“NowI’llneed a reward later,” I said, hoping the massive crowd wasn’t focused on the bulge in my pants.
“I’ll make it my first official act as queen,” Izzy said, a rejuvenated lightness in her voice. When she took the podium and went — yet again — through the long ritual of being crowned and all that entailed, she faced it with a brilliant smile on her face. And I was glad I’d been able to “sooth away” her anxiety and help her focus on what lay ahead.
I’d be there for whatever she needed, whether that was protection or pleasure or just a friend. My role in her life was far more than just her guard. In a week’s time I’d pledge my life to hers as her husband, becoming a prince of the realm. And I also knew… we’d not be alone. I’d failed the previous royal family because I’d tried to do everything myself. I wouldn’t need to worry about that anymore. Whatever Izzy and I faced, we’d face it with four others to help us and so many others who’d dedicated their lives to Izzy.
She brought out the best in everyone, and she’d finally allowed me to forgive myself for my past and look with anticipation toward the future.
IZZY
“Do you,Steelwing Myel, take Anadendyra Isolde, as part of this loving bond and union, to be your queen and wife?”
Myel beamed as his full name was spoken.
Because… hehada full name now. Up until yesterday, shifters had never had surnames. But I’d made an announcement that shifters could now choose their own surnames and take their places with all races as equals in this world. And I’d done it by formally acknowledging Myel’s name. Steelwing wasn’t a name Myel had chosen for himself, but one that so many others had given him and he’d decided to accept it.
Now, all over Seial, shifters were literally making a name for themselves. Surnames still came first, which sounded weird to me, but that was something I’d have to get used to. What Ihaddone, was get rid of all the class signifiers before names: “el” and “di” and “sa” and so on. There were no more classes, everyone could be or do anything they wanted and would be judged on the merit of their actions, not their raceor class. It hadn’t fully sunk in yet, but that had been one of my first edicts as queen and it was slowly taking effect.
“Yes,” Myel said with gusto. “I do.”
Turns out weddings here were pretty similar to the human realm, though there was a lot less ingrained “women as chattel” in this ceremony, since women had historically been the ones in charge here. Our particular ceremony had also been adjusted to account for five husbands.
I’d essentially had a mini ceremony with each of them, Myel being the last.
“And do you Anadendyra Isolde, take Steelwing Myel, as part of this loving bond and union, to be your faithful husband” I didn’t like using my true name, but it was growing on me. It always made me think of Safir, the infuriating — and loyal — shifter who’d first revealed it to me. We’d had a memorial for him — a mostly private affair — a few weeks ago. Without him, I wouldn’t have had the web of allies which had helped us win the war.
“I do,” I said with a wide grin.
Unlike some girls, I hadn’t dreamed of my wedding day. I’d assumed I’d be a bachelorette for life. Men had been a nuisance to be tolerated, occasional pleasure providers, nothing more. I’d been so against any long-term relationships that marriage hadn’t been on my radar.
Now, here I was, married to five men.
Five men who adored me and worshiped me and whom I adored equally as much.
So much had changed so quickly that I felt like I was playing catch up half the time. From commitment-phobe to five husbands. From nearly broke bartender to queen. From pushing people away to accepting tens of thousands under my care. From wishing and wondering how I could helppeople, to actually making a difference in the lives of so many.
Yeah, a lot had changed, but most of it had been for the better.
If you didn’t count the war and death part. That still weighed on me. I expected so many to blame me for the deaths of their loved ones… but they didn’t. Everyone I talked to, spoke only of how much they appreciated the changes I was making, and how those who’d died had given their lives for something meaningful. More and more people told stories of how proud their friends had been to fight for me, and the vision of a world where all were equal.
“May all who join in this union gather before me,” Zora, our officiant, said, motioning to the other four men to join Myel and I once more.
I’d insisted on Zora, despite objections to a non-elf presiding over the marriage of the queen. For so long, the high priestess of Titania had married royalty, but she’d fled with the other traitor elves to the distant wilds. And choosing Zora hadn’t been meant to distance myself from those who worshiped Titania — that was just a happy side effect — but more to show Seial that I practiced what I preached and everyone really was equal. Zora was a non-denominational officiant, but there were many who were starting new religions in this realm. For so long, the elder elves — Titania and her daughters, Anadendyra, Dryada, Nymphyla, and Undira — had been the only gods. Now there was a small cult that worshiped me, which I actively discouraged, and a larger group who’d started a sort of universalism, who saw the divine in everyone and sought to elevate and aid all. I could get behind that.
The six of us formed a semi-circle before Zora. Bayn andI in the middle, Koar to my other side and Myel beside him, Rook and Vyns on the other side of Bayn.
“Do you all, as joint rulers, take this nation and this realm as yours to care for, tend to, and serve, providing justice and equality for all?”
I mouthed the words along with Zora. I’d put that part in, liking the idea of marrying us to the realm as servitors, not tyrants.
“We do,” we all said as one.
“And will you care for each other, in sickness and health, for as long as you all shall live?”
“We do.”
“Then I now pronounce you wife and husbands and caretakers of Seial.”
The crowd in the massive great hall of Anadendyra palace went wild. We six turned and acknowledge them, then I went down the line and kissed each of my guys. The whole “you may kiss your spouse” thing wasn’t a part of the ceremony in Seial, but I’d wanted it anyway.
