The morning sun climbed higher into the bright sky as King Draven and Queen Ravenna walked further away from the deep heart of the Obsidian Court.
The thick heavy canopy of ancient trees slowly began to thin out above their heads. The vibrant and glowing green moss covering the earth gradually gave way to normal brown dirt and familiar weeds.
Draven could physically feel the heavy magic of the air lifting from his broad shoulders with every step they took.
The strange and unnatural quiet of the magical realm faded away. They could now hear normal birds singing in the high branches. They were getting very close to the mortal border.
Draven looked at the beautiful woman walking quietly beside him. Ravenna remained silent. Her dark eyes scanned the changing trees with a complex mix of caution and deep curiosity. She had lived her whole life safely hidden behind an invisible wall of ancient magic. She had never stepped foot inside the mortal lands.
Draven thought about the dangerous world he was returning to. He thought about the cold stone walls of his castle and the toxic whispers echoing through the royal court. His three wives Queen Isolde Queen Lysandra and Queen Genevieve would be waiting for him with fake smiles and hidden daggers. The greedy lords of Valerius would be watching his every move waiting for a single moment of weakness to strike and steal his heavy crown.
He touched the familiar leather hilt of his broadsword. His heavy steel blade could easily cut down an assassin hiding in the dark. It could sever the head of a rebel lord in the middle of a battlefield. But his sharp sword could not fight the dark invisible curses his cruel father had left behind. His sword could not protect his five young daughters from poison slipped into their evening wine. He needed something much stronger than steel to secure his throne and protect his innocent children. He needed raw magic.
They crested a small rocky hill. Down below in a wide grassy clearing Draven saw his elite royal guards lying exactly where they had fallen yesterday. Their heavy war horses stood nearby peacefully chewing on the long sweet grass. The magical sleep still held the strong mortal men captive in the dirt.
Ravenna stopped walking. She pulled her dark riding cloak tighter around her small shoulders to block the wind.
"This is where we must part ways Draven" Ravenna said softly. Her voice lacked the sharp angry edge it carried yesterday in her throne room. "My illusion barrier is just past those tall pine trees. Once you cross that invisible line you will be back in your own lands. I will wake your men up before I turn back and return to my palace."
Draven stood perfectly still. The thought of leaving her standing alone in the wild woods felt like a heavy stone dropping into his stomach. He did not want to walk away from her.
The fierce attraction brewing between them was undeniable and growing stronger by the minute. But more than that he knew she was the only key to saving his broken kingdom from falling apart.
"Don't go back" Draven said firmly. He turned his large body to face her fully looking down into her striking dangerous eyes. "Come with me to Valerius."
Ravenna looked at him in pure shock. Her dark eyes widened. "Are you out of your mind? Your kingdom is a dangerous nest of vipers. Your lords hate magic. If they discover who I really am they will burn me at the stake just like your monster of a father tried to do to my pregnant mother."
"I am the King" Draven commanded stepping closer to her to emphasize his power. "No one will lay a single hand on you. I gave you a blood oath to protect your borders but I desperately need your help to protect my own home. You saw the letters in my bag. You know what awaits me back there in the stone castle. I have no way to fight the hidden shadows threatening my daughters. You possess a rare power that can unravel the dark secrets destroying my royal family."
Ravenna looked down at the sleeping guards scattered in the clearing. She had spent her lonely youth reading old dusty books about the mortal world. She had always wondered what lay beyond the tall boundary trees. She had hated the mortal throne for so long but Draven had proven himself to be very different. He was not a cruel monster seeking blind conquest. He was a desperate father trying to keep his innocent children alive.
"I cannot simply walk right into your royal castle wearing the face of a wild witch" Ravenna argued logically. She looked back up at his handsome face. "The moment I use my magic to defend myself your royal guards will strike me down."
"Then hide your true face" Draven suggested smoothly. His stormy gray eyes pleaded with her wild heart. "Use your immense magic to create a disguise. Come to Valerius as a foreign healer or a traveling scholar seeking refuge. You can observe the royal court safely from the shadows. You can finally see the mortal world you were cruelly denied at birth. If you ever feel threatened you can vanish into the mist and return to your woods. I will never try to stop you."
Ravenna carefully considered his generous offer. The Obsidian Court was safe but it was also a very lonely cage built from old grief. The chance to step out into the bright sun and see the real world was incredibly tempting. The chance to help this fierce warrior king save his little daughters was even more tempting. She could still feel the lingering heat of his blood oath burning softly on her right palm.
"If I agree to do this we must establish strict rules right now" Ravenna warned him pointing a slender finger at his solid chest. "I will never curtsy to your three wives. I will not follow the tedious silly rules of your royal court."
Draven let out a rare genuine laugh. The deep rumbling sound echoed pleasantly in the quiet woods. "I would never expect a wild queen to bow to anyone. You have a deal Ravenna."
Ravenna took a deep breath of the fresh air. She raised both her hands and closed her eyes. She pulled the wild magic from the damp earth and wrapped it tightly around her own body like a second skin.
Draven watched in silent awe as a shimmering purple light covered her from head to toe. When the bright light finally faded her appearance had changed. Her wild dark hair was now a soft chestnut color. Her striking and dangerous dark eyes shifted to a warm innocent hazel color. The terrifying heavy aura of her raw power was hidden deep beneath a calm and gentle surface. She looked exactly like a normal mortal woman.
"How do I look?" Ravenna asked opening her new hazel eyes.
"You are still the most beautiful woman I have ever seen" Draven said honestly without hesitation.
Ravenna blushed a deep red color. She quickly turned her attention away from him and looked down to the clearing below. She snapped her fingers loudly releasing the ancient sleeping spell holding the royal guards captive.
Down in the tall grass the soldiers slowly began to stir. Commander Kael groaned loudly sitting up in the dirt and rubbing his aching head. He looked around in a blind panic frantically searching for his missing king.
"Let's go introduce my men to my new royal guest" Draven said offering Ravenna his strong arm.
Ravenna took a steadying breath and placed her small hand on his solid arm. Together the fierce mortal king and the disguised witch queen walked down the grassy hill to face the dangerous world waiting for them in Valerius.