The Elements

Chapter Three

The shock must have shown on my face, because Olive just laughed.

"You made this!? Olive, you're amazing! From now on, you are making all of my dresses." Olive laughed again and bowed.

"It would be my pleasure."

Olive and I were on great terms for the rest of the night. When I was ready to go downstairs, Olive kissed me on the forehead.

"Good luck, Princess."

I smiled, opened the door, hugged Olive goodbye, and closed the door behind me.

When I walked down the castle stairs, I can see my father at the bottom.

"Princess," he calls as I reach the bottom, holding out his arm. King Winter was dressed in the finest blue-black suit that matches his hair and eyes perfectly.

I took my father's left arm, and he lead me to the dining room. In the dining room, we will have the pre-Crowning dinner, then soon after, The Crowning would begin. First, my mother and father will complete the Promise, where they promise not to take the throne back when I become queen.

If I become queen, I thought to myself, before quickly stashing the thought away. Of course I was becoming queen! It was happening right now!

Next, after The Promise, the Betrothal would begin. Clay and I would be betrothed forever through a BloodBind, and if either of us betray each other, we would die a very painful death. That's one of the things I was most nervous about.

The last section of The Crowning was The Continual. The Continual was another promise, only it was made between the new king and queen. Meaning, me and Clay.

The Continual was a promise that was made to make sure that the royal family would continue. Every Continual was different, so I had no idea what was going to happen.

"Daughter, are you ready?" I peered up at my father and into his eyes. Looking forward again, I nodded, breathing in deeply.

"I think so, Father." He nodded.

"Are you ready to continue on our family tree?" I nodded again, but I could feel myself tense up. I don't know if my father felt that or not, but I will never know.

We finally reached the closed doors of the dining room. When ready, four guards would pull the doors open, and everything would become suddenly real.

My father gave me a kiss on the top of the head before nodding at the guards.

That's the cue, I thought to myself. Are you ready for this?

The truth was, I wasn't ready. I wasn't ready when the guards pulled open the Bronze doors, or when my father lead me into the dining room. I wasn't ready when I sat in between my parents, or when Bear made a toast to me before dinner started. Everything was a big blur, up until dinner ended and it was time.

It was time for me to become queen of Canlord.

The Promise was first. Me, my parents, my brothers, Clay, Clay's parents, and Mister Rowan made our way to The Rose Garden. The Rose Garden was one of my favorite places in the entire palace.

When we entered The Rose Garden, my breath was taken away. The two suns were almost completely gone, and the moon had risen. The Rose Garden was covered in deep lavender roses and strung lights. It was absolutely beautiful. I wasn't exactly sure who told the decorators, but I suspected Olive.

"Everyone, gather around. King Winter and Queen Autumn, please join me. Everyone else please take a seat." Mister Rowan had placed seats in the middle of The Rose Garden, and as I sat down and folded in my wings, Clay took the seat directly next to me.