Rowans Choice

Chapter Thirty One - A Traitors fate

The balcony doors are opened, the sun is bright, it is a gloriously warm summers day... and the deafening sound of the kingdom cheering and singing lifts me higher than I could ever feel through magic. My people, our people, united in their joy at seeing the crown once again, and this time... on a Queen.

I am drawn to my family who have not seen me since I woke. My brothers Elm, Ash, Linden and Aspen. They stand in their gold and white formal wear, swords at their hips. Elm stands with his wife, two sons and daughter, Ash with his three sons and wife too. Linden, the tall, handsome and eternal bachelor is unusually serious, but his glances are still stolen by Eris at the back of the house staff. Clearly something still existed there between them. Aspen offers me a gentle and relieved smile, before his attentions return to Andromeda beside me, nothing new there. Sycamore stands with them, on the end of the line, his head coming to Aspens knee. He kneels down on one knee as my brothers do the same, bended knee for their Queen, and for my first address of the kingdom. There are tears in all of their eyes. Today was for them too, our family's line was saved... and my fathers death was not in vain. I didn't think I had ever seen any of my brothers cry before, let alone Sycamore.

Andromeda is two steps behind me. I stop until she catches up to me, and then I turn to gaze upon her lovingly as I reach for her hand.

"But we are not quite married yet" she reminds me.

It wasn't usual for a Queen to have someone by their side unless they were officially merged, mated and married.

I smile and take her hand regardless "this is my kingdom" I remind her "and you are my mate, today, tomorrow and forever"

She nods and steps with me this time. Hand in hand we appear before the crowd.

Despite the unusual situation, and the fact my king is not a king at all and actually about to be my Queen, the kingdom erupt into joyous rapture as I lift Andy's hand with mine above our heads.

"Olamoore of the future" I announce "a place where love will be love regardless of the sex between your mates legs. You will be free here to be you... whomever you are and whomever you love"

A cheer erupts once again, it is deafening.

I remove our hands from above us and set mine down on the balcony wall. I look to the people, trying to make contact with as many faces as possible "unless of course you are a traitor" I announce powerfully, almost as loudly as my father would sound.

"My father left this kingdom too soon, but he left us in an act of trying to save us... and that was him through and through... devoted. Unlike the traitor I am about to introduce you too" I nod for the guards to drag her out below us.

The doors beneath the balcony open, the crowd all part as Luna is brought out into the centre of them all.

"Take a good look" I ask. "This is the reason your king is dead... and this is the reason I almost followed after him"

The people gasp. Luna looks around with squinted eyes, unable to see because of the sun, that and the fact she had been in a dark room for so long now.

Andy looks down to the floor, unable to look at her.

"This woman fled the war and her kingdom for the south when she was but a babe in arms... and despite us welcoming her with open arms
with her family, feeding her, clothing her and allowing her to live free... she chose to throw us all to the fire ... to betray us from within and destroy us. It's name is Luna... say it" I demand.

Silence follows and a lot of shared glances as nobody knew if I meant them or her.

"I speak to you all... say her name now... LUNA" I shout loudly.