Chapter 54
Days passed since Arthur’s declaration in a whirlwind of hustling servants, cleaning, and decorating. Some of them seemed misty-eyed and emotional as they set about cleaning and restoring every part of the castle and readying guest rooms. They pulled out golden tapestries to drape in the grand hall embroidered with scenes of battle, victory, and prosperity.
Arthur escaped the hustle and retreated to the tower near his bedroom. Daphne was standing on the balcony overlooking the front entrance to the castle.
“There you are,” Arthur said, wrapping his arms around her. “What are you doing out here? You’ll catch a cold.”
“There are so many people…” She said with a voice filled with awe. Arthur looked down in the courtyard and froze.
He hadn’t expected droves of werewolves to come. They seemed to be busy repairing other parts of the castle to use for living arrangements for the guests, hanging banners, and setting up festival stalls.
“It reminds me of festivals in human villages,” Daphne said softly. “I always wanted to go to one…”
“Why didn’t you?”
She winced, thinking back to the sneering scorn of the human villagers whenever she and her grandmother had come to buy or trade. She realized she had never told him much about her childhood or her grandmother. A pang of regret and guilt went through her. She knew so much about him, yet he knew so little about her.
“The human village nearest to our cabin thought my grandmother and I were witches.”
Arthur tilted his head, “What’s a witch?”
Daphne laughed, “A woman who can do magic, usually evil magic.”
He hummed, resting his head on her shoulder and breathing her scent in deeply.
“Can witches do good magic too? Like healing?”
Daphne chuckled, “I don’t know. I’ve never met one.”
Music started to drift up from the grounds below and Arthur hummed.
“I’ve never been to a festival,” Arthur said as she leaned back into him. “I was… too dangerous to come.”
“You’re not dangerous,” Daphne said, reaching up to stroke his face gently.
“Maybe we should go together?” Arthur said, “After the wedding.”
Daphne looked up at him and nodded, “That sounds like a great idea.”
“Your Majesty?” Someone called from down the hall. His voice was harried and a bit strained. “Your Majesty?”
Arthur sighed and turned. Daphne lifted an eyebrow at him, “Are you running away from something?”
He wrinkled his nose, “… they want to measure me or something.”
Daphne laughed and turned, nudging him towards the hallway, “Go get measured. How on earth are you be my dashing husband and king if your clothes don’t fit?”
His shoulders slumped a bit but he nodded and headed down the hall until he found the servant. The man smiled at him.
“Please come this way, Your Majesty. The tailor is ready for you.”
Arthur sighed and followed the man. He didn’t want to stand and be measured, but the thought of impressing Daphne made him walk forward without complaint.
Mamie watched Daphne fidget and tug on the sleeve of her gown for the third time in the last minute. She’d made the right choice leaving Joseph with Blade and being with Daphne while she prepared for the wedding. It certainly beat hanging out in the hall and listening to the older werewolves reminisce about the glory of the werewolf kingdom over several cups of ale.
She wasn’t sure if Daphne was more nervous because of all the women around her, adjusting and perfecting her appearance, or the fact that she was getting married.
“Could you all leave us for a little while?” Mamie asked with a polite smile. “I’d like a moment to speak with our future luna alone.”
They looked at Daphne who nodded stiffly before bowing and leaving, closing the door behind them. Mamie went to Daphne and stood beside her to look into the mirror. The gown was made of glistening white silk and silver thread. The gown was cut close over her torso before flaring out into a fuller skirt. There were diamonds and silver twined through her intricate hairstyle. Her veil shimmered with silver thread like starlight.
She looked a bit like a woman in one of the portraits hanging up around the castle. Her lips twitched a bit as Daphne stared into the mirror, shocked and paler than usual.
“You look terrified.”
“I don’t think I’ve been breathing since they put in this dress.”
“Well, you have been breathing, I promise. You’re just nervous.” Mamie laughed as Daphne took her hand and squeezed nervously. “I nearly made myself sick when I got married the first time and I wasn’t marrying an heir to a throne!”
Daphne’s grip tightened on her hand.
“You’ll be fine if you just take a deep breath and remember that you’re marrying Arthur because you love him.”
Daphne nodded shakily. She was marrying Arthur because she loved him. She did support Arthur in his decision, but she was beyond nervous. She knew nothing about governing people. What if she made a mistake and made things hard for Arthur?
“Breathe, Daphne!” Mamie cried, startling her into taking a deep breath.
A knock sounded on the door.
“His Majesty is here.”
Mamie grinned at Daphne, helped her down from the tailor’s stand, and led her to the door. Mamie opened the door and exited with a formal bow.
“Your Majesty,” Mamie said as she passed Arthur.
Daphne looked up at Arthur amazed. His clear blue eyes looked at her with awe and desire as they drifted over her form. He was dressed formally in a red and gold dress coat with his golden brooch nestled in the soft white scarf around his throat. Every jewel in the broach sparkled in the lights in the hallway. His suit was cut to suit his frame making him seem taller and broader than usual. He looked regal and the almost timid courage and pride had been replaced with complete confidence as he offered her his arm.
Arthur smiled at her as she took his arm without a word. She was paler than usual, lovely and nervous. The maids around them seemed to be watching them, anticipating something. He leaned close to speak into her ear.
“Don’t worry. I’m here.”
She gave him a small, helpless smile and nodded, allowing him to lead her down the hallway towards the main hall. The longer they walked together, the more relaxed she felt. She and Arthur had overcome so much—a coronation and their future as sovereign weren’t insurmountable.
She lifted her head and walked proudly beside him into the grand welcome of all the werewolves in the grand hall. The cheering was almost deafening as they walked in and she gasped at the way the light filled the room, setting a sparkle in every jewel and a shine in every golden finish in the room.
Tom and Rex stood at the front of the great hall with four attendants, two on each side. One bore a pillow with rings on top of them. Another held a golden crown inlaid with jewels of various colors. Another held a silver crown decorated with diamonds. Daphne recognized the two crowns as the crowns King Dean and Luna Sabina wore in their portraits. The fourth servant held a pillow with a jeweled orb on a pillow.
Tom wore a long robe trimmed in gold and silver while Rex wore a nicely cut suit.
They reached the front of the room and the cheering quieted as Tom began to speak.
“Long has the werewolf kingdom been fractured from civil war,” Tom said, his eyes glossy with unshed tears and pride as he looked at them. “After today, no more. The rings, please.”
The servant stepped forward. Arthur took the smaller ring, sparkling with diamonds and rubies, and slipped it onto Daphne’s finger with a warm smile. Daphne picked up the ring and slid it onto Arthur’s hand, smiling a bit at the ring bearing the Royal family’s crest on his pointer finger.
They turned back to Tom as he smiled.
“Do you Arthur Royal II, son of King Dean and Luna Sabina Royal swear to do all in your power to protect, guide, and govern the werewolf kingdom for as long as you occupy the throne?”
Arthur felt a jolt of apprehension strike him and he nodded.
“I do.”
Tom lifted the gold crown from the pillow and set it on his head. It felt oddly heavy as he breathed in.
“Do you Daphne swear to stand beside Arthur Royal II in defense of the werewolf kingdom, lending your strength and knowledge to him and your subjects for as long as you occupy the throne?”
“I do,” Daphne said as evenly as possible though her heart was racing.
Tom lifted the silver crown from the pillow and set it on her head. She closed her eyes at the weight of it and wondered if Arthur felt his crown was just as heavy.
Tom touched each of their shoulders with the scepter.
“By the will of the moon goddess, whose light we are graced, are you named King Arthur Royal II and Luna Daphne Royal.” Tom handed Arthur the scepter and placed the ornamental orb in his other hand. “May your reign be blessed.”
Arthur closed his hand around the scepter and the orb. He turned to Daphne and felt himself start to relax the longer he looked into her eyes.
“Long live King Arthur!” Rex called.
“Long live the king!” The hall responded.
“Long live Luna Daphne!”
“Long live the luna!”
Arthur wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close and kissing her as the room cheered for them. Music began to play as Arthur pulled back and frowned.
“What’s wrong?” Daphne asked a bit dazed. He turned to Tom.
“Do I have to hold these all night?”
Tom chuckled and shook his head, “Just the crown, Your Majesty.”
Rex stepped forward with a chest in which he placed the scepter and the orb. With his hands freed, he pulled Daphne back in for a kiss. They joined in the feast inside the castle before leaving out the front doors to the festival outside.
The werewolves who were not deemed important enough to be allowed inside the castle seemed shocked to see them. Based on their clothing, he knew they were from remote packs. Arthur and Daphne nodded at them politely and walked into the crowd to enjoy the festival, stopping at random stalls to eat snacks and drink celebratory ale with the people walking through the festival grounds, yet everyone they passed looked at them nervously.
“I’m starting to wonder if I should have done this if everyone is going to look at me strangely whenever we go somewhere,” Arthur complained, nudging his crown back in place. “Why can’t we enjoy the festival too?”
Daphne chuckled, “I’m sure they’re just shocked that we’re out like this.”
Arthur led her down the road, wandering, “I think we should be able to enjoy the festival too.”
“I meant they’re probably expecting us to be doing something else,” Daphne said. Her face burned as she thought back to the whispers of the servants regarding what she going to wear underneath her wedding gown.
Arthur frowned at her, lifting his cup to his lips, “Like what?”
“Working on producing an heir.”
He froze, his eyes widened for a moment before a growl of desire rumbled in his chest. He set his empty cup on the ledge of a stall and pulled her close. She yelped as he swooped her off her feet and headed back to the castle. Daphne hid her face in the curve of his shoulder as he walked quickly through the castle past servant and attendees.
She wasn’t sure how she was going to face anyone in the morning with turning bright red.
