The Realms

7. Royal Wedding

On any normal occasion, this day would be different almost sacred. The prince would be bonded to the chosen one, the Savior.

Rituals would be performed, blood covenants and the circulation of fire to swear loyalty. The rituals were done to awaken the Saviors remaining powers and bond her to her mate. She would then be complete.

But, the savior was absent. So for this day, it would be a royal wedding.

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Iris looked at her reflection In the mirror and forced her sad smile.

She took the time to enjoy the few minutes of no stress and worry. After today she would lose all the freedom she had. Follis stood behind her contemplating on which head piece would match with her golden royal wedding attire. She settled on a silver one and went down to work.

The prince on the other hand was ready in gold and red royal Wedding attire. He sat on his mirror staring blankly at nothing I was particular. He did not notice Palin walking in and lamenting about the whole situation. She would be present at the wedding and as the mother to the next heir, she would be introduced to the public and seek the approval and the blessings of the soon to be queen.

***
The whole kingdom was present and the palace meeting hall was decorated with the kingdom's specialty, gold. Everything spelled gold, From the carpets, seats and pillars... To plates, wine glasses and cutlery. After all the kingdom was one of the richest places around.

*****
She walked into the wedding hall, the aisle's way was covered with red rose petals, and in other occasions, Iris would have appreciated the designs and the servants, but not today. Her restless eyes darted around the hall.

Everyone was here, her brother, Kate, her father seated at the high table, the queen who was smiling kindly at her and the king, talking silently at the Prince.

No one would walk her down the aisle, she had refused that. But where was Palin?

One step, two, three..... She kept her steps steady and her body posture proud, she was doing this for her Kingdom after all.

Prince Kai, looked up when the announcement was made. The bride was here. He had wished that one day Palin would be walking on the aisle to be bound to him as the queen but it would never happen. She would only be the mistress. The bearer of his heir. She would have no full rights to him.

Iris looked up at him when she reached the sacred platform. Where wedding vows took place. She was beautiful, her brown eyes darting uncomfortably from his face to the priests. She would occasionally bite her bottom lip or clutch tightly to her gown. He smiled, finding that cute.... Wait what? Kai wondered if maybe he was stressed to think that someone rather than Palin was cute. It was lack of sleep, he decided.

The wedding ceremony included, tying of sacred string on each other's wrists, a blood covenant which Iris found stupid and wished she could slap the lady who poked her forth finger with that needle. She should thank the gods she didn't.

Then came the exchange of vows and coronation of the next leaders. Palin would then be introduced as the heir bearer by the couple. Iris felt a little smile cross her lips when she remembered that Palin would have to seek for her blessings.

The sacred bounding thread had golden and red strings put together to make a beautiful ornament. The priest brought it forward and they picked one each. The prince offered his hand and Iris tied the string, her hand accidentally brushed his and they both gasped.

That feeling. The sparks! What was happening. Iris hoped that it was just because of the bond being formed and nothing more.

Kai couldn't explain that.

The string typing was over, the vows were said, the coronation was next.

The crowns for the king and queen in waiting were brought. Iris could see her freedom leave like ascending smoke and her responsibilities come down on her shoulders like hot lava as the crown ascended on her head. She was the queen in waiting , she would be the wife to Prince Kai. A loveless marriage. Two opposing hearts had been bonded by politics.

Palin was then walked in and the Couple stood up. They would tell the people of their decision to make her the heir bearer.

"People of Light Realm, I present to you the King and queen in waiting. You May  all bow." The priest's voice echoed around the hall.

The people all went down on one knee and bowed.

"we now present to you, the chosen consort," Palin walked forward and bowed to the four and faced the crowd. "consort Palin." They all bowed.

Palin could not help but notice that one they never knelt and secondly the bows were never wholeheartedly done. She felt the unmistakable feeling of jealous. She wanted to be on top. Her hands involuntarily clenched into fists. That's what she wanted.

What Iris was, was what she had wanted to become. She wanted power. She wanted to be the only choice by the Prince. She was here for that.

*****'
Queen Mandarin, walked up the stairs leading to her throne. She was becoming restless.

"sending her to the other side can be challenging, we can't do that. The portal can't open now,"one of the elders said.

Her almost black eyes turned sharply to glare at him and the elder gulped audibly. He wished to curl up and disappear to evade the manacing look he was getting.

He threw himself at the queen's feet." forgive me my queen."

Forgiveness was one thing Queen Mandarin despised. She hated the word. She hated being told what to do. She despised everyone who opposed her.

The elder followed her eyes. The sword!

"please,"

That was the last word he said before his head was separated from his body in one clean sword motion.

The queen then looked up to meet the bowed heads of the other elders and at the front.

Her heir, her only daughter. The Black rose as she liked to call her.

Palin....

****'
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Chandrakanta80