"Just breath Serena. Remember why you are doing this. Just breath." Serena whispered to herself for the hundredth time. She turned the door nob and softly pushed. She took one step out of the bathroom, to gasp. She looked around to see her five best friends staring at her in awe.
She took a big sniff to pull back the tears. "Just breath." She reminded herself as she lifted her dress and took another step forward.
"The dress looks amazing on you." Her tall bridesmaid with dark brown hair complimented. "Dressmaker did an amazing job."
"Thanks Lita."She cautiously walked to the full length mirror. Holding on to the front of her dress with everything she had, to keep her from possibly tripping. She stood there, and just looked herself up and down.
"Sere..." She heard from behind her. She turned around to see her Maid of Honor just inches from her. She was in a light pink dress similar to the other four girls, but hers was the only one with a dress long in the back and short in front. Her blond hair braided to the side, just like the others.
"You look amazing Mina." She forced a smile.
"Serena," a voice called with a bid sigh.
Serena shifted her head just tick to see her other two bridesmaids, one with short blue hair and the other with long jet black hair, standing with their small hands balled up in fists.
"What you are doing for you people..." The blue haired maid started.
"We are not going to go through that again." The dark hair maid interrupted. "No matter how you spin, this... all of this.." She waved her hands around the room, making eye contact with each maid. "It is not fair to her."
"Rei..."
"Don't Rei... me Amy," She mocked. "Serena does not have to do this."
"She is doing this for the people of her kingdom, as future queen..." Ami started to raise her voice.
"But as current princess..." Lita took an aggressive step forward. "She has every right to follow her heart and marry who she wants too."
"Ladies...please." Serena turned to face the mirror. Her eye blood shot red and puffy. "Mina can you please do something about my eyes..." She said in defeated tone.
Mina just nodded.
"Serena, say the word." Rei pleaded. "Just say the word and we will take you out of here."
"Yeah!" Lita agreed. "We can sneak you out of here, back to the moon."
"That will just cause another war." Amy disputed. "The moon kingdom already has enough going on, adding another enemy, especially one as powerful as earth."
"Would destroy the moon." Serena lightly wiped her nose. "I am very familiar with the lecture Amy."
"Serena, we are the scout, protectors of the universe, we would figure out a way." Rei explained. "If you do not want to do this, you don't have too."
"Her mother would be livid." Amy explained.
"She needs to understand an arranged marriage?" Rei questioned.
"Her mother had an arranged marriage, and people still talk about the love they had for each other."
"That is one in a million!" Mina whispered. "Sere, whatever you want to do." She looked at her with comforting eyes.
Serena just nodded and looked down and her shoes that were off to the side of the mirror. She chuckled to herself. "I always loved fairytales. And I am princess so I always believed." She closed her eyes, put folded hands over her heart. "The story with the glass slipper, I loved it. Swore I would be married in glass slippers." She opened her eyes, looked at the slippers, sighed. "And there they are, the most beautiful glass slippers one could buy, and..."She started to bite the inside of her lips. "I just never thought my wedding would be like this." She looked around at her friends. Eyes glossy. "I mean I hear of arranged marriages, I just thought." She shrugged her shoulder, fluffed her dress. "Guess fairytales aren't real, even when you are princess." She looked back at herself in the mirror. "I am going to need you to carry the make up thing all night Mina.
The sound of someone clearing their voice caused the girls to turn their attention to the door.
"Your majesty." The five maidens said in unison as they bowed.
"Ladies...oh my god!" the queen gushed. "My sweet Serena, you look gorgeous! Even more amazing than your debut ball." She rushed over to Serena, fanned out the back of her dress. Stood beside her, and admired her in the mirror. "You are just missing one thing...Lita fetch the large box over on the table." She pointed to the table on the counter.
Lita did as obeyed. She handed the box to the queen, and bowed right before she stepped away.
"Thank you." The queen, placed the box on the ground, squatted gingerly, and opened the box. She threw the lid to the side, reached deep into the box and pulled a crystal tiara, attached to a veil.
"Wow..." Mina whispered. "The detailing is amazing."
"Thank you, Mina, it was mine when I got married." She carefully pivoted. "My dear, do you mind."
Serena just nodded and slowly kneeled down. Her mother gently stuck the combs of the tiara in her daughter's hair, trying hard not to move any of the perfect curls. She separated the two pieces of the veil and tossed it over her daughter's face. Serena took this moment to let a tear fall. She bit her lip to hopefully control her breathing.
"You may stand up my dear."
Serena did as she was told. Her mother dusting and fluffing her dress with each of her movements.
The queen turned to the maids. "Ladies it is time. You can grab your flowers and head out." Serena watched through her veil, the reflecting in the mirror of her maids walking out one by one. Amy was the last one out, and she gently shut the door.
"My dear," The queen whispered, intertwining her arm with her daughters. "I know this was not how you pictured your wedding, and I doubt in my head you ever thought you would be marrying the Prince of Earth."
"Yes mother, because I never met him, not once." Serena disputed in a whisper.
"He has come to the castle many times." The queen argued back.
"On business and not once did he ever speak to me." Serena said pulling away from her mother. "He sure loved to flirt with our servants though." She took a seat. "Please help me with my shoes mother."
The queen nodded, grabbed her shoes and went to assist her daughter.
"What you are doing..." The queen started.
"I know mother, is a service to our people. And it is my duty to them, as future queen."
Her mother sighed as she slipped on the second slipper. "Serena, your father and I were an arranged marriage, and I love him with all my heart, as he did me." She got up. "Not all arranged marriages turn out bad. You could learn to love each other."
The music started playing. Serena took a quick look at the door. A shoulder dropping sign was released. "Let's just go get this over with." Serena reached out her hand for her mother to help her up. She took one look at herself in the mirror, and headed towards the door, as her mother followed.
The music started playing. Serena entered the hallway to see her maids waiting for her. She just nodded at them, and in a single file they walked through the hall. The reached two tall wooden doors, with black handles. Amy who was first, smiled at the doormen. As they smiled back. She nodded. Then on que to the music the doormen pulled the doors open with all their strength.
Serena gripped her bouquet tighter and tighter as she got closer and closer to the door. Mina was last to go through the door. Serena's heart clenched.
"Everything will be okay, my dear, I know it will be."
Serena turned to her mother, staring at her.
"I would never ask you to do this, if I did not know you would be okay."
Serena did a little nod. The music changed and she took one more breath, and then took a step through her door. She scanned the room to see her family and friends smiling at her. She wasn't sure if they could see her through the veil, but she still smiled, until she felt her cheek twitch. She then focused her attention on the man stand at the end of aisle. His back was to her. He was tall, with broad shoulders and deep black hair. Her hearted thumped harder and harder as she got closer, until she finally reached the end.
She saw as his best man, another tall male, with white long hair, shoulders just a little broader than his, nodded at him. He turned around, took a step towards her and her mother, reached his hand out.
"And who gives this princess of the moon away to be married, to Prince Darien of Earth."
"I do." Her mother whispered placing her daughter's hand in his.
Serena felt a rush throughout her body, that sent chills down her spine. She almost pulled her hand back but her mother's cupped her hand as he held on.
"Your majesty I promise I will take care of your daughter."
"I know you will." She let go of both hands, went to take her seat.
Darien guided Serena to the officiant. She handed her flowers to Mina, before turn to Darien placing her hands in his. Mina handed her flowers to Rei, then went to straighten Serena's train. Once she was done, she took both sets of flowers from Rei.
"Before we begin... if anyone shall object the union of Prince Darien and Princess Serena, please speak now, or forever hold your peace."
Serena held her breath, maybe one of his mistresses, but then her mother would most likely obliterate her. Her heart skipped another beat. Nobody said anything.
"Prince Darien, will you please remove the princess' veil?" The officiant asked.
He nodded and proceeded to do so. Once the veil was out of her face, she could finally see him. His face did not change much from the last time she saw him. His eyes a dark shade of blue with specks of black. His chin defined, and his face emotionless.
They locked eyes, as the officiant spoke. She kept reminding herself to smile.
Everything the officiant said was a blur. She was surprised she was able to say "I do" at the correct time. Her cheeks started to hurt from all her smiling, and then she heard the words. "You may now kiss your bride." Her smile faded and she froze. She watched Darien leaned in. It was like a slow motion. Then finally his lip met with hers. They were soft. His kiss was gentle He gripped her hand tighter. As her eyes fluttered shut. the kiss could not have been more than 5 seconds, but it was eternity to her.
The crowd clapped, causing the couple to break apart. The turned to their guest. Awkwardly smiled and headed down the aisle, their wedding party following behind.
After what seemed like a million photos. They proceeded to the reception. Darien and Serena sat amongst their wedding party, as everyone ate. Darien observed as Serena just moved her fork around, but not actually taking a bite.
He leaned over."The food not to the liking of your moon pallet?"
Serena threw her fork down, she was surprised it did not cause a louder noise than it did. A million come backs rushed through her head, but all was forgotten when she was interrupted.
"Sere, let's go touch up your make up." Mina demanded, pulling her arm. Serena nodded Got up and walked away as Darien watched.
He let out a sigh, and did as she did. Got up from the table and walked the opposite way. His best man followed him onto the balcony.
"What did I get myself into Malachite..." He said rubbing his face.
"You know, my prince, I am asking myself the same question." He chuckled. "Prince Darien of Earth, the most sought out man, has women throwing themselves at him everywhere he walks. Lines of women waiting outside his room, waiting for their turn, decides to settle down and marry. And not just marry anyone. He chooses a princess of the moon."
"Shut up." Darien said swatting his best man.
"You know what is even more odd..." Malachite took a step towards the prince. "Your parents have presented you with many suitors, from all over, even an underwear model, with legs for days, and you reject them all. They begged you to marry."
"Shut it Mal," Darien demanded.
"And for some odd reason, they only had to ask you once for dear Princess Serena, hmmmm," Malachite tilted his head. " A little strange, if you ask me."
"Nobody asked you." Darien turned around defensive. "This marriage changes nothing. It is not even a real marriage. It is an arrangement, everyone knows that."
"Really...? I vividly remember another arrangement proposal with a Beryl, what was wrong with that arrangement?"
"That gigantic troll! I could not marry her, think of my image here." Darien gave him a smirk. "If I am going to be in an arrangement, at least she has to be up to my standards."
"You have had a few up to your standards, and that kiss at the alter...wooo it was something."
Darien, thought back to that kiss, the second he laid his lips on hers, it was like nothing he ever felt. His heart started racing, and it was like his breath was sucked right out of him. He had never felt like he was at anyone's mercy before, but this is what he would think it felt like. The sound of laughter knocked him out of his flash back. A quick shake of his head."Enough already, this is killing my buzz." He said squaring up to Malachite, who was a good two inches over him.
"As you wish your majesty, I would not want you being angry on your wedding night, after all it is supposed to be one of the happiest nights of your life." Malachite said condescendingly.
"Pshh this wedding just a show, this marriage is just an arrangement, it is all just paperwork and fine print."
A voice cleared behind them, and they both jumped up. There, Serena stood with Mina. Mina standing in a squared up position ready to fight. Mina took a step forward first, causing Darien to step back. Serena put her hand out to stop her. She shot her one look, and Mina stood down. She turned to the two gentleman.
"They are calling us for our first dance." Serena said with tone that pierced right through him.
"I will be right in."
She turned and walked away, Mina shook her head as she walked.
The first dance started and finished. It was longer than Serena intended. She made no eye contact with Darien, and she tried to be as far away from him as possible. But he held onto her so tight, as if she was going to run away and cause a scene.
The rest of the night was posing for pictures and avoiding him as much as she could. She was never left alone with him. The girls followed like her shadow. When all the guest had finally left, and her mother went up to her room. She took that as que to go.
She stood up from the party table. "Well can't say I had an amazing time, but it is what it is. I am going to my room." She threw her napkin down. Turned to her maids. "Ladies care to join me?"
The each nodded and stood up. Looked at Darien and his men, glared and bowed.
"Good night gentleman, good night Prince Darien." Serena said as she went down for curtsey.
"Your majesty you don't have to bow to him. You two are married now, he is your husband." Malachite explained.
She scoffed. "It is not a marriage. As Prince Darien said, it was all for show." She licked her lips. "it is simply an arrangement and paperwork." She smirked, turned around and walked away. The girls quickly following.