"Princess?" Elizabeth asked Lee.
"I'll explain later," he said, nudging her forward. "Say hello."
"Hello," she smiled at the young wolf. The wolf bowed.
"My name is Rognus. I'm training to be a guard for the border. It's so nice for you to finally come to the Twilight Realm. I bet our queen is anxious to meet you. Would you like me to escort you there?" Rognus offered politely.
"Thank you, Rognus, but Lee is taking me there," she answered. Rognus smiled at his leader, and nodded.
"Of course, my Lady. Maybe I'll see you around sometime?" he asked.
"Maybe," Elizabeth replied.
She followed Lee, and actually felt like she was at home, other than the sea of course. She saw cubs running freely, and couples cuddling together in the soft snow. She rubbed her face against Jack's and he did the same. She heard whispers as all of them passed.
Elizabeth stared in awe as they came upon a huge, black stone castle. Two darker wolves stood at the entrance. They saw Lee, and sat up in salute.
Just as Jack, Ragetti, and Gibbs started to walk up to the castle, another young wolf, maybe a few years younger than Rognus, came running out.
"Alright, you three. Only wolves in high status can pass through into the castle!"
"Lurin!" Lee shouted. Lurin stood at attention at the sound of his leader.
"Yes sir?" he replied.
"These are friends of the princess. You will show them respect, and allow them in the castle. Do you understand me?!" Lee shouted.
"Yes sir!"
"I can't hear you, soldier!!"
"Yes sir!!!!"
"Carry on, rookie!" Lee ordered. Lurin ran off down into the snow, and joined Rognus. Lee turned to Jack, Gibbs, and Ragetti. "Rookies. They never understand," he chuckled. Barbossa smiled, and they headed inside the castle.
Inside, beautiful, yet jagged, black stone towered above them. Glass outlined the corners of the walls, and light blue marble covered the floor. They followed a black carpet down the entrance room.
"Wow." Elizabeth commented.
"Beautiful home, isn't it?" Lee asked. "It's yours, you know."
"Mine?"
"You are the princess of this kingdom. And Isabella is the queen."
"My mother? She's here?!" Elizabeth asked with excitement.
"My captain!" called a wolf, running from a room towards Lee.
"What is it?"
"Our queen has gone to Solva. She won't be back for another couple of days." the wolf informed. Lee nodded, and the wolf ran off. Elizabeth bowed her head in sorrow.
"Don't worry Elizabeth. You'll meet her soon. Now, let me show you all the kingdoms of this Realm. Come."
"I'm going to go rest. Ragetti, Gibbs, come and rest. You'll need to build up your energy," Barbossa suggested. They followed him up spiral stairs. Jack followed Elizabeth, for he wanted to know the Realm, too.
"Alright, Elizabeth. There are eight kingdoms in this Realm, so pay attention," Lee pulled out a map. "We are in Felsh, the land of the wolves. Here is Solva, the ice kingdom. That's where the Guardians stay. Never go into that kingdom unless you've become experienced in tracking, for there are many blizzards that occur there. Here is Bortoris, the kingdom of fire. You can ask Barbossa about that kingdom, since he's the king there.
"Now, here's a very safe kingdom to journey to. Attar is the land of the elves. Almost human, but more powerful and loyal. Elruwen is an elf. Zephra is the land of water. Courteous creatures live there, so don't be afraid to venture into that land…as long as you're a good swimmer. Here is Holosh. Mischievous creatures live here, but they can be good allies.
"But this is the kingdom you must never enter. This is Morgol. A place of great evil, and danger. Our most vicious enemies live beyond those kingdom lines, and you must never go there. Ah, but this kingdom is the exact opposite. This is Nevaria. This is where all the leaders, except for Morgol's, come to make this Realm as peaceful as possible. Every month we go there and discuss different subjects.
"So, now that you know all the kingdoms, would you like to scout the Realm with me and Barbossa? Of course, we'll bring some of my soldiers to help us along the way. And, we'll stop by Solva to meet your mother. How does that sound?"
"Sound fantastic. But, I'd like Jack to come too," Elizabeth answered.
"Yeah. If she goes, I go, savvy?" Jack told Lee.
"But you're much too slow, Jack. You can't come, or it'll take weeks to see the entire Realm," Lee chuckled.
"Isn't there some way for Jack to come, Lee? Please?" Elizabeth asked. Lee sighed, and nodded. A big grin showed on his face.
"Jack, you begin training tomorrow at dawn."