Coronation

[Karina]

"I suppose not," Karina said with her characteristically sweet smile as she lightly dusted off her dress and reached up to make sure her curled coiffure was still in place. "Although," she teased, "if you do run, I'm afraid you'll be disappointing a ton of people - that, and I would be blamed for letting you escape. And since I'm not exactly sure what goes on with all this royalty stuff, I wouldn't be surprised if someone charged after me and screamed 'Off with her head!' You know - for ruining the ceremony by letting you leave." Settling down next to Christine, Karina smoothed back the stray locks of her companion's hair and said with mock severity, hoping that she was being of some comfort, "And since I very much like my head, I simply can't let you out of my sight."

[Chris Strongheart]

"Chopping off heads is a too last three century and b too barbaric for my people," she said lightly, before resting her head on Karina's shoulder. "I'm just a bundle of nerves. I was like this when I was younger and getting introduce to suitors," she said, mock shuddering. She sighed softly. "I'm worried that something bad will happen."

A grey furred dog approached the pair and dropped down next to the princess, resting his head on her lap. "Karina, I'd like to introduce to Prince, the dog form that my father takes when his curse is active," she said quietly, almost embarrassedly.

[Karina]

Quickly picking up on Christine's embarrassment, Karina felt her heart go out to her because if there was one thing she knew, it was that. Desperately wanting to show Christine that she was the last person she ought to feel self-conscious around, Karina said in a tone of mock sadness, "Your life is much more interesting than mine, Christine - and I have to admit, I'm rather jealous. You see, the only thing my father is is a drab businessman. How utterly boring!"

[Chris Strongheart]

"It makes buying presents for his birthday, ah, rather interesting," she admitted. "Part of the reason I'm having the coronation now is because of his curse." She rolled her eyes goodnaturedly. "And Sky wonders why I'm perfectly calm around him when he's like that," she added, knowing Karina knew what she was referring to.

"And how are your pixietails? They behaving?" she asked, her eyes darting about for the quickest of all pixietails.

[Karina]

At the mention of her pixietails, Karina smiled fondly as she cast her gaze about her surroundings, searching for them. "Oh, they are mischievous little things - always pulling at my hair and the like and complaining about why I don't grow it out - but I've grown attached to them all the same."

Spotting PixieSong, Karina smiled and asked, "PixieSong - where are the others?"

At this PixieSong chirped and said in a sing-song voice, "How should I knowix?"

"PixieSong," Karina said, giving the pixietail a stern look, "don't you be difficult."

Returning the look as though they were in a staring contest, PixieSong finally relented and then flew out of sight for a moment before she returned with the others and said in exasperation, "There. I found themix."

The absurdity of the exchange between herself and PixieSong making her giggle softly, Karina gave Christine an apologetic look before she said, "They're just darling, aren't they?"

[Chris Strongheart]

"I know what it's like," she admitted, shaking her hair slightly so her pixietails, a trio of rabbits, appeared. "This is PixieBeauty, PixieShine, and PixieSparkle," she said, introducing her trio to Karina.

"Helloix," PixieBeauty chimed.

"Nice to meet youix," PixieSparkle said.

PixieShine said nothing, just offered her a shy smile.

[Karina]

Greeting them with a smile, Karina then rose to her feet and said to Christine, "Well, if I'm not mistaken, the time has come to make you ruler of your realm." Offering a hand to help her up, she asked softly, "Ready?"

[Chris Strongheart]

"No," Christine admitted truthfully, "but I can pretend to be." She wordlessly took Karina's hand and stood up slowly, brushing the dust off her dress. "Let's do this," she said softly. She and Karina silently made their way to the chamber where the coronation was to be held, Tash was already waiting there.

Christine's breath caught in her throat when she saw one of the attendees at the coronation and knew, just knew that there'd be a fight if Sky saw him. "Karina," she breathed softly. "Please tell me that I'm seeing things and that's not Byron," she whispered, looking at her new friend for reassurence. She had told Karina the story concerning Byron, herself and Sky so Karina wasn't clueless if Sky wanted to attack Byron upon sight.

[Karina]

Following Christine's gaze, Karina winced and a grim expression slowly spread over her features as she said, "I wish I could but I would be lying and that's something I just don't do . . ." Shaking her head to clear her mind, Karina quickly turned to Christine and said reassuringly, "But don't you worry, everything is going to be fine. Sky knows better than to pick a fight with Byron today."

[Chris Strongheart]

"It's not Sky picking the fight that I'm afraid of," she said quietly. "It's the reverse." She took a deep cleansing breath and made her way to the throne to sit. Fear danced across her features as she watched Byron watch her and watch Sky.

Shining Glory, the kingdom's wisest and most loyal wizard (of sorts), felt compassion for the young princess - daughter of one of his dearest friends. He made his way over, carefully, and placed a hand on her shoulder. His sightless eyes stared into the distance but he knew that she was relaxed now - now that she knew someone understood her fear.

"Sirs, I here present unto you Lady Christine Melisande Strongheart, your undoubted Queen. Wherefore all you who are come this day to do your homage and service, are you willing to do the same?" he called, addressing the lord standing to the west.

A cry to the affirmitive came.

"Sirs, I here present unto you Lady Christine Melisande Strongheart, your undoubted Queen. Wherefore all you who are come this day to do your homage and service, are you willing to do the same?" he called, addressing the lord standing to the east.

A cry to the affirmitive came.

"Sirs, I here present unto you Lady Christine Melisande Strongheart, your undoubted Queen. Wherefore all you who are come this day to do your homage and service, are you willing to do the same?" he called, addressing the lord standing to the north.

A cry to the affirmitive came.

"Sirs, I here present unto you Lady Christine Melisande Strongheart, your undoubted Queen. Wherefore all you who are come this day to do your homage and service, are you willing to do the same?" he called, addressing the lord standing to the south.

A cry to the affirmitive came.

Byron watched the scene take place, all the while smiling, knowing that this would be the chance to destroy his rival.

"Will you solemnly promise and swear to govern the Peoples of Lovelylocks, according to our respective laws and customs?" he asked Christine.

"I solemnly promise so to do," she said, her voice deceptively calm. Inside she was a writhing mess of fear and terror.

"Will you to your power cause Law and Justice, in Mercy, to be executed in all your judgments?"

"All this I promise to do. The things which I have here promised, I will perform, and keep. So help me God," Christine said, her voice finally shaking.

[Chris Strongheart]

Various other royal trinkets followed after her vow, and then came the handing over the scepters. By now, Christine was close to being ready to pass out. The minute the scepters were in her hand, the assembled crowd broke out with a cry of "God save the Queen."

Christine's eyes frantically sought out her friends and her team, almost wishing they'd just kidnap her and get her out of here.

Shining Glory placed his hand back on Christine's shoulder, trying to calm the frantic princess, now queen. "I, Shining Glory, will be faithful and true, and faith and truth will bear unto you, our Sovereign Lady, Queen of this Realm and Defender of the Faith, and unto your heirs and successors according to law. So help me God."

Christine still felt frantic, even with Shining Glory professing his loyalty. Her fear intensified as Byron made his way to the throne and knelt before it.

"I, Byron, Lord of the Enchanted Islands, do become your liege man of life and limb, and of earthly worship; and faith and truth will I bear unto you, to live and die, against all manner of folks. So help me God," he said, desire bright in his eyes. He'd claim the queen this day. And no werewolf was going to stop him.

[Sky]

As Christine took her oath to rule according to the laws and customs long ago established in Lovelylocks, Sky temporarily bristled - a part of him critical at her willingness to abide by the traditions of her people but not of his. As though somehow her realm's laws were better or - quickly cutting off his train of thoughts, Sky mentally berated himself. This was Christine's day and he was going to be happy for her. He wasn't going to ruin this for her by acting like a sullen child. He was a prince, dammit, and he was going to behave like one. Fixing his face in an attentive expression, Sky silently watched the ongoing ceremony.

--

As the ceremony continued, Sky managed to appear focused to those around him but inwardly, he was dying to leave. He just wasn't one for all those long, drawn out special ceremonies. Although, he thought wryly to himself, he had better prepare himself for it because someday he too would be going through an ordeal similar to this one.

Realizing that his thoughts had drifted again, Sky snapped his attention back to the front of the room. Slowly, however, his eyes narrowed when he saw a familiar figure kneeling by Christine . . . it couldn't be. And yet-

Feeling a surge of anger swell up in his veins, Sky clenched his fists, wondering how that scoundrel had managed to weasel his way in. The bastard shouldn't be there - not after what he had done to Christine a couple months earlier at the birthday party she had thrown for him. Shaking his head, Sky fought to keep his expression calm when inwardly he was seething. He couldn't act - couldn't go up there and demand to have him thrown out. All he could do was sit back and watch. Gritting his teeth, Sky frowned. He'd be damned if Byron ruined this day.

[Chris Strongheart]

Christine was dying to get up and run - not wanting to stay a moment longer. Fear, however, paralyzed, making her unable to move.

Everyone started to whisper to themselves about the look of sheer fear on the newly crowned queen's face at the sight of the Lord of the Enchanted Islands - of course, they knew what had transpired months earlier, but they had thought the matter done.

Byron rose from his kneeling position and approached the throne, his gaze locked on Christine. He roughly pulled her up, causing a gasp to echo through the room and he twirled her in front of him, a knife resting against her throat. "Did you really think I'd mean my vows," he asked the collective audience. "I'd thought you'd all have more brains then that - what good is she? Her place is by a strong male's side, barely seen."

Shining Glory cleared his throat. "I'd be careful if I were you..."

[Sky]

Seeing the knife, Sky didn't hesitate for a moment before he marched forward from his place in the crowd, deftly pulling a dagger he always carried in his boot from its holster. Using Byron's surprise to his benefit, Sky agilely twisted the other man's knife out of his hand and away from Christine's neck, sending it flying to the ground with a loud clatter. Unceremoniously shoving Christine to the side, Sky slammed Byron up against the wall as he hissed, his dagger up against the scoundrel's throat, "Didn't we already go through this once? And didn't I let you go under the warning that you had better not try this stunt again - or else I would kill you the next time around? Guess what: the next time is here and you're a dead man. Think I'm playing around? I'm not. I'm not afraid to kill you because I won't be punished for it." Pushing the sharp blade closer against Byron's flesh, he whispered dangerously, "They can't punish me for protecting their queen."

As the whispers from the audience behind him rose even higher, Sky vaguely assumed that the cause was his threats - never realizing that he, in his rage, had lost control over himself and had transformed into his cursed form.

[Chris Strongheart]

Byron laughed. "But they can kill you because of what you are," he said quietly. "A beast."

Christine stood up slowly, her hand reaching for her throat, trying to see if any blood would stain her hand.