life and death

The whole room busted out in laughter.

"Thanks Oli, I think we needed your sharp whit to cut the tension" Emmery said.

"I've never met the Sister's before; I didn't even know they existed still!" Carter admitted "that's honestly the coolest thing I've ever gotten to experience."

"It's a well guarded secret among high born High Elves. It's by their request we shield them. Now let's move to my office since it's closer than the kings. We have much to discuss between the inevitable impending war."

"And our dear sister's wedding" Alistar stood up from his place on the ground.

"With all the bad, it will be good to have a celebration of sorts, Elysium will unite bringing in a new era." Alderic said, "I've never been prouder to have you as my baby sister Rion."

Walking over to me he picked me up and gave me a big hug swinging me around like I'm a child again. It felt good to be protected by him. By all of them. The room was overflowing with love.

After heading back to my mother's office Tamra brings refreshments and lunch to her office.

Sitting next to Carter and Theo, we all ready ourselves for this conversation.

"The Sisters gave us some clarifications I feel we all needed." The queen started "we will have to find you a more suitable necromancy tutor. I'll have Alistar start researching the ancient gods and this Nothingness we are to face. Alderic is right, we also need to plan for a wedding. The wedding will bring the clan's together and for the first time in centuries, and give us all a chance to build alliances and strength them. I'll talk with Sera's mother about them both taking time from the season of the hunt, to aid in wedding plans."

"So, we are planning a wedding and a war at the same time…" I chuckle a bit "that doesn't sound the least bit complicated at all, nothing could go wrong."

Everyone chuckled, cause it really did sound like a whole complicated mess.

"Anyways are we going to talk about this whole death entity Netherworld shit those witches said or what?" Theo said "or are we gonna sit and talk wedding details. Cause I for one need to know what to do to protect my wife"

Orion: are you worried about me?

Theo: are you seriously asking me that?

Orion: maybe?

Theo: don't make me take you back to our room.

Orion: is that a promise?

Theo: stop it right now

Orion: or what?

"Are you two finished with your private conversation, may I continue? Or shall we wait a bit longer?" My mother said shrewdly .

"We will find you a better magic teacher like I was saying, and we will have to find ways to test your bond and maybe even strengthen it. From what the Sisters had said you are her tether to this world. You are her lifeline. Which is why life can tame death." My mother continues "Orion, you have so much that was just piled on your plate. Do you think you can handle it?

"Do you think I have a choice?"

Leaving the conversation at that, we all split up and head in our separate directions, managing the task's we've been given.

***

Theo catches Carter up on all the things over the past few days as we head to the dining hall.

"Well damn that's a whole shit show I'm sorry I was a shit guard and I wasn't around." Cater responded disappointed in himself.

"It's okay man, I didn't include you. I think this was stuff we needed to do on our

own. Something to make things about us and not the responsibilities of our duties and a bond." Theo said.

"In retrospect, it's been nice here, I've had a few interactions with

"I wonder how the people feel about their crown prince marrying a high elf and not another sun elf." Carter said

"What do you mean? Why would they?" I said

Theo sighs "some sun elves are pretty prejudice against high elves and moon elves. Especially the common folk."

"Oh, I see. Never thought other elves hated us still. Why?"

"They think it's your fault we're struggling with the rot. That because of the shitty territory divide we were forced to be the ones closer to the mountains."

"Well, that's dumb. The clans were divided generations ago. After the first war. We are nothing like our ancestors anymore, clearly, I'm marrying someone not of High

Elf lineage. And have your people changed? Do women have equal standing or are we still subordinates? Sexist pigs?"

I got steamed up real quick, it should be us that hates them, wanting to keep me from being an independent person. The audacity of his people. Yeah mine had their faults but the fact a woman would rule was what sparked the rebellion doesn't sit well with me.

"Hey, don't say shit like that about my people. OUR people." Theo said.

"It's only OUR people if they see me as their future QUEEN. They just get to hold on to their prejudice against me about something my ancestors did, and because I'm a woman, but I can't hold theirs accountable for how they think of me?"

The clans ask about our changes. What of there's?

"I will kill any person who disrespect's or intends to harm you and display them for all to see." Theo said, "They will know the cost of disrespecting their queen my wife and it's the same as treason. A threat against my wife is a threat against me"

"That's a bit excessive don't you think? They're allowed to not like me. That's not treason Theo"

"To be honest I agree with Theo and the queen, there will be a lot of people who aren't pleased with a woman ruling them. Especially the dwarves. They loathe the idea of a woman telling them what to do." Carter said "Sun Clan won't respect you, especially as a woman, if you don't command their respect."

"You wont be safe, we have to make my people respect your authority, until we can align all the clans and change these views." Theo added.

"He's right the rest of Elysium could stand to benefit a lot by seeing how the high elves live with their equality in the heart of Elysium." Carter said.

"And that darling is way we will plan a spectacular wedding to show all of Elysium how truly wonderful it is to let women do best and lead." Mrs. Evanstorm said walking in. "Oh my Riri, aren't you just as lovely as ever." I go running up to her and yell "Mammy!!"

When I first met Sera, she couldn't say mommy right so she said Mammy instead. So when Sera and I became best friends first day of music camp she introduced her mom as Mammy and so I called her Mammy too thinking it was her name.

Embracing me "Oh the dress I'm having designed will be splendid!"

"Some of the first rounds of designs will be brought by here soon, I brought with me samples of colors and textures for the wedding theme." Mrs. Evanstorm says.

Sera comes walking in with some servants of hers behind her. Sera was dressed in a purple silk gown, the dress top had a bodice built in that put emphasis on her slender waist. Her top had square shaped neck line that made her gave her breast some pretty large cleavage. Sera was very developed up top, kinda always was.

"Mammy why do you insist on bringing all of this stuff," she asked "what you couldn't slim it down some?"

Sera and her servants set the boxes of things on one of the tables.

And Sera walks up to the rest of us and joins in.

"Introductions!" I shout, "Mammy this is my betrothed Prince Theo of the Sun Clan elves, and this is our personal guard, Sir Carter Landen."

"And Sera, you know Carter, right?"

"Yes, but not well enough." Sera said stepping forward, placing her hand in his bowing her head in the respect a lady of the court would be expected of.

Theo: Carter looks dumbfounded by Sera.

Orion: I noticed! And Sera is detouring from her I'm well-bred act too. Haha

Carter was tall like Theo but not as tall. His hair was browner less black and very curly with a lot of volume. His eyes were a more amber brown than gold like Theo's. He had high cheek bones and a strong slender jaw line. He was very muscular and very handsome, you could mistake him for a royal, easy, with how good he looks.

"It's a pleasure to have a more formal introduction. I am young Lady Sera Evanstorm of the Ice."

Carter takes her hand, bows and kisses it.

Theo and I both stifle a laugh.

T: he really just did that didn't he.

He sure did, how cute.

"I am Sir Carter Landen of the Prince's Guard." He said with a smile "not as cool of a title and I have no cool magic, but I'm killer with a sword"

"Bahahaaaaaa" Sera and I bust out laughing.

"Charmed" Sera said holding in a laugh, which made her cheeks blow up. Taking her hand back slowly.

"Did I say something funny" Carter said scratching his head looking Theo who was just standing there with a smirk. Carter was confused.

This just made us laugh louder.

"Killer with a sword" we say at the same time "what else would you do with a sword; I hope your killer with it." I said laughing.

Carter shakes his head and face palms. Embarrassed he missed his own pun.

We all sit around the table and discuss the wedding plans. Who to invite. What colors to wear. What food to eat. Who sits where. We compile a list of all the different clan members expected to attend. We sort through different applications for more help working the wedding.

Sera and her mother argue over what colors to use, I finally settle the argument and decide on the colors which are purple and silver and white.

Me and Theo would be the only couple in the wedding party to wear gold. The flower arrangements would be orchids, lilies, and roses.

My dress would be made of the finest silk

Figuring everything out, for the most part, they wrap things up. Mrs. Evanstorm and her servants pack everything up and the servants bring their things to the carriage.

"This wedding is going to be wonderful. I'm so excited" She's kissing both my cheeks and whispers "thank's for getting me out of those stupid 'lady' classes". Hugging me, she bids me farewell.

Sera waves bye Theo and looks directly at Carter and winks and blows him a kiss. 

Carter turned pink almost fainting.

I just shake my head. My best friend is such a flirt.

T: did you see that?

O: I'm sure glad I didn't miss it. 10 silver pieces she makes the first move.

T: 15 he doesn't make it to the first move before he blows it.

O: you're on.