Chapter 2 - The Engagement Day (2)

The Crown Prince shifted to his black wolf form, covered entirely in fur within seconds, dashed with force toward the white covered ground and dense forest. Zandic, his cousin, followed in his brown wolf form and tried to outrun Rydan, though it was impossible. The two of them play chase until Zandic bark and state it is his loss now, again.

Shifting to his mortal form, Rydan retrieved clothes that were hidden inside the tree trunk and wore it, also throwing Zandic’s clothes at him. Zandic catches it and wears it within a second, the falling snow doesn’t bother them one bit, though smoke comes out of their mouth when they decide to talk.

“Aren’t you supposed to be inside the castle?” Zandic said. A little hint of mischief in his voice, Rydan throws him a glare and walks away.

“And do what exactly?” he said. His eyes spied the trees in case they are not alone.

“I don’t know. Welcoming your future wife perhaps?” His eyebrow shaking up and down.

“Dancing,” He gestured to a dance move he knows.

“Talking,” Zandic continued, playfully smiling at him. His eyes sparkling mischievously.

“Kissing,” He said, while puckering his lips and making a smooching noise.

Rydan only shakes his head, knowing for sure Zandic doesn’t mean it, not a single word.

Of all day, today would be the one Rydan doesn’t want to live and experience.

The Engagement Day.

Though it is an engagement day, there will be no one celebrating, no one that is invited to attend, and no one to cheer upon, this marriage was a curse, at least for Rydan it is.

Because marrying someone that isn’t his mate feels strange, tastes wrong and disturbing for his mind. Furthermore, it is someone from Qye, the Land for Nymphs, Fairies and Witches. All living creatures that have an uncomfortable history with the Werewolf.

Qye’s view of mythical creatures would differ from the way a werewolf saw them. That would cause trouble for Rydan if someday he wants to solve a matter with this so-called wife. Then again, he doesn’t have to worry. Because every decision he would take in the future, a Qye cannot say a single word about it. For them, a marriage is devoted to the family that they decide to live with, married with a Suttern is the same as being a Suttern herself.

If someday Rydan said he wanted destroys Qye, she will pull out a sword herself and stand against Qye, despite being the daughter of Qye.

But Rydan will not take that decision, knowing well that each power a daughter of Qye release would hurt her.

He saw it before. Lady Byrl, the first woman who married his dad, has shown it to him before. When he was only 10 years old, the Witch's Land of Fussyorl, decides to take the claim of Suttern, but gives up within minutes. He has seen it with his eyes, how Lady Byrl cast a spell of protection surrounding the kingdom and commands an army of animal spirit’s to chase away the witches from the Kingdom.

Then, Lady Byrl was unconscious for 5 years from it.

His dad always reminds him repeatedly; each time they were talking about this marriage. It had become more like a spell instead of a word, buried deep inside Rydan’s head, taking a claim and forever remembered.

“Never fall in love with her.”

The King would look at Rydan’s eyes. Thinking that Rydan would absorb the word better.

“Never makes her fall in love with you,” he said.

A strong word, never.

Even to his own Father.

• • ⊱∘────·❅·────∘⊰ • •

King of Qye takes a step out of the carriage and offers his hand to help his wife. While Ladon, the twenty-years old Crown Prince of Qye, stands with pride beside his mother. Pride was the only thing he was supposed to show in front of a Suttern, because anger and fury would only make his Father disappointed at him.

“Hold it Ladon,” Leor once reminded Ladon.

“I am giving up my first daughter, stand with pride, even if it is fake”

And he did with a fake pride, as fake as it could be.

Once again, Leor has taken a step in this so-called ‘castle’. The last time he came here when his little sister at age of sixteen-years-old married the now King of Suttern. Leor still remembered how she slowly stepped out of the carriage, her hand taken by Arax and led inside, to her own doom.

The celebration that night goes with Arax cold expression and rigid feature, Byrl greet and smile with warmth, people cheering though not a single one of them knew what exactly the meaning of the wedding, a union that don't gave Byrl any title, status or anything to stand with pride, not even a child. But he remembered the way Arax had stayed away as far as possible from her and his expression frosty cold that night, and despite everything that he had done, Byrl was still able to smile at Leor. Even until the time when they had to be separated in front of the gate of Suttern.

And now Leor is here, to give up his own daughter. His sweet Elleryn, to Suttern.

He is here as well, to visit his little sister's grave, buried within the other of Qye, that someday his daughter will someday bury there.

Avra looks calm and collected on the outside, she has been practicing this day for many times, the day when her daughter was taken from her palm. She would stand with raised chin in front of her bedroom mirrors, with fake pride and joy, only to burst into tears a minute later, Leor only able to hold her tight at that time.

Now, though, it is not a practice, this is the real one. And she had to do it, calm and collected, she repeats in her mind, but she suppressed her tears and cried deep inside her heart, she knows Elleryn could feel it. Because that child immediately takes hold of her hand after getting out of the carriage, her daughter's hand is cold and pale, winter caused much pain to her body and Avra wish Elleryn could just rest instead of coming to this Palace.

Ezana jumps off the carriage, taking a hold of her sister's other hands and smiling at everyone that catches her eyes. Ezana then nodded in approval, she wasn’t aware that the hand she holds will someday let go and never held by someone else.

Fabin stands next to Kyzen side, their green eyes looking around, observing the terrific Palace in front of them. Both standing with a fake pride like their brother, Ladon. But they fail miserably, instead of pride that comes out, disgusted and disturbed kept shown from their expression.

Arax and Edra come outside the gate and stand in front of the Qye.

Edra with a smile and Arax expressionless.

Avra takes a deep calm breath while Leor stares at Arax with a hard expression.

"Welcome to Suttern,” Edra decided to cut through the thick silences, trying to get their eyes on her bearings, to make it as civilized as possible.