Chapter 6
1725 Words
Ginny
“So how’s everyone at Black Wing?” Clementine asked as we headed up the stairs.
“Good,” I sighed. “Tasha’s pregnant again and Neve will have a baby brother. Elle and Everett are off doing Peacespeaker things in faraway lands. Mom and Dad are Mom and Dad. How’s it been around here?”
“The same,” she replied unenthusiastically.
“Have you a Tiny gotten married?” I asked.
“No,” she said. “Gran didn’t give her blessing.”
“What?” I gasped. “Why not?”
“She said he hasn’t found his worth,” she said sourly. “He fought against dark wolves! He came to the aid of our allies and answered his warrior’s call! Just because he didn’t do it when he was at Blood Fire doesn’t mean he didn’t do something worthy.”
“Do you think it’s because he was in Crystal Scale?” I asked. “Is it because he’s Irish?”
Clementine shrugged and continued to lead me down the hall. I looked at the halls decorated with long red carpets and bright orange fire like wall coverings that look like fire. On the other side of the hall, portraits were hung. These were mostly family portraits of our ancestors.
“Do you think she’ll do that to Elias?” I asked. “He was raised Irish like we were.”
“I’m not sure,” she said and pulled me into the bedroom. “But I think Grans starting to lose her mind a wee bit. She’s been getting really superstitious about things and bringing up old wars as if they were still going on.”
“Oh great,” I grumbled. “That’s not good.”
“It’ll be okay,” Clementine said. “I’m so glad you’re here, I’ve missed you so much.”
“I missed you too,” I said and smiled at her. “Maybe we can have a sleepover like we used too?”
“I’d love too,” she laughed. “What are you wearing to tonight’s feast?”
“Feast?” I said. “I thought it was dinner and the feast was on the last night for the blessing?”
“The warriors were excited to have Elias come so dad ordered a feast for tonight to celebrate your arrival and union,” Clementine chuckled.
“Well if that’s not a point in Elias’s favor I don’t know what is,” I said.
“True,” she said sadly. “I wish the others were that welcoming to Drew.”
“Who?” I asked.
“Tiny,” she said. “You don’t think his parents named him Tiny, do you?”
“No,” I laughed. “I never knew his real name. He looks so different from the last time I saw him.”
“Yeah,” She sighed again. “He wanted to fit in more, so he adopted the crazy hair and big bushy beard. I miss his clean-cut look though. I miss being able to see his face.”
“Have you asked him to shave or trim it down?” I asked.
“Aye, I begged and pleaded,” she said. “But it’s more important for him to be accepted by the tribe. Hopefully when they do Gran will give her blessing, but she could pass away before that.”
“Then your mom would be the Elder matriarch so she can give you the blessing,” I pointed out. “As morbid as that sounds.”
“No she can’t, if an Elder matriarch denied their blessing it can’t be given by another and only the Elder who denied it can give the blessing if they proved their worth… and he tries so hard…” she said fighting back tears. “It’s been two years since we found each other. We weren’t even marked and mated until six months ago.”
“What?!” I gasped. “Why did you wait so long?”
“When Drew came here we had to court for a year, then Drew would ask for Gran’s blessing for marriage and if she accepted we would have started the wedding preparations,” Clementine explained. “But since she denied him, we were allowed to move into our own cottage and live as a mated couple.”
“Well ok at least you can be together,” I said.
“Yeah But I won’t inherit the tribe,” she said. “I know you guys don’t follow that tradition at Black Wing, but here chieftain is passed down to first born. And only mated and married first borns can take the title. Since Gran probably won’t give her blessing before she passes, the tribe will probably be passed to one of the warriors mated sons.”
“Oh Clem,” I said and hugged her. “I’m so sorry.”
“I’ll be okay,” she said with watery eyes. “I have Drew. That’s what matters.”
“Why don’t you guys come to Black Wing? At least he’ll feel more respected there,” I suggested.
“I cant leave Blood Fire,” she said shaking her head. “These are my people, my family. Even if I’m not their chieftainess, I wont leave them.”
“Well if you change your mind,” I said. “We’re not but a hop skip and a jump away.”
“Thanks Gin,” she said with a smile. “I’ll leave ya to get dressed and I’ll meet you in a few. I’ll be just across the hall.”
She left me alone sitting on the bed and I looked around at the bedroom for the first time. I had my own room when I stayed here as a kid, but it was on the ground floor. This was my mother’s room from when she was my age. It didn’t look special; it had your basic furnishings of a bed, dresser, desk, and thankfully a TV. None of her personal affects were still in the room since my mom hasn’t lived here in like fifty years.
I got myself up off the bed and went to my luggage sitting on the bed. I pulled out some leggings with a blue top because blue was my favorite color now. Specifically, cerulean. Seeing it made me miss Elias a little more though. I sighed as I changed my outfit and brushed out my hair. I had it tied back in a ponytail for the day and decided to braid it; adding a hair clip. I went to my bag to grab my make up, but I couldn’t find it. Oh. Right. Make up is not traditional.
After I was ready, I made my way over to Clem’s room and knocked. Clem opened her door to see she was dressed similarly to me which made me feel better. We headed down the stairs to the dining area. Blood Fire is about the same size as Black Wing so their set up was like ours. The dining area were three huge rooms full of long wooden tables and benches. They were all full of Blood Fire warriors. They hollered loudly when they saw come in. I searched their faces for Elias but I didn’t see him amongst the Vikings.
“Where’s your dad and Clayton?” I asked looking around. “Where’s Elias?”
“He’ll be in a moment, they need to get Gran situated first and then they’ll announce him” she whispered.
“Announce him?” I said confused.
“Its tradition,” she said and I tried to not roll my eyes. “You need to sit up next to Gran, then he’ll come in, introduce himself and his intentions for being here, then he’ll sit across from you and we will eat.”
“This is so…” I started to say, but then mom’s voice was snapping at me in my head about being respectful. “Much fun.”
“Totally not what you were going to say,” Clem chuckled. “I know its kind of silly, but it is what it is. I really wanted to be Chieftainess because I wanted to do away with some of these traditions that just don’t make much sense in our modern world.”
“Clem,” I said as an idea popped into my head. “Not only am I going to get Gran to approve of Elias, but I’m also going to get her to bless you and Drew. You deserve to be chieftainess.”
“Oh Gin, you don’t have too,” she said. “I don’t want you to jeopardize your wedding.”
“I’ll marry my mate whether we have Gran’s permission or not,” I said sternly. “Nobody will tell me what to do. I’m only doing this for mom and Gran. But just because a bunch of old dragons did things differently hundreds of years ago doesn’t mean we all live in the same age. The Goddess chose our mates for us for a reason. We should already have the right and blessing to get married to them.”
“Couldn’t agree more,” she said and smiled. “Thanks Gin, I’ve missed your visits so much.”
“I missed you too Clem,” I said and hugged her quickly before heading over to sit beside Gran’s empty chair.
- Writer
