The Wolf Queen

ABARRANE PACES NERVOUSLY, “CHANNIN, what am I doing?”

The blonde shrugs, “Walking around in your undergarments, for one thing.”

The Vampire stops in front of the mirror and throws herself onto Channin’s bed, “Maybe this was a mistake.”

Channin shrugs again, “I’m going to check on the men and their decorating.” She leaves, pulling the door closed behind her. She heads down the stairs, several Vampires and Dwarves rush around. She ducks under a tray of cake with lavender flowers on top and works her way outside.

I am sitting back, observing the festivities when she approaches. Blonde hair braided and piled on top of her head. She is wearing a simple black dress that covers the fact she isn’t wearing shoes. When I ask her about their location, she only grins.

“She’s nervous.” She says after a few seconds, “Are those the mushrooms from Dawncliff?” She is looking towards the faint blue glow.

I nod, “As expected.” The mushrooms have been arranged on thin tree branches in the center of the tables.

“She isn’t even dressed yet.” She starts to mess with a table cover. Fidgety archers.

I watch her for a moment and notice Will step from the house into the garden. He is wearing clothes he probably hasn’t touched since they left Dragonspire. He almost looks like royalty. “Are you sure she’s the only nervous one?”

Channin shrugs, “Weddings aren’t my thing. If I could never get married and just live my life on the open road, I would.”

“I hope you know what you’re saying.” Will slides up next to her.

The Shapeshifter girl jumps, and recovers quickly, “Of course. I was just telling Omega that Abarrane is having second thoughts.” The change in her is obvious, she lights up when he’s around.

He looks surprised, “That’s great, so is Ian.” He stretches his arms over his head, “We can call this whole thing off and go to bed.”

She digs her elbow into his side, “Not funny.”

He laughs anyway, “He’s surprisingly calm. Have you seen Runir around?”

Channin shakes her head, “Not since breakfast. He and Ian went for a walk and that was pretty much it.”

Will frowns, thinking.

“Don’t hurt yourself.” I mumble, prompting a glare from Will and a giggle from Channin.

“I’m worried.” He clarifies, “Ian is totally calm. It’s ‘unreal’ and no one has seen the only Elf for miles around in a few hours.”

“What? Did Ian eat Runir?” Channin looks at him, disbelieving his tale.

Will returns the skepticism, “Do you have a better explanation?”

Her eyes move to the crowd, “There he is.” She spots the Elf, sitting at a table in the opposite corner, talking to a Dwarf. Will leaves to go join them.

“What do you think?” I ask, knowing she is keeping a secret from someone.

She shrugs, “I don’t know anything. I would like to think that Ian doesn’t have to be on Elf blood to go through with this, but if that’s what it takes to get them through this, maybe we should send Runir up to Abarrane.”

We watch as the trio talks for a minute, the Dwarf leaves and Will turns on Runir. The Elf tries to change the subject, Will grabs his left arm and pulls his sleeve up the reveal the very edge of a white bandage. Channin frowns slightly, she recognizes the bandaging style. Even from this distance, she can pick out the braided appearance. Runir pulls his arm away and attempts to defend himself. Will sends him back into the house.

“I guess I should be getting back to Abarrane.” She waves and heads back inside. She goes back to her room where Abarrane has calmed down enough to start to put her dress on.

The dress is black with lavender accents. The ribbon on the corset and the embroidery is the same purple as her eyes.

“Will you tie this?” Abarrane turns around and lifts her hair. Channin starts at the top and bottom and works towards the middle, pulling each set of strings until the corset is tightened properly.

“You know you don’t really need this. Right?” The Vampire is already little and the corset doesn’t do much for her aside from obstructing normal breathing functions.

The Vampire nods, “I know, but it makes me feel like I am getting married.”

There is a soft knock on the door, Channin opens it enough to see Will.

“You two ready?” he asks.

Channin grabs Abarrane’s hand and leads her into the hallway.

“You okay?” she asks.

Abarrane nods, “Now that I’m out here, I’m better.”

The Vampire tenses up when they near the top of the stairs, Ian is waiting at the bottom.

He’s dressed in military formal wear bringing Channin’s mind back to her engagement party that feels like a century ago.

Ian turns when Channin clears her throat, he stands still for a moment. Then smiles. Channin tries to remember a time she saw anyone in their group smile like that. Ian looks at Abarrane like she is the only other person in the world, like everything is spinning and she is the only clear part of it.

“Is it too much?” Abarrane looks down at her dress, trying to avoid his eyes.

“Never.” Ian is still smiling.

Abarrane finally looks up and her pale face turns red, “Thanks.”

“Here, can’t have a real wedding without a wedding circlet, can we?” He hands a small box to Abarrane, she opens it and smiles brighter.

“Channin, this is more your area.”

The Shifter steps forward to help her. The circlet is made of thin gold chain with small purple stones. Three chains run down the back, ending in feathers. It is striking against her silver hair.

The couple walk down the row of chairs together. They stop under the flowered archway.

Channin speaks first, “We are all gathered today, to bind two souls into one. Abarrane?”

The Vampires take each other’s hands and Abarrane stops shaking.

Channin takes the ribbons from Will one at a time.

Abarrane explains the meaning of the three she chose, “Blue, for I am devoted only to you.” Channin drapes it over their hands, “Pink is for truth, may we always be honest with each other. And brown of the Earth we share, so we shall always be connected. This, I promise.”

Channin steps back and Will moves forward for Ian’s vows.

“Red, for you are my sword and shield and the only one I need. Yellow, as the Sun, for you bring life to everything. And my world revolves around you and has since the beginning of time. Silver for you are my treasure and everything I hold dear.”

“Thanks for outdoing me.” Abarrane mumbles.

“Abarrane, my love, this I promise you.”

Channin and Will tie the cords together. Abarrane practically drags Ian back down the aisle. As the guests follow them, Will takes Channin’s hand.

“Did you really mean that earlier?”

“Probably. But just to be sure, what did I say?”

“About never getting married.” He is cautious, “Do you really not want to get married ever?”

She frowns, “You know, a few months ago, you said the same thing.”

“No, I said I didn’t want to be King.”

“There isn’t a difference with me, Will.” She grumbles.

“That isn’t- I never,” he stops before he is in too deep.

She rolls her eyes and drops his hand, “Yeah, I’m sure that you didn’t think about what you were saying before you said it.”

She storms off, leaving him under the arch.