Chapter 19

Time went on as we talked about the events that took place in the forest. Looking back, we could afford to laugh and joke about them when the danger had passed. When I was younger, adults always seemed a bit silly to me, when they would tell the same story from multiple views and laugh about it. However, the older I got, the more I realised the necessity of it.

“Alright, that’s enough,” Naisha said as she stood from her seat. “If we keep this up, the princess won’t have time to rest before her coronation.”

Being the forceful woman that she is, Naisha proceeded to walk over to the back of my seat and tilt it forward causing me to stand up. She must have reasoned that, if she moved the leader of the visiting party, then the rest of the visitors would also move. Unfortunately, she was mistaken. Leon and Monica remained seated as they ate and drank while Sif had the audacity to get up and add more drink to her cup and go back to her seat.

“Could you all please, get up!” she begged.

Princess A’el gave a light laugh. “Alright, Naisha. They are leaving, but let me have a small moment with my fiance.”

Naisha stared at her as if to say that she didn’t believe that the moment would be small or anything close to it.

“I promise it will be short.” A’el said as she pressed the palm of her hands together and tightly shut her eyes.

“Fine, Princess! But if you take too long I’m gonna march in here and drag him by his collar.”

Although she spoke to A’el, she stared at me and I couldn’t help feeling like there was a threat directed at me somewhere in her last sentence. Regardless, she led the others out of the room, leaving A’el and I alone. Once the door was shut, A’el moved closer to me and began to whisper as if our friends would hear her if she spoke normally.

“I just wanted to ask you for a small favour. I’m aware that you are not a fan of surprises and the last time I sprang one on you, you weren’t…. as excited as I was.”

“I wouldn’t say that I don’t like surprises,” I whispered back to her. “Its just that the last one was a pretty big deal and ... ”

“That’s exactly why I’m asking and not choosing to surprise you.”

She remained quiet for a minute and I wasn’t sure whether I was supposed to respond to a question that hadn’t been asked or if I was supposed to conjure up a question and place it in her head. “I’m pretty sure Naisha will be bursting through that door at any moment, so it’s best you let me know what the favour is.”

“But you haven’t answered my question, Deven.”

“And the question was?”

“Will you do me a favour?”

“And what's the favour?”

“To stand by my side towards the end of my coronation.”

It’s funny how she thinks I’ll know when the ‘end’ will be, but even if I knew how the coronation would go, I don’t think that I want to be in the spotlight just yet. I mean, we recently got engaged and I’m still coming to terms with that.

“A’el,” I began, in a flat tone, purposefully doing away with the whispering game we were having. “I don’t think I should be up there with the newly crowned Queen of the Fairies.”

“Why not? If you’re concerned about my mother …”

“It’s got nothing to do with her. Don’t you think it's a bit too much? Everyone already knows we are getting married and tonight isn’t about us, but about you.”

I found it adorable how she blushed and avoided eye contact but quickly regained most of her composure.

“Not everyone knows about our marriage. Most still think it to be a rumour and that’s why I want to have us both on stage. I want to share this great day with you.”

“But what if we don’t get married?”

I’ve never seen the colour drain from her face so quickly.

“What? Why… Why wouldn’t we get married.”

“I could die before our wedding day. Either the Pure-blood fanatics will kill me or the Shriekers, and frankly speaking I would hope that the shriekers get me first.”

“Why are you saying such things? Is it because you nearly died in the forest? I can provide you with an armed escort on your way back home, if it would make you feel any better?”

“No, it’s not the near death experience I had in the forest…. Maybe it is… But I’m just trying to say that, we should keep your coronation as it was meant to be, a day when the world sees the new Fairy Queen, and not the Fairy Queen and her half-breed future husband.”

“Deven.”

Somehow, as I was giving her my point of view, I had turned away and given her my back. I hadn’t realised it until she said my name and put her arms around my waist, pressing herself against my back.

“Deven, I don’t care what they think or say about you. You were chosen to be the next Alpha at birth. I don’t believe you were picked by accident. Yes, you are a half-breed, but please don’t say it with disdain like those fanatics do. I love you, just the way you are, and soon everyone will come to know of how kind, vibrant and selfless my fiance is.”

“Thanks, A’el.”

“Anytime. Now, regarding that little favour?” although she was behind me, I could see her smiling.

“I really think we should keep me out of it. I will be watching you along with other esteemed guests.”

“Come on. If it were your coronation wouldn’t you want your fiancee to be by your side?”

“If she was a queen? Of course I would.”

“So, you’re saying, because you aren’t the king, you feel you shouldn’t be up there with me?”

Not really. But if that’s what it takes for you to leave me out of it then…. “Yes. That’s exactly what I’m saying.”

She pulled away and asked, “Are you jealous that I’m getting my throne before you get your own?”

“No, trust me. With everything that’s happening in Kelor right now, I don’t envy you at all,” I said as I faced her.

“Alright, if you say so.” She let out a heavy sigh. “I feel like you’re hiding something from me but I’m not going to pry. If you don’t want to be up there with me, then I’ll just have to accept your decision.”

“Don’t worry about me, princess. I’m fine.”

“No, you’re not. I know you, Deven. Whatever it is that’s bothering you, don’t be afraid to tell me. And just so you know, I’ll be standing next to you when you become king, whether you like it or not.”

“Promise?” I asked as I opened the door.

She winked and said, “I do! But only if the Shriekers don’t get me first.”