5 years later

 

Today is my coronation.

I honestly never thought this day would come. We’ve worked so hard to restore peace and faith to our lands, and we’re finally here. It’s been bittersweet, so many ups and downs, but we’re finally here.

Today, Kellan will abdicate his thrown, and I will be Queen.

Me. A Queen.

It still doesn’t sound right, but it feels right, so that’s how I know it is. Dante will be stood beside me as my King, and since I officially adopted Sophie a year ago, she will be given my current crown. I’m nervous, and excited, and I don’t really know what to do with it all.

I know I wouldn’t be here without him. Without Xander. His sacrifice was great, and so I work every day to honour his memory. 

I look in the mirror and take in my reflection, it still shocks me seeing how much I’ve grown into the role I was born for. My long red gown, embroiled with gold and lace, long sleeves and a high neck.

“You look every bit a Queen, mama.” Sophie calls out to me. She’s growing up so quickly, and I’m proud of the woman she’s becoming every minute of the day.

“Thank you, beautiful. You look stunning. Are you ready?”

“To stand with you and Dad? Always. This is why Xander saved me. I have his ring on my chain just like always. I know that life is precious and I’m excited to treasure every moment.”

“Oh, my sweet girl, when did you get so wise?” She giggles as she hugs me.

“I suppose we should get this show on the road, your dad will be waiting for me.”

“He already is,” she giggles. “He sent me to get you.” I guffaw jokingly. Timing still isn’t my strong suit.

“Well we best not keep him waiting any more then.” I smile and take her hand and lead her towards the rest of our lives. The destiny neither of us ever expected. I open the door, and Luna smiles at us both.

“Are you ready, Your Highness?” She asks. She graduated the academy and was accepted into the guard, and after proving herself more than capable, she is now my personal guard. She follows us and we work our way towards the noise below. We round the corridor and I see Dante waiting for us, dressed in his navy blue dress suit, and I can’t help but think of how good he’d look with it on my bedroom floor.

“You both look beautiful,” Dante exclaims when we reach him outside the main hall. He takes my hand and presses a soft kiss onto my cheek, before leaning down and doing the same to Sophie.

“My beautiful girls, what a lucky man I am.”

“Are you ready?” I ask him with a small smile. We’ve been through so much already, but this is a huge step.

“I’ve got you by my side, Addie. I can take on the world as long as I have you.” He murmurs to me before kissing me hungrily. “You look radiant, and as much as I’m ready for this, I can’t wait to get you to myself,” he whispers to me and I hide my face in the crook of his neck to hide my smile.

“Later, my love. For now, let’s get this show on the road.”

The doors open in front of us, revealing a sea of people dressed in their finery. The mix of friendly faces and strangers stare at us as we enter the room, a united front. We make our way down the aisle through the middle of the room, leading to the throne where Kellan sits, waiting for us, three empty thrones near his, on to the right, and two to the left.

When we reach him, we kneel, and the procession of people in the aisles sit.

“Today is a day that many of us have been working towards for a long time, and I couldn’t be prouder of the woman my daughter has become. A Queen in her own right. Today I pass the mantle to her. She who has done so much, and sacrificed even more to create the world we have today. A world of peace. Harmony. A world that works together for the greater good. I truly believe that without her, it would have taken us much longer to achieve even half of what we have, with her guiding us. This is the reason I am choosing to abdicate. To give up my right as your King, and give you an even more worthy queen, with a man of noble honour by her side, who is more than worthy to rule by side.” Kellan’s voice rings out across the room, steady and clear. His words cause a lump in my throat, and I swallow to try to clear it. Now is not the time for tears. He is right, but we have all sacrificed so much to get to where we are.

Kellan stands and takes the crown from his head and places it on the cushioned alter beside us before lifting the most beautifully crafted mix of metal and jewels I have ever seen.

“With the crown, and the power of our bloodline, I crown you, Adelaide Valoire, Queen of the Mainland. In accepting this responsibility, you acknowledge your duty to love, protect and uphold the rights of the people of your lands. You take the burden that comes with the power bestowed upon you to uphold our laws, and you promise to protect the lands and the people against all odds.” Kellan places the crown on my head and puts his hand out for me to help me stand before leading me to the throne he once sat in.

I watch as he walks towards Sophie, and whispers to her, before placing a smaller version of my crown on her head, and bringing her to the throne on my left.

He heads back to a still kneeling Dante and repeats the same words he said to me, before placing his old crown on Dante’s head, and sits him in the throne to my right, before sitting in the last throne on the other side of Dante. The crowd stands, cheering and applauding. Shouting “Long live the Queen. All hail Queen Adelaide.”

“Are you ready for the rest of our lives?” Dante leans over and asks me softly.

“I’ve never been more ready for anything in my entire life.”