Everbloom Chapter 2
Draco's P.O.V.
Stunned. Taken. Kidnapped by the feel of her gaze.
He had heard the fairy tales of what she was like ever since he could understand them.
Draco had questioned and scoffed at the stories always making his parents quite cross.
But it wasn't until now as he stood here before her that he knew every legend and story was true.
He was marrying a fairy.
And not just any fairy but a fairy princess at that.
The way her wings sparkled and glistened in the light of the chandelier as they sat at the dining room table made his heart tremble within the cavities in his chest.
The blonde wizard could barely touch his food as he watched his soon to be fiancé and her mother command the room.
He could tell that even his parents thought very highly of the royal family and hung off of every word that they said.
Suddenly he was drawn out of his thoughts when his father nudged his elbow none too gently.
"Draco do stop daydreaming. The Queen has asked you a question. It would be in your best interest to answer."
He turned to face the Queen as she gave him an understanding smile.
"Lord Draco, I was going to ask if you have been told of the changes that you will go through once you are married and mated to the Princess."
Draco shook his head as he glanced over at the Princess who nodded in reassurance.
"No Your Majesty I am afraid I do not. If you could I would love to hear about them."
The Queen smiled and nodded as she leaned forward and met his stormy grey eyes.
"Well, Lord Draco, in a few moments you will be entering the Sacred Circle where both you and my daughter will take an Unbreakable Vow and swear that you will court each other with the end of your courtship being marriage. As soon as the Unbreakable Vow is made, you will begin the engagement ritual that will seal your bond and make it so you will take on the form of a fairy permanently as soon as you place the Courtship Ring on Ottaline's finger. Ottaline will surround you both with flowers creating a new circle that is just for the two of you. When you step inside the circle, she will slip the mate to her Courtship Ring on your finger and you two will become one with one another. You will be able to hear each other's thoughts, read each other's emotions and build a connection that is far better than any you could make with a human. Your bond will grow and you will become close. Once your bond has reached its peak, you will have a wedding on the first night of the full moon in three months. Then after the wedding you will mate with my daughter and become the half of each other's souls forever. You two are expected in time to produce multiple heirs so the royal line can continue. When I pass on or cannot do my duties as the Queen of the fairy realm, Ottaline and you will become the next King and Queen to rule until your final breath."
Draco let out the breath that he didn't even realize he had been holding as he tried to process the gigantic load of information that he had just been given.
Glancing over at Ottaline, he felt like he had just awoken from a dream.
He never realized how sacred and monumental this entire union would be.
If you asked him, he'd say that it sounded quite exhausting really.
Deciding to floo call Blaise and Theo as soon as he got home, he plastered the trademark Malfoy smile on his face and hoped that he could have more time to process everything later.
"That sounds incredible, you're Majesty. It also sounds like a big undertaking for someone such as myself. May I ask why you chose me to fill such a huge role in your kingdom and your daughter's life?"
Out of the corner of his eye he saw Ottaline's smile falter before she began poking at the asparagus on her plate.
The Queen smiled in understanding as she placed her hand on top of his much larger one in an act of comfort.
"I know it is a lot to take in, Lord Draco but I trust you can and will fulfill your destiny as King of our realm and my daughter's mate. The things that seem impossible right now will pale in comparison to the joy that you will find in having a true mate. Your match with my daughter was foretold far before either of you were a thought in your parents mind. No one else can take your place, Draco. It has to be you. It was always meant to be you. You were chosen because of your family linage as the strongest magical family in the Wizarding World and one of the oldest. Your family has shown great promise to be able to ascend beyond your wildest dreams. Though it may not make sense to you now, I promise you one day it will."
Draco gave a heavy sigh as he dropped his gaze to the table in front of him.
The Princess was definitely beautiful, but was she really worth going through all this trouble for?
Looking up he met her blue eyes from across the table and that was when he knew.
Yes, yes she was.
After they finished dinner, everyone sat in the living room of the Mezereti manor quietly talking to one another.
Well, at least their parents were talking to one another.
Draco and Ottaline merely sat across from each other beside their parents and stared at each other like they were daring someone to make the first move.
Finally, both sets of parents stood as The Queen pointed in the direction of the garden.
"It is time. Everyone please follow me."
Draco and Ottaline followed their parents out into the massive back yard of the manor and were led down a long dirt path that twisted and turned throughout the garden.
All of sudden, Draco heard his parents gasp and as he turned to look at what they saw; he too let out a little noise of surprise.
In the middle of a little grove at the end of the path was a glowing enchanted circle that pulsed a bright gold when the Queen and the Princess stepped towards it.
The Queen started reciting a long chant in what Draco could only guess was the language of the Fae and before his very eyes he watched the circle open just enough to let them all enter.
As soon as they were within the circle, Draco and Ottaline stood in the very middle while the Queen and Draco's parents stood off to the side.
"Children, the time has come for you to vow your commitment to one another. Please join hands while I cast the spell."
Draco awkwardly grabbed Ottaline's hands and stared into her eyes as their hands began to glow and a blinding light wrapped itself around them.
With a nod from the Queen, Ottaline was the first to recite the vow.
"Lord Draco Malfoy, I swear to you that I will not only enter the courting process with you but I shall also marry you when the time comes. I promise to produce your heirs and accept the future that the Goddess has laid out for us. If I chose to break this vow, I swear that I will give up my life as payment for the end of our sacred union. In the name of the Goddess, Blessed Be."
Draco's hands shook slightly as he met his bride to be's eyes and repeated the same vow.
Once the vow was sealed Ottaline stepped back and fluttered around him in a circle as magic flowers began to encase them both in their own private moment.
Ottaline carefully flitted to the ground and waved her hand making a small golden box with jeweled flowers encased in the metal appear in the palm of her hand.
When she opened the box Draco was surprised to see two rings laying amongst the pink satin.
Taking his hand she gently slid one of them onto his finger and he watched as it shrunk down in size to fit snuggly against his skin.
"This ring is the symbol of my commitment as your mate. I promise that never will you walk this world alone."
Draco found that he was touched by her sincere words and felt his eyes start to mist over when he took the second ring out of the box and placed it on her finger.
"This ring is the symbol of my commitment as your mate. I promise to protect you, care for you and one day fill you with our sons and daughters."
Once they had exchanged the rings, Ottaline looked up at her mate through her lashes.
The blonde wizard was confused for a moment but his eyes suddenly widened in realization as he let out a deep chuckle.
Yup. This was where they were supposed to kiss.
Wrapping his arms around his mate's small frame he pulled her flush against his chest before smashing his lips down onto her own in a dance of pure want and need.
After a moment Draco cried out as he fell to his knees and crouched low as an excruciating pain started shooting up his spine.
Ottaline dropped down to her knees beside him and held his head in her lap as his very own set of wings sprouted from his skin.
With a loud scream Draco extended his wings as the magic of the Fae spread throughout his body before sending him into oblivion as his sight faded into darkness.
The last thing he saw was his mate's teary eyes looking down at him with a guilty expression.
The last thought he had was he wished he could get rid of that look on her face.
As the magic of the Fae fell like rain around them, the two mates became one as their souls entwined forever.