Mirelah:
I walk into the brightly lit conference hall and find everyone seated. Including Azra who is trying to hide her annoyance. There are only two vacant seats, and without wasting a second, Seraphina moves forward and picks a seat. Leaving just the chair beside our father. Holding my breath in my lungs, I walk over to the chair and take my seat.
My gaze is on the massive oak table we're seated around, but I can feel eyes on me.
"Let us proceed. King Damarion, you said something outside that I would love to believe was a joke. "Father begins, and I don't need to look up at him to know that he has dropped his act of jollyness and has put on his usual business mode.
"King Solrath, I didn't get to where I am today, by making jokes. I meant what I said. "King Damarion replies, and silence falls upon the hall.
I keep my eyes trained on the table. Trying not to pay attention to the eyes I can feel on me, but to the gentle crackling of the torches on the walls of the hall.
"Damarion, she is not ready for marriage. "Father suddenly says and I raise a brow.
Who's not ready for marriage?
Azra is.
She's spent the past months training to be a Varkaine queen. Veylira on the other hand isn't. Even though she's gone through all the necessary classes to be a proper bride. She would rather fight a war alone than become a family woman.
"She's gone through all the required classes for a royal lady, has she not? "King Damarion demands, and I steal a peek at my father.
King Damarion is right. Azra and Veylira have gone through every class needed. Even I completed my class on Dragon women's childbirth last month. All I have left to master are my combat skills, but Azra and Veylira have mastered that. They will both make excellent brides. If Father wants to deter their attention from Veylira, he needs to look for better excuses.
"This was not the agreement. Darven is to marry Azra. That's what… "Father begins, but King Damarion cuts him off.
"We never said Darven was the one getting married. "He interrupts, and I am forced to look up at him in confusion.
Darven isn't the one getting married?? Who then is? Vealor?
I look up at Azra, and she looks like she has a bug stuck in her throat. Oh, this isn't gonna end well. If the first Varkaine brother isn't the one getting married, which of the brothers is?
I look over at Darven, but he has his gaze on the table. I then stare at Vaelor, and he passes me a tight smile. Is he the one getting married?
"Kealith is the one getting married. "King Damarion speaks again, and I turn to him with wide eyes.
Kealith!?
The last Varkaine brother is getting married first!?
That makes no sense! What about the six brothers before him!? This wasn't the plan. Azra wouldn't want to marry him. He's six people away from the throne. She's going to refuse this marriage.
"And Azra isn't the bride my son has picked. "King Damarion continues, and once again, I look up at him in shock.
I look over at Veylira, and she has gone pale. Of course, she'll be pale. Veylira doesn't want to get married. Let alone get married to Kealith. She's going to have to hand over her position as army commander to someone else, and then she'll have to…
"He chose Mirelah. "King Damarion says, slicing through my thoughts, and just like that, time stands still.
I snap my head in his direction, and he spares me just a glance before turning back to Father.
"Mirelah is the bride my son has wanted from the very beginning. "He adds, and suddenly all I can hear is my heart pounding in my ears.
Kealith… Chose me? ME!? What?
Why me? Why would he want to marry me?? And what does he mean Kealith has wanted me from the very beginning??
My sisters suddenly turn to me. Azra red with surprise and rage, Veylira stunned, and Seraphina's face stoic as usual.
What is King Damarion saying!? Me!? Married!? To Kealith!? Am I dreaming? This is a joke. Right?
I turn to my father as panic begins to rumble in my gut, and I see Father's fist clench so hard on his thigh, that his knuckles turn white.
"I've told you. Mirelah is not ready to be a wife. "He states adamantly.
"We'll train her. She has me to guide her. There would be enough care and support for her to adjust to the new life. "Queen Velnara gently says. Speaking for the first time since they arrived, and I turn to her in bewilderment.
She flashes me a warm smile, but this doesn't dispel my fear. I'm not ready to get married. I'm not ready! I never planned to get married. There's still so much ahead of me. This is all too sudden.
I suddenly feel a hand on mine, and when I look down, I see Seraphina's fingers gently locking with mine.
"Don't be scared. If they try to take you from us, I'll conjure a storm strong enough to wipe each one of them out. "
She says in my mind, and I swallow as I stare at her. This is one of the very few times she has openly expressed her concern for me to me. And from the look in her eyes, I can tell that she means her words. Being a storm dragon, she can wreak whatever havoc she pleases if she deems it fit, and when Seraphina gets mad, it's not a pretty sight.
I hope things don't get to that.
"Damarion, Mirelah is young, naive and unfit for life as a Blood Crescent royal. Azra has trained for this... "Father begins but King Damarion once again cuts him off.
"She will learn, Solrath. "He replies and my father loses it.
"I am not dragging this any longer. Mirelah is not getting married. She has never been away from me, she is fragile, and she is my youngest daughter. I will not give her to you for a son who didn't have the decency to come here! "He rages as he stands up, and I see King Damarion's eyes darken.
He leans back into his chair and adjusts the cuffs of his shirt.
"Kealith couldn't be here for personal reasons. And trust me, it's good that he isn't here. "He speaks, and Queen Velnara places her hand on his to stop him, while my brows crease.
"What do you mean by that!? "Father asks the question on my mind, and Queen Velnara sighs.
"King Solrath… "She begins, but Father cuts her off.
"Stay out of this, Velnara. I want him to explain what he just said! Is Kealith some monster!? I've heard the rumours about him! If he was here, would he have ripped my daughter away from me!? I'd like to see him try! "Father rages, and I look up at him in confusion. Why does he seem like… He cares for me.
Like he's actually worried about my well-being and not just his reputation, or hurting Azra.
"Calm down, Solrath! "Queen Velnara suddenly commands, and when I look at her, her eyes are glowing red. A trade mark of every Varkaine. A mark that proves their identity as blood crafters.
"My son is no monster. He wants your daughter because he has loved her for years. And I can swear to you that no other man in the realm would care for or look after Mirelah like Kealith would. "She says, and my breathing becomes laboured.
What is she saying?
"We all know the rebellion in the realm is rising. Alien tribes are constantly flooding the realm, amassing followers, and stirring up revolts. It's only a matter of time before our kingdoms become overwhelmed by this threat. We need to combine forces to stand a better chance of defeating this problem. This is how we have chosen to do it. A marriage between Kealith and Mirelah. Will you let your emotions as a father get in the way, or will you be the king your people need? "Queen Velnara continues, and I hold my breath. How could she play this card?
"I am a woman. And a mother. I will look after Mirelah myself. She has been chosen by my son, hence I will do all in my power to protect her. If you could trust us with Azra, why are you being difficult about Mirelah? Is one daughter more important than the other to you? "She speaks again, and I look up at Father with tears of fear brimming in my eyes.
He looks over at Azra, Veylira, Seraphina, and then me.
"Please, father. I'm not ready to get married… "I beg in my father's mind, and he sighs.
He sits down and massages his forehead with his hands.
"You'll keep her safe? "He questions, and my heart drops into my stomach.
"Father! "Seraphina calls, but my father raises a finger to stop her, and she falls silent.
"I swear on my life… "Queen Velnara replies, and I turn back to her with wide eyes.
"Father I… "I whisper in fear as I try to touch him. Surely he won't agree to this. He can't!
"You'll have to give us some time to talk in private and pack her things. " He says, and I feel my heart come to a halt in my chest.
No!