A Fairy-Tail Marriage

“It’s lovely,” Althea whispered, her fingers brushing across the stone. She lifted it out of the box and set the box on a table close by. She gazed at it, mesmerized. She looked up at Braxton and smiled. “How did you know my favorite stone is moonstone?”

Braxton let a breath out, his relief plain. “I didn’t know. How fortuitous.”

Althea looked up at him. “Fortuitous?”

“The moonstone is the stone werewolves always wear,” Braxton told her. “Get it. Moon. Stone.”

She looked confused for a moment before it dawned on her. “Oh! Because you shift during the full moon!”

“Well, that’s a myth,” Braxton told her with a small laugh. “But that’s the idea. This one belonged to my mother.”

Althea gasped. “I can’t accept this, Braxton.”

“You’re my…wife,” Braxton said, although the word wife came out after a tiny, almost unnoticeable pause. “She would want you to have it.”

Althea had heard the hesitation, but since it matched her own, she was not offended in the least. She looked at the necklace again. The pendant was an oval shape, as long as her pinky and an inch wide. It glinted in the light beautifully.

“It’s really pretty,” Althea told him again.

Braxton reached for it and asked, “May I?”

“Um, yes, thank you.” Althea turned around, presenting her back to Braxton. He reached around to put the necklace on, easily adjusting the clasp. His fingers brushed the back of her neck, causing goose pimples to erupt on her skin. When she finished, he grasped her shoulders and turned her, admiring the necklace as it lay against her skin.

“Perfect,” he murmured.

Althea touched the pendant and smiled at Braxton. “Thank you, Braxton. I love it.”

“I’m glad.” Braxton held his arm out to her. “May I escort you in?”

With a little giggle, she took his arm. “I would love that, too.”

*****

As they walked in, thunderous applause echoed through the forest. Braxton looked down at Althea. “I guess we’re a hit.”

“So it would seem,” Althea replied dryly.

The couple took their seats at the head table, her parents, her best friend, and his best friend seated with them. Before food and drinks were served, Tristan made a moving speech about triumphing over the hatred of a century in one day. “With this marriage, our two species can finally find peace and harmony. Our children, their children,” he pointed at Althea and Braxton, “won’t have to live in fear of a skirmish or an uprising. These two beautiful people, a werewolf and a fairy, will bring us the accord rather than discord, unity rather than dissidence, and a world we all deserve!”

The applause after the conclusion of his speech was louder than before, and cheers and whoops from both sides filled every heart with joy.

Althea and Braxton were the only two who did not share in the revelry. Tristan had spoken of ‘their children,’ an idea that frightened the two of them more than either would admit. Althea had visibly paled at the mention of children, and Braxton’s frown had not left his face since that moment. They had glanced at each other and immediately away, keeping their thoughts to themselves.

Dinner was served quickly after Tristan took his seat and was scrumptious, with several different types of cuisine available. Mariah did lean over and point out to Althea that there seemed to be not one scrap of raw meat, to which Althea only grunted that yes, she had noticed. She hated when her mother was right. Beverages were served, and soon many were tipsy and talking loudly and enjoying the party.

Althea had only sipped hers. She wanted her wits about her when it was time to go to bed. She feared that hour like it was her death coming, not s*x with a handsome man. But her virginity was still intact; she knew very little but the basics about what happened between a man and a woman. So her heart was filled with fear. She watched the dancers as they began their routine, entertainment for the evening, but she could not concentrate on their graceful movements.

Braxton, always intuitive, could tell his bride was uneasy, but he had no idea why. He tried to engage her in a conversation, speaking loudly over the music of the performers. “My castle is, from what I understand, much like your father’s. Except it’s werewolf sized rather than fairy sized.” He chuckled, but it faded when she didn’t respond. He tried again. “You’ll have your own suite of rooms, and if Cala would like to come with you, she is more than welcome, of course. It might make the adjustment easier for you if you have a familiar face around.”

Althea’s head had slowly swiveled until she was looking at him, her eyes wide. Until that moment, she hadn’t thought about the fact that she’d be expected to live in the werewolf castle away from her family. In fact, she’d been wishing she was home just before he spoke to her.

“Werewolf castle? I plan to live in the fairy castle, but thank you,” Althea replied haughtily.

“Excuse me?” Braxton as sure he hadn’t heard her right.

Althea looked at him. “I have no intention of leaving my home. You may come to the fairy castle and live there.”

Braxton continued to stare, at a loss for words. Around them, the revelers enjoyed the dancing and music, but the couple was in their own world. “Exactly how am I supposed to live in a fairy sized castle?”

“Magic,” Althea replied as if it was the simplest thing. “How do you think I’m maintaining this size? This is not natural to me.”

“Althea, you may have magic to keep your size. I do not,” Braxton reminded her, his voice taking on an edge at her stubborn words. “You are my wife and we will live in the werewolf castle.”

“You plan to rule over me like one of your subjects?” Althea asked, intentionally misunderstanding his words.

Braxton took a deep breath. “You know that is not what I meant. It is more logical to live in my castle, for one. It’s centrally located, and every one fits inside!”

Mariah, who was sitting closest to Althea, tapped her husband’s shoulder and indicated the pair, whose voices had grown louder. Tristan watched and listened but did not interfere between husband and wife.

“So am I to understand that you expect me to remain in werewolf size for the rest of my life?” Althea asked, bristling.

“I assumed you would want to. You know, as the queen of this realm and all,” Braxton said sarcastically.

“Do you have any idea how difficult it is to use my magic constantly? I’ll be exhausted all the time!”

Mariah wanted to interrupt, and even opened her mouth to do so. Maintaining werewolf size was ridiculously easy; her daughter was lying. But Tristan placed a hand on her arm to halt her words.

Braxton rolled his eyes at her, which infuriated her. “You do not have to stay this size all the time. I don’t care what you do when we aren’t together. That isn’t even what this argument is about. Living at the fairy castle isn’t an option.”

Althea’s voice was a decibel below a yell and she slammed her hand down on the table, pulling the attention of those closest to them directly to her. “I will not live in the werewolf castle!”