Arrivals from the North
Halidom, Ylisse
Alexander

Alexander was now dressed in his noble wear which matched that of Exalt Chrom, only difference was that his right arm was covered with a matching sleeve since his Brand was not on his forearm like his ancestor. He was on the look out from his room which was on the third floor and he had a view of the main entrance. He could see the approaching Feroxi army making their way up the huge road.

As Alexander observed the entire convoy he could hear a knock from his door "It's open!" he yelled assuming it's deaf little old Falcone.

The door into his room creaked open with Falcone popping his head out "Forgive the intrusion Milord, but your Father requires your presence at the Castle Entrance to greet the guest."

Alexander took a deep breath to calm his anxiety and turned to the old Butler "Okay Mr. Falcone. I'll be right down in a second."

The servant expressed his response in the form of a short nod and took his leave gently closing the door.

Alexander rushed from the window and toward the mirror. A rather simple mirror as he does not spend most of his time in front of it. He straightened every part of his garment, an attention to detail that he never bothers to overlook. He jogged toward the side of his bed which was adjacent from the mirror. He crouched right next to it and snaked his hand under the straightened sheets which curtained the elevated mattress a few inches off the ground. He presumed the position of his targeted item until he felt it. Alexander grabbed the item and pulled it out from under the covers, a wooden short sword that he uses for training. The Prince got back on his feet and sheathed the sword into a grab on his belt, and immediately rushed to the door.

Alexander sprinted through the main hall aiming for the main door leading outside. It was right before him 15 feet tall and standing on the decorated wall of the castle. Standing at the sides were two Lancers on guard duty. He slowed down as he got closer to the entrance.

Sudden stop at the door, fixing his noble garments which got messy with him running from his room to there. The sentries pushed the door open, revealing the outside light into the interior. Bright a piercing into the young boy's eyes. He toughed it out as he took his steps outside. The brightness settled and before him was the rows of numerous guards which stood on each side of the pathway. Alexander chose to stroll and not run down the way. By the end led a staircase to the ground which where his parents were facing out to the road path.

The young Prince made his way down the stairs in a royal manner as taught by his Father Antares, to take steps down the stairs with no bounce in his body and his hands angled to behind his back like a professional. "A royal Prince cruises, not trots" as his father would tell him. Of course he chose to make it so when his parents were around. The servants were always loyal but not tattlers. Alexander finally reached the bottom and approached his parents.

They turned to reveal their beautiful faces. Great Lord Antares stood 6 foot in his grand uniform for ceremonies and celebrations. Valkyrie August stood 5 feet who also is the next in line to become the Dean of Sacrious Academy for Magic, her dress colored in fresh light blue and white and her blonde hair reflected in the afternoon sun.

Antares bent down to elevate his view at the height of his son with a smile "You're very late Alex."

Alexander smart allyed his way in between his Mother and Father "Fashionably mind you Dad."

The Exalt smiled upon his own lad for the sharp tongue which reminded him of himself in his youth "Well that excuse is going to expire soon son."

Schnee couldn't bare the mess her son's hair appeared to be "Dear you are such a mess."

Alexander blushed in embarrassment "Mother please, not in front everyone."

Antares had to milk this on the young Prince "Your mother just wants you to look presentable."

Alexander's entire face saturated in red but at the same time he didn't want to push his mother away.

The fanfare of musicians exploded in a ringing sonata which signaled for the arrival of the coach carrying the guest. All eyes of audience including the royal family turned their attention toward the entrance of the Northern Gate. The coach was imported from Chon'sin of Asian themed decoration forming the exterior. Drawn by two Terratrous Plain Stallions, powerful yet stubborn horses of the Feroxi Frostwastes. Elegance isn't their strong suit as they adapt to warm and cold climates. They serve the warrior state well in their military branches. The powerful colts trotted and pulling the coach reached the destination and came to a complete stop where the drop off line was.

At the entrance with the grass space which surrounded the road to the steps of the castle doors, an audience of nobles sandwiched the pathway leading to the stairway where Alexander and his parents stood in wait. They all focused upon the coach awaiting for the passengers to reveal themselves.

An announcer approached before the side of the coach and turned his view to the small crowd. The fanfare finally resided their playing and the entire atmosphere became silent. The announcer then unraveled the scroll in his hand and spoke in an elevated volume that it doesn't echo in the hollow courtyard but enough for the quiet audience to hear. "We welcome the guests of honor to our lovely Halidom, from the Northern Regna Ferox."

The driver of the coach whom was perched up at the helm at the front secured the rein of the horses to the post of the control and dismounted. He made his way around the side in the full view of audience. He extended his hand to the knob of the door and swung it wide open and distanced himself a little from the view of the interior.

The first to disembark out of the coach was a Samurai. Garment of crimson wrapped around his upper body and covered with heavy lacquer armor plates. A red sash ringed across his torso with a Katana sheathed and stringed on his left. His brown hair was short but was an ocean of unpredictable waves, keeping his look in check was pointless especially before the cleanliness of Ylissean Nobles.

"Mesdames et Messieurs, we gather here today to welcome Lord Shen of the Northern Regna Ferox to the Halidom of Ylisse." The announcer cried out in honor of the guest.

The royal family of Ylisse approached before the Khan with the welcoming smile on their warm faces, and in-synched bowed as is tradition for a humble kingdom. Middle-class treat Ylissean royalty with respect, and Ylissean royalty treat foreign royalty with that same respect.

For a short second of traditional welcoming, Exalt Antares raised from his kneeing position he stepped forward to Shen with both arms extended out and wrapped them around Khan's muscular build which was circled and met one another behind Shen's back. "Bievenue a Ylisse Shen."

Shen embraced Antares back with a bone-crushing hug "I thought you agreed to not use such fancy words before me." unhooking from the contact "My old friend." he said connected the gaze his red eyes with Antares' divined blues.

"Well it's good to see you too." The Exalt commented.

The Khan's eyes now shift to the Exalt's lovely wife whom has risen from her bow and approached him.

The lusting smile upon her smooth face was a glow under the sun. As she was face to face before the gruff Khan, she extended her hand angled with her palm faced up as a gesture of a noble handshake to a lady. "Bievenue a Ylisse Lord Shen."

Shen never took to noble customs. "Nice try." He walk within the personal space zone his arm open wide like the jaws of a wyvern and squeezed the thin woman in a bone-crushing hug.

Most of the nobles were shocked by this. Many were trying to look at the scene through their fancy glasses unable to register.

Schnee herself was caught off guard at first, but knowing Shen for years and this was his display of affection. Blushed in embarrassment, she attempted to move the part of her hand which isn't crushed and pat whichever part of Shen's body. As the Khan released her, she felt the air flowing back into her lungs but not enough to totally wind her to the ground. She regained her stature and turned back to her son. "Alex come say hello."

Alex approached slowly with a red blush smothered across his face. Still embarrassed by how his mother fixed his hair, he didn't know how he would react to it. His eyes were fixed on the stone ground passing under his little feet. It wasn't until he was before Shen that his eyes rolled up to meet his "Bievenue a Ylisse Shen."

Shen smiled placing his huge hand over Alexander's hair covering his entire crown and rubbing the flow of his hair messing the entire do. "Ma' boy! You remind me of myself in my youth…" Removing his hand revealed an unorganized flow of blue hair upon the young prince's head "Well less muscular that is."

The child's bashfulness lifted away as well as his smoothed hair. He leapt at Shen's neck trapping it with his little arms in a hug. Even though his arms didn't meet at the back of Shen's bare neck with his long hair tied in a tail. "Is that enough muscle for you Uncle?"

Shen gentle gripped his arms around the boy's thin body. He lifted Alex off from his body and settled him down back on the gravel surface of the road. "Steps a step Lad"

The young prince smiled in amusement but he got straight to what he was wondering "Is Lenoura here?"

Shen answered "Well she would…" turning his attention back to the coach "If she hurries up."

The announcer resumed his thought on the next guest name on his scroll and continued to speak at his elevated volume as before "Presenting the daughter of Lord Shen. Princess Lenoura."

With all eyes to the wagon they noticed a short girl dangling from the elevated coach with her foot hovering a few inches off the ground.

Amusement spread through the onlooking crowd to something as adorable of a predicament made the event more entertaining. Small giggles could be heard within the silent mood, with both the nobles and the royal family.

Shen being the caring father himself felt that she faced enough laughter for one day, even if she's not aware of it at the moment. "Give me a minute." He walked back at the foot of the coach, hen gently grabbed Lenoura underneath her tiny arms and settled her down on the ground.

Lenoura said nothing with her face glowing red in blush, which made the crowd giggle continuously as silent as possible but not enough that the bashful girl could hear.

She approached the Ylissean Royal Family, they repeated the same meet and greet as they did with Shen. Tradition is the same as protocol within Ylissean culture especially with guest from different lands. "Compensating for something" as Shen humored about Ylisse. A joke that of course only the adults laughed at in the moment.

Lenoura reverted from her embarrassed to her happy self within a heartbeat after the talking with Alexander and his family again after so long

Schnee bent down placing her tender hands upon both Alexander and Lenoura's delicate shoulders"Alex why don't you and Lenoura run along. We'll send someone to fetch you two for dinner."

The young prince nodded with a sweet smile "Yes mother." he gestured Lenoura "Come on! I wanna show you something" and at an instant the duo sprinted toward the entrance of the Castle.