"Enough, Mortas!" His parents stand as well.
"Rona!" The werewolf's parents scold.
"Mortas, you are going, and that is final. You better think twice about bringing that attitude as well, young man." His father affirms.
"Rona, shame on you! How dare you raise your voice at us? You are going, and that is final! Do you understand?" Rona's mother sharply scolds the boy. Rona grits his teeth. He hates being scolded by his parents, it makes him feel horrible. He didn't mean to raise his voice, he was simply shocked.
"I.. understand." Both boys address their parents.
After finishing their meals, the boys are quickly sent back to their quarters, to get ready to depart. They are told to wear their nicest cloth, and to bring a gift of good faith, to exchange with the heir of the opposing clan. Rona turns to a servant in his doorway, inquiring about the gift.
"What am I to bring?" He asks the maid.
"Something of deep value, I'd assume, sir." She replies. Rona hums, grabbing some jewelry from his nightstand.
"A necklace then, perhaps?" He stares at the ornament, a necklace, with a big violet jewel hanging inside a carved golden lockett. The servant shakes her head.
"The Luna stated it needed to be of importance to you. Something that you deeply cherish." She goes on. "Why not take Romeo?" She asks. Rona lightly gasps.
"Romeo? Why would I ever take him? Why ever in a million years?" The werewolf looks over to his bed, where a worn-out and faded looking stuffed wolf toy lay. Rona gently grabs the toy, embarrassment crawling up to his cheeks. "I've had him since I was just a child, how could I just give him away?" Rona squishes the toy's paws.
"Forgive me, sir. Perhaps you should just take something else." The servant bows, and leaves Rona be, as he shyly continues to play with the toy. Rona places Romeo back onto his bed, looking at the necklace. He puts it in his pocket. Satisfied, he starts to leave the room. But right as he gets to the doorway, he stops, and sighs. It's as if his conscious is stopping him. He knows this necklace is of no real value to him, he has tons of them! He looks back at Romeo, grabbing the toy.
"Mortas! Remember we told you to bring a gift!" His mother shouts from somewhere in the castle. Mortas rolls his eyes, scavenging his gloomy room for something to give this mutt he is meeting. Nothing particularly catches his eye, he can do without anything in this room. Hell, this can even be an excuse to get rid of some piece of junk, in fact. After some more searching, his eyes land upon a small wooden box. It's painted red, with black markings running along its sides, almost as if it's alive. He grabs the box, opening it slowly. Inside, there are some old coins, several letters, and even a few gold pieces.
Ah, Mortas remembers this thing. Yup, just a bunch of junk. Letters from past family members, and gold. Useless. But he's sure it would be seen as something of good faith to the Lycanis. Mortas decides to take this. Holding the box in his arm, Mortas leaves his room. Little did either of the heirs know, was that neither of them would be returning home.
"So, you decided to bring Romeo?" The same servant asks, as Rona and she ride together in a carriage. Rona sighs.
"Yes, I couldn't help but feel guilty." The wolf sulks. He really doesn't want to give Romeo away, what would a vampire know about taking care of something as delicate as Romeo? Rona has washed, stitched, and patched Romeo all these years, he has! How can he trust this vampire to do the same? Alas, maybe that is why he has decided to give Romeo away. Maybe he needs to let go of such childish things.
"Well, I'm proud of you, sir." She says.
"Oh, Mortas! You decided to bring your little box?" His mother asks him as they all sit in the carriage.
"Indeed," He replies. "I believe Sir Lycanis will get to know me and our clan better through these letters and other items." His parents and the servant accompanying them all nod in unanimous agreenment, and Mortas lowly scoffs. Obviously he's lying, he couldn't be bothered any less. He just wishes for this nightmare to be over. Surely, this truce will not last forever. They never do.
Both carriages arrive to their destination at around the same time, the Dracul's a few steps behind the Lycanis. Everyone steps out of their carriages, and Rona immideately realizes how this is a strange place for a meet-up. I mean, they appear to be in the middle of the forest, albeit there is a small clearing. No one else seems to notice, nor care, so he keeps it to himself.
The two families meet each other, the parents already seemingly acquainted with one another. The Dracul's are dressed from head to toe in black, flowy clothing to protect their skin. They wear giant sun hats as well. Rona and Mortas stand quietly by their parents, already tension growing between the two boys. Expectedly, Rona is the first to speak.
"You must be Mortas," Rona bows. "I am Rona, son of Alpha and Luna Lycanis, heir, to Clan Lycanis. Pleasure to meet your acquaintance."
"The pleasure is mine," Mortas responds, bowing as well. "And you might say it is my honor to meet you as well, Alpha and Luna." He looks at Rona's parents, who smile brightly. Mortas turns back to Rona. "I am indeed Mortas, son of Count and Countess Dracul, heir to Clan Dracul." He steps back.
"Well!" Rona's mother says. "I think it's time we exchange our gifts, no?" She clasps her hands together. Rona turns stiff hearing the words. His servant hands Romeo back over to him, and he holds the toy in his arms, before looking up at Mortas.
"I believe we shall," Mortas's mother agrees. "Why not exchange your gifts at the same time, boys?" She motions with her hands for them to go on.
The two boys step up to each other, holding out their gift. They slowly start to give their chosen item to the other, their parents watching in anticipation. Rona hesitates slightly, upon letting Romeo go, but he believes Mortas didn't notice. Romeo now belongs to Mortas, and Rona now has.. a box? He supposes it must have something interesting inside.
"Well done, gentlemen." Rona's father praises. "Let this be your first act of good faith towards one another." He goes on. "We truly believe this time, we'll make a difference. Our people shall suffer no more." Upon ending his sentence, the parents all look amongst each other. Rona and Mortas stand confused.
"Is there.. something you wish to tell us, Father? Mother?" Rona asks his parents, and Mortas nods back at his.
"Well," Mortas's mother now speaks. "This hasn't been the full surprise. There is still more!" She exclaims with a smile. Rona and Mortas weakly smile back.
"Oh, great." They both say with faked enthusiasm. Both families now get back into their carriages, and ride further into the forest. Rona stays silent, looking at the box Mortas gave him. Although he doesn't like this man, he is not one to refuse or miscare for a gift given. However, how does he open this..? It's not already open, and he sees no keyhole. It's just.. a pretty-looking box. Perhaps that's all it is? But Rona swears he heard things jingling inside. Oh well.
Mortas looks at the stuffed toy that Rona gave him. It's a dingy little thing, however he can see all the patchwork that has been done to it, most likely by Rona. Whatever. This thing smells like dog. Mortas would just throw it out, however his parents are here. He places the toy onto his lap, petting it a little to entertain his parents. At last, the carriages come to a halt, and the families have arrived at their destination.
"Here it is!" Rona's mother says enthusiastically.
Both Rona and Mortas's eyes go wide as they stare at what's before them. A magnificent, beautiful, mansion. Not nearly the size of either of their castles, no not nearly close, but still magnificent nonetheless! What is the meaning behind this? The heirs stand speechless.
"So," Mortas's father finally speaks. "This was the real surprise." Still, neither of the boys speak. "You two, will be staying here from now on." The vampire says nonchalant.
"Wait, what?" Mortas finally turns to his father. "What did you just say?"
"It's true," Rona's mother speaks. "We have decided to relocate the two of you here, we feel a smaller space would connect the two of you faster." She chimes.
"Connect us faster..?" Rona mumbles, still staring at the mansion. It even has a pond for swimming in the front of it!
"Yes," She continues with a big smile, as if about to burst to bits from her excitement. "In fact, we've all decided." She looks amongst the adults. She takes a big breath. "You two are to be married!"
Rona stays standing still, as if he didn't just process the words that came out of his mother's mouth. Mortas too, initially stands in shock.
"We're..." The words sink in, as Mortas tries desperately to process everything. "We're going to marry?" The words leave his mouth like poison. He glances over at Rona, whose face has started to contort in pure horror.
"We... what?" Is all he manages to mutter, still in a daze. However, Mortas's shock has quickly turned to anger.
"And you were gonna tell us this, when? Just now? Never? You can't be serious," Mortas shouts, turning to his parents. "You expect me to marry that mutt? We're not even eighteen yet! And what, we're to live here? What about the castle?" Mortas's blood boils.
"Mortas Dracul!" His father booms, instantly causing the younger vampire to back down. "How dare you insult the Lycanis, right in front of them? I warned you about your attitude, and what would happen had you any outbursts, now I have to-"
"Count, it is fine." Rona's mother interrupts them. "We expected them to act this way, remember? It's our fault for not easing them into it more." She smiles a soft smile, then holds her arms out, calling for her son to come to her. Rona finally moves from his frozen state, running up to his mother.
"Is it true, Mother? Do we really..?" He looks at both of his parents. His mother pats his head.
"Such a good boy, not getting easily agitated by harsh words, or even harsher situations," She sighs. "It is true, Rona. The Draculs and we have decided to arrange a marriage for the both of you, to unite our two clans."
"But why? How is that to help us?" He asks. No, no no no. He doesn't want to leave his home. Not yet.
"Your father and I are far too old to plan far ahead into our clans future. Because you and Mortas are our future. However, we knew the two of you would not be on board with our alliance. So, we decided to plan this ourselves. Marrying you two together will be the ultimate union of our clans, and surely end the war!"
"I don't understand!" Mortas shouts from behind them, and his father shushes him. Rona's mother goes on.
"I know it may not make sense, but you two are now in charge of all of this. It is tasked to you both to find the perfect solution for both our clans, and inform us when you have done so." She says. "And hopefully along the way, you two will form a bond!" The adults all nod in agreenment.
"But.." Both heirs continue to process this information. Have their parents truly gone behind their backs and set up an arranged marriage for the two of them? And they got this mansion as their new house? They're supposed to live together?!
"And don't worry about all of your clothes or accessories," Mortas's mother states. "We are having all of our luggage moved into the mansion!" She chimes.
"And of our castles?" Mortas asks.
"They will be emptied of anything not of use to us, and sold back to our people. However the castles shall remain locked shall you and Rona decide to move back into one, one day."
Neither of the boys can belive their ears. Again, shocked to a still, their parents wait not for them, already having their servants follow them into the mansion. Rona and Mortas hesitantly follow their parents in, some time after, as the carriages start to roll away, back to their castles to fetch their things. Certainly, they will have to make a lot of trips, even with multiple carriages. The boys stare at each other as they walk, a look that only conveys one message:
"I absolutely despise you."