Chapter Twenty:
Relena gazed at herself in the full-length mirror. Her hair up with many small braids that hung down from her ponytail. Small wisps of hair circled her slender face and gave a slight curl at the end, framing it wonderfully. She smoothed down her white wedding dress, the sequence on the edges being ruffled just a bit by her slender fingertips. Taking another look in the mirror her eyes strayed from her dress to her ring. The one that was given to her by Prince Wufei, or rather -as she now knew- Sir Heero.
A frown pulled its way at the edge of her mouth. "I sure hope this goes well." She said quietly to herself. "I sure do." Giving a small kiss to the bright blue ring with small diamonds circled around it, Relena held her head up high and turned away from the mirror to face Ella, who beamed happily at her. "You look like a goddess your highness. Surly wonderful." Her smile widened. "Come now, let us go. Treize, your father's right hand man, is ready to give you away." Relena nodded. She, at one time, had hoped that her father would give her away. But then, naturally he would not. He didn't want to strain himself. Besides, he wasn't much of a father to her compared to the servants who lived in the castle. All in all the servants would be the ones to be sad to see her go. As apposed to her father who just used this as another chance to get himself tipsy from all the wine he would inhale. Walking up to the main room Relena peeked inside. Servants were seated for the wedding, for they were the only guests. King Peacecraft would not allow the people from the village to come. They were peasants of the worst sort by his thinking. But, Princess Relena noticed, that at the front of the rows of servants from the castle there were three people who did not work there. In fact, they were dressed rather nicely. Turning around Mariemayha smiled at her cousin. "Mama! Look, there she is! Isn't she pretty?!"
Noin turned around and smiled. "Yes she does." Mouth wide-open Relena gasped. It was her Aunt and two cousins. How in the world did they get there? Much less cleaned and wearing proper garments. She couldn't believe it. The last time she had seen her Aunt dressed in clothes fit for her, was when Relena was just a small child. But now, right before her eyes, Relena was witnessing her Aunt, and her two adorable cousins dressed in the finest, at her wedding. "But how...?" She whispered questionably, her eyes traveling to Heero who stood next to the priest.
"It seems," Duo said walking beside the Princess and putting his arm around her shoulders. "That your Prince Charming decided that you should have some loving Relatives at this special occasion." He gave her a wink. "Ohhhh..." Relena choked back a sob. "I have to remember to thank him later." Relena bit her lip, she really wanted to go see her family right now, to hug them and tell them how beautiful they looked. But she knew she couldn't. The ceremony was about to start. Duo walked over next to Prince WuFei, and the two of them positioned themselves on either side of the King. King Peacecraft sipped on his wine and nodded to the trumpeters. Immediately they started playing, the origin following with a soft wedding march. Relena heard the music start as Treize stood beside her and offered his arm. She looked at his limb, then up to his eyes. He was staring straight ahead. Relena followed his gaze. Her father was sitting down on his throne with a wine glass in hand. But his head was now leaning to the side and his eyes were closed. He had fallen asleep. Her body seemed to go numb as she gazed at him. He didn't care. Feeling Treize start to walk next to her she quickly but gracefully took his offered arm and started an equal pace beside him. She didn't want to look at her father; the pang of disappointment and abandonment was too much to bear. Instead she kept her eyes focused on Heero, standing a few steps away from the priest wearing his Myenian formal attire. A print of a dragon amongst clouds and breathing fire on the chest of the tunic. She felt her insides freeze with the knowledge of what was about to happen. What she was about to help make happen.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Relena sat at a table in Prince Chang's chambers. All the secrets were out and she was trying her hardest not to cry. Wufei, or, Heero as she now knew, had lied to her, not only was he not who he said he was, but he was beneath her for proper marriage. Above all though, he had lied. She looked up at the three men in front of her, biting her lip thoughtfully. "So," she forced her voice to be calm and even "now that I know all this what do you say we do about it?" Prince WuFei's eyes traveled to Duo then back to the Princess. "Sir Duo will be taking care of that little problem your highness. All you have to do is say 'I do' and everything else will be taken care of." Princess Relena's eyes looked sharply at him. "What if he wants to stop the marriage, or doesn't let us have money like we need for the Kingdoms, then what?" Duo cleared his throat. "Your highness, I do not think that that will be a problem." He gave her a mischievous grin. "Don't worry, once you say 'I do' and the priest claims you as man and wife you wont have to worry about your father any more." Realizing what he was saying she became quiet. After a moment of silence she nodded then stood. "I understand."
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Relena fidgeted as she took Heero's arm and released Treize's. He gave her a squeeze of insurance and she smiled gratefully at him. "How you doing?" He whispered softly, barely moving his lips. "Alright." She murmured back. "We are gathered here today," The old man started, his nose in a very large bible In front of him "to join together these two souls and hearts in holy matrimony. Who here so givith away this Princess?" At first Relena thought that she had just spaced out, or didn't hear what her father said. But after about three minutes of a buzzing silence she turned fully around to stare up at her father. He was still sleeping, and everyone was staring at him. Waiting for him to speak, but too afraid of him to wake him up. Nataku glanced down at him from his standing post. Then took his sword edge and gently bumped his wine glass. At once the King was up, making sure that no wine spilt. It took him a moment to realize that everyone was staring at him expectantly. "Oh, I do! You already know that blast it! I'm giving her away." He snapped grumpily, upset that his slumber was disturbed. Slouching in his royal throne he lolled his head back, stretching out his neck, and feel asleep. Nataku frowned at him. How anyone could sleep in that position was far beyond him. No matter, it will serve it's purpose soon enough. Relena turned back around to look forward at the Priest. She loved her father, but this was horrible. He didn't treat her or her people right. Even though she was going to do something that she knew she'd be sad for, she knew she was doing the right thing. It was the only way to save thousands of lives and for her people to live in happiness. The rest of the ceremony fell into place as a blur. She knew that the Priest was speaking but for some reason she didn't know what or even how long it took. It was as if everything went into slow motion and in a different tongue. Finally it was the end, Heero had just said "I do". Did the Priest even say Heero's name? Did her father notice? Relena glanced back to her father. Even if the Priest had said Heero her father wouldn't have noticed. King Peacecraft was fast asleep. She was pulled out of thought by a soft tug on her fingers. Heero was holding her hands and waiting. She realized that she was supposed to speak. "Do you take this man to be your husband your highness?" The old man spoke. Relena's eyes traveled from her ring, to Heero, then to her father.
"I do." It was over as soon as the words left her mouth. Duo unsheathed his sword just as King Peacecraft woke (his wine was slipping from his fingers and he was trying to secure it in his grip). King Peacecraft barely got to glance up at Sir Duo, fear showing in his eyes, right before Duo's sword sliced across the royal's throat. Even though Relena knew it was coming she screamed. She forgot to look away, and was staring straight at him when it happened. Blood ran down his expensive garments as servants and guards ran a muck. "Halt guards!" Heero screamed out, holding the shivering Relena to him. Five guards had been running towards Duo and Nataku. "There shall be no more bloodshed. What is done is done."
"But he killed the King!" One of them protested. "That's a crime of
death!"
"He is no longer the King, I am now the King and you will answer to
me. And I say that his soul shall burn in hell forever."
Heero's sharp words stung Relena but she said nothing. She looked over
at her shaken cousins. Then up to her Aunt. Noin's prominent chin was
held high; a gleam of acceptance and relief was shown on her face. She
looked over at Princess Relena and King Heero and bowed.
"The new King has saved us all." She said loudly to everyone around
her, while on her knees. "Long live King Heero! And may our lands
prosper to it's fullest!"
Everyone behind her was startled at first; she had said Heero not
WuFei. Then WuFei stood next to Relena and Heero, with his crown on
his head. Soon realization came into everyone, one at a time. The one
whom Relena had married was not Prince Wufei, but someone named Heero.
There, standing in front of them was King Heero, Queen Relena, and
Prince WuFei. Soon everyone was on his or her knees. "Long live King
Heero! The redeemer!" "It is done." WuFei said quietly. "The burning
sun in the desert is dead, now we can bring in water for the Kingdom."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
What'd ya'll think? How'd you like it? I'm no good at finishing up stories. So these last two (this is one of them) chapters were especially difficult for me to come up with. But here they are. ^^;; It'll be probably another week or two before I get the last one up. I still don't have the net at my house and can only do it when I am at my mother's work or at one of my friend's houses with the net (and enough time). Well, Please Read and REVIEW!! (The last one is a major one!). ^.^' Thanks bunches!
~Relena Peace
Relena gazed at herself in the full-length mirror. Her hair up with many small braids that hung down from her ponytail. Small wisps of hair circled her slender face and gave a slight curl at the end, framing it wonderfully. She smoothed down her white wedding dress, the sequence on the edges being ruffled just a bit by her slender fingertips. Taking another look in the mirror her eyes strayed from her dress to her ring. The one that was given to her by Prince Wufei, or rather -as she now knew- Sir Heero.
A frown pulled its way at the edge of her mouth. "I sure hope this goes well." She said quietly to herself. "I sure do." Giving a small kiss to the bright blue ring with small diamonds circled around it, Relena held her head up high and turned away from the mirror to face Ella, who beamed happily at her. "You look like a goddess your highness. Surly wonderful." Her smile widened. "Come now, let us go. Treize, your father's right hand man, is ready to give you away." Relena nodded. She, at one time, had hoped that her father would give her away. But then, naturally he would not. He didn't want to strain himself. Besides, he wasn't much of a father to her compared to the servants who lived in the castle. All in all the servants would be the ones to be sad to see her go. As apposed to her father who just used this as another chance to get himself tipsy from all the wine he would inhale. Walking up to the main room Relena peeked inside. Servants were seated for the wedding, for they were the only guests. King Peacecraft would not allow the people from the village to come. They were peasants of the worst sort by his thinking. But, Princess Relena noticed, that at the front of the rows of servants from the castle there were three people who did not work there. In fact, they were dressed rather nicely. Turning around Mariemayha smiled at her cousin. "Mama! Look, there she is! Isn't she pretty?!"
Noin turned around and smiled. "Yes she does." Mouth wide-open Relena gasped. It was her Aunt and two cousins. How in the world did they get there? Much less cleaned and wearing proper garments. She couldn't believe it. The last time she had seen her Aunt dressed in clothes fit for her, was when Relena was just a small child. But now, right before her eyes, Relena was witnessing her Aunt, and her two adorable cousins dressed in the finest, at her wedding. "But how...?" She whispered questionably, her eyes traveling to Heero who stood next to the priest.
"It seems," Duo said walking beside the Princess and putting his arm around her shoulders. "That your Prince Charming decided that you should have some loving Relatives at this special occasion." He gave her a wink. "Ohhhh..." Relena choked back a sob. "I have to remember to thank him later." Relena bit her lip, she really wanted to go see her family right now, to hug them and tell them how beautiful they looked. But she knew she couldn't. The ceremony was about to start. Duo walked over next to Prince WuFei, and the two of them positioned themselves on either side of the King. King Peacecraft sipped on his wine and nodded to the trumpeters. Immediately they started playing, the origin following with a soft wedding march. Relena heard the music start as Treize stood beside her and offered his arm. She looked at his limb, then up to his eyes. He was staring straight ahead. Relena followed his gaze. Her father was sitting down on his throne with a wine glass in hand. But his head was now leaning to the side and his eyes were closed. He had fallen asleep. Her body seemed to go numb as she gazed at him. He didn't care. Feeling Treize start to walk next to her she quickly but gracefully took his offered arm and started an equal pace beside him. She didn't want to look at her father; the pang of disappointment and abandonment was too much to bear. Instead she kept her eyes focused on Heero, standing a few steps away from the priest wearing his Myenian formal attire. A print of a dragon amongst clouds and breathing fire on the chest of the tunic. She felt her insides freeze with the knowledge of what was about to happen. What she was about to help make happen.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Relena sat at a table in Prince Chang's chambers. All the secrets were out and she was trying her hardest not to cry. Wufei, or, Heero as she now knew, had lied to her, not only was he not who he said he was, but he was beneath her for proper marriage. Above all though, he had lied. She looked up at the three men in front of her, biting her lip thoughtfully. "So," she forced her voice to be calm and even "now that I know all this what do you say we do about it?" Prince WuFei's eyes traveled to Duo then back to the Princess. "Sir Duo will be taking care of that little problem your highness. All you have to do is say 'I do' and everything else will be taken care of." Princess Relena's eyes looked sharply at him. "What if he wants to stop the marriage, or doesn't let us have money like we need for the Kingdoms, then what?" Duo cleared his throat. "Your highness, I do not think that that will be a problem." He gave her a mischievous grin. "Don't worry, once you say 'I do' and the priest claims you as man and wife you wont have to worry about your father any more." Realizing what he was saying she became quiet. After a moment of silence she nodded then stood. "I understand."
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Relena fidgeted as she took Heero's arm and released Treize's. He gave her a squeeze of insurance and she smiled gratefully at him. "How you doing?" He whispered softly, barely moving his lips. "Alright." She murmured back. "We are gathered here today," The old man started, his nose in a very large bible In front of him "to join together these two souls and hearts in holy matrimony. Who here so givith away this Princess?" At first Relena thought that she had just spaced out, or didn't hear what her father said. But after about three minutes of a buzzing silence she turned fully around to stare up at her father. He was still sleeping, and everyone was staring at him. Waiting for him to speak, but too afraid of him to wake him up. Nataku glanced down at him from his standing post. Then took his sword edge and gently bumped his wine glass. At once the King was up, making sure that no wine spilt. It took him a moment to realize that everyone was staring at him expectantly. "Oh, I do! You already know that blast it! I'm giving her away." He snapped grumpily, upset that his slumber was disturbed. Slouching in his royal throne he lolled his head back, stretching out his neck, and feel asleep. Nataku frowned at him. How anyone could sleep in that position was far beyond him. No matter, it will serve it's purpose soon enough. Relena turned back around to look forward at the Priest. She loved her father, but this was horrible. He didn't treat her or her people right. Even though she was going to do something that she knew she'd be sad for, she knew she was doing the right thing. It was the only way to save thousands of lives and for her people to live in happiness. The rest of the ceremony fell into place as a blur. She knew that the Priest was speaking but for some reason she didn't know what or even how long it took. It was as if everything went into slow motion and in a different tongue. Finally it was the end, Heero had just said "I do". Did the Priest even say Heero's name? Did her father notice? Relena glanced back to her father. Even if the Priest had said Heero her father wouldn't have noticed. King Peacecraft was fast asleep. She was pulled out of thought by a soft tug on her fingers. Heero was holding her hands and waiting. She realized that she was supposed to speak. "Do you take this man to be your husband your highness?" The old man spoke. Relena's eyes traveled from her ring, to Heero, then to her father.
"I do." It was over as soon as the words left her mouth. Duo unsheathed his sword just as King Peacecraft woke (his wine was slipping from his fingers and he was trying to secure it in his grip). King Peacecraft barely got to glance up at Sir Duo, fear showing in his eyes, right before Duo's sword sliced across the royal's throat. Even though Relena knew it was coming she screamed. She forgot to look away, and was staring straight at him when it happened. Blood ran down his expensive garments as servants and guards ran a muck. "Halt guards!" Heero screamed out, holding the shivering Relena to him. Five guards had been running towards Duo and Nataku. "There shall be no more bloodshed. What is done is done."
"But he killed the King!" One of them protested. "That's a crime of
death!"
"He is no longer the King, I am now the King and you will answer to
me. And I say that his soul shall burn in hell forever."
Heero's sharp words stung Relena but she said nothing. She looked over
at her shaken cousins. Then up to her Aunt. Noin's prominent chin was
held high; a gleam of acceptance and relief was shown on her face. She
looked over at Princess Relena and King Heero and bowed.
"The new King has saved us all." She said loudly to everyone around
her, while on her knees. "Long live King Heero! And may our lands
prosper to it's fullest!"
Everyone behind her was startled at first; she had said Heero not
WuFei. Then WuFei stood next to Relena and Heero, with his crown on
his head. Soon realization came into everyone, one at a time. The one
whom Relena had married was not Prince Wufei, but someone named Heero.
There, standing in front of them was King Heero, Queen Relena, and
Prince WuFei. Soon everyone was on his or her knees. "Long live King
Heero! The redeemer!" "It is done." WuFei said quietly. "The burning
sun in the desert is dead, now we can bring in water for the Kingdom."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
What'd ya'll think? How'd you like it? I'm no good at finishing up stories. So these last two (this is one of them) chapters were especially difficult for me to come up with. But here they are. ^^;; It'll be probably another week or two before I get the last one up. I still don't have the net at my house and can only do it when I am at my mother's work or at one of my friend's houses with the net (and enough time). Well, Please Read and REVIEW!! (The last one is a major one!). ^.^' Thanks bunches!
~Relena Peace