Hello everyone! I recently finished a fan fic (Where There's a Wand There's a Way) that was so much fun to write. Finding that I miss working on that fic, I am creating one with some similar elements. This story will include elements of fantasy/adventure/romance/slash/betrayal/friendship/humor and whatever else decides to join in on the adventure. The basic setting and themes are borrowed from the Green Rider series (author Kristen Brittan).

Castiel is the heir to the mystical city of the Enochians. Due to rebellion in the city he is sent off to the land of Sacoridia where Dean Winchester is a member of his father's special messenger service: the green riders. Castiel will find there real friends and possibly even romance as they battle to save the earth from the evils that would destroy it. Castiel/Dean. Sam/Gabriel.

"And So It Begins"

Castiel watched the trees become hazy behind him as his horse galloped away from the Enochian city. Away from proud halls of marble and more proud people. The ethereal glow dimmed as it disappeared into the forest and Castiel's eyes. As much as Castiel had wanted to escape from his life as an Enochian he was surprised to find that each hoof beat away from his home made his heart ache. But it was for the best. Castiel could not continue living there, not with the destruction and disloyalty that had broken out. And it was rumored that one of their very own had put the rent in the Great Wall that separated all of the world from the evils of Black Veil forest. Castiel felt the tears gather at the corners of his eyes even as the panic still gripped him. Just that evening Castiel had said goodbye to his brother and only true friend in the entire world.

"Castiel, you need to leave. I know that you don't' want to leave me kiddo, but I would rather not burry you so early. Run Castiel while you still can. Go to the kingdom of Sacoridia. They will help you there."

Castiel remembered shaking his head as the tears fell down his face freely. "But Balthazar, they are humans! I have never met one in my life, and you know how Lucifer-"

"Castiel, I would not listen to our brother. Sometimes I feel that is humanity that should be the subject of legends and not us."

Castiel shook his head. "I do not understand!"

"Please Castiel. We all know that this throne belongs to you." Balthazar ran a hand worriedly through his light hair. "You may very well be killed for it. When father left he announced you as his heir, not Lucifer. You cannot love him after that." Balthazar pushed Castiel towards his horse, Beelzebub, toward him. He helped Castiel get situated on the horse even as they heard the guards coming.

"But I don't want to be the king if it separates us. Let Lucifer do what he wants!"

Balthazar's eyes flashed. "Never say that again Castiel. We need you. Look around you at our city! We are killing each other Castiel! You must go until you are ready to reclaim your throne. Maybe you will even find our father on the way. We need him to return Castiel, before Lucifer breaks the world."

Castiel stared into his brother's eyes that missed the humor that was normally behind them. "Go Castiel."

Castiel nodded and squeezed his brother's hand. "Do you think…that we will ever see each other again?" Balthazar gave him his best smile before slapping Beelzebub and watched the white horse gallop off into the distance with his beloved brother in tow.

Castiel rode Beelzebub southward until he was exhausted. He untacked the horse as the sun set overhead. Castiel had never been this far away from home before and he had never even left the city without someone else accompanying him. He chewed at a piece of bread but found no appetite to properly attack it with. As he felt the loneliness of the night creep up upon him he curled up into a small ball under his blanket and shivered at the sinister noises of the night.

The palace looked busy with all of its peoples milling about but this was only a typical day in the kingdom of Sacoridia. Dean of the house of Winchester walked out of the hall after bowing to his father, John, king of Sacoridia. He had been a member of the green riders since he was able to properly ride a horse. Many thought it strange that the king allowed both of his sons into the dangerous messenger service even though it was highly esteemed within the castle. Dean figured that he hadn't been forced into it at all. More like a calling. Years ago he had woken up with hoof beats pounding in his head. And when he picked up the golden winged brooch in his hand he had felt its warmth. Now when he rode alone upon dangerous roads from kingdom to kingdom he knew that he could never stop. He only feared when his freedom would end and he would have to take up his father's throne to rule. For now he rode abandoned paths in the silence of the night and explored kingdoms and cities that would be out of his reach when he became married to the throne.

Dean shook his head to forget such thoughts when he saw two young men in the same uniform sitting with their legs dangling over a balcony. One was significantly taller than the other with light brown hair and the other was leaning eagerly over the edge of the balcony where he was throwing things. Dean grinned and grabbed Sam shoulders from behind nearly making him fall off of the edge. He laughed at the startled and bemused faces of his best friends and fellow riders Gabriel and Sam. The later was Dean's younger brother but he was inches taller than him, much to his chagrin.

Gabriel studied him with a smile. "Well someone looks smug today."

"So, new mission huh? You never look that happy unless you get to sneak out of here for a week." Sam's face broke into a smile as Dean nodded.

"Yeah. Dad needs me to go somewhere north. Got a message to take to Corsea."

Gabriel whistled. "Wow Daddy is going to let you go sit on Santa's lap?"

Dean grinned and punched him in the shoulder. "Shut up. What about you two? Does Ellen even trust the pair of you to go running around after your last stint?"

Sam made his bitch face at Gabriel. "I didn't even know Gabriel switched the message. I swear I wasn't in on it!"

Gabriel laughed as he slapped Sam on the back. "You should have read the scandalous message Sam gave to the king of Rohaven. If the king didn't have so much beard he would have looked like a strawberry." He smiled as if fond of the memory.

"No. Gabriel and I have separate assignments again. Practically opposite sides of the map."

"Sorry to hear that. At least no one will have to walk in on you two when you finally realize that cupid shot you both in your asses."

"Shut up Dean."

"What you trying to tell me that you are just really really close friends?"

Sam shook his head. "You're an idiot." Dean grinned at him and Sam gave him a smile back.

"Better get packed. See you guys as the crossroads way station?"

Sam nodded. "Of course Dean. You would miss us too much if we didn't meet up in the middle every once in a while right?"

"You know it." Dean winked as he wandered down to the stables to saddle up his horse, Impala, who had once belonged to his father. Dean had been riding him since he was small and insisted on caring for the beast himself. He patted Impala on the rump and offered up the rest of an apple he had been chewing on as the horse nuzzled his hand with a soft nose.

"Hey buddy. Are you ready for another adventure?" Dean chuckled as Impala whickered. Dean tacked him and climbed into the saddle, adjusting his green uniform as the captain of the green riders, Ellen walked over.

"You all set to go Winchester?"

"Yes maaaa'm. You look nice today Ellen." He gave her his most charming smile.

Ellen eyed him quietly as she hooked a strand of hair behind her ear. "Don't start smart ass." She handed over a message satchel to Dean. "Be careful out there, rider. I have been hearing of some strange things happening outside of Saccor city. It is rumored that Enochians have been seen sighted outside of that hidden city of theirs."

"So you do believe that Enochians are real and not children's tales?"

Ellen bit her lip. "With everything that has been going on lately, I'm not sure anything will surprise me."

Dean nodded. "Ummm Captain?"

"Yes?" Ellen fussed with the saddle and made sure all of his things were in check.

Dean glanced around and asked softly, "You will keep an eye on my dad right?"

Ellen smiled and gripped his gloved hand. "Yes Dean, of course. No king of ours will die on my watch. Or get into any kind of trouble. And before you ask, when Sam gets back from his mission I will look after him too."

"Thanks Ellen."

"No worries Winchester," Ellen stated loudly as other riders wandered into the stables. She gave Dean a quick wink before wandering back into the castle. Dean smiled. Ellen may be the captain of the green riders and technically his boss, but she was the closest thing he had ever had to a mother. Mary Winchester had died when he was young and Ellen had found any opportunity to mother the poor boys beings as the duties of the throne took up all of their father's time. She had chased away Sam's nightmares in the dead of night and taught Dean how to use a sword.

Dean felt the golden brooch above his heart light up as he let Impala trot out of the castle grounds. Ellen was the right hand of the king and had more influence on his policies than those who wished for the throne themselves. Aged men from both scholarly and military back grounds advised the king on everything from his public policies to his private life in hopes of raising their clan above the others in Sacoridia. Ellen was there to decide if the advice was simply self-seeking or relevant to the kingdom as a whole. She cared deeply for the king and stepped in as a friend and councilor.

What anyone not associated with the green riders did not know was that they used a small, albeit forbidden amount of magic to do their jobs. Each rider was given a brooch to identify themselves as riders, as if the green uniforms were not enough. A golden horse with wings spread out wide decorated very member of the messenger service and only true members could see the brooch for what it was. It looked like costume jewelry or nothing at all to untrained eyes. Along with the brooch came special abilities and Dean had the ability to form a force field around himself. He had been embarrassed by getting stuck with defensive magic but the ability had saved his life a number of times. Ellen had always told him that the best offense was a good defense. And damn it she had been right. Ellen's brooch allowed her to discern the level of trustworthiness of a person. Lying around her was not only foolish but impossible. Gabriel and Sam had made fun of him but he figured that their abilities were gayer than his. His two friends were frequently sent on opposite missions since they shared the same telekinetic ability and could communicate across the country. They could only speak to each other in such a way and Dean was actually a bit jealous of the level of intimacy they could reach even when separated. Dean was definitely a hit with the ladies, but he had never felt drawn to someone. The road could get horribly lonely, with only a horse to keep him company and occasionally meeting up with his friends at the castle or on the road wasn't always enough. As tough as Dean always acted, he was secretly one of the most caring people in the world. Sometimes the loneliness was bearable. Sometimes it was too much. Either way, Dean set forth on the road without a speck of fear for his own self preservation. Impala's hoofs thundered across old roads just as Castiel clung onto Beelzebub's mane and rode southwards.

"He's gone." Lucifer looked over the assembly of Enochians; their faces all looking tired and sick from the lengthy civil war. "Castiel has left us like a thief in the night so he may no longer challenge my rule. I am your leader and I decree that if Castiel ever returns to us that his life is forfeit. And if anyone aids our runaway then they may share his fate." He watched many of the members of the crowd bow their heads in dismay. With the exception of Balthazar who freely glared into his eyes. A snarl rose up in his throat. "Look at me! I am your leader and it is time for all of you to understand." A slight smile crawled onto his face and rested everywhere but in the pools of his eyes. "I will except and challenge anyone who wants to claim this throne but I must warn you that you will lose. And when you do indeed lose; I will not be so merciful as I am now. So we will learn where your loyalties lay soon enough. Embrace me as your leader and live. If you don't…well we have some very creative ways of dealing with you." He shared a smile with his sordid advisor, Zachariah. "Join me and I will not lead you astray." He opened his arms towards the Enochians in front of him. "Together we will take back the land that was once ours from those filthy humans. Obey me and I shall love you more than our father ever did. I will not abandon my family so easily…not if they remain true to me."

Balthazar shook his head as some of the Enochians cheered. He felt a weight on his heart as he wandered back into the castle. Castiel was their only hope now. They desperately needed for him to find their father before Lucifer destroyed the entire earth. The relationship between humans and Enochians had faltered long ago and had never been that strong of a bond since it was forged. His brother was still young, not yet out of his teenage years. There was no way he could take on Lucifer now even if the throne belonged to him. Balthazar watched the crowd warily as he saw the blood thirsty glint in some of their eyes. "Please hurry Castiel, we need you."