Page 52 of The Ivory King

“May Ihdos crown you with the wisdom, grace, and intelligence to rule the lands of Melowynn, and may his light shine down on you and your lineage as the golden age of elves ever evolves,” the exalted cloisterer droned in the same voice he used for the liturgy and the previous king’s funeral. I suspected it was the only cadence the old soul knew. The crown was a little too large and far too weighty, but I lifted my chin as those in my chambers called out, “All hail, King Aelir! Long live the new king! Glory of Ihdos on King Aelir!” before the room fell silent. They all remained kneeling save for Umeris and the grand cloisterer.

My cheeks burned as I realized why. “Rise, please, there is no need for any of you to kneel before me,” I rushed to say.

“You are the king, we all kneel before you,” Fylson gently reminded me as everyone rose in unison. “I’m sure this is all quite a whirlwind, Your Majesty, but much needs attended to quickly before we present you to the people on the morrow.”

“Secretary Le’ral is correct,” Umeris stated while moving to stand before me. “You will now dress for your marriageceremony. All of you need to be before the exalted cloisterer at dusk to be joined.” I saw there was more he wished to say but held back. “I assume you know what your duties to Melowynn are, Your Royal Highness, so I shall not speak upon it.”

Ah, yes, he was worried that I would spend the night with V’alor and not impregnate Raewyn. Right now, my concern was being able to walk with this crown and not have it fall off my head and clatter to the ground. Where I put my cock this night was of no concern to me at all. The good of the whole of Melowynn now rested on my shoulders.

“I’m sure His Royal Highness will fulfill all of his duties to his spouses and his realm,” Raewyn softly interjected, reaching her hand out to me. “Let us all take a few moments to gather ourselves, then we will continue with our ablutions and preparations for our wedding.”

“As you wish, Your Highness. We will discuss your schedules later,” Umeris replied with a bob of his head to the future queen, his granddaughter-by-law soon, and my soon-to-be wife. One of two wives. My husband-to-be and Merrilyn stood at my side as the chamber emptied, with Pasil and Beiro backing out of the door, and Tezen buzzing around their heads, singing a little bar ditty about the king and his girthy scepter.

“If you wish, I am happy to guide you all through the next few days. It will be overwhelming for such young people, I am sure,” Fylson offered as he lingered by the door that Pasil now guarded out in the hallway.

“Your advice would be most appreciated,” I earnestly said. “I was trained to rule a vills, not a kingdom.”

“They are much the same, Your Highness. Rule with empathy, humility, justice, and integrity, and the people will support you.”

“Thank you so very much,” I said and got a weak smile from him.

“It does my aching heart good to see you wear that crown. Raloven would have approved of the choice as do I. Now, if you do not need me further, I shall take my leave?”

“Yes, please, you are free to go,” I said. Fylson bowed and left, closing the door behind him. I glanced at the small group still with me. “I am not sure I shall ever become used to giving a great man like Fylson Le’ral permission to do anything.” V’alor placed his arm around my waist and tugged me into his side, with Raewyn clutching my hand reassuringly. “This has been a most crazed day.”

“At least you were not wearing rag rolls with a rhubarb and mud facial mask to your crowning,” Merrilyn tossed out with a wave to her puckered face and frilly dressing gown, a gown that I would not have ever thought to see on the woman. The sharp bite of her sarcasm made us all laugh.

Somehow, I felt, with their help and the guidance of those far more learned than I, we might not royally bungle ruling a kingdom.

Years later, if my child or grandchild—should Ihdos bless us with one—were to ask me what took place after the threat to their father/grandfather’s life had been imprisoned, I would be hard pressed to reply. In truth, the next few hours had found me being bathed, fed, undressed, redressed, and then hurriedly taken to stand in front of the exalted cloisterer and wed to a trio of other people just as harried as I was.

Each of us were clad in attire fitting our stations and had been treated with extra dispensation and kindliness even though the exalted cloisterer was clearly not pleased with joining three elves and a human into one union. As I was now the king, his thoughts on whom I chose as my life partner/partners was mine to make. Knowing this, he was not about to bicker, but I could see the tightness around his mouth as the main shrine was readied for us. A thousand candles, some as tall as a tree, were lit. White and blue flower petals had been scattered over the floor, buntings of the royal colors had been hastily tied to whatever the under-clerics could fasten them to. The towering statue of Ihdos, hands raised, eyes blank, hair puddled on the ground at his bare feet, watched us as we clasped hands.

We’d all been primped and powdered, put into robes that we had never laid eyes on before, and the religious vestments draped over our finest clothes. V’alor and Merrilyn had spent a few hours with the royal tailor being measured and then outfitted in attire befitting of the king’s consorts. My husband was not overly pleased with the attention but as I reminded him while his inseam was measured, he was about to step from a past steeped in shame to stand at the king’s side. When I had mentioned growing his hair out as he would be nobility now, he gazed at me as if Atriel had kicked me in the head.

I stood among the people that I would raise a family with, looking at each of them as the exalted cloisterer, face free from wrinkle cream, began to read from a tome as old as the temple itself. The last rays of the sun lit up the slim windows as the sea, ever-present, rolled up and over white rocks to dampen the glass with sea spray. Normally, a royal wedding would be days long and filled with pomp and circumstance. Given that the elder council was desperate to get us married and mating, and that the people would get a coronation on the morrow, this union ceremony was a rushed affair. I was not offended in the least. None of us holding hands were much on extravagance. The coronation would waste enough money. A wedded party was just as wedded if they spent a few silvers or thousands ingold. It was not the accoutrements that made a joining strong. It was the people involved that crafted the strong bonds.

A long litany of prayers led the ceremony.

“With the blessing of Ihdos upon them, we seek their promises to each other.” His eyes flickered from the yellowed pages to the four of us. “To them all involved.” His unease made me smile as the itchy high collars of the holy robes scratched the back of my neck. “Do you, King Aelir Stillcloud, Ninth Sovereign of the Sublime Court of Elves, Emperor and Commander of the Elven army and navy, Blooded kin of the Queen of the Seventh Trient, Magnate of the wood, sea, air, and all the beasts within, Unifier of the Realm, Defender of the Moon Sisters, Keeper of the Holy Scepter of Ihdos, and Seeker of Serenity for the whole of Melowynn and her people take unto thyself Lady Raewyn Frostleaf, fourth daughter of the noble house of Frostleaf, fourth daughter of the High Table of Grand Testimony, Heiress to the vills of Knight’s Way, and future queen of the realm of Melowynn to be your rightful and—”

“There are two others,” I reminded the priest. His nose crinkled as if he had smelled a rotten potato.

“I beg your forgiveness, Your Highness, for my errors.” He cleared his throat. “The future queen of the realm of Melowynn, as well as Lady Merrilyn Baker, daughter of a baker, and Guard Captain V’alor Silverfrond, son of a…” His gaze darted to V’alor standing at my side, his grip on my hand tightening slightly. “The son of a citizen of Renedith.” I let out a soft breath. “Do you take unto yourself these partners in life and pledge unto Ihdos your fidelity to each?”

“I will take them all before the knowing eyes of Ihdos,” I said so loudly that the under-clerics hiding in the back were sure to hear. The same query was made of V’alor, Raewyn, and Merrilyn in order of importance to the exalted cloisterer,meaning the human went last. It didn’t seem to perturb Merrilyn over much.

More prayers were said before a nervous under-cleric arrived with four thin silver bands lying on a dark blue pillow. Two larger ones and two smaller ones. The rings were blessed and handed to me to slide onto the right index finger of my wedded partners. We had a slight issue with the smaller ring, intended for a woman, for it would not slide past Merrilyn’s knuckle. So I quickly swapped it out for the larger one, then claimed the remaining smaller band for myself. I turned to V’alor with the last band. He plucked it gently from my palm then slid it onto my finger, the fit perfect. I stared into his dark eyes far longer than I should have, but his gaze always held me. Yet more prayers were said until, finally, the exalted cloisterer handed the ancient book to an under-cleric and faced the four of us.

“We shall, of course, bring you bands more fitting. The silversmiths are hard at work as we speak but with such short notice and with so many more bands than usual…”

I waved off his explanations. “Worry not. We shall not require new bands. These are perfectly suited to us. That money can be used elsewhere. Perhaps to aid the orphans’ home?”

“We have no orphan home in Celear,” he replied, then stared at me as if I had sand crabs playing lutes atop my head. “Ah, yes, aiding the poor waifs that roam the streets is a noble cause, Your Majesty.”

“I felt it to be so. Thank you.” I graced him with a smile before leading my spouses through the shrine and out into the now cool night air. A crowd of people lined the golden gates, shouting well wishes and throwing wildflowers as we were hustled into an enclosed carriage pulled by a team of four black horses. Raewyn and I waved to the elves as they parted to let us pass. V’alor and Merrilyn sat stiffly on the plush seats, theirhands in their laps, lips drawn over their teeth. I patted V’alor on his thigh. “You are allowed to wave as well. You are nobility now. Your names have been placed in the annals of Melowynn.”

“I think I shall leave the waving to you and Lady Stillcloud.” V’alor peeked out the window and shook his head. “I am not much of a waver.”

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