"Stop the wedding!"
There were murmurs amongst the guests at his words. James looked straight at Vivian, trying not to look at his parents.
"Vivian, I'm sorry. You're a really nice girl, and you'll make someone really happy, but I won't make a good husband to you. Because my heart belongs to someone else."
He expected Vivian to look angry or upset; instead, to his utter amazement, she giggled. Then laughed.
"What?"
"Nothing. But, James, as unbelievable as it sounds, so does mine."
"You mean?"
"Yes. I only went along with this so I wouldn't disappoint my parents."
"You're kidding. So did I."
The prospective newlyweds stared at each other, then began to laugh. They laughed so hard they were also crying, the irony being too much to bear. Their parents got to their feet whilst more confused muttering issued through the crowd.
"What's wrong, James?"
"Vivy, dear, whatever's the matter?"
Vivian turned to face her parents.
"Mum, Dad, I'm sorry but I can't go through with this. I love someone else."
James faced his parents as well.
"Me too. Please don't be too mad."
They braced themselves for the worst, but it did not come. Instead, they felt gentle hands pat them on the head and looked up to see their parents looking both amused and somewhat guilty. Queen Cecily and Miranda exchanged looks.
"Dears, we're not disappointed in you. We thought we were making you happy."
"Yes. If we'd known you loved someone else, we wouldn't have arranged this marriage."
Roland looked confused.
"I'm sorry, James, but I did think you liked Vivian. You did spend all that time together a couple of years ago."
"Dad, that was for Chivalry Hall. We were trying to compose an inspirational song."
"And James is a nice boy who I really enjoyed doing that with, but we just don't like each other that way."
That seemed good enough for King Marcus.
"Well then, Vivy, dear, we are sorry for this."
"We were just really afraid of disappointing you, seeing how happy you were about this marriage."
Queen Cecily interjected.
"We were happy because we thought you were happy together. I see now we were too presumptive. We're sorry, Vivian."
"It's OK, Mum."
Miranda clapped her hands.
"Well, now that that's out of the way, I think it's time you tell us who's stolen your hearts."
Vivian smiled.
"It's Khalid."
They turned to look at the audience where Khalid had stood up, next to his mother Queen Anya, and was waving shyly at them, looking suddenly bashful. Vivian waved back as Marcus and Cecily exchanged looks.
"Well, that was easy."
"I suppose we should have seen it sooner, Marcus. Look how they blush."
"Reminds me of our courting days."
"Oh, stop it!"
Queen Cecily hid her own furious blushes with her fan. Roland and Miranda looked at James expectantly.
"Well, James, who is she?"
"That's the thing, Dad. It's not a she."
He risked a glance over his mother's shoulder and was rewarded with Hugo's eyes, wide and hopeful. He smiled.
"It's a he. And he's standing right there."
They turned and saw Hugo, who looked very nervous at being put upon the spot. Roland looked from his son to Hugo, then back again.
"Now that you mention it, that does seem rather obvious."
"You mean you're not mad?"
James said this tremulously, as though he dared hardly hope it could be true. Roland laughed.
"Not at all. But you really should have told us."
"I know, Dad. But, could I?"
"By all means."
Hugo had stepped into the aisle, still looking like he half believed all this was a dream. James stood there for a moment, watching him, then smiled and opened his arms in welcome. Hugo practically threw himself into them and then they were locked in an embrace so tight that it seemed nothing on Earth could pry them apart. It was obvious for all to see that these two boys really loved each other. They only separated when they remembered they had an audience, blushing a little since they weren't used to kissing in front of people. A few of the guests muttered mutinously and a couple actually stood up to leave, but the majority were silent and smiling. The priest, who had been watching all of this with a seen-it-all expression, tapped his finger on the pulpit.
"Now that that is settled, am I going to be marrying someone or not?"
"Yes."
But before they could take their places, Vivian patted Hugo on the shoulder and held something out in her hand.
"You'll be needing this."
It was her ring, pink ruby gleaming in the light. But as Hugo took it and slipped it onto his finger, the gem glowed brilliant white for a second before turning to a light blue sapphire. Hugo admired it for a moment, then he and James joined hands as the priest began to intone once more.
"Let me see, where was I? Ah, yes. Do you, Prince James, take Prince Hugo to be your lawfully wedded husband? In sickness and in health, till death do you part?"
James tightened his grip on Hugo's hands, having dreamed of this moment for so many years.
"I do."
"And do you, Prince Hugo, take Prince James to be your lawfully wedded husband? In sickness and in health, till death do you part?"
Hugo's eyes were wide and moist, never leaving James'.
"I do."
The priest raised his arms and a shower of golden and silver sparks descended upon them.
"Then by the power vested in me, I declare this couple to be wed. You may now kiss."
Silently, the two boys leaned forwards and their lips met in a gentle kiss this time. James' parents, tears in their eyes, began applauding, quickly joined by everyone else. Vivian and Khalid, sitting next to each other now, and their parents; Tilly and Sir Bartleby; Zandar and Lakshmi; Amber and Desmond; Sofia and Frederick; Axel, Astrid and Vladik. The entire assembly, on their feet and clapping. James and Hugo stood there, slightly baffled, but delighted at the positive reception.
"HUGO!"
Hugo's smile vanished and his face went white as his father, the former King Garrick, stormed out of his seat and came down the aisle towards him, looking thunderous. Though older now, Garrick was still a powerful and buff man and Hugo trembled as his father folded his arms. He raised a trembling hand.
"H-Hey, Dad."
"Hey nothing, young man! First the ice dancing and now this?!"
Hugo was visibly wilting under his father's furious gaze. James squeezed his hand comfortingly, the other balling into a fist; Garrick was significantly bigger than he was, but he'd hit him if it came to it. The guests were all watching nervously as Axel came running. Garrick's mouth opened and Hugo braced himself for more harsh words. But they didn't come. Instead, Garrick let loose one of his big belly laughs.
"HAH! You thought I was going to hit or disown you, didn't you?"
Hugo looked at his father in amazement.
"A-A little. Dad, I thought you were mad at me."
"I am. Because once again, you've kept something you love a secret from me even after you promised you wouldn't ever again."
"Oh. Oops?"
"Oops nothing! You should have told me you loved James from the moment this whole thing started. No more secrets, OK?"
"Uh, OK?"
"Because if I find any, so help me I will take you across my knee like when you were young, I don't care how old you are right now! Understand?"
"Dad!"
"Understand?"
"OK, OK! God, do you have to embarrass me on my wedding day?"
"It's either me or your brother."
"You were saying?"
James was watching this with amusement; after the past few days, it felt so good to laugh. King Roland stood up.
"Well, then, if that is all the excitement for now, we have a reception to begin!"
The reception was, despite the sudden change in who was getting married, nonetheless quite happy. James and Hugo cut the cake, whose bride effigy had been magically transformed into a miniature of Hugo and smacked anyone who tried to poke it out of curiosity, and received congratulations from their guests, friends, and family. The band was playing a stately little waltz, with some couples on the dance floor. Zandar and Lakshmi, despite her pregnancy, were stealing the show. Then Axel stepped up and motioned for the band to be silent.
"OK, everyone! It's time for my baby bro and his new hubby to share their first dance! Let's give them a hand!"
The guests cleared the dance floor and clapped. Hugo whispered to Cedric as he passed him and the sorcerer nodded with a smile on his face. With a wave of his wand, the dance floor became shimmering ice and a pair of beautiful skates appeared on the newlywed's feet. The band began to play the song Hugo and Sofia had danced to in their first Ice Dancing rehearsal, 'Take a Leap', and Hugo and James began to skate gracefully around the dance floor, occasionally flying into the air in a close embrace. Soon, skates began to appear on the feet of the guests and the icy floor was busy with dancers. For the final act, Hugo took James around the waist and threw him into the air, where he soared gracefully with his cape billowing behind him, before pirouetting and landing elegantly. They held each other closely, so only James heard what Hugo whispered to him.
"I can't wait to officially consummate this marriage."
"Bit late for that, isn't it?"
"They don't know that."
James' ears flared red, but he flashed a naughty smile.
"That's true."
LATER THAT NIGHT
James was lying on his back in his bed, panting and covered in sweat, after their third round of lovemaking. Hugo snuggled up next to him, black hair messy from the tryst. Their clothes lay scattered inelegantly all over the room, some in highly impossible places; James was pretty sure that was his underwear hanging on the lamp, but they'd been unable to keep their hands off each other the moment the bedroom door swung closed behind them. As he snuggled deeper into the warmth of the bedsheets, he felt Hugo's body pull away from his and heard him get out of bed. Turning over, he was treated to an excellent view of his new husband's naked butt as he walked away from the bed.
"Where you going?"
"To ensure we're not disturbed."
Hugo turned the key in the lock and tried the handle to make sure it was locked. James rolled back over as he heard Hugo return and get back into bed. He felt the mattress dip, the bedspings creak, and then warmth on his back as Hugo pulled him close.
"Mmmmm, I could get used to this."
"The sex?"
"Sleeping next to you."
"Me too."
James felt Hugo kiss his temple, then settle down to sleep. His dreams were happy, if a bit to heavy on the details, and a particularly good one woke him in the small hours, the light of the sun just beginning to peek in. Half-asleep, James felt the warmth of his sleeping husband on his back, his hardness poking him from behind, and smiled. But, surprisingly enough, that wasn't what he was smiling at. Catching the light of the early morning sun where it sat on his finger was his wedding ring, the emerald gleaming green. It had been a long road, with a lot of twists, turns, bumps and fog banks, but they'd reached the end of it now. They were married, together forever;
James and Hugo.
THE END.