Rowans Choice

Chapter Thirty Two- Kingdoms gather

The night before our wedding, Olamoores gates opened for the first time in months, for not just our people, friends and family... but for the royalty from every kingdom.

I had to explain to Andy in detail why the kingdoms who often fought against us were even here when we knew they wanted me destroyed. It is hard sometimes for those brought up outside of the royal house to understand how it all worked. The fact was that unless you had proof that someone had attempted to assassinate you, it was a fools game to act upon it, far greater progress could be made by keeping your enemies close. I wasn't about to start a war with Thistle and Valendoor when the war of our lifetime was coming, and if my mother was correct... we would need each other, and our armies would be fighting side by side.

The far north brought Thistles Queen Sorcha and Princess Merrin, and despite being from furthest away, they arrived first. A power play as usual. Red hair and thick Scottish accents were signs of the high North being in court. Sorchas king was long dead, most probably at her own hand.

The north west brought Valendoors King Caspian and his eldest daughter Emerald, she was fifteen but would take the crown as soon as she hit twenty one, her story resembling mine, only her mother had died in a war not too long ago.

The Welsh kingdom brought the quiet Queen, Anwen and her whipped husband, the King Rhys to our court.

From the south west came the party, Queen Demelza. She refused to marry and spent her time riding her horses and lovers instead of sitting on her throne. Demelza brought Willow, at my request. I had longed to reunite with her for so long, and after my time in the light, seeing her... I needed to hold her in the flesh and welcome her home to Olamoore, my first guardian and protector.

From south of us, came the islanders. Their ancient Queen had many daughters who could take her throne, but she seemed insistent on making the record for oldest living fairy in our history. Her husband died a century ago. Queen Anemone brought her oldest daughter, Buttercup, and despite her being the daughter, she was herself quite old and frail, you couldn't much tell the difference.

As carriages drew up, the royals were escorted to the branches of the Oak reserved for guests. I sat and watched with Andromeda on her balcony and gave her the low down on who was who in her new world.

"I can't believe the last girl you slept with is at our wedding" Andy groaned.

"That's your first thought" I ask, looking to her and shaking my head softly "not anything about the fact it's also the girl who is trying to steal my magic from me and dethrone me"

"That too... what are we going to do about that. I'm gathering from how calm you are that you have a plan for the summit" she asks me over her shoulder.

"I always have a plan... and this time we have the upper hand. I'm actually looking forward to it"

"Of course you are" she sighs knowingly.

I playfully poked her in her ribs from behind her and wound my hands around her body, coming to a stop on her stomach and nestling my nose into her neck. "Mmm" I moan softly "you smell like something I would love to eat"

Her body vibrates against me with a little laugh "stop touching me so much... there are many hours between now and our merging ... and I feel less and less like I can make it with each time you insist on breathing against me"

"Would you rather me not be breathing against you... because that happened already and it didn't sound fun"

"Uff" she groans turning and capturing my cheeks in her hands "don't remind me of it"