Yay another chapter!
The pack rejoiced as they had never done before, many still in shock at what had just happened. The elders gathered together to speak amongst each other and then walked towards Ulrik as he stood solemnly staring at Auria. They spoke to him in whispers and the crowd began to quiet in order to hear what they said to each other. Yet their feeble attempt to listen to their quiet conversation failed terribly and even Auria began to become curious. Their wonder did not last long for an elder walked up to the crowd and began to speak.
"Before any of you begin to wonder and doubt of whom this man that defeated Ierek is, I must tell you of a story, a part of our history that occurred not so long ago." He spoke carefully, almost as if his words were fragile and all with good reason. There must be no misunderstanding when it came to Ulrik's history. "Many of you remember our past ruler, Orien and how tragic his ending was. Many of you have long decided to ignore such history for fear of Istain's wrath. In fact, many of you remember that there was a young boy, the son of Orien. After Istain imposed his rule on us and took our queen, the young boy ran away into the woods and was never seen again. That young boy is this young man that you see here before us. He has returned to us to claim what is rightfully his by blood."
The crowd stood silent as they registered everything that had just been said and many displayed a pleased smile. No matter that the young man appeared to be a stranger to them, his blood was that of their rightful leader and that was all that the pack needed to hear. Auria's pleased smile and the release she had in knowing that the remnant of an awful past was dead was incomparable. The pack had done nothing against Istain for fear that Istain carried an evil with him. When Istain turned up dead, no one did anything to find out the truth. Those that accepted Istain and Ierek as their leader, the traitors, they would be taken care of soon enough. For the moment, the pack rejoiced and the ceremony continued, this time to choose a queen.
"We must now choose a queen for you, Ulrik." An elder said. "The women of this pack are ready to fight for you. It is up to you to decide whom it is that you want. If you cannot make a decision then they will compete against each other for the place for the decision must be made now."
Ulrik looked at the many eager women who were eying him closely and then his gaze became fixed once again on Auria. "If Auria will have me as her mate as it was fated, then she will be my queen."
Auria froze as she felt the gaze of many angry women in the pack become directed at her. Had she truly doubted that Ulrik would leave her and choose some stranger over her? She had somehow known all along that Ulrik would have chosen her as his mate in the end but she had not become prepared for such news.
One of the Elders, this time a woman, walked up to Auria and placed her hand on her arm and spoke carefully. "Is this what you want?"
Already, a few of the angry women began to complain and grumble. They had prepared themselves for a fight and instead had been cheated of an equal right to compete.
"She is a seer therefore she cannot accept! We must fight for it is our right and not hers." Auria's response to the Elder was interrupted by a very angry Lea. She was furious and more protesting voices could be heard.
The Elder spoke. "Lea, you must remember that Auria was never declared to be a seer. She was simply Ormaine's charge after being orphaned. She was never once sworn in as a seer to us. Therefore, she has every right that you do and you must remember your place."
Auria spoke. "No… I cannot deny them their right. There must be a fair fight here to settle it the same as the mens. I agree to become Ulrik's queen only on the grounds that I can compete with these women and come out victorious. If I fail, then I will be sworn in as Ormaine's successor as a seer."
The elder looked at Auria with a look that showed her surprise. The women began to quiet as they smiled giddily to themselves. With Ulrik as the prize, it appeared to be that more women had decided to show up to the challenge. Yet Auria was not worried. She knew to what extent her power could reach her and after having tested it once, the lustful and greedy women would be of no trouble.
It was the women's turn to prepare and out of all of them, Lea was the most excited. She flaunted her figure to the others around her, as proud and vain as ever. She directed a threatening gaze at Auria, no matter that they had once been friends, with a man in between they had instantly become enemies.