Chapter thirty two:

When Raven and Darling returned to the school, they had received heartfelt congratulations from all of the students and the staff of the school, even the head master had given the couple his felicitations on their betrothal.

The couple had shown their rings to all the interested parties, which turned out to be a lot more people at Ever After High than they had expected. Darling and Raven had been complimented many times on their exquisite taste in rings.

The party Briar had organised them, had been yet another fantastic event and this had caused Darling and Raven to decide to ask her to help them with their wedding preparations. To say Briar agreed to their request extatically was an understatement, she was utterly thrilled and asked if Raven and Darling would allow her to use their wedding as the start of building towards her dream career which was to be a party and wedding planner.

So it was that whenever Raven and Darling did not have classes, they sat together with Cerise, Daring, Dexter, Maddie, Kitty, Lizzy, Apple, Briar and Rosabella and planned their wedding.

After much discussion between Raven, Darling and their parents the wedding had been settled for the spring of next year. Darling felt that this was far too long, but both her and Raven's parents had insisted that the amount of time they had suggested was as short as was possible without causing issues with other kingdoms or their own ones by seeming that the wedding was rushed or by somehow leaving someone or some kingdom out by accident.

It had also been decided that there would be a three-day holiday in the kingdoms in order to let the people join in the celebrations too. The announcement of this upcoming holiday and why it was to be held, had caused great joy amongst the people.

A few months before the wedding Raven had been rather surprised by Darling's mother, who had decided that since she was to be denied the delight of dressing Darling as a bride she would instead do so with Raven.

Honestly Raven had been dreading going shopping for her wedding gown, but she had been pleasantly surprised to discover that Hope treated her like her second daughter on their trip. Hope stood up for Raven against those who had something bad to say about her heritage, while somehow at the same time staying utterly polite when they delt with people at any of the wedding salons.

When it came to the dress shopping itself the Queen had both put forwards her ideas, but also openly listened to and took into account Raven's too.

With Hope's help Raven was able to find a wedding dress which she felt was perfect for her. Raven looked at herself in the mirror smiling widely. "I look beautiful." She said softly, but happily.

Hope nodded to her. "Yes, you really do."

"I am glad you convinced me to try white…I was so worried that I would look to ghostly or sickly in it, but it makes my hair look so much darker." Raven told her with a smile.

Hope returned the smile as she said to her. "I know you are conscious about looking to pale in white, but I think the fact you look so pale makes you seem otherworldly."

"Really?" Raven questioned in a hopeful voice.

Hope nodded to her and said firmly. "Yes, really."

A happy sigh left Raven. "Do you think Darling will like it?"

Without any hesitation Hope nodded to her and said in assured voice. "She is going to absolutely love your wedding dress."

"Thank you for coming with me to do this…It's like having a mother who actually cares about me as I am is with me…Is that a wired thing to think?" Raven inquires of her, blushing slightly as she asked this question.

Quickly Hope shook her head. "No that's not an odd thing to think at all. You are to become part of our family and if you would like, I would very much like to be a mother figure to you."

"I would love that." Raven told her honestly, as a wide smile spread over her face.

"May I call you daughter Raven?" Hope asked her in a gentle voice.

With a truly happy expression on her face Raven nodded to her. "I'd love that mother."

As Raven called her mother warmth spread through Hope, she had yearned with all of her heart that Raven would be willing to include her in her family and see her as a mother figure. "Well then daughter, shall we go and pay for your wedding dress?"

"Yes, we should." Raven agreed, before heading back to the changing room to get out of the gown.

Once Raven had changed and paid for the dress, Hope and Raven left the salon. As they walked along the street towards the restaurant where they planned to have lunch Raven addressed Hope. "I was thinking of following a family tradition for a wedding and wearing a flower crown, do you think that would be appropriate?"

"That sounds lovely, I think a flower crown would suit you perfectly and it is important to include family traditions where possible." Hope told her wisely.

"Are their any from your family you would like me to include?" Raven asked her curiously.

Hope thought quietly about this request for a few moments, before nodding to Raven. "Yes, we have a veil which has been used by all the brides in my family, and since Darling isn't going to be a bride…At least in the traditional sense I would be honoured if you would ware it in her stead."

"I'd be honoured." Raven told Hope with sincerity, as they made their way into the restaurant.

Raven found it hard to believe that she would soon be marrying Darling in a few weeks, it had felt to her as though time had flown by. Coming home without Darling had felt strange and Raven couldn't wait to be back at the side of her prince Charming.

She was well aware that it was customary for the prince to arrive for the day before the wedding from his or in this case her own kingdom in the fashion of a large parade for all the people of the kingdom to see, but still Raven missed Darling deeply.

To keep longing and concern at bay for their children as much as was possible, Stephan, Hope and Victor, made sure that Raven and Darling both got to talk to each other on their mirror phones or pads every night.

Raven was glad that Briar, Kitty and Maddie where at the castle with her, not only where they giving her company, they where also keeping her distracted with all of the organising of the wedding. They had enthusiastically encouraged Raven to go into town and pick out the flowers she would want to use for her bouquet and flower crown when the time for the wedding grew a little closer.

So it was that two weeks before her wedding Raven made her way into the floristry shop she had always used, in Crown the capital city to choose the flowers she wanted to make into her bouquet and flower crown. As soon as she set foot inside the shop, the owner looked up, she smiled widely at the sight of Raven, she curtsied politely to her and said to her in a cheerful but teasing voice. "Your highness! Welcome."

"Come now Misty, less of the highness! We grew up together!" Raven said with a chuckle.

"Are you here to pick the flowers for your wedding bouquet Flower princess?" Misty said her voice still light and teasing.

Raven rolled her eyes at Misty's anticks. "Yes, I came to chose my flowers both for the bouquet and my flower crown."

Misty walked over to Raven as she said to her. "It will be my pleasure and honour to assist you today Raven. Did you have any flowers in mind?"

"I was hoping to be able to use Violets, Heartsease, Cowslip and Alyssum in my flower crown. For my bouquet I wanted Morning glory, Gardenia, Centaurea, Iris and white Carnations." Raven told her smiling softly.

"That is an interesting mixture mostly purple, with white and yellow. I assume that as was the way with your story that all of those flowers mean something?" Misty asked her with a wide smile on her face.

"Yes, they do." Raven told Misty with a nod of her head.

Misty positively itched to know what Raven's message was, but she felt sure that Raven would not impart this message to her, so she turned her attention back to the business at hand. "I will order all your flowers and have them ready for the morning of the wedding."

Raven was glad to hear that Misty would be able to order her flowers in time for the wedding. "Thank you, very much Misty. I'll pay for them now."

Misty gave her a nod of understanding, she then walked over to where the counter and till was, stepped behind it and began to ring the flowers up. Raven followed Misty over to the register, where she paid for her flowers.

As Raven walked back to the castle, an idea for the wedding occurred to her. Raven turned the idea over in her mind looking at it from all angles to see if it had any flaws, but she was unable to see any. Raven decided that she would mention her idea to Briar, Kitty and Maddie and see what they all thought of it.

When Raven reached her home, she went inside and addressed one of the guards standing in the hallway. "William, do you know where Briar, Maddie and Kitty are at the moment?"

William nodded to her and answered politely. "Yes, princess they are currently working on decorating the ballroom."

"Thank you, William." She said to him cheerfully and headed towards the ballroom.

Raven opened the door to the ballroom and went inside, calling out to her friends as she did so. "Hey guys!"

"Hey Raven!" Kitty called back, blinking over to her.

Briar smiled at her as she looked up from several lengths of wide ribbon she had been considering for decoration, put them to one said, crossed the room towards Raven and saying cheerfully to her as she did so. "Morning Raven."

"Hi di ho Raven!" Maddie said cheerfully as she bounced across the room to her.

"I was wondering if I could run an idea which I had for the wedding past you all?" Raven asked them cautiously.

This instantly intrigued by Raven's words, Briar gestured for her to continue, as she said curiously. "Do tell."

Raven took a breath and then told them her idea. "As flowers have played such an important part in the story between Darling and myself, I was thinking of using a spell to make an illusion of flowers covering the floor of the chapel and up the walls as I come in. What do you think?"

Maddie clapped her hands together and her eyes filled with twinkling joy. "It will be like the best of teas a certain success!"

Briar nodded in agreement and said to Raven. "That sounds like an absolutely enchanting idea and it is definitely something you should do for your wedding! I am sure Darling will love it and it will be unique to the pair of you."

"I am sure it will be a wonderful surprise to all those present and I look forwards to witnessing it! Kitty told Raven with a toothy grin.

An unbidden chuckle left Raven as Kitty said this and relief filled her. "I am so glad to know that you all like my idea. I truly hope it will be a pleasant surprise for all of those present at the wedding. How are things going in here?"

"They are going very well." Briar assured her.

"Bloom selection for your bridal day wasn't to mush of a merry muddle, was it?" Maddie asked her with kind curiosity.

Quickly Raven shook her head. "No, it wasn't an issue at all Maddie. I've chosen all of the flowers which I want to use for my wedding day."

"May we know what you chose and what they mean?" Briar enquired of her curiously.

Raven nodded to them. "I have no objection to sharing my choices with the three of you. My flower crown is to be made of Violets, Heartsease, Cowslip and Alyssum. They mean faithfulness, you are in my thoughts, you are divine, and your worth exceeds your beauty. As for my bouquet I am having Morning glory, Gardenia, Centaurea, Iris and white Carnations. These flowers mean, affection, happiness, adoration, hope and lastly pure love."

"Oh, those are lovely messages to give Darling." Briar enthused.

"Thank you." Raven said in return, before she inquired. "Now how about I give you a hand in here?"

Maddie gave Raven a grateful smile as she said to her. "That would be hat-tastic!"

The four of them set to work decorating the ball room so that it would be prefect for the ball and feast which where to be held after the wedding.