© ItalRT4u, 2012

Six Months Later

     These past six months have flown by quicker than I could have ever anticipated.  Choosing to embrace my reign as Queen fully and completely, with the help of William and Angus, things were evermore looking up for the Fae realm.  Peace wasn’t fully restored but it was evident that things were looking up and well on their way.  It wasn’t until the battle in Scotland where things began to really make a dramatic turn for the better – my second battle; one I didn’t know we would find ourselves victors or that we would all survive unscathed to be frank.  If it weren’t for William and our local faction of followers, I doubt that we would have made it through.

     I refused to stay behind and be treated like a porcelain doll.  Flanked by my side, I stood with Cane, William, Angus, and the rest of the Nottingham and MacDougall clans the frontlines.  I was thrilled that we were the larger of the two groups but that still meant nothing to me.  Large groups don’t necessarily mean that success is imminent – proof of that was witnessed with our first battle; the one with Matt and his devout followers.

     People were everywhere, cries of torture rang out, arterial spray plastered my face as I stood erect from my latest victim to take in the scene before me – this was an absolute bloodbath.  In my immediate vicinity, I spotted Cane, Andy and Patrick surrounded by three other goons that played for the other team.  Moments later, I had watched as they seemed to have developed their own technique which took them only a short while to bring their attackers down.  Cane turned and I saw the horror flash in his eyes as his focus trained to something, or rather, someone who stood behind me.

     “Payton!”  He yelled out.  I turned to look instinctively and I was too late.  Darkness enveloped me as I felt my body crumble to the ground with a thud.

     I came to, my head cradled on Cane’s lap; plagued with a splitting headache.  It turns out I had been taken down by some big oaf with the butt of a club he was holding.  One look beside me told me that he had to have died a most certainly painful death; his arms looked abnormally longer, most likely from dislocation, his legs bent in a direction they shouldn’t and the side of his skull was bashed in.  Andy and Patrick were both kneeling at my feet.

     “Do you know how close I came to losing you?”  Cane demanded of me, a note of irritation in his voice which was drowned out by his emotions of panicked concern.

     “Uh...”  I mumbled, unable to formulate the right words.

     “No!”  Cane blurted in a calm manner but with much sternness, making my eyes snap to his.  Everything around us was quiet.  “No more!  I don’t care if I have to keep you under lock and key.  I won’t allow you to bask in this violence again.”  He held my eye and for a moment, everything around us melted away; that is, until I tried to sit up and the stiffness dictated the extent of my movements – Cane helped me situate myself.

     “I think you might be right.”  I looked up at him as he towered above me on his knees while I sat leaning sideways into his chest, feeling the lump on the back of my head.  “On one condition.”

     “I don’t think you’re in the best of shape to be bargaining.”  Andy said as he touched my leg, his eyes letting me know how close I had come to losing my grips on this world yet again.

     “I agree.”  Patrick eyed me.

     “Care to renege that ‘condition’ of yours?”  Cane and my eyes met again and as always, I was captured in those violet orbs of his.

     “I’ll cease and desist if you promise to lock yourself up with me.”  I winked and gave him a sly smile.  “I can’t rule without my King by my side.”  The boys began to chuckle.

     “I think she’s fine despite that goose egg on her pretty blonde head.”  Patrick stated first.

     “Woman, you’ll be the death of him!”  Andy chimed in.  Cane got up with me in a bridal hold and paused to look at me.

     “Who said I was against that?”  He referred to my ultimatum.  “I think it’s a great idea and I intend to practise our seclusion techniques when we get back.”

     “Is that so?”  I smirked and he winked at me.

     “Dude!”  Andy bellowed.

     “Yeah!  What he said!”  Patrick added.

     “Take me home boys.”  I laughed lightly.  Setting my head down on Cane’s shoulder, nuzzling the crook of his neck as I let him assume all control.  It was over – well, I hoped that it was.  The one final thing – my coronation…

     Here I was standing in my bedroom, staring down at the lovely light yellow gown I was to slip into.  Tonight was a special night – it was the night where I officially ascended to the throne.  Angus had been thrilled when we had told him that we had chosen to continue with being open with the public with regards to our royal duties – so thrilled in fact, he had been the first to declare himself as the planner for the ball that was going to take place after my official announcement as Queen; where I would swear my oath to our people.  Slipping out of my reverie, I turned to face my visitor who had knocked on my door only moments ago.

     “I thought you could use a friend.”  Sahara peaked through the slit in the door and its frame.

     “How ‘bout a few friends?”  Brittany and Bethany peaked their heads through.  When the door opened, I found Kristie and Carly standing there as well; each of them donning a beautiful gown.  I smiled at them, thrilled to have them by my side tonight.

     Everyone looked fantastic, dressed to the nines, their masquerade masks strapped to their faces – Angus had really outdone himself this time; there was no doubting that.  The gentlemen bowed at every lady but I couldn’t help but laugh whenever they encountered a blonde woman because it seemed they bowed even more dramatically in case they might just be bowing to their Queen.  I continued to watch the on-goings of the crowd before me; the mingling, the laughs, all of it made me smile and rightly so seeing as it was a happy and momentous occasion.

     “I might be forced to end the night right now.”  I heard in my head before I felt the electrical contact of his body against the back of mine, sending waves of pleasuring warmth through to every one of my nerve endings.

     “You managed to find me in this sea of people.”  Turning to face him, I gave him a million watt smile.  “You’re good.”

     “Nah.  I knew the girls helped you get ready.”  He said.  “I asked Carly what you were wearing.  You certainly know how to bring a man to his knees.”  He toyed with his bowtie, pretending to loosen it as if it was too tight but the smell of his arousal was prominent in the air surrounding us.  Seconds trickled quickly as Cane began to move away slightly, holding my hands at arm’s length.

     “You’re gorgeous, you know that?”  He said with a warm smile.  My heart melted.  “I love your earrings by the way.”  Blushing, I reached for my left ear, touching the cluster of diamonds as I remembered our misunderstanding from months ago.

     “It only seemed right to wear them for such a momentous occasion.”  I said nonchalantly.

     “Momentous, I agree.”  He said and I couldn’t shake the feeling that there was something more he wasn’t telling me – the way his words left me hanging.  “Payton,” he paused and cupped my cheek in his hand quickly before he took a hold of my abandoned hand again, twisting both of my hands so he cupped them completely in his; “you are by far the most remarkable, strong, brave, and amazing woman I have ever had the pleasure of meeting in my entire life; with the exception of my mother of course.”  Everyone around us began to laugh which made me smile – I had forgotten that we were in public; only just.  “I feel honoured to be fated as your match.”  My stomach began to churn nervously.  “I would like to spend the rest of our days, if you’ll let me, proving to you that there is no better match out there; that when we are together, nothing can bring us down, nothing can tear us apart.”  He lowered himself onto the classic singular bended knee.  “I know you would have said yes six months ago had it been a ring instead of those blasted earrings but as all customs dictate, will you do me the honour, my love, my match, my Queen, in becoming my wife?”  I didn’t wait.  I didn’t answer right away either.  Well, not in the traditional way the typical woman would.  I threw myself down into his arms laughing hysterically as the tears were boiling over.  I could care less about my makeup.  After all, that’s what waterproof mascara’s for, right?

     “Beautiful.”  I said repeatedly as I peppered his face with a series of soft erratic kisses.

     “I believe you still owe me an answer my Queen.”  He chuckled.

     “Oh, but you knew I’d say yes.”  I paused and pulled away to look into his eyes; my hands cradling his face, my grin teasing in its mannerism.  “My answer is still the same Cane Nottingham and it will always remain as such.  Yes!”

     “What was that?”  Andy yelled out within the crowd which most thankfully had a sense of humour and laughed while a few others gave scolding looks in Cane’s brother’s direction. 

     Snooty party poopers!  I called out to them in my mind. 

     I loved Andy’s sometimes inappropriate humour and I hoped to the powers that be that he’d never lose that part of himself.  Cane pulled me up so we stood on our feet, faces merely inches apart.

     “I believe that was a yes.  Is that right, m’ lady?”  Cane backed away slightly and gave me a dramatic bow which I thought was fitting to the theme of the evening and our environment.  I nodded and everyone erupted in cheers of jubilation as Cane wrapped an arm around my lower back, pulling me into him for a kiss that would have singed my socks off had I been wearing any.

     Moments later, after he had managed to put his ring on my finger, the kisses, the hugs, and the multiple well-wishes, the ascension ceremony had begun.  The crowd parted, revealing a red velvety carpet that I walked down with Cane as my escort.  It was all too over the top but leave it to Angus and his gifted little helpers to make something so big and extravagant out of relatively nothing.  William had brought in a high priestess which I later found out was a simply more elegant term for a top of the line witch to oversee the ceremony.  Clad in a ruby red satin robe, she proceeded to expel a dagger from its sheath that hung from her robe’s waistband.  I knew of this particular part of the ceremony beforehand which is why I remained cool, calm, and collected at this point.  Not much could be said of Cane, the Nottingham clan as well as the guards that Will had brought in for the occasion; they all stood stiff and ready to pounce if one move was made and perceived as a threat to my life.

     Cutting the palm of my hand ever so slightly, I felt the sting before the blooming line formed.  She held my hand up above the white pillared candle before us and fisted my hand.

     “If you’ll please repeat after me.”  She requested with a bowed head and I nodded.  In some foreign tongue, I did my best to get each word perfect which believe it or not, it wasn’t all that difficult – it was like deep within me, this ancient tongue and the knowledge of how to speak it had always been there, lying dormant.  She squeezed my wounded fist over the flame as blood trickled into the candle, turning the flame blue instead of its habitually normal color.

     “Benedictus!”  She proclaimed and I knew, from my various readings that it was Latin for Blessed be.

     My hand now bound in a white cloth, I was then instructed to take a knee and avert my eyes.  I heard the heavy oak doors to the ballroom open and shut with a resounding clang and footsteps making their way toward me as hushed whispers followed the ooh’s and ah’s.  Moments later, those footsteps halted and I saw the priestess’ red robe before me at my knees.  She put a tiara on my head which surprised me seeing as I never expected something like that.  Yes, even despite the fact I’m known as a Queen in the Fae world, I never anticipated being clad in similar fashions as the Royals in the human world.

     “Rise my Queen and behold your loyal subjects!”  The priestess proclaimed.  I kept my head bowed until my body was fully erect and that’s when I saw Cane; nothing but pride and love shone in his eyes.  I held my hand out to him and he moved forth and claimed it in his larger one.  I nodded at Angus, William and Sandy with all the appreciation and strong esteem I held for them.  If it weren’t for their support and unwavering loyalty to the throne, I don’t know if royal blood would have ever remained in existence.

     Staring into his violet eyes, the only eyes that matched mine, we danced and held each other tightly, savouring the evening’s outcome.  Contentment would be the best description I could use for what I felt at this very juncture in time.

     “May I cut in?”  I heard behind me and Cane froze mid-step.  I turned to see the guest that stood before us, the hairs on the back of my neck raising before I took in his features.  Two words came to my mind as I took in the features of this middle-aged man that stood proudly before us – violet eyes. 

     It couldn’t be? 

     As if in a trance, I took his outstretched hand and noticed the middle-aged woman who claimed Cane’s in hers as the music took us into a waltz.

     “You didn’t think your mother and I would have missed this, did you?”  He asked in a deeply soothing tone.  I turned to my right and eyed the woman dancing with my fiancé and like this strange yet familiar man, she had those same violet eyes. 

     But only Royals have those eyes. 

     My eyes widened with shock as I struggled to keep up with my dance partner’s steps.  Offering a small courteous nod and a warm smile, she confirmed my thoughts – my parents, my biological parents were alive and well.

     With every beginning, there is an end.  I’m sure my story doesn’t end here.  In fact, I know it doesn’t.  There are many things about this world that cannot be explained; I, for one and how I came to be.  Sure, I could go through the motions and explain to you how I came into my various powers, meeting the love of my life, and how I became Queen of the Fae; but let’s face it, if you’ve been paying attention up until now, you already know what happened to get me to this point and there’s no need for a recap.  As I’ve said, there are things in this world that are completely without any explanation.  Some are dark, some are haunting, and others are wonderful, perhaps even seen as a gift.  I tend to fall in one of those categories.  Which one, at this point, I’m still not quite sure of although I do have a slightly clearer picture painted before me.  One thing I’ve come to terms with is that perhaps I will never completely know and that is a thought that I’m wholeheartedly comfortable with.  Who ever said you needed all the answers in this cruel, deceitful yet precious, forgiving, and mysterious world?

                                          *************************************

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