132. Epilogue
Epilogue
A vania
It’s hard to believe it’s Zaypien Day already. So much has happened in the span of an annum , it’s hard to fathom.
Casting my mind back, I put myself in the frame of mind I was in one annum ago today. I had my bow and arrows and was tramping through the forest behind my home. I was dawdling, stalling, wanting to do anything except return home to dress and travel to the Zaypien station.
I was angry and would have happily missed the event altogether. As I remember my chagrin at seeing the crimson pellum floating toward me and my frantic attempts to pluck any one of the white flowers swirling around my knees, I offer a thankful prayer to the gods that Lucia lunged, threw me off balance, and that my hand came up with the crimson pellum .
Life has a way of surprising you, and so far, my life has surprised me in all the best ways. Yes, I think as I glance up to see my handsome mate entering our private dining room, the very best ways.
I drink in the sight of him. The lines on his face look more than an annum older than when we first met. He’s been forced to grow a lot as he’s borne the mantle of responsibility for every being on the planet.
He’s wearing the crimson robe he wore last annum when he gave the order to release the flowers. Since he’s usually shirtless in our room, it’s an interesting change to see him in all his regal glory when he dons heavy robes for state occasions.
As my gaze follows him, I can’t help but notice my mom at one of only two other tables in the room. She’s sitting with Chancellor Mathene.
Although my mating ceremony was horrible in many ways, the worst part was my mom’s absence. Over the last annum , Valeris has more than made up for the error. He’s not only apologized to each of us, many times, but he’s invited her to move into one of the many suites in the palace’s east wing.
He slides into his chair as his gaze follows mine.
“Are you thinking what I’m thinking?” he asks as he reaches to my plate, shimmies my soft-boiled egg out of its shell, and lays it delicately onto my buttered toast. It’s a little ritual of love he performs every morning as if it’s no big deal. No big deal? It makes my chest tighten with love.
“That my mother and Chancellor Mathene look cozy over there?” I reply.
“I thought I’d seen a spark of interest on his part for the last several of her visits. Now that she’s living here full time, it seems he’s moving in on her.” He laughs and his citrine eyes sparkle with happiness.
“Wouldn’t that be wonderful?” I ask. “I’ve been hinting that she’s mourned for my father long enough.”
“Mmm,” he’s eating quickly because he has to go on camera shortly to announce the release of the blooms. He joined me late for breakfast because he had business to attend to.
“Did you get everything on your agenda accomplished this morning?”
“No.” He gives me the briefest scowl, then leans to whisper in my ear. “I had to get up far too early to get everything done, which meant I couldn’t attend to my mate to my liking. We’ll just have to take care of our mating business after the Zaypien Day festivities are completed.”
“It’s an unpleasant job,” I quip, “but someone has to do it.”
He smiles, then finishes attacking his food so he can take care of kingly business.
“Have I told you lately how proud I am of you?” I ask.
“No,” he lies. Daily, I tell him how much I love him and why. He’s perfectly aware of the depth and breadth of my feelings for him.
“Well, I’ll just have to repeat myself, then.” I go through a litany of all the ways this still-young male has made planetary changes for the good of the populace. The farm loan program was just the beginning of sweeping reforms he’s instituted to make every person on Ton’arr’s life immeasurably better.
“I think it all started with those rubies,” I tell him. That moment in the field with those young males where he truly saw how people could fall on hard times despite all their best efforts, made an impact that no amount of study or discussion could. I control my impulse to tell him just how proud I am of him. I’ll have to show him after the day’s stately demands are over.
His younger brother Kato hurries in, but as usual, he avoids sitting with us and grabs his own table. He has the world at his feet, yet his lips are always pulled back into a snarl. I don’t know what raises his ire, but he’s always angry.
“He’s up to no good,” Valeris says. This time his scowl isn’t playful. In our private conversations, he’s shared how much he worries about his brother’s temperament, and his deceits.
Chancellor Mathene’s chair scrapes as he rises, then hurries to our table.
“Time to announce the pellum release, Your Majesty,” he says. He used to avoid addressing Valeris with those words. As much as he shows affection for my mate, it’s only lately he uses the ultimate respect of that form of address. I think it’s a sign my mate has truly stepped into his own power as a leader.
Valeris stands and pulls out my chair as he gives me his hand to rise. It used to be merely a sign of respect. Now, my belly is so large I need his help.
I was shocked when I put on this beautiful dress. Last I wore it a few lunars ago, it hid my burgeoning belly. Today, nothing hides it. I’ve… expanded. I don’t need to say a word. My loving mate simply senses my worries and leans to whisper, “You look beautiful, my Queen.”
I scoff as we walk to the next room where they’ve set up the cameras. Well, everyone else walks. I waddle.
Although last annum’s announcement was a solitary affair, Valeris insisted I join him in making the announcement today. It’s not a hardship. Nothing’s a hardship. I’m so happy. Everything seems like a fairytale.
We’re told where to stand, and an assistant takes a few moments to make our manes look perfect. I had Blanesse braid rubies into my mane. My mate loves to hear their quiet jingle and I refuse him nothing.
“Welcome back, citizens,” Valeris’s voice booms as he displays all four fangs. “What an honor and privilege it is for me to carry on one of our oldest, proudest, and most honored Ton’arr traditions. In a moment, it will be my pleasure to release the blooms, but I seldom take the opportunity to speak with you, and since I have all of your attention, I wanted to express…”
He takes a deep breath and glances at me. This is so unlike my beloved mate. He’s a very private person. Somehow, I know he’s going to go off script because of me.
“How unhappy I was last annum .” He holds my hand and pulls me close, making certain I’m fully in the vid frame, which is not an easy task for the cameraperson because I’m big as a house. “I was convinced this tradition belonged in the history books and had no place in today’s modern society. I was wrong. Although I didn’t want the Alagan River to choose my mate for me, I was smart enough to realize the best thing in my life was standing right in front of me.”
He stops speaking and looks at me. He’s not in a hurry. This isn’t a quick glance for effect. He allows every citizen of Ton’arr to watch his open appreciation for his mate. Then he unabashedly smooths his palm over my belly, letting all who are watching see his awe and excitement about the upcoming addition to our family.
I’ve been excited about my pregnancy since the day I confirmed it, but how exciting for all of Valeris’s subjects to know the little being inside this bump will someday rule the planet.
“I see why our ancestors began this tradition, and I understand why they named the ceremony Zaypien Day, which, as you may know, means destiny, fate, or providence in the old language.”
We’ve been struggling with deciding on a name for the babe. It strikes me like a lightning bolt that for two smart people, we’ve been kind of dumb. As soon as the cameras quit rolling, I’m going to see what my beloved mate thinks about the name Zaypien.
“An annum ago, I wanted to cancel this exciting event. Today, all I want to do is enact legislation to make it easier for any future winners to take time with their families before they’re whisked away to begin a new, wonderful life of their own choosing. Participation will no longer be mandatory, and the mating ceremony will be postponed indefinitely so each couple can take things at their own speed. This will make Zaypien Day more updated for our current culture while still keeping the underlying theme of promising hope to all inhabitants of the planet. That’s what this day is all about.”
He looks at me, tugs me close, and says, “My Queen, make the announcement.”
Although we didn’t rehearse this, I remember just how he did it last annum . “It is my great pleasure,” I say, then pause for effect, “release the blooms!”