Arranged

by Spears, Jessica

  For the span of a few heartbeats, there was only silence, and then a roar went up. The crowd cheered. Alison's eyes scanned the people with awe and surprise. Then she felt a warm hand slide into hers. She turned to meet Qwinn's gaze, who only had eyes for her. His smile was big. "That was perfect," he said, only loud enough for her to hear.

  QWINN THOUGHT HE WOULD BURST with pride. No other bride had ever performed more beautifully. He took both of her hands in his and led her to the Elders that waited to bind their union.

  Bartus smiled kindly at Qwinn and Alison. He then held up both hands to quiet the crowd. In a voice that was surprisingly large for a man of his size, he spoke. Alison frowned slightly as he spoke Vidarian.

  Qwinn squeezed her hand and leaned closer to translate. "Ahanu has brought a woman among us who will lead us into a bright and fruitful future. Before the dawn of time, Qwinn and Alison's destinies were written, their paths intertwined and their union plotted. On this day, the alignment of the planets, it seems Ahanu has chosen the perfect time to bring about such a union. It is not for us to understand the workings of nature or of the heart." Bartus eyed the crowd as he continued.

  "Let us join behind these leaders to support, nourish and grow their relationship as long as they shall live," Qwinn translated.

  The crowd nodded, each kneeling in their spot and bowing their heads. Alison watched them with wonder and Qwinn smiled reassuringly. Morinell stepped forward and laid her warm hand on Alison's shoulder while her other went to Qwinn's. She spoke in words that sounded as if she were weaving a beautiful tapestry of music. Again, Qwinn translated. "We ask Ahanu to bless your marriage and make you to be fruitful in all you do."

  She turned her ancient eyes to Qwinn. "Ahanu bless you with wisdom beyond your years," she said in English, turning to Alison. "May Ahanu bless you with the strength to stand beside your husband and rule."

  Finally, she turned her eyes to the Limbra and smiled. "It is time," she announced.

  She stepped back and picked up a low chant. Qwinn tugged Alison slightly closer. He knew that what was about to happen would frighten her. As he held her eyes, he smiled. "I love you," he mouthed as blue lights began to glow from the designs etched in the platform. The light grew as the crowd joined the old woman in the chant that would bind Qwinn's and Alison's souls, therefore, transferring some of Qwinn's power to Alison; only enough to protect her, not enough to taint her blood.

  Alison's eyes grew wide as she stared at her feet, lifting her leg away from the light.

  "No," he said softly. "Stay with me." He knew this must be strange for a human who was seeing this for the first time.

  She bit her lip, but kept her eyes on his. The lights grew and swirls of something that looked like blue flames began to lick at their feet. Her nervousness became obvious, but the flames did not burn, instead they gently caressed.

  Then the flames grew, nearly consuming them. Qwinn had seen this done before, but had never participated in the ceremony. It felt like a cool breath, gently then gone; he felt light, almost like he was floating.

  Alison looked around her with an excited gaze. For a moment, Qwinn wondered whether anyone had explained the happenings of this ceremony. The flames began to dance faster and faster, as if blown by wind. Alison's hair blew back from her face. "Qwinn," she said uncertainly, but her words were sucked into the air; the flames surrounded then in a tunnel of glowing blue. As the movement intensified, they were lifted off the platform and several feet in the air.

  ALISON TRIED TO KEEP HER eyes on Qwinn, but fear began to consume her. She was no longer touching the ground, but she didn't feel anything pick her up, she merely felt light, like a cloud. All she could see were swirls of blue, zooming around them. Qwinn looked up through the Limbra and Alison did the same. She blinked her eyes in confusion. She could almost clearly see the planets. It didn't matter that they were millions of miles away, she felt she could almost reach out and grab them.

  The planets aligned, casting a shadow over the sun. She had never seen anything quite so beautiful before. Suddenly, she felt an electric surge come over her, causing her to close her eyes and throw her head back. The surge felt like pure power pumping through her veins instead of blood. It made her feel full in a way she never had before.

  The surge increased as beams of light shot from her fingertips and toes; it was almost unbearable. She cried out and a beam of light shot out of her mouth. Qwinn gripped her tightly, but she could barely feel him as the tunnel of blue swirled until it was almost blinding.

  Alison screamed, but no sound came out. Power surged through her heart, piercing it. Then, as quickly as it had begun, it was over. The couple drifted back to the platform and as soon as her feet touched ground, she fainted.

  Qwinn caught her before she hit the ground. Only moments later, she opened her green eyes and found Qwinn peering down at her with a worried gaze. It was strange, but she could feel him…almost as if she could feel what he was feeling. It felt like his heart beat inside of her own chest, next to her heart. It was as if they shared one body. He smiled uncertainly and she was almost certain he felt the same thing.

  "What happened?" she asked in barely a whisper. She was surprised to find that her whisper carried in the silence. Every villager was quiet, waiting; still on their knees, but no longer chanting.

  "We have been bonded. My power is now shared with you and we are one spirit," he breathed, almost as if afraid that if he spoke too loud, this moment would disappear. She felt the same way.

  Qwinn slowly brought her to a stand, his hands never leaving her. "You are my wife. Ahanu has blessed us."

  Alison smiled; she could feel his love beat within her chest. It was strange, this feeling of power. She knew she would have to learn how to control it as Qwinn did.

  In a matter of days, her life had turned out much differently than she could have ever imagined. This new chapter of her life was definitely going to be an adventure and she planned on taking every step of this adventure with Qwinn, as his Queen, his beloved, his bride.

  Before she could stop herself, she wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him. He surrounded her waist as the crowd cheered and picked her up, spinning her while kissing her back.

  The music began again. Qwinn held her close as the Elders nodded to them and left them on the stage. The dancers quickly returned, ignoring their presence. Qwinn pulled her mouth to his. "I love you," he whispered for her ears alone. And this time she knew without a shadow of a doubt that she loved him too, with all her heart.

  This was her destiny.

  Alison took a deep calming breath as the large gates opened slowly, revealing the tunnel that lead to the outside world. Her heart was pounding nervously, and she knew that the man next to her could probably sense it. Qwinn squeezed her hand encouragingly and began to move forward.

  Ever since they were bonded, they could sense when the other was having intense emotion. Some days it was annoying that she couldn't keep anything hidden from him without tremendous effort, but it was nice on days like today when she had no words to explain how she was feeling; he just knew.

  She felt like she hadn't been to the surface in centuries, in reality it had only been five years. Five amazing years that she had spent learning the ways of her people and how to control what Qwinn had given her during their bonding. Ahanu had chosen to give her the power of telekinesis. She was still getting the hand of moving things with her mind. As of yet, she could only manage small things. Thankfully, Qwinn and the elders were patient tutors.

  It was amazing all of the things that could happen in five years. After much convincing from all parties, Qwinn allowed Vin to ask for Adalia's hand. She acted surprised when he proposed. Their wedding was beautiful with the backdrop of the harvest celebration. By that time the next year, they welcomed their first child.

  Larius had graciously accepted the permanent position of being her bodyguard and Naliya had been promoted to lady in waiting. They began to meet each oth
er more openly and though they insisted they weren't serious, Adalia and Alison were planning for another wedding.

  Alison had fallen deeply in love with Qwinn. Deeper than she ever knew love could go. He truly was her perfect match and for all those years, she had wanted nothing more than to produce an heir for him. And for years she worried she was barren. Qwinn insisted that he loved her nevertheless.

  It seemed however, that Ahanu had other plans. She smiled as her free hand smoothed gently over her swelling belly. Now she found her womb full, of not one, but two babies. Twins! The life growing in her was the most special thing to happen yet.

  With children on the way, it was now Alison's turn to protect her family. She could feel how anxious the plan made Qwinn, but it was something that she had to do.

  Foresters were drawing nearer to their home with each passing year, cutting the trees to create space for factories or homes. Alison planned on selling her father's factory and claim her inheritance in order to purchase the land surrounding their home, forever creating a safe haven for the Vidarian's.

  Even though her father wouldn't be around to see his grandchildren, he was still with her, surrounding them in safety.

  Larius moved forward and pushed back the wall of moss, letting in a stream of daylight. It was sunset, but after years of living in Vidar, the light stung her retinas. This was what she was the most nervous about, seeing the sun. Would she miss it once they returned?

  Today, she would face her uncle Jackson, but this time as a woman who knew her worth, not some lost little girl. With a deep breath, she took the first step out into the light, feeling the sun gently caress her face through the canopy of the trees. The babies in her womb kicked with excitement. Who knew that life for an orphaned child would turn out to be so incredible? She was loved, a queen and now a mother.

  She squeezed Qwinn's hand and began the familiar trek to her uncle's manor, to face her past and to conquer it.