*Disclaimer- most Characters and worlds come from the imagination of Julie Kagawa and Shakesphere*
"Time to wake up, highness" I awoke to the irritating voice of my maid Noz the packrat. I groaned and turned over, nuzzling my face into my fluffy pillow. "Quick! You're delicious breakfast is going cold, and I might just eat it all myself!" She cackled and jumped on my bed and started making annoying animal noises. THAT got me up; I wasn't about to sit there for hours while she barks in my ear. Besides today was the day. The spring Elysium. 2 days ago I turned 16; well that is, if I was mortal. But I am not. When I was young I always dreamed of going to Elysium, the dancing, the food , the journey to another realm, all enchanted my young mind. I dreamed I would wear a long ball gown and some handsome fey would sweep me off my feet and ask for a dance, we'd talk and it'd be a magical night. Of course that only happens in fairytales. My life is NOT a fairytale. It consists of sitting through boring councils that involve me sitting silently; greeting the fey in the realm and acting like the perfect little princess I'm meant to be. As you may have already guessed, I am a princess. But don't let the name think that it is glamorous. As I have already stated, my life sucks. My true name is Princess Katerina Celeste Ellia Mardin, a name that will never be revealed to anyone. I am called Katerina by my parents and 'subjects' but I prefer Kat, no titles, no fancy pronunciation, just other realms, my name is more formal, (and more annoying) Princess Katerina Rae of the Iron Realm, heir to the throne of Iron. So today we leave for the winter court. Where winter Elysium will begin. I made my parents swear an oath to take me when I was younger. So they must, an oath is unbreakable. My father isn't that thrilled about going to the winter realm. He grew up there. Betrayed his court there, but every 2 years he must endure, for the good of his kingdom. "Put this on! Hurry up!" yelled Noz, her voice brought me back from my daydreams. This is it. I got off the bed and took the pile of clothing into the ensuite bathroom with me. I turned on the shower and hopped in under the warm, steamy water.
When I got out, I looked at my travelling clothes for the day. Considering we where going to the Winter Court, I had winter clothes. Brown leather boots with fur trimming, black khaki pants, long-sleeve white shirt with 3 buttons that button-up to my chin and a long black cotton cloak with leather gloves and an orange scarf. I put them on in a hurry and walked out of the bathroom to find my mother and the packrat setting out clothes to pack. "Morning Katerine." Called my mother. By the sound of it, she's been up for hours; other details to support this is the puffy purple bags under her eyes and the rim of red around her iris'. "Morning" I replied. I glanced at what she was putting into my suitcase/chest and saw the normal kind of stuff you'd expect to take somewhere cold. "Now that you've finally gotten out of the shower, I have something for you " She said, "Really?!" I replied astonished, my parents aren't the kind of people who give gifts at random. "Yes. Ash bring it in," she said glancing over at my door, with a nervous smile on her face. At that moment my father walked in dressed in his travelling clothes, and a long dark coat he also carried his sword at his hip, he doesn't usually wear it, but I guess today is special. But that wasn't what I was concentrating on. It was what he was carrying. He held, in his hands, a dress. A beautiful dress that touched the floor, the colour of moonlight and shining like the stars.