The Crown's Entrapment

Darius held his breath as he walked Xenia onto the great hall within the Grant Manor. As he had warned her, the entire pack had descended into a celebration so great that he was sure his own pockets wouldn't be spared from the economic damage it would cause just to hold. While he, his mother, and their officers had planned to at least hold an opening ceremony for the celebrations, their people were already downing barrels upon barrels of wine, all while loud music and food went hand in hand as they all cheered upon their arrival.

It was over the top, but he couldn't find it in himself to be angry at them for going off-script. It was the way of the Pack anyway, and he didn't regret it one bit. There was a reason to be this happy today, and he was going to make sure that the entire Moonlight Pack held the biggest party in recent history.

Xenia was pregnant, after all. He was going to be a father, and the Kingdom would finally have an heir after all this time.

"Let's party!"

He could only shake his head as one of his officers all but encouraged his people to let loose, causing the entire great hall to descend further into chaos as the party all but turned for both the better and worse.

[Darius, are your people really this excitable?]

Darius simply shrugged. Beside him, his Queen had flashed him a smile, one that spoke of the awkward and exasperated feelings she was having ever since they entered the hall. After all, it was barely past morning, and some of his officers were clearly already drunk out of their minds.

[You'll get used to it,] he apologetically chuckled. [They're all celebrating for our sake. And besides, aren't they your people now as well?]

[You're really going to try and pin this on me?] she raised an eyebrow in a teasing manner. [I wasn't the one that had to be pried off from the table last night.]

Darius cringed. [Fair enough.]

Instead of fighting back, he decided that his actions would have to do as he snaked an arm around his wife, pulling her closer to him as they walked further into the great hall. Around them, the celebrations were in full swing. Already, he could see some of his most trusted men and women having fun, his sister Freya having clearly just arrived with Gideon as they made their way through the hall. He would have to greet them later, however.

It would seem that his mother had wanted a word with him alone. She had been subtly signaling for him to come to her, and he could only imagine what exactly his usually composed mother looked like when she was uncomfortable with the events happening around her.

"Something on your mind?" Xen asked, having caught his thoughts through their Bond.

"Of a sort," he admitted. "I will have to check on something. Will you be alright?"

His wife snorted. "Of course, I will. What do you take me for?" she chuckled. "Go. I can handle myself."

Darius chuckled as he let go of his ever independent wife. He will have to catch up to her later as soon as he had finished talking to his mother.

"Give my regards to Mother-in-law," she winked at him. "I hope she'll be alright."

Giving Xen a nod, Darius allowed himself to let go and make his way to his mother. Wading through the partying crowds, he eventually reached the older woman who was standing right by the doorway. She was clearly uncomfortable from the… extreme partying that was currently happening, but she was doing her best to remain composed.

Moving quickly, Darius escorted the Queen Mother just outside the great hall. She let out a sigh of relief as soon as the loud noises dimmed a bit, shaking her head as she held her head.

"My son. Thank you for coming to my aid," his mother sighed in relief. "As much as I'd like to say that I should be used to this kind of activity, it seems that it's been far too long."

Darius rubbed the Queen Mother's back. "You should've said something, Mother. I could've tried to make things more comfortable for you."

"There's no need," she quickly shook her head. "It's… rather nostalgic to be in a celebration of this magnitude. It's been far too long… Not since your father had died…"

Darius gave a warm nod as he smiled at his mother's words. Father had been the one to throw massive feasts and celebrations for the littlest things constantly. Well, only within the Moonlight Pack, at least, but they were still legendary enough for him to really take a liking to them.

"I agree. It's been far too long," he hummed in agreement. "Father would've probably thrown a bigger celebration though."

They both chuckled at that obvious fact. Darius could only emulate what the former King was capable of. If King Lucian was still alive, the entire manor would've been used instead of simply containing the chaos within the great hall.

"Still, I have a feeling there's more to this, Mother," he continued, finally coming to the point of why he came to her. "Why did you want to have a word with me?"

The Queen Mother let out a sigh as she composed herself. With a blink, she began, "Darius, Just before you and Xenia arrived, Elder Handi offered his hand to… to assist me. To be with me in the same way your father had done when he was still alive."

Darius blinked. He had honestly expected this to happen ever since Freya pointed out to it possibly happening, but to think that it finally happened now…

"I don't have the heart to let go of your father in my heart," she admitted. "But at the same time, I can't help but think of Handi's efforts… He's helped our family countless times, always putting our well-being before his own standing."

"Mother, I- Freya and I won't mind," he leveled to her. "It's been a long time since Father died, and my sister and I can see that the Elder makes you happy."

"But your father…"

"Mother, you said it yourself. You can't find it in yourself to refuse him, so why not take this chance?" he encouraged her. "Freya would say the same thing, I'm sure."

The Queen Mother looked pensive as she thought to herself, and Darius was already preparing himself to call Freya to back him up if needed. But just as he was about to call for her sister, his mother had given him a faint smile.

"Perhaps, I will then," she smiled at him. "I will have to talk to Freya later, but for now, thank you, my son."

"Of course," Darius nodded warmly.

With that, they both went back into the great hall, only to see that the celebration had seemingly only descended into further chaos as everyone's jolly cheer infected even the most reserved of their guests. And sure enough, Xen was right in the middle of it.