Nevaria ran until she reached the middle of the Sun garden maze near the Ranger's guild on the other side of the city. Most people didn't know how to reach the center, so it could take someone days to find her in here. The same questions flooded through her mind repeatedly. How could they do this? Force her to marry Kalec? Was she really just an object to given away at demand?

"Nevaria? Where are you? I'm sorry! I had no idea they had planned this."

Kalec stood silent for a moment, praying Nevaria would answer him and give up on hiding.

"Please Nevaria, please..."

She sighed softly and stepped out from her hiding place and met Kalec face to face. Only here did she notice he stood at least a head and a half taller than she did, even in her heeled boots.

"I'm so sorry Nevaria. My mother...She's not the easiest person to handle. Even my father can't keep hold of her sometimes."

'I can see this." she nearly spat.

"So you have to believe me. I would have never agreed to this. If you were to marry me...I'd want it to be your choice, not because someone told you to do so."

She was taken back by the deep sincerity in his voice and the longing in his eyes.

"I just...I don't know Kalec. Not that you're not an amazing choice but that's just a big decision to make that quickly." she said shifting uneasily.

"So you think I'm hot?"

"That's not what I said." she said with a playful smirk.

"Well, let me talk to mother. Because, Nevar..."

"Just Ria please. Only my parents, mainly my mother call me that."

"Ria...I can't really. I don't really know how to say this, but honestly, I love you. I have since the first night I met you. Do you remember that night?"

"It was the same night I joined the Rangers. Zarim drug me along and we ran into each other at the party over at the Wildgrove's farm."

"You were the most beautiful thing I'd ever laid my eyes on, and trust me I've seen a great many beautiful things."

"Not sure how to take that...but you are quiet the smooth talker aren't ya?"

"Must be a family trait. You should hear my father when he gets going. I'm pretty sure he could talk to sun out of the sky."

Nevaria let out a sigh as the small smile faded from her face. Her mind still wasn't ready to wrap itself around everything that had happened the last few days. Zarim was normally the one who she went to talk this kinda stuff out, but that wasn't possible anymore. And now, she was his replacement and had the whole weight of Goldwynn's survival on her shoulders.

"What's on your mind?"

"Just a lot to take in. Everything with Zarim, and the promotion, not to mention I didn't plan on getting married this soon. I mean Rina's the one who can't wait, so maybe your parents should have offered her the gig."

"Did you not hear me Ria? I don't want your sister."

"Why not? She'd die to be your bride."

"She's nothing like you. Besides, have you seen Rina and how she flirts with everyone? I don't want someone like that."

Nevaria covered her mouth as she stifled a small laugh.

"So, Ria...I have a new offer for you."

"Okay?"

"How about we give this thing a test run and see how it goes? Maybe treat this like a normal courting thing, and then maybe it'll lead to bigger and better things."

"How's your mother going to react?"

"She'll get over it. My father's word is the final say."

"Oh...Well, let's go ahead and give this a shot."

"So how's dinner sound? Tomorrow night? Just us?"

"When and Where?"

"How about we meet here around 7p.m?"

"Sounds good to me. Formal dress?

"No, not formal. I have to wear this stuff all the time, so casual sounds best."

"Well, I guess we'd better be heading back. Otherwise they might send out the entire palace guard out after us.

"Don't worry about the guard. Follow me, I'll get you out of the city." Kalec said, taking her hand and leading her out of the labyrinth that was Goldwynn City.

The next evening, Ria sat in her room flipping back and forth through the book she held in her hands blankly. She rolled her eyes as she saw Saphrina's shadow appear at her feet.

"What is your problem?!" Saphrina screamed loud enough, it scared the birds off the tree outside.

"What are you talking about?" Ria answered, trying to act as if she knew nothing.

"I can't believe you rejected Kalec's marriage proposal! What's wrong with your head?"

"It wasn't really a proposal Rina, it was more of an order from the Queen."

"You're still crazy. I would have accepted before the Queen finished asking. You're so lucky they didn't arrest you for that, especially since you just ran out of there like a mad-woman."

"Well, I'm not like you Rina."

"What is that suppose to mean exactly?"

"Ria! The carriage is here, best not to keep Kalec waiting." called their mother from downstairs.

"Kalec? What's he doing here? I thought you said you turned him down?"

"That's none of your business Rina."

"We'll see about that." she scoffed as she bolted downstairs before Ria was even able to grab her bag.

"Oh Kalec, what brings you to our little neck of the woods?" asked Rina slyly, almost shocked at the fact that the Prince stood in her home.

"I'm here for Ria, is she ready to go?"

"Yeah, I'm right here Kalec." she said, pushing by Saphrina lightly. "Ready to go?"

"Whenever you are my lady."

Just outside the door, a white carriage waited. Kalec stepped ahead of her, and pulled the door open quickly.

"Hope I didn't keep you waiting too long. I know I'm a little late."

"I was actually going to ask the same thing, your Highness."

"Ria, what did I tell you about that? It's just Kalec."

As Ria stepped into the carriage she froze for a moment. On the seat was a set of Ranger leathers and boots.

"What's this?"

"I figured you'd want have dinner, just the two of us. And I thought you'd be more comfortable if we didn't do it at the palace."

"Kalec..."

"What? Did I say something wrong?" he asked, hesitant to shut the door behind him.

"No, nothing's wrong. I've just...you really didn't have to do this."

"Ria, I want to make you happy. But just you wait, there's more to come."

"You're not trying to cloud my thoughts with all this chivalry are you?"

"I would never want to do that. I just want you to be happy."

Ria wasn't sure what to say as the carriage pulled off with a slight jolt. She sat quietly, staring out the window, almost scared to say something to Kalec as her face kept burning each time she tried to look at him.

"Alright...What's going on in the head of yours?"

"Nothing. Just wondering what else you have planned."

"You'll just have to wait and see. You know I can't ruin the surprise before it happens."

"You know you really should try and surprise a ranger. Things might not end up very well for you."

"Oh I doubt you could do much to hurt me."

Suddenly the carriage came to a hard stop, sending Nevaria flying across the seat and into Kalec's lap.

"What just happened?"

"Stay here, I'll go check." Kalec said as he slowly got out of the carriage.

Ria watched carefully, as it seemed even Kalec was on edge as he made him way to the front where he vanished from her sight. She flinched slightly as a deep, almost reptilian voice spoke, angry towards Kalec.

"Well if it isn't Prince Kalec. I was hoping I'd find you here."

"What do you want Ayran?" Kalec snapped.

"I want what's rightfully mine! I want the crown you stole from me!"

"Ayran, the crown isn't your birthright. It never was."

Ria's skin began to crawl as she felt the tension between the two begin to rise. Slowly she opened the carriage door and stepped out, wanting to run to Kalec's side.

"Now, what do we have here Kalec? A pretty little she-elf? I didn't think you'd ever stoop to the same level as Yura's pathetic flight." the hooded figure hissed as he snapped his fingers.

Before she could react, she felt herself being tackled to the ground by three large figures.

"Ayran, you and your filth had better keep your hands off her." Kalec growled.

"Or what? We both know you're too soft to fight me. We both know you're too much of a coward." he said, running his icy cold fingers through Nevaria's dark hair.

Out of pure instinct, her head turned quickly and her teeth bit down hard on his exposed hand. His blood tasted like pure metal and was darker than any she'd ever seen before.

"How dare you mortal! Seems you've got quiet the spirited one. I suppose she would make a fine Queen once she's been tamed down a bit."

"Get away from her."

"What if I don't want to? She is very pleasing to the eyes. It's not as if you'll expose your flight's secrete just to protect this lesser being. She's nothing to that greatness that we are."

"Kalec? What is he talking about?" Nevaria struggled to ask as the three men pushed down on her harder, crushing her into the ground.

"Oh this makes it even better. She really doesn't know. I guessed you'd at least tell your mate about what you really are."

Nevaria laid on the ground, speechless as she stared at Kalec, almost begging for some sort of answer as to what was happening. She had never seen anyone like this before, and his voice made her skin crawl with a deep and uneasy feeling of trouble. Kalec stared into her wondering eyes and let out a heavy sigh.

"Oh you're so predictable. If you won't tell her, please allow me. You see my sweet she-elf, your boyfriend here isn't as he appears. His elven skin hides a deep and rare secrete, as does mine. And by the look on your face I'll just have to show you."

He pulled back his hood and removed his cloak. Although he looked like a Blood Elf, his skin was icy blue and he stood just inches shorter than Kalec. Suddenly, his elven form began to melt away and he grew larger than any creature Nevaria had ever seen. His pale skin now shimmered in the light in the most perfect blue color that even shamed the mountain streams. She held her eyes open, almost afraid to blink as if this creature before her was a part of some ongoing nightmare.

"So what's it going to be Kalec? You'll either chose to fight me, or I'll be forced to rip her throat out." he hissed through gleaming, sharpened teeth.

Just as the hooded figure had done just moments before, Kalec too began to change. Nevaria's heart beat heavily in her throat and chest as she watched Kalec become even larger than the other beast. His color was flawless, and she could feel the magic pouring out around him.

"Dragons..." she finally gasped under her breath as one of her captors pressed her down harder into the ground. She could not believe what she saw just yards from her waking eyes. Dragon's were nearly forgotten ancient creatures, creatures that had passed into legend and myth in the cultures of many. Yet, before her now stood two giant Blue beasts.

She flinched slightly as the smaller Dragon began to chuckle.

"You really do care for this worthless mortal elf? A species far below your own? How pathetic. My father was right, you are weak and don't deserve to lead our flight! You're a disgrace to our bloodline!"

"We're a dying race, Aryan. We both know this. In order to carry on we must find new ways to continue our blood line. We must adapt as the Red flight has."

"Pssht. Yura has done nothing but polluted her blood with those of mortals. It disgusts me, the thought of our kind mating with mortals."

Nevaria felt the pressure and grip on her loosen as her captors continued to be drawn into the Dragon's growing argument and she felt them become more and more anxious.

Ayran was the first to move, his giant teeth nearly clamping down into Kalec's throat. She was amazed that even beasts of their size could move so quickly. Kalec's great wings lifted him into the air before Nevaria could blink, and an ice storm rained down on Ayran, causing a great cry of pain to ring throughout the empty forest.

Nevaria did the best she could to protect her ears from the deafening scream as two of her captors ran to the aid of their master. Knowing this was her only chance she quickly loosened one arm and grabbed the small blade tucked in her belt. Thrusting the blade upward, she dug the blade deeply into the soft skin around his exposed neck. Before he could even make a sound, a dark, foul smelling substance covered his robes and the grass beneath it's feet, rotting it instantly.

Planting her feet firmly, she jumped up quickly and made a dash for the storage box on the back of the carriage. Nearly breaking the lid as she flung it open, she quickly grabbed her Ranger's bow and the quiver full of blue tipped arrows. As another of the hooded figures headed towards her, he too transformed, but it was not as she expected.

In place of a great beast stood a dark bewildering creature. His scales were darker than the midnight sky. Unlike Kalec and Aryan, he walked on 4 legs, yet still had another set of arms. In place of a beautiful wings, he possessed a more serpentine body. Quickly she grabbed an arrow from her quicker and notched it carefully in her bow and drew back as the creature began running towards her.

Her first arrow knicked off his chest, barely making a dent in the hard, black scales. Cursing silently to herself and jumping over a log she notched another arrow and let out a breath as she let it go. This time, the arrow sunk itself deeply into the soft tissue of the creatures neck. Taking only moment, this one two fell to the ground, spewing a sickly green ooze over the ground.

Turning his attention from Kalec to the now troublesome elf and the bodies of his two comrades, Ayran shot a screaming pack of sharp ice shards her way. Suddenly she felt herself being pushed out of harms way, as if she weighed no more than a feather. She saw as many of the ice shards dug themselves into Kalec's shimmering scales.

"Kalec!"

"Ria, get out of here."

"No! I can't just leave you here."

The air was shocked by another scream of pain and Nevaria's heart stopped beating. But the sound wasn't from Kalec as she had first thought. Ayran's scales burned a bright red, as if they were hot coals.

"Yura!" Kalec cheered.

Ayran looked horrified at the arrival of another, but kept his focus on Kalec.

"You may have won this time cousin, but you'd better keep a close eye on your she-elf." Aryan shouted as hir slightly burnt wings lifted him into the cloud cover, and he vanished.

"Kalec..." Nevaria gasped as she ran to his side where a large gash continued to leak blood that began to drown the grass around him. She placed her hands over the wound, and they barely cover two of his large scales. "What can I do to help?"

"Nothing child. Kalec will heal on his own in time. You need not worry."

The voice was warm, calming and peaceful, almost like a wondrous stream. She stood as tall as Kalec, but shown a fiery red. Upon her head were great horns that formed a Draconian type of crown.

"Who..." Nevaria stammered, unable to form proper words in the shadow of this elegant creature.

"I am Yura. Life Binder and Queen of the Dragon flights. How do you fare young Nevaria?" the great Red seemed to whisper.

"How is it you know who I am?"

"All life is known to me, young one. Now, Kalec are you are able to fly and bear your young mate with you?" Yura asked, turning to look at the still bleeding Kalec with concern.

"Yes, Life Binder." Kalec answered, while forcing himself back onto his feet, stretching his giant wings.

"Nevaria, I ask that you come with us. Kalec will bear you to our homeland. We must alert the others as to what has happened today."

Kalec lowered his giant head and motioned for Nevaria to climb onto his back without question. At first she hesitated, almost afraid to touch his scales as the swirls of magic nearly sent her into a drunken dream.

"Hold on tight."

Unsure if it was due to instinct or slight fear, her legs tightened and her body stooped against his great neck. The ground below them began to speed by mile by mile in a blink, and soon it was gone. As she shielded her eyes from the blinding sun, she recognized a few small islands just off the coast. They were flying straight into the Veiled Sea. No one in their recorded history had even dared travel this far north, as the mist was too think for even the sharpest of elven eyes to see through.

As time continued to fly by as they traveled even farther north. Soon, a heavy chill hung in the air and stole the breath from Ria's lungs, and sent violent chills down her spine.

"We're almost there Ria. Sorry I didn't think to bring you something warm to wear. The cold's never bothered me."

"I'll be fine Kalec." she had to nearly shout while she fought to keep her voice from shaking. She figured, after what just happened, worrying about her was the last thing he needed to be doing.

Soon, the mist began to thin out and land began to appear under them. As her eyes began to adjust to the bright light unveiled by the disappearing mist, a land of crystal ice and sparkling waters stunned her.

"Wow."

"Welcome to Coldarra. Home of the Wyrmrest Accord, dwelling place of the Dragon Flights and Kingdom of the Blue Flight."

As she looked around at the amazing scene before her, her skin began to tingle. This land was seeping with magic, almost as if the magic had created the land itself. Suddenly her ears began to pick up a strange sound...hundreds of beating wings.

"Kalec...I think we've got company." she said, looking around almost in a panic.

"Hmm...Very good hearing. They're still a ways off but they'll be here soon. The other flights are answering the Dragon Queen's call."

"How many flights are there?"

"There's five. Blue, Red, Black, Gold and Ivory. Yura's the Aspect of the Red Flight, but as the Dragon Queen, all flights answer to her."

"Who's the leader of your flight?" Nevaria said, stooping back against his scales in an attempt to hear his answer.