Chapter 6 The Peace Treaty
Chapter Six
The Peace Treaty
Rivka
Stop fussing. You look beautiful.” Ellis chided Rivka as they waited at the doors to the great sanctuary.
Queen Vivian insisted on using this place for every Treaty signing ceremony in her province.
To be honest, the first time Rivka was brought here with her mother and father, she had felt uncomfortable.
Even at seventeen, the Rune Province was so blatantly prideful in her eyes, with a young queen whose merciless nature was already well known.
A woman like that should not feel so at home in such a welcoming and spiritual place as this sanctuary. The contradiction was disorienting.
Each province had their own ideas of a proper ceremony for the signing.
The Rune Province was all fanfare and pompous gowns with only the most elite bearing witness.
Each council member would be bedecked in their finest regalia and most expensive jewels.
Queen Vivian never shied away from basking in the spotlight and showcasing her wealth.
The Kalmia Province ceremony was Rivka’s favorite.
It was held out in the fields among the crops and dirt that fed the entire realm of Diathan.
It didn’t hurt that Vivian always looked miserable, sweating through the fancy gowns she refused to give up wearing, even in the oppressive heat of full summer.
The giant double doors in front of them opened but they did not walk through. Of course, Queen Vivian and Captain Luther Blackwood were standing in the open archway. A proper entrance must be made. The chords of an organ struck in a flourishing announcement of grandeur.
“Welcome Queens of Diathan!” Vivian’s regal voice dominated the space easily. “Please take your seat as your province is announced.”
With that Vivian turned her back. Rivka watched with humor as Luther attempted to stand at Vivian’s side only to have his instep crushed by a pointed heel. He stepped behind her quickly dipping his chin.
“Queen Vivian Rune, accompanied by her sons Prince Tristan, Prince Erik, and Prince Jackson,” the Master of Ceremonies announced, his voice sounding across the empty room.
“Well, here we go my dear, ready to face the vipers?” Ellis teased, his whisper only loud enough to reach Rivka. She just jabbed him in his side with her elbow, which he promptly looped his arm through, preparing to lead her into the room. The voice bellowed a second time.
“Queen Anika Brynn and King Consort Donovan Brynn, accompanied by their daughters Princesses Harper and Elenor.”
“It’s Elenor’s first Signing Ceremony.” Rivka leaned in to hear Ellis better. “Pity this is her first, poor dear will either be scarred for life or have the best nap of her life.” They stifled their giggles. The four barely made it through the archway before the announcer continued.
“Queen Tessa Kalmia and King Consort Theon Kalmia, accompanied by their eldest son Prince Lucas.”
“When did Theon decide to try and grow a mustache?” Rivka asked Ellis as they shifted to the side to let them pass through.
“Oh he’s been trying for years, can’t ever seem to manage more than what you see though. If I was a betting man, and you know I am, he’ll have it shaved by tonight’s ball. Too much work for such little result.” Rivka attempted a polite cough to cover her laugh, but it didn’t go unnoticed.
“Queen Galen Morrows and King Consort Asa Morrows, accompanied by their eldest daughter, Princess Ashlyn.”
Rivka looked up at her Aunt and gave a bright smile. This was the one good thing that came from the annual ceremonies and balls. It allowed her a little time with a part of her family she rarely got to see.
“Queen Rivka Varon and King Consort Ellis Varon…unaccompanied.”
The veiled insult silenced the room. The barb hung in the air like noxious gas. Ellis squeezed her hand, and Rivka lifted her chin, pouring all the kindness and pride she could muster into her smile as they strode into the great sanctuary and to their seats.
Luther moved to the dais at the front of the room and began:
THE PEACE TREATY
“The realm of Diathan’s most sacred and vital act occurred during a time when the realm felt the trials of utter devastation and loss.
Bloodshed, war, and bleak starvation were at their peak.
The Peace Treaty, written and signed by the five strongest bloodlines of Diathan, was enacted, forging the five represented provinces here today, uniting our realm as one and creating a prosperous and safe land once more. ”
You could tell that Luther took great satisfaction in being the one to read the words of the Peace Treaty; all eyes focused solely on him.
Finally, he directed his eyes downward at the scroll laid out before him.
He would read the words of the Peace Treaty for all to hear, and one by one, each queen would approach the dais, sign their name, and press their seal to the scroll.
“Whereas the most powerful of ancient bloodlines, we, the chosen queens of the realm of Diathan, united in the name of peace, representatives of the Rune Province, Varon Province, Kalmia Province, Brynn Province, and Morrows Province, do hereby declare the end to war, bloodshed, treachery, and all violent acts within the realm of Diathan.
We reject any and all actions that would risk the prosperity and safety between our provinces and enact this our Peace Treaty.
The queens of Diathan shall gather together henceforth every year at the summer solstice to renew and reaffirm their unity and continued commitment to the realm in its entirety.”
“Article 1…”
Luther’s voice droned on in Rivka’s ears.
She couldn’t fathom why Vivian always insisted on reading every word of the Peace Treaty aloud, knowing that the Articles clearly state that each queen must read every word to themselves before signing to ensure that nothing had been changed or altered since the last signing.
What a colossal waste of time. Ellis pinched her thigh, and she nearly yelped.
“It would not be such a smart thing to nod off at this important time, my Queen.”
Sometimes Rivka hated Ellis’ perceptive nature, but damn, the man was right. This was only the beginning of what would likely be an incredibly long day and well into the night.
The day had finally come to a close. Each queen had signed the treaty, sealing their fate for another year and bringing continued peace to the realm.
Of course, Queen Vivian had to make a flowery, over-the-top speech before eventually dismissing them for the evening.
They were all to return to their bedchambers to begin their primping for tonight’s grand ball.
Rivka was exhausted. She really did not want to attend the night’s festivities.
She would much rather stay in her bed, curled up around Ria, devouring that novel they had started together.
Ellis slipped his arm through hers once more as they made their way into the corridor leading to their bedchamber.
Shaking off her daydream, Rivka leaned into his side, causing him to shift his weight and stumble slightly.
Right then, the door to the washroom swung open and Luther stepped right in their path, knocking into Ellis.
“Watch where you are going, imbecile.” The satchel he was carrying fell to the floor.
“Oh, my apologies Queen Rivka, I mistook you for someone else.” Luther bowed slightly to her, not nearly low enough for the respect owed but Rivka didn’t exactly care.
She wanted to be rid of this bully of a man as soon as possible.
Luther regained his composure and bent fully to retrieve his satchel and its contents from the floor.
He pocketed it and half-heartedly sang, “I do hope that we see you later tonight.” Giving a slight dip of his head and a crooked grin, he strode down the corridor without a backwards glance.
Watching him stroll away, Ellis turned a puzzled look at Rivka, who just shrugged.
“I didn’t even know he could smile. That was a smile, right?
” Rivka snorted, “I’m not entirely sure what that was, to be honest.” The perplexed expression on Ellis’ face was almost comical and continued speaking as if Rivka hadn’t answered him at all.
“And why was he slumming it on this side of the palace? This is where all of us “lowly” royals from the visiting provinces are, and he obviously thinks he is above us. Such a strange man.”
Ellis was right. She couldn’t quite put her finger on it but the encounter left her feeling unsettled. It appeared that Ellis felt the same, as he continued to stare after the man with a look of concern.
“El, are you even listening to me?”
“Yes, sorry.” He glanced down at her. “You have to attend tonight, my love. It would look poorly on you if you didn’t at least make an appearance. It won’t be that bad.”
Sticking her bottom lip out, Rivka made a show of stomping her foot, making Ellis chuckle.
“You can say that because you aren’t having to squeeze yourself into a tight-fitting dress that you can barely breathe in, let alone eat anything. I am going to positively die of hunger tonight. You mark my words!”
Ellis stifled his laugh, playing along.
“I am sure everyone would love to see me squeeze into a dress. My ass would be the talk of the ball.”
Laughing Rivka bumped him with her hip.
“You would look positively scandalous!”
“At least someone will be taking yours off of you later tonight and doing a little eating of their own.” Wiggling his eyebrows suggestively at her, he poked her in her stomach. “Some of us aren’t so lucky.”
“ELLIS!” A blush heated Rivka’s cheeks. The teasing was all in fun, though she knew Ellis often covered up his loneliness with humor.
She jabbed him with her elbow, just as they reached their door.
Entering first, Ellis held it open, bowing with flourish.
Rivka sailed past him with an air of haughtiness, head held high, in her best Vivian interpretation before collapsing into another fit of giggles.
It was nice to just be Riv and El for a bit.
Soon it would be time to put on the dreaded dress and become Queen Rivka again.
Her only consolation was that her two favorite people would be by her side.