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And I stood there, amid the cheering and bowing that came from the crowds, wearing my beautiful dress and my sparkling crown, and my heart soaked up the frost that laid waste to the land, and my soul reveled under the rule of the longest night of the year.
Chapter 10
When the ceremony was finished, Lainule whispered to me that it would be a good idea if, for my first announcement, I declared Grieve to be my Consort and King-Elect. It was expected that I make some sort of speech, and so I stepped up to the throne. Hesitating, I turned to my father, and he nodded for me to sit.
Inhaling sharply, I looked around the Court. Everyone fell silent, waiting for me. Slowly, deliberately, I lowered myself to the throne, and a soft rustle of air rolled through the throne room as everyone exhaled.
“My first order of business is to declare Grieve my Consort and King-Elect. We are to be married, and he will rule at my side.” I wasn’t sure of how to phrase it, but by the appreciative murmurs, I apparently did just fine.
Wrath and Lainule knelt before me and I stared at them, feeling entirely disconcerted. After a moment’s fluster, I hurriedly motioned to them.
“Please, stand.”
They stood, again, silent, and I realized they were waiting for me to give them permission to speak.
“What do you want? I mean…what is it?” As I stammered over the words, my face began to flush and I tried to hide my embarrassment. I was so not ready for this.
But Lainule gave me a gentle smile and whispered something, and I could hear her on the slipstream telling me to be calm, to take it slow and everything would be all right. I inhaled a long, deep breath and let it out slowly, calming myself.
“Your Highness, we must return to the Marburry Barrow to see to Summer’s coronation. If you wish to attend, your guard and advisor shall escort you. If you would give us leave to go…” Again, a gentle prompting.
This time I got it. “Of course, you may go. And trust me, I’ll be there with bells on.”
She laughed, lightly, and the rest of the Court laughed with her. I decided right then and there that they’d have to get used to a less-than-regal approach to the crown.
As they began to leave the room, I realized I had to dismiss everyone else. In a moderate panic, I looked around for guidance. Grieve was too far away to be of any help, but Strict was standing there, right by my side. He must have seen the indecision running rampant on my face because he leaned close to me.
“Your Highness, just tell me to dismiss the Court. We’ve had so little time to prepare that everyone will forgive you a few breaches of formality.” He looked about ready to pat my hand but then pulled away.
I cleared my throat, grateful to him. “Strict, you may dismiss the Court.”
“As you desire, Your Highness.” He bowed, then turned to the man standing next to him. “Announce the dismissal.”
His companion picked up what looked like a trumpet. I steeled myself for some raucous sound, but the notes that floated out of it were sublime, like a series of wind chimes that reverberated through the room.
A moment later, when the talking had died down, he called out in a loud voice that ricocheted through the room, “Court is dismissed. You may go.”
And the crowd began to disperse, though some of them gave me a backward glance, as if they wanted to stay and meet me or hear me say something. I turned to Strict.
“If these were normal times, there would be a celebration, wouldn’t there?”
He nodded. “Yes, Your Highness, but these are not normal times, and as long as Myst is looming out there, we have to be cautious. We’ve given leave for small parties but have promised the people that when Myst is overthrown, both the Summer and Winter Courts will celebrate for a week.”
“Myst…yes.” As I looked around, I realized that this had been where Tabera had died. She’d died here, her blood soaking into the floors. I wondered if she was watching, from wherever the Cambyra spirits went when they died. Or had she gone on, long past caring?
Sobered, a little giddy, and oddly feeling anticlimactic, I motioned to Grieve. “We need to go to Marburry Barrow. I have to see Rhiannon take the throne.”
“Yes, but you cannot wear your coronation dress, now that you are Queen. It wouldn’t be proper. The only reason she wore hers is that the coronations are happening so close together. She did not intend to upstage you.”
“She didn’t upstage me, and frankly, as lovely as this dress is, I’d rather be in something easier to move in.” I reached up to take off the crown, but Grieve stayed my hand.
“From now on, at all times when you are out of your chambers, you must wear the crown, just as you did the Queen-Elect circlet. Even when you go into New Forest, and yes—I know you will still be doing so. I’ve given up expecting you to fully conform to our ways. I don’t think that’s even possible.” His eyes glimmered, though, and he laughed.
“I miss us-time. We haven’t had much time together the past few days. I miss spending time with the gang. Honestly, I’m scared, my love.”
“Save that talk for our private chamber,” he cautioned. “Come, let’s get you into something more comfortable, and then we will go watch Rhiannon take her place at the helm of Summer.”
Half an hour later, thanks to Druise and Grieve, I was in yet another dress, this one easy and comfortable to move in. It swept the floor, yes, but it was deep indigo blue and sparkled with beaded crystals. It had long sleeves and a deep V-neck, and it snugged in at the waist with a silver belt, then flowed easily down around my feet. I kept the silver boots—they were cute, and when would I have a chance to wear something that impractical again? And of course, I didn’t touch the makeup or crown. I gave Druise leave to head out for the Marburry Barrow ahead of time.
