A Dreaded Arrangement

Lyra kept her eyes on Callum as they walked down the aisle, her heart racing in excitement. She was so happy that this day was finally here. This wedding was a lot different than the small one she had in the past. She never would have expected that she would marry a king and become a queen. Her eyes filled with tears of happiness as he took her hand and Ailuin gave a nod to his brother-in-law before moving to take his seat.

Lyra did her part of the ceremony, eyes still on her beloved. Once the ceremony was over and she stood before them as queen of Avinora and a Drakestone, she smiled at the people. This was the best thing to ever happen to her.

Callum rises from his seat and pulled her into a passionate kiss while the crowds cheered. Callum smiled as he pulled away and walked out with his arm around her waist. The doors opened as Callum waved and kissed Lyra's cheek. He then opened the carriage door for Lyra and helped her into it. "We're married...I can't believe it..." He chuckled and embraced his new wife. "You look beautiful." He nudged her head with his and kissed her lovingly.

Lyra didn't mind one bit and kissed him back, throwing her arms around his neck and clinging to him. When the kiss was over, she let him go but leaned against him as he wrapped an arm around her waist. She waved to the people as they walked, smiling at them. Once they were alone in the carriage, she threw herself at him and held on to him. "I know. I'm so, so happy!" She then beamed at his comment. "It's a beautiful gown and comfortable. I'm glad that you like it." She kissed him back, threading her fingers in his hair. "I love you."

Callum enjoyed the kiss and sighed as she gripped his hair. "Keep doing that and i may not wait til our wedding night." He teased as he touched her thigh and pulled awa with a huff. He needed to behave just a little longer but then his nerves kicked into gear as he never told Lyra he was virgin. "Lyra...I never told you something...i never...lay with a woman before." Callum said with a blush.

Lyra giggled at his comment, unable to help herself as she settled on his lap. However, she could tell that something was bothering him. She was just about to ask him if he was okay when he came right out with it. She looked surprised for a moment. "Really? Why's that? You're so handsome and I know the ladies love you. I know I do." She smiled at him, gently stroking his cheek.

"None of them were you..." Callum smiled softly before kissing her temple. "Besides, i always wanted to wait for the person I loved." Callum sighed happily and nuzzled with her. He was so happy to finally be king and to have his beautiful queen at his side.

As the wedding had ended, everyone returned to their carriages to the castle. The reception had started in the royal ballroom and it was flocking with guests. It was tradition for the guests arrive before the new king and queen enter with their first dance. Callum was waiting with Lyra nervously for the event. "Try not to step on my foot." He playfully teased her while embracing her.

Lyra felt so happy to know that he loved her so very much. She loved him with all of her heart. She hadn't felt this happy in a very long time. Not since her husband was still alive. "Well, I am glad that I get to be your first and last, my love."

Time passed and they were all gathered in the ballroom. The newly appointed queen was a little nervous, afraid that she would mess up during the dance and embarrass her husband. She could tell that he was also nervous, which meant that she needed to be brave, for both of them. "I will be sure not to step on your foot." She placed a hand on his arm, looking up at him. "Just breathe. I can tell you're nervous. Just try to relax. Your people adore you."

"Lyra, I know we can do anything as long as we have each other. We practiced for a few weeks now." He smiled at her. Before tilting her chin to kiss her lovingly before Adrian walked in with a smirk. Callum pulled back to smile sheepishly at him. "It warms my heart to see so much love in the air. Congratulations, your graces." He said and bowed down slowly. "All guests are accounted for, your grace." Adrian said as Callum nodded and turned to Lyra. "Shall we?" He smiled as he gave his arm to her.

Lyra nodded, knowing that he was right. She leaned into the kiss, gently holding onto him as they kissed. As he pulled away, she noticed Adrian and frowned, tucking herself against Callum's side. There was something about that man that she didn't like. She then looked up at Callum and smiled, feeling better knowing that Callum was still by her side. She didn't want to be alone in a room with Adrian. "We shall." She took his arm and got ready to be escorted out onto the dance floor.

Meanwhile, Federic stood next to his sister, Isy. He was relieved that she was out of the hospital ward and could join them at this event. He still felt bad for bringing her along to the festival because she got hurt, but he knew that she forgave him. Bjorn stood near his two children, his gaze drifting to where the Ravenspells were gathered and saw that Luca was looking at Isy. It was clear to him that the young man wanted to come and talk to his daughter.

He still felt a bit bad for being rude to him. He was just protective of his daughter. Federic glanced over at Isy before he noticed Luca looking at her as well. "That man over there with the white hair...he's looking at you like he knows you."

Isy had been making glances at Luca at the wedcing and now the reception. She blushed when Federic had noticed that Luca was looking at him. "I met him at the festival. He gave me the mask." She signed with her hands to Federic shyly. Delphineas walked over to Isylte and pat her back to mske her walk over. "Let's go mingle with the Ravenspells..." Delphineas said as she also yanked Bjorn to follow. "You too. I believe you jave an apology to give." Delphi said to her husband before walking over to the raven spells in her dazzling dark blue gown. Isyle was wearing a black dress but it sparkled and glimmered in the light. "Lady Ravenspell, it has been too long!" Delphineas sung before curtsying to her. Isy blushed at Luca and nodded at him. She was too shy to spkeak which sucked because she doubted he knew how to sign so she didn't know how to communicate to her.

"Oh, so he's the one who gave you the mask. I was wondering where you got that." He glanced back at Luca before turning at the approach of Delphi. So she wanted them to go over and mingle with the Ravenspells? That would make Isy happy. Bjorn allowed his wife to pull him along, knowing that she was right. He did owe the Ravenspell boy an apology for his rude behavior.

As they approached, Lucille moved to meet them with a smile tugging on her lips. "Well, hello, Delphineas! It feels like it has been a lifetime ago since I last saw you." She then glanced at Federic and Isy. "These are two of your children?" She then focused on Isy. "You must be the one my Luca has told me about." Bjorn turned to Luca, clearing his throat as he stepped towards the man. "I wanted to apologize for my behavior for you back in the infirmary. I had no right to be rude to you when you've done so much for my little girl."

Luca chuckled. "I appreciate your apology and I forgive you, Lord Dragonstrife." He then turned towards Isy, gazing at her softly, before looking at Bjorn. "I was wondering if I might dance with your daughter." Bjorn thought for a moment before glancing at his daughter. "If she wants to then I will allow it."

"Well because it has been many a lifetime." Delphineas giggled before patting Federic on the shoulder. "Ah yes, two of many actually." Delphineas smiled before watching Bjorn apologize and then Luca ask to dance with Isy. "Splendid idea, well the first dance of the king and queen haven't started yet so how about you two take a stroll in the gardens and come back in a few minutes." Delphineas suggested as Isy nodded and shyly walked to Luca.

Once they were alone, Delphineas giggled with Lady Ravenspell. "I think i hear more wedding bells, dont you?" Delphineas smirked at her. "Your Luca is so sweet to Isylte. We are so relieved. Too many people pick on my sweet girl. Its good to see someone treat her right and make her smile." Delphi smiled as Lila Riverflower walked over with Poppy at her side and Rosemary at her heels. "Delphineas! Lucille! You both look lovely!" She sung as Poppy noticed Federic amd smiled as a servant walked byans barely scraped Poppy's head as he knocked over her circlet as Poppy gasped as she could see it fall off but was frozen in shock.

"I'm so glad that you are back in Avinora. I missed you, my dear," Lucille said with a smile, looking genuinely pleased to have Delphineas back in the picture. After all, Delphineas had always been a good friend to her. "Luca is my eldest. Claudia, my second youngest is skulking about somewhere. She detests events such as these. As for my twins, I hope they are not getting trouble." But it was clear that Lucille knew exactly where all of her children were. She was the spymaster for a reason, after all. She glanced at her son, giving him a nod. "Go ahead, dear."

Luca nodded and turned to offer his arm to Isy. Once she took it, he guided her out of the ballroom and to the gardens that were just outside. "I am relieved that you are feeling better, my lady." Meanwhile, Lucille chuckled and nodded to Delphineas. "Oh yes. He has already informed me that he asked your permission to court her. He seems quite smitten with her. Luca is a good boy with an excellent head on his shoulders." She then turned, noticing Lila.

"Well, hello there, dear. You look ravishing as well." Federic was silent, allowing his parents to talk with the spymaster. He then noticed Poppy and was taken off guard by her beauty. It was a good thing he was watching because he noticed the servant knock her circlet off of her head and he dove to catch it before it landed on the ground. He straightened with the circlet in his hand, bowing slightly as he presented it to Poppy. "Here you are, my lady."

Isy timidly held to Luca's arm and smiled as he spoke to her but it faltered as she realized she had to speak around so many people. "Y-y-y-yes!" She fought hard to spit out as some guests turned to notice her stutter and she blushed in embarrassment. Some young girls were laughing at her and she really felt rather upset. She really hated to speak but she wanted to speak with Luca. As they walked more alone in the royal garden Isy got courage to speak. "S-sorry i g-g-got everyone to laugh at m-me..." She felt her cheeks burn in embarrassment.

Meanwhile Poppy was amazed and blushed at Federic as he handed her the circlet. The servent begged for forgiveness as Poppy merely smiled and forgave him for the accident. "Thank you, my lord?" She said as she inquired Federic's name. Lila smirked as she joined in the conversation withe Lucille. Delphineas was distracted though and noticed someone with surprise. "Excuse me ladies....Bjorn keep the children out of trouble..." She said before walking off.

Delphineas was walking away from the crowd as she walked over by Zelious but to a servant for a glass of wine. She then smiled at Zelious as she slowly approached. "Even after all these years...people still make me nervous..." Delphineas said as she stood by him as she watched Elayne playing the good wife routine and clinging to Ailuin. "Zelious, right? Met your father once...wasnt the warmest welcome when i was passing by on his land..." She saod as she lifted her sleeve to reveal a rather bad burn on her arm. "I suppose i deserved it but i was lost..." She chuckled as she handed him a glass of wine.

Luca gave a disapproving look to the girls who laughed at Isy, not finding it amusing that they were laughing at the woman at his side. He quickly led her away, knowing that it was bothering Isy to hear them laugh at her. Once they were alone in the gardens, he turned to look down at her. "Don't apologize. You have no reason to apologize to me. Those girls just don't understand how amazing you are. Don't let their cruelty get you down. You are better than that, Isy." He then paused, thinking for a moment. "I do not know if you are aware, but I asked your mother for permission to court you. You're unlike any girl I've met and I like that about you. I could see myself happy with you. Forgive me if I'm being too bold, my lady."

Federic was glad that he had managed to catch it before it hit the floor. "My name is Federic Dragonstrife. That's a lovely circlet you have there, lady..?" He questioned, wanting to know her name in return for knowing his. His heart was beating like crazy, nervous to be in the presence of such a cute girl. Bjorn looked at Delphineas and nodded, turning his gaze to search the crowd for his troublemaking son to make sure that he wasn't getting into trouble.

Zelious was hidden in the shadows of the ballroom, keeping to himself. His blue eyes were locked on the form of his lover, unable to help but wish that he was out there with her clinging to his arm instead of Ailuin's. He was then surprised when someone approached him. He glanced at Delphineas as he eyed her for a moment before relaxing. He grimaced at the mention of his father. "Yes, my father wasn't the most welcome to humans. Not with the war going on caused by his father." His gaze then dipped to the burn, frowning. "I'm sorry my father was cruel to you. You didn't deserve it. My father was....not a good man. Not after my mother died."

Isy smiled a little at Luca as he reassured her that she did nothing wrong. She the looked surprised at his last sentence but still smiling at him. "Luca...I....knew you wanted to court me...but I suppose its just setting in now. A-are you s-s-sure?" She asked as she looked up at him with dark eyes.

Delphineas merely smiled at him as blue eyes that were previously green were glimmering at him. "Zel...I'm not asking you to be sorry..." She said before caressing his cheek almost sadly and began to walk away from him. She was heading to the gardens as her hair begun to turn a silvery white with iridescent sheen while Elayne was greeting and mingling with Ailuin.

Luca gently grabbed her hand and knelt down in front of her, kissing her knuckle. "Of course I am sure. I've never been surer in my life. You are intelligent and beautiful and everything I could ever want in a woman and I think your stutter is simply adorable." He looked up at her gently, a smile tugging at his lips. "Do you consent to me courting you?" He asked, wanting to know how she felt about it. He didn't want to force her into something she didn't want.

Zelious noticed the eye change, taken off guard by that and the fact that she had just caressed his cheek. He had a gut feeling to follow her as she walked away. He took one look at Elayne before heading after Delphineas and noticed that when he caught up to her, her hair was the same shade as Elayne's. "Wait! Why do you have the same eyes and hair as Elayne?" He asked, needing to know.

Delphineas hurried into the garden so she wasn't seen as she transformed into her true self. She turned her head to look at him. Her face changed to similar features to Elayne but her eyes were wide a doll-like. "Do you really need to ask?" She smiled at him. "Protect her...she needs your vigilance. Not just her... Ailuin too. They are in danger...but I cannot forsee what it is...it lurks in the shadows of my visions. That's why I returned... My children think the danger is over...it hasn't begun." Evangeline said as she spoke to Zelious in a hushed tone.

Isy was shocked how serious that Luca was about her but pleasantly so as she blushed at the kiss on her knuckles. "You're the f-first p-p-per-person to think so." She smiled at him as she felt less ashamed of her stutter. "Yes, i would like to court you...I never had a person in my life besides my parents and siblings who accepted me like you do.

Meanwhile, Poppy was smiling at Federic withe pink cheeks. "I am Poppyseed Riverflower, Poppy for short if you like." She giggled brightly as she extended her hand to him rather daintily. He was quite handsome but she also knew he was a member of the Shadesongs despite his name being different.

It didn't take Zelious long to figure out who she was. She resembled Elayne a lot, but he knew it wasn't her. No, this had to be her mother. But wasn't she dead? "Are you her mother? I thought you were killed by Gregory." He frowned at her next set of words, not liking the idea of Elayne and Ailuin being in danger. "So you have no idea what this danger is?" He crossed his arms over his chest, not liking this one bit.

Luca smiled happily as she agreed to him courting her. He stood up and wrapped his arms around her in a hug, kissing the top of her head. "You have made me quite happy by accepting. I look forward to getting to know you better." He pulled away some in order to look at her, still smiling. "You are so beautiful. If I wasn't such a gentleman, I would give in to my urge to kiss you."

Federic accepted her hand, taking it gently and pressing a kiss to the back of her hand. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Poppy." He released her hand and straightened, looking at her. "Would you be interested in dancing?" He asked, unable to deny his curiosity.

"Gregory did almost kill me if Aurelius didn't come to my aid after he cut me down and...cut my wings off." She turned her back to the exposed wing stubs that were healed on her back. Before turning back around and stared at him with an almost blank expression. "The moon...and snowfalling... So much darkness its all i can see." She said as she began to come back to earth.

Isy blushed but leaned into his kiss on her forehead but she pulled him to her. "No one is looking..." She gave an impish grin before pulling him into a gentle kiss before pulling away and begun to return to the ball room.

"Perhaps... I'll find you." Poppy responded with a cunning look on her face as she grabbed her sister, Rosemary and hurried away with a giggle. The Riverflorians were known for their mind games and their ability to charm as well as their beauty.

Zelious winced at the sight of her wing stubs, knowing that must have been hard on her to lose her wings. "I am so sorry that he cut off your wings. He was such an awful man. I'm honestly not sure who was worse, my father or him." He then paused at the blank expression and the strange words she spoke after. "The moon...and snowfalling?" He was confused by her words.

Luca was taken off guard by that impish smile but wasn't able to question her before she pulled him into a kiss. After she pulled away, he touched his lips and blushed slightly. Her boldness had been unexpected, but he wasn't complaining. He chuckled and followed after her.

Federic watched Poppy rush off with her sister and shook his head, turning to look at his father who was smirking. "If I were you, son, I would beware those Riverflower girls. They are quite cunning and love their mind games." He patted Federic's back.

"Gregory showed his true colors when i was raising my babies in the castle. I tried to get away and he hunted me down. Made sure to remove my wings to leave me weaker if i survived. My magic was never the same after." She sighed as she stared at her hands for a moment. "Zelious you must not tell Elayne or anyone i am alive. We still dont know if Gregory is truly gone or if he will return...its for everyone's safety." She begged him with the same sky blue eyes.

Zelious frowned, not liking the idea of having to keep this from Elayne. She deserved to know that her mother was still alive. He gently took her hands in his, looking down at her. "I saw Gregory die with my own eyes. Elayne killed him. He turned to dust. Elayne deserves to know that her mother is alive. I don't know if I can keep this a secret from her." It was hard to say no when she was looking up at him with those same blue eyes that Elayne had. She was remarkably similar in appearance to Elayne.

"Zelious, you don't know Gregory the way i do...he's not what he seems. Things have changed...my life revolves around them..." She said as she eyed Isy as she walked inside with Luca. "Gregory killed me because i took our children away from him. What do you think he will do to Aurelius's, Oberon's, Bjorn's, or Idris's children? He would kill their fathers before capturing me and make me watch as he consumed their magic before murdering them in front of me." Evangeline glared at Zelious for a moment before softening her gaze. "I was a coward, I didn't try to save them after. The kindest thing you can do for her...is to keep her believing that I'm dead." She sighed and shook her head in shame.

Zelious sighed and released her hands, running his own hand through his white and black hair in frustration. It wasn't fair, what she was asking of him. He hated the idea of keeping something this important from Elayne. But really, was it any of his business? He'd like to think it was because he loved Elayne with all of his heart, but this was something that was between Elayne and her mother, even though Elayne had no idea.

"Fine, I won't tell her on the condition that you eventually tell her who you really are. Elayne would love to have you back in her life knowing it was you. I doubt she would be angry at you for not coming for them. You were scared and weakened. She will understand."