The Half-Witch Bride

Introductions

~Elden's POV~

We had arrived home, and I barely had time to even look at my bride before being ushered away by Lucien to attend to any matters left unresolved in my absence. Although I was sure that nothing had gone awry and the castle was still standing, he still insisted that I return to my duties tonight.

And so here I was, sitting at my desk in the large study room, going through a stack of parchment that the councilmen had prepared for me. It was difficult to concentrate on their written words as my mind kept drifting to her.

Everything about her riled me up so much that even a simple glance sent me over the edge. I had never wanted anything more than I wanted her. I tossed the paper in my hand away, aggravated as I ran a hand through my hair. She was so close and yet so teasingly far away, a delicious cake begging to be eaten, yet a glass barrier prevented me from taking a bite. There were times, many, many times, where I wanted to say to hell with custom and take her right there in front of everyone. I could only imagine the shock on Lucien's face.

But no, I had to prevail, be above the carnal urges. Carnal urges were not for the likes of us, where we threw ourselves onto our partners with little to no regard for others. And I, above all, must set an example, despite very little of my people understanding how just strong the mate bond truly was.

I stood up from my chair and walked out of the study. It had grown quite late into the night, and the hallways were quiet as everyone slept peacefully in their rooms. I wandered the halls, letting my feet walk their own path as I pondered on life moving forward. I would need to make preparations for Celeste to feel as comfortable as possible. This would include assigning a tutor of sorts to allow her to understand her new people and the duties of being a queen. Perhaps even, we could start unraveling the mystery of her birth, but that would be impossible without another witch to shed light upon the matter.

My feet stopped, and I lifted my head, surprised, yet not surprised, when I found myself face to face with a door. The door that led to her room. I pressed my hand against the handle, pausing slightly before pressing my ear against the wood. I heard her soft breathing while I basked in her scent that beckoned for me to enter. My heart raced, my skin aflame as my mind raced a million miles an hour.

Before I could even come to a solid conclusion or try to dissuade myself from entering, my hand involuntary turned the handle and swung the door open against my better judgment. The room was dark, except for the soft silvery glow of the moonlight that filtered through her window. My eyes easily focused on her as I stepped inside the room, silent as I approached closer.

She lay in the middle of the bed, its size dwarfing her small frame. Her dark hair sprawled around her, contrasting heavily against the silken, sage green sheets. Her maids did well, as she looked rather refreshed and peaceful after the long trip. Her full chest rose and fell with each soft breath she took, and I couldn't help but sit on the bed, just watching for now as I played with the end of a strand of her hair. My eyes trailed all over her frame, ending at the fullness of her lips.

I ached to kiss her again, to taste her lips once more, to hold her against me. I found myself leaning in, closer and closer, until I hovered barely an inch above her face. I felt the warmth of her breath with each exhale. I paused, every notion of my being telling me to leave, to not give into these indulgences, but reason ended up being weak in this moment, as I gave in and pressed my lips softly against hers with a sigh. She made a sound in her sleep, causing me to grip the sheets of the bed as it enticed me to wake her and take her right then and there. But I waited, lifting myself up and off the bed when I was sure that she was still soundly asleep.

I leaned against one of the posts at the end of the bed, breathing deeply as I closed my eyes and tried to calm myself. No, I couldn't let myself give in anymore than that, not until the wedding night. Without a glance, I left her room, shutting the door softly behind me.

~Celeste's POV~

I woke slowly, soft and warm sun rays urging me from a deep sleep. It had been so long since I slept as well as I did last night. Perhaps the trip had worn me out, or the wonderful, hot bath prepared for me by the maids had me as relaxed as possible. I didn't dream much, except for a fluttering moment, thinking that I had perhaps kissed someone in my dream. But I barely remembered muchas I began to sit up and stretched my arms upwards.

I leaned against the numerous amount of pillows stacked around me, stroking the silken sheets that enveloped me. The bed was enormous, at least twice or even three times the size of my old one. It was made out of a solid white wood, probably hand carved. The four posts of the bed spiraled high towards a simple ceiling that had four arches that converged in the middle. Standing candelabras occupied all four corners of the room, while elaborate paintings and tapestries of nature decorated the walls.

My favorite part of the whole room was the window sill that overlooked what I believed to be the back of the castle, where most of the landscape was filled with nature, rolling hills, and a small spotting of towns far on the horizon. It reminded me of the view I had at home. A knock at the door sounded, pulling my attention away from the window.

"It is us, Mythra and Evylene, my lady."

"Come in," I responded, watching as the two maids from last night enter the room. Mythra entered first, then Evylene right behind her. Mythra was the tallest of the two by a little bit, her dark hair fashioned into a braided bun, held together by a silver net. Evylene sported the same hairstyle, her reddish locks tucked away in a matching silver net. The two girls wore the same color and style of dress, simple, but still more elegant than anything I had ever seen on earth. In Mythra's hands was a lacquered brown box. In Evylene's, some neatly folded fabric. They placed their items on a vanity that occupied a portion of the eastern wall before walking towards me.

"The King has asked that you be dressed and presentable as he will be introducing you as his betrothed to his councilmen first and then to other nobles." Mythra stated, gently throwing the covers back.

"What a happy occasion!" Evylene said with a smile, quickly calming down as Mythra shot her a reprimanding look.

"I apologize for her childish behavior, my lady. She is still young and has much to learn." Mythra apologized quickly, her tone laced with nervousness.

"Please, it's alright. I don't know much about how things work around here, but you don't have to be afraid. I'd rather you be yourselves around me, or at least in my room."

The girls looked at each other before for a brief second before returning my earnestness with shy and soft smiles.

"As you wish, Lady Celeste. If you please, make your way to the vanity, we shall begin."

I nodded and slid out of the bed, walking over to the vanity. Before I could even fully sit down, the girls began to get busy. Mythra took charge over my hair, brushing it carefully and giving me beautiful, intricate braids. She applied lovely silvery accents and hair jewelry to them before arranging them all carefully, ending it by placing upon my head a beautiful silver circlet from the box. It looked as if vines and leaves wrapped themselves around my head, and in the very middle, where two leaves met, a dark blue, shiny gem sat against my forehead.

Evylene set herself to the task of applying a soft scented lotion to my face, arms, and neck. It felt cool and refreshing, giving my skin that soft glow that I had seen the other elves have. She dressed my fingers with two rings, one on each hand. One was the engagement ring, and the other was a ring that matched the circlet's stone. She then lifted a small pot that was on the vanity and opened it, using a finger to rub its contents and apply the pinkish substance to my lips and cheeks. I was then given earrings, shaped like the leaves in the circlet, with a dark blue gem dangling down from the leaf tips.

Evylene stepped away from the vanity, unblocking my view of the mirror, and I gasped. I almost didn't recognize myself, with my hair done up in such a way, the lotion and the pink makeup giving me a fresh look. I almost looked like I was Elven myself, despite my tan skin and short stature.

"You look most beautiful, my lady," Evylene said, smiling as I admired myself and jewelry that adorned me.

"Almost like an Elven Queen, but not yet. Let us get you into your dress for the day." Mythra said, stepping back and grabbing the folded fabric. I stood up and walked around the chair to stand in front of Mythra while Evylene slipped off the silken nightgown I had slept in. Although I was still quite bashful at stripping in front of the two ladies, I stayed still as the soft, light fabric slipped down over my head. It fit me perfectly, hugging my curves in all the right places. The girls then ushered me over to a full-length mirror so that I could take a proper look at myself.

The woman who stood before me was unrecognizable. She looked almost regal, dressed in a dark blue dress that shifted and flowed in the breeze. The hem, the sleeves, and the skirt carried a silver floral motif, a careful balance struck between the dark fabric and the silver sheen of the embroidery. The upper torso and waist were pulled in, allowing for the shape of my body to be seen, while the skirt of the dress floated down and a little out. The sleeves were long and belled, hanging low. The bodice was cut low, just enough for a small amount of cleavage to be seen, but covered enough of the chest to be considered modest.

"There is one final touch that the King himself will give you," Evylene said excitedly, the girls looking mighty proud at their handiwork into turning me into a presentable court lady and future queen.

"Gosh, I don't look anything like myself." I muttered, still not able to get used to myself as I turned this way and that, taking in every detail.

"You look better than yourself. Now we must hurry along, Councilman Thallan will be escorting you to the Meeting Hall." Mythra said, but no sooner than she finished the last word, and soft knock sounded at the door.

"Come in!"

Thallan opened the door softly as he stepped in, freezing in place when he spotted me in my full regalia. I watched as his mouth moved slightly as if to say something, but nothing came out. He simply stared at me for a few long moments before clearing his throat and regaining his composure.

"My apologies, my lady," he stared with a bow. "While I was expecting you to be fully outfitted for today, I was not expecting just how well our form of dress suited you. You look absolutely stunning. Our people will have no choice but to embrace you with arms wide open."

His words made me flustered, my cheeks growing a shade pinker than they were. He approached closer, offering his arm, and I took it, allowing him to walk me out of the room and into the hall. The dress was at the perfect length where I didn't have to hold it up to be able to walk.

"Could you explain to me what exactly is happening today? The girls mentioned something but not much in detail."

"Of course. Today, according to our customs, you will be first presented to the rest of the councilmen as Elden's betrothed. There we will all come to the decision of when the wedding shall be set. Afterward, you and the king will head towards the Throne Room, where all of the noble families will be gathered to announce you as a bride and be introduced to all of them. The wedding date will be stayed, and then all the families, one by one, will introduce themselves to you and congratulate the happy couple."

"Quite a lot on the first day," I muttered, nerves building exponentially as Thallan explained the plan for the day. He patted my hand in comfort.

"A necessity that, to an outsider, might seem a lot, but must be done accordingly. I will warn you now, not be discouraged by anything today. People will be shocked that you are the king's mate."

"Because I'm not Elven?"

"Yes, and also because it seems that you are part human. Although no one will show it outwardly, most will think that the king should have just taken a chosen queen instead of traveling to the Old World to bring back a human."

"Seems like a tall task for me to be fully accepted." I said, dejected, feeling a bit like a fraud playing dressup in Elven clothing.

"Even the mightiest of kings have those who are unhappy with him. Do not dwell on it too much, and simply focus on doing the best you can do. I and the rest of us will be there to help you along."

With that said, we rounded a corner, and I spotted Elden waiting in front of a white wooded, carved door, speaking with Lucien. Elden immediately turned his attention to us, and I watched as his mouth stopped speaking as his eyes drank me in, inch by inch. Lucien made a small movement of his face, but I was unsure whether it was of approval or not. My eyes stayed glued to Elden's, heart pounding as we drew nearer until finally we stopped in front of the two men. Thallan slipped his hand out of my grasp, only to be immediately replaced by Elden's as he pressed close into me.

"You look absolutely stunning, perhaps rivaling the Moon Goddess herself in beauty," he whispered to me, sneaking in some words while Lucien and Thallan spoke to themselves. I blushed, casting my gaze to the floor. I was pretty sure that I paled in comparison standing next to him. Before I could reply to him, Thallan and Lucius took up a position in front of us, swinging the door wide open and walking in.

"All rise for King Elden Elderoth and his betrothed, fated mate." Thallan announced to the room, cueing us to begin walking inside. I gripped Elden's arm as we entered, feeling every eye placed on me as we walked to the head of a very long table. I did my best at putting on a noble air about me, hoping to fake my way through it.

"Councilmen, I present to you my bride, my fated mate."

All twelve men in the room clapped as Elden began to sit down in his seat. I followed suit, sitting down next to him, making sure that I had good posture, sitting straight up.

"My lord, we are most happy that you were able to find your fated mate, and a beautiful one at that." A man at the far end of the table exclaimed, and others murmered their agreements. This made me feel a bit hopeful, that perhaps it wouldn't be too bad and I would be accepted.

"She seems human to me, yet you found her living among a wolf pack?" another questioned.

"Yes, she did live among a wolf pack, but she is not a wolf. The Alpha adopted her, and we believe that she is part human and part witch." Elden responded.

This caused a much louder murmer among the men, causing the blood in my veins to freeze. I was so focused on not making a wrong movement or facial expression that I had to remind myself to breathe.

"She knows nothing of our customs, traditions, and rules, how do you expect our people to accept her as their new queen?" another chimed in.

"She will learn as much as she can before the wedding and continue learning." Elden responded calmly. My heart pounded heavily in my ears, my fingers fidgeting with the fabric of my dress.

"And what of her being a witch? Does she have any powers?"

"The are minimal at best for now," Thallan chimed in.

"For now?" questioned Lucien.

"Well, I was hoping we could explore that side, perhaps by consulting our books to see if there is anything we could do to unlock her potential, since as we understand it now, it's potential has yet to be grasped." Thallan responded kindly. I hadn't even thought about the possibility of exploring my powers even more.

"So we are to accept that the King's fated mate is a half witch bride from the old world who not only knows nothing of our people, but also nothing of the Vale?" Another member questioned, casting a steeled gaze upon me. At this, I stood up, silencing the room while surprised eyes watched me.

"Councilmen, please excuse me if I am stepping out of line here, but I cannot stay silent any longer." I started, trying to even my breath and remove the nervous shakes that would betray my stage fright. "Yes, I am a half-witch-half human from what you call the Old World. Yes, I have no idea about your ways or your people. I didn't even know you and the Vale existed until the King decided to visit us. While this definitely sounds pretty strange to accept someone like me as a queen, please see the potential in me. I promise to do my very best to learn and uphold your traditions and be the best queen that I can be. I ask that you give me a chance, for I want nothing but to help my mate, the king."

Not a single word was uttered for a straight minute. I slowly sank down into my seat in mortified silence, wondering if I should have simply stayed seated and silent. Even Thallan looked as if he was taken aback.

Shit, I definitely messed up big time already.

"Well, I believe we should pick a suitable date for the wedding now." A man who stood next to Thallan broke the silence.

None of the councilmen objected, looking towards Elden for a suggestion. I turned to look at him, as he was staring at me with an amused look in his eyes, while his face betrayed none of the amusement.

"Let us set the wedding a week from now, that will allow my betrothed to learn what she needs up to the wedding. Thallan, I would like for you to take charge over this. As Master of Lore, you will be most suited. As for the possibility of expanding upon her powers, I will have a separate meeting to discuss this matter."

Thallan bowed his head, accepting his new duty. The other councilmen bowed their heads in agreement, with no other word being uttered upon the matter. Elden rose, signaling the end of the meeting. I rose out of my seat as well, taking his out-streched arm and walking alongside him out of the meeting room. Thallan joined us, walking behind us until we stopped, standing in front of a large window.

"I...I'm sorry, if I did or said something wrong." I started, sputtering through my words.

"I have never seen that room fall so silent," Elden said, his tone laced with amusement as he looked down at me. Even Thallan had a chuckle in his throat.

"My Lady, you handled them quite expertly, I would even venture to say that you handled them as a Queen should. If you'll excuse me, I shall head to the Throne Room to see if all is ready within for you two. Please make your way there." Thallan hurried off ahead of us. Elden proceeded to walk that way, but uncharacteristically slow. We were alone and I was sure he was wanting to take advantage of the rare chance.

"I'm not sure I'll be able to keep myself off of you if you proceed to exhude such a queenly attitude."

"Then how am I to act if I can't act like a queen?" I asked playfully, keeping my gaze straight ahead.

"Hmmm a conundrum, trully," he pretended to think about it. "But in all honesty, I am not surprised that you are able to handle yourself, I am mostly full of pride that you did it with such dignity and on your first day here."

"I couldn't keep silent while they doubted me without getting to know me. I know I'm not special or anything, but I can do my best to provide and be useful."

Elden stopped walking, and turned to me, cupping my face with the palm of his hand. He stared into my eyes with an intense gaze.

"You are more than special, my flower. You are my mate, my soon-to-be Queen. They will all soon grow to love you as I do you, once they see how dedicated you are to us." He placed a soft reassuring kiss upon my forehead, before returning back to our walk. I felt like I could do anything with words like that from him.

As we reached the Throne Room, Thallan stood there, waiting patiently for us to approach.

"Ah, I almost forgot about this." Elden said reaching into a pocket in his robes, taking out a beautiful silver necklace, with the same dark blue gem hanging from it. "I meant to give it to you before we faced the councilmen, but your beauty overtook me and I wanted nothing more than to have you on my arm."

I lifted my hair as he stepped behind me, placing the necklace around my neck completing the full set of jewelry. His fingertips brushed along my neck, lingering long after the necklace was clasped close. It sent shivers down my spine, electricity jolting higher as he stepped closer into me. But it all ended much too soon as he stepped away abruptly, his demeanor changed completely as he stood beside me once more. I glanced down at the necklace, touching the large stone gently.

"Thank you, I've never had something as nice as this, I trully appreciate it."

Elden turned his head, eyes full of warmth, but as he was about to respond, Thallan threw open the doors to the Throne Room, thrusting us into the enormous room filled with what seemed like a 100 members of Elven nobility.

My heart began racing, the nerves building, once again subjected to stares and curious glances.