Chapter 16 Rose
ROSE
Iadjusted the heavy crown on my head, which kept slipping to the side, while the open carriage rumbled through the cobblestone streets.
My gown was even heavier than the crown, with a tight bodice that flared into many layers of skirts the color of red wine, adorned with black embroidered roses with vines and tiny thorns.
I loved how it combined the style that was popular in Ilidan at the moment with a touch of me as well.
For the first time, I truly felt like a queen.
As for Raith, he looked stunning in black and white beside me, his head held high.
His crown was a larger version of mine: shining silver with large red rubies.
Every inch of him radiated power, confidence, and elegance.
It was hard to take my eyes off him, and I only hoped I looked half as regal as he did.
I managed to tear my eyes from Raith as the procession moved forward.
The crowd surged on either side of the road, and I gazed across more faces than I had ever seen in one place before.
It seemed the entire population of Archdale, the capital of Ilidan, had turned out for the royal celebration today.
“What do you think of the city?” Raith asked.
“It’s lovely.” And it was. Even with the crowd flooding the streets, I could tell the city was clean and well-maintained, despite being one of the oldest ones in Ilidan.
It was obviously prosperous as well, likely bolstered by the trade brought in from the river, which wound its way throughout the capital like a snake.
I studied the stone buildings around us, each one with a torch or brazier in front of it waiting to be lit after the sun went down.
Trees covered in red and brown leaves lined the streets, with silver garland strung between them in honor of the celebration today.
The cheering crowd threw red rose petals and star-shaped confetti at us, and I waved and smiled, while Raith sat stoically beside me.
This was my first visit to Archdale, and while I would have preferred doing it with a lot less fanfare, I wanted to soak in as much of it as I could.
The procession stretched both ahead of our carriage and behind us, down the twisting roads of the city.
Dozens of dancers, musicians, and other entertainers celebrated the end of the war and the announcement of our marriage with song and flashes of bright color.
Guards were stationed everywhere, moving along with the carriage on foot and on horseback, but Raith didn’t seem overly concerned.
I supposed when you were a powerful Fae King you had little to fear.
“Your people seem to love you.” I nodded toward the banners proclaiming Long live King Raith! Others praised the Sun and Moon, and even more celebrated the end of the war. I even spotted one or two that welcomed me to Ilidan.
He shrugged. “Perhaps.”
“They do. You’d never see this kind of celebration in Talador for our king. The people feel he’s abandoned them. But you ended a war. You’re a hero.”
“I’ve simply tried to do my best for my kingdom,” Raith said. “I’m sure there are many areas in which I’ve failed miserably. Or other problems I can’t seem to solve.”
“Raith, you’ve done a wonderful job, especially considering how young you were when you became king, and all the other things you’ve had to deal with.” I lightly touched his arm. “I’m proud to be your wife and queen.”
He cocked his head. “Truly?”
I smiled at him. “Truly.”
He gazed at me in a way that made the rest of the world fade away.
I couldn’t hear the crowd or see the banners, the only thing that existed was the way his gray eyes captured mine.
Something passed between us, an understanding laced with temptation and heat, but then we turned a corner and the carriage jolted, and the moment was lost.
The crowd on this street wasn’t throwing confetti. There were no bright banners or loud cheers. The mood had suddenly gone from celebratory to hostile as we rolled down the street. Men and women in the front line of the crowd shook their heads, crossed their arms, or glared at us. No, at me.
“Go back to the frozen lands!” one man yelled, and a moment later something sharp hit my arm, making me yelp. A rock.
Raith’s eyes darkened, storm clouds gathered, and thunder rumbled in the sky.
Lightning crackled in his palms and a few people gasped.
He glared out at the crowd with cold fury, as if searching for the one who’d struck me.
I’d never seen that look on his face before, but I wasn’t afraid.
If anything, I was surprised—and a little thrilled—he’d be so protective of me.
“It’s all right.” I rested a hand on his knee. “We knew some people wouldn’t be happy about our marriage. Not when our kingdoms have been at war for so long.”
His eyes narrowed. “You’re their queen. They should respect you.”
“Maybe they will someday. I haven’t done anything to earn that respect yet.”
“We ended the war with our marriage. Is that not enough?” He scowled, but the sparks in his hands vanished. “I suppose you’re right. Our kingdoms have been enemies for decades. Many people lost loved ones to the war. It will take time to heal those old wounds.”
“Exactly. This is only the first step.” I slid my fingers into his, which still tingled with power. “Showing the people that we’re one united front will prove this alliance is real and that things will change for our people.”
“You are very wise, my queen.” He raised my hand and pressed a kiss to my knuckles, sending a slight shiver up my spine. A few people in the crowd cheered at the sight. I knew he’d done it just for them, but it still made me want more.
I flashed him a bright smile and then turned it onto the crowd as we continued down the winding streets toward our destination, the Sun and Moon Temple on the western side of Archdale.
The buildings grew older as we approached, and I caught sight of something painted on the side of them.
Warnings drawn with bold, dark strokes that proclaimed: Beware the night, stay in the light.
“What is that about?” I asked, gesturing toward the wall.
Raith’s face turned hard at the sight. “Nothing you need to concern yourself with.”
I tugged my hand away from him. “Don’t tell me that.
I want to concern myself with it.” We passed another warning: Fear the darkness, Sun and Moon protect us.
“What are these people afraid of? Does it have something to do with how bright the castle is kept at night? And why I’m not allowed to step outside after sundown? ”
Raith’s eyebrows pinched together. “We’ll discuss it later, Rose. Now is not the time.”
I was ready to demand he tell me everything immediately, but we were nearly to the temple now.
This discussion would have to wait, even though I was impatient to get the truth.
I was on the brink of discovering the answer to questions I’d had the entire time I’d lived in Ilidan, and I wouldn’t let Raith keep secrets from me any longer.
The long procession finally culminated at the temple, which consisted of an area open to the sky with tall pillars and arches. Behind this courtyard stood a large building made of the same glittering black stone as Varlock Castle, with gold and silver carvings of the Celestials all over it.
When our carriage stopped, Raith stepped down and offered me his hand to help me out, which was no easy feat in this voluminous gown.
The crowd cheered as we walked up the steps to the temple hand in hand, although one man spat at my feet, barely missing my slipper.
Guards held him back while Raith’s fingers clenched tight around mine, but I kept my head up and continued walking.
Despite my brave face and my words to Raith earlier, it still stung knowing some people didn’t like me or approve of me as his wife.
It was to be expected, of course, but it was still hard to be the object of such animosity—and a reminder that we had a lot to do before our two kingdoms could truly be at peace.
At the top of the steps, the elderly female priest gave us both a warm smile, her eyes twinkling.
The sun had nearly set and was casting us in the deep purple hues of twilight.
All major ceremonies were performed at dawn or dusk, the holiest times of day when the Celestials were a little closer to each other.
The only more auspicious times were eclipses, which were sacred holidays in all the Six Kingdoms.
The priest performed a long blessing on both of us, her voice carrying out across the crowd as night fell and the Sun passed control to the Moon. When it was finished, she nodded to both of us and stepped back with a low bow.
Raith caught my eye and gave my hand a squeeze, before turning to the crowd gathered upon the steps and through the street. Hundreds of people stared up at us, some with hatred, some with fear, and some with awe or relief. My people now, I realized with a lump in my throat.
Raith raised his hand and cast a spell that amplified his voice so it spread throughout the city.
“My good citizens of Ilidan, it is my greatest pleasure to announce that the long war between our kingdom and Talador is over. King Balsam has removed his troops from our borders, and I have called back our army as well. After decades at war, our kingdoms are finally at peace.”
The audience burst into cheers and applause, drowning out anything he might have said next. He paused as he waited for the response to die down, then turned toward me and took my hand again.
“I have this woman to thank for our newfound peace,” he said.
“Princess Rose of Talador volunteered to marry me to end the war started by our forefathers and to unite our kingdoms despite our differences. Both of us are committed to making this alliance work, and though we’ll never be able to make up for what was lost during the many years at war, we hope we can bring forth a new era of prosperity and stability to Ilidan.
I’m proud to present her to you as your new queen.
” He raised our hands above our heads. “Together, the two of us shall fight back the darkness covering our land!”
Although my smile was genuine as we faced the crowd, I couldn’t help but wonder about his last sentence and what he meant by it. The crowd roared even louder, clapping and stomping their boots, and I didn’t hear any booing this time. Perhaps his speech had won a few of the doubters over.
Raith raised his other hand and magic danced across the sky, with pinpricks of bright light bursting into vibrant colors that formed different designs, including a rose, a bolt of lightning, and the symbols of the Celestials.
An awed hush fell over the crowd as he worked, and with his other hand still entwined with mine, I felt the power thrumming through him.
I sensed when he cast each rune and saw the symbol in my mind as if it were before me in a book.
I raised my free hand and traced the same rune, adding my own light to his, sending spirals of color across the night’s blank canvas.
Our power surged together as it did before, wrapping around both of us and becoming stronger with the two of us feeding it.
The crowd gasped as we both continued the show, culminating in a grand finale of riotous color and light, before we lowered our arms and let the magic fade.
When Raith looked into my eyes, my heart soared.
We were both breathing fast, our faces flushed from exertion and the rush that came from doing magic together.
Everything about it felt right, as if all our lives we’d been doing magic wrong because we hadn’t been doing it together. But did he feel the same?