Kaidan & Delilah: Part 2

Lilah smiled and straightened his cloak a bit. "I think you look very gallant." Striker came in and warned them that time was short and they had to get going. Lilah squeezed his hand and walked beside him toward the shadow gate to take them to the Blood Palace. She hoped this would be one of the last times they had to visit that horrid place.

She looked up at Kaiden as they passed through the gate. "Are you nervous?" She asked.

He sighed and shrugged a little, "I am fine.....for now at least." he said holding her hand. They got heading on through the gate and they were greeted by escort soldiers, who showed them to the doors to the main chamber, which all was ready for them to come and begin.

Lilah squeezed his hand back and kisses his cheek, "You will be fine. The entire clan is behind you, and so am I." She held his hand as they entered the main chamber until it was time for them to part ways. She would remain with Striker until everything was said and done. "Good luck, my love." She kissed his lips and smiled.

He smiled as he went on to the centre where he found the head of council and.....his father standing with a medallion and signet ring that were custom made to him. But there was also and old and BIG book on the podium, next to High Lord Bale.

Once Kaidan got to the centre, Kaidan stood before them and the others who filled the chamber to bare witness.

"Welcome all! To this grand and honouring occasion....it is not often we have the chance to lift to power a new and YOUNG leader to the ranks of Lord. So I may be the first to speak of this honour to Kaidan Bale, may your future be prosperous and true." said the head of council.

Then his father stood forward, there was a silence at first, Kaidan gave him a cold look but kept it stoic.

"I....will admit to this court...that I am not a good father....nor HAVE I been a good father......but.....I can not help...but feel proud, before me that My son, Kaidan Amadeus Bale....is now Rank of Lord.....I've nothing else but my Blessing and my wish of fruitfulness in your future." he said to the court.

Lilah took her place beside Striker near the front of the crowd as Kaidan left them to stand before the council and his father. On a podium in the middle of them was a custom medallion and ring made just for Kaidan. The first to speak was the head of the council who welcomed everyone and explained why they were all gathered there. Lilah folded her hands in front of her and fidgeted a little bit, feeling nervous for Kaiden, moreso when his father took the stage.

She was happy to hear his father say such kind words. She hoped that they could mend their relationship and try to connect as father and son from here on out. She said a small prayer in her heart for the both of them and watched as the ceremony continued.

Kaidan didn't respond, he was not o speak through the ceremony until he was named a Lord.

Then Kaidan was motioned to the place his hand on the book, The Head Councillor looked to him, "Do you...Kaidan Bale, promise to protect...to lead with wisdom, to lead with a strong heart?" asked the councillor.

"I will." he said so the whole chamber would hear him.

"Are you WILLING to see your clan before yourself or your needs?" he asked.

"I am." he replied.

"Then....in this chamber...we place to your hand.." he got his right hand and slipped his signet ring to his ring finger, "Lord of the Taris Clan." High Lord Bale removed his son's current cloak and replaced it with the red cloak of a lord. Completing the inauguration.

"We announce you...LORD KAIDAN BALE of the Taris Clan." said the Head Councillor.

The chamber roared with approval, the loudest area being the home clan.

Lilah smiled proudly while she watched High Lord Bale replace Kaidan's cloak with a beautiful royal red one. Kaidan stood before the crowd and was officially announce as the new Lord of the Taris clan.

Her smile grew wider as the entire chamber erupted in applause and cheers. Lilah clapped and cheered right along with them. It took all she had in her to resist running up to him and giving him a congratulatory hug. Striker was standing beside her just as excited as she was. Her eyes were locked on Kaidan and she could not wait to be in his arms to give him that congratulatory hug and kiss she so longed to give him.

Then his father opened the old book, "In closing, Dux novi vos; vos confirmate corda vestra sit in principiis suis hostibus vestris et sanguis cutem nova currunt." Lord Bale spoke from the book. "You new Leader, stand firm, let your enemies quake in their skin and let your blood run fresh." Striker quietly translated for Lilah, since she as still learning the old latin language they know.

"Ut sit!" he shouted tot he whole chamber. "UT SIT!" everyone replied. "Let it be so." Striker said again for Lilah.

Kaidan nodded to his father and he was allowed to leave the centre.

High Lord Bale took the stage again and read from the ancient book. It was in old Latin which Lilah was still struggling to understand. She was thankful that Striker was near to translate it for her as it was spoken to them. She listened to him with one ear and High Lord Bale with the other. Once the crowd complied and the ceremony ended, Kaidan was now allowed to join them as their new Lord.

Lilah smiled at him and walked closer minding his new title and not acting like a small child by jumping into his arms and kissing him. "Congratulations. You did very well up there. And the new uniform suites you."

Kaidan hugged her tightly and chuckled, "Thank you love." he smiled, kissing her in return.

High Lord Bale came down to them, "I am to inform you all that the gala is being held at my estate." he told them. Kaidan sighed, "That's what I was thinking.'

"Kaidan this is a time to celebrate...not argue...you should be proud, you will do well....we all believe you will." he said.

Lilah hugged him tight feeling over the moon happy for him. "You're welcome. I know you will do great." She stayed close to his side and wrapped her arm around his waist.

High Lord Bale came over to them and said that the gala was going to be held at his estate. She had all ideas that was the case. She stayed close and tried to lighten the mood.

"Yes, we should be celebrating." She leaned in and whispered into his ear, "The faster we get through this...the faster you and I can have our own personal celebration when we return home..."

High Lord Bale cleared his throat "PLEASE keep that talk in private." he said to Delilah.

"You best go an and get a short rest before the gala." he suggested to his son.

Kaidan sighed, "yeah yeah. Let's go on and we'll be set to go to the gala soon." he said to Striker and Delilah.

Delilah bit her tongue resisting the urge to sass him right back. She took Kaidan's hand and kept a gentle smile on her face.

"My Lord." She bowed to Kaidan's father showing her respect before they left to take a breather before the gala.

"Geez, he is so rigid. Does he ever smile?" She said with a sigh.

"............Honestly....I don't know." said Kaidan said as they left the palace, along with their Entourage.

They headed back to the Clan home and spent an hour or so to relax and refresh themselves. Kaidan sighed, "......I'm a lord........So weird." he said, looking at his cloak of blood red colour. "...........You know you'll be going through that." he smirked to Delilah.

Lilah rolled her eyes and started to understand why Kaidan's relationship with his father was so strained. He was a rather hard man to get along with.

Once they were back at the clan home and in the privacy of Kaidan's room, she took her heels off to rest her feet for a bit. "I'm sure you will get used to it quickly." She said as she sat down on the bed.

"Wait?! What?! I have to go through my own inauguration ceremony too?" She said seeming a bit frantic.

"Once we are married....you'll become a lady-Lord." he said to to Delilah.

"That seems odd. I am not part of the clan by blood. I am just marrying into the clan. Usually there is no such ceremony for a woman." She said finding it very odd that a woman who isn't even of blood relation has to go through an inauguration as well.

"But I will do it if I must." She said with a sigh. She didn't really like being the center of attention.

"For you to be fully accepted to the council and when married you'll be taking on the title as my wife and my right-hand.......if you don't.....it would be considered not a true marriage in their eyes." he sighed.

"I see. I guess some traditions are different among vampires. But whatever I have to do, I will do it." She said with a smile. "I want to be accepted by your clan and I wsnt our marraige to be acknowledged as well."

He smiled, "Its also so they respect you like they do with me now. I won't have them disrespect you." he kissed her hands.

"Our clan accepts you, but the council is the head of the vampire body.....so its an issue."

"Do you think there is a chance they won't accept me because of the role I played in Rosaline's death." She asked.

"That's a possibility, but when we are married they can't touch you for that." he said, "I love you." he kissed her on the lips.

"I love you too." She kissed him and looked into his eyes. "I will remain at your side no matter what." She said touching her forehead to his.

He smiled at Lilah, "Am i am glad."

A bit later, they had gotten re-ready to head out, but this time to the Bale Estate for the Gala.

Kaidan sighed, he hadn't been back to his birth home for a long time.....not since his mother and him left that house when his father and her were having troubles.

Delilah, Kaidan, and their entourage came to a stop outside the Bale Estate. Lilah could tell that Kaidan seemed a bit off.

"So, is this the home you grew up in?" She asked taking his hand trying to help him relax.