The week and a half following Warren's visit to his uncle pass quickly in a flurry of activity and preparation. It had been decided that Maureen and Evelyn would be coming with them for the wedding, and they would be arriving soon to join them in their journey back to the Fourth Kingdom. The last day had been spent moving all of Roselynn's possessions into the master suite. The only things that had not yet been moved were her traveling clothes, the nightgown she'd worn the night before, and her grooming supplies. Roselynn sat at her vanity pinning her hair up in the soft curls that Warren favored on her when she heard a soft knock on her door.
"Just wanted you to know that Maureen and Evelyn just arrived," Warren called through the door, "And they brought Ruth and Maury with them."
"Thanks, I'll be out shortly," Roselynn called over her shoulder as she secured the last pin, "I'm nearly ready to go."
"Alright, see you in a bit, Lamb Chop." Warren nodded before returning to the living area to entertain the Grants and await his fiancée's arrival. He noticed that Maureen was holding a large white garment bag, "What's that?"
"Never you mind," Ruth chided him, "So tell us what we should expect when we arrive at your uncle's home."
"I don't think words could quite do it justice or prepare you for it," Warren demurred, "It's really something you have to see to believe."
"Okay, I'm ready," Roselynn stepped into the living room, a small carpet bag over her shoulder. She wore a cream-colored blouse with a scooped neck that sat just on the edge of her shoulders with capped sleeves. Her skirt was made of light brown material that brushed the tops of her knees as she moved and the tall brown boots, with a slight heel, she wore completed the outfit, "Shall we go?"
"Gladly," Warren offered his arm as he smiled at her. "Do you wish for me to take your bag?"
"No, I've got it." Roselynn shook her head and motioned to the suitcases lined up near the door, "I think you may need to help our guests with their baggage, however."
"We didn't know how much or what to pack." Ruth explained, "I hope it can fit in the cab."
"I think you'll be okay," Warren shrugged, "But we aren't taking a cab, we're just walking to the park. It's part of the 'see it to believe it,' theme of this whole trip."
"How odd," Maury mused, intrigued, "Well lead on. Maureen, I have your bag."
"Thanks, Dad," The eldest Grant daughter smiled at her father as the group headed out the door. Once the doors to both condos were locked and secured, they all boarded the elevator and descended to the lobby.
Thankfully, with New York being a tourist city, no one noticed or paid attention to the collection of people hauling baggage with them as they made their way across Central Park. Before long, they were cresting the small hill that hid the thicket of trees where their portal awaited them. A quiet hiss followed by the familiar tingling of magic made the travelers aware of the portal opening, even if some of them didn't quite understand what was going on.
"Now comes the unbelievable part of this trip," Warren turned towards their friends, "You must follow me, just do as I do." With that he kissed Lynn's cheek and stepped into the mirror. As soon as he set foot on solid ground he greeted the guard who stood next to the mirror and awaited the arrival of his guests. First came Ruth and Maury, who looked around the room in wonder as Warren guided them, and their baggage, to the side to make room for the three younger women to follow, which they did a few moments later, once Roselynn was through the portal, the group turned back toward the mirror in time to catch a glimpse of Central Park before the guard disengaged the mirror and left the room.
"Where are we?" Maureen looked around the room.
"We call this the Hall of Mirrors," Warren explained, "We just came through a traveling mirror that once belonged to my grandmother. There are other magic mirrors here, but trust me, you don't wish to mess with them. Let me show you to your suite, where you will be staying until after the wedding."
Upon exiting the room, the group was met by a collection of pageboys who took their baggage and scurried off down the corridor, leaving them to make their way through the halls to their suites. "You said that this is your uncle's home?" Maureen looked around at the large portraits that decorated the walls.
"Yes, it's been in his family for generations," Warren nodded, "You'll meet him and the rest of my family later tonight, for now, it would be best if you got settled in your room. Roselynn and I have to meet with my parents for a short time, but we will meet you at dinner in the main dining hall. You are welcome to explore the palace and the grounds, if you wish, but make sure you return by 6pm."
The Grants nodded their understanding as Warren stopped by a large set of paneled double doors. "This is where you will be staying," The doors opened easily at his touch as he guided his friends into the room. "Roselynn's suite is a few doors down from here, and my family's suite is on another level, please make yourself at home, we will see you at dinner."
"Can you believe this place?!" Evelyn crowed, "We are staying in a literal castle! And did you see the paintings on the walls? I mean I always imagined Snow White was beautiful, but that painting of her was so gorgeous!"
"The king isn't half bad, either, if his painting is to be believed," Maureen added, both girls not seeing the bewildered looks on their parents' faces.
"Why do I get the feeling you two know exactly where we are?" Ruth looked between her daughters, "Have you been here before?"
"No," Evelyn shook her head, "But Warren and Lynn, as well as his sister and cousin have filled us in on the basics. We are in another dimension from New York. The people here call the City the Tenth Kingdom, on this side of the mirror, there are nine kingdoms, this being the Fourth. Lynn actually grew up in the Second Kingdom, but we won't be going there. They said it wouldn't be safe for us to go there right now."
"The stories you read to us growing up, Snow White, Cinderella, Red Riding Hood, they all actually happened," Maureen added, "Some of the heroines of those tales went on to rule some of the founding kingdoms here. Roselynn is the great-granddaughter of Red Riding Hood and the Hunter who saved her."
"So, Warren is what?" Maury inquired, "The descendant of Snow White?"
"No, but his cousin is." Maureen shook her head, "Well step-cousin, his grandmother was from New York and somehow found herself here. She eventually married the King and became the stepmother to Warren's uncle. So, his mother is a princess or a duchess by her mother's marriage, somehow, and the step-sister to the reigning king."
"His mom grew up in New York, too," Evelynn added, "She and her father met the king there when he was still a prince and followed him here along with Warren's father who also had traveled from here. His father is why they are meeting his family in private, and the reason why Roselynn's family won't be here."
"Does her family not approve?" Ruth asked, taking a seat on one of the sofas in the living room next to her husband as her daughters followed and sat across from her.
"In a manner of speaking," Maureen explained, "They don't know, but if they did, they would not take kindly to the union. However once Warren and Roselynn are married, there will be nothing her mother can do about it, which is why they are getting married here rather than in New York."
Maury sat quietly for a few moments before speaking, "So I take it that Warren's father is the problem?"
"I guess you could say that," Evelyn shrugged, "Warren and his siblings are Half-Wolves on their father's side."
"'Half-Wolves?'" Maury repeated, struggling to comprehend the concept.
"Tail and all," Maureen chuckled, "His is actually the same shade of dark brown as his hair. I guess the closest thing we have to what he is, is a werewolf."
"Werewolves aren't real," Ruth pointed out.
"Well, we are in a magical land where anything is possible," Evelyn reminded them, "Here Wolves and Half-Wolves are real."
"Warren explained the whole history that led to him being a Half-Wolf, something about the original Wolves being shifters, some of whom eventually took full-human spouses and from those pairings a new race of humans was born, Half-Wolves, it's actually quite interesting. I would love to study the genetics of it all, but certainly not on this trip."
"I very much feel like Alice down the rabbit hole," Ruth chuckled, "I guess it's just best to accept whatever we see at face value."
"Probably the best course of action, Dear," Maury agreed.
Warren and Roselynn made brief stops in their suites before continuing to the large sitting room that his family favored in the castle. It had a large fireplace, with a stone hearth similar to the one in his uncle's office. There were several plush sofas, love seats, and chairs throughout the room along with a large table surrounded by wooden chairs used for table-top games, a suggestion of his grandfather's when he'd moved to the palace permanently.
"It seems we are the first to arrive," Warren mused, as they crossed the room and settled on one of the love seats that, along with a few chairs and a sofa, surrounded a coffee table with various books displayed upon it. The couple sat quietly, hand-in-hand as Warren ran his thumb over his bride's knuckles.
"Nervous?" Roselynn inquired.
"A bit, I mean my sister and cousin love you," Warren shrugged, "I'm sure my aunt, uncle, and mother will too, but my father… I don't know how he will react."
"I guess we will find out soon enough." Roselynn laid her head on his shoulder and wrapped her free hand around the front side of his bicep, squeezing it lightly. "Whatever the outcome of this meeting, I love you and always will. We are getting married in three days, no matter what anyone says."
"Thanks, Love," Warren kissed her.
"Well, what do we have here?" King Wendell called out as he entered the room, followed by his wife and daughter, as well as his step-sister and her family, including Lord Antony, "I believe a pair of love birds have come to roost in my castle."
"Good afternoon, Uncle Wendell," Warren stood, Roselynn at his side as his family made their way into the room. "How are things in the Kingdom."
"No better or worse than usual, just the normal border skirmishes from the Troll Kingdom, nothing I can't handle." Wendell shook his nephew's hand, giving a passing glance to the woman that stood next to the young man, not saying a word about her identity.
"That's good to hear." Warren nodded before turning to his parents, "Mama, Papa, it's good to see you. I'm glad you could come."
"Of course we came," Virginia pulled her eldest child into her arms, "It's not every day your son returns from another dimension and invites you to join him under rather secret circumstances. What is going on?"
"In a moment, Mama." Warren kissed his mother's cheek before turning to his father, who was clearly growing agitated.
"Hello, Papa," Warren smiled at his father.
"That's all I get?" Wolf demanded, his voice on edge, "'Hello, Papa?' Is that all you have to say for yourself?"
"No," Warren responded calmly, wrapping his arm around Roselynn's waist and pulling her to his side, "I actually came to inform you that I am to be wed in three days' time and to introduce you to my fiancée. Papa, Mama, Uncle Wendell, family, I would like to officially introduce you to the woman who is to be my mate, Roselynn."
An excited squeal went up among the women in the room as they enveloped the couple with hugs, while Wendell approached them and offered his congratulations in the form of a handshake with his nephew and placing a chaste peck on the bride's cheek. The only people who looked less than thrilled were Warren's father and younger brother who stood, scowling, barely containing their irritation.
"She's a Hood!" Wolf shouted over the din, "What are you thinking?! Did you really think this would go over well? Wolves and Hoods don't mix! Her kind have been hunting us, oppressing us for generations! I forbid it!"
"You forbid it?" Warren turned to his father, his hackles up, "Hate to break it to you, Father, but I am a grown man, you cannot dictate what I can and cannot do any more. Besides, Roselynn is nothing like the rest of her family. She wants to end the oppression of the Wolven people in her kingdom. Not only that, but I love her, and she loves me."
Wolf just scoffed, "A Hood cannot love a Wolf."
"Well this Hood does." Roselynn approached the man who would be her father-in-law and kneeled at his feet, bowing her head in submission to the Alpha of her fiancé's pack, "Alpha, I love your son desperately. What he says is true, I have no desire to carry on the hatred my family disseminates throughout the Second Kingdom. In fact, once we are wed, we will be returning to the Tenth Kingdom where I am enrolled in a university to become a teacher. I want to eventually return to the Second Kingdom as a teacher with the goal of breaking the cycle of hatred before the children are taught differently." Sensing Wolf's resolve beginning to wane, she slowly reached out and touched the toe of his boot, "I swear to you, I would rather die than betray or hurt your son, I love him with all my being, to hurt him is to hurt myself. There is nothing I want more than to marry him and bear his cubs."
"Papa, we are not seeking your permission," Warren walked over to where his fiancée knelt and helped her back to her feet. "While we may wish to have your blessing, we don't need it, we will be wed on the full moon whether you approve or not."
"Wolf," Virginia placed a gentle hand on her husband's shoulder, relieving the last of the tension in his body, "There is nothing you are going to gain by huffing and puffing about this. They are clearly in love; you cannot deny that fact. I don't believe our son, or our family, is in any danger from her."
"But she's a Hood," Wolf protested weakly.
"Yes, and I'm the daughter of the Second Evil Queen," Virginia reminded him, "You and I both know you've already given in, just admit it and quit your pouting."
"I don't pout."
"Yes, you do, Wolf," Virginia smiled up at him, "And on you, it can be quite charming, but this is not the time for it."
"Cripes," Wolf huffed, "When you are right, you are right, my creamy, dreamy, love. You have my blessing."
"Thank you, Papa." Warren relaxed, wrapping his arm around his bride, "I know that accepting my mate is not easy for you. We know that you of all people have reason to be resistant to our marriage."
"I can't say I'm completely comfortable with it," Wolf admitted, "But if you are happy, I will do my best to be happy for you, Wolves' Word." He scratched his temple.
"Thank you, Lord Wolf," Roselynn gave her father-in-law-to-be a small smile.
"Just Wolf," He waived his hand, "I'm not particularly Lordly. I'm just your average Wolf."
"There are a great many people who would differ in that opinion, my old friend," Wendell clapped his friend's shoulder, "But enough of this, I believe it is time for dinner, and I understand we have some special guests joining us tonight."
"That's right, a couple of our friends, Maureen and Evelyn as well as their parents have come with us for the wedding." Warren nodded to his uncle, "I'm sure they are curious as to where we have brought them."