Belong Here

The Sages!
Three men stand confidently at the doorway, looking into the dining hall. Everyone stares at them, startled, caught with their hand in the cooky jar. I can barely hold back laughter. This is going to be fun, Sages vs. Family. I think my time here is going to be pretty fun, these Sages are already my favorite. Randall gets up and walks towards them. "Elder Nicolas, welcome back to the palace," he declares, feigning to be pleasantly surprised.
The three men walk further into the dining room and stand close to the chairs next to Ralph's parents. Their eyes are fixed on me, but I am in no way uncomfortable with them. Ralph stands up, causing me to rise from my chair as well. He takes my hand and addresses the Sages. "Elder Nicolas, Welch and Heinrich, this is my fiancé Saray. We were on our way to the Kingdom to get acquainted with my family and if everything went well, we would inform you of my choice," he explains. "But yesterday, we got the good news from the physician that we are going to be parents. The heirs to the throne are on their way. So we had to rev our plans and get engaged right away in Human Town".
Three pairs of eyes are still focused on me.
I look back collected, totally at ease under their gazes. After screening me for a few seconds, they look at each other and nod approvingly. "Perfect," the eldest now replies. "We will then start the procedures. At the next full moon, we will decide the date of the ceremony for her installation. We suggest you mark her then before or on that auspicious day. It can be done privately or in public". Upon hearing the Full Moon mentioned, I stiffened. A feeling of uneasiness overcomes me, I close my eyes to hide the emotions rumbling inside me.
"My Queen! Has Ralph also informed you that the names of the firstborns of the royal couple will be provided by the Sages, by us, to be more specific?" Elder Nicholas addresses me directly. I peek at the man who's looking at me questioningly with raised eyebrows. "No, not yet," I reply, twisted by the idea of this vital affair being taken away from me. I was looking forward to choosing the names after the gender of my pup was revealed. Three names I want to give my pup. "At the last Full Moon before the birth, Selene will disclose the names to us. These are announced at a special ceremony when the pup is six weeks old. The naming ceremony is the same as the baptizing of the humans," he explains to me.
Disappointed, I nod, there is not much more I can do.
Like Ralph's father said earlier, befriending the Wise Ones and granting them the traditions is better. My first sour acquaintance with these Sages and their old practices is now behind me. No fun in that. The men each take a chair and maids appear to serve them. When everyone is provided, we stand and reach out to each other. My hands are in Eric, much to Ralph's distress. Between my eye slits, I look at Eric and notice that he has read my mind. A smirk appears on his face. "Do that again and your head will roll off," I hear Ralph hiss beside me, his eyes fixed on his cousin.
The Elder utters a credo in an ancient dialect I don't understand.
I make a mental note to look it up online or ask Randall about it. We all sit down again, but Elder Nicolas still stares at me for a moment. "My Queen, from which pack are you originated? Where are your parents?" he asks. These questions are expected and will be asked more often. I have to come up with a reasonable explanation. Always indicating that I don't remember my family because of my amnesia will cause nasty comments someday. Lycans, in their arrogance, do not mince words and I have little desire for all kinds of insinuation.
Beside me, I feel Ralph holding his breath.
"Elder, I don't remember them. And no one is looking for me. I worked in Human Town for years, so I must be an orphan. No werewolf is allowed to work outside his pack for years," I indicate. "Studying in Human Town, maybe, but only with the Alpha link still intact. I didn't study and have no link with any pack. Besides, Ralph and I were in a relationship before the accident and I don't wear a mark". The man nods but continues to look at me without touching his food. "You know, my dear. I have been on this earth for over three hundred years. I know a lot about werewolves and have seen much happening around. Selene has also confided me in many of her plans and I left for packs to help solve mysteries in her place."

"What exactly do you mean, Nicolas? Stop speaking in riddles, you're making us nervous. Come to the point," Randall growls with his mouth full. The Elder turns to the former King. "Manners, Randall. Why don't you start setting a good example for the young people at the table? And don't you dare growl at me!" the Elder points out to him. "You've already caused your son to grow up uncultured. He doesn't even respect the Sages. I did hear you, we stood at the door listening to you for at least a minute. Fortunately, the Queen doesn't seem to want to adopt your bad ways".
Now it is Ivor who chuckles softly. The man has kept away from the conversations all along.
He is clearly enjoying himself immensely though he is making sure the conversations are orderly. As the Chief warrior, he watches over the safety of the royal family but the Sages as well. I eat some of the crackers and drink some yummy yogurt while watching the scene in front of me. Meanwhile, Ralph has also joined the conversation among the elders. It has become a constructive exchange of views between young and old regarding good manners and traditions in the Kingdom.
It is Elder Nicolas who nevertheless puts an end to the many stories and excuses why to modernize the traditions in the Kingdom and adapt them more to the imagination of the young. "What I was saying, my Queen," he begins and turns toward me again. The conversations quiet down and the Elder has all his attention again.
"My special gifts tell me that you do belong to a pack. You are a good person and the Moon Goddess' blessing is upon you. She has a special plan for you, your presence here is part of that all," the man declares as he looks me straight in the eye. "Selene will come on the right day herself and explain everything to you. But here in the palace is your place". Beside me, I hear Ralph exhale his breath slowly. He seems relieved. What is it that he is hiding, what is he afraid of? I slide closer to him, the Elder has confirmed our mating. We may not be fated, but we belong together. I'm a bit relieved knowing that.
And now we have a baby on the way.
Perfect....