by Emily Albert
“I love it. I was never the one opposed to an extravagant wedding, remember?” She quirked her eyebrow and he smiled—the tiniest, saddest smile she had ever seen on him. It didn’t suit him. She tried again, “I was only surprised that you would buy something like this after what we talked about. I have never seen anything nearly as beautiful, truly.”
His eyes brightened. “I only wanted to get something nice for you. Something that you could cherish and use to remember our wedding day, though it will be modest. I wanted that for you.”
“I do love it. And I love you.” It came out more easily that Lenna had thought it would. This feeling was so new to her that she hadn’t known how or when to express it. She nodded, more to herself to affirm that her words were true. She took her hands off of him when he relaxed.
Then, after a long, tense moment, Marco smiled, and Lenna followed. They grinned at each other until Marco said, “I love you too.”
His deep voice and the boldness of his accent made it sound more serious. She shivered.
Then, still smiling, the couple sat at their small, private table and ate their meal of eggs, fruit, and toast. Every so often, they looked up at one another only to smile even wider. Lenna hardly tasted the food as she chewed and swallowed without thinking. All the while her heart fluttered.
Today she would marry this man. This man who loved her more than anyone else could—loved her in the unconditional way even her guardian couldn’t manage. This man with his grand gestures and ability to make her feel at home just by sitting with her.
The absence of her guardian’s severe voice was refreshing. She did not feel judged or punished, but instead looked at her fiancé and felt free. She had found the happiness she thought she could only achieve with a crown on her head and a throne beneath her. She would marry Marco, and she knew it was the right decision.
○○○
Vannette had offered to help Lenna get ready for the wedding. Actually, she had insisted. “A bride should not have to get herself ready, and who else should do it but her lady?” she had said. It had taken her by surprise—and in her ecstasy she agreed.
Vannette didn’t know how to work with Lenna’s tight ringlets. She admitted that she had asked someone to teach her; it was probably Kendra.
“I know you don’t want me doing this. It should be your mother, no question. But it needs to be someone, and I want us to get to know each other. I want you to trust me.”
In a haze of happiness, she only nodded, though she knew she would never need nor trust her.
To her surprise, the result was beautiful. Braids wrapped all the way around her head and settled on top in a complex twist. It was something Fay would have done for her, and she was sure Vannette knew it. It meant nothing to her; she did not have so much as an ache in her chest for her mother. She nodded in the mirror. “Okay. Makeup next, then?”
Vannette turned Lenna’s chair to the side and started with creams and powders, lighting up her face with highlights, creating shadows with shades of gray, and lightly lining her eyes with charcoal. Her lips were painted a rich burgundy that made her bronze face look striking. People would watch her, impressed by her stunning hair, dress, and makeup. They would swoon when she kissed Marco, when they said their vows. They would cheer for their future king and queen. She could hear the applause—sharp, loud and engulfing. Their love was brilliant, and the people’s love would make it stronger.
This daydream was interrupted by Vannette stepping back and saying, “Ready for the finishing touch, your Highness?”
Lenna looked at her painted face and lovely pearl-white dress. What else was there? What else would make them cheer even louder? She looked around, then spotted the dazzling necklace on her dresser. She smiled at Vannette and nodded.
She would be a glowing wonder, her husband suave and noble, and they would be surrounded by the deafening noise of their subjects’ admiration.
The necklace was heavy on her neck. That had to mean it was valuable, she figured. She fingered the clear gems as she followed Vannette to the carriage that would take her to the wedding’s location. She got in the carriage, which was covered in flowering vines and drawn by two white horses. Inside, rose petals were sprinkled on the floor and seats. Vannette sat across from her.
After some time, Lenna recognized where they were going. She opened her curtains all the way and the blazing sun streamed in, warming her. She closed her eyes to the heat for a moment, then took a long look around. This was the way to the mountains. To their mountain. Her heart flitted, and she felt choked up from the thoughtfulness.
Lenna imagined the mountain, Marco’s hand on her back, the love he showed her. She imagined his smile. She imagined how beautiful the mountains would look, all dressed up for the occasion.
As they got closer, Lenna saw the mountain range, grand and powerful. She remembered the view from the ledge and let out a quick breath, amazed by the mere memory of it.
With the excitement of what was coming, the rest of the ride felt unbelievably long. She rubbed her hands together and smiled as Vannette stole looks at her. Lenna didn’t care that she was being watched; all she could focus on were the butterflies in her stomach and the mountains getting closer and closer.
When the carriage stopped and Lenna got out, she had to tilt her head back to see the top of the mountain. She caught her mouth hanging open when she heard a voice: “You’ve made it! I’m happy to see the bride! And happy to see she is impressed with the location.” The man smirked as he walked toward her. She had never met him before, but from his tan skin and raven-black hair she knew he was related to Marco. “Pardon me. I’m King Adrian Cazares of Elawar. I am your darling Marco’s brother. It’s a pleasure to meet you, your Highness.” He bowed when he got close to her. The brothers shared their charm as well as their looks.
She nodded and said, “Where are we going? Where’s Marco?”
He smiled, and it was very similar to her fiancé’s. “Not far. Right this way.”
Adrian led Lenna and Vannette off the road and onto a path through tall grass and summer wildflowers. This was a different route than she and Marco had taken the first time, and it was obvious the men hadn’t thought about her white dress and shoes getting soiled. Enraptured by the view, she didn’t mind.
After a short walk, they arrived at a clearing. It was secluded but vast, lined by the incline of mountains everywhere except where they had entered.
In this enclosed area, the perfect wedding scene was sprawled out. There were tables—lots and lots of long wooden tables—under huge white tents scattered away from the aisle and rows of chairs on either side of it. The wedding arch was intricately woven from birch branches. There were flower petals all down the aisle. For that matter, there were flowers everywhere. White flowers rested in every hole on the arch, with one red flower hanging on top. Fluffy flowers sat on every table, and colorful ones—bright red, blue, and orange—made designs on the ground on the outskirts of everything. Candles sat in wonderfully crafted metal cages on the tables. It was starting to get dark, and the candlelight and fireflies flickered together against the lavender sky.
Lenna stopped to stare at it, and both Adrian and Vannette wore pleased, giddy smiles. In his delightful accent, Adrian said, “Welcome to your wedding, your Highness.”
The guests were already seated in their chairs. Ollivan was the first to see her from his seat in the back, the look of a proud father all over his face. His dewy eyes and cheery smile made Lenna want to run, but she was too caught up in the scenery to do anything but ignore him. Seeing this, his smile faded, and he watched her distantly.
Lenna realized Kendra was looking at her from her seat as well. When she met her eyes, Kendra looked away and wiped away a tear.
Adrian locked arms with her and whispered, “I heard you wouldn’t particularly want your father walking you down the aisle. Who’ll be the lucky one, then?”
The only person she could think of and could stand was Devon
, but that would only make Marco jealous. “I’ll walk myself down, thank you.”
“Are you sure?”
“Of course I’m sure. I am to be Queen. I can walk independently.”
Adrian let go of her arm. “All right, then.” He paused and looked at her intently. His smile showed the excitement she had been waiting for. “Are you ready?”
“Yes.”
“You look marvelous.”
Lenna asked sheepishly, “You think he’s as happy as me?”
It was such a childish question that Lenna had to look away from Adrian’s face, but his gaze did not waver. “I think that if he doesn’t believe he’s the luckiest man in the world, I’ll leave my wife and marry you myself.”
Lenna laughed, partly from the joke and partly from the nerves. “Okay. I’m ready.”
Adrian clapped twice, and the area sprung to life. A small, well-hidden orchestra began to play a warm, mellow song. Marco appeared under the arch from wherever he had been waiting. He looked down the aisle at her and she couldn’t help but smile.
“It’s supposed to be a long walk, you know. For us royals.” Adrian whispered. “You’re supposed to create suspense, and a sense of elegance. Take your time, yes?”
“Yes, okay,” she said impatiently.
He gave her a gentle nudge and said, “Go ahead.”
Lenna walked up to the aisle with a heart like a hummingbird’s. She could see even from this distance Marco’s whole face lit by his brilliant grin. Yes, she decided, this was happiness she longed for.
She started to walk slowly, as Adrian had instructed. Everyone stood and watched her, but she didn’t dare look at their faces and distract herself. Being watched was excruciating. Not only was it difficult to walk so slowly, she was also terrified that she would trip, terrified that there was dirt on her dress, terrified of any uncertainty she could think of.
Lenna felt incredibly young. This was mostly because she was young. She was only nineteen, barely old enough to be taken seriously. How did she end up walking down the aisle toward someone so much older? How did she fall in love with him? It felt like playing dress-up. She had gone through quite a lot, and stress ages a person, but still she didn’t feel prepared.
Maybe her guardian had been right. Maybe it wasn’t wise to have an emotional connection to Marco. But it was too late.
Lenna’s knees felt weak, and she stopped, almost falling. She took a breath. Her head spun, and she could feel everyone watching, waiting, but she couldn’t move. The farther she walked, the closer she was to her love. To her weakness. She silently called on her guardian for guidance.
You made the choice to be vulnerable, and you made it without me. Whatever you do, don’t let it ruin your chance at power. Don’t disappoint me again.
A tear rolled down her cheek from frustration. She couldn’t tell whether her fear was that of a royal wanting to climb to power or a girl in love with a man. Either way, running would mean succumbing to fear. She had learned many times over that that was the worst kind of weakness. If she walked down the aisle, she would face the weakness that comes with love. Marco had proven that that was the best kind of vulnerability—the kind that lets in another’s happiness and strength.
Lenna grounded herself by fingering her necklace and took another step. The whole crowd seemed to collectively let out a breath. The rest of the walk was peaceful. When she reached the end and stood next to Marco, everyone sat, and she let out another sigh of relief. His smile told her that he had known she would make it the whole time.
Likely because Elawar and Haeden held different religious beliefs, a minister did not marry them. Instead, the oldest member of Parliament, Reeve Anselet, stood under the arch.
“Well, here we are, finally. That was quite the walk, your Highness. The longer the better, I suppose. More time to look at our beautiful princess.” He laughed heartily, followed by nervous laughter from the crowd. When Lenna and Marco didn’t laugh, his face turned red and he cleared his throat. “My apologies,” he mumbled.
“We are gathered here to wed our Princess Lenna of Haeden and Prince Marco of Elawar. Now, I have known Princess Lenna since she was born. Yes, I suppose I was—well, no need to disclose me age.” Several people laughed. “I have always known the potential she holds, and I believe this marriage will push her closer to who she wants to be. Since Prince Marco has arrived, I have seen him treat Princess Lenna like the princess she is. He gives her everything she deserves. And she surely deserves something like this after the recent stress in the castle. I wholeheartedly condone this marriage, and I am honored to be such a vital part of it.
“Now, this marriage is no small milestone for Haeden, and of course for your country, as well.” He looked at Marco, who nodded. “It is a union of not just two souls, but two souls that will combine, making one powerful soul. A leader. Together, you will lead, whether it be in the way of a prince and princess or a king and queen.”
For the first time, Lenna was not afraid to hear the word “together.” How could Marco make her stronger if they were not in it together? Using him while they were apart would never have been effective.
“As leaders, you must watch each other, making sure that each of you is virtuous and responsible in everything you do. Is that clear?”
“Yes,” Marco said right away.
“Yes,” Lenna said.
“Wonderful. You will take care of each other, yes? You will nurse each other back to health when you are ill? Comfort each other when hurt? Yes?”
“Yes,” they said in unison. The usual glimmer in Marco’s eyes was replaced with wide, watery love. It was so pure that is made her forget all the harshness that tried to separate them. She smiled back and didn’t try to stop.
“Yes,” she heard herself say more forcefully, as if to keep any past doubts from returning.
“Wonderful,” Reeve said again. “And finally, I would like to know if both of you can promise to stay together, for as long as your souls are on this earth. If you will choose each other to be your closest confidant, your best friend, your soulmate. Will you promise to never leave each other’s side, to share a bed, a meal, and property? Will you never be separated by mistrust, betrayal, or boredom of each other?”
“Yes,” they both said.
“Would you like to say your vows, then?”
“I would like to go first, if I may,” Marco said.
“Of course,” Reeve said.
Marco looked into Lenna’s eyes for a moment before saying, “Lenna, from the moment I heard tales of you, I have admired you. For your strength, your spirit. And when I met you, your energy and power were far more than I could have hoped for. I have always had a great respect for you. That is important to me. If a person has no boldness, what do they have? I knew you were the one I had to be with.” He paused, and Lenna’s heart skipped. “I wanted someone like myself. Even better, someone I’d like to become. That is not only why I believe we will rule well together, but also why I love you. You stick to your opinion and fight for what you want. You fought against me, but luckily I won that one.”
He winked at her, rousing the crown again.
“I know you would not want me to say this in front of everyone, but I must, because this is the time to acknowledge it. You are strong, but you have a good heart. Maybe some people do not see it, but it is there. Your softness is covered by a protective shell, and I think that is beautiful. I think that will make you a perfect queen, and I’m going to help you get there. This I can promise you. I will always help you get to the top.”
She knew it was true, even without him declaring it in front of all these people.
Marco did not look away from Lenna as he wiped a tear from his face, so neither did she.
Lenna cleared her throat. “I had vows prepared but I…” She took a moment to breathe, then said, “You know me more than anyone ever has. Now, I guess everyone knows there is something beyond my harshness, but you can all pretend you didn’t hear that
.”
The laughter from the crowd was cheerful and surprised; Lenna was surprised, as well. Her body and mind were loose.
“Marco, you not only see through my shell, but break through it. While that is terrifying, I know it is necessary. You have taught me to let my guard down and trust. You have no idea how difficult it has been for me to do that. I appreciate you teaching me that skill.”
She smiled at him and started crying. She wanted to say more, but she couldn’t get anything past the lump in her throat. Marco brushed his thumb against her cheek, and she took that hand in hers.
“Wonderful,” Reeve said softly. “Then, with your kiss, you will seal the promise of this partnership. Will you do this?”
“Absolutely,” Marco whispered.
Lenna took a nervous inhale as Marco leaned in. Her head was clear. She leaned in too, and they kissed so tenderly that Lenna felt lightheaded with bliss.
They pulled away. She heard people weeping and cooing. But this time she didn’t care. She was with her husband, their souls connected. Marco held both of her hands.
“I hope you don’t mind, but along with Haeden’s tradition of the woven arch and Elawar’s tradition of the lucky red flower, I wanted to start a new tradition,” Marco said.
The guests stood, and the couple walked back down the petal-lined aisle side-by-side.
“Where are we going?”
“Patience,” he said. “Patience and trust.”
He led her toward the mountain’s path. Without a word, they climbed up to the clearing overlooking the city. In the middle of it was a sapling about as tall as her with a bulb of roots lying on its side. Beside it was a shovel, which Marco picked up. “Would you like to dig, or shall I?”
Lenna gestured toward him and watched as he dug a hole for the roots to sit in. Lenna grabbed the sapling and placed it in the hole. As she packed dirt around it, Marco placed his hands on hers and packed it with her.
Then he put his hand gently on her chin and pulled her head to look at him. “I believe that even if we start as a sapling—if that is all we can manage—someday we will be strong as a tree.”