Chapter 4
1352 Words
“Then father it seems I have no other choice then to accept. You have certainly led our people well over the last decade. But one question?”
“I’m glad you’ve accepted but quickly now, we do not leave guests waiting. You know this. What is your question?”
“What did mother say about the request?”
“Your mother didn’t like it to begin with but after I talked with her, she agreed this was the best option to keep all of the Covans happy. Now no more talking, take my arm and put that hood down.
I quickly stood beside him, taking down the hood of my dress, I shook my hair out and removed the cloak to reveal my dress. My father actually chuckled and this surprised me. I looked at him and saw the warmth in his eyes. It now dawned on me how tired he looked. He was never meant to rule, he was supposed to support. I had missed his warmth.
“I knew you would change it Lori, I asked the dressmaker to make it easy to reverse the changes. It looks better like this, more fitting for your personality. You are beautiful, Lorelei. I’m so proud of you, you are becoming the queen, you don’t need to dress like others. They should want to dress like you”
The two guards opened the door. And we stepped inside the throne room. My father gave me a quick squeeze of the arm and let me go. I knew I had to walk to the throne alone but seeing all these people made me extra nervous.I watched as my father hurried through the middle of the room to my mother kissing her hand and sitting beside her.
“It’s show time” I think to myself
I spy the priestess waiting for me, standing in front of what will now be my throne. I move my feet walking toward her. I smile at the people as I walk through them, a rope being the only thing separating us. As I reach the front madam harkenfield has a look of disgust as she looks at my dress, Peter beside her is giving me the thumbs up with his dorky grin plastered on his face. I walk up the three steps towards the priestess. I curtsied to my mother and father. My mother looks so healthy tonight, her smile illuminating her entire face. Tears In her eyes but she looks at me with pride and love.
The priestess takes my hand and the cermoney begins
“Respected masters and members of the seven covens. You are here to see the crowing of your new queen. The oaths that are made here are a binding agreement between us and our goddess.
The goddess alone chose the line of queens, granted them a special power that no others hold.
The queens were chosen from the first and the blood moves down the line to Princess Loreli here,
Do you accept your new queen?”
“We do” thundered around the hall
“Loreli, do you accept the responsibility that comes with taking your rightful place? You must be a leader to all, treat everyone with fairness and lead people in the good days and the bad days”
“I do” I answered loudly
The Priestess turns to her table and grabs the crystal blade
“With the making of the blood oath to your people the ceremony will be complete”
I passed her my hand, this was the one part I really wasn’t looking forward to. I was suprised when I don’t feel the dagger cut the skin and looked at my hand. It had surly worked as blood was starting to pool. Turning around I looked at me people.
“I, Loreli of the seven covans, Princess of the forest. Daughter of queen Isabel and Fredrick Harkenfield swear to love, lead and protect our people.
To look after them in the dark days and to lead them in the good days. My life is now not my own and belongs to the people until I’m either taken away In battle, age or illness”
I look at all the people, catching eyes with everyone as I look from one side of the room to the other
“I will uphold the customs of our people and walk the way of the goddess. I accept my crown” the blood that had pooled in my hand lifted in the air maneuvering itself into the symbol for the goddess
As I said the last part my eyes stopped on the last person. His eyes meeting mine “hiraeth” he looked desperate to get to me and tried making his way through the crowd towards me
The priestess who had been waiting beside me took my uninjured hand and led me to my throne.
She sat me down and I quickly looked for him again. He was talking with master Lorin from the waterseed cove. Master Lorin looked at me and smiled. He looked so pleased with whatever the stranger had told him, I guess he’s a member of his coven. I watched him pat my heirth on the shoulder, the woman beside him listening to what’s was going on embracing him with a look of pure happiness in her face
I felt the crown being placed on my head and quickly snapped back to the here and now
“The oaths have been made and a new queen has been sworn in, please greet your new queen.
Queen Loreli of the forest and the seven Covans”
At the last part I felt my eyes glow, the power that rushed through me was like nothing I had ever felt before. I looked at my hands and saw my magic dancing across my finger tips. The cut on my hand was completely healed
I watched as everyone bowed or curtsied to me. My mother and father then stood in front of me
“We pledge our allegiance to the queen” seeing my parents bow to me cut deep.
“Mother, father. You will not bow to me, I will be looking to both of you for advice” my mother and father took their new places on either side of me, my father sitting in the chair that was his own but now reserved for my own consort.
As the masters and their families made their way towards me ready to swear their own paths I saw him again. He stood at the back of the masters, he caught my eyes grinning and winked.
Unfortunately the first in line was the Harkenfields
“We pledge our alliances to the queen” Master Harkenfield swore bowing in front of me, his congregation following his lead. Cynthia was giving my dress an evil look. I smiled at her.
Peter of coarse broke ranks and hugged me
“You did it Lori” he whispered in my ear
“Peter that is no way to greet your queen” his mothers high pitched voice rang out
“Oh mother, she is my queen second, she is my friend first. Catch you later Lori” he let me go and I giggled
Over and over again the covans came up and made their path
Finally the water seed covan stood in front to make their own
“Congratulations Queen Loreli. We of the waterseed covan swear are alliances to you and it seems we have much to celebrate together this evening” mater Lorin said smiling at me
“I would like to introduce you to my son Robert”
Robert that is his name he now stood in front of me and I felt my heart expand. He leaned down and kissed my hand
“What is the meaning of this” my father growled at Lorin
“Well Fredrick it seems I should have brought my son to your castle years ago. He is your daughters destined hiraeth and as such is the next consort”
- Writer
