A/N: Start the attached YouTube clip at 1m 40s :)

SARAFINE X

Handmaidens placed her hair in a stunning combination of plaits, braids and twirls. Sarafine watched in the mirror as they did, looking into her own deep brown eyes. Today, I become their Queen, she tried to comprehend, I become the Queen. One would've thought that Sarafine was familiar enough with the notion, and while that was true, the day felt nothing less than surreal. She'd always known it would come; and now that it were here, she almost didn't know what it meant.

But preparing for her wedding to William after years of waiting for a day that only seemed to drift further away was the best thing the Princess of Dorne had ever experienced. This is it, she realised when she woke that morning. Today, we pledge our love for each other on a stage so grand that the world will sing songs of it for years to come. And tonight, I will be his by every law of gods and men. She felt giddy at the idea, though she was nervous all the same.

The whole day seemed to be about her. She hadn't seen her King for two days, but imagined he was getting the exact same treatment. Sarafine had been visited by almost as many people as she knew. First came the Queen, then Sansa and Myrcella. Joffrey visited too, and Trystane. Then Ellaria and even Lady Margaery, loath as she may be. They'd all come with gifts as glorious as the day; jewels and gowns and fine oils and wines from as far east as man knew.

Once her elaborate up-do was complete, she heard a knock at her door. The current Queen appeared again, dressed in a gown so lovely that Sarafine nearly cried at the sight. Everything today, it's all for me, she smiled sweetly, feeling like a child, this is my coronation.

"You look as fine as I've ever seen you, my sweet," the Queen commented.
"As do you, my Queen," Sarafine smiled, "it's time for my gown, apparently."
Cersei smiled at the creation as it hung from the shoulders of a mannequin, "William's litter has just left the Keep for the Sept."
"Did you see him off?" the Princess asked, rising from her chair to the platform her handmaidens would dress her on. She longed for any hint of how he looked.
"Yes. He's equally excited as you," the Queen sat, "and looks just as lovely."

A serving girl poured Cersei some wine while Sara, for a final time, slipped out of her white silken robe, a gift she'd received from her love along with the choker. She watched the other girls remove the dress from the mannequin and unlace it at every point which required so. The next time I'm undressed, it'll be at his hands, she reminded herself, butterflies rising in her stomach. She admired the curves of her breasts and the contours of her body in the mirror for a moment, I hope he's happy with me.

"Princess," a girl broke her from her thoughts, holding the skirt for her to step into. The fabric was a pale material, covered in golden stones and jewels that had been sewed on or glued with wax. It was as Dornish a gown as she had hoped for, with rather sheer panels of fabric and shoulders which were exposed but for the cape-like sleeves which ran to the floor on either side. The back of the bodice was open too, cooling her in the autumn heat of the Capital.

She wondered how many high lords and ladies would frown at her choice of attire, but they are not of Dorne, she remembered, and they are not to be the Queen.

The back of the skirt was laced up again and she admired herself in the full bridal garb which she wore. William's engagement gift to her hung at her throat in the space above the plunging neckline, reminding her of how much she loved him every time a ruby caught the light and glimmered across the room. Then her final piece. She looked at it from her stand and as a girl went to pick it up, her father entered.

Each of the handmaidens curtseyed and Cersei rose from her seat. Sarafine turned to face him in his fineries of orange and gold linens traditional to that of their homeland. His face lit up.
"My sunshine," he exhaled and she could do nothing but blush and smile, taking the dress in her hands and twirling around for him.
"Leave us," the Queen Regent commanded of the girls. Sarafine stepped down from her pedestal, "I best be going to, Princess. I'll see you in the Sept," Cersei kissed her cheeks and hugged her tightly before exiting.

Doran Martell gazed at his daughter in awe, "you look so much like your mother."
"I hope that's a good thing," she laughed, hugging him.
"Of course it is," he laughed, "I've come to escort you to the Sept."
"Wonderful. I'm almost ready, just one more thing," she sauntered over to the stand and cushion on which it lay.

Sarafine's tiara was a sweet and small thing; an intricately moulded golden piece which peaked at the front with one of the seven tongues of the Martell suns flames. The sun itself was the centre-piece: a bright topaz like the one in William's crown, connected by the seven flames, each representing one of the Kingdoms. She could only imagine the difficulty of carving it. She raised the pillow in her arms.
"Would you do me the honour?" she asked, turning to face him again. His eyes seemed to glint in the light, "if you cry, you know I'll be a mess," she laughed lightly and he smiled. Her father assisted himself to her on his walking cane and took the crown from its place. She'd never worn it before and she tilted her head for him to position it on her. No garb had ever felt more her than the gown and crown she was dressed in. And none had been more special.

"This is as much yours as mine, father," she looked into his eyes, "I can't thank you enough for arranging this for me."
"My daughter's happiness and peaceful reign is enough, I promise," he kissed her forehead lightly, "now come, we have a royal wedding to attend."

He held his free arm out for her and she took it. When he had arrived in the Capital, it had been to Sara as if she'd never spent a day apart from him. He was the same man she'd vaguely remembered him to be; though seeing him again made his memory and those of her childhood as clear as anyone that stood in front of her. They climbed into litters, every guard bowing in respect and every handmaiden offering a curtsey and a compliment for the bride.

The ride to the Sept had been a long one; only because of her anticipation. She rode alone, her father ahead of her and her handmaidens behind her. She constantly checked through the viewing panels to see how close they were, and figured she may as well have walked through the streets. Crowds of smallfolk were gathered in the streets, chanting for her.

"Princess Sarafine," she heard, over and over, "all hail the new Queen!"
She wanted to thank them all, but she wanted to get to the Sept more. When her litter came to a brief halt, her heart stopped. Bells began to ring, signalling her arrival.

I'm here, she knew, I'm about to marry Will. I'm about to see him, and join with him for eternity. She blinked back tears and climbed gracefully out, her father awaiting her as she did. She turned back to her city, smiled and gave a wave before taking his arm and beginning the climb, the train of her dress carried by two girls.

The doors were shut when she reached the top and she couldn't wipe the smile from her face.
"Are you ready?" Doran asked her and all she could do was nod quickly, "I am so proud of you, my sunshine. We all are."

/cScVoZWVDLQ?t=1m40s

Her father's free arm wrapped around her again and she cuddled him as if she were a child. When they parted, she nodded again as did he. Two Kingsguard followed behind them and the doors to the Sept were opened. The bells stopped and Sarafine's heart felt fuller than ever as her father began to lead her down the steps.

Every eye in the Sept was on her, but hers were only on one.

When she saw him, at the base of the stairs, it were as if every other lord and lady, knight and maester, septa and daughter had faded away. She felt their eyes, but she saw her King and only him. William's golden surcoat was the finest garb she'd ever seen him in, and he looked more handsome than ever at the thought that he was finally to become hers. The cloak hung over his shoulders; all reds and golds and blacks and oranges in patterns she didn't even have time to make out. Her father released her after the first small flight of stairs and everything felt more real than ever as the love of her life stood in front of her and held out his own arm for her to take. He thanked Doran with a nod and looked at Sarafine with more adoration than she'd ever seen in him.

He's my King, and I'm about to become his Queen.

They climbed the next set of stairs to where the High Septon stood, ready to make the match before the gods. The Sept had never seemed so grand.

"You are so beautiful," he whispered to her.

They reached him and smiled cheerily, the warmth of William's arm a calming sensation.
"You may now cloak the bride and bring her under your protection," the man said to the King.

Sarafine turned and held her hair for him. His touch sent goosebumps up her arm on this special day and suddenly the cloak was her favourite gift of any she'd ever received. He squeezed her arms gently and they both turned to face the Septon again. The man nodded and the King and almost-Queen placed their hands out; William's first and Sara's on top. The Septon began to wrap the fabric around their hands.

"Let it be known that Sarafine of the House Martell, and William of the Houses Baratheon and Lannister, are one heart, one flesh, one soul...for eternity," the Septon bound them as one, placing his hand over theirs and unravelling the fabric. Sarafine could've lived in the moment forever, "look on each other and say the words."

William took her hands in his and she blushed again, feeling like a child in her excitement. They looked into each other's brown eyes, smiling in the seriousness, "Father, Smith, Warrior, Mother, Maiden, Crone, Stranger. I am his, and he is mine. From this day, until the end of my days," she declared, knowing that she would never speak truer or more meaningful words.
"Cursed be he who would seek to tear them asunder!" the High Septon called.

The King held the new Queen tightly in his arms and laid his sweet and soft lips on hers, binding them forever in front of the Realm. The feeling of their kiss was a magic unbeknownst to her, and she revelled in it's glory, holding the back of his neck and returning every inch of passion as they joined together. No kiss or touch had ever been so sweet to her, and she wished it could've lasted forever. Cheers and claps rose in the Sept.

"I love you," he breathed, a longing in him.
"I love you," she smiled widely, laughing. They held their hands together in front of the guests, smiling over them all.
"You're their Queen now," William reminded.
"And you're my husband," she realised.
"You're my wife," he smiled and she wanted to kiss him again. He pecked her lips gently with his and they made their way down the steps and to their families.

Arms embraced them; the Queen Mother, the Prince of Dorne, the Baratheon Prince and the Hand of the King. Each of them curtseyed and bowed for their newlywed King and his newly-made Queen.
"Your Grace," Lady Sansa addressed her with a smile when they finally got a chance to speak again.
"My lady," Sarafine curtseyed and they burst into laughter, "formalities truly just aren't our flair, are they?" they linked arms.
"Still, you must feel excited to be Queen," Sansa beamed as they walked through the Sept like they had a few weeks ago. Lords and ladies filed out and made their way to the royal courtyards where the wedding feast was to be held while the families of the bride and the groom socialised among each other; laughing and smiling together.

I wish it were always this way, the Queen wished sadly, dismissing the thought. She turned back to Lady Sansa.
"Does this make you more excited for your own day?" Sarafine asked.
"Somewhat," she looked to Joffrey, "but this isn't about me. I don't want to talk about me," the girl smiled sweetly.
"Lady Sansa," William's voice interrupted.
"Your Grace, congratulations," Sansa curtseyed before William ignored the courtesies altogether and hugged her instead. Sarafine smiled.
"May I take Queen Sarafine from you?" he asked, looking to his wife with a smile so playful that she wanted to skip the feast altogether and race to their chambers to begin their wedding night - even if the sun still shone brightly outside.
"You may," Sansa nodded her head and sauntered over to Cersei.

William took her hand in his.
"Queen Sarafine," he addressed.
"King William," she nodded.
"Shall we go celebrate this wonderful day?" he smiled, melting her inside.
"We shall."

And so began the festivities.

- A/N -

YAYYYYYYYY FOR THE WEDDING! Aw :') so cute

Did you like Sarafine's dress? Let me know in a review!

I hope that you loved this chapter as much as I did: the song, the dress & the cuteness. I'm so happy they're finally married aw.

Have a lovely weekend!