggled. "She's a beautiful doe. Just so long you don't do anything stupid, I don't have a problem. I just don't understand why you couldn't talk to me about such things." The white unicorn breathed a heavy sigh of relief, and Cadence's smile infected him like the most welcome disease in the world. The pair shared a chuckle, and Cadence squeezed her hoof around Shining's. 
White Lance nudged his friend gently, smirking.

"Told you that you have nothing to sorry about" he whispered. 

"Although" Cadence said, her demeanour faltering, "I did sense something around Aralana herself." Her voice was just above a whisper, making sure that neither the doe in question nor her mother could hear the ponies. "There's an aura that she has, magical for sure. But it's strange."

"What do you mean?" said Shining and White Lance in complete unison, making the two friends smirk at each other for a second. 

"I mean that I can feel a power around her, something that I can't define. It's like a second shadow."

Her musings were interrupted as a young stag brought over a plate of steamed vegetables and soft winter fruits and set them down before the Princess, bowing as he left. Capreola took this opportunity to turn to her guests, smiling warmly as she spoke. 

"Your Highnesses are welcome to stay in Roe Brook for as long as you desire, but we're aware of how pressing the summons to Concordia are, and so will assist you in any and all needs that need to be done before you leave. We can even send some of our guards to accompany you to the capital should you so wish."

"That would be very welcome" said Shining eagerly. "And thanks again for allowing us to stay. You've been a bigger relief than you know." 

The old doe bowed and smiled. "We'll also supply you with a map of Cervidas for your benefit. The forests can be quite difficult to navigate in the wintertime, even for us deer. The guards will escort you by the quickest and safest road, so you have no need to worry."

"How long do you think it will take to get there?" White Lance asked.

"It all depends on the weather - we deer don't have the powers of your pegasus ponies. But I'd say that you'd reach Concordia at sunset."

The rest of the breakfast passed in good humour. The three ponies exchanged their stories and tales of far-off Equestria with the elderly mayoress, who treated them with likewise stories of the mighty forests of Cervidas. They spoke of ancient legends and old kingdoms, all the way to personal joys like music and food. The trio laughed and smiled as plates of hot oatmeal and juicy fruits were placed again and again before them, and it wasn't too long before Celestia's sun had begun to scale the dome of the sky. Reluctantly, Cadence and Shining deemed it high time that they leave their lodgings to continue onwards. 

As the pair of royals exited Capreola's lodge, they were greeted by the sight of their assembled party already in the final stages of preparation. White Lance had left early to summon the Paragon Guard, but also to inspect the contingent of twelve deer guards that would be their guides and escorts.

"Who's in command of your unit?" he asked, smirking as a tall reindeer stag stepped forwards and saluted. 

"Captain Tarandus, at your service sir."

"Glad to hear it" the unicorn said with a sly smile. "You keep us safe, and I'll buy you a drink when we get to Concordia." The reindeer, who stood clad in silver armour not unlike White Lance's own, grinned underneath his helmet. He stood just over half a hoof taller than the pony, with his antlers adding a good five hooves to his height. 

"I'd like that very much indeed" Tarandus rumbled, and marched off to order his own troops - a mixture of deer, but primarily Roe - to take up escort positions around the Royal Carriage and the newly repaired supply wagon. The deer had truly been marvellous hosts, and White Lance was almost disappointed to be leaving so soon. But the thought of their mission excited him further. He had always wished to set eyes upon the fabled Reion Húr, the Father Tree in which the city of Concordia was built. As his charges and best friends made their way towards him, he trotted over merrily. The thought of finally being on the move again had put a spring in his steps. 

"You two take your merry time. I thought Summer Rose was bad, but you two are something else" he laughed. The pair of monarchs looked innocently at each other before Cadence rolled her eyes. 

"It's him, if you would believe it. He spends longer in that bathtub than I do. And you'd think he was school filly with the amount of time he spends combing his mane."

"Hey!" Shining blurted indignantly. "It takes a great deal of effort to look this good."

"You look like crap, buddy. There isn't any magic in the whole wide world that can change that."

The trio laughed heartily, before the sounding of silver flugelhorns heralded the readiness of the party. With simultaneous strained sighs, Shining and Cadence made their way into the Royal Carriage. 

"Oh Celestia, it must be so hard for you guys in there" said White Lance, rolling his eyes sarcastically as he trotted once again to the head of the procession beside Captain Tarandus. The royals smiled before disappearing inside, and Capreola stood upon the steps of her lodge as the convoy slowly began to march beyond the village's borders. 
Cadence laughed as little fawns bounced up beside the carriage, waving and squealing happily. The adults waved as the ponies made their way towards the capital, with the old mayoress calling wishes of safety and speed upon them. As the carriage finally rolled beneath the gated wall of Roe Brook, Cadence looked outside her window and frowned. Aralana watched the royals leave, her shawl blowing dramatically in the breeze, her brown eyes locked on the ponies as they disappeared into the foothills. Little did the Princess know that her husband mirrored her gaze behind her.        





Tordenvrede remained silent as the party of griffins chatted and squawked amongst themselves. The forest didn't seem to end, and the old general had already grown sick and tired of the eternal halls of wood, green and snow. Although the sun shone brightly with little to no cloud obstruction, he still had not permitted his company to take to the air. Years of serving in the Gryphus War Orders had taught him that it's never a bad thing to be cautious. It could save your life. The old griffin still said nothing as Lysvinge came up on his left.  

"Commander, our navigators are still having problems finding the most direct path to Concordia. Our compasses are starting to malfunction; they say it's something in the auroras of this land having a magical quality. They can't compensate for it."

"What's your point, lad?"

"If I may be so bold to ask, wouldn't it be wise to take to the air? The skies are clear and the wind is calm. We'd be able to arrive at Concordia before the day is over."

Tordenvrede sighed and tugged at his sash of office, a little irritated. Not because Lysvinge had suggested such a thing, but because his suggestion had merit. The commander was a proud warrior, even by griffin standards. The idea that his own assessments of the dangers in Cervidas could be proven wrong by an officer a third of his age was nonsense. That being said, Lysvinge had always been a level headed and bright young soldier with a keen set of eyes, and Tordenvrede had never been given any reason to doubt him. 

"You know as well as I do that this land is unlike any we've ever seen. I don't want the troops to be endangered for the sake of a more comfortable journey" the greying Commander said firmly. His aide looked at the ground forlornly, sorry for even making the suggestion. "But..." Tordenvrede continued, "I see your point. Fortune does seem to be with us this day, and the sooner we leave Cervidas and return home, the better." The younger griffin's head rose and he allowed himself a small smile. "Make sure the supply carts are securely attached to the drivers. I don't want to lose anything in these woods."

And with a grim, steely gaze to the sky, Tordenvrede spread his wings and took to the air. 

Immediately, the wind bore him upwards into the vast expanse of the winter sky, his military colours flapping loudly as the aging griffin raced higher into the big blue void. The sun's warmth barely found purchase on his feathers, but the light urged him to forget such things. Tordenvrede could hear vaguely behind him the cries of relief and joy as his soldiers followed suit, leaping into the air in perfect displays of both feline and avian grace. The cold breeze whistled through his silvered feathers as the old commander spiralled round in a loop, relishing the feeling of being so free after days at sea. 

The rest of his company formed up around him, Lysvinge gliding ahead with four Talon Guards. All five griffins cawed defiantly against the winter's chill, and Tordenvrede found himself grinning through his cracked beak. A quick glance behind him alleviated his fears for the supply carts. Their buoyancy was due to them being crafted out of featherwood, and their cargo was tightly bound under a series of strong ropes. 
The landscape below the griffins was an ocean of seemingly unending pine trees, half smothered by snow drifts and icicles   . The dense canopy was occasionally breached by the clear blue snake of a frozen river or the shimmering mirror of a lake, and high mountains marched across the landscape to the West. Tordenvrede knew that far beyond those peaks lay the magical Crystal Empire, with Equestria lying further to the South. It had been many a year since he'd visited the pony lands of green fields and rolling hills. Maybe after his business on behalf of his Windlord was concluded, he'd spend a while in Canterlot. While his home in the griffin city of Stormcrown was a beautiful place, the Griffin Kingdoms did not offer the same sense of tranquillity that Equestria did. 

"Commander, we think we can see a small settlement to the north-east. Should we head towards it?" called one of his guards as he gestured a talon to the far right. 

"No. Concordia is our destination, and we're not stopping until we get there" Tordenvrede said sternly. "Once we're there you can all glut yourselves on wine and deer mead. But we're not there yet."

The guard nodded and fell back into formation, but Tordenvrede couldn't help but glance at the little hamlet. Thin wisps of rose from the chimneys, and in the end, the Commander found himself veering towards it. He had no intention of stopping there, but curiosity is a powerful thing. Tordenvrede had never seen a regular deer dwelling before. Seeing that their leader had in fact changed his mind, the other griffins followed, hoping to find a welcoming break in their journey. The group had been marching through the dense forests all through the night, guided by nothing but vaguely familiar stars and glittering arctic aurorae. 
As the party neared the hamlet, the sunlight caught their gazes as it glimmered off a great frozen lake, bordered by rows of lodges and cottages, and Tordenvrede scrutinized the scene like the aged warrior he was. He spied various deer going about their morning business, pulling carts, speaking to one another, and opening up shops. Everything seemed rather mundane to the old griffin, although he'd admit that he didn't honestly know what he expected to find. Tales of Cervidas reached all across the world, telling of a powerful military nation of ordered armies and stern, cold hearted people, cold enough to match their woodland home. Yet that wasn't what Tordenvrede saw. 

"Commander!" called Lysvinge, "shall we land?"

In the end, the old commander nodded, changing his mind of rest. He figured that a short reprieve would ultimately do the platoon good. "Yes. Circle round so they can see us first. I don't want to startle them. Set down beside the larger gate and let me lead. Sky knows what they're like. I want to exercise caution."

The young soldier nodded and signalled for the contingent of Talon Guards to arc round. Tordenvrede himself gestured for the guards on his left to sound their approach, and one pulled forth a large curled horn, carved from that of a slain minotaur. Some may have called it a grisly instrument, and it didn't help the perceived image of his people being a bloodthirsty, warlike race of creatures. But such views didn't bother Tordenvrede. His very name meant 'wrath of the thunder' in his native tongue, and he found his people heritage to be a limitless font of pride. 
The guard sounded their approach, the notes bouncing off the mountain walls of the valley. All the deer on the ground look up, their eyes following the party of griffins as they spiralled down to the snow below. The old commander made sure to make an impressive display of landing, spreading his silvered hazel coloured wings wide as his paws and talons crunched the white ground. As the rest landed, Tordenvrede strode forwards, his two personal bodyguards jogging to catch up to him. The griffins marched into the village with all the grace they could muster at such haste. The deer began to walk towards like, several friendly smiles greeting the newcomers as their entered their home. A small crowd began to form in the central avenue, with many villagers marvelling at the sight of such foreign creatures. 

"Hail, honoured guests!" came a calm, elderly voice from the rear. Tordenvrede spied an elderly doe approach him, her greying fur shining in the sunlight. "Hail, and welcome to our town of Roe Brook. My name is Capreola, Watcher of this valley and its people."

Recognising her authority, Tordenvrede bowed respectfully. "My thanks. You speak to Commander Tordenvrede of the High Council of the Griffin Kingdoms, general of the Eighth Talon Legion. We're journeying to - "

" - Concordia. We know" Capreola smiled. "You're not the first outlanders to visit us in the past day. We've recently played host to the Prince and Princess of the Crystal empire. No doubt you'll become acquainted with them soon. We'll be glad to show you any and all hospitality that we have to offer. Our home is yours."

The group of griffins began to let out sighs of happiness and relief, and the general finally let himself smile. "My gratitude to you. It's been a long time since we've rested. Anything you have would be appreciated."

The old doe smiled, and soon the villagers began helping the griffins with their belongings and supplies, asking questions about the far-off Griffin Kingdoms, the mighty Windlord Stormfjær and the old tales of conquest from ancient times. Capreola led Tordenvrede and his honour guard to her grand lodge at the end of the village, talking of recent events in the area, as well as giving him much needed information of the two pony leaders. Any information about the monarchs would be useful in the future, either for good or for ill. 
But as the troop made their way inside, Lysvinge came up beside his liege and whispered, his voice hushed and hurried. He spoke in the griffin's native tongue, clearly not wanting the deer to hear him. 

"Commander, look at the balcony."

Tordenvrede looked up stealthily, and quickly averted his eyes. As he continued inside, the griffin commander answered back to his aide. 

"We're not spending the night here. After we've eaten our fill, we're leaving. We have to get out as soon as possible. Keep the guards away from that creature."

Lysvinge nodded, but spied one final glance at the doe. Aralana smiled at him.