*Rowan PoV*
Rowan couldn't understand how the new people could stomach it. The simple wrongness of just stepping between places that were worlds apart - literally. He was even more shocked by the presence of power that radiated off the group in waves. By the way they stood, it was immediately obvious who lead the group. At the front was a stunningly beautiful male, his pointed ears easily marking him as fae, however he did not seem to have canines like Rowan's own. Strange. But what was even stranger was the batlike wings protruding from his shoulder blades. His raven-black hair was short and combed with a small silver crown atop it. His violet eyes were assessing the group, with his arm close around the female beside him. She too had pointed ears and no canines, but she did not have the wings. Her golden-brown hair hung around her shoulders, while her striking blue-grey eyes met Aelin's. That look - it was one passed between queens. For that was indeed a diadem atop her head. Besides, the mating bond between the two at the front was easy to scent. Behind them, a golden haired female and her dark haired opposite were trying to calm down two children, obviously belonging to the pair at the front, who were trying to peer around to see what was going on. Beside them another winged male had his hand in that of a female next to him, who was holding back a child (very obviously theirs). The male had the same raven hair and the one at the front, but his eyes were hazel and his ears weren't pointed. He had seven red stones dotted around his intricate armour, each radiating power. Behind them stood a tiny female, whose black hair and silver eyes were frankly terrifying, which made the fact she stood so close to the dark skinned male beside her all the more surprising. There was also another winged male, holding onto a winged female beside him. His stones were blue, and shadows curled around them both. The two could have been twins if not for the way they looked at each other. Or the mating bond between them. Finally, there was a brown haired female with brown eyes cradling a red haired baby girl. From the way the male beside her looked at them, it was easy to tell who the father was. He had the same red hair as the child, but one of his eyes was made of metal. It whirred and clicked, behaving almost like a real eye.
The groups stood watching each other, wary but calm, until...
Until Aelin opened her mouth.
*Azriel PoV*
Azriel's shadows slid around the group, testing. Sensing, but not engaging. They hissed in his ear, and he could feel his mate's shadows doing the same. The female at the front, her golden hair waving past her shocking turquoise-and-gold eyes, obviously the leader of the group, had mastery over fire. She looked like a High Fae, but her elongated canines spoke otherwise. The male beside her, their mating bond easily scented, had white hair and green eyes, his mastery of ice and wind very powerful. He also had the strange canines, as did the two males behind him. The first didn't seem to have much special about him, just stronger physical traits than the rest and a talent for winnowing. The second's power spoke of death, and destruction. It reminded him of Nesta's. Beside him was a golden haired man, almost twin to the woman at the front. He would have thought them siblings if not for his lack of pointed ears. He had no powers, but he smelt like the other fae. Demi-fae, then. Maybe a half-sibling or cousin. He waited for someone to say something.
The woman at the front spoke first, drawling, "Why don't we get the fancy titles out of the way. If we're going to be such good friends, we should at least know each other's names."
Rhys chuckled, but obliged her. "I am Rhysand, High Lord of the Night Court, but since we're friends now you can call me Rhys. Everyone who likes me does." This earned him a small laugh from the female at the front. "This is Feyre, my mate, wife and High Lady of the Night Court." Feyre smiled and said,
"I'm not illiterate any more you know. I can speak for myself." This made the other group start, especially the dark haired male at the back.
"Aanyway..." Rhys continued, "The pair of naughty midgets behind me are my son Haile and my daughter Leiy. The two slightly more sensible and much taller females trying to stop them making complete fools of themselves are my third in command and emissary to the continent, Morrigan, and Elvira, my emissary to the other courts." Mor then leaped in before anyone could say anything else, announcing, "Rhys can be such a bore sometimes. Please call me Mor. Everyone who likes me does." This earned her a few smilies.
Rhys cleared his throat, and continued,
"This idiot is Cassian, he's the general of my armies, and this is Nesta, Feyre's sister and our emissary to the court of nightmares."
Nesta told the other group,
"This little bat is our son Arion, and if any of you try to hurt him you will die a horrible and painful death." Her cheerful smile was at odds with her words, which seemed to unnerve a few of the soldiers in the camp around them. Not the group in front though. On the contrary, the man with the golden hair chuckled and announced,
"I like her." Rhys cleared his throat and continued,
"This is Amren, my second in command. I warn you now, do not try to steal her jewellery. Just don't." This earned some wary looks, replied to by Amren's serpentine smile. Sighing, Rhys continued, "This is Varian, Prince of Adriata." Varian simply nodded. "And this silent pair are Azriel, my spymaster, and his mate and fellow spy Alyrah. Don't be fooled, they do posses the ability to speak. Not that they show it much." He smiled, and nodded. His shadows sensed Alyrah do the same. "And finally, this is Elain, Feyre's other sister and our resident florist. She's the only reason all the plants in our garden are still alive. The quietly annoying male next to her is Lucien, our emissary to the human lands. The redhead child over here is Lexia, their daughter. Now, who exactly are you?"
*Aelin PoV*
The explanation hit her like a ton of bricks. The male at the front clearly shared her sense of humour, and most of the titles whizzed straight over her head. The leading female's former illiteracy was very surprising, as she seemed like a very well-suited ruler. He obviously loved his children, and the two females with them were obviously way more than 'just friends'. She was also very surprised that he seemed to be very comfortable calling the winged army commander an 'idiot' considering his many scars. The woman next to him was one to watch. There was strength in those eyes. Amren - well, she was damn terrifying. Something about her made her magic scream "Run! Hide! Now!". It was no surprise that the male next to her was so relaxed. His calm to her storm. The two spy's caught her attention. They were the ones to watch, knives in the dark. And the male - on his hands. Those were burn scars. She shuddered to think what they must have been like to get. The last two were interesting. So calm and at odds with all of the others in the group. She thought Elide would like them.
Then the male at the front - Rhys - asked, "Now, who exactly are you?"
Aelin smiled, and replied,
"Aelin Ashryver Whitethorn Galathynius, Queen of Terrasen." Gesturing to the area around them, Feyre questioned,
"I assume this is Terrasen?"
"Indeed it is." Before she could say anything else, Aelin continued. "This grump is Rowan Whitethorn Galathynius, my husband, mate and King-consort of Terrasen." Rhys nodded, a gesture between one king and another. "These two are Fenrys Moonbeam and Lorcan Salvaterre. They are both blood sworn to me." She leaned over conspiratorially and whispered, "Lorcan comes over as all broody but that's because we're still in the adjustment period." Rowan, Fenrys and Aedion snickered. Thankfully, the other group seemed to find it funny too. In Aedion's own words, the winged male Cassian whispered,
"I like her!"
"Last, but not least," She drawled, "This is Aedion Ashryver, my cousin and general of my armies. He is also blood-sworn to me. Now why don't we meet the rest of my court?"
Rhys smiled and announced, "Take us wherever you need to go."
Aelin smirked and replied, "Fenrys, are you sure the palace chefs are ready?"
"Confident?" He ventured.
"That will do for now." She chuckled, then turned back to the newcomers. "Let's head to Ornyth."
With that, she broke down the shield and headed for her horse.