Page 65 of Her Royal Blood

“Oh Bastien, that will… that’s.” I hated struggling with my words.

“That is what a queen who must defend her people must have,” he said, finishing my thoughts.

“Thank you,” I said, feeling close to tears. “I will carry it always.”

I watched as Bastien drew the dress, the perfect gown for my wedding. It had flames shooting up from the hem with delicate little butterflies that seemed to float right off of the page while dancing around the licks of fire. He also designed a sword for me that had a tangled stem of thorns with robust and elegant flowers forcing their way through the menacing protrusions.

“Yes,” I said, clasping my hands together.

The gown was a mix of elegance and power, beauty and battle.

“What do you think, Mavia?” Bastien looked at my grandmother with great respect and reverence.

“I think it suits my granddaughter well and is exactly how her own mother would have wanted her seen.” Nan gives me a serene and resolved glance.

“This is the one then,” I affirm.

With a wave of a Bastiens arm on an empty dress form, the gown slowly knitted together. In cascades of white fabric, with both shimmering and solid red and orange flames leaping from the hem, and purple butterflies with green bodies and antennas that danced delicately from their skulls, the dress was a testimony to all that I was and had become.

Nan's eyes welled up with tears as she watched the dress transform. What was more shocking to her was the fact that beside my dress on one of the other empty dress forms a secondgown appeared. This one was a lilac purple with a dark purple accents. On it were dark purple butterflies and deep red roses.

“What else would you have me conjure for your dress?” Bastien turned to ask Nan who was now weeping.

“Only the crest of Aria’s grandfather the Duke Norvali, Beta of Onyx Rah. It was a moon with a howling wolf and three stars in an arc over them.” Nana pulled herself together. “He designed it for us, for our wedding day, the one that never came because Polonius’ grandfather buried our kingdom under lava and ash. Now our granddaughter rises from that ash, and will marry wearing our family crest.”

And the moment had come full circle as Bastien added the crest to Nana Mavia’s dress and also to mine. Our family’s crest on one sleeve and Redveign family crest on the other, marrying two houses, two kingdoms, and two hearts. This was the perfect manifestation of our love and the dresses were the exact representation of who my grandmother and I had always been. We were not servants, we were not slaves, we were Royalty and always had been.

“Great. The dresses are done. I’ll leave you two as I want to speak with Amadeus before the hour grows too late. I want him to officiate your wedding, but he must make sure he’s himself again. I can help with this.” Bastien stood tall and determined.

“Thank you,” I said to him as he was about to leave. “Thank you for all of your help in our greatest hour of need.”

“I have always been rooting for you, Aria, I’m glad I finally have the opportunity to show it.” He gave me a slight bow of his head and left me and Nana together.

I turned to her, unsure of what to say, feeling a little overwhelmed and out of my element.

“Your mother would have been so proud of you,” Nana started. “From the moment you were born, you’ve been everything she could have ever hoped for, everything I hopedyou’d be. We were both waylaid by circumstance, but we’ll not let it define us. We can walk into our future with our defeats behind us.” Such wise words.

I was as excited to live with Nana imparting her grandmotherly council, and looked forward to her living with us in Onyx Rah. She was right, our pain and suffering would soon be behind us, I hoped.

Chapter 21

Lex

After the pre-wedding dinner with the Royals had ended and Aria was whisked away by Bastien and Nana Mavia to construct her dress, I chose to take a walk along the beautiful lake at Angeline Falls. The night was unusually warm and the environment serene with cascading waterfalls in the distance, and sparkling stars overhead. I needed a moment to myself. Not only was I on the precipice of a marriage I had desired for longer than I could remember, we were also on the brink of some of the bloodiest and biggest battles in our war against Polonius. As much as I wanted to feel joy and elation in this moment, I was conflicted with dread.

I walked along the path bathed in moonlight. While I thought I was alone, in the distance I could see Amadeus also walking with Bastien Salt. Perhaps they too we're enjoying the warm night air and hopefully discussing their strategies for any potential problems that might arise tomorrow during our wedding. Motivated by my curiosity I followed the two mages. As I drew closer to them I felt a presence walking by my side.

“It seems that this warm night air has drawn us all out,” Queen Nadine commented as she fell into step.

“Your kingdom is more beautiful in the moonlight. It has its own magic,” I said to her by way of a compliment. “Aria and I can’t thank you enough for allowing us to marry here.”

“I feel immense gratitude from both of you.” She bowed her head to me.

“I’m glad.” Now that I had the queen in conversation I ventured to ask about Amadeus and Bastien, perhaps there was something about a ritual the mages might perform at my wedding that I should know about. “Do you know why Amadeus and Bastien are talking?” I asked worried about how she might take the question.

“They are old friends,” she started. “Bastien was worried about Amadeus when he was taken by Polonius, but we are a neutral kingdom, and are not allowed to engage on any side of conflict, even if the lives of our friends are at stake.” The look she gave me was steeped in sadness. “The Arsenal Fang pack is absolute in their authority over Angeline Falls because they guard something precious. Something that is hidden in plain sight. Only Bastien and I know of it presently and now I’m sharing this ancient information with you and hopefully you’ll bring your knowledge of it to your intended wife.” Her voice dropped to a whisper.

“Is this hidden treasure the reason why you must remain neutral in conflict?” I ask for further clarification.

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