I don't own OUAT
There was a stack of wedding presents almost as high as the grand ballroom's towering ceiling. They were all decorated elegantly, some almost dripping with gold and jewels. The people would do anything to get in good favour with the royal family, most especially those families with young boys. Henry's younger sister was the only member of the family still unmarried besides the King, who had vowed not to marry again after the death of his second wife. She was now the most desired woman in this or any kingdom, and not even 7 years old.
The music was lovely and nonstop, the musicians forbidden from stopping until the night's festivities were over. The dancers were perfectly in sync, each step perfectly in tune with both the music and their partners. Cora, unaccustomed to this perfect symphony of movement, stood to the side, sipping a glass of wine by her husband's weight resting on her finger was unfamiliar, though not at all unwelcome.
"Darling, the people will expect us to dance soon enough. It is our duty to provide entertainment for them." She smiled sweetly, looking at him with a candy-coated malice than could be seen if one were to look directly into her eyes, an act that most people, most especially her new husband, were terrified to do. Her hand slipped down into his, fingers curling themselves around his tightly.
"It is my wedding. We will do as we please, not as the peasants do." It was at that time that the song ended in a great clash of cymbals. The dangers once more returned to the edges the room. As required, as a sign of respect and honour, no one was allowed to dance until the bride had been offered. If she accepted, they were to wait a few minutes to allow the bride her moment to shine. The sounding of a drum signified when it was appropriate for others to join them on the dance floor. The silence was thorough, all waiting for their Prince to request a dance from his new wife. Truly, any man could ask, but none were courageous, or perhaps simply foolish, enough to ask Cora before Henry did. He got down on one knee, taking Cora's hand in his. He lowered his head, bowing to her before kissing her delicate hand.
"Cora. May I have this dance?" She smiled, finally allowing him what he wanted. The sigh of relief was painfully obvious as he released it.
"Why of course, your highness." He rose from his knees, hand in hers, leading her onto the floor. The music began with a low wail from the viol, slow and sweet. The began to dance, a harp joining in its delicate tremours to the heartbreaking sounds formed by the viol. A flute added its serene cries to the clamour, the varying sounds somehow coming together to form a beautiful sound as they gracefully spun around the room. She forgot herself for a moment, the music so mystifying she felt a thrill rush through her. It was something she had never expected from such a foolish action, but it felt powerful, flying across the room in such a manner. Distantly, a muffled drum beat reached her ears, only half the volume as it should have been, as though she had cotton in her ears. Soon they were surrounded by couples spinning and stepping and twirling in unison. The synchronicity was perfect, not a single toe out of place. What felt like mere seconds later, the music trailed off, and she was led to her small crystalline throne. The time for dancing was now down.
Henry sat beside her in his own simpler, yet more elegant, throne. Their hands clasped, and they stared straight forward, emotionless, as the servants moved the mountains of wedding presents closer. One offered her and her husband drinks; she accepted a flute of champagne, taking delicate sips of it as she waited for them to finish their task. Once the piles had finally been brought to them, the front-most servant offered Henry a gift wrapped in golden foil, draped in a delicate silk bow. Cora took it from the man instead, deftly collapsing the bow into a pile of fine ribbon and opening the lid. The silence in the room was thick as they awaited her reaction. She reached inside, plucking out a pair of diamond cuff links. Passing them gingerly to Henry, she nodded resolutely; they had her approval. A new present was given to her, decked in a simplistic purple foil that gave an aura of elegance and grace. She was, of course, suspicious of it immediately; its simplicity that somehow made her long to open it. That couldn't be right. Gazing down at it for a moment more, she shook her head, banishing the intense longing she felt for the gift.
"Let's save this one for last, shall we? I have a feeling it's going to be quite a gift."The servants nodded, adding it to the bottom of the stack. She hated herself for allowing her eyes to linger for a moment more in the spellbinding present. The weight of s new gift in her lap allowed her to tear her eye off of it at last. The new present was blissfully over-decorated. Clearly a present from the nobility. Inside lay a string of pearls and diamonds so cover in jewels that it would be difficult to keep her head up. Perfect. Hundreds of gifts went by in the same manner: Overly expensive items intended to gain the favour of the Prince and his new bride. It was a blissful monotony, because with endless riches and power, she had no need for complications. Only one present now remained of what began as towering multitudes. The servants put away all of the new gifts before they could be damaged, running to put them away the instant she reached for another. She was saved the hassle of the final present y the arrival of the King. Every guest and servant dropped to their knees at his arrival, heads low. Henry and Cora stood from their thrones, Henry bowing to his father and Cora curtsying briefly.
"Father. I am glad you could make it." His father nodded.
"Well, it is your wedding. And I am required for the next part." He called for a servant who brought forth a fluffy purple pillow made of velvet. Placed atop the pillow was a very fragile-looking tiara made up almost entirely of tiny diamonds. There was a brief flutter in her chest where her heart should have been. It was hers. They had been hiding something for weeks, and this was it. Her wedding day was also to be her coronation day. What a wonderful gift.
The coronation went by in a blur, full of vows to protect the kingdom and perform her duties as nodded and murmured 'I do's and 'I will's when appropriate. , though not fully paying attention; she was too absorbed in her own thoughts to think properly. All the thoughts vanished, however, when she felt a surprisingly large weight land on her head. A beaming grin covered her face as she looked down at all the people who knelt before her. To her delighted surprise, Henry and Xavier both knelt before her as well.
"May I present Princess Cora. My newest daughter." Xavier had stood just before he spoke, taking her hand to help her rise, presenting her to her public. He had been kinder to her since she had taken her own heart. Though he, of course, did not know that that was what she had done, he had certainly seen a transformation in her; he seemed to prefer it. Henry rose now, taking her other hand and leaning in to whisper in her ear.
"You seem tired, darling. Shall we end the festivities for the night? The guests may stay whilst we take our leave. They won't expect us to stay all night." She contemplated the idea briefly, quite ready to go to bed, though not extremely eager for the end of the festivities or what she would be expected to do when they reached their new, shared suite. Nonetheless, it was the time that the guests would be expecting them to leave.
"I have another present I never unwrapped." That was not what she had intended on saying. Those words had not even crossed her mind by that time. He nodded, taking her back to rest on her throne. Picking up the small parcel, he handed it to her. Clearly he was eager to go back to their chambers. She pinched at the small ribbon, unraveling the careful wrapping that had crossed the small box. Lifting the lid with a combination of apprehension and anger at the lack of control she had in the situation, she stared down at what was in the box.
It was a rose, clearly of supernatural origins. She had seen it before- in the garden of Rumplestiltskin's castle. Long ago, she had pointed it out as her favourite of his grand collection of exotic flowers. He had taught her how to create her own flowers, knowing it to be something she was interested in. She had a strong passion for gardening ever since her mother had died and their family's garden had been taken over by weeds. He had shown her the most beautiful things, flowers of fire and ice that would burn forever yet never melt, but he had never allowed her to learn how to create this kind. So that I know you'll never leave me. It had seemed such a foreign thought to her then, that she would ever give him up. But she had. She had know that this gift would have been from him, but she didn't expect it to hurt this much.
She picked up the delicate rosebud, examining it closely. Each petal as white as snow, the edges sparkling in a flowing shimmer of pastel colors. Magic, in its purest form. It had the smallest bit of stem still attached, a single thorn exposed. She remembered the results of pricking yourself on the sharp tip. A sort of magical high, allowing for a burst of power that lasted a few days before leaving the person tired yet completely unharmed. This power burst was something she desired. Carefully, she pressed the pad of her thumb against the thorn, purposefully pressing the needle-like tip into her flesh. As it broke skin, the world turned dark, and she heard an echoing voice that she had hoped to never hear again.
"Thought you'd never arrive, dearie."