CHAPTER XVIII #3
“I have no doubt,” I laugh wholeheartedly, watching the young girl skip away with her mother. Her fingers reach out in her departure before they begin tickling the mother’s side, as if magic would fall out of them.
Keane takes a slow step next to me and places his hand at the small of my back, leaning down to kiss me before he angles us forward. My eyes go wide again as we resume our walk, noting the hundreds of pairs of eyes that are looking in our direction, each waiting for a chance to greet us.
Our walk is slow as we meet every single patron on this rise.
Every single person that shows their appreciation for the news that traveled not fortnights ago.
They’re all sincere in their congratulations, some shaking my hand and others just grinning with a knowing look in their eyes.
There isn’t a single person on the road who isn’t excited and doesn’t share their genuine happiness with us at the future of the Kingdom or at the future of me at their King’s side.
Their words fuel my heart and their features pull out my own deep excitement, and I quickly find myself unable to stop grinning, accepting their roses with every step.
Many asked if we’d be making Gaumond our home, to which Keane promptly declared to the roar of the crowd that the Black Capitol would become the new capitol of Disce.
Many of the men in the roads inquired about my use of green agate, brows titling up with a grin whenever I confirmed that I delivered the final judgement to Esme.
My hands were becoming full with flowers, the red roses stacked so high in my arms that I didn’t know what to do with them.
Someone in the crowd with a keen eye saw and decided to throw their rose from a building high above.
The moment they did, it set off a chain reaction of more roses falling from the sky, the sight of it creating a shower of bright red petals that fell left and right around us.
Ancients.
My heart is bursting. The sight is too much.
I truly don’t know what to do with myself.
How am I still walking without breaking down in emotional tears?
I move closer to Keane in comfort, arm pressing against his as I accept another rose from an older man.
There isn’t a doubt in my mind that he planned this for our arrival, that he set this whole thing up to have Gaumond celebrate our engagement the moment we returned.
He knew that I needed this, another gentle reminder sent my way that the sentiment of Woodlands would remain where it should, there.
His gesture claimed every part of my being.
I can’t contain my joy when we walk through the next gate to the rise filled with woodwork and fire.
The people of Gaumond are all still lining the main road to greet us but it’s Barnes who steps forward first, catching my gaze with his dark brown eyes.
He’s grinning as he shares his own tribute, his congratulations filled with a genuine spark at the prospect of Disce’s future.
I grab his rose with trembling fingers again, laughing when he also promises to share an ale with me tomorrow night.
Ancients, I’ve never felt so accepted, so loved by a common people.
The whole city is participating, greeting me as their future Queen with eyes and smiles of excitement.
Every step we take in the road is met with grinning faces and greetings, roses handed in our direction as a tribute to the future that is to come.
Elder Father and Mother, my heart is so full.
Keane’s summoning suddenly floods me to my core, his desire rocking me so strong that I nearly lose my step.
The laugh that comes from deep in my chest is one of pure and unbridled appreciation as I find and lock eyes with my King, wanting nothing more than to kiss him senseless and shower him with my own desire, knowing that I will tonight. Tenfold.
“You’re beautiful, Alexis,” his hand leaves my back to grab a full bundle of roses from my arm, passing them to Canon at his side. I accept another rose from an elderly woman with a full smile, head pressing against Keane’s shoulder in complete contentment.
“And you’re everything, Keane,” I sigh in response, truly not knowing what I did in life to deserve this man.
Keane’s grin is beaming. It hasn’t stopped in the entirety of our walk.
He snakes a hand behind me again and wraps his fingers around my waist, pulling me closer as we make our way up to Castle Gaumond under a dark sky filled with red roses.
I fight the urge to jump in his arms and never let go, and instead revel in the man at my side who has made me feel like a Queen since the moment I met him.
“This first room is used for private meetings,” the encircled oak of the Court of Warriors flashes a strong black under Keane’s hand.
He pushes the door open as Holis and Canon peek their heads in with me, the two of them nodding in understanding when Keane notes that most mornings begin in this room after dawn training.
The room is simple in its surrounding, set for a group of no more than twelve at a large table.
It has no windows or natural light and remains lit by four torches on the black granite walls. The room is designed for privacy.
“The next door on the left is Desmond’s residence,” he closes the meeting room behind the men and takes a few steps forward, choosing not to open the Master Informer’s door. “And the last two will be yours…”
The four of us are moving through the dark hall that leads to Keane and Desmond’s rooms in Castle Gaumond.
Both Cal and Mana were shown to their guestrooms earlier while Nathaniel, Bryson and Sam had taken their leave on the third rise to head to the barracks.
The soldiers of Gaumond had all lined up along the road when we passed through that gate, swords attached to the sides of their hips with a single red rose in their hands.
They gave a hearty welcome to their King, the First in Command of the armies of Disce, before bowing their heads low with hands outstretched towards me.
They greeted both of our First Guards as new friends, welcoming them to the city and promising to train with them during their time here.
Barnett was in that line-up of soldiers as well, his gorgeous hazel eyes finding mine before he dipped into a low bow.
I couldn’t stop the creeping blush that rose to my cheeks when we greeted him, accepting his rose with a genuine smile.
He looked at the King in deep respect, while I noticed Keane shook his hand firmer than all the others.
It wasn’t until we reached the fourth and final rise of Gaumond that we were finally afforded a mug of ale. Both Sutton and Tripler were the first to greet us under that gate, grins wide and pushing the full drinks into our hands.
“Let me see!” the beautiful brunette sister pulled at my hand, eyeing the ring with a beaming smile. I couldn’t stop my laugh as I let her inspect, my grin so large that my face was beginning to ache from all the happiness.
“You did good, Your Grace,” Sutton turned to Keane with an approving smile, “this is absolutely stunning.”
“A woman down in Warrior’s Row,” Keane nodded, tipping his mug to the brother and sister in thanks. Tripler took a step forward, his flirty blue gaze beaming as we gave each other a swift hug.
“Are you two staying in Gaumond for a while then?” I asked him.
“Yes, our residence is a few roads down.”
“I promised you we’d be here when you came back to Gaumond!” Sutton laughed.
Our walk through the fourth rise took the longest, but it was without a doubt the rowdiest. The night was alive throughout our full walk, with thousands of patrons sticking their heads out of their homes and taverns in greeting, still handing us their roses or throwing them from the buildings above.
Even the castle was alight when we finally made it to the towering black mass, the full of the residents lining the massive entry steps that led into the Great Hall.
Lord Daniel stood at the top of those steps, the strong Discerni greeting us with the various Sirs and Ladies who resided in Castle Gaumond.
He looked so right in his standing as the new Lord, bowing low to Keane and I in deep respect, a gesture that was quickly returned by the two of us.
Our entry into Gaumond was without a doubt the most beautiful arrival in a city that I have ever experienced, one that would live in my memories forever as a cherished greeting filled with love and laughter.
I could barely keep my eyes off Keane and his own smile through the full of it, and even now, as we finally made it to the quiet sectioned-off corner high in the castle, I found myself moving closer to him, fingers drifting towards his hand in a silent pull.
We follow both Holis and Canon as they move into the first of the two doors on the left, inspecting their new home.
My hand squeezes Keane’s tight before I let go and rake my nails up his arm, desperately needing to feel him on me.
Keane turns to me with a small smirk, his grin widening as I walk into the first room with features that alight in surprise.
Both Holis and Canon have the same looks on their faces, the three of us not expecting so much space to be afforded behind the door.