"Her Majesty, the Queen!"
Stephanie smiled to herself as the Herald announced her entrance. It was a little more dramatic than necessary, but she enjoyed it. She watched as the Ladies in Waiting assigned to Zelina hurriedly dropped into a deep curtsey. They'd begun packing Zelina's clothing and belongings for the journey to Ridenour.
The door to Zelina's bed chamber opened, and Zelina stepped into the outer chamber. She executed a precise curtsey when she saw Stephanie.
"I see you're already packing. Eager to leave us so soon?" Stephanie smoothly asked.
"Not at all, Your Majesty," Zelina quietly answered. "Father said we will be leaving tomorrow."
"Ah, yes, King Roman is eager to return to his kingdom." Stephanie nodded to the Ladies in Waiting to continue. "I need to speak with you privately."
Zelina stepped aside to allow Stephanie to sweep past her and into her bed chamber then closed the door behind them.
Stephanie sat on the bed and waved a hand for Zelina to join her. "Scouts have reported Ridenour will be here very shortly." She eyed Zelina's gown with reluctant approval. The sky blue gown was trimmed in gold and the necklace Seth had presented her was around her neck. "Blue and gold. The colors of your soon-to-be husband's house. You may have noticed that Prince Seth wore the colors of red and gold. King Roman prefers black and gold."
"I thought it would be appropriate," Zelina quietly spoke.
"Your Father will be pleased," Stephanie nodded. "Zelina, you know I've never tried to take your mother's place. But…you are to be married in a few hours. This is when a mother explains…your marital duties. So, it falls to me to do so." She carefully eyed the younger woman.
"The Gods tell us women are to be subject to their husbands in all things. That includes submitting to them…in an intimate way." Stephanie sighed. "I know you've been protected from such matters so I'll be as…sensitive as I can. But I can't allow you to go to your marriage bed without being educated."
Stephanie proceeded to 'educate' her step-daughter as brutally as possible.
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An hour later, Stephanie and Candace flanked Hunter on the steps of Castle Taran awaiting the arrival of those from Ridenour.
"Zelina?" Hunter muttered to his wife.
"She'll be here. She knows her duty." Stephanie's lips twisted in a sneer.
"She understood?"
Stephanie casually nodded. "She was in the privy emptying her stomach when I left. She'll do her duty and hate her husband at the same time. I may have mentioned her first husband's unhappy wife."
Hunter nodded in satisfaction. He realized Candace had edged closer to try and overhear the conversation. "Is there something you want?"
Candace smiled. "I was just wondering if I should go find Zelina."
Hunter glanced over his shoulder. "No need. She's here…and on time." He gave his younger daughter a stern look as she resumed her place. Then he smiled at his older daughter. "You look a little pale, Zelina."
"Bride's nerves," Stephanie assured him as the trumpets began blaring.
King Roman and Queen Galina rode at the head of their entourage. Roman's brothers rode immediately behind them. As they stopped and dismounted, Hunter and Stephanie walked down the steps to greet them followed by Zelina and Candace.
"Greetings and welcome," Hunter smiled. He and Roman briefly shook hands. "My wife, Queen Stephanie."
"And my wife. Queen Galina."
The more observant among them could swear they saw sparks flying between the two queens as they curtseyed to each other.
'Peasant.' Stephanie decided.
'Bitch.' Galina observed.
"My daughters, Princess Zelina and Princess Candace." Hunter motioned them forward.
"You know my brother, Prince Seth. And this is my brother, Prince Dean." Roman gave Dean a level look. 'Like it or not, he carries that title while we're here.'
Dean refrained from rolling his eyes or glancing at his younger brother. "Princess Zelina." He bowed over her hand but didn't kiss it.
"Sister! It's good to see you again!" Seth gave Zelina a hug, a bit worried about her pale face.
"And you as well," Zelina wanly smiled.
"Prince Seth." Candace performed a curtsey that gave Seth a good look at her bosom.
"Princess," Seth drily replied.
"I'm sure you want to change before the ceremony. Will three hours be sufficient?" Hunter managed not to laugh at the glare Stephanie gave her daughter.
"More than enough," Galina assured him.
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"Don't you have any pride?" Tiffany Stratton, Chief Lady-In-Waiting to Zelina hissed as they entered her chambers. "You look like you're walking to the gallows…all pale and wan. Are you so stupid you don't know you're the blushing bride?"
Zelina took a deep breath. "I need to dress for the wedding."
Tiffany grabbed her arm. "You need to listen to me!"
"Her Majesty, the Queen of Ridenour."
Startled, Tiffany stepped away from Zelina as the door swung open to reveal Galina and her personal entourage. Then she hurriedly dropped into a curtsey.
"Welcome, Queen Galina," Zelina murmured.
Galina smiled even as she looked around the room. "I thought I'd help you dress for the ceremony."
"Your Majesty, we are her ladies. We will help with that," Tiffany explained. "I'm sure you would like to rest from your journey and prepare yourself for the ceremony."
"How kind of you," Galina purred. "And how wrong." She stepped forward and peered into one of the trunks. "Is this how you pack your mistresses clothing and belongings?"
Curious, Zelina joined the Ridenour queen. Tiffany had been preventing her from doing any of the packing. She quietly gasped as she saw books and papers haphazardly thrown into the chest on top of clothing.
Galina whirled to face Tiffany. "Well? Aren't you supposed to be in charge? Haven't you been paying attention? I don't believe King Hunter would be pleased at this disrespect to his daughter! And I'm positive King Roman wouldn't be pleased at the disrespect to Princess Zelina on the day of her wedding to his brother!"
Zelina's dark eyes widened as Tiffany took two steps away from the enraged queen.
"Well…have you nothing to say?" Without waiting for an answer, she motioned several women to come forward. "My ladies will show you how to do this correctly." When Tiffany opened her mouth, Galina stepped closer. "Or do I need to speak with both Kings about this matter?"
"No, Your Majesty," Tiffany quickly answered. "As you command."
"Now that that's resolved…Zelina, allow me the honor or assisting you." Galina took Zelina's arm and led her to the bedchamber. They were followed by five women. At the door, Galina nodded to one of the women. "Tamina, Nia, Kharma…we're not to be disturbed unless it's one of the Kings or Queen Stephanie."
Tamina silently nodded and the three took a guard position as the door was closed. Nia gave Tiffany a steely look, inwardly pleased when the blonde hurriedly turned away.
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Zelina shakily sat down on the bed, her hand over her stomach.
"Are you ill?" Galina gently asked as she sat beside her.
Zelina shook her head. "Just nerves." She hesitated, then continued, "No one's ever spoken to Lady Tiffany like that. At least, not for me."
"Are she and the other ladies to accompany you to Ridenour?"
Zelina nodded. She wrung her hands for a few seconds, then forced them apart. "I didn't want them, but Queen Stephanie insisted. I..I.." She took a deep breath.
Galina put a gentle hand on her arm. "Zelina, this is Athena and Rhea. They are your personal guards. They will protect and defend you."
Zelina looked at the two women who both dropped to one knee.
"Our lives for you, Princess," Athena promised.
"Now tell me what you don't want to say," Galina gently urged.
"I don't want them to come with me," Zelina admitted. "They've never been…kind to me. And I don't know that I trust them."
Galina patted her arm. "According to the marriage contract, we can't stop them from coming with us. But that doesn't mean we can't send them back. Queen Stephanie's…wishes don't apply in Ridenour." She smiled. "Now, let's lay out your dress and jewels."
Zelina stood and walked to a trunk sitting in one corner. She knelt and opened it then gasped. "My jewel casket…it's gone! My mother's jewelry!"
The other three women quickly joined her as she frantically moved items in the trunk from side to side.
"Could it have already been packed?" Galina asked.
Zelina quickly shook her head. "No. I told them I would do it myself."
"Come."
Confused, Zelina stood and followed the Ridenour queen. Athena opened the door and the guards immediately stepped to one side. The women in the room looked up in surprise.
"Princess Zelina's jewel casket is missing," Galina sharply spoke. "Has it been packed?"
"No, Your Majesty," Tiffany immediately answered. "The Princess has probably misplaced it."
"I didn't misplace it," Zelina denied.
"Ladies, continue packing," Galina ordered. "Zelina, come with me."
"Your Majesty, where are…" Tiffany choked back the rest of the words when Tamina growled at her.
Galina ignored Tiffany as she led Zelina and the others out of the chamber. "Where is the King?"
"The last we saw of them, they were entering the conference room with some others," Rhea answered.
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Hunter watched as his Chief Adviser Shawn Michaels pleasantly kept the conversation on neutral topics. Stephanie made sure food and drink were kept in front of their guests although he noticed no one was doing much of either. They were startled when someone banged on the door. As Hunter stood, the door opened.
"I apologize, Your…" The guard stopped speaking when Galina led the others into the conference room.
"We have a problem, King Hunter…Queen Stephanie," Galina firmly announced.
Roman and his brothers slowly got to their feet.
"What problem?" Stephanie calmly asked.
Zelina stared at Hunter. "Father, my jewel casket is missing…the one with Mother's jewels."
"What do you mean…missing?" Hunter demanded.
"It was in the trunk in my private room this morning," Zelina explained. "It's not there now. And my ladies swear it wasn't packed."
Hunter grimly looked at his wife as she rose to her feet then turned to Galina and his daughter. "Queen Galina, I apologize for this…incident. I'll look into this right now…personally. Zelina, return to your chambers and prepare for your wedding."
Galina turned to Stephanie. "Queen Stephanie, I must say I'm not impressed with Princess Zelina's ladies. They were packing her belongings, and they were in a shameful state. Her clothing was rumpled. Books, papers, and needlework were carelessly thrown in. I'll be greatly surprised if something isn't damaged."
Roman and Dean exchanged an amused look. It was always fun to watch Galina on the warpath unless it was directed at them. Seth saw Shawn briefly smirk before masking it. The others in the room were trying to ignore the conversation.
Roman put a hand on his wife's arm. "I'm sure Queen Stephanie will correct these matters."
"I'll take Princess Zelina to our rooms and assist her in dressing for the ceremony," Galina announced. "My ladies are…supervising the packing of the Princess' belongings." She nodded to her husband then took Zelina's hand and led her entourage out of the conference room.
Hunter managed to keep from grinding his teeth together as he turned to Roman. "My apologies. I'll see to this now. Shawn, make sure all is prepared for the wedding."
Shawn and the others followed Roman out of the room. Roman grinned at his brothers and reached for his goblet of wine. "Looks like the entertainment started early,"
"Wonder who took the jewels?" Dean asked.
Seth snorted. "My money's on Princess Brat."
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Chelsea smiled as she studied her reflection in the polished glass mirror. The tiara was beautiful and framed her face perfectly. She sighed as she took it off and replaced it in the casket. 'It's too easily recognizable to wear to the wedding.'
She jumped, hearing her father's roaring voice in the outer chamber. She quickly closed the casket and shoved it behind pillows on her bed. The door to her bedchamber crashed open, and her father stalked into the room, slamming the door behind him.
"Where is it?" Hunter seethed.
"Father?" Chelsea looked confused.
"Do NOT play with me! Zelina's jewel casket! Where is it?!" Hunter demanded.
"Why would I…" Chelsea shrieked as her father threw her onto the bed.
"WHERE IS IT?!"
Shaking, she pointed at the pillows.
Hunter threw the pillows aside and picked up the jewel casket. "Is anything missing?" he demanded.
"I'm not a thief!" Chelsea defended herself. "I borrowed it to see if there was something I could wear to the wedding!"
"Borrow?" Hunter put the casket onto the bed and loomed over his daughter. "Borrow is asking and receiving permission. You took this without Zelina's permission! And you have plenty of jewelry of your own to wear." He reached down and pulled his daughter to a sitting position.
"If we didn't have guests…if this wedding so important…I'd thrash you until you screamed for mercy," Hunter seethed. "You've embarrassed yourself, your mother, me and the Kingdom of Dionay! You've embarrassed us in front of RIDENOUR!"
Hunter slowly stood and retrieved the jewel casket. "If they weren't here, I'd march you to your sister so you could apologize. And I mean you'd give a sincere apology that I'd actually believe. But I won't embarrass us further. Just know that when they're gone, you will be punished." He started walking towards the door. "You'll be at the wedding and suitably dressed to not outshine the bride. I'll be back; and if I don't like your outfit, I'll dress you myself." He looked over his shoulder at his daughter. "And if you make one more indecent gesture or word to Prince Seth, and I'll make that punishment a very painful one. Do you understand?"
"Yes, Father," Chelsea shakily answered. She jumped again when he slammed the door behind him.
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Hunter stopped in front of the rooms that had been assigned to Roman and Galina. He politely nodded to the guards. "I'm bringing Princess Zelina her jewel casket."
One of the guards nodded and opened the door. As Hunter walked inside, he saw Galina's entourage. "Ladies, I have my daughter's jewel casket."
One of the female guards knocked on the door leading to the bedchamber. When it opened slightly, she quietly spoke. Seconds later, the door opened wider. "Please enter, King Hunter."
Hunter stopped just inside the door and stared in surprise at his older daughter. The pure white of her wedding dress brought out her dark coloring. Then he slowly smiled. "For a moment, I thought I was seeing your mother. You look like her."
Zelina caught her breath. "I do?"
Hunter nodded. "You're just as beautiful." He took a deep breath and handed the jewel casket to Galina. "I honestly don't think anything is missing. But if there is, Zelina, let me know." His voice hardened. "I don't want to disrupt your wedding, but this matter will not go unpunished."
"Thank you, Father."
Hunter nodded. "I'll let you get on with this."
When the door closed behind him, Zelina sat down on a chair.
"Zelina?" Galina knelt next to the chair.
"He's never mentioned my mother to me," Zelina whispered. "Never."
Galina handed the jewel casket to Kharma and forced her voice to remain calm. "He was telling the truth. I could see that in his face…hear it in his voice."
"Truly?"
"Truly." Galina stood. "Now let's see what jewelry you want to wear."
"The tiara," Zelina immediately answered. "My mother's tiara."