Princess Elowyn's Arc

Chapter 7 of 7

The carriage passed through the gates of Moonspire. Elowyn looked up at pale stone towers and blue spires glowing gold in the morning light. Her hands went cold. She knew nothing of this place. She did not know how they greeted a queen here, how they ate, how they spoke. One wrong step could mark her a stranger forever. She smoothed her dark gown and held the puppy close. "They will love you," Everest said. She wished she believed him. The carriage stopped at the wide steps. Before the door fully opened, a small girl in a purple gown ran down toward them. Her black braid swung behind her. This was the sister, seven years old, who had never met her father. She threw her arms around Everest the moment he stepped down. "You came back," the girl cried. Then she saw Elowyn. She let go of her brother and rushed over. She hugged Elowyn around the waist and looked up. "You're so pretty. Are you going to live with us?" Elowyn knelt down without thinking. The stiff rules she had feared slipped away. "I am," she said. "If you'll have me." The girl beamed and grabbed her hand. An older woman came down the steps after her. Her dark hair held streaks of gray. She wore a deep red and blue gown fit for a queen. This was Everest's mother, who had ruled alone in her grief since her husband died. She reached her son and held his face in both hands, saying nothing for a long moment. Elowyn stood. She did not know whether to bow or curtsy or speak first. She waited, breath tight. The queen turned to her. Her old eyes moved over the dark gown, the puppy, the daughter still gripping Elowyn's hand. Elowyn braced for judgment. "So this is the woman my son crossed a kingdom for," the queen said. She stepped close and took Elowyn's free hand in both of hers. "He wrote of you. He said you asked about the man, not the crown." Her voice softened. "Welcome home, child." Elowyn's shoulders dropped. The fear that she would be branded an outsider broke apart in that one warm word. Home. "Thank you," she said. "I hoped I would not shame him." "You could not," the queen said. She looked down at the little girl. "And it seems my daughter has already chosen you." The girl tugged Elowyn toward the steps. "Come see the animals. There are more than the puppy." Everest laughed and followed. Elowyn climbed the steps between the queen and the child. She was no longer a stranger at the gate. She belonged inside these walls now. Yet as she crossed into the golden hall, a quiet thought stirred. Belonging here was not the same as being loved by the man beside her. That she still had to win.