The Luna Queen Is Reborn

Death Knell

In Authorn, cold is the dominant season, so it isn't surprising I was born in winter. Winter symbolized resilience and the nature of our being gives us strength. As for me Winter Snow, I was that strength Authorn needed to keep going and this strength can't help but wonder when its slender shoulders would buckle under the weight they carried.

Authorn is one of the kingdoms under the Jurisdiction of the Lycans. Lycan, creature whose origin we all shared, but unlike the rest of us, they possess such strength that the least powerful of them could take down ten werewolves if they were put out to fight. I heard the royals possess other special abilities too.

Each kingdom has its distinct features, ranging from the significant ones to ones that can be overlooked.

In Authorn our pride laid in being able to wear our second skin full moon or not. We are the only ones that have such characteristic. And because our kingdom had always been led by a woman, and Lycan's crowns were given to women of our kingdom, they call us Crown bearers.

I stood by the window in the Frost Palace looking at the white that spread throughout our kingdom wondering when the clock will stop ticking, when the name that brought us pride would come to snatch away the marital betrothal it was promised.

It would come, I was sure of it, but, whether we could weather the storm was something else.

The heavy door creaked opened and my family came in.

They took their place by the table waiting for me to take my seat first. I unclasped my fingers and made for my seat at the head of the table.

This chair, the little throne opened my sight to another view of them, yet keeps me far away from the people who were meant to be my family. I was their Queen-not their daughter nor sister. And they, my subject.

It has always been this way, but the distance grew wider the moment I was made Queen. I was a ghost at my own table, a phantom haunting the lives of the people I loved most. I watched Ember laugh at a joke my father whispered, a sound that never quite reached my end of the long mahogany wood.

Sometimes, especially now, it irks me that they could laugh when such dark clouds loomed over our heads, when turmoils and skepticism made my stomach turn.

They call them the relative of the Lycan royals- a baby kingdom found when the younger brother of the then Lycan king was crowned. He couldn't become the King, so he created his own kingdom. My parents had pledged marriage to them, but hadn't specificied who it would be. Now, they come knocking at our door asking for the Queen's hand.

My parents find it hard to give up either of the two; the heir they had conditioned and the daughter bore from their heart.

We had a written letter sent to their King to make compromise, but his reply had come in a single word bearing refusal- No

Subsequent letter returned unattended to. This was war, and this dining hall could still echo laughter of the people closest to me.

I was the shield that stood between them and the Lycan King’s greed, and tonight, the shield felt brittle. My father cleared his throat, the sound echoing like a gavel, and I knew the news he brought would finally break the silence I had cultivated so carefully.

"We should have until the annual events. There, we would meet and come to a compromise", he wiped his clean mouth and clasped his fingers on the table.

"And if they don't compromise", I turned my blue eyes his way. His eyes gazed into mine for a few seconds before darting away. I looked down at jittering fingers that he clasped firmer to keep them still.

"You worry too much. When we get to that junction, we would solve it", Mother patted his hands softly.

I was to attend the event without any plan, but an argument of why my sister would be a better fit for his queen.

How do they expect I as the Queen to convince him of such. The debasement.

"And where is Peter at", I hadn't seen him all day, as my Gamma he wouldn't stay out of sight for too long.

"He is somewhere in the library checking the contract again for loopholes", Gavin my Beta smiled my way and I hummed in acknowledgement. At least someone shared my premonition.

"You should eat, my Queen. Problems don't get solved by starving", She gave me that pointed look that makes me want to be at her whim and Ember's giggles rang across the table.

For the life of me, I don't know what was funny.

I took a sip from the wine in the glass, and as I forked some food I heard it- a howl in the morning, then came the second and the third.

Three howls, the death knell of any kingdom. They've come to claim their bride. No more negotiation or compromise.

The fork dropped into the plate with a clang. I dragged the chair back and headed for the window. Far in the distance stood men on the hills that housed the frozen lakes that gush in the seasons that aren't winter. I could see their stern faces, the glint in their eyes and promises of destruction in their stances.

We were not prepared.

I heaved a deep breath hoping it will dislodge the heaviness buried in my chest. "Find Peter and prepare our warriors for defense", I called out to Gavin. Unlike the dread that wracked my body in the coldness that winter couldn't, my voice was deadly calm.

My flared long sleeve snapped as I turned away from the window with intent of finding the war room.

As I passed by Ember and mother, I looked at them hoping they could hear clearly how loud the 'No' resonated all the way to Authorn.

I walked down the hallways, my mind labyrinth of strategies I feared could never be realized. I just hope my people would survive unscathed, but I knew how impossible that was.

Would our enemies wait for us to plan before attacking?