Chapter 30 Aderyn
ADERYN
Half of the people in the Spires rushed out to meet us when we returned.
Well, many rushed out to see me, and then when the first person spotted Roland on my back, and a cry went up through the palace, everyone else came out.
Apparently, and not terribly surprisingly, Bet had been close to convincing Tristram to muster the army and invade Destovia. They were already building new ships on the coast just outside the city, and upon Roland’s return, they didn’t stop.
No, they continued to work on them, and followed through on plans to patrol the coast in the future, with ships of their own, and attack any Destovians who dared return to Llangard.
They were already in discussions with the Wave Clan to do more of the same, and have dragons defending the coast of our land, right alongside humans.
It was what made Llangard truly the greatest nation I could imagine: the fact that we weren’t a single nation, a single people, but everyone working together. Helping each other rather than infighting like children who were determined to have the biggest share of pie they could.
Our arrival, though? It was the most incredible moment of my life, maybe ever. Better than escaping Vidar, better than getting my first feather. Even better than that night I’d spent with Roland, when we had . . .
Well.
We landed in the courtyard, and it was only a few seconds before shouting rang through the whole of the Spires, “Roland is returned! The King is back!” in a mad cacophony where it was hard to make out single words, but easy to hear the joy in them.
In moments, we were mobbed, people surrounding us, even though I hadn’t yet shifted back. Roland was always worried about people seeing my skin, so I tried not to do it where they would see me.
It was . . . cute, the way he fretted over a bit of skin.
This day, though. This day, he used his knees to lift himself higher on my back, so all in the courtyard could see him. He only had to shout for a second to have everyone in the area fall silent, listening to hear what he had to say.
“Destovia has been informed that they are no longer welcome on our shores,” he shouted, and the people around us nodded, grumbling quietly what I assumed were insults about a people who would accept hospitality with no intention of returning it in kind, but instead repaying our kindness by kidnapping our king.
Roland wasn’t finished, though.
No, he held his arms high in the air to quiet the people, and they immediately complied.
“This problem was in part brought on by another, which I mean to see ended this very day. The Destovians thought they could press me into a marriage with their princess, a woman whom I have never met, and likely never will. What they did not understand is that there is only one person in all the world I will ever willingly marry.” My belly twisted, all of me going warm as Roland leaned forward and laid a hand on the side of my neck, much as he often did when I was in my two-legged form.
“If I am to marry, ever in all my days, it will only be to him. To Aderyn of the Wind Clan, my love. As I would have all Llangardians marry for love, rather than convenience or money.”
He leaned into me and pressed a kiss to the side of my head, as I leaned right back into him.
Beneath us, I heard Bet mutter a gruff, “It’s about time,” even as Tris leaned in and bumped his shoulder, giving him a chiding look.
Perhaps to remind him that if the stories were to be believed, Tris had been forced to find his dragon form for the first time and leap to catch the man from falling to his death before Bet had admitted his love for his own dragon.
I was rather grateful Roland hadn’t made me work so hard to prove my worth to him. If anything, he had been more convinced of my worth than I had.
It took some time for Roland to clear the courtyard enough so that he was comfortable with me shifting, and he immediately pushed his coat onto my shoulders when I did.
Fortunately or not, the first person there to greet me was my own brother. I ducked my head, biting my lip and not able to meet his eye. “Hafgan.”
“After what happened?” he asked, his tone dubious as he shot Roland a little glare, as though somehow the situation was suspicious. Like maybe I was being pressured into this.
I supposed it was possible, since who could ever say no to a king who wanted to marry him? Except that I could. It would embarrass Roland if I backed out and said I couldn’t possibly marry him, but I didn’t think for a moment that he would try to pressure me into it.
Because Roland loved me just as much as I loved him, and the biggest part of love was wanting the person you loved to be happy.
And that, more than anything made me turn my head up to meet my brother’s doubtful gaze. “After anything, Hafgan. Or everything. You understand. Bowen attacked Brynaf and took you prisoner, but you would never hold it against him.”
“Indeed,” Bowen agreed, stepping forward to wrap an arm around Hafgan when my brother looked like he might protest. “We are all allowed to decide what is forgivable and what isn’t, for ourselves.
I, for one, have always thought His Majesty an excellent fellow who would do anything for his people. A kindred spirit, even.”
Roland’s eyes went a little wide at the comment, and he inclined his head. “You do me honor, Bowen of the Stone and Wind Clans. I cannot imagine what I would do when put in the difficult situations you’ve found yourself in over your centuries. I can only aspire to your wisdom.”
Bowen chuckled. “Never that, Majesty. Always aspire to better. I know you’re capable of it, or our little bird wouldn’t love you.”
“Better,” Roland agreed. “What we should all aspire to.”
Bowen nodded back, then reached out to squeeze my shoulder with one hand, and Roland’s with the other. “Every day. Better. For each other, as well as the rest of the world.”
And I couldn’t think of a single worthier goal than that.