Title: Alternate Beginning
Type: Deleted Scene
Explanation: These are a few snippets from the very beginning of I Do's conception. My original thought was first person from Katharine's perspective, and I ended up writing third person, mostly from Rod's perspective. How's that for a change? Both personalities went through a radical makeover, too. So, this is mainly for you to laugh at.
"Do you, Prince Roderic Franklin Alaciea of Ellespeth take Princess Katharine Florette O'Dinas of Terriot to be your lawfully wedded wife?"
"I do," the man said steadily, looking just to the left of the pretty blonde's eyes, masked by the veil.
"And do you, Princess Katharine Florette O'Dinas of Terriot take Prince Roderic Franklin Alaciea of Ellespeth to be your lawfully wedded husband?"
"I do," the girl said with a small nod.
Behind them the crowd waited, an expectant hush befalling them.
"Then, by the power avested in me, I pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss the bride."
The priest smiled faintly as the crowd erupted in cheers and the man carefully lifted the veil.
The Prince kissed the Princess and they were married, ready to live happily every after.
Right?
Not quite.
That was only part of the story -- the end of one tale and the beginning of another. The first story you've heard multiple times I am sure, though it has been given a new ending than this every time. The princess is arranged to marry the prince and they've never met. The princess is devastated because she already has a secret lover with some member of the community lower than herself in rank (mine was a messenger) and so does the Prince. They either a) manage to circumvent the marriage and live happily ever after with their beloved b) discover that their beloveds are actually each other and get married and live happily ever after c) go through horrible grief when both beloveds are killed, then fall in love with each other and live happily ever after or d) run away and meet each other in their travels, forgetting about their beloveds (who never loved them anyway) and then returning to marry and live happily ever after. My story is e) none of the above. But it's important too; it teaches the valuable lesson that love is sometimes better earned than found, and a relationship worked for is sweeter than one that falls into place.
His kiss was awkward, so unlike Samuel's I realized with a pang as he pulled away. But it wasn't wet, which was most definitely an advantage when there's no way to surreptitiously wipe your lipsticked mouth with your white gloved hand in front of a huge crowd of people that had gathered to see the joining of two countries. The fact that I didn't know the man helped none. He took my elbow and we walked back down the aisle and out the church doors, smiling hugely for appearance and dodging the shower of rice as it cascaded from the observers in the balcony. There was a stark white carriage, drawn by two white horses and driven by a man in a white uniform waiting for us. Between that and my dress, I was beginning to get a headache from so much white.
Roderic -- my husband, I said to myself, trying the word out in my mind -- helped me into the carriage, not so much as making eye contact with me, and then got in himself, letting the driver gently close the door. We began to move forward and each leaned out our respective windows, waving to the mass of people that had gathered along the roads to bid us good luck. Really, they were smiling in relief that the country had been saved, but that was what I was doing too, so they shan't be blamed for that. That small thought did remind me of the purpose of our marriage and I did actually smile. Terriot, my dear Terriot, it was safe at last!
Our marriage was a mutually beneficial one, and Roderic and I both agreed wholeheartedly to it. By our marriage, we joined our armies to fight as one (something that Terriot dearly needed) and opened the border for free trade, along with my dowry which included some huge number of pounds of grain and vegetables instead of gold or other wealth (something that Ellespeth dearly needed). The marriage was practical and direly necessary for the continuation of both countries, so Roderic and I agreed immediately, of course. I love my country fiercely, and I have heard that Roderic does as well. Two lives sacrificed for the well being of thousands of people is a bargain hardly found anywhere. And it's not even a total sacrifice, I have remind myself, I am going to be well defended and well taken care of. Sacrifice looks such a barbaric word, but I do hope you know that is not what my intent was.
I pulled my arm back into the window and set about fiddling with the handkerchief in my hands.
"I'm Roderic," Roderic said needlessly, surely for lack of inspiration of how else to begin, and held out his hand.
I blinked, then took his hand and shook it, venturing my name.
"Katharine."
Here we both looked squarely at each other for the first time and he smiled, a surprisingly boyish smile for such a hard, princely face.
"I apologize for not looking at you at all prior to this; Father insisted I mustn't as much as twitch throughout the entire ceremony, and when I get nervous I'm prone to laughter if I look at anyone."
"Oh," I said, mentally making a face. "Apology accepted."
Talker. Immature. Great. They said he was calm cool and collected!
"So, Katharine, I don't know that much about you."
Okay, he was getting on my nerves. Heard of subtlety, Roddy?
"Neither I, you," I replied.
He chuckled.
"True. But I asked you first, and you are the lady. Please do go first."
And he was resorting to childish tactics. I asked you first indeed. This was going to be more of a sacrifice than I originally thought.
I started slowly, gathering up exactly what to say while keeping the glare in check.
"Well..."
(This next bit is a continuation of the scene, but switched to the third person.)
"I like to sew, embroider, and read," she said somewhat awkwardly. "I believe that's what the delegates told you.
"Yes," he said, eyes still fixed on the glove she was fidgeting with. "And they told you I enjoy swordplay and jousting."
"Indeed they did, milord."
He looked into her eyes as she said that, which surprised her. It was the first time he'd looked at her straight on. His eyes were a very dark green, contrasting with his tamed, blond curls.
Green. Of course.
"I would that you would call me Roderic, by your leave," he said hesitantly.
"If you wish it so," she replied, dropping her eyes.
This was awkward and she knew it. She was unused to male company, save that of Samuel. Her heart fluttered painfully as she vividly recalled his soft brown hair and electric green eyes, the gentle roughness of his hand as it brushed hair behind her ear, and that coy, smirking mouth that dared her to kiss him. On that day – was it only yesterday? – he had smoothed tears from her face with his calloused fingers and tried to allay her fears.
"Have no fear, Kattie," he had said. "I've met this man, and he has a good heart. You need only to teach him how to speak to people; he's very shy. But, he will honor you and respect you. Do you believe me?"
She nodded and let out a shaking breath.
"This time tomorrow, I will be married," she stated, plain as the weather.
"You will," he said quietly, the pain showing his eyes. "You must have one last thing to remember me by."
He encircled her body with his strong arms, cradling her, and gently kissed her for the last time. She committed the scene to memory before her pulled away, noting the tenderness in the warm pressure of his lips on her own.
"My lady, are you alright?" Roderic's voice was concerned.
She saw a teardrop domed on her glove and brushed it away.
"I am homesick. My deepest apologies," she lied easily.
Oh how easy to slip the mask on after you get used to the strap's rubbing.
"I understand," he said, looking for a moment like he might understand a whole lot more than she wanted him to. "No apologies need be made."
They sat in semi-awkward silence for several more minutes.
"We're almost there," Roderic said, with the distinct aura of someone who can't think of anything to say.
She looked out the window at the rolling hills, and past them to the castle. She saw some horses in a paddock.
"Do you ride, Roderic?" she asked.
"Some," he admitted, leaning over to admire the horses as well.
She tried not to notice the tickly scent that wafted from him as they silently watched the horses. There was a pretty bay rubbing noses with a large black stallion. She turned her attention to the manicured gardens that were sweeping past. A splash of poppies glowed like a patch of rubies among the amethyst and topaz.
"This is our temporary home," Roderic said, jerking Katharine from her thoughts and motioning out the window.
They were approaching a castle, small, yet beautiful and welcoming. It was made with friendly grey stones and cheery, red tiling on the roof. She could see even from this distance the sparkling of the stained glass windows and the brightly colored flags as they waved loosely in the slight breeze.
"How do you like it?" he asked quietly. "Is it fit for a bride?"
"It will do," Katharine said simply.
The castle was not as elegant as her own, or as Roderic's, but it was only a temporary home, as Roderic had said. Both countries were near the end of the building of a magnificent palace, right on the border of both countries, where the royal couple would live out their reigns.
"It's not the prettiest thing, I know," Roderic said, sensing the disapproval in her voice, "but Father says it will only be for a few months."
He smiled in apology and squeezed her hand briefly.
"But a face as radiant as yours will surely make the whole of it more beautiful."
"Thank you, your highness," Katharine said politely, moving her hand surreptitiously onto her lap.
"This is your royal bedchamber," the kindly handmaiden said respectfully, opening the door to reveal a grandiose room. It was decorated in shimmering gold and crisp blue; portraits of both of their parents and grandparents hung on the wall, the stately faces looking down on them with something akin to disdain.
"Is it just me, or are you too somewhat disturbed at having your parents watch over you while you sleep?" Roderic asked with an odd face.
"Yes, my lord," Katharine agreed, barely keeping herself from pulling a face as well.
"Maiden!" Roderic called.
The girl appeared at the doorway in an instant.
"Take these paintings and have them hung in the hall. Replace them with paintings of... scenery?"
He looked at Katharine for approval.
"Whatever you will, my lord," she said.
"Yes, scenery then. Trees, beaches, anything. Just get rid of these."
The girl nodded and curtsied.
Clarification: Katty's "Samuel" is not "Hammond" in the real story; when I changed her personality, the sad fate of her lover changed as well. Samuel was going to be a messenger who lives, whereas I was envisioning Hammond as more of a commoner. And, Hammond didn't survive to Katty's wedding day, as we all know.
Coming next: The morning Rod left for war