Disclaimer: I don't own Narnia or any characters you may recognize from the books or the movies, I wish I did but I don't... I also don't own the Narnian Calendar. It belongs to Elecktrum who was kind enough to let me borrow it for my story. Her own stories are awesome and you should go read them too.
Summary: The time has arrived for a Royal Wedding. A Lion & Flower story.
A/N: This story is part of my A Light in the Darkness universe and immediately follows my oneshot Stag Party. Enjoy!
A Royal Wedding
Part Two
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The crowd was even more diverse than Peter remembered appearing at their coronation, if only because of the presence of multiple delegations from different nations, including Sisemaal, Calormen, and the various islands. He fought the urge to fidget as he stood at the head of the crowd. Edmund had escorted the girls, Lucy in a vibrant gold-trimmed red and Susan in a rich purple, to their places and Oreius had escorted Kat, who was clad in a soft sky-blue gown with a delicate silver trim. His brother now stood waiting to oversee the ceremony. Peter swallowed hard and barely resisted straightening his golden crown or tugging at the hem of his dark blue tunic. Susan had hit upon the idea to design his wedding tunic after the one he had worn for their coronation…complete with the gold leggings.
When would Thalia appear? Every fiber of his being hummed with tension. It was his wedding, their wedding. The rather silly fear crept to the fore of his thoughts that maybe Thalia had seen the crowd filling the largest of Cair Paravel's gardens and changed her mind about getting married. No, she wouldn't do that…Kat might, but not his Thalia. He scanned the garden again, which was a lush green and filled with fragrant flowers thanks to all the efforts of the Dryads and Naiads who had conspired to ensure that the garden was fit for a wedding in spite of the recent lack of rain. The breeze off the ocean carried a slightly salty but cool touch as it danced through the leaves. The sun was hanging low in the sky. Finally, he spotted them.
As Vidar emerged from the shadows, Peter walked down the aisle until he reached the middle. He had to force himself to halt there instead of running to greet his bride. His breath caught in his throat as he caught his first glimpse of her. Thalia, his beautiful Flower, was clad in a cream-colored one-shouldered gown that draped gracefully over her form, the vined sheer overdress had several strands of small flowers sewn at her waist and left shoulder while draping over her right shoulder to provide a sort of sleeve. Her nut-brown hair was threaded with various flowers, roses among them, but the crown of her head was bare. And her light green eyes were fixed on him.
She was breath taking. Vidar cleared his throat and Peter blushed as he finally tore his eyes away from Thalia. Seeming satisfied that he was paying attention now, Vidar's voice carried through the garden. "I am Vidar, Wood god of the Beeches, and this is my daughter, Thalia of the Beeches, whom I have protected and raised up with her mother in the ways of Aslan through Winter and into Spring. I have protected her through her saplinghood as is my charge as her father. Now, though, I must entrust my beloved daughter and her protection into the hands of the one to whom she has given her heart. I trust him to love my daughter as she loves him and welcome him to my own family for he has proved his character by answering the challenge I lay before him and has shown he truly values my daughter for all that she is and not solely for her comeliness. Peter Pevensie, son of William Pevensie, I give you and my daughter my blessing and my approval. May Aslan bless this union."
Placing Thalia's hand in his, Vidar's wild green eyes fixed on Peter. The silent charge to be the best husband he could was palpable. Peter inclined his head to the Wood god then smiled at Thalia. They stood there for a moment before Thalia squeezed his hand and Peter remembered that Edmund was still waiting. He cleared his throat, feeling heat creep up his neck and cheeks as they walked up the path to where Edmund was standing. His brother quirked an eyebrow, but, thank Aslan, he actually didn't say anything about Peter losing track of what he was supposed to be doing.
"We are gathered in the sight of Aslan and His great Father, the Emperor-over-the-Sea to bear witness to the joining of two lives. If anyone has any reason to give that these two may not enter into marriage, speak now or forever be silent."
None spoke, not even the scowling Calormene Tarkheena, and Peter squeezed Thalia's fingers. Edmund nodded. "Since there are no objections, we will proceed. Thalia, do you come here today of your own free will to be wed to Peter Pevensie? Do you swear before Aslan that you have not been coerced or tricked or in any way, manner, or form forced into this marriage?"
Thalia's voice was soft and steady. "I do and I swear that I choose to enter this marriage of my own free will."
"Peter Pevensie, do you come here today of your own free will to be wed to Thalia? Do you swear before Aslan that you have not been coerced or tricked or in any way, manner, or form forced into this marriage?"
"I do and I swear that I choose to enter this marriage of my own free will." Peter grinned as he proudly declared the words.
"So it is witnessed. Now, face each other." His brother glanced at their still clasped hands and hissed at him, "You have to let go of her hand, Pete. You're using the wrong hand." Peter chuckled along with the crowd as he let go of Thalia's hand so Edmund could take it and place it in his right hand. "Peter Pevensie, do you promise before Aslan that you will be Thalia's husband as long as you are both alive and that you will never leave her or be unfaithful to her or do anything to hurt her? And do you promise to love her more than you love yourself? Enough to die for her?"
"I vow it."
"And what is your pledge to Thalia?"
Peter swallowed hard as he tried to remember what he had written down that afternoon when Edmund ran him over the ceremony again…at Peter's request. "Thalia, as your husband, I pledge to protect, cherish, and honor you for all the days of our lives or until Narnia herself fades away. I pledge to comfort you, defend you, value you as my equal, and love you with all that I am. Let those present bear witness to this pledge and may Aslan hold me accountable should I ever break it."
Thalia's light green eyes were shining with unshed tears as Edmund turned to her. "Thalia, do you promise before Aslan that you will be Peter Pevensie's wife as long as you are both alive and that you will never leave him or be unfaithful to him or do anything to hurt him? And do you promise to love him more than you love yourself? Enough to die for him?"
A tremulous smile curved her pink lips as she nodded. "I vow it."
"And what is your pledge to Peter Pevensie?"
"Peter, I pledge to be your confidant, lover, and wife for all the days of our lives or until Narnia herself fades away. I pledge to stand beside you, to value you as my equal, to listen when that is what you need most, to provide counsel when that is what you need most, to always be loyal, and to love you from roots to canopy no matter if it is in drought or in plenty. Let those present bear witness to this pledge and may Aslan hold me accountable should I ever break it."
Peter grinned, not minding in the least that Thalia had worded her pledge so much better than he had in his personal opinion. Edmund cleared his throat. "Peter Pevensie, do you have a token as a symbol of your pledge?"
"I do." Peter quickly pulled the silver etched ring out of the pouch hanging from his belt. Edmund nodded and Peter took a deep breath. This part he couldn't mess up. Taking Thalia's left hand in his, he slipped the ring over her index finger. Thalia inhaled sharply and more tears shimmered in her eyes as he spoke, "Our lives are bound together as two trees whose roots entwine." He slid the ring off her index finger then slipped it onto her middle finger. "Our hearts become one." He slid the ring off her middle finger than finally slid it onto her ring finger. "May the light of Aslan's love nourish our marriage as the light of the sun nourishes the ever-growing trees."
Edmund spoke again. "Do you, Thalia, accept this token as a symbol of his pledge to you and of your pledge to him in the sight of these witnesses as Aslan shall judge you?"
"I do."
Peter reached up and carefully wiped away a tear rolling down Thalia's cheek as his brother turned to the witnesses, Vidar, Oreius, Theia, and Susan. "And do you witnesses, having heard their oaths and seen the giving and receiving of this ring, affirm that these two have willingly agreed to pledge themselves forever to each other?"
They responded in one voice, "I do."
"Then, before Aslan and Narnia and all the worlds, I pronounce that Peter Pevensie and Thalia are husband and wife together from now until the world ends. Peter, you may kiss your bride."
A sense of wonder filled Peter as he cradled Thalia's cheek. They were married. Leaning down, he kissed her tenderly at first then he pulled her closer as the kiss gained passion. Breaking the kiss, he brushed his thumb over Thalia's lips before straightening. There was still one, well, two things left to do.
Edmund clapped him on the shoulder as he stepped past then Peter and Thalia turned to kneel before the Centaur Prophet, Stormseer. The Centaur's rich golden brown coat and flowing hair and beard shone in the fading sunlight. His eyes as silver as Lucy's beloved Eastern Sea had a pleased cast to them this day, slightly easing the stern nobility that was ever present in the Centaur's face. His voice, rich and sonorous, flowed over them. "Hail High King and Lady of the Beeches, this day witnesses a union of hearts and of lives. May both trials and triumphs ever bring you closer to each other for a marriage is comprised of both and the strongest marriage is one with Aslan at the center of it. May Aslan's blessings fall upon you and your marriage for all the days of your lives."
Peter did not rise yet, though tradition dictated he could do so if he chose to; instead, he remained kneeling beside Thalia, his wife. A smile appeared unbidden as he thought of how she was his wife. He couldn't make it go away even as the ceremony turned more solemn as Edmund stepped forward with the pillow holding the crown formed of delicate golden leaves. Stormseer took the crown, speaking as he placed it on her head. "Four is the number of Aslan's chosen Kings and Queens. We will not alter His design. Therefore, I give you Thalia, Princess Consort to the High King and Empress of the Lone Islands. Hail the High King and his Consort!"
The crowd cheered as Peter rose, helping his bride to her feet. Thalia was blushing and he thought she couldn't look more beautiful. The crowd roared their approval as the High King kissed his bride.
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A/N: Please Read and Review! For those of you who are dying for a picture reference of Thalia's dress and crown, you can find the links at the bottom of my profile page (as a side note: the model wearing the wedding dress looks a lot like my vision of Thalia...if she had green eyes, wore her hair down, and smiled). But the wedding isn't over yet! Stay tuned for more! Leave a review and let me know what y'all thought about this one.
A/N2: WillowDryad was gracious enough to allow me to borrow Stormseer to participate in the ceremony. He is VERY important and impressive in her outstanding story Counted Among the Traitors, so if you haven't read it...go! Go now!