Part 2

 

The next day it was a relief to wake up in a bed, even if it was just a tiny cot. A part of her missed the warmth of the pack sleeping around her as they had traveled here. It seemed like it had happened in a distant dream now. Or maybe she just wasn’t awake enough yet to think straight. Lying still, she stared up at the bright white of the tent roof. The noises outside were faint conversations and daily tasks being completed. It reminded her that she would be a queen again.

What had she gotten herself into?

On the journey here, she'd nearly gotten used to dressing herself, most days she merely gathered oily hair into a braid. Leon should have thought more of her comfort beyond one set of clothes and a handful of soap. Though seeing the state of the camp, there probably wasn't more to spare. Or perhaps they were in too much of a hurry with the kidnapping.

He really should have kidnapped a trunk of her things along with her. It would have cost him nothing! Her mind played through his wolves trying to break into her manor without casualties and she scrunched her lips. Alright, the price was higher than she wanted to admit.

Thinking of her manor, made her think longingly of the large fireplace in her room. She liked to lounge on her cushioned chair eating oat bread with honey and warm cider or tea. She snuggled more securely under her covers, they were warm enough but she felt the icy the air against her face and shivered.

Ah, she couldn't lay about putting off the inevitable encounter with her new people or the dash she’d make into clean warm clothes. She sniffed her armpit and cringed. She really needed to talk to Leon about a bath.

Hyacinth sat up, or tried to. With a small squeak of pain she fell back onto the cot. She forgot how cold mornings made all her joints freeze up. Why hadn't she experienced this on the way over? She thought of the packs wondrously warm coats and sighed longingly. She may have woken up a bit stiff from sleeping on a few cushions but she'd been thoroughly warm.

She sat up slower, stretching like she used to before weapons practice. After an agonizingly long time, she was finally on her feet. After a few laps around her tiny room, she felt her joints loosening. Maybe she would chat with Leon about getting a fire in her room as well. In a bag hanging from a tent pole were the clothes Leon had told her about. She put on clean under robes and a deliciously thick outer-robe. She was tempted to add another under robe but if it got as warm as in Irren during the heat of day, she'd be sweating goblets.

Leon was sitting at the low table squinting at a scroll when she batted the flap to her room aside. The central room was surprisingly warm.

He smile, “Good morning.”

She liked the spark in her heart. His morning greeting beat “Good day queen mother” with averted eyes by a mile. She nearly forgot to say it back as she hurried over to the brazier to warm her hands. “Good morning.”

She wanted to rest in the comfort of starting anew with him but her heart fluttered as much with uncertainty as it did with hope. “Kingly business this early?” She said.

The warmth of his smile made her forget about her cold room.

“If you consider reading poetry a matter of state.” He patted the cushion beside him.

She looked at the fire then at him, torn momentarily. Reminding herself of what mattered, she joined him. Her stomach grumbled.

“Breakfast?” He asked, handing her his cup of tea.

She frowned at it. “This is tea.”

“You see? This is why I need you to rule beside me.” He chuckled. “Breakfast is served at the cook tent.”

Not brought to them? She was a little disappointed to have to walk into the frigid morning air but when Leon took her hand and helped her up it didn't seem like it would be so bad.

Mist and frost nipped at their heels. All of the pack were sitting on mats at low tables eating something that made Hyacinth’s stomach squeeze. It smelled delicious, though anything beat the cold, hard crackers they’d eaten for breakfast on the journey. It was odd that these wild men and women always resumed human form and set out fine plates and cups to eat on for meals. They’d had fresh soup nightly and it was better than anything she’d had back in Irren.

Really, besides their peculiar robes and mannerisms, werewolves in human form were indistinguishable from a normal human.

Madeline, hurried over, bowed to Leon and took Hyacinth by the arm, holding her back as Leon joined the line for breakfast. Hyacinth watched the line move forward longingly.

“So are you married yet?” Madeline wiggled her eyebrows.

“No.” Hyacinth snapped, frowning. Not only was she embarrassed to have her sister ask her what sounded like a sexual matter in public, how could she after days of travel had her looking and smelling like a farmer. She wished she could eat before dealing with her sister. Or anyone else.

Madeline didn’t stop wiggling her eyebrows. Had she been this much of a pest when they were younger?

She drew herself up and said, “I am a Light fearing woman.”

“Oh and Queen of Irren to the last. Brule Pack’s customs for marriage are different than Irren dear sister.” Madeline lowered her voice to a whisper that Hyacinth was sure everyone around them could hear. “There is the marriage and the ceremony. The ceremony doesn’t matter as much as the marriage.”

Hyacinth frowned. Did the pack truly expect her to marry Leon right away?

Madeline sighed and pointed to a mat, “Sit here and I’ll bring you breakfast, my queen.”

The way she said my queen, with a jolly flourish, made Hyacinth bite down on a snappy retort.

Leon joined her on the mat with his breakfast. She eyed his stew enviously, this close the smell made her salivate. A breeze blew around them and right through her robe as though she had decided to walk around naked. She rubbed her arms, determined to get back to her tent after eating to add another under robe-or two.

She watched him eat, his expression was simple contentment with his meal. She’d heard him snoring softly through the cloth wall. It had made her miss his proximity and at the same time keep her distance out of caution.

Love was a tricky thing.

Madeline returned, a man with her. He handed Hyacinth a bowl with bread, then linked hands with the large man. “Hyacinth, this is my husband Ren.”

Hyacinth saw her sister’s love slapped smile as she took a bite of her bread. She wanted to cry, not for her sister though she was glad for her, but because the bread dipped in the soup was so delicious.

She eyed the man as she took another bite, years of assessing people took hold. So this was the large wolf she’d seen carry her sister off. He was certainly handsome, with dark brown skin and smooth black hair. She even appreciated the hard look he wore, a warriors look. Then he smiled and Hyacinth knew exactly why her sister had run off with him. He looked kind.

Good for her.

“Good to finally meet you my lady.” He said.

Hyacinth nodded, regardless of approving of him, she was not entirely happy to meet him. “Hello.”

“She hasn’t quite forgiven you.” Madeline said dryly.

Hyacinth gave her a look but didn’t argue.

“Ah, perhaps I will win your approval some day.” He said it as if he’d just thought of the most brilliant plan ever devised. He even gave her a more intense version of his devastating smile, it seemed to be his normal look. How adorable was he?

She gave him a polite smile, happy her sister had found someone like that.

After her sister and brother in law wandered off and she considered licking her bowl clean, Hyacinth returned to their tent to add a robe.

Leon sat on a mat outside it, watching the others at their daily tasks. She joined him feeling glad to have had such good food but still stinging that he was using her to establish his position with the pack. Why couldn’t a fellow just be in love and not complicate things? Even that didn’t lessen her determination to stay, for a part of her really did believe him when he said he wanted no other queen.

“What are we doing today?” It felt strange not to travel. She felt the urge to go for a walk.

“I’m afraid there isn’t much to do beyond the usual chores and scouting. We are waiting to hear back from my spies.” Leon said. “Ah, there is Charles now. He’s updating me hourly if we have word.”

“My lord.” A wiry man approached Leon and bowed. He had a distinctly gruff voice. “Nothing to report.”

Leon nodded and gestured from Hyacinth to the man, “Hyacinth, this is Charles, my second.”

Charles met her eye. She saw him note her assessing gaze.

She was struck by the calm strength he exuded. It was very much like Leon’s expression. His physique was slim and Leon outweighed him by a good 100 pounds. He was strong though.  His hair was a dark rust hair and his robe brown, tied loosely.

“Good to meet you my lady.” Charles said.

“Good day.” She said.

“Good day my lord.” Charles gave Leon a bow, nodded to Hyacinth, and turned into a brown werewolf nearly as big as Leon and ran off.

“Your general?” Hyacinth asked.

“My second and a great man. He would replace me if anything happened.” Leon said. His expression went from calm to dark and serious. “You have to understand that he would take my place. If you’ve established yourself at the time, you can co-rule with him without needing to marry but expect him to seek out a wife and for her to try and oust you if she’s the type. It’s our way to have a bonded queen and king. Do you understand?”

Hyacinth nodded, but didn’t like the bleak picture he painted. Would she stick around if something like that happened?

“Charles was the one who warned me about Donovin. Convinced me rather. Who wants to believe their own son would try to kill them?” He shook his head. She could see he was trying to speak about it lightly but his expression darkened and he stared down at his hands. “I didn’t fully believe Charles until Donovin had me over for dinner and I discovered it was poisoned.”

Had his son wanted to watch his father die? Hyacinths stomach churned in disgust. “How awful. How did you know it was poison? Some special magic?” If detecting poison was an ability, wouldn’t his son have known not to poison his father’s food? Maybe he hadn’t been trying to be subtle, which made the whole thing worse.

“It wasn’t me. I had a well trusted servant with such skills. She served at my request us and tipped me off.”

“How did you control the urge to reach across that table and force feed it to him?”

He just shook his head. They sat in silence, Hyacinth took Leon’s hand, feeling sad for him.

“Have you seen my cats?” Hyacinth asked, wondering if they’d escaped through the flimsy tent flaps. She hadn’t seen them in the main room or her room but hadn’t looked in Leon’s.

“I told you, animals change in Adelli.”

What was that mysterious secret about youth the werewolves had? No one had mentioned it out right and she felt greedy at the idea of asking. So she waited.

“I think I saw them heading back to Irren carrying trunks.” Madeline said. She was carrying a basket of robes. She bowed to Leon and set the basket before her sister. “Carrying tiny trunks.”

“Amusing.” Hyacinth poked through the basket.

Madeline winked at Hyacinth, “These are for colder weather but I think you’ll like them.”

“Thank you.” She said.

“Let’s bath in the river later, alright? I’ll come get you. Do you need a cane?” Madeline’s expression changed from concerned to impish and she scurried away laughing.

“My sister.” Hyacinth muttered.

“You can go if you truly wish it. I told you I would not entrap you.” Leon said.

“I’d hope not. I really need to bath.” She replied.

Leon chuckled, some of the tension easing from his body.

She didn’t want to rush into any more huge life changes.

“I meant-” Leon started

“I know what you meant.” She said looking him squarely in the eyes. “I will tell you if I want to go.”

“Alright. Can I ask when you will be ready to marry me?” His eyes held such loneliness that she recoiled. It matched her own. She looked away, wondering if he spoke of the marriage or the ceremony and if he even knew them as two separate things. And did he really want to share a bed with a body as old as hers? Longing and disgust twisted uncomfortably in her chest.

“Don’t you think a body needs time to adjust?” She winced. Why had she said body?

“I don’t have the luxury of time.” He said and sighed.

“Of course, you don’t have any time with all this waiting.” She narrowed her eyes. “Make time. I haven’t come all this way to become your play thing.”

Leon sputtered a laugh then stopped when he caught her unamused expression, “You’re not serious?”

Hyacinth couldn’t help the hurt that seeped into her heart. “You have no obligation to treat me well but I also have no obligation to stay and let you disrespect me.” She wanted to add that she was here for love but stopped short. It sounded weak.

His look was tender as he took her hand. “Of course. I only meant, when it is time to retake Brule, I need to have a queen by my side. I respect you Hyacinth, I always have.”

She had to admit she respected who he was more than she could say.

 

A week passed. Her cats ran wild about the camp and the weather didn’t get warmer. She figured it would be cold in these mountains, at least through spring. She was pleased one morning to discover her cats all laying on her cot and floor. They looked bigger, with more muscle, which didn’t alarm her as much as she felt it should have. Watching their change nearly made her believe she might change just as easily.

The werewolves were a friendly bunch, to each other anyways. She wished they were as open to her. Whenever she passed or joined them, they seemed to grow quiet. So she would nod in respect but not infringe upon them long, figuring it was a matter of them getting to know her.

One morning, after mostly sitting around and feeling useless, her sister walked up to where she sat carrying two huge baskets full of clothes on a carrying pole.

“Get off your bum and help me wash.” Madeline shifted under the weight of the clothes. Where had she gotten them all?

Hyacinth blinked at her.

“Don’t tell me you’re too old. Or too royal. Anyone could sit by the river and at least soak the clothes.” Madeline looked tired.

Hyacinth realized she was nodding and stopped. She did want to help her exhausted sister and it had crossed her mind just that morning to ask Leon if he had a wash woman among his pack. The pile of dirty robes in the corner had slowly grown.

“Just a moment.” She said and retrieved her wash.

Hyacinth followed Madeline to the river where they’d bathed. Hyacinth had grown up in a comfortable home but she had washed clothes often as a child. The rhythm of washing came back to her easily and she was able to wash nearly as well as her sister. The noise of wind through trees, water around rocks, and the rhythm of soak, scrub, soak, rinse was soothing. Her hip ached but not enough to stop her.

“How many children have you had?” Madeline asked.

“Three.” Hyacinth said. “You?”

Madeline told her about her two sons and her three grand babies still at Brule castle. “They couldn’t follow me with their youngins in tow. It’s no matter, Donovin can’t kill everyone or he’d have no one left to rule over.” Madeline’s voice was steady but Hyacinth saw her kneading the wash with extra vigor. “Do you have any grand babies?”

“They’re far from babies now, the youngest is a young man. My oldest granddaughter is stepping into her role as heir. She’ll make a fine ruler if she doesn’t chase after foolish dreams of also being a general.” Hyacinth said.

Madeline’s eyebrows shot up.

“Yes, she’s a feisty one and should make for a more even keeled leader than my pushover of a son.” She told Madeline about his new laws and his irksome wife. “Though, if I think about it, his ridiculous laws are what brought Leon and I together again.”

“Now. How are you still young Madeline?” She looked over at her sister who scrubbed a blue robe. Madeline’s silence seemed too full. “Surely you can tell me now that I’ve joined you all here.”

“You haven’t really joined us though.” Madeline rubbed the fabric together to get out a particularly tough stain.

Hyacinth thought of how the pack treated to her, how Leon had said he was removed from leadership at the castle because he didn’t have a queen.

“You mean marrying Leon?” She cringed at the thought of sharing a bed with him. Not that he wasn’t handsome, she had to stop herself from staring more than once. What she worried about was her body. He called her beautiful but she was sure he spoke of her mind or some such. And did he expect babies? She frowned at the blue robe in her hand. Did she want more children if that were even possible? Perhaps with getting a younger body?

Madeline glanced her way, “No. Turning. You haven’t spoken once of turning. You can’t expect the pack to take you seriously until you’ve turned. Then you’d need to further fortify your position as queen by marrying Leon.” Madeline shook her head, looking as though she couldn’t shake some unpleasant thought. “I know it might seem strange to you, our ways and wants. There’s just this feeling sitting in my gut, telling me you being here isn’t right. You aren’t pack. You don’t share our strength. And Leon not having a mate feels wrong”

Hyacinth nodded, not fully empathizing but glad to know what the pack was thinking. Madeline seemed to settle more now that she’d gotten that off her chest.

Hyacinth sighed, “Madeline, how could I marry Leon when I look like this?” She rubbed her achingly cold hands.

Madeline pursed her lips, an odd expression for her sister to wear. “I understand.” She went back to scrubbing a while. “I can tell you that you have to be turned before we really speak of being young.” Madeline said quietly.

“Oh really.” Hyacinth felt frustrated by the continued secrecy, “Let’s not continue on about something neither of us can actually speak of.”

“No.” Madeline snapped, “I mean, you can’t have a younger body until you’ve turned and joined the pack. They are separate things.”

“Oh.” Hyacinth said slowly. “Pardon my temper.”

Madeline laughed. “I have a great deal of your temper to pardon.”