I couldn't describe how the garden looked that day, how the sun set behind the Stone, or even how Kayley looked walking towards me.
I remember standing among the small group gathered outside and not feeling overwhelmed in their presence. We had carefully gone over where everyone would be standing during the ceremony to make things easier for me.
For a wedding held at Camelot, it was quite simple. I didn't have any family to speak of, and Kayley just had her mother and some family friends from their village. The knights and their families attended as well, and that was it. It didn't feel small to me, as the number of important people in my life had been zero just months earlier.
As a young boy I had imagined becoming a Knight and getting married one day, but those dreams had died along with my sight. If someone had told me that I would find myself on my wedding day, a blind Knight, standing between the King and his mage?
Well, I wouldn't have believed it.
I still didn't believe it, even after Juliana walked Kayley to me, squeezing my shoulder and stepping aside. Even after Kayley and I repeated our vows.
I don't think I truly believed any of it until I found myself alone, with my wife, after what seemed like endless hours of dancing and celebrating. We had stepped outside onto a small balcony while most of our guests were still enjoying the food and drink that had been prepared for the occasion.
I felt Kayley leaning into me and wrapped an arm around her to keep us both steady. She had barely let go of my hand since Arthur had pronounced us husband and wife. I brought her hand up to my lips for a lingering kiss and received a contented sigh in response.
I pulled her closer than I had dared previously, feeling her gentle curves pressing against me. I ran my hands over the smooth silk and delicate lace at her back. I traced my hands up and down her spine through the dress as I kissed her, feeling her shiver.
We sprang apart, laughing, at the cheering and teasing of the Knights behind us. I was sure that Kayley had blushed scarlet and felt my own face heat in response to their bawdy jokes.
We rejoined the crowd, but as night stretched on, the usually talkative Kayley had grown quiet. I felt her eyes on me and leaned in close to her ear.
"Are you alright, my love?" I asked quietly.
"Yes, I was just thinking that we are leaving early in the morning and probably want to get some sleep..." She trailed off as I brushed my hand down the side of her face, resting it on the skin between her neck and shoulder.
"And I was just thinking that I would love to be alone with my wife." I kept my voice low so as not to fuel any additional teasing.
We hadn't quite discussed what the night would bring, but her nervous laughter echoed my own as she stood up.
"Yes, well, my mother let me know that she and the ladies prepared my room for us, whatever that means."
Kayley took my hand and led me away from the celebration, ignoring the continued torrent of whistles and comments.
As she carefully helped me up the stairs, I marveled at how lucky I was. She never made me feel inadequate when she was guiding me.
Kayley opened the door to her guest room and shut it quietly behind us, dropping my hand for the first time in hours. I heard her light a candle and move about the room.
"There's some wine, and some sweets as well. Would you like some?" I winced at the formality in her tone.
"Kayley, love, come here." I didn't want to bang into anything in the unfamiliar space and held out my arms for her. She obliged, and her light scent returned to me once more.
Folding her against me, I ran one hand over the intricate braids in her hair. I preferred it down, so I could run my fingers through it, and smiled as she reached up to remove the pins. The soft strands glided over my fingers as I combed through them, but Kayley suddenly pulled away.
"I know that you might think there are...expectations for tonight," I said, dropping my arms to my sides. "I don't want you to be afraid. I am perfectly content to be here with you." I stopped as my voice faltered.
"No, I'm not afraid, I could never be afraid with you, Garrett. I just want...I don't know what I want."
I felt her tentatively reach for me again and guide me to sit on the bed with her. She bounced her leg nervously against mine, and I placed my hand on her knee.
"I want to be close to you," Kayley whispered, so quietly I had to strain to hear. She brought a shaking hand to my face, turning me to face her. Before I could respond, her lips pressed to mine, hesitantly at first. She threaded her fingers in my hair, anchoring me to her as she deepened her kiss.
I smiled against her lips and let her take the lead, although my hands were itching to feel her, to allow me to see more of her.
As if reading my mind, she pulled back and took my hands, placing them on her slim waist. I carefully ran my hands up her ribcage, skimming over the soft swell of her chest and up the delicate slope of her neck, feeling her tremble.
I dipped my head, daring to kiss the soft skin just above her heart, feeling her erratic heartbeat that matched my own.
"It's yours, you know," Kayley said suddenly, startling me. I must have looked confused, because she guided my hand to rest over her heart, holding it there.
"My heart, Garrett," she said softly. "I think I gave it to you in the forest, even when I annoyed you more than anything." Her shoulders shook with laughter, and I was relieved at the playfulness that had returned to her tone.
"I believe that was due to your constant talking," I teased back before growing serious again. "But you know that you had my heart as well, even then."
I felt my own nerves dissipate as I found her lips again, trusting that we would navigate this new chapter, together.
