"Your Majesty!"
Noctis froze where he was, his foot hovering over the step he had just been about to place it down upon. Taking a deep breath, he suppressed the urge to roll his eyes and returned his foot to the other, turning around to face the grand, monstrous entrance of Insomnia's citadel.
"What now?" he asked wearily, watching as his father, King Regis, struggled down the steps after him, leaning rather heavily on Drautos, the captain of the Kingsglaive.
Sadness swam in Regis' green eyes as he saw the exasperation flash across his son's. He had hoped they could part on better terms but as he stared at Noctis he knew his hopes to be futile. Before he spoke again, he flicked his gaze to the three men stood either side of Noctis, those that were his friends and now protectors. Ignis, tall and refined, pushed his glasses up his nose with a gloved hand as he waited with patient reverence. Gladiolus, Noctis' sworn shield, towered over him even from the lower step, his dark brow pulled into a frown as he glared at Noctis from behind. At the back of the group, Prompto shuffled his feet uneasily from side to side, hastily lowering his eyes as Regis' fell upon him.
They were a strange group but they were fiercely loyal and Regis was incredibly grateful for the joy their companionship brought his son, especially since he had failed to do so in their time together. He feared what he was about to announce would disrupt the content equilibrium they had formed but he resolutely shoved his concern aside. It had to be so. Noctis would come to understand with time but for now he would just have to accept his final command as his father and his King.
"There is one more who will travel with you to Altissia."
Noctis scoffed, shaking his head as his friends looked to each other in confusion. "Father, the Regalia is cramped enough as it is..."
"There is to be no discussion on the matter. It is already decided," Regis cut in firmly and he took a short, sharp breath before gesturing behind him with one hand. "May I present to you, Miss Caramia Alessia."
All heads snapped upward as a woman emerged from the citadel and began to descend the steps towards them. Her skin was pale and fair, striking against the rich black of her hair that was pulled back off her face in a complex array of braids but tumbled in loose waves down her back, lifted gently by the breeze as she walked. The intense emerald of her eyes was framed by long, dark eyelashes and a smile graced her soft, full lips although the slight tension in her jaw betrayed her nervousness. She was dressed casually as the men were, wearing deep navy leggings beneath a fitted violet tunic, the edges embellished with a touch of silver thread and the dainty heels of her dark boots clacked against the stone, the noise uncomfortably prominent amidst the stunned silence. She had a warrior's body, lean and muscular but still with a feminine softness, although the scars that decorated the exposed skin of her lower arms told she was not a woman who feared the dangers of battle.
As she came to stand beside Noctis and King Regis, she dipped her head politely to the both of them. "Your Majesties," she said respectfully, the smile on her lips becoming even more strained as she felt the tangible tension in the air.
"Hi," Noctis mumbled, staring briefly at Caramia before continuing to glare at his father, his hand coming to rest on his hip.
"Welcome," Regis replied, praying inwardly that Noctis would greet his betrothed with a little more eloquence and enthusiasm. "I thank you for agreeing to this on such short notice."
"It is both a pleasure and an honour, my King."
"I'm glad." Regis turned to look at Ignis who had been studying Caramia curiously. "Ignis? Would you take the lady's bag, please."
"Of course, your Majesty," Ignis responded dutifully, climbing the few steps between them and extending his hand towards Caramia to relieve her of the bag that was currently resting over her right shoulder.
"Thank you," she said as Ignis took the bag from her hands, feeling his cool, pensive gaze wash over her before he bowed his head once more to the King and hurried down the steps to the awaiting Regalia whose engine was purring impatiently. Prompto and Gladiolus quickly followed him, eager to discuss the mysterious new member of their party out of earshot of both herself and the King.
"Who is she?" Prompto asked incredulously, resting his arms on the gleaming chassis of the Regalia and drumming his fingers against them.
Opening the boot, Ignis placed the bag amongst their own and a huge amount of camping equipment. It had been a squeeze to fit it all in but Ignis allowed himself a modest smile of satisfaction; patience and organisation really did reap rewards, not that the others ever followed his advice on the matter. "I believe, if I'm not mistaken, she is a member in training for the Crownsguard, following in her mother's footsteps."
"You're right; I've definitely seen her around," Gladiolus agreed, his amber eyes watching Caramia intently as she conversed politely with the King. "Is it me or does it seem a bit strange that they would stop her training now for such a task when there is already the three of us to escort Noct? We're going to Altissia for a wedding, not a war."
Ignis pressed down on the boot once more to ensure it was closed. "Whatever the reason, the King appears adamant about it and so we should trust his judgment."
"A goddess of both war and beauty, I can feel myself falling for her already," Prompto sighed dreamily. "What?" he protested, throwing his hands up in the air as Ignis and Gladiolus exchanged a meaningful look.
"You say this about every woman we meet, Prompto," Gladiolus teased. "I bet you fifty gil we'll be no more than a few miles down the road before you say that again."
"Pfft, at least I show affection for something other than hacking things to pieces with a sword," Prompto retorted in jest, gulping slightly as he suddenly felt the heat of Gladiolus' glare fall on him. He wasn't sure if he was imagining the hint of a threat beneath the playful glint in his eyes.
"Careful how you go, Prompto, or you may the one that Gladio takes delight in 'hacking to pieces'," Ignis chuckled, walking round to the left of the car and opening the door, settling himself in the driver's seat. "Now get yourselves seated, I think we will be departing very shortly."
"Walk tall, my son." Regis' voice was gruff with emotion as he bid Noctis farewell, trying to memorise every line of his face, despite its sour expression. Composing himself, he turned to smile at Caramia. "And take care of each other."
"We will," Caramia promised earnestly. "Goodbye, your Majesty."
"See ya," Noctis grumbled, turning his back on his father and storming down the steps to the awaiting Regalia. Caramia followed in silence, risking one backward glance towards Regis. He looked weary and suddenly very old, the lines in his pale skin deepening as he leaned heavily on his gilded walking stick. He was staring intensely at her, something so profound in his eyes that her step faltered for a moment. The moment lingered and Caramia wondered if he was trying to send her a wordless message. A blessing, perhaps? Or a warning?
The sound of a car door being opened dragged her back to reality and she whipped her head round to see Noctis stood with the left rear door of the Regalia ajar as he gestured for her to enter.
"After you," he said awkwardly.
"Thanks," Caramia mumbled as she climbed into the back of the car, seating herself in the centre between Gladiolus and Noctis who slammed the door shut behind him. Noctis wasn't lying when he said the car was cramped, Caramia thought with an inward, humourless laugh, wondering how long it would be before she could no longer feel her legs.
She looked to Gladiolus on her right. He had seemed huge from afar and now she was squashed in next to him she wondered how they had even managed to fit in the back of the car at all. Not only was he tall but his body was impressively sculpted too, his clothes clinging to large, defined muscles. His exposed arms revealed an array of intricate black tattoos that covered the entirety of their available skin and appeared to flow onto his chest too, although that was obscured by the material of his grey vest. His chestnut hair was shaved at the sides but fell to his shoulders and his strong jaw was edged with groomed, dark stubble. A deep red scar stretched all the way from his forehead to his lower cheek, passing directly over the warm amber of his left eye which had narrowly missed sustaining any serious damage.
He turned his attention to her as she gazed up at him. "Hey." His voice was deep and gravely, the noise rumbling in his chest as his lips pulled into a half smile.
"Hi," Caramia replied, returning his smile before looking forward as Ignis' voice called from the front as they smoothly pulled away and joined the road heading out of Insomnia.
"It's a pleasure to meet your acquaintance, Miss Caramia." His bespectacled eyes deviated from the road for the merest second to catch her gaze in the rear view mirror before they returned obediently to the road. He had thin, angular features and lofty blonde hair that miraculously was suffering very little despite the breeze that was blowing onto them. The Regalia's roof had been lowered since the day was clear allowing the sun to warm the backs of their necks.
"Please, call me Cara," she urged, suddenly jumping in shock as a bright flash startled her, blinding her for a few seconds as she blinked incredulously.
"Say cheese!" Prompto cried excitedly as he leapt up in the front seat and twisted round holding what Caramia realised once her vision had returned, was a camera.
"I think you're supposed to say that before you take the picture, Prompto," Ignis commented, his smooth, calm tone coloured with a little amusement.
"Yeah some warning next time would be nice," Noctis grumbled, rubbing his eyes as they blazed with phantom, brilliant white light.
"The poor Prince didn't get chance to fix his hair," Gladiolus chuckled, reaching around behind Caramia to nudge Noctis' shoulder.
Caramia laughed, suddenly thankful for the time she had spent that morning braiding her hair firmly to her head. "You may want to delete that photo; I think I probably look completely startled."
Pressing a few buttons on the camera, Prompto shook his head. "Nope, this one's perfect. It would appear you're rather photogenic, Cara. Unlike the other two," he added with a grin before immediately diving back down into his seat as Gladiolus made a swipe for the camera. Caramia laughed heartily then, warming instantly to Prompto as she gazed at the ends of his messy blonde hair sticking up from behind the leather headrest. He was certainly the slightest of the group but his vivacious energy was infectious and there was a kindness in the bright blue of his eyes, contrasting markedly with the solemn blue of Noctis' that peered out between the strands of jet black hair that framed his face. He laughed along with the rest of them but he was somewhat reserved and Caramia hoped his sullen mood was not a result of his ever increasingly imminent wedding, both for their sakes and for Lady Lunafreya's.
"Do you take many photos, Prompto?" Caramia asked, her heart speeding slightly in anticipation as Insomnia's gates grew closer. She couldn't remember the last time she had been outside of the Crown City; her intense training for the Crownsguard had not left much time for leisure, let alone trips to explore the sights beyond the city's walls.
"Whenever I can, really. Although, I'm determined to document every step of our journey this time. Not every day you get to go on a road trip to see your buddy get married."
"I guess not," Caramia replied absentmindedly as they passed through the enormous gates, revealing a vast desert landscape that stretched as far as they could see, dotted with resilient plants and dusty, sun bleached boulders. Not a cloud blemished the azure sky and the air suddenly became alive with the thrill of the journey that lay before them.
"Put the radio on, Iggy," Gladiolus asked, resting his arm on the side of the car and letting his hand fall onto the warm metal of its side. "Let's enjoy the open road while we can. And then we'll see to it that loverboy get's hitched."