Scarlet Song

Chapter 12

We all giggle and Voltair pets my hair back until I calm down. I spent the next few days honing in on those skills and bringing them back up to what they were before we made it to the Council. Without even remembering, that meant the wedding drew closer and closer something that didn't dawn on me until I smelled the familiar waters and I caught myself contemplating many things. How is my body going to react to the change? This change could eaither kill me or make me unstoppable against Vera. No matter what I was marrying Voltair when we made it to shore and I was going to spend the rest of my life with him however long that was. I hadn't even mentioned the biggest of hurdles when it came to Council but, that was my war to fight when it came down to it. Once Amspehone and Xoraya caught on how close we were to shore, they kept me busy prepairng for the wedding rather than letting me dwell on the Council. By the time we made it to shore blue flowers had been laced with lavender into the nets and as the hours grew darker, Voltair got more active and antsy, to the point that Xoraya and Amsephone sent him away with Marcus to go hunting and bring back mead for me to sooth my nerves in the moments before. they tucked me away in Voltair's quarters and started to get me ready and pinned my hair up. Towards the end, Xoraya answers the soft tapping at the door to grab the mead for me and hand it tome. She turns and smiles warmly, taking a small, velvet pouch from her pocket and pours the contents, black sand, into her palm, closing her hands around the small pile. I felt the surge of heat come from her and when she opened her hands to show a small, obsidian hair comb in her hand with a fleur fashioned into the center. I let out a gasp and giggle as she comes closer to pin in my hair. "You've gotten scary good at your crafting, Xoraya. I love it." I let out a deep exhale and looked at them both, shaking a little. "A-am I doing the right thing? I'm terrified." Amsephone wraps her arms around my shoulder and kisses the top of my forehead with my head tilted back against her. "You love him infinitely, I know you do, sister. No matter what you two are, he's your humanity. From there, everything else will pan out and find it's way." I smile and nod, taking a sip of the mead and passing it to each of them before I stand and do a brief twirl as Amsephone hands me my bouquet and get one last hug from Xoraya before leaves to wait with the men. Without a father, so to speak, we found it fitting to have my twin sister hand me off at the wedding. After giving Xoraya ample time to get settled out there, Amsephone put her hand firmly on the door, preparing to open it for me to proceed. We nodded to each other and I bit back the utter twist in my stomach from the nerves. All I could do was watch my awkward feet as I walked in stride with Amsephone, peeking up long enough to see Arlemis playing the violin and Xoraya next to him with her beautiful, black cello in harmony with each other and smiling. I swept my gaze along my crew and locked eyes with Voltair, something that took me back to the day I'd met him. Not the tavern but, when he's seen me for what I really was and swore ourselves to be indebted to the Captain. He'd had a fire in his eyes both of the other times but, it compared as barely an ember to what I seen in them now. There was a light that had grown brighter the longer we spent on that ship together; The kind of light that you could feel his heart starting to beat again and made my own flutter because I felt the same way for him. Neither of us got to have good things for ourselves in this life but, we found a place to belong with each other. It didn't matter the ship, the sea or the shores we were on. We were all each other had after this crew and that was powerful enough to cheat everything, including death, hopefully. Despite his breathing only being for aesthetic, he nearly seemed choked up as he took my hand and we exchanged our vows. We ended off with the binding ceremony before Voltair pulled me in and kissed me deeply, his fingers wrapped tightly around my waist and everyone cheered for us. We celebrated and drank into the early hours after dancing and laughing with the entire crew and my sisters. Before sunrise, I was running through the sand on the beach barefoot, taking in the ocean air and humming happily to myself, occasionally singing. I was taken a little off guard when Voltair came up behind me and swept me off my feet, cradling me as he carried me off to the ship where we consumated our vows and held each other and husband and wife. I woke a little hazy and it took me a good moment as I looked around to notice that my sisters left me a note, I sat up gently and felt his hand creep around my waist and his lips brush my shoulder. The note told us there was something for us waiting in the wardrobe from Xoraya and to meet them out on deck for the other surprise. Voltair nipped playfully at my ear. "What do you think it could be, love?" I shrug and stand up and walk to the wardrobe and find two sets of captains' garbs. I run my fingers across them and we open them to find that his was the black and mine was the white, each with lavender and blue flowers embroidered into intriquite designs and gold buttons. Once dressed, our outfits were matching but unique in their own different ways, incorporating each our tastes in the build and design. We handed over each of each others hats to the other before walking to the door and making our way onto the deck. Everyone was already for us as we walk out and I smirk. "What are you all doing waiting about? Did my sister's recruit you all?" The men chuckle and nod, answering with a resounding "Aye". Xoraya and Amsephone emerged and without a word, placed their hand over our eyes and turned us to look over the ship before uncovering them. We looked around lost for moment before we both watched the sails fall and catch the light wind brushing through. They'd put up new sails for us that incorporated both our sails together. The blue and purple tangled beautifully along the new sails and I looked to them both. "Thank you so much, you two. They are downright beautiful and as are the new outfits. I trust you put the old sails away safely?" Xoraya nods and smiles. "Of course, I knew they meant a lot to Voltair and you, so they are put away where they can stay nice until you need them again. But, we must discuss the other events to unfold today." I nod and look to Voltair, trying to hide the shake to my voice. "Today, we will be taking all of us in front of the Council. Our council consists of a wide array of creatures of the waters. They represent all of our laws and decisions and speak for us as a whole. There will be selkies, mermaids, everything. You must let me do the talking." He nods and we go to preparing, only silently looking to each other before we wrap our arms tightly around each other and I tremble. "I-I'm so scared, Voltair. Everything balances on me and I can't fail at this." He shushes me and holds me to his chest until I'd finished sobbing. "You can do this, LaRue. I know you and how persuasive you can be. You know you're way around a ship but, could talk you way out of anything when it came to governing groups. Whatever happens, you're my best friend, my heart, my everything." I nod and wipe the tears away and we walk back to regroup and leave. It was a few minutes on horseback and the air was cold but still within the halls as we waited to enter and speak to the council. I had the men wait at the ship while Marcus kept watch for our return so it was my sisters, Voltair and I going into this. Words couldn't cover the drop in my chest I felt seeing the door open and we entered. I found my place in the center of the room in front of the Council. Without looking up I recognized the first voice to speak to me and I winced. "I surely hope you have a good reason to be bringing a drow in front of the Council." I lower my hat and look up at her, smirking and trying to seem unshook in my answer. "Oh, I do, not that I owe you that for any reason but you being part of the council. You may be my mother but that doesn't entitle you to having any effect over what any of us do."