Introductions, and announcements went smoothly.  Their daughter had entered with the Water Kingdom, and their Son had entered behind them with His wife.  His own wife was quiet by His side as the entrances were made.  Beforehand she had asked for Yvonne to be the Godmother of their youngest son Lael.  The boy had been a product of their reunion after a dark period in their lives.  They had grown distant after the previous celebrations, focusing on the work needed to run the Kingdoms, and not paying enough attention to their own needs.  He had strayed for a period, growing fond of the woman that was now their daughter in law.  His staying away from her had lead her to seek out another to sustain her own needs.  She was  succubus in nature, and when deprived, it will take over. They had parted for a short while, only to return to each other very quickly after.  She had become pregnant with Lael, and they had never parted again.  They had decided to leave the past in the past, and move into a new future, even renewing their vows.  When the past came up again though, it was tense between them.  Fears and doubts still lingered occasionally.  

They were seated together as usual, putting on the smiling faces for all to see.  They didn’t move, or get up to dance.  They just sat quietly by themselves, unsure of what to say to ease the tension.  Eventually Ronan came over to them, and asked to speak with him alone.

“Of course.” He nodded, sitting up, and resisting an urge to let out a sigh of relief.  He bent down to kiss his wife’s cheek, and followed ronan out to the balcony that looked out over the water.  “What did you want to speak with me about?” He asked, turning to face in ronan’s direction.  

“Raina.” Ronan responded.

He couldn’t help the sneer that came at the mention of His daughter’s name from the seal.  He knew what Selkies were like with relationships.  They always chose the water over their lovers, and left them with broken hearts.  That was not something that He wished for his daughter.

“What about Raina?” He asked, trying to hide the tension in his voice, but failing.

“I would like your permission to ask her to marry me.” Ronan responded with a confidence that could not be denied.  “I know that you will probably not approve, or give me another book of rules to follow.  I figured that I should ask you though above anyone else.”

He was quiet for a long while, contemplating the thoughts running around His head.  Selkies could swim, so throwing him over the balcony was out of the question, not to mention the trouble it would get him into with the rest of the realm.  He and his wife were already watched closely by the advisers.  He inhaled deeply, exhaling slowly after holding it for a few seconds.  His body rose a few degrees as he continued to circle the thoughts through his mind.  He knew how much raina loved him.  He saw the way his daughter looked at the seal.  It was very clear that He felt the same for her since he was asking permission for such a thing.  Selkies never married of their own will.  All selkie marriages were mostly forced by humans who stole their pelts.  He had proven that he could stay with her since they had been living together by the water, and he hadn’t run away so far.

“Same rules apply.  You hurt her in any way shape of form your pelt is ash.” He finally spoke, his teeth gritted together firmly.

“Understood.” Ronan responded calmly. “I would never dream of hurting her.”

“Then you have my permission.” He said hesitantly with a nod. “When do you plan on asking her?” He asked curiously.

“Tomorrow night.” Ronan said with a smile. “I figured it would be a perfect announcement for the water Kingdom.  We can celebrate the rest of the week on fyre and earth nights as well.”

“Tomorrow night is fine.  It will give me a chance to speak with her mother.”  He nodded, and stepped back towards the ballroom. “Excuse me.  I’ll be heading back in to see if I can catch a few moments with my wife while I can.” He said, returning back inside to track down his wife.