Chapter Ninty Three: The Prince and the Promise

" How is the baby? " Lysette questioned one of the servants who had just left the Queens bed chamber. The Queen had been in labor for some time and the only news they have had thus far is the loud screams and cries that had echoed within the castle.

" No Madam, the Queen has made no progress as of yet" and then the maiden darted Off down the hall. Lysette had been waiting hours along with the rest of the Kingdom for any word that the baby had been born. It had been quite some time since she had been contacted by Penny or Raven, and she had grown slightly concerned that something could have happened to them. And though she had wanted to send out scouts to check on their progress, it would possibly compromise what they were attempting to accomplish. And she herself could not leave the Kingdom, she needed to ensure the safety of Gabriel. And though it had been agreed upon, the threat of the Thornbloods was still present.

Guards watched the walls closer than ever, under the orders of Lysette. And though it would it would give them at least a warning to the presence of the Thorns, it would do very little to offer them true Saftey. Most of the Lycans were starving and the numbers of capable warriors had dwindled immensely. It would be almost impossible to mount a proper defense without aid but Lysette would fight till her dying breath if it should ever happen.

Sybil had found herself becoming a confidant to Lysette, spending her time talking over the worries and concerns that she conveyed to very few. And Sybil, though just a commoner, was by Lysettes side more often than she wasn't these days.

And so it came as no surprise when Sybil appeared to Lysette, seeing her pace around the room, worried for her friends mental welfare. " Evrything will be okay, I'm sure that it will" Sybil reassured Lysette who nodded in a half agreement. " I know, but there are so many things going on right now that everything has to be perfect" Lysette was feeling deeply overwhelmed and though have support was slightly relieving, it didn't fix the issues.

" I can watch over the boy if that would make you feel better. I know that you are worried about the Thorns and..I want to try and make things a little easier" Sybils offer was unexpected but welcome. " I don't want to leave. I know that it would be wrong to do so but if the Thorns were to cause bigger issues for us then..well..I might have to take you up on your offer" and as they discussed this deal, the servant who had originally left the Queens room, returned to Lysette.

" The King wishes to speak with you at once" She relayed and then reentered the Queens bed Chamber. It was not often that Lysette was summoned by the King, so she assumed it must have been something important. She could only hope it had nothing to do with the Thorns.

Lysette walked down the hall, and into a giant chamber that had been designated as a secret operations room by the King. This was a place to discuss strategy, to discuss the future of the Kingdom away from prying ears who may or may not comprimise the plans. Only the most trusted of the family and royal guard were allowed within the room.

And it was there that Lysette found her King, leaning against a giant, thick wooden table where many of the meetings had been held. " What is it that you need? " Though she had great respect for the King, she had also known him for a long time and saw him as a friend just as much as the Ruler of the Kingdom. And for the most part, Lysette had been the most trusted ally for both him.

" I wanted to meet with you because we have a problem" The King smiled. His thick, black beard, stretching down past his chest, adorned with several beans of both purple and silver. He seemed troubled and this, confirmed Lysettes suspicions.

" Before you ask, this does not concern the Thorns. This instead concerns another matter.." The King motioned for someone behind Lysette to step forward. And someone did, a pregnant woman. By the cleanness of her body and by the smoothness of hair, Lysette could see that she was of nobility.

" I know that I have made a promise to the Witches..that Our Son would marry the daughter of Aurora. But..as it would turn out..this woman here, had been promised Gabriel long before the deal with the Witches" The King explained.

" How is that possible?" Lysette questioned.

" I didn't promise him away, if that is what you are thinking. It was done long ago, that eventually, a Lycan Prince would be married into the House Of Vayne. This was promised long ago by ancestors who agreed that when the time came and the moment aligned, they would marry as part of an agreement, so that there was peace amoung the people. This...was not made my knowledge until recently. The mating and birthing times had never lined up. But when they did, this would happen" he explained.

" We cannot go back on our word, have another kid or wait until Gabriel and the Witch have on or-" Lysette was interupted.

" This won't work. Once he is born, and the Vayne child as well, they will partake in the Choosing ritual. And if they should choose as mates, then the fate is sealed" he explained.

" This isn't right. I'm not even entirely happy with the idea he would be sent off to a Witch, much less another marriage. He isn't even born yet and he is betrothed to two completely different people. This isn't right and you know it. And if we break our deal, we will be in a far worse situation" Lysette had never approved of the entire idea behind promising anyone. And yet, this was tradition and had placed them into a rather precarious situation.

" I understand that this an issue which is why I have called you in here. Im not sure what to do. By tradition, we cannot fulfill our promise of marriage to Aurora with this new information coming to light" The King had stressed over this entire situation as well and Lysette could see that he was in a great deal of pain from the decision.

" We have to inform the Witches and see what they would be willing to do? " Lysette suggested.

" We both know that is not going to work. We have to find another solution. Gabriel is promised already. And he cannot be given to the Witches in good concious. That, and it would bring shame upon the entire family and possibly cause greater issues within the Kingdom"

" How many people know about this promise? Is there no way we could push this back? " Lysette was trying to think of any and all solutions.

" Enough people, especially the Elders. We have to do this" The King turned to the woman, holding her belly, looking down almost in a trance at it.

" When are you due? " The King asked which did not seem to snap the woman from her trance.

" She is due any day know. My little Vickie" she smiled down at her belly, as though she was not bothered whatsoever by the conversation and the issues at hand.

" The Prince will marry my daughter..and then all will be right with the world' the woman squeaked as she rubbed her belly.