Align Ourselves

by Adrianna Schuh

  "Long may she reign," the people in the room repeated.

  Lex pulled back. Her eyes had closed as soon as he'd placed his forehead against hers. She opened them, meeting his gaze.

  "Long may she reign," he repeated. His tone was severe, but his eyes were playful.

  He leaned in and kissed her. It was chaste, more of a peck on the lips, but it took Aria by surprise. By the time she realized what he was doing, he'd already pulled away.

  He was the first person to stand. He placed his hand in front of her, and when she took it, he pulled her up.

  A second later, everyone else rose to their feet.

  Lex turned to the crowd and gave them a nod. With that, the whole room erupted in cheers. People began clapping.

  Lex nodded towards the stairs behind Aria before turning and going up the ones on the left.

  There were two chairs behind the table, and they both sat down at the same time. Everyone else was still cheering, hugging, laughing.

  "See, that wasn't so bad," Lex said, low enough for Aria to be the only person that could hear him. "And you didn't even embarrass me," he added, smirking at her.

  And it was so ridiculous that Aria couldn't stop herself from letting out a laugh. It sounded a little hysterical, even to her.

  He smiled back at her, and that was that.

  She grabbed a glass of wine and chugged it, hoping that no one was watching.

  It was weird, sitting at the front of the room. Aria was so used to sitting at the table, watching Lex and Grace from below.

  While they ate, different people came up and offered their congratulations and gifts. Aria nodded, mumbled 'thanks,' and tried to make her face look as happy as possible.

  Really, she felt uncomfortable. She wasn't sure why people were giving her presents, but she thought it best not to ask.

  After what felt like hours and a thousand 'thank yous,' people stopped coming up to the front. They talked amongst themselves, they ate and drank. And Aria was grateful for the break.

  After dinner, they made their way into the gardens. They spent the rest of the night outside under the stars. There was music and dancing, but Aria stayed glued to her chair. Everything had been moving so fast, the night passing quickly.

  "We have to leave first," Lex said, putting his hand out for her to take. "The others will wait. Once we're gone, they can stay, or they can leave. But we have to leave first. Unless you'd like to stay a little while longer?"

  Aria took his hand. There was no way she wanted to stay any longer than necessary. But to her horror, people actually started to cheer once they got up.

  She could hear them cheering all the way through the doors and down the hall. She cringed. She'd been so focused on this first part, so worried about the ceremony, that she hadn't really thought about what happened afterward. Or what was supposed to happen, anyway.

  He led her to his quarters, and when the guards opened the doors, he spoke up. "After you," he said.

  Aria went inside, and he followed, closing the door behind him.

  She looked around, she'd been there once before, but she had stayed on the couch.

  "Let me show you around," Lex said.

  He led her from the doorway into the room she'd been in that night she'd accepted his proposal. It was huge, a lot bigger than the room she shared with the other girls. There were two couches in the center of the room, a small ottoman in front of them. One of the walls was filled entirely with bookshelves packed with books.

  To Aria's surprise, a few paintings were hanging on the walls. Another chandelier full of candles hung from the ceiling. The right wall had two glass doors leading to a balcony.

  He led her through the door located in the back of the first room. They ended up in the bedroom, which was even bigger than the first room. Aria took a look around. The first thing her eyes landed on was the bed pushed up against the wall directly opposite the door.

  Needless to say, it was big. It reminded Aria of the beds she'd seen in old fairytale books. Sheer black fabric hung in a canopy from the top, surrounding the bed on all sides.

  She looked away.

  "Your stuff is on the right side," Lex said, pointing to a huge armoire and a vanity table pushed up against the right-side wall.

  The left side looked similar to the right. Aria assumed that his stuff would be there.

  There was another couch just to the left of the bedroom door, placed in front of a small fireplace. A beautiful grey rug lay on the floor between the two.

  "The bathroom is through here," Lex said, opening a door on Aria's right. She peeked inside for a second. The only thing she really took in was the vast round tub sitting right below a window.

  He walked to his side of the room and took his crown off, placing it on a little pillar with a red pillow on top of it. She looked to the left and saw that there was a matching pillar for hers as well.

  "Look around if you'd like," he said, starting to take his clothes off. "But I'm going to bed."

  Aria nodded, looking away.

  "Um...is-is there anything I can change into?" she asked. There was no way she was taking that dress off if she didn't have anything to cover the lingerie under the dress with.

  "Find something in your dresser," he said from behind her.

  She placed her crown on the pillar and opened the doors to her armoire. Inside was a built-in dresser. She tried not to gasp when she saw that it was full of clothes, shirts, and pants of all colors and materials. There were also jackets, sweaters, cloaks, and dresses hanging up. She ran her hand over the clothes. Pretty. Too pretty. The floor of the armoire was lined with different kinds of shoes.

  There were two smaller drawers at the bottom, and she couldn't stop herself from opening them and peeking inside. More clothes. But these looked less proper, more like bedroom wear. A few pieces made her cringe, all lacy and short. She searched until she came upon a simple white nightgown. Decent enough, she thought. At least it would cover all of the areas she wanted to be covered.

  She picked it up and went to the bathroom to change.

  Her hands shook as she carefully took the dress off. Once she'd put the nightgown on, she tiptoed back to the room. She put her dress and the undergarment she'd been wearing across the chair at the vanity table.

  She looked back to the bed and noticed that Lex was already lying in it, his back to her. Thank god, she thought, looking at his bare back. The covers came up to his waist, and she silently prayed that he wasn't naked.

  Not that it mattered. He'd made it clear that he didn't have any expectations, even though they were now husband and wife.

  She walked towards the bed. There was a part in the canopy on her side, and she crawled in as discreetly as possible. She moved to her side, lying as close to the edge as possible. She brought the covers up to her neck.

  The room was lit by the candles on the chandelier. However, it was still dim enough, especially under the black canopy, for her to at least consider trying to sleep.

  She couldn't believe it was over. She was the queen. The fucking queen. Of a kingdom. And someone's wife.

  It didn't feel real. Aria still felt like the same person she'd been that morning. Wasn't she supposed to feel different? Powerful or something? Less scared?

  Eventually, she heard Lex's breathing even out, and she knew he was asleep. She turned to peek at his back in the dim lighting. She looked above her, past the bed's wooden headboard to the sword hanging on the wall. It was beautifully crafted, shiny. Unlike any sword, she'd ever seen before. Why was it hanging there? What was its significance? It must've been essential for it to be hanging above the king's bed. She decided she'd ask him about it tomorrow.

  Chapter 15

  When she woke the next morning, he was already gone.

  She was glad. She wasn't sure what she was supposed to say to him, how to talk to him now that they were married.

  She cleaned up in the bathroom and went back into the room to look for something to wear. S
he wasn't sure if there was a certain way, she should dress now that she was the queen. But she figured the clothes in her dresser were placed there for a reason, that they were appropriate.

  She picked out a pretty purple tunic, the color wasn't something she'd worn often in the past, but it looked great with her light brown skin and the black pants she chose. She found a pair of black combat boots and laced them up. Finally, she undid the braids from the night before and put her hair in its usual style. A messy bun, just the way she liked it.

  On her way to the throne room, every person she passed bowed their head in greeting. She tried to smile and nod in acknowledgment. Hopefully, she'd get used to this because right now, it made her extremely uncomfortable.

  Once she reached the throne room, she started to make her way to her usual spot at the table with her friends before remembering that it wasn't where she was supposed to sit anymore.

  Instead, she made her way to the front of the room, annoyed that everyone was staring at her. Her chair was pushed to the left, making room for Grace's on the right, Lex between the two.

  "Hey," he said, watching her as she sat down.

  "Hi," she replied, feeling awkward as hell.

  "Did you sleep well?"

  "Mhm," she said nodding. She didn't try to make conversation as she ate.

  When he got up to leave, Aria wasn't sure what she was supposed to do.

  "Is it okay if I go join my friends," she asked.

  "Of course, Aria. You don't have to ask me. I've told you, you're free to do as you please, anything at all. You are the queen, after all," he said, smirking at her.

  She rolled her eyes.

  After he left, she made her way to her friends.

  "Well, well, well. Look who's come to join us," Mara teased, "the queen herself.".

  Aria rolled her eyes and sat down, grateful for Mara's presence.

  "Do I have to refer to you as 'my lady' like the rest of them do? Or can I still call you Aria?" she asked, fighting a smile.

  "Shut up," Aria said.

  "Now is that any way for a queen to talk?" Peter joked. Brent and Martinez laughed.

  "You can shut up too. That's an order," Aria said, smiling at her friends.

  "Now that's more like it," Peter yelled. They all laughed again, and Aria joined in.

  "But really, are we supposed to like...be different around you? Because we're not really sure," Peter said.

  "No," Aria said, shaking her head. "I'm still Aria, guys. Nothing's really changed. But my title, I guess."

  "And the fact that you now have a husband," Ben said, but his tone wasn't playful like the other's had been.

  Aria didn't have anything to say to that.

  "So...how was the wedding night," Martinez asked, a mischievous grin on his face.

  Aria felt her cheeks flame. The others giggled, raising their eyebrows in question.

  "It was fine," Aria said.

  "Just fine," Adrian asked, "That must've been a disappointment."

  "Nothing happened," Aria said, glaring at him. "If that's what you're curious about."

  "Really? Why," Adrian asked, smirking.

  "Because that's- not what...what our marriage is like. I did this for you guys. This is purely political. So think about that the next time you want to tease me," Aria said, serious now.

  "Jeez, calm down. We're just having a little fun. You don't seem like his type, anyway," Adrian said, putting his hands up. He must have been referring to whoever Lex had been with before her. Though how he knew what Lex's type was, she didn't want to know

  "Screw yourself," Aria shot back.

  "That's surprising," Ben said.

  "What is, exactly," Aria asked, already annoyed.

  "I'm surprised he didn't force you or something. But then again, I guess he has others for that," Ben said, smiling at some of the guys at the table.

  "And why would you think that? In case you've forgotten, he hasn't forced any of us to do anything. We're here by choice, Ben. Remember that the next time you want to insult the man that's feeding you," she said, her voice cold.

  The smile on his face dropped. "Wow...not even married for a whole day, and you're already acting like the model wife."

  "Excuse me," Aria said, anger building in her chest.

  "You're with us now, Aria. Your friends. You don't have to pretend with us," he said, a questioning look in his eye.

  "I'm not pretending, Ben. You're acting like an asshole. And don't talk to me like that."

  Everyone else had gone quiet—even Adrian, who always had something to say.

  "Are you actually defending him? He-he's dangerous, Aria."

  "As of right now, the only person that poses a threat to us is you, Ben."

  "Aria you-"

  "I trust him," she said, tired of the conversation.

  "Aria, you can't be serious?"

  "I am," she said, getting up. "And if I trust Lex, then everyone else should too. Or have you forgotten the fact that I'm in charge?"

  He looked like she'd slapped him. It felt good.

  She left without another word.

  Mara caught up to her eventually.

  "Not gonna lie...that was pretty badass," Mara said, smirking at her.

  Aria laughed.

  They ran into Grace on their way to the training area.

  "My lady," Grace said, bowing her head. It felt so ridiculous. "Where are you two headed?"

  "The training area. Aria's got some anger she'd like to work off," Mara said, smiling.

  "Oh, well, I guess I'll join you. When are you leaving?" Grace asked, looking at Aria.

  "Leaving," she asked, confused.

  "You and Lex? To the house?" Grace said, just as confused as Aria.

  "What," Aria asked.

  "Oh...uh, sorry I hadn't realized...uh, just forget I asked."

  But she couldn't. All through training, she thought about what Grace had asked. Was there some part of the marriage ceremony that was yet to come? Why hadn't Lex said anything? Was he even going to?

  Luckily, the people she'd been training with before she was crowned were still willing to train with her. Only now, they didn't tease or laugh at her. They helped her up when she fell.

  "My lady," her usual trainer said, extending a hand. He pulled her up, and she couldn't help herself.

  "My lady," she asked, "What happened to 'you weak creature' and my personal favorite, 'you rat'?"

  The man actually blushed. "I apologize for how I have acted in the past, my lady. I hope you understand that I meant no harm," he said.

  Aria laughed. It was fun being queen. Making others squirm.

  She finished training and decided to skip lunch. She didn't want to sit up front again, but mostly she didn't want to face her friends after they'd teased her this morning. Instead, she grabbed an apple from the kitchen and made her way to her room.

  She had already made it to her old room, the room she'd shared with the other girls, when she remembered that she didn't live there anymore. She sighed and made her way to the king's quarters. And hers, technically.

  One of the guards standing by the door greeted her, and opened the door.

  It took a while, but eventually, the big tub in the bathroom was half-full of steaming, hot water. Looking around the bathroom, she found a small fixture with bath items on it, oils, shampoos, soaps, and a bag of sweet-smelling potpourri. She stifled a laugh. Did the king actually use this stuff?

  Feeling a little smug, she added a bit of the woodsy-smelling oil into the water and got in. It reminded her of the smell that clung to Lex. And before she knew it, her hand had crept between the apex of her thighs. It took only a few minutes before she was shuddering from the pleasure. Lex’s scent all around her, his dark, demanding eyes flashing in her mind.

  Afterward, she soaked for a while, letting herself relax.

  Suddenly, she heard the door to their room being slammed shut. It must've been Lex; no one else would be in here.

 
; She heard him walking around the room.

  "Don't-Don't come in here," she yelled from the bathroom, "It's occupied. I'm not decent."

  She could hear him laugh a little before yelling, "Okay. Thanks for the warning."

  She rolled her eyes. She grabbed one of the extra buckets she'd brought and rinsed herself before getting out. She wrapped herself in a robe and walked out of the bathroom.

  He was sitting at his desk, studying a piece of paper.

  "What's that," she asked.

  "Nothing," he said, much too quickly. He then folded the paper up and placed it in one of the drawers. That made Aria a little suspicious. She made a mental note to search his desk later. Maybe that was a little out of line, but she didn't care. It was obviously something he didn't want her to see.

  He turned to face her.

  "So um, Grace said something about us leaving? Where are we going," she asked.

  "Oh. Uh. Well, there's this little tradition we have—something like a 'honeymoon' or whatever. We'd just go to a smaller manner house near the river. But...I didn't plan...I mean, I didn't think you'd want to go, so..."

  "Oh," she said, a little embarrassed.

  "Unless you really want to spend a few days away from your people? But I should warn you, we'd be mostly alone."

  "No-no. We don't have to. I mean, unless I have to?"

  He sighed.

  "How many times have I told you that I won't make you do anything?"

  "Well, I'm still unfamiliar with this whole married-to-a-king thing, so I apologize in advance for not knowing everything," she said, annoyed.

  He rolled his eyes. "Whatever."

  "Do you always have to be such a dick? It was just a question!"

  "Do you always have to ask me stupid questions when I've already given you the answers? More than once, might I add."

  She narrowed her eyes—that asshole.

  "No. I don't want to go. I doubt I could survive a few days of being alone with you. I'd probably go mad."

  "Not before I did. Trust me, the last thing I want is to be alone with you and that attitude."

  "You're such an asshole."

  "Duly noted."

  He turned back to the desk.

  Aria scoffed.