The Warrior King

Twelve

Shelby led us through the darkness to a tent not too far from Tristan’s. Gone was the sound of revelry from before. Apparently, Shelby explained when I commented on it, word of the new queen had spread, so now the camp was anxious to get underway to the Iron district. Shelby lifted back the flap of the tent and we all entered.

Two large oil lamps hung in the center of the tent. There enough cots for all of us, piled high with blankets, furs, and pillows. A small credenza with two pitchers of water and towels had been set up in one corner so we could wash our faces. Everything had been set up with precision. My friends were strangely quiet as we entered the tent and I felt a pang of guilt for taking them away from the Freedom Feast.

”What a wonderful little place, ” Bertha said with a smile. ”Thank you, ma’am, for preparing such a lovely space for us.” The others mumbled their thanks as well.

”It truly is my pleasure. We have been waiting patiently for Tris to find his mate and I can already tell that Sasha is truly perfect for him. Now if I can just have him keep his hands to himself for the next three months, I think everything will go as planned, ” Shelby said with a wink at me. She gave us some last minute directions on how to find the bathing room if we needed to relieve ourselves and explained there would be a quad of guards posted around our tent that would change personnel at some time during the night. After this, she took her leave but not before giving me another big hug and stating how thrilled she was for my enlace. When she left, it was like corks had been popped and my friends bubbled over with excitement.

”Did she really just call the Warrior King, Tris?! Do you get to call him by his nickname??”

”Did you see the way he grabbed her?! If we weren't in the room, he was ready to go for it!”

”How are you going to tell your parents?”

”Are you happy? Excited? Nervous?”

”How about extremely tired and a bit cranky, ” I said, answering the last question from the barrage that had been thrown at me.

”What is that??” Elena asked sharply pulling Lise in front of her. I turned to see Silas coming through the tent. He came over and sat at my feet, looking up to me. I reached over and rubbed an ear.

”This is Silas. He's my new best friend, ” I said smiling at him. He gave a huff and then proceeded to lay down next to the cot in the middle of the others. ”Well, I guess I know where I'm sleeping.”

”He's beautiful, ” Misty said, her tone full of awe. Silas must have known she was talking about him because he looked at her and wagged his tail.

”Alright girls, it's been a long night and while I know we want to know about everything, I think we should get some rest, ” Bertha said in her mother voice. Brielle sighed loudly and fell back on one of the beds.

”How can you even think about sleep at a time like this? Sasha is going to be bonded to the king of Miel. This is not just big. It's not even huge; it's gigantically colossal!” she said.

”A gigantically colossal headache, ” I said putting my hand to my temple.

”Are you ok?” Lise asked. She put her arm around me and led me to a cot to sit. I nodded and then I shook my head.

”I mean I should be fine right? The most powerful man in the kingdom is my mate. I should be overjoyed and happy and thrilled but instead I'm terrified, nervous, and so so so confused, ” I finally admitted.

”Awe but that's normal with any enlace situation. It's all new and intimidating but you now have your other half to go through it with you, ” Misty said gently as she sat next to me. I nodded.

”I know and I get that but being a queen? I don't know the first thing about being at the royal court and how to be a queen, ” I groaned dropping my head into my hands. I wondered if this would count against Tristan’s no looking down rule.

”Mother of Miel, of course you do!” Brielle exclaimed. ”You are kind, compassionate, a great listener, and you make decisions with your head and your heart. That's what a queen is.”

”Brielle is right, ” Bertha said taking my hands and drawing me up off the cot. ”You are naturally suited for this role and it's obvious the king knows this. And besides, I would like to see you convince him otherwise. The way he looks at you tells me he is already falling for you. Don't dwell on the reasons why this shouldn't or couldn't happen and enjoy the fact that it is going to happen in spite of those things.” She hugged me tightly and I rested my head on her shoulder.

”Thank you, ” I said softly. Bertha pat my back gently.

”Anytime my dear. Now let's get off to bed so we can wake up and see what tomorrow holds.”