The Court of Stars
"Welcome, honored guests," said Tiandra, the Summer Queen. "I hope you will enjoy your stay in Senaliesse. This Court of Stars is now opened. Let the festivities commence!"
As the sound of her words died away, a loud hubbub arose from the crowded hall. The hall was packed with archfey and ambassadors of other races, all of whom had come to participate in the Court of Stars. As Tiandra looked out over the hall, she saw leaders of the other factions; Lord Oran, leader of the Green Fey; the Prince of Frost, leader of the Winter Fey; and Elias Alastai, one of the leaders of the Sea Lords (his sister Siobhan Alastai was not in attendance). She also saw various members of the Gloaming Fey. The Maiden of the Moon was talking to Lord Oran about new settlements of lycanthropes and the Prince of Hearts was trying to cause the Prince of Frost to fall in love (and was failing).
As Tiandra looked out over the gathered archfey, she saw a person who struck her as out of place. In a corner of the hall stood a person in flowing robes of midnight blue with a cowl completely shrouding the face. The robes concealed every detail of the person's body, so much so that she could not tell if the person was male or female. Also, she noticed that nobody else appeared to see him. No one was talking to him and their eyes seemed to flow past him. 'Must be invisible,' she mused and wondered why he would not want to be seen.
"My fairest Tiandra," said a voice in her ear.
Tiandra turned in surprise and smiled, "My dear Oran. I did not hear you approach, so wrapped up was I in my thoughts."
Oran laughed and said, "I could tell, otherwise I would not be able to have come so close without you noticing. What was it that so occupied your thoughts? It wouldn't be me perhaps?" he said with a roguish grin as he winked at her.
"You wish that you were the only thing I think of. But no, someone else had me intrigued. Tell me, have you seen a person dressed in flowing robes of midnight blue and has his face shrouded in a cowl?"
"No, Tiandra I have not," said Oran. "But where have you seen this mysterious person? I have circulated the entire room greeting people, and have not seen anyone that fits that description."
"He is over there in that corn..." She broke off in surprise. "He was there only a second ago. Now where did he disappear to?" She scanned the room but failed to find any trace of the person in question. "That's odd. I don't see him anymore."
"In that case," said Oran, "I believe it is time for you to greet your guests. You haven't spoken more than a few words to them, and that was only at the beginning."
Tiandra smiled and let herself be drawn into the crowd of people. She was unaware of the shrouded figure watching her from across the room.
The day passed slowly. As the sun reached the horizon, a guard entered and went immediately to Tiandra. "My Lady, I know you said that every guest has arrived, but a man has just shown up. He insists that he be admitted."
Tiandra pursed her lips and inquired, "What does this man look like?"
"He is wearing robes of midnight blue, shot through with thin streaks of silver. The robes have a cowl that is on his shoulders. His hair is silver and his eyes are white. He is carrying nothing but a red staff."
'This sounds like the person I saw in the corner. But why would he seek admittance if he had already entered the hall,' Tiandra thought to herself. "Interesting. Did he give a name?"
"He did my Lady. He called himself the Lord of Lightning. He claimed that he had another title, but he would not say what it is," said the guard.
"He did, did he? Well, well, well, a bit pretentious maybe? Even the Prince of Frost only claims one title," said Tiandra with amusement.
As she finished speaking, the hall's great doors opened. As the guests turned in surprise, a lone eladrin entered the hall and swept his gaze over the assembly. "I am sorry to be so... late. I am called the Lord of Lightning. Some among you might be more familiar with another name. I am... (here his eyes blazed with electricity) the Heart of Cendriane!"