𝐖𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐫'𝐬 𝐏𝐎𝐕
Turning around Audrey looked herself over in the mirror as she stood on the stool. She looked.. Different to say the least. When Penelope and Ruby had told her she would be getting dressed in their traditional attire she definitely didn't expect it to be so.. Exuberant. It was gorgeous yes but it looked like something a queen would wear but that was exactly what they wanted her to look like , enough to convince the elders she was fit for the role.
But everything felt a bit overwhelming she couldn't deny. It was all happening so fast, she still hasn't gotten over her dream from earlier and now she would be placed on a pedestal and scrutinized by people she had never met and by eyes she could only assume would be pointing out every flaw and dimple on her. As she looked over the designs on the back of the dress she couldn't help but notice that her crescent moon shaped birthmark that was once faint looked more prominent and visible. Now it was more evident, every stroke and curve of it making itself known. She frowned at the sight, she always shrugged it off and never gave it a second thought seeing as it was at the part of her body that most of her clothing covered plus it wasn't something someone could see as easily but now, now it had attained a darker hue and looked like it was carved over night and placed there. She couldn't help but also take notice that it looked a lot bigger almost taking up the curve of her shouldershoulder on the opposing side to her baby noticeable mark.
"Milady, you would need to try on the rest of these and add them to your wardrobe. As long as the elders are staying you will need to look the part at all times. Your old dresses can still be worn but not out of you and the King's quarters" Audrey's frown deepened hearing Ruby's words. Everything felt strange and a little too much, they were all over reacting. She didn't have to change her whole dressing style because of a few old wolves.
"This is a bit too much Ruby. I've never worn something that showed so much skin in these many places" Audrey complained, stepping down from the stool and turning to face the two she wolves that stood in front of her. She sighed, running a hand through her hair she could feel her head throbbing from all this stress, "Don't get me wrong it's absolutely gorgeous and I love how good it looks and feels but I'm not used to this, can't we-"
"I'm sorry milady but we can't underestimate the expectations of the elders. Not putting in more than enough effort is like telling the entire kingdom that you don't love His Majesty" my eyes widened and a crease formed between my brows.
"I never said that" she defends, gazing away in deep thought.
"But that's the message that you would be sending to the masses when they don't see you wearing our traditional queens attires. Gossip spreads like wildfire and before you know it you could have gotten on the worst side of the people" Ruby walked up to Audrey, taking her hands in hers and holding her gaze. "I know it seems like much and it can get pretty scary but just remember that the king loves you no matter what and even if the elders don't approve you and I both know it won't change his mind. He can fight the entire kingdom for you"
"But I never want it to come down to that. He shouldn't fight his people just because of me" as the realisation of Ruby's words set in so did dread fill her heart at the brutal honesty in her words. It didn't take a wise man to know Darius would do anything for the love of his life even without her asking he would fight the whole world for her and now she knew it was her duty to make sure that never became the case. She wasnt here to make his life and duty as king worse she was here to be by his side and ease his troubles, it was about time she began to act like it.
Nevertheless there were still a lot of things that plagued the young princess's mind. She still had no idea what had become of Lord Odin nor did she know if mentioning the tapestry to Darius was something she should do. For all she knew it could just be an old piece of history or something, maybe it wasn't important and if it truly wasn't important then why did she feel like it was? Why did she feel the need to find out what those inscriptions say and why did that dream she had bother her so much?
Darius was the king and no doubt and he had a lot on his plate as it was, bothering him about her dream was silly she thought. It would be best if she forget about the tapestry and try to busy her mind away from that dream and the ominous feeling that kept creeping into the chambers of her mind and whispering empty probabilities and focus on the wolf moon feast and with the kingdom and her mate, Darius.
"It won't come to that. I'll make sure of it" she spoke with determination and a new drive burning through her veins. Ruby smiled in response and Audrey could see how proud of her she was. Audrey was still uncertain about a lot of things but she was sure as hell willing to try not for the elders or the noblemen but for her mate, the love of her life. Just then a soft knock came on the door and there Lord Anthony stood, staring at Audrey with a mixture of shock and adoration swimming in his gaze.
"Lord Anthony" Audrey acknowledged as he walked in not minding the strange stares Ruby and Penelope were sending his way.
"Milady" he bowed, his eyes never leaving hers. "May I have a word with you?" Audrey nodded, turning to the other two females in the room and dismissing them. They walked into the dressers leaving Lord Anthony and Audrey alone. "Y-you look beautiful" Lord Anthony gazed away, a light blush holding his cheeks.
"Thank you" Audrey replied with a soft smile on her lips. Silence fell over the two as Lord Anthony couldn't hell but drink in how stunning the princess looked, she was certainly a beauty to behold. Not only was her flawless pale skin on display but her dark midnight curls were left in its beautiful waves flowing down her back. The rich color of the royal queens dress which adorned her body only added to her ethereal and majestic form, the gold and numerous embellishments contouring her figure.
He had gotten lost in his admiration and couldn't hear Audrey's words until she waved her hands in front of his eyes, snapping him out of his list induced haze, "Lord Anthony, are you okay? I asked why you came"
"Apologies my grace. I came with great news concerning the inscriptions on the tapestry" he started but Audrey was quick to still, her mind racing back to her dream and the sudden flash that jolted through her when Darius tried to kiss her.
"Look Lord Anthony i-"
"Wait please hear me out. We have a real chance here, the elders are coming into the kingdom as of this evening the oldest of them The Oracle was alive during the King's late hundreds of years, she is 101 and has the most knowledge of the kingdom well not as much as the kind himself but she is the closest we have to a lead right now. If we could talk to her and get her to translate for us we could find out what it says" Lord Anthony continued enthusiastically, he seemed even more eager than Audrey was.
"Even if she could translate it it would be off no use. Perhaps we are a little in over our heads and that tapestry is just sorn peace of painting that come swoop a description of the artwork or something, I'm sure if it was something important His highness would have told me about it. He wouldn't leave me to find out on my own, I trust him. I'm dropping this and you should to" Audrey turned away and she began walking when Lord Anthony's next words left her to stop in her tracks.
"Can you really though?" He asked vaguely, the hidden message behind his question adding to his tone and spiking something deep within Audrey.
"What?" She asked, turning around to face him.
"Can you really trust him? I know the king found out about me and you being alone in his quarters that's why he has had that bodyguard following me everywhere and he thinks I haven't noticed" his words made Audrey's eyes widen as she thought about it. Truth be told she in fact hadn't seen Maximus around as much. "How sure are you that he would even tell you the truth, he is probably keeping a lot of things from you just so you don't see him for who he really is, you may trust him but he sure as hell doesn't trust you. If he did he wouldn't have that guard of his following you around "
"You don't know what you're talking about" Audrey defended, her fists clenching. She was shocked, all this was coming from Lord Anthony and she didn't know where he was getting all this from and would Darius really put Maximus to watch over him?
"Oh don't I? Then why hasn't he marked you yet?" Immediately the words left his mouth Audrey's face contorted into one of hurt and utter confusion. Lord Anthony regretted his words immediately as he stepped forward trying to apologize but Audrey took a step backwards in return. "Please i-im sorry"
"Stop!" Her voice raised as her hand had gone to the nape of her neck. She could feel the sting in her chest at his words "This is none of your business and I refuse to condole any such from you! Whatever goes on between my mate and I is none of your business and yes I trust him more than anyone because I know he will never betray me, he loves me as a mate should. You have no say in this so I would appreciate it if you leave and stay very far away from me. You and his highness are very close allies so I would honour your alliance and not speak a word of this to him but make no mistake if your ever step out of like like this again then Iwon't be as lenient"
Audrey could see the hesitation in his eyes but he stepped back, taking a curt bow before marching out of the room. The moment he was gone Audrey let out a shaky breath, her palm meeting her forehead as she sighed deeply, looking herself over in the mirror. She felt uneasy, flushed and hurt. Sure she didn't believe his words but when he brought up marking her it struck a nerve, one he seemed so quick to notice. She couldn't help but question it, Darius had stopped himself right before marking her. He said he didn't want to impose his feelings on her but he should feel the love she had for him by now, right? She was definitely being played for a fool but by who? It wouldn't be wise to believe Lord Anthony, he seemed so different but she couldn't help but wonder what he meant.
Her thoughts were cut short when the two women saunteref back into the room gazing around till they spotted Audrey in front of the full framed mirror. "Milady is everything okay?" Ruby asked noticing my distress. She walked up to her resting her hands on her shoulders where she squeezed affectionately snapping Audrey out of her mind.
For a second Audrey contemplated talking to Ruby, as she gazed at the elder woman she thought about it but then shook her head dismissing the thoughts, "it's nothing" she turned to look into the mirror as she plastered a fake smile on her face. "I really love this dress, is this what I'm wearing to the feast?" She asked, feigning interest as she tried to change the subject.
"No milady, this is one of the dresses you would be wearing to probably visit the kingdom with the elders. The dress you would be wearing is in the back, I'll go get it" I placed a smile on my face as Ruby walked away to go get my dress and I tried to ignore what I had just heard. Oh goddess please save me. Audrey had no idea how she was going to manage with these many things like a militia of thoughts swarming her mind at the feast. Darius had already taken notice of Audrey's cha he in behavior, he could tell something was wrong from the moment he felt her heart race pick up when he tried to kiss her, originally he had thought maybe she was just flustered or it was embarrassment from the amount of attention the palace makes were giving them both but now he thought different. He could see the fear in her eyes as she tried to ease his worries by giving him one of her fake smiles, he could see the slight twitch of the corner of her lip telling him she was forcing the smile.
And the way her brows were slightly raised only gave her up all the more. He wanted to believe it was nothing but he knew better. He hadn't spoken to her properly ever since that morning he didn't mark her, maybe he had made a mistake and left her to think badly of his inaction. He was scared yes but he had to make a choice his fears or Audrey and the answer was clear but could he do it? What if she left him out of fear? He knew she had feelings for him but could they stand the test of his past? There was so much she didn't know and so much he wanted to tell her but he was too selfish, he wanted her to believe he was what she thought him out to be. He would remain why she saw him to be. He couldn't stand the thought of looking into her eyes and seeing fear, fear of him, seeing a mixture of disgusting and hatred as she gazed at him. It would break him and he wasn't ready to find out. He was the darkness after all and she was his light, he didn't want to taint her, he didn't want his light to leave him in the abyss that was his. He had a taste of what it felt like having her and he couldn't imagine life without her, she was his anchor.
A lot was going on and he couldn't deny the feeling in his gut that there was more to come. Lord Odin's body had been found by a fisherman, it washed up from the river and when it was brought secretly to the castle for a closer look they had found rocks in his pockets. Few of his lieutenants and delegates that were aware of this brought forth the idea that he had killed himself probably after finding out he was to be taken to the gallows for his crimes. It seemed like the most logical thing but Darius couldn't help but feel otherwise, he knew Lord Odin would not be the type to kill himself rather he would have run back to his city or fled the country even. Ryker advised Darius upon hearing his concerns that it would be best he not put so much thought into it rather he himself would pursue any notion that came up. Ryker had further explained the Hunter situation that Darius had put aside had been looked into properly, Vivian's story had been confirmed. The Silver Moon pack was no more and it only lead Darius to believe Hunter was indeed a threat. Not one that could cause a lot of damage non the less with the upcoming festivities and the arrival of the elders he knew it would be athe safest option to look for Hunter and bring him in to be crushed under the law.
There were a lot of things that plagued the mind of the king like the growing feeling that something bad was going to happen, like that sudden rush of anxiety you get just before you're about to fall. That was exactly what he was getting but unlike the painted scenario he couldn't tell what the aftermath would be till it eventually arrived. One thing was certain, this celestial event was going to be a new journey that was certain to occupy itself with many more obstacles, Darius could only hope that he and Audrey would be ready for the troubled waters ahead.
That was all he could do for hope wasn't something to be held onto tightly for at the end it was just like sand, fast fleeting and quick to slip through one's fingers and scatter.
Thanks for reading!