Chapter 12
“We are gonna be late!” Silas yelled from the main room.
Both males were waiting on her, Emris adamant both escort her to the ball for protection and she had no complaints about it. She had yet to see them in their formal attire, Raine helping her get ready around the corner from them.
“Ok, what do you think?” Raine spun her around on her feet, the mirror showing her whole body and she couldn’t help but stare.
The breastplate was made of silver painted leather, the top of her breasts carved with feather accents and the Nordic designs of her people spread around the rest of the open space.
It covered her breast and halfway down her stomach, leather shoulder pieces connecting it to the back and white chiffon fabric laid under it against her skin that could be seen around the edges.
Once Raine had cinched up the back corset, her cleavage peaked out from the top of the plate and she smirked at how Emris would balk at such a vulgar thing.
More white fabric hung from pins on the back of the shoulder plates, drooping between her shoulders and falling to the floor behind her. Her lower back could still be seen through the sheer fabric, her Vulknut tattoo at the base of her spine visible.
More leather hugged around her hips, the skirt again carved with more intricate details as it draped down her legs. It stopped at the middle of her thigh, the four sections sewn together in perfect form. One on each side of her hips and then one on the front and back.
More white fabric was placed beneath it, dropping farther down her leg with a long slit cut into it on both sides.
Even in formal wear, they still looked like warriors in her kingdom and she would honor that still. She might not have a home to return to yet, but she was going to make sure everyone knew she intended to.
Raine had braided her hair into a traditional Valkyrie crown style, one thick braid around with loose hair and small braids under it. She had not done anything with her hair like this in over a century, but she could feel the familiarity seep into her.
Lastly, she had dug through her bags and found her most precious addition to the whole outfit, one she had kept packed away out of shame for a long time.
Holding her Mjolnir necklace in her hand, her eyes stared at it with a heavy feeling pressing into her chest and she forced herself to take a deep breath. She handed it to Raine, who took it gently and fastened it around her neck as it laid between her cleavage.
Raine smiled at her in the mirror, her own eyes racking over the familiar figure staring back. This is who she was supposed to be and it felt familiar, but at the same time it felt so foreign.
“Coming.” She yelled back, taking in a deep breath before walking out to the males waiting for her.
A smile formed on her face as she watched both males freeze in place, their eyes glazing over slightly as she walked around the corner to them.
“I'm guessing by the expressions on both your faces, you approve?” she chuckled and continued to walk towards them.
Kaden stayed silent, training his face back into his normal stoic blank expression and she rolled her eyes. Silas on the other hand, the look on his face made her want to melt as she continued walking.
“You look stunning.” Silas’s voice was barely audible.
Her eyes gazed over both of the males as she approached, both in royal attire made for special occasions and she found herself looking past Silas.
Kaden had a black cotton shirt with a few upper buttons undone in the front that showed part of his chest, his hair up in a neat bun and a brown leather vest showing the king's crest over it, his leather belt holding his sword.
He had cream cotton pants that fit looser than the fighting gear, and brown boots that laced almost up to his knees.
Silas stood closer to her, wearing the same outfit but had a small piece of white and silver fabric around his wrist that matched hers. His hair was combed to one side, the front barely falling forward towards his eyes.
“Well, you both look handsome as well.” Her eyes wandered back to Kaden, who she could see noticed her Mjolnir necklace before averting his gaze, and then she turned to Silas. “Shall we?”
Silas held his arm out to her, Kaden following behind as they made their way to the ballroom. She knew this was the final step in her return to society, and she was glad to have Silas with her. She even felt at ease with Kaden accompanying them, as odd as it felt.
They had walked through the castle in silence, the sound of music getting louder as they approached the ballroom. She had her arm looped around Silas’s the whole time, Kaden in step behind them casually glancing around for threats as they walked.
She saw people entering the giant doors at the entrance, their names being announced as they entered per the social standards in the kingdom. She stopped a few yards away, her breathing starting to get away from her as the weight on her chest pressed in.
‘1, 2, 3..’
“You got this.” Silas’s calm voice helped soothe her nerves slightly but the thought of being surrounded by so many people still kept her anxiety lingering.
“At least one of us will be with you at all times.” She turned to face Kaden, surprised by his words and the soft tone of his voice. He didn’t look at her, his eyes on alert and looking around at the people arriving in the carriage nearby.
“He’s right,” Silas reassured her before tugging her along to the door.
They stopped at the entrance, and looked to the male standing next to the door holding a sound cone to project his voice.
“Name?” he asked, looking at her then both males around her.
“Alyra Adair, Princess of the Valkyrie,” she said with her chin high watching his eyes widened.
“Silas Hawthorne, Royal Guard.”
“Kaden Caddel, Royal Guard.”
The male swallowed in disbelief, but turned to the crowd with the cone in hand.
Kaden walked up to her side, his arm held out to her but he didn’t touch her.
He was giving her the choice, which meant he at least respected her enough to know her boundaries.
She knew it meant nothing, just a tactic to show everyone she was under their protection and she slowly looped her arm into his.
She didn’t flinch at the contact, their combat training having some effect on her.
“Welcome Alyra Adair, Princess of the Valkyrie. Accompanied by two Royal Guards Silas Hawthorne and Kaden Caddel.” the male’s voice boomed through the crowd.
Silence blanketed the entire room, heads turning to see her walk down the entry steps with both males in tow. She kept her head high and kept reminding herself she was a queen in technicality, even if she didn’t feel like it.
Emris rose from his smaller throne at the other end of the room, the mass of people moving to make a path towards him.
She did not look around, only catching glimpses out of the corner of her eye of the people staring in disbelief.
She had no doubt her outfit was just as shocking as her return from the dead.
Fae culture was more conservative, barely showing skin and very basic colors were the style to wear. Her wearing a revealing bright dress was something that would be talked about for weeks, if not years.
“Welcome Alyra,” Emris’s voice cut through the silence, his blue wings spread out in full view. “Come, join me.”
They had gotten to the bottom of the dais his throne was on and he reached his hand down to her.
Silas squeezed her arm in assurance before both him and Kaden stepped back. Hesitantly she reached for Emris, her skin barely touching him and he helped her up the small set of steps until she was next to him. As soon as she could, she pulled her hand away, nausea almost spiking.
“Esteemed and honored guests, I’m sure this comes as a surprise to you that we are joined by a princess we thought had been slain in battle long ago,” his voice carried across the crowd, people mumbling to each other as they stared.
Kaden and Silas stood at the foot of the stairs, their hands resting behind their backs and face towards the crowd.
“I can assure you, this is not a ruse or any type of deception. This is Alyra, and she has agreed to join us against Mavros once again.” Emris glanced at her with a smirk on his face. “Please, say a few words to the people you have agreed to protect.”
She swallowed hard, Silas shifting on his feet in front of her sensing her stress.
“Thank you, King Emris.” She nodded to him before stepping to the edge of the dais.
“My people are gone, and I am the only living Valkyrie bloodline left.” She noticed Kaden flinched out of the corner of her eye but kept talking.
“As you are aware, I’m also the only union of Fae and Valkyrie known to this world.
I have come out of hiding to help with this war we are now facing that involves the same enemy that wiped out my people.
I will do whatever I can to make sure Mavros does not succeed in his effort to wipe Ambros from existence.
I would not wish that on anyone.” She glanced towards Emris, Declan standing next to him with eyes on her.
She sighed again and looked back towards the mass of people listening intently to her.
“Please, enjoy your night and let the world know the Valkyrie princess is alive and well.”
Applause erupted from the people as she stepped down, both Kaden and Silas holding their hands out to her.
“Breathe.” both males said simultaneously.
She did as she was told and walked with them across the room, the guests going back to their dancing and social interaction.
“You did great.” Silas whispered as they made their way to a spot along the wall.