“Such pretty, young fools playing at king and queen,” Queen Abarrane murmured behind them, but Evelayn ignored her, keeping her smile plastered in place despite the sudden cold shiver that snaked down her spine. She couldn’t say why exactly, but she could have sworn there was the hint of a threat in the other queen’s words.
Then Tanvir reached for her hand, and from the moment she placed hers in his, there was nothing but the reassuring strength of his grip, and the warmth of his body beside hers as she stood up from the throne, keeping her shoulders back and her chin lifted as they faced the glittering mass of Draíolon side by side. They’d faced far worse together than the bitter, grieving queen, and prevailed. This was their moment of triumph—finally. And no one was going to ruin it.
High Priestess Teca lifted her hands again, but this time as she did, the light of the candles above them expanded, growing brighter and brighter, until the room was glowing as if the very sun itself had been harnessed in the ceiling of the Great Hall and was shining down on them all. Evelayn felt a slight increase in warmth as power was drawn through her stone and out to her people—to Teca. And then there was a huge burst of sparks, raining glittering drops of light down on the crowd, who gasped and then oohed and ahhed together at the display.
“Draíolon of Lachalonia—both Light and Dark—today is a day of celebration!” Teca’s voice rose and fell in a musical cadence that had the entire hall, even the younglings, hanging on her every word. “At long last, our great and sacred lands have once again found peace!”
A cheer went up from the crowd, and Teca paused until they quieted down once more.
“But peace is not the only reason for celebration this night,” she finally continued, and all eyes suddenly fixed on Evelayn and Tanvir. “It is my great pleasure to announce the official betrothal of Evelayn, High Queen of éadrolan, to Tanvir, High Lord of the House of Delsacht, hereafter to Bind their hearts and souls for this life and the life beyond on the first day of spring in the new year!”
Another, louder cheer rose from the crowd as Tanvir lifted their joined hands up in the air for all to see. Evelayn grinned at her people as four other priestesses walked up the stairs, two carrying the sacred ropes that they would use to entwine their wrists, and two carrying goblets of wine to complete the ceremony.
As the four priestesses stopped beside them, Teca came over and took the ropes, made of gold and silver spun into thread and then braided into an intricate design.
“With these ropes, Queen Evelayn and her chosen king-to-be will pledge their oath to one another for all to see.” Teca handed one rope to Evelayn and one to Tanvir.
He let go of her hand as they turned to face each other while everyone watched.
“Please present your left arm, Queen Evelayn,” Teca instructed.
Evelayn lifted her left arm in the air, her hand palm-down and her fingers pointing toward Tanvir.
“Please present your right arm, Tanvir, High Lord of the Delsachts.”
Tanvir mirrored Evelayn’s movement, except his hand was turned up, his eyes on hers, making her stomach dance with the promises in his burning gaze.
Teca continued, “Queen Evelayn and Tanvir of the Delsachts, you may now place the ropes and make your oaths.”
As queen, Evelayn went first, wrapping her rope around their arms, binding them together, symbolizing the official Binding that would take place in the spring.
“I, Evelayn, High Queen of éadrolan, make an oath of intent, to Bind my heart, my life, and my soul to Tanvir, High Lord of the House of Delsacht. He shall be as my left arm, a part of me hereafter and forever more. Flesh of my flesh and heart of my heart.” As Evelayn spoke, she couldn’t quite keep her voice steady—thinking of all that had happened to finally bring them to this point. Tanvir’s fingers brushed against the underside of her arm as he began to twine his rope around their joined arms, interlacing it with hers.
“I, Tanvir, High Lord of the House of Delsacht, make an oath of intent, to Bind my heart, my life, and my soul to Evelayn, High Queen of éadrolan. She shall be as my right arm, a part of me for so long as we exist. And I shall be at her side, to support her, and love her, hereafter and forevermore.” He turned his hand to gently grasp her arm, and she smiled up at him.
An unfamiliar heat spread from the ropes, encircling their arms and then shooting up into Evelayn’s body, for a brief moment reminding her of the Blood Vow with Lorcan. She blinked as her conduit stone burned hot against her chest. But then it gradually faded to a pulsing warmth once more, and she banished the memory of Lorcan kissing her hand before leaving, and the sense that though he’d made his vow he was still planning … something. She didn’t want anything to ruin this night.
“As you have sworn, so shall it be,” Teca intoned, taking the goblets—one in each hand—and lifting them up. “Drink and seal your oaths.”
Evelayn smiled brightly at Tanvir as Teca handed them each a goblet in their free hands, which they lifted to the other’s mouth to drink, symbolizing their reliance upon one another for the rest of their lives and beyond into the afterlife. The wine was stronger than she’d anticipated, burning down Evelayn’s throat, then spreading to coat her belly in delicious heat.
“The Oath of Binding is now complete. May the Light bless your forthcoming union!”
The crowd echoed High Priestess Teca’s benediction, and then broke into cries of “Praise the Light!” and other cheers. Evelayn stared up into Tanvir’s face and couldn’t quite bring herself to believe that it was possible to be as happy as she was in that moment.
Someone—who sounded quite a bit like Ceren—suddenly called out, “Kiss! Kiss!” and the cry was immediately taken up and repeated, until it became a chant, echoing through the Great Hall. Tanvir lifted one eyebrow at her, his eyes lit with an unholy twinkle of mischief that made Evelayn’s legs feel strangely unsteady.
“We shouldn’t disappoint them, my lady. The Draíolon want a kiss.”
Evelayn stared up into his face—the face she loved so very much—and grinned. “Then a kiss we will give them. A queen must always keep her subjects happy, above all else.”
Tanvir needed no other incentive. He stepped forward, trapping their bound arms between their bodies, and plunged his free hand into her hair, tilting her head up to his. When their lips met, the crowd burst into cheers yet again. Tanvir pressed even closer, his lips moving slightly across hers—a promise of what was to come—and then they reluctantly broke apart.
Evelayn wasn’t prone to blushing, but she could feel a brush of heat in her cheeks as Teca stepped forward to undo the ropes, to return them to the Dawn Temple where their most sacred items were kept by the priestesses of éadrolan.
Once their arms were free, Evelayn stepped forward to address all those gathered.