chapter 15: The fire bound vow:A promise etched in embers.

It was finally the wedding day.

The Grand hall of the palace was alive with splendor and vibrancy. The air was thick with anticipation, and the atmosphere carried the air of roses and lilacs, their petals scattered along the royal aisle. A tapestry of golden lights sipped in through the high - stained windows, bathing the halls with warm hues of red, orange and amber. It was a celebration like no other, the wedding of Xandria to the king, a union that would bind the throne and solidify her place as the new Queen of Alderyn.

The guest had gathered in a sea of rich, flowing garments, their soft murmurs a low hum in the air. The throne room was adorned with intricate tapestries, depicting the Kingdom's long and stories history. Each fold and curve of the room seemed to whisper secrets of past kings and Queens - some joyful, others tragic.

At the front of the hall stood Xandria, her heart a storm of emotions. She had dreamed of this moments countless times, but never like this. It wasn't just a union of love;it was a union of power, of destiny. Her eyes shifted to Maltherion, standing beside her. He was as imposing as ever, his regal countenance befitting the weight of the crown he would soon place upon her head. He looked at her with so much intensity that it almost made her forget the world around her. He was hers, and she was his. But there was an undeniable tension between them, between the duty they shared and the vows of secrets that still lingered in the shadows.

Today was supposed to mark the beginning of a new chapter, but Xandria couldn't shake the feeling that something bad was going to happen. She still haven't found time to tell Maltherion about what has been happening.

He had been so busy this past few days, attending to the ministers and also the wedding.

She had the feeling that this day marked the beginning of something dangerous than anyone had ever expected.

At the back of the hall, Elara stood, her beauty almost otherworldly, but her eyes were hard, calculating. She wore a delicate gown of silver and midnight blue, her hair pinned back with a simple yet elegant crown of black roses. Her presence, though elegant, was unsettling - a reminder that the kingdom was far from secure. Despite the festivities, Xandria knew Elara's loyalty lay somewhere else entirely. In her sister's eyes, there was a coldness that had only grown since their last conversation in her balcony, and though she masked it well, Xandria could see the slight twitch in her eyes.

Beside her, standing in the shadows near the ceremonial pillars was Anaya (Zendriya) lingered. Dressed in a dark, flowing gown that seemed to swallow the light instead of her usual servant attire, her expression was unreadable. She too had come to witness this union, yet her presence felt like a storm on the horizon. Anaya had been part of Xandria's life from the moment she stepped into this palace, she was her maid, her friend, her confidant. But now, her true nature hung between them like a great chasm.

Xandria could feel her gaze, sharp and knowing, on the back of her neck, though Anaya said nothing, it was as if her silence spoke volumes.

Xandria felt the weight of the moment - this was no ordinary wedding. It was the day she was going to be crowned Queen, the day she would be bound by power, duty and legacy she never fully understood. As the music played and the royal procession reached it's peak, the ceremony commenced.

The high priestess, draped in golden robes, stepped forward, her voice ringing with ancient authority. "We are gathered here today, not only to join two souls that are in love, but to witness a new era. The union of Xandria, the one the gods have chosen and the Rightful king Of Alderyn is more than just a marriage. It is the merging of two bloodlines, two destinies, one throne.

Xandria heart fluttered as she looked at Maltherion, his gaze softening as he took her hand in his. She had always imagined this moment - dreamt of it even - but this was nothing like she had expected. Maltherion whispered softly to her as the ceremony progressed, a private exchange just between the two of them.

"You're the light of my world, Xandria," he said, his words a quiet promise. "Together, we will rule. Together, we will destroy whatever threatens our kingdom."

Xandria nodded, her fingers tightening around his. She wasn't sure if she felt love for him - not the way a storybook will tell it - but something more binding. Something deeper.

As the ceremony reached it's zenith, Xandria stood before the high priestess, the crowd watching in rapt attention. The moment had arrived - the crown, forged from the ancient metals of the kingdom, worn by the first Queen who was given as the wife of the first king who got the gift of the grand gias,ever since then, the crown has been passed down from generation to generation to queens chosen by the gods.

The high priestess held the crown above the head of Xandria. "For centuries, this crown has been passed down to the chosen Queen. The queen chosen by the gods to rule beside the King. The Crown will choose it's holder. The crown will only glow like a star only if it is worn by the Rightful Queen."

She placed the crown on Xandria's head, and immediately the crown glowed brightly, before dimming a little.

"Behold. The Rightful Queen of Alderyn. The one chosen by the gods for King Maltherion Duskthrone." The high priestess announced.

The crowd clapped their hands. Their cheers echoing through the hall.

"Long live the King and Queen" the high priestess chanted.

"Long live the king and Queen." Everyone cheered.

The weight of the crown was more than physical. It was a burden of power, responsibility, and the realization that there was no turning back.

And then, just as the final vows were about to be spoken, a chilling moment of silence passed through the hall. The king's Grand Gias, that faithful connection between them, pulsed with intensity, a reminder of the magical bond they shared. A bond that could never be broken.

Xandria's gaze turned towards her sister, Elara, whose eyes locked onto her with a strange intensity. There was something in her sister's expression, something sinister - that made Xandria's breath catch, Elara's smile was cold, a quiet challenge in her eyes.

Anaya's eyes, too, lingered on Xandria, but there was no warmth in her gaze, only the shadow of something hidden - something Xandria couldn't yet understand.

The priestess raised her hands, signaling the final blessings, but in that moment, Elara caught Xandria's gaze and whispered, loud enough for only her to hear. " You are marrying a lie, sister. The kingdom won't be yours for long."

Xandria's heart stopped. Her sister's voice, laced with venom, echoed through her mind.

Before she could respond, the high priestess completed the ceremony, her voice ringing clear : "by the power vested in me and by the will of the gods, I now pronounce you husband and wife. Long live the Queen."

The crowd erupted into applause once more. The moment of triumph overshadowed by the sense of foreboding that hung heavily in the air.

Xandria was now Queen.

But in that moment, she couldn't help but feel the looming presence of Elara's threat, the dark uncertainty of Anaya's eyes, and the weight of the prophesy that was yet to come.