This is a Clexa Au. I apologize for any typos. I hope that you all enjoy it. There will be more to come. It is rated E for later chapters.
I do not own the characters.
The powerful and wealthy nation of Ardeshier lies between five other, smaller nations, and encompasses environments of six lands. It is the oldest of all the six kingdoms and has been ruled by the family Leoderon for more than twenty generations.
It is said that the first Leoderon, Chief Leo, brought his tribe from the ocean lands, onto the mainland, and there carved out a civilization in the center of the Great Continent. From there people separated into five distinct groups, each leaving to inhabit their own corner of the new land.
Those of the five that did not separate stayed in the center land, naming it Ardeshier, its name derived from the great feline creatures that inhabited the wilderness there.
Chief Leo, in an attempt to prove his superiority, slayed a male white lion and with a mighty effort, tamed its lioness. He trained the rarity to follow him and to obey his commands. On that day he derived the name Leoderon and became king of the lands he had conquered.
At the birth of his son, it was discovered that his faithful lioness companion was pregnant and produced a single white cub. This cub was presented to his son as a first birthday gift, and tradition since followed. Every Leoderon ruler would have a white lion as their companion.
Drakon Leoderon was the twenty-seventh ruler of Ardeshier and married to the Snow Queen from the Fenrir family in the northern lands of Bern. He held his rule for twenty-some odd years with an iron fist and gentle heart, until he was assassinated by a man of the southern nations.
Not wanting to plunge her country into war, the Queen made no counter threat against Southern. After weeks of investigation, it was discovered the man had acted alone...or so everyone believed. By then it was too late to console the King's wife in her grief. The queen died of a broken heart two weeks after, leaving their only daughter of eleven, heir to the Ardeshier throne.
The Leoderon's advisor— a middle-aged man who studied both books and war—had expertise in economics, human interactions, the kingdoms law, and much more, ruled as Reagent. He was kind and just and the Ardeshier people continue to flourish user his guidance for three years until the daughter had come of age.
After undergoing a hard upbringing without either parent, the young girl was officially given rule of the kingdom at age fifteen as rumors of war began to spread. The original case against the man who had assassinated the king had now been expanded.
Southern had made it clear now that they did not fear a lion cub on the throne in Heleo. The two countries confirmed the assassin had worked under their orders, but as a fifteen year old queen was no commander of armies, and so again Ardeshier let Southern go.
After training and tutoring, courageous acts in various battles, and justly ruling a kingdom as a ruler ought to, the girl grew a reputation. The princess intended to protect and defend the people she loved, and she did so with fierceness none in the kingdom had seen from any woman ruler previous. By the time she was eighteen, the people had dubbed their beloved and brave princess, the Queen of Lions.
For the celebration of her twentieth birthday, and for a recent victory against the rebelling southern nations still out of war, a ball was to be held in her honor, with guests from the capitol Heleo, all throughout Ardeshir, and allying nations.
The Queen had all the trademarks of her Leoderon heritage: an unkempt mane of curly brown hair normally contained by warriors braids, green eyes that shown and changed in the light, a sleek and sturdy stature, and the pale skin which embodied the crest of the Leoderon White Lion, the rarest of all Ardeshier lions.
The Ardeshier lions were fierce and proud creatures, all but extinct now in recent years, and the Queen of Lions was just like them. Fierce, proud, strong, and a tad arrogant (but that was to be expected for her young age) but gentle with her people as a lioness with her cubs. They were a proud people, a pride, and ready for war with the southern nations if their queen ever commanded it. The white lion of the Leoderon always has her teeth and claws barred.
It was well known that Lexa Leoderon had a great deal in common with her family's animal counterpart from her unruly hair to her preference of a large range of sexual relations. As a Queen of Lions, she needed a large pride of lionesses and she had her pick. Though men with worthy bloodlines constantly competed for her affections and favor, Lexa's green eyes took no interest in them, but instead stayed constant on the ladies a court.
As a highly tolerant people, this affection for the same sex would not normally be frowned upon, but as the chocolate manned lion was the queen, it was expected of her to marry and produce an heir.
Lexa had no more interest in settling down than she did in entering a war with the southern kingdoms. War would bring about devastation to her country, and a marriage would bring with it a leash and collar. Neither she desired. To her, she was as wild and as free as her namesake and was resolved to stay that way for as long as she could manage.
"Have all the preparations been made, Gustus?"
"Yes my Queen. The decorations have been crafted and just need setting up in the morning. Your cooks are hard at work and have been preparing in the kitchens since the day before yesterday," replied her advisor. He was a tall man, with a thick head of hair and bear normal for the people of Ardeshier. He had a strong stature which was required as he doubled as the Queen's personal body guard. Gustus was in the middle of his years, but it brought wisdom and experience which the Queen highly valued. Gustus fumbled with his quill and paperwork as he sped through calculations for the Queen's twentieth birthday ball. He was better with weapon in hand than with pen.
"The guests have all responded?"
The man hurriedly flipped through some pages, "The list clears at two hundred and six, Sire. The royals from our two northern allies and the nobles from your kingdom are all set to start arriving tomorrow," he concluded with a satisfied grin on his face, hidden well by his beard.
"Only two hundred?" the young lion stood from her chair in the elegantly decorated study and stared down at her advisor.
"Only two hundred! A fair could gather more attendants! I want every nobleman and peasant child in Heleo to attend! Everyone must be invited! My people have worked hard and I intend to give them a well-deserved break from the monotony of village life. Have you ever done a villagers job, Gustus?" having come down from her minor outrage, Lexa was curious as to her advisors previous appointments. When she did not study under him, she studied under another equally talented teacher, Anya. The woman had been her own personal choice for tutor, Gustus one her family had left when her parents died.
The man was not much fazed by his Queens temper, having come accustomed to it over time, "I have not, Sire. I have always ever been in the service of your family here in the castle." he shuffled with his papers a moment more before he looked to the queen, "All shall be invited, majesty. I'll have the papers drawn up and nailed to the main posts as soon as I can." He had not lived with the common people as Anya had. His knowledge was valuable to her, but Lexa knew that Anya's was more so, having come from the streets. She knew what her people needed. Lexa made sure to give it to them.
He watched a pleased smile slide across the young lions face as she sat back into her seat, content with his response.
"Excellent, Gustus. Thank you. You are dismissed."
Gustus bowed, a slight gesture for his large frame. He rose to leave and had all but reached the door when heard the queen call him back.
"One more thing Gustus," Lexa watched as the man turned back around to face her with a small nod.
"Your majesty?"
She leaned forward, elbow stretching out across the desk as her hand cupped her chin, a wild grin on her face. "Costia is to sit next to me in all appearances."
"My Queen, I do not think it wise. I would advi-"
"Costia will sit next to me and you will do as I command," the lion's eyes flared as she slammed her fists onto the table, standing swiftly in a fury.
"Yes Sire, if it please you" Gustus bowed once more and finally exited through the large doors.
The triumphant lions grin spread back across Lexa's face as the doors to her study shut behind the adviser, "It so does."