Episode 5

The court of the Viking wolves was gathered in the king's majestic hall, at the enormous stone table, a spacious area adorned with tapestries, pagan tribal symbols, and trophies from past battles. The atmosphere was heavy with tension. King Alistar awaited his nephew, with his chosen one and her family. Since the confrontation in the throne room, the prince had been behaving worse than before with the servants, his reputation already running outside the castle walls, he needed to do something about it. It was thinking about this that he summoned Ulric and negotiated his daughter in exchange for the debt, but that was not all that bothered him, but also the rumors that ran in the kingdom, much of his nephew's behavior was due to this, but he was the least of his problems. The speaker pulled him from his thoughts.

"King Alistar, noble lords, Lady Gwendolyn of Windsor of Lupus," he announces her arrival, who enters with genuine elegance, her blonde hair cascading down her shoulders, her dark blue velvet dress contrasting with her fair skin adorned with small jewels that he had sent to deliver to her this morning.

"Gwendolyn, welcome to the Iron Ravens court," declared the king, greeting her by raising a glass of wine, followed by the others. His nephew wouldn't find a better bride, Ulric's adoptive daughter is truly stunning, she greets the court.

"My king, thank you, good evening to everyone present," she says, taking a seat. Some nobles and their wives begin to converse with her.

"Majesty, Lady, and honored guests, Prince Magnus," declares the speaker again. Gwen takes the opportunity to meet the prince, he is much older than her, his skin is somewhat tanned, his long black hair, his eyes blue, lifeless, he is sitting in a kind of chair, her heart went out to him, her eyes filled with tears for him but she quickly recovered.

"Good evening! to everyone," the prince's voice echoes in the huge hall, as he is led by Fenrir, positioning him beside the King.

"Majesty, I beg your pardon for the delay, I was dressing the prince appropriately for this occasion," Fenrir justifies the delay, the king looks at the door, not seeing anyone else enter.

"Can we start, is there anyone else to arrive?" asks the king with a certain mocking glint in his eyes.

"My King, everyone is here," says the prince's friend, standing next to him.

In the center of the enormous table, the king, a powerful wolf with a grizzled beard and piercing eyes, rises from his throne, beside him Prince Magnus remains seated in his special chair, impatiently awaiting the moment to reveal his chosen one before everyone, bringing shame to the king. When he had entered through those doors with only Fenrir, he could see, on his uncle's face, a glimmer of triumph and mockery.

"I gathered everyone at this banquet to bring good news, after much searching among the best families in the Kingdom, I found a suitable companion for my dear nephew," declares the king, turning to Magnus and to the nobles and guests present. His eyes fix on Gwen.

"Miss, please, would you stand up," the king orders, sitting down again. Quickly she stands up. The speaker raises his voice.

"Lady Gwendolyn of Windsor, Daughter of Ulric Windsor, Governor of the county of Lupus," Magnus observes the woman standing before him, in a blue dress that was his mother's, which enhances the green color of her eyes, her hair cascading down her shoulder, her full and rosy mouth, upturned nose betraying the petulance of her owner hidden behind her fragile appearance, she really is the personification of beauty.

Her scent entered his nostrils, causing him chills, intoxicating his senses. His uncle at least had excellent taste, but he had already rejected her and would not go back, he wanted nothing that came from his dear uncle. The speaker, receiving a gesture from the king confirming that he could continue, declares.

"Tonight, we gather the court and others to witness a decision that will shape the destiny of the Iron Ravens lineage. Our beloved prince has chosen his future companion," declares the speaker, taking a breath, continuing "Miss Gwendolyn..." He is interrupted by the prince.

"Wait," Magnus orders, his strong voice echoing through the hall. Gwendolyn feels her heart race in her chest, takes a deep breath seeking to remain calm, while anxious murmurs filled the hall, all eyes turned to the prince, whose countenance showed satisfaction in opposing the king.

"As I had discussed with my uncle, I reject his chosen one," the King fidgets on the throne with a closed countenance, the prince continues "I have chosen my future companion, I want you to meet Lady Mary of the Ice Wolf clan," declares the prince, a young she-wolf with braided red hair and delicate features enters the hall in ceremonial clothing, followed by her parents. Mary displays a shy smile, knowing that she was occupying a place that did not belong to her. Gwendolyn, in turn, observed the couple in front of her, feeling humiliated, a mixture of sadness and anger at the scene, but what she did not know was that the prince also observed her emotions with interest.

Applause and murmurs of approval echoed through the hall, but she remained motionless, her gaze fixed on the prince and Mary who stood beside him. The feeling of rejection and humiliation dominated, her heart broke into a thousand pieces for the third time, because she really came to think that she could, who knows, be happy, she wanted to feel that she belonged somewhere.

King Alistar rose again, endorsing the prince's decision.

"Mary, welcome to the family and the court, may this union of our families bring prosperity and strength to our Kingdom," declared the king, raising his glass in a toast. While everyone ate and drank and celebrated the prince's announcement, Gwen waited for the right moment and quietly withdrew, a single tear rolling down her face, she knew she needed to find strength to move on, even though her heart was in ruins from the second rejection and before the entire royal court, she had experienced pain like this when she lost her parents and when Galahad, her companion given by the goddess Luna, rejected her. She looked at the majestic moon in the sky, a sad and lonely howl emerged from her throat.

"Oh great goddess mother creator, take away from me this sadness and this pain," she said aloud, walking through the gardens, sitting on the huge stone bench in front of the lake.

"Miss Windsor," she startled, quickly rising upon hearing a voice behind her.

"Yes? Your name is Fenrir?" He nodded.

"How can I help you, sir? It is not proper for us to meet here alone," she asks seriously, looking at him with suspicion, with her calm voice different from her emotions.

"I noticed that you left the hall. I would like to know if you are well?" he explains finally.

"As you can see, I am fine!" she says, passing him to return to the castle.

"The prince did not intend to humiliate her," he says, trying to justify. She stops and turns to him and smiles mockingly, letting a little of her emotion show through.

"Really, what was the intention then, besides ridiculing my family?" She says, hurrying her steps until she reaches her room, entering and locking the door, throwing herself on the bed, letting all her frustration and anger flow out, she gets up, drying her tears, goes to the dressing table, sits down, loosens her hair, looks at her image reflected in a large steel blade, takes a deep breath.

"Gwendolyn, you will not surrender! You will seek your own path, from today on you control your destiny," she says aloud to herself, begins to undress, returning to lie down, tomorrow morning she would look for the king. She would do anything to become her own master.

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