Chapter 2: The Wedding

When Estelle had asked Rita to be her maid of honor, she had not imagined the short, strapless, pale-pink dress that only Estelle would have chosen to put her in. It was ridiculous, not her style at all, and she did it anyway because she was so happy for Estelle and Flynn. It was considered scandalous for the princess and the commandant to marry, but they had done it anyway, and Rita stood proudly beside them even though she felt like a complete idiot in this getup. She was relieved when the ceremony was over. She was on the balcony with the happy couple, as well as Yuri and Repede (in his little dog tuxedo), drinking champagne at the reception. Looking down at the crowd with her 4th flute in hand, Rita's blood began to boil. "Ugh. That figures," she said, feeling annoyed.

"What's the matter?" Estelle asked, leaning over the railing beside her.

"Look at Judith hanging all over Raven," Rita said crankily.

"It just looks like they're dancing to me," Estelle said calmly. "Wait a minute. Rita, are you jealous?"

"What? No! I'm not jealous. Geeze, Estelle, be serious."

Estelle giggled beside her. "I am being serious, Rita. I think that if you want to dance with Raven, you should just go down there and tell him."

"Tell him? Not ask him?"

"Tell him," Estelle said confidently. "You're not the type of girl who asks permission are you?"

"No, I'm not," said Rita. "I'm going down there." She chugged the remaining champagne in her glass, and wondered how bad an idea this was on her walk down the stairs. The song changed when she stopped beside the dance floor, and Judith flittered off, in search of other prey.

It had been three years since they had all parted ways. Rita had found excuses to run into all of the others, except for him. He was needed in Dahngrest and had become Harry's right hand man. Raven was important, and Rita had kept her distance. The last thing either of them needed was to be called scandalous, right? She was also completely terrified of her feelings and his. If he even had them anymore. He had never said another word about it, and Rita worried that he may have changed his mind.

He was still standing on the dance floor looking her way. She noticed that he noticed her, taking a long glance down her body and back up again. She wasn't a child anymore, but had kept her slenderness despite her chest becoming fuller. Now that she thought about it, Estelle's choice of dress for her complimented her new figure really well. "Nice dress," Raven said with a wink. "Are you here because you want to dance?" he asked, holding out his hand. She took it and he pulled her in close. The music was slow, and he placed his other hand on her waist. By the end of the song, her hand was around his neck, fingers curled into his hair.

Upstairs, Estelle watched with a smile. She turned to the DJ. "Keep it all slow songs for now, okay?"

"You're terrible," Yuri said with a laugh.

"What? I'm just trying to help!"

When the music started to change and she felt Raven loosen his grip on her, she held on tighter and rested her head on his chest. "No. I don't want you to dance with anyone else tonight. Only me," she whispered. She felt so vulnerable and whiny.

There was a pause before he spoke. "Sure, darlin'. That suits me just fine."

Rita lost count of how many times the song changed, all of them slow enough to keep Raven close. He asked questions about her life, and told her stories softly while they swayed to the music. After what felt like hours and also only seconds, the DJ announced that it was time for the bride to throw the bouquet. Rita and Raven reluctantly moved to the edge of the dance floor. She refused to join the single women attempting to catch the bouquet, and tsked in irritation when Judith pushed others out of her way so she would catch it. Rita had no interest in this stupid, embarrassing tradition, but her eyes went wide when Flynn shot the garter and it hit Raven straight in the chest before dropping to the floor. She was going to be sick if she had to watch him touch her…

Raven turned to Yuri beside him. "You've got to take that for me, kid," he said seriously. After a moment, Yuri nodded, picked up the garter and disappeared to the dance floor where Judith waited.

Rita stared at Raven. "Why?" she asked.

"I promised I wouldn't dance with anyone else tonight," he said, eyes burning into hers.

"I-I don't want to be here anymore. Can we just go?" she asked.

He stared into her eyes for a moment longer before grabbing her hand and leading her out of the hall. "Hey, where are you guys going?" Karol asked as they ran past him and through the door.

They were all staying at the castle for the night. Raven said nothing as they walked through the long, winding hallways. He took her hand and led her to his room. When they were inside and the door was shut and locked, he turned to face her. "You understand what you're asking from me, right, darlin'?"

"I understand," she said, and his lips crushed against hers the moment she got the words out. It was only moments before he spun her around and unzipped her dress, letting it fall to the floor. She turned around and blushed when she remembered the stupid white lace bra and panties Estelle had made her wear underneath "so they won't show through the dress!" She got over herself though, and Raven's hands and lips were all over her. He was an attentive lover, something she assumed came with age and enough interest in the other person. She felt inexperienced, and worried he would still think she was too young for him, but he voiced no complaints. She fell asleep in his arms afterwards, blissfully happy for maybe the first time ever.

Rita woke in the middle of the night to find Raven watching her. "Hey," he said with a smile, kissing her forehead gently. His arms were still wrapped tightly around her.

"What are you doing?" she asked sleepily. "Making sure I don't make a run for it?"

He laughed gently, and the vibration in his chest felt warm on her cheek.

"Just don't want to miss a minute of tonight," he said, eyes twinkling when she looked up at him.

"I'm not going anywhere, you know."

"I know, darlin'."