|
|
|
|
B’Rodyn looked peaceful, his dark chestnut locks ruffling across his shoulders as a breeze blew in from the lake. There was a quiet acceptance about him, in knowing that the position was rightfully Ro’s. He stood with his back to the water, dressed identically to his cousin and the familial resemblance became all the more clear as the half-elf joined him on the emerald sands.
“On this day,” B’Rodyn’s voice carried well over the grassy meadow, “I renounce my claim to the S’Hean Throne, and pass it on to its rightful heir, Y’Roden D’Riel.” His gem-like gaze met its mirror and the elf held out his hand, palm up, to his cousin. “Do you accept this honour? Will you accept the burden of the Web, of the Land, and the people?”
“I do,” Y’Roden’s baritone was rich and there was no hesitation in his tone. His massive hand closed around B’Rodyn’s wrist, and the jolt caused the King’s fingers to reflexively close about Ro’s. There was a slow, soft glow between their wrists, then a sudden explosion of Aethyr lightning that hovered between them for a moment, then enveloped both males in a crackling maelstrom.
The air lit up with writhing tendrils of green energy that snapped away from B’Rodyn’s soul, broken filaments on the air that bucked and swayed, then unfailingly, slammed into Y’Roden as hundreds of souls sought out the Nexus.
The half-elf let out a wild yell, his head snapping back as B’Rodyn’s bowed forward. The only thing keeping either of them on their feet was the other, and they swayed dangerously as the Web reasserted itself, claiming Y’Roden as its patriarch once more.
When it was done, Ro stumbled back and drew in a deep gasp of air, his skin still crackling with the living Gaia of Whispin. B’Rodyn followed, Y’Roden turning to fall in beside of them as the pair made their way out onto the grass. The new King held out his hand, beckoning Ghetsuhm to himself as Gwen came to stand beside B’Ro, and around all of them, a ring of Rangers took up position. Beyond them, the S’Hean people formed great rings of their own, all gathered for the reinstating of their King, and to welcome a new Queen.
Ghet was still laughing as she walked out to join her Ronnan, not humour, but a mix of sheer joy and a deep pride in Y'Roden. Her soul rang from the shift in the nexus, sparking with energy which showed in her eyes as she practically danced across the grass to Ro. She took his hand and kissed him lightly, delighting in the force that cracked between them. "It suits you," she said impishly. She had no doubt at all that this was where her Rodi belonged.
Y’Roden’s deep laughter matched hers and he took a moment to kiss her properly, not bothered at all by the fact that the entire S’Hean nation and then some were watching. Drawing back, he took both of Ghet’s hands in his; standing so he was facing her directly. This was their moment now, “It suits you too,” he told her, because it did.
B’Rodyn stepped forward, his hand in Gwen’s, “Life and Magic are the Land, the King is the life, the King is the Magic; the land's name is Y’Roden D’Riel… so say I.”
Despite his reservations, in this Fadil had no conflicts. Y'Roden was his oldest friend, and the Hojet Foryen firmly believed he was the only king for S'Hea. “Life and Magic are the Land, the King is the life, the King is the Magic; the land's name is Y’Roden D’Riel… so say I.”
“I am life, I am magic, I am the land, so say I,” Y’Roden recited, his eyes still sparkling as they held Ghet’s gaze.
From the circles surrounding them came the resounding chorus, “So Say I.”
Gwen's smiling eyes shifted from Y'Roden, whom she'd been watching with a certain amount of love, sympathy, and pride. Her spring green eyes now fell on the woman who was about to become Queen of S'Hea, the woman who would now fill the role left vacant by Silverthorn... a role of healing, in a time when the Land needed just that. It was time not for a warrior Queen, but for a healer Queen.
“Love and wisdom," Gwen's rich voice carried easily as she spoke, "she is the soul of the King. The Queen is love, the Queen is Wisdom; the Soul’s name is Ghetsuhm D’Riel… so say I.”
Fadil's face was cold, but then he barely ever showed emotion anyway. She was queen, by virtue of her marriage, she made Y'Roden happy for now, and when it came right down to it, there was nothing Fadil could do anyway. To object would be to damage Ro, and fail in his duty. The pause before he spoke wasn't long enough for comment, and while there was no joy in his voice, there was nothing that could cause comment either. “Love and wisdom, she is the soul of the King. The Queen is love, the Queen is Wisdom; the Soul’s name is Ghetsuhm D’Riel… so say I.”
Ghet's smile had not faltered. She was too full of joy to be plagued by insecurities. She could feel the touch of S'Hea on her, a certainty she could always fall back on. "I am love, I am wisdom, I am the Soul." Her eyes on Y'Roden's, she was so full of happiness it bubbled around her, scarcely contained. "So say I."
Again, the gathered host raised their voices, “So Say I.”
To each side of the royal couple appeared a young Elven maid, each bearing a small obsidian bowl filled with clear water.
Y’Roden kept his eyes on Ghet as he reached to the side, dipping his fingers into the bowl, then gently running his thumb over her mouth, a soft brush of skin over her lower lip that left it damp and glimmering in the dual sunlight.
Ghet closed her eyes briefly, soaking up the sensuality of the gesture before she replicated it, her breath catching in her chest as the water beaded on his mouth. Her hand shook as she drew it away.
With their hands joined once gain, Aethyr fire leapt up between them, green and full of S’Hean life. It was a testament to the purity of the union, that Ghet was truly connected to S’Hea, that her flame matched his own. The words were recited as one.
“I stand upon the land, I breathe the air, I taste the sweet water, I burn with the fire, I live through the Aethyr. By all these things and more, I pledge myself to S’Hea, to its people and to you. So say I.”
“Long life to the King!” B’Rodyn’s voice carried over the crowd.
“SO SAY I!” The response was a roar of voices, and with it, the D’Riel Web became visible, every ethereal strand glowing with soft emerald light, leading back to Y’Roden at the nexus. A vast, glimmering spider web of power and connection on two distinct levels; the brighter more intense one linking the D’Riel Clan and all those who were bonded to them by blood, the second, a more subtle filament of webbing that linked the S’Hean people as a whole.
Gwen's voice once again spoke over the crowd, “Long life to the Queen!”
“SO SAY I!”
A pulse flowed out across the vast network, the final seal upon the pact between royal couple, the S’Hean people, and S’Hea itself. Tendrils of Aethyr rose up from Her, playing about the ankles of the King and Queen, an answering celebration that welcomed Ro back to the throne, and Ghet… home.
| |
