Sheila screamed and fell on her back. The person, rather beast before her just grinned and moved closer.
"Stay away from me." she said as she got to the wall. Tan'y'ju stopped and turned human and looked away.
"I'll go for now but i will be back" he said and left in a black cloud. Sheila hurried to her feet and shut the window. she leaned against the book shelf breathing heavily.
A maid walked into the room and dropped some cloths on the bed.
"His highness said to tell you to get ready. His coronation ceremony is tommorow." the maid said and left.
Sheila walked slowly toward the bed and looked through the clothes.
"Why would he want me at his coronation?" she asked herself .
The next day....
Sheila woke up to the sound of running. She got out of bed and walked into the hallway where a maid nearly crashed into her.
"Why are you running?" she asked the girl who was breathing heavily.
"The crown princes wife summoned all the women in the castle" the maid replied and continued to run.
"All the women?" Sheila thought to herself before walking in the direction of the movement.
Sheila got to the courtyard and saw men fencing, with actual swords. she stopped for a moment and watched them. One of them was Delvin and the other seemed to be a guard or something. as she watched, Delvin knocked the sword out of his opponents hand and drove his into the man's body. He withdrew the sword and let the body fall to the ground. At that moment, Sheila noticed the quite a few bodies already lying lifeless around the yard. She was frozen in shock at the sight and the memory of her birthday ball flashed through her mind.
As she was lost in thought, a sharp voice pierced through the air followed by a loud crack on her back. She fell to her knees and winced in pain, When she looked up she saw a woman followed endowed in jewelry and expensive clothing.
"You wench, how dare you defy my orders?" the woman barked walking round the injured Sheila. "I will make sure this moment of disrespect will be your last. i will make you an example to every low life in this kingdom. this is the end of those who disrespect the queen" the woman raised her whip to deliver another blow but found that she couldn't withdraw her hand. She turned around and saw Delvin holding her hand.
"My husban..."
"I am not yet the king and i do not remember crowning you the queen" he said and removed the whip from her hand. "This young lady is my property and no one is allowed to mess with my property" he added and motioned for Sheila to stand up. She did and he pulled her to his side.
"Kandis, take this maiden to my room. Make sure her sister is safe. I forbid this woman" he pointed at Belinda "from harming them." and then he left.
Kandis did as instructed and led her to Delvin's room. she stood nervously in the corner, her head spinning.
"What is he going to do to me?" she asked out loud and wrapped her arms around herself.
"The only thing i plan to do is to help with your injury" a voice said. Sheila looked up and saw Delvin seated across the room.
"I'm sorry, i didn't see you" she said and bowed to him. he stood up and turned her around. "Does the spot hurt?" he asked
"even if it did, i wouldn't tell you"
"Take of your cloths then," he said and she turned, shocked.
"What!!"
"Take of your cloths, well just the top part, i want to apply an ointment on your back to prevent bad blood from getting clogged at that spot" he said stepped away. "are you going to do it yourself or should i help you"
"I will take it off" she said and pulled off the top part of her dress her back towards him. He walked closer and applied the ointment on her back along the mark left by the whip. He finished and helped her put the dress back on.
"Why?" she asked and turned to face him.
"because i want to." he said and returned to his seat. "Better rest well for tomorrow's ceremony, you will be my personal attendant" he said and motioned for her to leave the room. She walked out quietly, her mind was heavily weighed down by his actions.
She was accosted at the door by Belinda. the woman was red with rage and pushed Sheila intentionally as he entered Delvin's room. Sheila glanced at the woman before turning away and returning to her assigned room.
A few minutes later, Belinda walked out of Delvin's room, looking frustrated. She stomped her feet and threw her hairpins at the maids before running to her chamber.
The next morning...
Sheila woke up and quickly prepared herself. She put on the dress Delvin had sent her and went downstairs. she met Stel dressed in a junior court maiden uniform. they nodded at each other and Sheila walked to Delvin's side. she curtsied slightly and he nodded.
Soon everyone began boarding their carriages. Delvin was set on a white horse while everyone else was assigned to carriages according to rank and office. Sheila was told to ride in the carriage reserved for Delvin's return. She boarded and they were off. While everyone else headed to the black temple, Delvin rode into the town for his parade.
When they got to the temple, everyone disembarked and each person was assigned a duty. As this was going on a palanquin, covered by a white veil was carried into the temple. Everyone turned to look and saw the profile of a beautiful woman. the palanquin was carried in the temple.
A while later Delvin appeared and was led into the Temple as well. Moments later a priest came outside and called Sheila and Stel out by name. They were taken into the temple and told to assist with the divination rights. Sheila and Stel were told to hold the viles of incense while the priests chanted incantations over the heads of the two individuals before them.
Suddenly one of the priests cried out.
"Now take the oath" he said and Delvin stood up. The veiled woman also stood up. A plaque was brought and she placed her hand on it. " I Dolores, princess and heir apparent to the throne of Colgard, hereby relenquish this honor and bestie it upon my brother, Delvin." She said and a sword was handed to Delvin. The woman was made to kneel and Delvin stepped forward placing the sword on her neck.
"I now grant you the honor of life and the privilege of living in the palace with me." he said and put the sword in his sheath. "Reveal your face dear sister I have missed you" he said and the woman pulled her veil away before hugging him. Then she turned and looked over at Stel.
"Who is that? " She asked and walked over to her. Ahe played with her hair and rubbed her palms.
"She is sister to my attendant and personal maid. They are captive princesses"
" Royalty, good. This child will be my pet" Dolores said and led Stel out by the hand. The priests then placed a heavy robe on Delvin's shoulder and led him out to the already prepared garden. He was made to kneel under a banner of roses and the crown was placed upon his head.. He stood up and raised his Sceptre to the crowd, who cheered loudly.
As all the merriment was going on, Delvin decide to make an announcement. As he climbed the podium, he caught a glimpse of Belinda beaming with delight.
" According to custom, I should also crown a queen at this event and seeing as I am married I have no excuse. But as we all know, a king can have many wives and I have only one. There fire, I would like to ask for time to find and marry my worthy queen. For my good and the good of the land" he said and was led off by a loud ovation. Belinda turned red with rage and stormed out of the temple. Dolores watched her leave and sighed. This war was just getting started.