-Break-
Φ In all of Gorias providence, there isn't a single native or visitor who isn't current in one place.
Throughout the city, Druids have gathered together. Many of them wear the crest of the Faoláins, but far more are wearing the crests of each house of the Red branch, including the royal house itself.
And under the instruction of Fráech and Findabair, they all say, "Beast blood battle arts; Fás."
Which is quickly followed by, "Beast blood battle arts; Bog."
Soon a series of giant plants set throughout Gorias grow and, the most important of them which are located near Gorias castle move into shape where they form three large platforms made of plants which are placed on top of each other from biggest to smallest.
The bottom and biggest of these three platforms takes up a large portion of the castle of Gorias city, with the other two being smaller, but also extremely large as well.
The druid using Bog continues to move and mould the platforms until a staircase is made leading from the top to the bottom, and then a group of beastkin move in to set up for and decorate the platforms.
Through the effort of the maid staff, flying beastkin, and wonderbeast riders they successfully decorate all three platforms making them look as beautiful as Gorias castle proper.
The rest of the followers shape the remaining plants into large lily pads, which people can use to get an elevated look of the city and the platforms
Soon after this, music moves through the air as everyone gathers preparing for the main event.
Both Lugh and Péatra stand in front of one of the staircases at the bottom platform and start walking up towards the highest platform.
As they walk many look at the both of them are looked at with awe and happiness while they take steps forward, in the entire area the only one who looks nervous is Péatra, who shakes at the extravagance of it all.
But rubbing her wings, Lugh says, "Be confident, a woman of your achievements and character should always hold her head high. You have lived your life in a far more beautiful way than many."
Péatra calming down smiles at Lugh and says, "I am happy I get to marry you."
Lugh grins at Péatra, which shocks her back into her nervous state, and brings a state of confusion on him. But nevertheless, they continue forward unwavering.
As they walk, flying beastkin drop seeds, and then druids use beast blood battle arts; Fas to make the seeds on the clothes of Lugh and Péatra as well as the seed in the air, bloom and grow into flowers which fly throughout the city.
Soon both Lugh and Péatra reach the main stage where the high king himself waits.
Conchobar says a few words of pleasantries towards the both of them and then both Lugh and Péatra bite into each other's neck and consume some of the others' flesh.
Conchobar says, "What they hold within each other has now been shared, as will all their triumphs, and defeats. From the bottom of my heart, I wish this union well, and I know our ancestors do as well. Now, everyone who stands in the kingdom, I ask you to celebrate the birth of a new Queen in GORIAS!"
The beastkin all cheer, and clap as Lugh and Péatra stand hand in hand. Then Lugh says, "Now let the final celebration of these 7 days reach its climax!"
Soon many of the shops closed open, and the owners say, "FREE FOOD FOR ALL WHO WISH TO EAT! IT IS ALL COVERED BY LUGH!"
People flock to these sights, and as they do the druids move the giant lily pads through the sky, and on the pads are musicians, and performers entertaining all those who will watch.
The platforms of Gorias castle are turned into a single giant stage after everyone leaves it, so that the most spectacular performances can take place on top of it.
All of the Red branch sit on lily pads in Gorias castle to watch the performance as they eat and converse, and many people from the general populace are allowed to come in and watch from below them as well.
They smile and look up with joy at the sight in front of them, but not everyone can be so carefree.
Φ Sitting on a table beside his wife, Conchobar, and Medb, Lugh looks to Péatra and asks, "Are you doing, ok?"
"Yeah, I am doing great," she says forcing herself to be composed.
Lugh says, "Péatra I have been considered dense before-,"
Chiming in Medb says, "Not considered."
Conchobar says, "You are dense."
Ignoring them Lugh continues and says, "But whatever it is bothering you, I would like to hear it out, we are married so your problems are mine and vice versa."
Péatra says, "It is just that this feels a little over the top for me. I just don't think I deserve all this time and resources. So many druids will be out of commission for a least half a month after this."
"Don't worry Péatra I didn't do all of this for you."
Péatra mood drops, and she says, "Really."
Conchobar says, "You really lack tact Lugh."
Confused Lugh says, "I was just trying to calm her nerves."
Medb then says, "While the majority of this is a show of power for our plan. It was only planned to be a third of the size, but Lugh tripled it so a certain someone will feel special."
Péatra moods increases, but then she says, "What plan?"
Conchobar looks to Medb, and says, "You did discuss our plan with her before you told her to marry Lugh right?"
Medb looks away, and says, "The moon is really bright right now."
Conchobar sighs, and says, "Medb explain."
As Medb, Conchobar, and Péatra talk, Lugh turns his head to one of the servants bringing him wine, and asks, "Have you been watching Setanta?"
"Yes. A group of the eternal moths have been keeping an eye on him since this morning. Right now, he is busy saying his last goodbyes to the human."
"Are you sure of this?"
"I have seen it with my own two eyes my lord."
"Tell my men in his Solasmionna unit to watch his soldiers as well."
"Don't worry, they won't be a problem as the entire unit has been gone since morning."
"Why?"
"Setanta sent Minagrain, his unit, and a bunch of other guards to go and get the human women both he can Culainn have been looking for. It seems they want to let Aurelius and her meet before he dies. Though he sent far too many men away for the sake of protecting Minagrain, so I don't think he will make it."
Sighing, Lugh says, "What a fool. If he had planned to do something like that, I would have at least looked to get him a flying wonderbeast to pick her up. Regardless, keep an eye on both him and Culainn, so that during the execution no scene is made. This is a big day for the beastkin."
"Right, my king."
Facing forward Lugh looks down at the main stage where a group of girls both young and old are doing a form of step dancing, which attracts the eyes of all those watching them.
Looking towards the people who are enthralled by the dance, then he mutters, "It seems everyone is happy. I can thank Setanta for planning this celebration."
Though from up high Lugh can only see the faces of those who want to see him, not those who hide in their corner sulking as they feel their lives breaking down around them.
Especially one woman with marks and wounds across her face. She walks forward through the castle like a reanimated corpse, lifeless in both mind and body.
Nothing more than a husk forced to keep moving under forces she can barely control, and from this woman's mouth she says, "Ferdiad."
"Ferdiad I am sorry, please come home Ferdiad, I will listen to you, I will care for you so please stay here with me, don't leave your mother and sister all alone."
The woman losing strength to her sorrow falls, but before she crashes onto the floor, an arm grabs her hand olds her up, then she hears a voice say, "If you are able to walk, please allow me to be your legs."
Minabród turns her face around, and standing over her she sees Scáthach, who looks down at her with her same face covering on. Minabród is frozen as she sees Scáthach and quickly tries to speak.
But before she can Scáthach picks Minabród up and then she walks hand in hand with her.
Minabród says, "Please, you don't have to do all of this."
Walking forward with her, Scáthach says, "I have taught both Ferdiad, and Setanta to respect their parents, so I must obviously do the same."
"Scáthach, I am not someone worthy of respect."
"I disagree, you have raised both a strong heroic young man and a smart courageous young woman. Both of which are primed to become some of the most important figures in our empire going forward."
"I didn't raise them," Minabród says under her breath.
Soon they both reach the lily pads where all of the Red branches sit, and after they take their seats. They both look up at the dance on the main stage and then Scáthach asks, "What did you mean by you didn't raise them?"
"It's because I am a horrible mother. I brought them both into this world and allowed incredible hardships to be thrown at them repeatedly, if it wasn't for Setanta both of them would be dead now.
My daughter who used to love to sing, and talk can't speak a word and has wounds over her despite never stepping on a battlefield, and my son was breaking down in front of my eyes and even if you offered me all the riches in the world, I couldn't tell you why he was like that."
"But the kindness you put in them helped them weather the storm."
Staring at Scáthach in an unruly manner, Minabród says, "I got lucky. I have seen many people break under those circumstances, I simply was born with two strong and righteous children nothing more, I didn't contribute to them positively."
Squeezing her hands against each other, she asks, "Hey Scáthach, do you know what the most valuable thing in this empire is?"
"It's beastkin women."
"Exactly. It is far less likely that a beastkin will inherit weak traits, or just be a human overall if one of the parents isn't a beastkin woman. Our wombs are built to handle beastkin children, unlike human women.
Even during the period we used human women, out of a hundred trie,s we would only get around three beastkin babies, so even though there were far fewer beastkin women, the amount of beastkin children produced between the two races was close to being the same."
Scáthach says, "If all beastkin men died you would eventually recuperate, but if all women died there is a good chance you all might actually go extinct."
With a sick smile on her face. Minabród says, "You know when I married my Cambell, for the first time in my life I got to talk to other women and learn of all of this.
We are considered the most special and protected people in the empire and are seen as images of our Danu ourselves. I have heard some have grown distant over it ever since more pressure has been put on us due to the lack of human women, but I love it. For the first time in my life, I had innate value, I could do something that was special.
Ferdiad in my belly made me special. Yet I still failed him, I still failed Minagrain, and I know why it all happened. It's because of the human blood in my veins, it's because my mother loved a human, and created the abomination known as me.
Humans pollute all of the good things in our world and ruin our very existence. If only I wasn't human, if only I was a full-blooded beastkin, I am sure I could have given, Minagrain, Cambell, Ferdiad, and my mother to stay with me. It is all the human bloods faul-."
Scáthach slaps me across the face which attracts the attention of the beastkin around us, and then she says, "Minabród you're being childish."