A/N: The Selection, Illéa and all canon characters belong to the lovely Kiera Cass. Any and all original characters will belong to me. I'm just having fun in a world of her creation.
Today was the day… The biggest and likely most eventful day of my entire life, and I was feeling anxious. It had only been a few months since King Clarkson and Queen Amberly had been assassinated by the rebels, and Maxon had been crowned King, and already, I was facing walking down the aisle to him, becoming his wife, and then facing my coronation as the next Queen of Illéa. As much as I disliked King Clarkson, I truly wished that Queen Amberly were here for today, and my father. I wiped a tear away as I thought of them, and May, my younger sister, came over and enveloped me in a tight hug.
"Oh, Ames, it's going to be okay," she said in a hushed whisper in my ear.
I nodded, I wasn't certain but I knew that I had to appear calm and collected. Maxon had once told me that as a Royal, I was obligated to appear calm even when I wasn't. I took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. I was about to become his wife. I was about to become Queen—and I was going to be okay.
"America, Aspen is here ready to escort you to the church, are you ready?" My mom called as she hurried into the room where Marlee, May and I were getting ready.
I had just a few last finishing touches that would have to be done once we got to the church, but besides that, I was ready. I glanced at the other two, and they nodded their heads, signifying that they, too, were ready to go.
"Yes, Mom," I said, as May and Marlee grabbed the train of my dress and lifted it to help me walk. I carefully bunched up a bit of the front and started off, ready to be ushered into the car.
*** 30 Minutes Later ***
My stomach was full of butterflies, my heart pounded harder and faster than a herd full of racehorses, and I was certain that the others could hear it. I took a few more calming breaths before speaking. "Lucy, let them know to start the music, I'm ready."
My maid curtsied and headed off to do as I asked. I waited for Mom to come and open the door for one last embrace before my impending nuptials as we had planned. The doorknob clicked and the door swung open slowly as Mom made her way to me.
"Oh, America, honey, you look so beautiful," she said. "Have you got your something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue?"
I laughed, but nodded my head. "Yes, Mother." And I did. My something old was the tiara that Maxon gave me that had been worn by Queen Amberly on her own wedding day that he had gifted me, telling me she would have wanted me to wear it. The something new was my wedding gown. I borrowed a pair of earrings from May. To top it all off, I got Silvia to agree that it wouldn't be considered unreasonable to have a Royal Blue sash tied about my waist to help adorn my dress. I had all the bases covered, and I was pleased with how it turned out.
"Then let's get this show on the road," Mom said, as she pulled me into her arms and gave me a tight hug, kissing the top of my head. "I'm so proud of you, America, and your Dad would be, too," she added.
Mom led me out of the room and placed my hand in Aspen's. He was going to walk me down the aisle in the absence of my father. Sure, Kota could've walked her down the aisle, but she refused to allow his big-headed and selfish tendencies ruin her day—and none of her family faulted her.
Mom was then escorted down the aisle to where the rest of my family was sitting. After Mom was seated, Marlee and then May walked down the aisle, and once they reached their spots, the traditional wedding march sounded and everyone rose in anticipation of me, I could hear them, but I was unable to see them as of yet. After a few moments the heavy oak doors swung open in synchrony, revealing me and Aspen in his full dress uniform. Aspen had been promoted to General by Maxon as soon as things had settled after the rebel attacks. I figured Maxon liked that Aspen was walking me down the aisle simply because it meant that there was a high ranking military official that close to me on such a day.
As the music continued to play, Aspen and I glided down the aisle and once to the front of the church, Aspen laid my hand in Maxon's, bowed to him, and then whispered his congratulations to me. I smiled to him, before turning my gaze to Maxon's. Everything in me immediately calmed the moment I laid eyes on him. He was my safe place, similarly to how my father had once been.
"Dearly Beloved," the High Priest started. "We are gathered here today to celebrate and honor the love and commitment between His Majesty, King Maxon Schreave and Her Royal Highness, Princess America Singer. Who gives this woman to this man?"
Aspen, my Mom, and the rest of my family stood, though it was Aspen who spoke. "I, General Aspen Ledger and her family have given our support and love to Her Royal Highness, Princess America Singer
In her decision to give herself to His Majesty, King Maxon Schreave," he stated, as we had all agreed upon. After he spoke, he and my family settled themselves back upon the pew.
Blessings, prayers, and other readings occurred. Honestly, I kind of drowned most of it out, because I was anticipating getting to the important part—our vows. After what felt like a lifetime, the Priest announced the vows.
Maxon spoke first, taking my hands in his.
"I, Maxon Schreave, take you, America Singer, to be my lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold, from this day forth, for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do us part."
As he let go of my hands, I cupped his in my own.
"I, America Singer, take you, Maxon Schreave, to be my lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold, from this day forth, for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do us part."
As I finished speaking, I released his hands from my own, and my younger brother Gerald handed the ring over to Maxon, who handed it to the Priest to bless. Once the ring was blessed, the Priest handed it back to Maxon, who gently reached for my left hand, sliding the ring upon my ring finger.
"With this ring, I take you, America, to be my wife, for today, for tomorrow, and for always," he said.
"In receipt of this ring, I take you, Maxon, to be my husband, for today, for tomorrow, and for always."
I had wanted to give him a ring, but he wore the Ring of Illéa – a royal heirloom—on the finger that a wedding band would have sat. We agreed that once the Crown was passed to an heir, we would get him a wedding band.
"You may kiss the bride!" The Priest called out. It was the part everyone was excited about—one of the very few times the general public would ever get to see such a display of public affection.
The wedding ceremony concluded, and I was whisked away.
"Your Highness," Lucy, one of my maids, said as she rushed to my side. "We must move quickly, for your coronation is in just over an hour!" While technically I was now married to the King of Illéa, for the moment I were still just a Princess. Once the coronation happened, I'd be Queen America Schreave of Illéa.
I looked over and saw Mary nodding her head in agreement to Lucy's words. I sighed, and bent to their will. Their fingers moved swiftly—one undoing my wedding gown, and the other prepping my coronation gown, and the moment one was off, the other was quickly moved into its place. Lucy's fingers combed through my hair changing my updo into red waves falling delicately down my back, a tiara carefully crowning my head. I looked at myself in the full length mirror and couldn't believe my own eyes; the woman standing before me was astounding. My coronation gown was made of a light gold fabric, and had a higher neckline than my wedding gown had. This dress was definitely made for a Queen.
"Lucy, Mary," I'd said, my voice trailing off. "It's absolutely beautiful, thank you."
I watched as both my maids curtsied deeply to me.
"You look beautiful, Your Highness," Mary said. "Let us get you back out there."
I nodded my consent to them, and a cape was placed around my shoulders. I took in a deep breath, and allowed myself one last look at myself in the mirror as the Princess of Illéa, before I turned to be led from the room.
"Her Royal Highness, Princess America Schreave," a voice announced, as the heavy doors at the far side of the aisle I had walked down a short time before opened. Everyone in the room rose to their feet vying for a better view of me, which made my skin blush a light rosy-pink.
A/N: I hope that you have enjoyed this. If you have, please leave a review and I'll continue the story. If no one shows interest, then it'll be left where it's at. I do have the next chapter started, but only by about a paragraph!
