I stood...scantly clothed on a raised platform. Emotions like never before welled up in me, as I stared ahead.
A young woman with long silver whitish locks, piercing blue eyes and pale skin glared at me. Her lips were set in a straight line...I watched them quiver occasionally. Her eyes were full of unshed tears; yet everyone in the room was oblivious to her emotions. That girl was me. Standing in my slip; staring blankly at the large mirror in front of me.
"Your hips are perfect for child bearing, my Queen," the seamstress complimented me as I glanced over at her. She was at her small wooden table altering...a white laced dress.
It was beautiful....on any other circumstance but what it was being used for made it look hideous. How could I ever agree to this? My mind quickly let me know that this was not my plan. This was the King's. I don't know why he would pick me, a human to assist in ruling over savages. It made no sense.
"Men tend to think about two things when choosing a wife." I sipped my horrid tea as my mother spun around the room slightly to a song that the pianist was playing. She loved to twirl, and dance, and that was how she thinks. Some people called her odd, but I was used to it.
"How marvelous she would be in warming his bed and her title. You have both my dear. That is why everyone and their fathers wants you. Surely you must realize you gather your good looks from me!" She said as i began to laugh. It was true. Every suitor who has arrived at the palace doors has brought upon a father or an Uncle who wild do nothing but gawk incessantly at my mother.
I grimaced. "That is sick."
She chuckled. "Well your father is surely one. He married me because of my hair," she giggled. I shook my head. Sure mother had beautiful hair; but how could a man be that stupid!? My mother could have been a tyrant!
"Father is a different breed."
"Now that is true, my dear. Just remember, if your father makes you marry between two horrid men with one having a better position in life, chose the better position. He will be smitten with you, and you will be able to do whatever you desire."
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As I recalled a conversation with my mother...anger rose in me again. The King wanted me because he wanted me to warm his bed! That had to be it. This man probably had never been with a human woman...and he thought marrying me would be perfect! Making my life a living hell was not enough, he has to marry me. He gets the privilege to..touch me.
"Excuse me...has the King mentioned when the wedding will happen?" I asked the seamstress who seemed incredibly happy to be working on my dress.. She was a surprisingly sweet old woman.
The woman smiled. "Oh in just a week. Aren't you overjoyed? Our King finally has a beautiful mate!"
My stomach began to churn. I did not feel all to well. I stumbled off the raised platform. Chelsea had run over to me. "Is everything alright, your Highness?" She asked Ashe stabled my footing.
"Yes....no. Where's Eddie?" I asked, numbly. I didn't know what to do. I had to hold someone I truly cared about. I needed him.
She was quiet. She was probably doing that 'mind link' thing. "He is in the court yard with Sarah."
"Bring me there...now," I said as she quickly let go of my arm and brought me my dress. She quickly put it on me; in such a hurry I was a bit confused as to how she had gotten it on me.
As we walked in silence, I glanced at her. Maybe she could tell me some customs of a wedding... A savage wedding. "Chelsea...how do weddings work here?"
"Oh...well there is a ceremony just like a human would have. Only few are allowed to attend. There you will exchange our traditional vows and then you will exchange words vowing to protect and assist him in running the kingdom. After that you will trade necklaces. They are made with a magical metal. Your initials along with two golden wolves will be the charm on the necklace and you will never be able to take it off. Then...we will feast. In some cases you will run into the woods together; and we will all follow. He will then mark you..Then...um..." She trailed off an I glared at her.
"Continue, please."
She cleared her throat. "You will...come back to the palace where you will wait for the King to come back with any type of animal that he has just hunted down. That will be his gift to you. Claiming that he can provide for you as a mate. Then...well you two will consummate the marriage and create the bond with you." She said the last part quickly.
"Anything else?" I whispered.
"Well since you are a virgin, the sheet will be hung from the palace window, and everyone will know what has occurred. Then you two will spend a week locked in the room. Of course food and drink will be provided...but you will be together to ensure an heir to the throne."
I gulped. My stomach hurt. Just imagining us...doing such intimate activities in a week just didn't sit right with me. "Do you think he will follow the traditions? We barely know each other to...to do such things," I feared.
Chelsea have me a pitied look. "Our King...well I am not quite sure," she said while I internally groaned. "Well there is always hope. I know he will try to make everything as comfortable as possible for you," she smiled as we arrived at the courtyard.
It was beautiful. Greenery and flowers everywhere. A little garden maze. Statues of beasts lined the courtyard, making it eerily beautiful. In the distance I saw a tall and stoic man. He was looking ahead, frowning. My eyes traveled to what he as staring at.
Loud piercing children's laughs floated to my ears. Eddie and the little girl Sarah were playing near a large fountain. The smile that graced Eddie's fave was...the upmost peaceful and touching thing I have seen since coming here. It instantly lifted my spirit.
We walked quickly over to Rowan who was staring intensely at the two children playing. He took his job very, very serious. "Ladies."
"Hi Rowan," I said as an irritated look crossed his features as I heard he little girl Sarah giggle loudly. "We can take over watching them if you would like," I offered as he shook his head.
"No," he said as I watched his eyes wander over to Chelsea. His eyes weren't just focusing on her body...but her face. I took a glance at her and realized she was looking straight ahead with cheeks reddening.
"Sarah is getting more older as the days go on," she said while clearing her throat.
I watched Rowan slowly nod his head, as his lingering gaze slowly turned to the little servant. "I suppose," he said curtly.
"Rowan we need help!" Eddie called over to him. He quickly walked away, and I glanced at Chelsea who seemed to be looking extremely pained. That was...odd.
"Why does he always chose to watch them? If he's so important why doesn't someone lesser take the job of watching them?" I questioned. Rowan was basically a Prince and he was on nanny duty. It made no sense to me. Chelsea looked down. My eyes narrowed. "Tell me, Chelsea."
Chelsea leaned into me, looking more a bit nervous. I got nervous in turn, but leaned in closer to the woman. "Well...you see little Sarah is Rowan's mate."
I stood back frowning. "And a mate is, what exactly?"
Chelsea looked at me as if I were a mad woman. "Just as you are the King's mate?" I shook my head. I was the King's friend? Certainly not. "Oh...okay. A mate is someone's other half. It is like someone soul mate. In our world, every wolf is born with well I guess you could say half a soul. They need to find their other half, the one who completes them. The King has found you. You complete him, and Rowan has found....Sarah."
My mind hurt. I was entirely confused. "So, I will be the King's wife and not mate? He has one already?"
She shook her head. "No...no! You are his mate that is why he is marrying you. Our wolves..they know when someone is our other half by their smell."
"So...when you find your mate, you get married to them?"
Chelsea nodded, her eyes darting to the floor once again. "Ah...yes. Essentially yes."
I nodded slowly...then something dawned on me. "Rowan can't marry Sarah! She's just a child!"
Chelsea cracked a small smile. "Oh he knows that. He's waiting till she turns 16 or 17 then he will uh...claim her. Claiming-"
"-Stop, please. I don't think I can take anymore explanations. I need time to process it all," I admitted as she respectfully nodded her head.
Eddie bounded over to me smiling with a toy in his hand. "Esme, when will mom and papa be back? They would like it here! They would like Sarah too!"
A pang in my heart made my chest clench. "Eddie mother and father...they're aren't coming back. They had to go to Heaven to help rule up there," I said tight lipped as I suddenly think Eddie sort of understood.
Tears sprung on his eyes. "B-but God already rules up there!"
I took a deep breath. "I know...but sometimes God needs a little help. He has a lot of stuff to do up there...like helping the Angels. Mother and father are helping the Angels."
Tears fell from his little cheeks as his mind attempted to wrap around this situation. "S-so they're Angels?"
I nodded. "Yes..."
"Well...they're my Angels right?"
"Yes...even though you can't see them they're always with you, okay Eddie?"
I watched him sniffle and wipe his face on his sleeve. "Can I go back and play now?"
I bent down and gave him a large squeeze filled hug, before he almost passed out then set him down. "You can go play."
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Hey guys! Hope you all enjoyed, I won't be updating for probly a few weeks so that's why I'm doing it today. Also today's my birthday😁 hope you guys enjoyed! Till next time!