Hi all! Another chapter headed your way. There is a bit of fluff in this one, but this will not be THE chapter. Not yet; she doesn't love him...yet. XD Sorry for the inconvenience for those of you who were hoping for some lovin'. Enjoy!
"You may now kiss the Bride," the minister said jovially.
The world seemed to stop on its axis.
Colette's eyes widened in fear. She had forgotten this part too. She could see Clopin had as well, for he stopped a moment to gauge her reaction.
But she was resigned to her fate now. Where she had dreaded everything before, when she had seen his smile, all fears were erased for a moment. She didn't know what changed, but she felt she could go through with this now.
She leaned towards him, and he snapped out of his trance and took her face in his hands tenderly. He leaned in slowly, giving her a chance to change her mind, but she wouldn't humiliate him like that.
Their lips met in the middle, and she felt a flash of fire shoot through her body at the simple touching of their mouths to each other.
She pulled back abruptly, but no one seemed to notice but Clopin, who look shocked for a moment, then smiled at her sadly. He understood perfectly what she was going through, but he seemed happy to have kissed her.
They turned to face the crowd, who roared their approval, and he raised their hands, intertwined, high in the air.
But Colette barely heard them, wrapped up as she was in her own world.
She had kissed him. She had kissed him. It was betrayal. Betrayal to her dead husband, betrayal to herself.
And yet…
It didn't feel like betrayal at all.
She looked over at Clopin as they walked down the stairs to partake in the celebration. She felt the fire again. He was absolutely stunning, and not in the way her husband had been on their wedding day. Unlike David, who had looked elegant in fine clothes and an air of calm happiness, Clopin looked at her with giddy almost-tangible joy, dressed in the only good tunic and hose he owned.
Why was he so damn happy?
What could have changed, that he had gone from secretly dreading this as much as her, to seeming like he was about to burst with pride?
God, what had changed in her that she was accepting all this without a fuss? She looked across the mass of people, who were opening wine bottles and feasting on meats, fruits, and cheeses. They were oblivious to her inner thoughts, yet Clopin seemed to know exactly what was going on in her head.
He squeezed her shoulder, and smiled at her, flashing his brilliant white teeth. She smiled back, unable to resist when he was so happy.
They ate and drank merrily, until it was dark, Colette forgetting her troubles and making jokes with the others as he did.
When one drunk man had tried to sidle up to her (a just married woman, for goodness sake!) she had slapped his hands away in anger.
"Oh ho, you've got a feisty one here, Clopin. Be careful she doesn't steal away your title as King," he said. Clopin laughed, though he eyed the man with careful savagery, warning him to keep his hands off.
"Ah yes, but I dare say, were I to give up my title to someone, I'd much rather it be her than anyone else," he said.
She blushed at his teasing, but played along.
"Hm, I suppose I should take you up on that offer. The first thing to go would be this forced marriage law," she said, only a small bit of petulance in her voice. But it didn't seem to faze Clopin.
"Well then, my dear, I suppose that will mean our vows before God are meaningless, and therefore we shall have lived in sin," he chortled.
The simple jesting comment sent her pulse hammering in her chest, having been reminded by Clopin's jest. Once again, she had forgotten the nightly act of love that would soon spring upon her.
She paled, and quietly said, "Excuse me," before getting up and leaving the group. No one seemed to notice, drunk as they all were, except Clopin, who had been careful to only drink a few drinks so he would not be drunk.
He got up and followed after her, the group finally noticing, and wolf whistling, telling him to go track down his bride, but Colette was not in hearing range anymore.
She went to the tent, realizing this was the last place she wanted to be, and stared at the bed in frustration and horror.
Hadn't she been resigned only a moment ago? But her nerves returned, and she was terrified into a statue-like trance.
"Dear, are you alright?" Clopin's voice came from the entrance of the tent.
She shuddered and turned to face him, his face illuminated only by the candlelight. He looked with what looked like affection, but she could not be sure, for she was in tears.
"I can't. Please, don't make me. I can't do this. Not tonight," she whispered to the floor.
He took a small step forward and raised her chin up until she looked at him.
In a grave voice, he said, "I suspected as much. I will not make you do anything you don't want to do." She thought she saw some pain in his face for a moment, but it disappeared as quickly as it came.
"Thank you," she whispered, and he gathered her into his arms.
"But…could you do one thing for me?" he asked. She nodded warily.
"Amsie will be spending the night in Linnie's tent. Could I…hold you tonight, as a man should hold his wife?" he asked hesitantly, like he was expending great effort just to get out the words.
Nearly smiling, she said, "I think that would be fine."
She went behind the tapestries to strip to her chemise, he still fully clothed to make her feel better. They lay down together, and he wrapped his arms around her.
Her eyes grew heavy after awhile, and the last thing she heard before she drifted into oblivion was the sound of Clopin singing her a lullaby.
Read and Review! :) That last chapter was the sweeter side of Clopin. He's not all bad, ne? Lol, I'll update again as soon as possible.