“I would be lying if I said that Galean and I did not get along well, we both loved music and we both loved looking after Belle, but we were friends that’s all.” Eveline said carefully, turning to look outside the window.
“I know I was being silly and jealous,” Theodore replied, watching Eveline’s face sadden.
“It is alright,” Eveline whispered taking in a deep breath. “I think we are here,” she beamed turning to Theodore and squeezing his hand.
“Yes here we are, are you ready?” Theodore asked excitement flooding his heart.
“Yes,” gushed Eveline, smoothing out her cream dress and preparing to get out.
“Oh, about surnames, we angels don’t have any so I thought we could use your grandmothers?” Theodore asked, looking at Eveline with hope.
“That is very thoughtful,” smiled Eveline leaning over and kissing his cheek. “Her surname was Black.”
“Well then let us go and be married,” laughed Theodore getting out of the taxi, and running round to Eveline’s side, opening the door and helping her out. Running up the steps hand in hand the couple entered the registry office full of happy spirits. It was forty five minutes before they exited the office, married and ready to enter into a new life together.
“I have two tickets for Keswick, we leave in two hours so shall we go have lunch somewhere?” Theodore asked, holding their luggage in his hands. Eveline was looking down at her wedding ring, her heart thudding. “Eveline?”
“Yes, I am famished,” smiled Eveline, letting her hand fall to her side.
“Good, there is a small café across the street, it’s not much but it will do,” Theodore said, taking her hand in his and guiding her across the street, making sure as not to get harmed by any ongoing traffic. Soldiers walked by the married couple as they entered the small café. “Why don’t you sit down somewhere and I will get us some food,” Theodore ordered kindly, letting go of Eveline and handing her the luggage.
“Alright,” she replied quietly taking their luggage and looking round for a table. Sitting down at a nearby table, Eveline looked about the busy café, filled with soldiers and their lovers. Eveline smiled as she watched the couples talk, some close together and others seriously. Crossing her legs over she once again looked down at the ring upon her finger a rush of warmth filling her body and she turned it about. Theodore and Eveline had agreed to keep their marriage a secret in Keswick considering she was thought to be engaged to William. They would pretend to be cousins, Theodore helping Eveline in the aftermath of her grandmother’s death. They would only be staying in Keswick for a few months, until June, there was no point in hurting her old friends with the news that she had gone and married another man, not while William’s family waited for his return.
“What has you looking so down?” Theodore asked, setting a tray down at their table and sitting opposite Eveline.
“So much has happened since I left Keswick, it feels almost alien to be going back, I feel so changed that I hardly recognise the old me.”
“You are still Eveline, despite being Celestine to the wider universe,” teased Theodore, pouring her tea. “But do not worry, we shall stay quiet and enjoy our married life.”
“Do you think you could teach me to protect myself physically?” Eveline enquired taking a sip of tea.
“It is something I have been thinking about, as I have been stripped of my powers, the only thing I do have left is my ability with a sword,” smiled Theodore weakly. “I think it would be prudent not to teach you how to use a sword and to use a bow and arrow, you may need them if we make it to Calhuni alive.”
“Do you think I will be able to wield a sword like you? I used to play fight when I was young.” Eveline asked nervously, she may be tall but she was petite, she had no meat on her.
“Oh yes, and you have already mastered the art of dagger throwing,” Theodore replied thoughtfully. “As I remember you beat all of your male friends at tree knifing?”
“Yes well I suppose I am good at that and,” she began chewing down on a ham sandwich. “I did play with wooden swords.”
“Well then you have already begun your training, we just need to bring you up to snuff,” Theodore replied, bending over and kissing his new wife on the forehead.
“Hmm yes, also I was thinking maybe you could train me to use a horse?”
“Do you have horses?” Theodore replied frowning, he had never seen Eveline on a horse before.
“No but our next door neighbour does, he is a farmer I am sure he would let us rent one or two of his horses.” Eveline mused looking up from her sandwich.
“I will go over in the morning and enquire after some horses then, we can keep them in the fields.”
“Good,” sighed Eveline content and happy. “I cannot wait to get back home I am so very excited.”
“Yes, as am I my dear,” said Theodore with pride.
*
The journey to Keswick was long and when they finally arrived, both Theodore and Eveline where exhausted. It was dark and chilly when they eventually found themselves at the front door of Estelle’s cottage, the wind loud and gusty, causing the trees around them to sway harshly. As Theodore opened the door, Eveline looked up at the night sky and breathed in the cold air, letting her lungs fill. The stars were out in force, and Eveline felt at home, this was where she belonged.
“Right,” Theodore smiled picking her up in his arms. “I believe the groom is to bring you over the threshold.” Eveline wrapped her arms about his neck as they entered the cold and dark cottage, kissing his face delightfully. Theodore set her down and closed the door behind them, putting his hand on his hips.
“Right I need to make a fire and warm this cottage up, can’t be going to bed in the freezing cold,” he laughed, making for the stack of wood that lay beside the fire place and getting started. Eveline froze on the spot at the mention of bed, she almost forgot about the wedding night and an intense fear gripped her as she rubbed her hands together for heat. Silently she made her way through the cottage, opening the door of the kitchen and walking to a nearby cupboard that housed candles. Bending down she opened the cupboard and looked inside, finding at least ten tall candles. Stashing the candles in her arms she got up and looked around for any paper. The moonlight made it possible for Eveline to wander about the kitchen looking for any old newspapers. Finally after five minutes of scavenging she found some old newspapers on the floor beside the back door. Instead of trying to juggle candles with a paper she left the kitchen and set the candles down near Theodore who had just lit the fire and made her way back to get the paper.
“Ah candles, brilliant,” smiled Theodore taking off his coat and setting it down on one of the settees.
“I thought you could light them,” replied Eveline now also taking off her coat and hanging it up on the peg beside the front door, turning and bringing Theodore’s coat to the pegs.
“Well now we have light and warmth,” announced Theodore kissing his wife on the cheek.
“There is a fire in my room if you wish to light it as well, we can sleep there, it would be too strange to use my grandmothers room,” whispered Eveline shyly.
“Off course my love, I will go up at once and leave you to light the rest of the candles,” beamed Theodore leaving his wife and making his way up the stairs with one candle, humming as he went. Once Theodore had left Eveline used her newly acquired magical abilities to light the candles and tidy the room making it comfortable and cosy. As she re-entered the kitchen with two candles, setting them down on the table, she made for the gas cooker. Taking the kettle from the hob Eveline filled it with cold water and placed it back over the hob, letting it heat up. In the far cupboard, she reached up and found a box of china tea. To her right she found two cups and saucers and brought them over to the table.
“Well that is the fire lit upstairs, do you want me to bring our suitcases up?” Theodore said entering the small kitchen, bending his head down so that he didn’t hit it off the sm
all door frame.
“Yes that would be great, I will unpack once we have had some tea,” smiled Eveline, pouring the now boiling water into the cups and adding tea bags. As she dipped the tea bags in and out she felt Theodore behind her, his hand gently swiping her hair away from her neck and his lips kissing her softly. “Theodore, I’m trying to make tea,” she flushed hotly.
“I’m sorry, I cannot seem to help myself,” whispered Theodore warmly, wrapping his arms about her waist, “you are my wife, and I cannot seem to get over how lucky I am.”
“Well you won’t be feeling lucky if I burn myself because of your caresses,” scolded Eveline gently, turning her body round to her husbands and wrapping her arms about his neck once more.
“Wife,” Theodore whispered, his eyes hot and heavy.
“Husband,” Eveline laughed shyly, rubbing his nose softly with her own, “come let us have some tea and sit in the warmth, before we head to bed.”
“Yes I am a little parched,” yawned Theodore unleashing his wife from his grip and reaching down for a cup and saucer.
“Me too, you go on I will follow,” ordered Eveline, watching her husband leave with his tea, winking at her. When the door closed she bent over and let out an anxious breath. It wasn’t that she did not enjoy the idea of what was to come, it was just that she was nervous. Off course she had already spent a night with Theodore when they first met, but this was entirely different, this meant other things, and a part of her was nervous and another excited. She had never really given much thought to the activities between a husband and wife, but had read many of her grandmothers, rather racy novels and fully understood what happened, but what if it went wrong? What if it wasn’t as beautiful and passionate as her grandmother described? Taking in a deep breath and carrying her cup and saucer, Eveline left the kitchen, blowing out the candles for safety and entered the living room. Theodore was sitting back into the settee, sipping his tea and watching his wife keenly.
“Oh it’s lovely and warm,” muttered Eveline nervously taking a seat beside her husband, keeping her eyes averted, finding intrigue in the hot water.
“Yes, it is,” teased Theodore, setting his cup and saucer down on the floor and easing himself back, his eyes still on his obviously tense and anxious wife. Eveline smiled weakly as she drank her tea with force. They sat in silence for the next ten minutes, Theodore’s eyes on Eveline and Eveline’s eyes on the fire which was crackling loudly. The room grew very warm indeed and it didn’t much help that Theodore was watching her with an intensity so direct that it kept a blush upon her cheeks permantly. In fact Eveline felt her whole body blush under his intense gaze. Unfortunately she finished her tea and with disappointment she put it down at her feet and sat back.
“Eveline?” Theodore whispered hotly.
“Yes?”
“You seem tense?” teased Theodore, moving closer to her side and letting his right arm slide behind her shoulders, taking one of her loose curls and winding it about his finger.
“Oh no I am just tired that’s all,” Eveline lied, her neck warming at his touch.
“Eveline?”
“Yes?”
“It’s alright, you don’t have to be afraid of our wedding night,” Theodore stated lazily, “it’s new to me as well.”
“Really but you are how old?” Eveline turned and looked at her husband curiously.
“Well if you really want to know I am just over a thousand years old,” answered Theodore seriously.
“Wow,” gasped Eveline, “that is pretty old.”
“To be fair you will most likely live for a long time as well,” argued Theodore, “as you are the granddaughter of Heiden.”
“Yes but only through my mother, I am not sure if I have the same lifespan as my grandfather,” mused Eveline seriously, this was a real dilemma in a way.
“I am not sure how to answer that, but even if you do not live as long as Heiden, you still have a lot of life left in you, if you reclaim your throne you will most likely be on it for a very long time.” Theodore smiled, unbuttoning his shirt.
“What are you doing?” squeaked Eveline anxiously.
“Stop worrying I am just a little hot that is all,” teased Theodore, letting his shirt fall open. He watched Eveline’s golden eyes dilate at the sight and rejoiced within, he knew that she wanted him as much as he wanted her, he just had to settle her nerves.
“Oh, well it is a little hot,” stammered Eveline, her eyes on his bared chest, licking her lips seductively, causing Theodores heart to thud.
“Why don’t you take off your shoes?” Theodore asked helpfully. “I think I may take mine off.”
“That is a good idea,” whispered Eveline, turning her eyes from Theodore and bending down to unlace her shoes, taking them off with ease and setting them aside, wiggling her toes. Eveline watched as Theodore copied her, but found her body reacting in a strange way, as though it was melting. Eveline nearly died as she realised that she was lusting after her husband and with that realisation came incredible guilt, how would she be feeling if she was with Galean?
“In all the hustle and bustle of today we have forgotten a pretty important part of a wedding,” teased Theodore, watching his wife try very hard to not feel as hot as he felt.
“Yes?” she whispered.
“Our wedding dance,” he smiled getting up and offering her a hand.
“Oh yes that is true,” she returned taking his hand and getting up off the settee and moulding her body into his own.
“Shame we have no music, I shall hum,” whispered Theodore, taking his wife into his arms gracefully and guiding her around the room in a slow waltz. Eveline let her body relax as Theodore hummed a tune under his breathe, his blue eyes piercing her own gaze, making her legs feel weak and unstable. For several minutes the couple waltzed together, Theodore letting his wife spin under his arm before cradling her into his body again, setting his chin upon her head carefully. Eveline let her head fall against her husband’s shoulder, closing her eyes and listening to his heart beat. Love circulated within her, she thought not of Galean, who had only loved her out of a sense of duty, but she thought of the man she had married, the man who had given up everything to be with her and she smiled, everything was falling into place. When they stopped dancing Theodore kissed Eveline passionately on the lips, lifting her into his arms.
“Shall we go up to bed my love?” he whispered warmly, feeling her body shake with anxiety.
“Yes,” she replied, her lips quivering.
“Stop worrying, I assure you it will be fine,” Theodore said hoping to comfort his wife and himself, for he too felt anxious. When they had ascended the stairs and entered Eveline’s room, closing the door behind them, Theodore set his wife down.
“Is it alright if I change and brush my hair?” Eveline asked shyly walking to her suitcase and opening it.
“Off course, take as long as you need, I am going to wash my face and brush my teeth,” replied Theodore, leaving Eveline to get on with changing.
“The bathroom is through that door,” Eveline pointed to the door that was beside the bedroom door.
“Ah great,” smiled Theodore, unpacking his wash bag and going into the bathroom with his pyjamas, closing it tightly behind him. Eveline opened her suitcase and picked up Galean’s parcel, now wasn’t the time to unwrap it, so she put it to the side and looked through her clothes for her silk nightdress, bought for her wedding night by Jophiel. Closing her suitcase and placing it under her bed, she slowly got unchanged, folding her wedding dress up and placing it on the window chair. Quietly she sat down in front of her dressing table, and unpinned her hair, letting it fall down her back. She realised the silk nightdress was really quite revealing, which made her feel silly. Intimately she touched her face softly with her fingers, running them over her eyes, nose and lips before letting her fingers caress her neck, teasing her collar bone before lifting them away.
Unclasping her earrings, she set them down on the table
before removing her bracelet and setting it beside the earrings. For a long moment she gazed at herself, her face was flushed and her eyes bright, her lips still red with the remnants of her lipstick. Eveline lifted her right hand and let her fingers settle upon her beautiful jewelled star, as golden as her eyes. For some strange and unbeknown reason she couldn’t let herself be rid of the necklace, it made her feel safe, however illogical that seemed. Taking up her old brush, she began to brush her long, auburn curls, finding the motion relaxing, and hardly noticed Theodore’s appearance. Gazing up from the mirror she watched as Theodore walked about the room, setting his suitcase under the bed beside her own and taking off his dressing robe. Eveline’s hand froze as she marvelled at how utterly handsome he was, his blue pyjamas illuminating his eyes. As she watched him wander about the room in another world, she stiffened as he met her gaze and smiled. Dropping her brush she quickly covered her chest, blushing terribly as she walked over to her.
“Why have you stopped brushing your hair?” he asked huskily, bending down beside her and taking a handful of her hair into his hand, stroking it tenderly. Eveline looked down into his warm and kind eyes and found she was speechless. “Give me your brush,” he ordered tenderly. Eveline lifted her brush and handed it to her husband silently watching as he began to brush her thick curls carefully and gently.
“You don’t have to brush my hair,” she whispered shyly, the light of the candles causing her hair to burn brightly.
“I want too,” Theodore replied gently, getting up and standing behind her and taking another handful of hair into his hand, brushing it, whilst gazing at her in the mirror.
“It’s strange being back home without my grandmother ordering me about,” said Eveline softly, her eyes closing in relaxation.
“Yes, I would suppose it is,” Theodore replied, “she was some character.”
“Hmm, she was. Sometimes I still think she is alive, sometimes I find myself waiting for her,” mused Eveline, an image of Estelle popping up into her mind, “silly isn’t it?”
One Crown & Two Thrones: The Guardians Page 35