The Queen of Magic

Chapter Two

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Waelmore Castle loomed before them, decorated beautifully with multiple guards and servants gathered to welcome them, including Evanora and Atalante, who grinned wide at the sight of their daughter as they stood atop the grand staircase to welcome their guests. Morgana and Merlin stood beside them, each of them brandishing just as wide smiles at the sight of the new and most important arrivals.

Excitement filled them all as they watched the carriages come to a stop, the well-clad footmen opening the doors for Hades who stepped out before proffering a hand to his beloved, who took it without question, a grateful smile on her lips as she let him assist her down from the carriage. Thanatos seemed to follow Hades’ lead as he helped Sela off the carriage, the two of them sharing a warm look before they reconvened with Hades and Allegra and begun the ascension up the stairs.

Guards lined both sides of the stairs, each of them bowing low in reverence and respect at their entrance. Allegra couldn’t focus on them, though. All she could see were her parents, godfather and Aunt waiting for her with warm smiles, each of them as watchful as ever. She longed to sprint up the steps to them, to engulf them in a long, warm hug, but she knew Hades would, for one, not let her and two, it would earn her a scolding from her mother for going against the Royal Protocol. They had a lot of eyes on them for the Coronation would be broadcast to the Kingdom to bear witness to the new ascension of power.

Evanora and Atalante watched the conflict warring within their daughter’s gaze, each of them knowing very well that she would have run to them if given the chance to. Her ascension to Queen of the Underworld had tamed her somewhat, as had the Celestial beside her who couldn’t keep his gaze off of her. The two Mage Royals were pleased to see the sight, comforted in knowing that their little one would be safe with him. He would do anything for her, of that they were certain. And Allegra had grown strong enough to protect herself.

“Certainly not what I anticipated when I called for that ball three years ago, but I’m glad that they found each other. We did good, my darling. We achieved our mission and now, we can rest knowing our little angel is going to be safe with him.”

Evanora murmured over to her husband, earning a sure nod from him before he pulled her closer to his side, planting a chaste kiss on her forehead in return. It had been their worry for so long. They had known Allegra was special from the moment she was born and knowing that there were many out there who would wish to use her power had terrified them both as she grew. The Wraiths had proven just that, but the goddess had been gracious enough, blessing the union of their little one with an old friend who was just as devoted to her as they were.

“I am glad it was him…No one else can love her like he can and that’s all that really matters, isn’t it?”

Atalante murmured, earning a nod and teary smile from his beautiful Queen, who held them at bay so as to not worry their approaching daughter, no doubt. The King of Grevia had been worried by the discovery of Hades’ betrothal to his daughter at first, knowing what he knew of his old friend and the scars that he had bared from his past, but he was no longer the man he knew from the 200-year war in which they had fought together. He was stronger now. Love had changed him…and was healing his brokenness- just as it had done for him.

Atalante knew the power of love and healing first hand. The woman beside him had granted him the same gift that Allegra had given Hades and the two men had acknowledged this fact and made peace with being true family and had made vows and promises with regards to Allegra’s safety. Atalante trusted no one else but his old friend to keep his precious daughter out of harm’s way, always.

He would burn the world to protect her and no matter how morally grey this may sound, I would stand beside him and do the same if it meant Allegra and Evanora would be out of harm’s way…No question about it…

Atalante mused on this thought even as the Celestials finally finished ascending the steps with Allegra throwing all decorum out of the way to hug her mother. Evanora bundled her little one in the warmest of hugs, a wide grin gracing her lips at the hum of incredible energy that surged within her girl. She was no longer the little bean she had protected for most of her younger years. She had grown, become more powerful than anyone within Grevia, even Merlin himself. She was a true goddess.

“I missed you so much, Mother. Father. Its really good to see you.”

Allegra echoed, moving to hug her Father, who had finished greeting Hades, who moved onto Evanora, Merlin then Morgana.

“We missed you too, little one. Its good to see you well, happy. We are so proud of how far you’ve come. Our little Queen.”

Evanora echoed, grinning wide as she watched Morgana and Merlin bundle their niece and goddaughter respectively into a warm and much-needed hug that she returned, seemingly just as happy to see them. It was a little family reunion that brought forth smiles from their guests waiting just beyond the threshold of the Castle doors.

“Yes, you seem to have settled quite well into the role of Queen, little sparrow. And your power has grown. I’m compelled to test the depth of your abilities. It's only right you afford me a sparring session. I am, after all, your Master.”

Merlin commented with a broad grin, chuckling at the playful glares he received not only from Morgana, his wife and Queen, but also from Evanora and Atalante. Even Hades seemed less than pleased at the mention but softened at the sight of Allegra’s broad, mischievous grin.

“You’re welcome to try, godfather. Though, I assure you, you will not win this one. It might as well be payback after everything you put us through during training.”

She shivered involuntarily at the memory, earning chuckles from around and a loud, boisterous laugh from Merlin as he led them all into the Castle where the rest were waiting. Karin launched forward, wrapping Sela and Allegra into a warm hug as squeals echoed all around the room that had the rest of the guests chuckling in amusement and warmth. Lucifer watched from the sidelines, chuckling in amusement at the sight of her beloved’s excitement.

Although they lived in the Underworld with the rest, they had opted to travel the other realms for the last year and had thereby not been around. This was a true reunion for the friends, one that Helena and Raine joined in on as a group hug ensued with Tristan being pulled forcefully into the flock.

“Well, it seems that regardless of now being husbands and wives, some things really never change. Its beautiful to see our children having formed such unbreakable bonds.”

Amaltheia Aspen, Former Queen of the Faeries and Elysium commented as she stood beside her husband, Former King Florian, with their first-born son, Prince Magnus Aspen, watching with amusement as he held his sleeping daughter with one arm and wrapped the other around his wife, Lady Robin Ignis who smiled warmly at the sight of the reunion.

Although Magnus had caused chaos during the Wraith war and had left the Kingdom for a while with Robin to find himself after the brainwashing he endured under the former Head of the Shadow Court of the Fata Morgana Court, his younger brother and current King of Faeries, Raine Aspen had summoned him back and restored not only his title as Prince of the Faerie Kingdom but equally as his advisor, a position that Magnus had fought against to no avail.

Raine knew he needed this. He needed to heal from what that evil bastard had done to him and what better way than to carry out a responsibility that the evil shadow faerie had done during the coup but only doing it better. Yes, there were those within the Court that still doubted his allegiances, but the majority knew of the sacrifices he had made for the safety of the Faerie Kingdom and respected him.

They chose to trust their Kings who had brought forth peace to the Court once more. Besides, Magnus’ return had been overshadowed by Raine’s declaration of marriage to Tristan Hart, son of a High Noble Mage family, but that had been a whole other scandal that they were still wading through.

“The war may have ravaged our country, but I believe it equally brought us closer together.”

King Under of the Seelie Court added, earning nods from all around, including from Zena Steros and her husband, who watched the reunion with just as wide grins. Amaltheia and her husband surged forward to hug Sela, who had found herself bundled up in Raine’s warm hug, the two catching up slightly before she moved to her parents, her older brother and her little niece of whom she gushed over, whilst Thanatos watched with a warm grin and absolute devotion in his gaze.

“Oh, I know that look pretty well. Surprised you haven’t made some little celestials already. The sooner you get started, the better. Those little gremlins grow up fast and when they’re finally out of your house, you get to do whatever the hell you want.”

Dante Livorno, Alpha King of Rathen declared with a loud boisterous laugh as he pulled his chuckling wife, Alessandra, close just as he clapped Thanatos on the back hard, earning a grin from the god of death. Other guests watched in equal parts shock and awe at the fearlessness of the King of Rathen, the Werewolf Kingdom, who seemed oblivious to their wary and watchful gazes on all of them. Many treated the Celestials with reverence and, so, the show of affection and hugs being passed around was a shocking concept to them all.

“I apologise for interrupting, but we should begin, Your Majesty.”

One of the attendants stepped forward, prompting everyone to shape up as they turned towards the hallways that would lead them to the throne room. The Coronation ceremony would be first, whereas the Mohen Ceremony would be more private once the transfer of the magical seals has been completed to the new Royals. Evanora and Atalante nodded, sharing a look with Morgana and Merlin before they each gestured for the rest to join them in the procession as the guests were announced.

One by one, they each followed protocol, venturing into the Throne Room which had been decorated and prepared for the ceremony that was being broadcast to the gathered crowd of Grevia. All of the guests from the neighbouring Kingdoms were announced first, leaving the Celestials as well as the Mage Royals together.

“Are you ready for this?’’

Hades murmured over to his beloved, who nodded, sharing one last warm hug with her parents and her aunt and godfather as Thanatos and Sela were announced, marking the beginning of the Celestials’ announcement. Part of Allegra could not believe how things had changed. Before, she would have been standing beside her parents, waiting her turn.

But now…I’m no longer just a Gremory but Hades’ beloved as well…

“I present to you, the Lord of Darkness, King and god of the Underworld, the Dark Celestial Hades. With him is the Lady of Darkness, the Dark Celestial, the Princess of Grevia and the Queen of the Underworld, the goddess Allegra.”

She grinned at the mention of her title as Princess, turning to her parents who each bared a warm, mischievous smile that made her husband chuckle lightly before he took her hand in his, placing it atop his elbow before they both turned towards the throne room whose guests gazed upon them with equal parts reverence, awe and more.

“You are still their Princess…but you are my Queen.”

His wink was playful but his gaze relayed the message, sending a thrill through her as she processed his intensity. She knew he meant his words, as always. She belonged to him, body and soul, and she did not doubt that she belonged to him and him alone.

He guided them forward, the two of them watching as the sea of guests bowed low before them, including their friends, who recognised the importance of following royal protocol with all eyes on them. They stopped at the foot of the thrones, watching as the Mage Royals were announced and ventured forth after them.

The Coronation went on without a hitch as they all bared witness, the two sisters sharing a moment of silent tears as they hugged close after the transference of the magical royal seals. Allegra held back her own tears as she watched her parents remove their crowns before placing them atop the heads of the new Royals, marking the end of their golden age and the beginning of a new one altogether.

“I present, the Queen of Grevia, Morgana Gremory and her husband, the King of Grevia, Merlin Draconis. May they reign forevermore!”

The Mage Priest declared, his last sentence resounding throughout the throne room as the guests responded in kind as tradition dictated.

“May they reign forevermore!”

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