Always And Forever
Story 5: Speak Now
Wedding bells weren't an uncommon sound, but today they made a lovely tune for the king of Daventry and his soon-to-be queen. No one was bold enough to say it, but they didn't expect he would ever find someone willing to commit. Many of the common people didn't know him enough to truly behold his worst moments, but that didn't Graham had mastered subtlety... Especially when Valanice was involved. Daventry and Kolyma were about to be allies.
Tradition dictated this be a monumental event, so the bells rang over as much distance as possible in one of the most visually appealing houses of worship, although the ceremony was to officially take place outside. The yard had been decorated in white and gold ribbons with various flowers representing positive emotions especially love in some way or another lining any ground space not covered by seats and a carefully flattened faded red carpet that some would argue was pink. When it came to design, neither Graham nor Vee had as much input as one might expect due to obsession with how past ceremonies were set up. However, they could do whatever they wished for food, clothing and guests.
The night before, Graham was suffering the worst fight with nausea and almost didn't even sleep. Then woke up raring and flung himself out of bed and struck his hip on the bedside table and was left immobilized and given a loud wakeup call from one of the guards at the same moment. Then he decided not to only eat a few pieces of grain as to not get go through the nausea torment. Then despair consumed him when he realized he put off what to wear until this very moment and accidentally tore the sleeve off his most formal shirt so put on his favorite outfit and hoped no one would notice.
It was a miracle Graham arrived at the church early. The staff were still making sure the flowers were refreshed with water, the food wasn't placed under direct sunlight and the early guests allowed to be oddly particular about their seating preference. He wondered if the anxiety was just making the guests do double takes at him. Now his stomach attempted to churn.
One of the church staff helpfully pointed out that since Vee was currently in one of the rooms in the back as to not have to drag around the weightier dress, so he was free to use one of the rooms as well if jittery from the scenery. He could go sit down and think of happy thoughts, and once Vee was ready and in position to join him at the altar, they would fetch him.
Graham took the advice, finding an open room he wasn't sure if anyone slept in but there were four beds and a small couch and table set up, and he shut the door and let his legs give out sinking into the couch. That's where he remained for a while, even in the present moment as the bells rung in time with the music outside. He had been lying, staring up at the cracks in the ceiling wondering how he reached this point of his life when the doorknob screeched before there were knocks.
"Excuse me?" Vee's voice called out behind the door, making Graham leap to his feet. "Is anyone in there? I was told I could find my veil in this room."
Graham looked around the room in a quiet panic, finding no veils. He faintly recalled hearing couples weren't encouraged to see each other before the wedding, lessen the impact of meeting each other at the altar dramatically that way; that's how it was supposed to be. In books.
There was another attempt at the doorknob, causing Vee to sigh irately. "Hello? The doorknob is stuck-"
Just as she said that the instant Graham instinctively moved to help the doorknob on his side gave up and crashed on the floor. The only thing left was a stick connecting to the other half, still twisting to the sound of Vee's grunts before rustling could be heard as she must have lowered to the floor. There were three fingers covered in a see-through white glove slip underneath the narrow opening between door and ground groping for presumably a weak spot or the hinge.
Just the sight of the glove had his heart pounding. He was compelled to drop to his knees too, trying not to get emotionally sick again as he caught her fingers and helped align them with the hinge. They briefly tensed, but as she experimentally flexed, and Graham also matched them up against his fingers spot on there was a soft gasp of realization.
"Graham!" And that was all she uttered before she jerked her fingers away, setting them on the hinge with blatant purpose as they pushed or clawed. He was mesmerized, though not so much he wasn't also search for a method of escape.
"Vee, there might not be a better time to ask... Are you sure about us?"
There was a long pause, the only noise coming from muffled music and scratching on the hinge corners. Graham didn't regret the question.
"My feelings haven't changed." Vee answered prompt and peaceful, contrasting her fingernails scratching at iron. It looked painful.
Graham needed to redirect his attention, but even as he grabbed the doorknob and attempted reconnecting it a sigh felt like it shook his lungs and rib cage. There were so many emotions; he wanted this to be a blissful experience, but he was almost fatigued from the positive emotions while the anxiety fought for first place.
"It hasn't even been two years yet, but the time spent with you is the best I've ever had." He knew his softer tone didn't help convey that, but a perceptive Vee would know even if he was mute. "Sometimes, the fact you enjoy spending time with me is unbelievable. When you held up the ring and said I had to think before offering it, that I'd never be able to 'get rid of you'... I was so happy I could have died."
"You almost let that information out when you spun me around and tripped over that flowerpot." Vee said nonchalantly, definitely quirking a lip to prevent a full-scale smile. "But I understood the feeling. That's why I want to go through a dated ceremony; I'll do whatever it takes for you to believe we're going to make it. You'll have no choice but to come along for the ride, after all, I wasn't exaggerating when I said you're stuck with me all over again."
The other piece connecting both sides wobbled, making Graham hope it would fall out and loosen that way. But progress was very limited, leading to him wanting to bring up another topic while he had the chance. Especially as Vee's desperation with the rest of her fingers lifting the edge of the old screeching hinge attempting to drown out Graham's voice.
"Wouldn't you be the one suffering? You should have had a knight in shining armor track you down after the tower, and he would act his age and sweep you off your feet always planning things out. I mean really thinking before every important decision, and he'd be able to hold a deep conversation and-"
"What a shame you're not perfect, like everyone in this world. How terrible I love you despite that as if one bad first impression spells out doom for the relationship. Well, if I judged everyone that way, I wouldn't have any company at all."
"But you're perfect."
"Only in our dreams."
Neither of them could say anything – the hinges cried from finally separating, presumably wearing down from age meant something as gentle as a butterfly could have overpowered it. They had no complaints, just relieved sounds especially when Graham managed to shove the other half of doorknob to her, and she confidently slipped the rest out and watched the door open by a depressing crack not even enough space for half a hand.
"We would have succeeded with enough time but thank you." Vee said only slightly nervous, giving the hatchet back to the disgruntled staff member.
Graham joined her, forcing his gaze on the veil in his hands rather than her. It turned out to have been hung in the closet, but he couldn't help studying it for a moment to imagine her bright eyes once it was removed. As he also lost coherent thinking, he felt the veil get dragged from his grasp. He heard Vee grunt and scoff.
"Can you help me fix this veil? I can't focus on the ceremony if it's lopsided."
There was no time for hesitation; they should have been at the altar going through the vows by now. Graham took a breath, gaze beginning at the blindingly white flaring ruffles on her lower half before reach the top. That's when he was barely breathing, almost unable to process this reality. The dress overall reminded him how their clothes clashed, but he wasn't self-conscious this time. He arranged the veil best he could, fingers enjoying her soft hair. He thought they looked best together.
Her elegance and dignity made up for his... Existence.
Vee kept blatantly staring at him with anticipation, blinking enough he couldn't help noticing her perfect lashes on her perfect face now framed by the perfect veil. Yes, his mind collapsed. He took her hands then, rubbing her palms despite the dirt coating and scratches.
Graham told her seriously right to the eyes. "I already know I'm going to spend the rest of my life with you, and... Convince me you want that, too. I want to believe it, but there's- It's a block. It would be like trying to navigate doors like that one; breaking them open just to see more on the other side. Help me get out."
She was a little taken aback either by the metaphor or mini confession. Regardless, she tugged on his hands and had him almost falling forward on her until she wrapped her arms around his neck. His first instinct was his arms circling her waist, and he hoped that would always be. That he'd never have to forget how it felt so close to her.
He took that move as her promise to help and would respond at the altar sliding that ring on her finger hoping their entire relationship would be one of those things not able to be understood.
Cracking the code was a job for the heroes at the wedding reception making speeches, probably buzzed if we're being honest.
"There's so much debate of what counts as a fast marriage these days, but sometimes a year is all it takes to fall in love." Bramble declared confidently.
"The heart is as important as the brain, but we forget both react to love." Wente added, still having to wipe tear streaks.
"So many people are cynical nowadays."
"Who hurt them so much?"
"Let's be grateful that our king and queen are so attentive to their own emotions even though I can see the denial in their eyes right now."
"Even after swearing their love forever!"
"No one will mind if you flaunt your love!"
"It's wonderful how you both have a fondness for the needlessly complex in common. Don't think we haven't noticed."
"Whisper's romance experience was vast enough to help him identify true love on sight! It's all in the eyes, for they're the window to the soul and why Whisper won't place himself in a vulnerable position revealing his own! It all comes back to vulnerability, doesn't it? We're all so terrified of opening up..." Whisper had to take a pause to choke down a sob.
Mind you, his recovery and reverting to hype was instant.
"Whisper can't tell you how a man and woman confined to one space possibly formed romantic feelings! But he's sure opening up, expressing their most sensitive thoughts gave way to exploring each other's minds. Whisper believes any single person here wanting to change that status should follow that example, hopefully without either of you being held captive. That's another genre entirely..."
"...'I need to go to this specific tower and propose to a trapped princess' he said like any normal Tuesday." Larry recalled, shaking his head.
"I believe it was Thursday." Kyle corrected him, chest puffing certainly. "The mail arrived late, I remember, King Graham would have been delighted just by an overworked employee of a shady business sending perfume samples."
"That was the best scent they ever advertised; now I remember hanging that parchment in my room for a week."
"Too bad the king's brief disappearance meant we couldn't accept the offer to receive more."
Graham rubbed his temples, not leaving because of Vee rubbing his shoulder.
"Kyle and I have seen the worst melancholy, and even other guards pitched in try making him crack a smile, but we could all see he'd do it just to send us away."
"As if we ever left; I made a fake wall behind the throne."
"Exact- What?"
"It's unprofessional to say this within the castle, so let me do it now: you made him remember what happiness was, Queen Valanice! Never doubt your power!" Kyle made sure his words echoed, making Vee's smug aura intensify.
"The Hobblepots left this book about potion history, to which page sixty-nine gave an interesting description about love potions." Acorn explained like giving a lecture, the book in hand not helping. "There was a time when 'love' was confused for 'lust', to which you can guess the results of a taste. And that always repulsed me... Not just for moral reasons, but why would you go to great effort to chase 'romance'? Can we not have peace and comfort in being alone?"
Pause for the agreement that didn't come.
"From a non-idealistic perspective, I believe the reason they've reached the point of commitment is because love does exist but it's destructive when forced. Always take your time. You'll get more out of it when every moment is learning something about the other person, even years down the road..."
"I kind of... Forgot to tell him about the immediate proposal." Graham whispered to Vee when she looked to him confused.
Amaya marched up to the flat mini stage, hands wringing. That aside, her posture was straight. Her eyes were blazing. She stood tall, releasing a huff.
"Divorce rates and failed relationships are everywhere. You two better prove to me love is real, because I'd rather believe I don't have friends with love lives more pathetic than my own."
Applause followed her all the way back to her seat.
