A/N: These early chapters are hard to edit, but I guess it's worth it. Sorry if I missed anything. :)

Religion and Places: There are the three most important continents. The Mainland, the Islands, and the Southern land, called Chad. These places are divided up into different kingdoms. In the Mainland and Islands, the religion and culture is a bit similar to the Norse religion. Some parts of the Mainland, however, have kingdoms that celebrate more Paganish gods, such as the fey in the forest. In the Southern lands, they worship the Goddess and the God, entities of the Moon and Sun. This division of culture causes rifts in the world of Gale, which, if you're curious, is the stupid name of this world that I thought up randomly.

Boy Bride: Chapter One

A man was bent over a map, his gaze intense and scrutinizing, as he tried to figure out the best route from the Höðr palace, through the Valhalla mountains, and to the Grand Market in the Njord Kingdom. An armed caravan was to be sent through the mountains soon to pick up supplies, and he wanted it to go through the easiest and fastest path possible. No unnecessary harm would come to his men as long as he was Alpha.

‘If they veer just slightly off the path, they can go through the clearing in the center of the trees and...’ He was so lost in his thoughts that he nearly jumped a mile high when one of his wolf-skin rugs exploded. ‘I don’t know why I’m so surprised...I should have expected this.’

He turned around to find a small boy in an overly engulfing robe, embroidered with stars, and a matching hat. The boy was coughing into one of his long sleeves, presumably from the smoke left over from the explosion.

“What in Valhalla are you doing here, you insufferable Wizard?” he asked, and the boy huffed at his clipped tone, glaring at him passionately. He glared back with equal fervor.

“Is that any way to speak to the man who raised you like his own son?” the robed boy asked. It would have been a lot more convincing if he wasn’t only four feet tall. “Hmph, kids these days have no respect for their elders.” The bigger—but not older—male only strengthened his glare.

“I will repeat myself once more,” he said, and the boy crossed his arms together stubbornly, completely ignoring the threatening edge to his voice. “What are you doing here, Myrddin?” Both glared at one another for another solid minute before the boy sighed in defeat.

“Alright, alright, you win. I’m far too old for your games,” the robed boy conceded, knowing the taller male was waiting for him to speak further, so he pulled off his thick spectacles, purposefully taking a long time to wipe them clean. When it finally seemed like the other man would burst from curiosity, he laughed and gave a cheerful response. “I’m here to bless you at your Dawning ceremony. Nana asked me to come.”

Before the other male could respond, he had already pulled him into a tight hug. “Happy Dawning, boy, you’ve reached your twentieth year. Who would’ve thought? You were only a boy when you took over as the Alpha and now...now you’re a man!” He sniffled, about ready to cry, when he was pushed away roughly.

“I’m not having a public Dawning ceremony this year,” the young Alpha insisted, and the robed boy stared at him in shock.

“You’re not? But Nana said—” he began, but was cut off by an angry bark.

“Nana doesn’t know everything. I am no longer a child who needs to be publicly coddled and drowned in gifts,” the taller man seethed. The small boy stared at him skeptically, readjusting his hat when it fell into his face. “All I want this year is a private Dawning, preferably just a dinner between Nana and I—if you have to be there, then so be it.” The Alpha was proud of his own answer, but unnerved by the scrutinizing gaze the wizard directed towards him.

“Hmm, let’s see, you still look like the same, straggly child Nana and I took in oh-so-many years ago. Same bushy brown hair—which Nana wants you to shorten, by the way—and those same grey eyes, haunted from witnessing your parents’ death. Why, Leonhart Alexander of Höðr, you’re exactly the same,” he mused, and the brown haired man, unconsciously beginning to stand taller to impress the little wizard, slouched and glared after hearing what was said. Seeing the Alpha’s slight pout, the wizard laughed and patted him on the back kindly. “You even pout in the same manner, Leon, but you are taller.”

At that answer, Leonhart smiled, and his brilliant grey eyes that usually glittered silver, like ice, sparkled with mischief and good humor.

“And you haven’t grown at all,” he teased. At that, the wizard turned and glared, before pulling a wand out of his sleeve. Leonhart’s eye twitched when he saw the sparkly little star that was comfortably situated at the tip.

“That’s it, you brat! I will turn you into a toad!” Before the wizard could even say one word of his potentially dangerous spell, his wand was pulled out of his grasp.

“No, no, Myrddin, wands are dangerous,” a middle aged woman with kind brown eyes scolded. Leonhart began to laugh until the sharp gaze turned towards him. “And you, Leonhart Alexander of Höðr!” The very manner with which she said his name made him freeze up. “Why are you teasing poor Myrddin? He is your elder and you must always treat your elders with respect!” Leonhart bowed his head shamefully, and Myrddin began blowing raspberries at him, until his tongue was caught in the woman’s swift grip. “What will I do with you two?”

“Sorry, Nana,” both males responded truthfully, heads bowed in shame, and she smiled kindly, immediately forgiving both.

“It’s quite all right. Now, what would you boys like for dinner? We should celebrate Leonhart’s Dawning and Myrddin’s arrival,” she tittered, already beginning to bustle around. Both boys seemed to be very happy with that idea until she turned to Leonhart and pinched the brunet’s cheek. “Don’t you worry, sweet one, this is but the tip of the ice-burg! Your twentieth Dawning ceremony will be the best yet.”

Almost immediately the man gave her the cold shoulder, swiftly maneuvering himself out of her grasp.

“I already told you,” he began icily. “I don’t want a public Dawning ceremony!” The woman sighed at his determination, but eventually relented. “And no coming-of-age presents, either!” It was only an afterthought, but he knew it was necessary.

“Fine, fine, no presents and no ceremony... Why don’t you go tell the attendants what you want for dinner?” The brunet left quickly, as if afraid the woman would change her mind if he stayed too long, and she sighed, turning to Myrddin and pulling him into a quick, friendly hug.

“Can you believe how much he’s grown? One day a lost orphan, the next a man grown. He could lead the entire kingdom on his own, if that was his desire. And the Council believes he’s ready to marry. Can you imagine that? Our Leonhart, a husband,” she exclaimed, her excitement obvious as she clapped her hands together. Myrddin smiled at her affectionate tone and nodded, but there was an odd gleam to his eyes, hidden by the light shining onto his glasses. Nana noticed and began to worry immediately. “What’s the matter, Myrddin?”

He shook his head, but answered anyway. “Just thinking about his Dawning. One of my contacts recently told me about an exotic shipping of merchandise, delivered only a day or so ago. It would make a perfect present, and if he can handle it, prove to me that he was an adult.”

Nana looked uncomfortable at this, but Myrddin took her hand comfortingly.

“B-but he said he doesn’t want a Dawning gift,” she reasoned, but Myrddin knew she was becoming lost in his manipulative, glowing emerald eyes.

“Never fear, my dear,” he whispered in a silky voice. “It’s not a gift...more a...responsibility. The Council did say that he was ready to wed, and haven't you been saying how Leonhart should have a companion nearer to his age?” Nana relented, but she couldn’t help but worry at least a little. What was Myrddin thinking when he mentioned the Council? Marriage? Myrddin only laughed, but Nana couldn’t help thinking that his laugh seemed a little ominous.

‘Oh, well, could it be so bad?’ she reasoned internally. ‘Myrddin would never hurt Leonhart purposefully...maybe annoy, but never hurt.’ She almost convinced herself. Almost.

A/N: How was the chapter? Nothing like the last, right? I told you, some of it is kinda cutesy...I blame Myrddin. Oh well, I hope you'll like it. That's all that matters. But honestly, I like this chapter better. *Laughs* I love Arthurian legends, like the Lady of Shalott or Gawain and the Green Knight, so I felt inspired to include Myrddin, which is the original spelling of Merlin's name, if you know of his Welsh ancestry and childhood.

R&R: I'd love, love, love your opinion. This is my first real story. I know it isn't really all that good, but as I get better, I hope it will be, and I hope you all will be beside me when this happens. If I ever win some kind of award (which you know is just a joke, because I won't) I'll remember to thank you all personally. Oh, by the way, this story is something of a parody of fantasy stories. So it'll be cliche in some aspects, and completely different (possibly idiotic) in others. Back out now, if you think you can't handle it! But I hope you'll stay. *Innocuous look*