For the Sake of Peace

Part One: Of Wedding Preparations and…Buying a Dress!

Soren doesn’t believe that he’s ever been so embarrassed. It really had not been necessary for Kraven to tell the whole damn coven what a sacrifice Soren was making for the furthering of the peace and protection of them. He was beginning to wonder if it wouldn’t be easier to wander outside say at three in the afternoon and deal with the problem that way. However, he isn’t quite ready to do anything THAT drastic so he settles for pouting. Yes, a centuries old death-dealer settles for POUTING. That’s when he knows that he’s completely insane. At least he’d retired to his room to do this…he’d be mortified if someone found him doing this, plus, he didn’t want to deal with one more condolence from ANYONE. “Stupid…idiotic…How did they decide THIS would help!” he grumbles, “And WHY do I always get the raw end of the deal?”

A knock on his door interrupts his tirade, and he inwardly sighs. “Come in,” he calls. A moment later, he’s greeted by the sight of one very perky Erika. He wonders what divine deity he’d angered to do this to him. “What do you need, Erika?”

“I need to make sure that you aren’t doing anything in the next few nights,” the blonde tells him.

Soren is immediately on edge. “Why?” he asks suspiciously.

“Because you and I are going shopping!” she exclaims looking absolutely giddy.

Soren stares at her. “Excuse me? We’re doing what?”

“Shopping…Kraven will explain it to you. I just need you to keep the next few nights open.”

“We’ll see…AFTER I speak with our dear Reagent,” Soren says getting up. He was missing something…THAT was for sure. He exits his room without waiting for a response and goes downstairs. “Kraven, we need to talk,” he says.

“Ah, Soren, of course. Erika came to speak with you then?”

“Why the HELL would I need to shop with HER?” he demands.

Kraven smiles and points to a chair in front of him. “You are going to want to sit…and try not to overreact.”

Now he knows something is up but he does as bade and sits looking right at Kraven. “Now, can I get some straight answers from you, Kraven?”

“Of course. I’ve never lied to you, Soren.”

“No, you’ve just omitted things.”

“For your own good, Soren. I wouldn’t have wanted to make you a target.”

“Oh thank you for looking out for my well-being, Kraven, now tell me why I have to spend multiple nights with ERIKA!”

“About that…well, Lucian and I have decided on a traditional-type wedding. However, the only ones willing to do a service at night don’t sanction same-sex marriages. So, you are going to have to go shopping with Erika…to find a dress.”

For a moment, the truth doesn’t sink in. However, it eventually does and Soren explodes in a rage. “NO WAY! NO FUCKING WAY AM I DRESSING LIKE A WOMAN, KRAVEN! IT’S BAD ENOUGH THAT I HAVE TO MARRY RAZE! I AM NOT GOING TO DEMEAN MYSELF FURTHER!”

Kraven just waits for him to finish before saying, “You don’t really have a choice, Soren. This is what has to be done, what WILL be done. Stop acting like a little girl and do this for the sake of all those who live in these walls. Viktor was an idiot to start a war with Lycans. They have the upper hand…have ALWAYS had the upper hand.”

“Kraven…a dress? Don’t do this to me!”

“It’s the only way, Soren.”

“I won’t do it, Kraven. Not to save anyone here…I WON’T go and buy a DRESS!”

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“Seriously, I don’t think he needed to hit you quite so hard,” Erika murmurs watching him stare at the mirror, “It’s going to be hard to pick one for you when that looks so ugly.”

“It’s a black eye, Erika. It has nothing to do with what we’re doing.”

“Still, it looks atrocious!”

“Could we get this over with? People are staring!”

She laughs. “They’re not used to seeing a man wearing a wedding dress!”

“I’m not used to wearing a dress!” Soren grumbles, “There is a reason these were made for WOMEN!”

“Oh hush. You’re curvy enough that they actually fit quite well.”

“Curvy? Oh gods, smite me now!”

Erika slaps him on the shoulder. “Stop being so melodramatic.”

“I can’t help it. I’m in a department store trying on wedding DRESSES! Anyone could walk by!”

“The coven knows to stay in while we do this. They are going to give you your privacy, Soren.”

“It’s not the coven I’m worried about.”

“Then who?”

Soren goes to answer, however, he never gets a chance to as a very familiar voice goes, “Well, THIS is interesting.”

Soren turns bright red. “THEM,” he mutters, “Oh gods, please smite me dead…”

Erika rolls her eyes and looks at the group of four Lycans. “Good evening, gentlemen,” she greets.

“Go away,” Soren grits out.

“Trying on dresses?” Taylor asks obviously amused.

“Why don’t you ask Lucian about that,” he snarls glaring at the Lycan Master. Lucian has the decency to look slightly chastised. “A fucking dress, Lucian? Just WHY the hell are you doing this to me? I have done NOTHING to you!”

“Soren, this wasn’t done to you personally. It’s just how it happened,” Lucian tells him.

“Yeah, well, HE doesn’t have to look completely ridiculous,” Soren snaps pointing at Raze.

“Soren, leave the Lycans to their shopping,” Erika tells him, “We still have yet to find a dress for you!”

“Oh for god’s sake, Erika, I don’t WANT to find one!” Soren snarls.

“I don’t care WHAT you want! Kraven made it abundantly clear that you were to comply. Does he need to hit you again?”

Soren’s brown eyes widen and then narrow. “I NEVER asked for this!” he snarls, “I will NOT be demeaned because THEY can’t convince us that we can work and live together. This is NOT my issue!”

“Soren, please stop yelling,” Erika pleads then her voice turns softer, “We need this to work, Soren. We cannot possibly survive another war…you know this.”

Soren feels his anger drain at her pleading tone. He sighs and runs his fingers through his hair. “I hate this…I really do…”

“I know. I wish it could be better. Heaven knows you deserve to choose who you marry.”

Soren looks at the Lycans who seem to show no indication of leaving. “Don’t you guys have somewhere else to be?” he demands.

“Actually, no,” Lucian admits.

“Then go home. I don’t really want you to watch me do this. It’s embarrassing enough as it is.”

“Well, it’s the best entertainment we’ve found tonight…save watching Raze try on tuxedos…” Pierce snickers.

“I’m surprised one fit,” Soren mutters.

“So are we,” Lucian agrees.

Soren rolls his eyes. “So?” he asks Erika.

The female wrinkles her nose. “No, try on the next one.”

Soren sighs and disappears into the changing room again. This was getting ridiculous. He’d tried on fourteen already. ‘Come on morning,’ he thinks as he pulls on the next frilly white dress. Hopefully the lycans would be gone by the time he got out.

Stepping out, he inwardly whimpers as he sees the Lycans standing right next to Erika. The blonde is obviously trying not to snicker as she sees him. Slowly, he walks over. “Can’t you go home?” he asks stopping a few feet away.

“And miss such entertainment, no way,” Taylor tells him.

Soren sighs and looks at Erika. “Are we getting any closer?”

“Yes, but we’re not quite there yet,” she answers looking him over critically.

Soren groans. “Is there anyway we could finish for the night? This is the fifteenth one I’ve tried on and the spectators are growing with everyone one.”

“We have four spectators, Soren,” she tells him.

“Four too many…can we go?”

“No. Kraven said we don’t come back until we have to.”

Soren grits his teeth. “This is becoming very tiring…I am NOT happy about this.”

“It could be worse…it could be Selene here instead of me,” Erika tells him.

Soren stares at her. “And how, pray tell, would THAT be worse? I actually know Selene.”

“It would end up being leather,” Erika says simply.

“Ah…okay, point to you.”

Erika giggles. “Good, now get the next one. It’s my personal favorite and I think will look best.”

“Then why didn’t you start with it?”

“I don’t know.”

Soren groans and once again disappears back into the changing room. The woman in charge of giving the colored hangers for the doors snickers as he passes. She obviously found this amusing. Soren is tempted to rip her throat out but refrains from doing so as there would be too many witnesses. He once again gets out of the current dress he was in and tries on the last one. This dress was also white however, it doesn’t make him look so pasty. Unfortunately, it DOES make him look like a woman. ‘Bingo,’ he thinks miserably, ‘I am so NEVER going to live this down. Well, at least this means I don’t have to do this again.’

Reluctantly, he walks out. The whistles that greet him make him want to run back in. “And we have a winner,” Erika states, “You look stunning, Soren.”

“There has to be a law somewhere against this,” Soren grumbles.

“Just imagine with makeup and after we’ve shaved you,” Erika says helpfully.

Soren’s eyes widen and hearing the snickers from the lycans turns bright red. “Gods, I’m never going to live this down.”

“It’s only for one night.”

“Yeah, in which I get humiliated and THEN I get to wake up the next morning realizing that I’m married and divorce is NOT an option!”

“That’s after you consummate it, Soren,” Erika remarks.

For a moment Soren is silent and then he whimpers. “Gods…please, don’t remind me.”

“Oh come on, it won’t be that bad. You’d be surprised how many people are jealous of you, Soren,” Pierce tells him.

“I can just bet…” Soren grumbles.

“Raze is very coveted.”

“Maybe so, but that isn’t making me feel better. Now I have to worry about losing my reputation, being married against my will, and having to avoid jealous Lycans…great, just great. I should just shoot myself and get it over with.”

“Soren,” Erika groans.

“Well, I guess it can’t be helped…” Soren mutters, “I’m feeling boxed in and I don’t particularly like it.

“Deal with your issues while I go and put the dresses back,” Erika tells him mere seconds before she walks off leaving Soren alone with the Lycans.

“That’s so typical,” he mutters, “She gets to flee but I have to play host.”

A deep rumbling laugh is his only warning before he finds his chin tilted up to face Raze. He looks at the Lycan almost worried about the closeness. The dark skinned man gently strokes his face around his eye. “There was no reason to get violent…he’s asking a lot of you,” he rumbles, “What you are doing…you’re giving up far more than I am.”

“I-if it helps my friends…I’ll do it. I would rather be feeling trapped than watch them die.”

“Which is why I respect you so much.”

Soren is doing everything he can not to react to that deep voice. He’s suddenly aware of why he enjoyed the Lycan being silent. Thankfully though, Erika returns and gives Soren a reason to slip back into the dressing room. He quickly gets out of the dress and pulls his own clothes back on. He is suddenly very glad he brought a long jacket. “Great…just great,” he mutters looking at himself into a mirror, “You are so very screwed…”