Chapter Eleven Ever after:
The rest of the term at Ever After High seemed to fly past for the new couple, Raven and Darling spent plenty of time together as well as with other friends as they didn't want to lose their friendships outside of their romantic relationship. The two princesses went out on many dates together, they spent plenty of time getting to know each other and fell even further in love than they had been at the start of their relationship.
As for the other couples which Raven had brought together they were also flourishing, they where all happy together and very much in love. These happy couples had told the woman who had brought them that they were going attend the betrothal ball for Raven and Darling. They had told the betrothed couple that they wished to show their support for them. These couples had made it clear to the two princess's that they wanted to do this not only because of the fact the witch had helped them find each other but because they respected as well as liked Raven and Darling.
As well as the couples which Raven had brought together there were plenty of other royals and rebels at the school who had informed the witch and her prince that they to where planning to attend the betrothal ball to show they supported the betrothed couple. It comforted both Darling and Raven to know that so many of the fellow fairy tales intended to make their support for them known so publicly.
Raven was having her dress for the betrothal ball made and the lady wasn't telling her prince what her gown looked like. The warrior maiden had to admit that she really did want to know what her betrotheds gown was going to look like but she permitted the witch to playfully tease her about what her gown might look like. Darling herself was also being fitted for the ball and in turn for Raven teasing her about what she was going to be dressed in the white blond princess was teasing her back about her own outfit for the ball. Though both women hoped that the one that they loved would like what they were planning to ware to their betrothal ball.
When the spring term finally ended Darling went home with Raven to her father's kingdom there were a couple of reasons that the blue eyed princesses wanted to go back to the witch's home with her. The first reason was she was still uncertain of her parent's reaction to her betrothal to Raven and did not want to go home and have her mother and father try to find a way to prevent her from going to the ball being held for them. Darling was also concerned that it might look strange if she went home to her own kingdom rather than staying with Raven before the ball. Besides which there was also the fact that Darling felt much more comfortable at Raven's home than her own and she just didn't want to be parted from her princess for any great length of time.
When at long last the night of the betrothal ball finally arrived both women got themselves ready for the night ahead, they where both eager and worried about the ball ahead of them. Darling and Raven met in the grand hall outside the ball room they both took in what each other where dressed in and shared smiles. "Oh Darling you look so dashing." Raven told her love.
The white haired princess was once again suited and booted, she wore tight white trousers emphasising her shapely legs, healed white boots, a blue jacket which matched the shade of her eyes, which was embroidered at the cuffs and collars with silver floral embroidery. Under this jacket was a white ruffled fronted shirt which was buttoned up, and round her neck was a white cravat neatly tied. Darling's hair was braided back at each side, then together at the back of her head and atop her hair was a simple silver crown.
The white haired warrior maiden smiled at her betrothed. "You look every inch the fairy tale princess tonight my love."
Raven wore a gown of silver it glittered in the light, it was embroidered with purple and black beaded swirls on the edges of the gowns long sleeves, as well as the sweet heart neckline of the bodice and on the base of the gowns skirts. Her dark hair was styled to fall is curls over her right shoulder and on top of her head sat a silver tiara also in matching swirls decorated with black and purple stones to match the beads on the gown. Raven also wore a black beaded choker with lovely beaded swags between which were hanging tear drop beads.
Darling held her arm out to the witch, smiling at her true love the dark haired princess placed her arm onto the warrior maidens and placed her hand over Darlings. Side by side the two women entered the ballroom and as they entered they were announced to all of those who were present. Raven was glad to see that so many people had come to their betrothal ball and the witch had to admit that she was relieved to see that Darlings parents had decided to attend the ball. Both women were also happy and relieved to notice many people amongst the crowds who they either knew from school or where friends with.
As the couple walked further into the ball room many people openly assessed the betrothed couple and they serenely made their way across to where Raven's father and Darlings parents were standing talking together. The two women made their curtsies to the older royals, the Good King beamed a welcoming smile at his daughter and Darling before he signalled for silence which quickly fell. "We are here tonight to celebrate the betrothal of my daughter the crown princess Raven Queen to her true love and rescuer princess Darling Charming."
This announcement was met with applause, Raven's father then gestured to the orchestra who began to play once more and the dance floor soon filled with people dancing. It was at this time that Darlings parents turned to look at the young couple standing before them, they looked very regal and they had to admit that their daughter and her betrothed made a very handsome couple. "Daughter, princess Raven it is good to see you both once more." King Charming said to them politely his blue eyes very serious.
Queen Charming smiled at the young couple quickly she kissed her daughter on both cheeks and then did the same to Raven trying to be more welcoming then her husband was. "You both look wonderful tonight."
Darling let out a relived sigh and then said. "Thank you for your compliment mother. It is good to see you too father."
The witch smiled at the two Charming's before addressing them. "I am glad you both came to the ball tonight."
Raven's father spoke to the two princesses his eyes twinkling with merriment. "Why don't you both go and dance after all this ball is being held in your honour."
Sharing a loving smile Darling and Raven went out onto the dance floor, as they danced the Good King turned his attention to the white haired princess's parents. "I know you are a little unsure of our daughters union but they clearly love each other."
King Charming let out a sigh, his eyes were still on the dancing couple as he spoke to the other king. "Yes they are obviously very much in love and we know that theirs is true love. As well as this there is the fact that Darling was the one to break the curse on Raven and we all know such things must be honoured even if the coupling it has brought about is perhaps not one which anyone expected."
The Good King spoke to the Charming couple once again. "I know this is not easy for you both but this is their destiny and perhaps more importantly Darling and Raven are clearly very happy with it. Considering how much both our daughters are against following destiny the fact that they are quiet happy with the one they have received says a lot."
The brown haired Queen gave him a nod. "Yes your right the fact that our daughters are willing to accept this destiny does show they are very happy being together. In fact Darling and Raven already look like a married couple and a very much in love couple at that."
"As their parents what more can we want then for our children to be happy and to find their true love?" The Good King asked Darling's parents.
All three adults turned their gazes to the happy couple currently dancing together and King Charming answered the question from Raven's father. "You make a good point. Finding out that our daughter had saved yours was rather a shock for both of us but seeing them together like this it all starts to make sense."
"Yes they do seem well suited to each other." The Queen agreed gently squeezing the arm of the man she loved. King Charming looked down at his beloved wife and smiled at her softly, as the Queen looked up at her husband she could see the acceptance in his eyes which she was glad to see there. Slowly the white haired princess's parents turned their gazes back to their daughter and her betrothed content to watch them forge a future together. All three parents knew the path which their daughters had chosen to take would not be easy as there would be those who would be unhappy with two women being together or think the kingdom weak as it would be ruled by two women. Yet they were quite sure that Raven and Darling would show the whole fairy tale world just how powerful and right their union was.
After dancing together for some time Darling and Raven left the dance floor, as they made their way back to their parents they received many good wishes for their future along the way. When they had reached their parents again the couple where surprised when Darling's mother and father looked at their daughter and their future daughter in law and the King said to them sincerely. "Congratulations on your betrothal daughter and welcome to the family Raven."
"Thank you father." The white haired princess said gratefully to him she was very glad that at long last her parents seemed to be coming to terms with the fact she and Raven an ever after couple.
Raven smiled widely at Darlings mother and father. "Thank you for your welcome."
The couple spent the rest of the night together, they danced often, socialised with guests and friends until it grew late. When the last of the guests had left the ball Raven and Darling returned to the witches room for the night and once again shared a bed. The two princesses enjoyed the simple act of just being able to hold the one they loved close and knowing that no one could part them ever again.
As the years past the love between Darling and Raven grew only stronger, their betrothal became a formal engagement shortly after they graduated from Ever After high but they would not be the first couple of their graduating year to marry that honour went to Ashlynn and Hunter. The daughter of Cinderella and her huntsman married in a simple but beautiful ceremony held in the forest witnessed by only their friends and families. The bride wore a simple white dress, she had white blooms woven into her hair, Ashlynn carried a bouquet of wild flowers and Hunter wore a very neat set of his huntsman's cloths.
Next to be married were Daring and Rosabella, this particular wedding was the polar opposite to that of Ashlynn and Hunter most of this was due to the fact that Daring was the heir of one kingdom and Rosabella to another. Their wedding was a huge formal affair, held in a large cathedral with hundreds of guests in attendance. Rosabella's wedding dress was a magnificent gown with a train so long that the daughter of Beauty and the Beast had to have twelve bridesmaids to carry it. On the brides head was a dazzling tiara and she carried a large bouquet of white and yellow roses. Daring had worn a princely suite which was very formal and highly decorated it looked truly amazing on him. Despite these facts it was clear to all those present that the bride and groom only had eyes for each other and they wouldn't have noticed if the cathedral had been set on fire around them.
Hopper and Meeshell made it down the aisle next, well more along the beach. Their wedding was a delightful combination of land and sea as one might expect for two people who could become a mermaid and a merman. This wedding was smaller than the large one of Daring and Rosabella, but not nearly as small as Ashlynn and Hunters wedding had been. Meeshell wore a white simple floating wedding gown, in her hair were pearls and small white flowers she had no bouquet. Hopper was dressed in a smart blue suite to match the sea and the eyes of his bride, this shade suited him flattering the prince much better than his normal clothes ever had.
Then after many, many years of arguing going on between Briar and Apple's mothers over were the wedding should be held, when and who should be the bride out of their daughters the young couple had shocked both women by eloping to Ravens fathers' kingdom. They had been married in a small ceremony in the witches family chapel, Apple had worn a short white dress and carried a simple bouquet of red roses from the castles garden, the same roses where in her hair. For the wedding Briar wore the princely garb she had come to love so much, however since this was her wedding the princess had dressed in white to honour the occasion. When they had returned home from their elopement Apple and Briar held a lavish party in both kingdoms to celebrate their wedding and it was this with which their mothers had to be content.
Then at last after having attended many other weddings and dealing with the fallout from Apples and Briars elopement Darling and Raven took their turn to marry. Theirs wedding was a formal affair but at the same time it was a lot smaller then Rosabellas and Darings wedding had been then again the princess's were convinced none could really have been larger than theirs had been. The wedding was held in Raven's family chapel, with their friends, families and representatives of other kingdoms in attendance. The witch wore a wedding gown of white lace with a shimmering silver under fabric and parts of the laces pattern where picked out with beads. In her hair raven wore blue flowers to honour her prince and her bouquet was of blue forget me not flowers. Darling had worn a blue suite, her waistcoat was purple embroidered with black flowers this was the warrior maiden's way of honouring her bride Both Raven and Darling were happy to be married at long last and they were quiet willing to admit to anyone who asked them that this was one happy ending which had been well worth waiting for.
The end.
(Well I hope you all enjoyed this it was a lot of work but I think well worth it.)