The First Sacrifice

Curses and Crowns

The girl in the mirror no longer looked like the girl I was used to seeing in the reflection of the watering hole by my tribe lands. My hair was braided in and intricate crown braid interwoven with blood red clay beads and gold thread. Kohl lined my eyes giving them wings, accentuating the shape of them bringing out the brown in my eyes. 

I wore white tunic stitched with red and gold thread. The straps were thin and wrapped around my neck like a halter leaving my shoulders and back bare. A gold belt was tied and twisted around my waist the bottom of the tunic was layered like the petals of a flower along the hem the red and gold thread interwove and chased one another. When turned my entire back was bare but on my skin was the henna designs placed their by Aurora and Isa. 

The gold henna ran along my neck and down my arms, and unknown to any one else it covered my entire body. The process had taken all evening but the night before the coronation not even the dragon was allowed to be in the presence of his bride. He probed at my mind all night but I was told that contact with him was bad luck so I shut him out as per custom. A difficult feet in and of its self.

Aurora smiled when she entered the room once again. I returned the smile with un ease. Before i had gotten dressed i watched from the guest room the caravans pouring in the front gate of the compound. There would be large crowd in the ball room, many of them noble dragon kind. Some of them enemies we wanted to keep close.

"Do you remember your vows?" she asked softly curling the tendrils she had left out of the brain to frame my face. I nodded. "Yes, I'm confident that I remember them and I have the pronunciation down."

Aurora smiled she was in a deep red tunic the fabric however stretched over her curves like a sleeve, solid gold flower corset pinched her already tiny waist. Her brown hair pulled into a fishtail braid. Her tiara of red rubies and black diamonds  tucked on her dainty head.

"Lets go over the schedule one more time. The vow/bonding ceremony, the acknowledgment of the Arthur and I, the crowning. Once that is over i will lead you to change into your fire dance outfit. Maddox with perform his dance for you and then you him. After we will invite everyone else to the dance floor for the reception. Maddox and you will be seated at the head of the court and there you will make your formal greetings to the the WindSoar, FireStone, and SteelClaw Clans. She said softly helping to slip my toes into delicate white leather sandals.

"I've got it. I'm confident I will make you proud." I told her hiding the way my stomach turned at the thought of disappointing her and embarrassing  Maddox.

She tucked me into her shoulder then placing a gentle kiss on my forehead. "I will be with you,Arthur and  Maddox as well. Do not fret you are the chosen, you were made for this." she insisted. A knock resounded on the door before it opened to reveal Arthur, he was dressed in black regalia.  a pair of loose black linen trousers an black and gold embroidered vest, bare chest and gold and red arm cuffs. 

"Ah the princess bride. You look stunning, daughter." he said kissing my hands as he grabbed them to help their trembling. "Maddox, my son has been blessed." he said softly.

"We are starting and it is customary that I walk you down the aisle." He said softly. His mind cut through my defenses like the sun through clouds. 

"Eury, Maddox is just as nervous as you. All will be well though do not fret." He said softly. Aurora smiled and went to take her post int he ball room. Arthur and i followed a little while after her as I took some much needed deep breaths.

When the double door opened over a couple thousand eyes went to me but the only eyes I saw were the ones of my betrothed. In those brown pools I saw an unrelenting devotion, love and hope. His eyes left mine and scanned my body and desire returned to his eyes. I took the time to asses his dress. He matched me in white linen with gold and red embroidery along the hem. her wore a thin long white vest that fell at his hem, his chest was bare and tattooed. new tattoos of intricate tribal lines ran over his chest and down the whole length of his right arm. And right above his waist band i saw the slight peak of black ink I would soon discover.