Chapter Text
The palace was in deep darkness, enveloped by the night and only lit by a setting moon in the distance. It was rare it was ever quiet, but that night was an exception because of the events taking place in the sky above. Candles had been snuffed out as soon as the first star had appeared, and wouldn't be lit again until the next night. Fires that had been lit for warmth had been expertly contained and guarded, making sure their light didn't reach the windows where countless eyes were watching the night sky.
The Queen had been watching since the last rays of the sun had disappeared, leaving her other duties behind in favour of occupying a seat by a tall window in a small room hidden away behind her bedchamber. A room that was a well-kept secret within the royal family, and that had been held in such secrecy for centuries that it had become a myth among the people of the kingdom. None knew where it lay, expertly disguised behind fake walls and ancient ivy, but its purpose was clear: To give the rulers a place to watch the sky when a new ruler was born.
No one could remember when the first star had fallen, or why it had, but it had since become common knowledge that the royal family had come from the stars. Each new ruler would arrive the same way, and each old ruler would watch from the hidden room, waiting for their replacement to make their first appearance as a flash of brilliant blue in the night.
At first, the rulers had arrived more often, ruling a decade each before they were allowed to choose their own future. Some had returned to the stars for eternal rest, while others had chosen to stay with the mortals and spend a quiet life in the background with a family of their own. This had led to most of the kingdom's inhabitants carrying some stardust in their veins, but it was nothing that turned any heads anymore after thousands of years of living the same way. What little power the stardust gave had been diluted long ago, and now the only trace left was marks in the form of stars that each person carried. Each mark was as different as the stars, and some had the tendency to flash blue when exposed to the light of the stars. It had become rarer with time, and each time it happened, it was an event that was celebrated as highly as the arrival as a new ruler.
Just like the stardust in the veins of the people, the arrival of a new ruler had become rarer with time, and the Queen watching from the hidden room had already been ruling for a century, just like her predecessor before her. She was tired, previously dark hair now speckled with grey and blue, and her once sharp eyes now had a haze to them. While her body hadn't aged much, she was still old, and knew there was not much time left for her on Earth. She had ruled too long to be given a choice, and her return to the stars would come as soon as her replacement had settled in. She was impatient for her eternal rest, but sadness was also on her face as she thought of those she would leave behind. Her family had grown significantly, and she knew it would be strange only being able to watch them from above.
Eyes shifted as a flash of blue appeared in the sky above, and fingers clutched the armrests of her chair as she pushed herself to her feet. Following the blue light as it passed across the sky and disappeared behind the nearby hills, an explosion of bright blue soon following that made the ground shake under the Queen's feet.
She barely turned before she spoke, voice still strong enough to make those gathered with her in the room able to hear every word falling from her lips.
“Send the escorts. The new ruler is here. At last.”
–
The first thing he could remember was the sensation of falling. The air pushing him downwards, towards a dark world below that seemed to be waiting for his arrival. He hadn't expected to survive the fall, certain the ground would swallow him up the moment he hit, but it was only a few moments after impact that he awakened again. The sharp scent of smoke was in the air, making him splutter as he tried to drag breaths into his lungs, and it took him a moment to find his bearings. Hands reaching out to grip fistfuls of burnt earth, trying his best to anchor himself and make the world stop spinning before he dared opening his eyes.
The sun was there to greet him by the time he forced his eyes open. The light so intense that he had to shield his eyes, scared it would burn him to a crisp if he looked at it properly. Certain it would even if he didn't, for a moment sure he had arrived in a place where no one could live while the sun shone.
But his eyes adjusted, and he was soon able to squint at a dawning world as he pushed himself upwards. Trying his best not to let the aching in his bones stop him from getting to his feet and taking his first clumsy steps. Uncertain for a moment how his limbs even operated, but relieved as something within him kicked in. Something that knew how everything worked, and that did it for him.
It was different from all the time he had spent as a sphere of light, watching the world from a distance and never knowing when his time to visit would come. Up there, time hadn't existed, and he had been nothing but light and dust that never moved. He had been stuck in place, in a place of eternal rest where nothing ever happened. Events were for mortals, and until a star was chosen to walk among them, they didn't know anything but what little they could see at a distance.
He had never expected himself to be chosen, and he had been hesitant to fall. Knowing it was a long way down, and that there was no guarantee he would do as well as those who had fallen before him. They had built a kingdom, a world where mortals had stardust in their veins, and it was a responsibility he was uncertain he could ever shoulder properly. He knew there was nothing that said he would be accepted and as loved as those before him, but he also knew there was no turning back. He had been told what to expect by old stars, their whispers and memories still echoing inside him, and he knew he was expected. Someone would find him and bring him to his new home, and he doubted he would be able to run from that. Not while his legs still refused to take more than a few clumsy steps at a time.
–
Captain Haldane had never expected to end up where he was. To be commanded to escort the new ruler was a privilege many would fight for, and it was one his family had never received before, despite their long service to the royals. He had been the only one lucky enough to rise higher than a regular guard, and for his company to receive the most important assignment in the kingdom, would assure success for all those he commanded.
Eyes swept over the gathered men, waiting expectantly in the courtyard for his command to mount their horses and set off. While the fallen star had been seen falling among the nearby hills of the city, there was no certainty it was close. The area was large, and a star's explosion was known for spreading for miles, which meant their task wouldn't be an easy one, no matter how much some stars still glowed after impact.
Eyeing the men once more, he gave a sharp nod before swinging himself into the saddle of his own horse, voice booming over the courtyard as he settled in place.
“Let's go, boys! We have a big area to search, and there is no time to spare. This kingdom has waited long enough for its new ruler. Let's not make them wait any longer!”
–
The sun was already lowering back down towards the horizon by the time his muscles had stopped protesting at his every movement. He had long since given up on moving anywhere, certain he would have collapsed somewhere where no one would ever find him, and the thought of never being found after falling so far sent chills down his spine.
He had taken his time inspecting his new form instead, marvelling at what had been created without him even lifting a finger. He had become a mortal in all but soul, looking like those he had watched from afar, and it was a strange sensation to be able to touch everything that was him in a way he never had before. He had had no limbs until that very morning, and to be able to touch – not only himself, but also objects around him – was something he could barely believe was possible. He had already run his fingers through the softness that grew from his scalp more times than he could count, uncertain of what it was, but loving the sensation. Fingers had trailed limbs, counting strange markings on otherwise unicolour skin, and trying to prod the memories swirling inside his head for answers of what it all was. Some things he knew, from whispers of old stars missing their mortal bodies, but others he had never had an explanation for. He knew he would learn with time, but he was still itching to know, to learn all he could.
He had waited to be found, but his impatience had made him wonder whether his arrival had been expected at all. He had been late, someone had said so, and there was no guarantee anyone would still be waiting for stars to fall anymore. Time had passed since the last had fallen – how much, he didn't know – and with his distance from Earth, he knew he would have missed much in his state of eternal rest. His previous certainty in being expected had dwindled with the passing of time, and as the sun lowered further towards the horizon, his searching eyes turned from the earth to where he knew the stars lay hidden. Wishing for a moment that he was back where he had previously been, as an icy wind drew across the land, causing him to pull his bare limbs closer to retain some warmth. He had never understood why mortals had covered themselves in colourful cloths, but as the wind blew and the cold battered his skin, he could almost understand why. The forms was a marvel to him, but in their nakedness they were vulnerable without anything protecting them.
Keeping his eyes to the sky had made him miss the appearance of riders over the hills, armour catching fire in the last rays of the sun, and it wasn't until the light became like a beacon over the burnt land that he realised he was no longer alone. The thunder of hooves and voices confirming their target soon followed the light, and within seconds he had come to his feet. Blue light still faintly dancing on his skin in the growing darkness, making him a beacon for the riders, just like they were one for him.
The riders themselves had been on horseback since sunrise, and the relief of the men at the first sight of blue light in a valley was obvious to Andrew even without a word being spoken. His own relief over their search not being longer was one he didn't share, and he instead guided the group onwards. Slightly sharing in the men's excitement over being the first to lay eyes on the kingdom's new ruler, but still keeping his curiosity at bay. His job would come first, as it had since he had first been admitted into the Queen's army, and he was not about to allow any excitement to come in the way.
He hadn't been certain of what to expect when he had been told of the light stars emitted, but he was still surprised at how faint it looked when they came to a halt before the waiting man. He had expected it to be stronger, more blinding, but it was soft and faint. Constant, but still obviously not what it had been when the star had still been in the sky above.
He found himself almost speechless for a moment, staying in the saddle for longer than he realised as he took the other in. Eyes following the soft curls of brown hair, trailing over piercing blue eyes riddled with stardust, and a body that seemed taller than humanly possible. It wasn't, he was sure, but even from his raised position, he knew the man was taller than most he had met before.
He didn't even realise he was staring until his eyes locked with the other, the uncertainty resting in their depths making him realise that the man was completely uncovered for all to see, shivering slightly in a cold wind that Andrew had barely noticed himself until that moment. He was quick to avert his eyes, instead focusing on swinging himself out of the saddle and grabbing the bundle of clothes they had been told to bring. While simple, it was still finer than anything Andrew had ever worn in his life, and the softness of the silk under his fingers almost caught him off guard, before he remembered the task at hand.
“Here. You must be cold.” Eyes stayed on the other man's face as he stepped closer and held out the bundle of clothes. Waiting for the other to take them, time dragging on until the moment uncertain hands reached out to accept what was offered. Cloth clutched to a shivering chest, as the man before him struggled to find the right words in a language he had never needed to use before.
“Thank… you.” His accent was clumsy and rough, words struggling to roll off his tongue as he watched the other man. Uncertain of what else to say with so many eyes suddenly on him, making him all too aware of how much he was standing out in his nakedness. Emotions he had never felt before swirling in his chest, and heating his neck and cheeks in a way that couldn't be described as anything but unpleasant.
The other man seemed to notice, and he was quick to turn away and send the other men on their way. Speaking of fires to be made and water to be fetched, and quickly making them all disperse to perform tasks he, as a star, had never heard of before. Leaving him able to figure out how the cloth in his hands was supposed to be worn without a dozen eyes piercing his skin.
“I'm Captain Andrew Haldane, of the kingdom's army. What do you want us to call you?” Eyes politely stayed away from him as he dressed his body in the cloth provided. Almost immediately feeling better about being watched, and warmer in the cold evening wind. Able to think of what to say in return, searching for the name that had been given him together with his new form.
“'m… Edward. That is what 'm supposed to be called.” The new language was still a struggle, and he could clearly hear how different his voice was from the other man's, but it was easier than the first few words.
“Welcome to Earth, Edward. It's an honour to be your escort.” The man, the Captain, bowed, the corners of his lips pulling upwards in what couldn't be anything other than a smile. An action that made his face light up and eyes sparkle, suddenly rendering Edward the speechless one. Eyes taking in everything that was the other's face, uncertain of what the warm feeling in his chest was, but almost enjoying the sensation.
“Thank you. 'm… happy to be here. Never thought I would see Earth up close.” Speaking felt strange, but it was a strangeness he didn't mind as much as he thought he would. The language of the stars was different from that of mortals, but his new form seemed to know how it worked without him having to do much else than pick the right words. “Who are they?” Eyes turned to the other men, most now gathered around a small fire, while a handful cared for the creatures the men had ridden on, caring for their needs before joining the others.
“They are my men. Good men of a good company that I would trust with my life.” The Captain's words carried serenity, and despite his lack of experience with mortal emotions, Edward could notice the care in the man's voice. The men were people the Captain cared for, and it was something Edward almost envied. Despite being surrounded by others like him in the sky, each star was too far away from others to ever have the same kind of relationships that mortals had. Like the light they all emitted, it was a cold, lonely place that he was suddenly not as inclined to return to. The fire and the voices of the men felt more inviting, and with the clothing he had been given now covering up his skin, he already felt more comfortable.
“I'll trust your word. You're the first mortals I've met, but you all seem like good men.” Edward's eyes shifted back to the Captain, marvelling for the moment at how the light of the fire danced over the other man's features, before he realised his eyes had lingered a little too long. He barely even noticed the raised eyebrow at the term mortals, and was soon too occupied watching as the group of men before them began preparing a brought meal over the fire, mesmerised by the smells starting to fill the air, and the strange sounds it caused his abdomen to create. The raised eyebrow was instead soon replaced by amusement at the other man's confusion over the growling stomach, and explaining what was taking place was soon more important than any strange phrase.