2025-01-17 21:22:08Thanks to Naisha's persistence, we arrived early. The place wasn’t as crowded as I thought it would be. Naisha led us to an area she called the special guests’ wing. It was located on a high platform on the eastern side of the arena. The corridor leading to the guests’ wing was well guarded and for once it felt good not to have creatures glaring back at me as I walked past them. However, I couldn’t help but wonder how many of these guards would glare at A’el as she walked past them. Did they do it openly or in secret? In any case, Naisha and the other fairies who oversaw protecting the Queen and her family were aware of them.
“Here we are,” announced Naisha as she abruptly stopped near a door. “Please be seated and wait patiently for the ceremony to begin.” She walked off without another word.
Seeing as I was in front of the group I opened the door and walked in with the others close behind. The wing was quite spacious with chairs in the centre and a large window that overlooked the arena grounds below.
“Prince Leon!” came a cry from the corner of the room. I was shocked to see the Elf Princess, Reina, and not only was she in the room with us, but she was also dressed in a similar manner as we were.
“Princess Reina!?” exclaimed Leon as she approached him. “What? How? Are you here alone?”
Leon seemed more surprised than I was.
“Yes,” she replied sheepishly. “I haven’t seen Rurik for many days.”
It seemed strange to me that the Elf Princess would be formal with Leon but address his brother in a very casual manner. “Princess Reina, it is so nice to see you.”
She looked as if she hadn’t noticed I was in the room with her and Leon.
“Prince Deven, apologies. It is nice to see you as well.”
“Allow me introduce the Chief of the Vikings, Lady Sif, and Leon’s assistant, Lady Monica Flaughan.”
“I’m honoured to meet you both,” said Reina.
“Same here,” Sif remarked.
“Are you all here for the coronation?”
“Yes indeed,” I replied. “I wasn’t aware that Princess A’el and yourself were close.”
“Close isn’t the word I’d use. We are simply two friends who wish to strengthen the ties between our creatures. Oh! Congratulations on your engagement.”
“Thank you.”
I lead Sif and Monica away, giving Leon and Reina some time to talk. I was curious about it and would have loved to stay but I knew I could ask Leon for the details later.
**********
As the ceremony begun, I held me breath. I couldn’t believe that A’el had invited me to this wonderful occasion. Me! The Chief she met a few suns and moons ago. I was deeply touched at the offer, and I wasn’t sure of what to expect but not even me wildest imagination would not have prepared me for the colourful ceremony.
After the sun had set, the horns and drums were played and Queen Noil flew into the arena from one side while Princess A’el, flew in from the opposite side. Their wings gave off more colourful dust than usual. Once they were in the middle, they started flying in strange patterns. I don’t know what it looked like to those who were beneath us but from up there, they looked like two brightly coloured fish swimming side by side in rhythm with the loud beating drums, while a string of coloured dust followed behind them. They did this a couple of times around the arena and then returned to the centre. Once the drums had stopped the princess knelt before the queen who removed her crown and flew away with it. Deven said that crown was given to A’el by her father to show that she was the chosen heir.
After the queen had left the arena, A’el created some strange symbols out of light, like the ones she had made when we visited her in her room, only these were bigger, brighter and more colourful. The glowing symbols floated in the air. Then a melodious song began, and she danced. As she danced the symbols merged with one another, growing brighter but not bigger. When there were five symbols left the music stopped. A’el flew to our wing and touched the large glass separating us causing it to disappear in an instant.
“What’s going on?”
“I want all of you to join me.”
“I don’t know if you’ve noticed but I can’t fly.”
She smiled and said, “you wont need to. Just stand on the signs that I’ve made.”
Me? Standing on light. She must be confusing me with some other Kelorian.
But before I could protest, everyone moved forward and stepped onto the symbols in front of them. I followed their actions.
“Just relax and enjoy the moment,” A’el said with a smile. I looked at others and they all seemed as nervous as I was. That was encouraging. At least I wasn’t the only one. A’el moved to the centre of the arena once more and the glowing symbols beneath our feet moved with her. The symbols moved around her and as they did, she made copies of them and sent them high above our heads where they came together with a massive explosion. In their place was a golden crown that slowly fell onto her head. She then turned us around to face the crowd who gave us a loud cheer. At that moment I realised that a smaller version of the symbol I was standing on, was glowing on the back of me gloves. Colourful stars began to burst into smaller ones all around us as Queen A’el brought us to the ground.
“Follow me,” she said once our feet touched the ground.
She led us to another area where we meet with other important people from all over Kelor. It truly was a night to remember, and I couldn’t wait to get back to Ragnar and tell him all that had happened.
**********
The following day, Queen A’el gave us our own carriages and an escort to ensure we travelled safely to our own kind. Leon had spoken of being summoned by his father and was travelling back home with Monica. I couldn’t find out what he and Reina had been talking about last night before the coronation but whatever it was, I would be sure to ask him of it the next time we met. Princess Reina only had her royal guard for company while Sif had her party of Vikings.
Halfway through my journey, I had a vision. In it my father was lying on the ground, bleeding. I could hear the shriekers all around him and his men.
“Retreat!” shouted Gunther, the Army Commander, and the entire army obeyed him, leaving my father behind.
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