The wedding was horrible. The only way I made it through was staring at the purple eyes. I nearly swooned when he grabbed my hands to cut my nails, although I nearly had a panic attack when he cut my nails and hair. Oblivious to the crowd, to my situation, I was transfixed by his actions. When he sliced open my hands it hurt, but the pain was dulled by my elation that he was holding my hands. Eventually he grabbed the golden sword and raised it above me. The thought that weddings weren't supposed to have swords flickered through my head momentarily and then was gone. I trusted the eyes implicitly.
Everyone cheered for me as I survived the blow. I took note of the crowd as I was being steered from the room. Several people threw flowers for me. I caught a primrose daintily and smiled. Then, my husband and I were out of the large chamber. We'd moved into a very small one with a couch in the corner. A staircase was the most prominent feature.
My husband was speaking to me as he removed his ceremonial clothes. Off came loose black breeches, black boots, and a cape with gold letters matching those on my arms. It had been disconcerting to see clothing without a body, but now I was at ease. I too began removing my clothing, starting first with my shoes.
I was eye to eye with him when I looked up before starting my second shoe. "Anna, what are you doing?" He asked.
I opened my mouth but my words still wouldn't come out. Being mute was frustrating.
"My apologies." He tilted a goblet to my face. "I had forgotten you were still under then charm."
Smiling brightly, I began unlacing my shoe and pulling off my stockings.
"Anna stop. Why are you doing that?"
"I wanted to match."
Marak's eyes narrowed with apparent disgust. "Keep your clothes on. I don't want you traipsing around the palace naked." But there was also an undertone of excitement.
Based on his disdain, I didn't mention that he was walking around the palace naked. Apparently when you're the King's Wife you need to have more propriety than the King. And what a King he was- so regal, so commanding… I sighed to myself.
The King answered my sigh. "Come along Anna, let's take you up to bed. I'm sure you aren't tired, but maybe you will be." He turned on his heel and began climbing the staircase. Completely unable to see him, I followed him with great haste, clambering up the stairs. I ran into him a few times, desperate to not be left behind. I had already forgotten my desire for propriety. Ahead of me, Marak's dry laughter urged me on.
After what felt like forever, we reached the top. It opened directly into a large gleaming space. Taking in the scene, I was unaware that Marak had stopped. I hit him at full speed, knocking us both to the floor. Thankfully it was covered in expensive rugs which cushioned our fall. I was incredibly comfortable, having landed on top of Marak. My head was pressed into the place his chest should have been, and our legs were intertwined. Actually his legs were intertwined with my skirt. I sank in to the heavenly sensation of warmth but the King had other ideas. Momentarily I was on the floor.
"Anna this isn't a good idea." He said.
I hid my face in the carpet, a picture of dejection.
He sighed again. "I didn't mean that I don't want you, just that… we don't know each other at all."
I looked up and decided I didn't care; feeling close to the purple eyes was the most amazing thing I knew. "But I'm your wife." I wasn't sure why that was important, but it made me feel entitled to him.
Eyes flickering towards the ceiling, he looked calculating. "Anna, do you know what King's Wives do?"
Racking my brains for the answer took less than a millisecond. I had absolutely no idea. "Tell me?"
He looked directly into my eyes. "A King's Wife is very important underground. She is the King's best friend, his closest advisor- but that's all backstage. She's loved by her people, gracious, beautiful. After she gets accustomed to kingdom life, she gets other duties. I'll tell you about them later. But for now, you have to get used to being down here. Get to know me, your subjects, and the way around the castle. For example," he took me by the hand and pulled me off the floor, "that is your bed." He led me to a large silk covered bed. It was plush with down comforters, velvet tapestries, and jeweled pillows.
"Where do you sleep?" I asked. I believed him about the wife's duties in the kingdom, but was pretty sure wives actually did more than befriend their husbands. Maybe that was what he'd tell me about later.
"Over there." He gestured to a small corner bed. Obviously I didn't see his hand move, but he used my hand as the gesturer. His bed was plain and looked less comfortable.
"Are you sure? There's plenty of room here for both of us."
"I'm positive."