The Queen Of The Forest

Chapter 10

As I looked around the table, i noted there were only men. How has it come to this? Did none of them have daughters they could pass their mantles down to?

The women were the most powerful of their species, so why were they not here?

"Thank you masters and elders for joining me for our first meeting, the first of many. I would like to thank you all for your support and pledges last night, and I am pleased to inform you that I have been accepted by our great elder tree."

The men just nodded.

"I have a few announcements I would like to make. As many of you know I was betrothed to Peter Harkenfield, this was not by our own choice but out of convenience. This marriage will not go ahead. Instead my hearith, Robert, has agreed to marry me in six weeks when the wedding is already planned for, we will also have our joining ceremony.

My father, who was turning increasingly red, chose this to be the sentence that broke him.

"Lori, we have things to discuss before such a decision can be made public, I still have to agree on this you know"

"Father, do you plan to go against our goddess? His rank is no lower than Peter's if that’s what you're worried about, even higher as he is the next leader of his coven," I countered.

I could see master Lorin and Robert becoming increasingly angry with my father. And Master Harkenfield had turned an unfortunate shade of purple, guess he’s not happy, nothing new I think to myself.

"And talking of Peter," I looked at him.

"You have been my longest and most faithful friend, and there is no one else I trust more. From this day forward, you will be my personal advisor and council on all matters. You are now ranked higher than anyone on this council and only answer to myself. Please stand up from your chair and join me by my side" I looked at my father with a smile "I’m sorry father but that means you also need to move your seat again"

"And why’s that?" There is already a chair beside you empty"

"Because this chair is Robert’s, if I remember correctly, the queen has her heairth and advisor on either side. You are not my advisor; you are the councils."

"How dare you, Lori; I am your father; I have been running things for over ten years. You are still under my supervision for at least a year"

"Ah, see, father, I have already told you, when it comes to the kingdom, yes, but not here in my own castle or in my forest, and you certainly don’t when it comes to my council. So choose to sit or leave!"

To my surprise, my father smiled at me.

"I will sit and listen, and let me just say welcome to your council, my queen; you are making all the right steps."

Trying to shake away the shock in my fathers sudden change of personality I decided to just carry on

"Now, as I was saying, I have a few announcements to make. So far only two have been made. Arrangements need to be made to accommodate members of the visiting covens for the wedding. More invitations will be sent out, and of course that means that even more of my people will be welcome. I expect a lot of the waterseed coven will now be in attendance. Master lorin I expect you to provide my father with a guest list in two weeks"

"Of course, your majesty, I am returning home today and expect to be there in a couple of days. I will get the list to you as a matter of importance. My wife will be staying here, I believe, on the request of your mother until the wedding. Except, may I make a suggestion? It would do me a great honor if you could visit our coven before the wedding. While you are our queen and the people will follow you, I would like the opportunity to introduce you to the place Robert grew up and the people with whom he grew up with"

"While I would love that, I’m not sure if my schedule will allow it. There is much to plan, and I still have a meeting with the alpha of our local wolf pack to meet and go over the existing treaty with." My voice took on an apologetic tone, but in truth, I don’t think I ever wanted to do something as much. The thought of being away from these walls and by the actual ocean called to me; the lake was the closest I got to water, but to actually smell salt water and feel it was like an untouchable dream.

"Now, Loraeli," my father broke through my thought process, "I can meet Evander and send your apologies. If you truly want to go to the waterseed coven, it can be arranged. Logan tells me you were able to use your power to send her and your mother to the healers. If an image were created for you, you could easily shimmy yourself there: "

Wait, my father wanted me to go; what is happening? Maybe that’s a good enough reason not to go

"But I insist you take Peter and at least Logan with you. I would be even more comfortable if you took a few guards with you and myself. I will send them ahead with Lorin and Robert, and you can shimmy yourself and Peter when you hear back that they have arrived. I’m not entirely happy with sending my daughter alone to an unknown place. I will leave after the meeting with Evander and join you as soon as I can”

Robert didn’t look happy with this suggestion and looked like he was having trouble keeping it to himself.

"Excuse me, why doesn’t Peter go along with my father and I will shimmy with the queen? Least if it’s me I can actually help the queen reach her destination while my power isn’t as strong as hers. I have learned how to travel over small distances, and combined, it will be less stressful on the queen. Plus the thought of being away from her is unimaginable to me right now," he said, looking at my father in disgust.

"It just seems like a sneaky way to separate us for a couple of days; who knows what could happen when I have left?"

"Very well, I will think about my options. Master Lorin I would respectfully ask you to wait until tomorrow morning for my decision before you leave; now can everyone leave apart from my father, Robert, and Peter? Could someone also find my guard Logan please. She is also to be made a permanent member of this council from now on. I would also like to see two female candidates from each coven nominated to join this council. I will pick one person from each covan. Changes are needed, all people regardless of gender are equal in my land . It’s time this council represented that."

"Disgusting," David had stood up and looked at me with such disgust, "you are not fit to lead our people, little girl." He spat at me “You played my brother for years, and now you think you're the one making the decisions. Maybe it’s time you were shown what a real man is. I should…"

Unfortunately, David wasn’t able to finish his sentence. Robert and Peter seemed to have joined forces, and both had punched him in the face, rendering him unconscious. He fell back with a sickening crunch, but was still luckily breathing.

The only trouble being that Peter had never been much of a fighter and had lost his balance with his older brother and was now also on the floor.

Robert looked down and Peter and offered his hand out to him

"It seems like I misjudged you"