Chapter thirty three:

Raven couldn't believe that the day of Darling's arrival was finally here, she was so excited that she was hardly able to make it through breakfast and the closer it got to the time when Darling would enter the city the more agitated Raven became.

Her friends were doing their best to calm and distract her, but unsurprisingly they where having an extremely difficult time achieving this.

Raven only seemed to settle down a little when it came time for her to dress to receive her prince. For this important event Raven had chosen to ware an exquisite gown of lavender velvet, it fell to the floor, around her waist was a white corset, the hem, square neck and the end of the long fitted sleaves was a simple white floral lace. Raven's hair fell freely to her waist and atop her head was settled a simple silver coronet.

"How do I look?" Raven asked Maddie in a soft and nervous voice.

Maddie smiled at her widely. "You are fair beyond all fair Raven."

A sigh of relief left Raven. "Thank you, Maddie."

A moment later there was a knock on the door. "Come in!" Raven called out.

One of the servants entered the room, she curtsied deeply to Raven and then addressed her in a formal voice. "Princess Raven, it is time for you to join your father on the steps of the castle to welcome your prince."

"Thank you, Anna." Raven replied with a happy smile.

With Maddie beside her Raven left her rooms, she made her way through the castle and to the large front doors. Raven stopped there for a moment, took a deep breath to steady herself and then nodded to the two guards on each side of the door.

Quickly the two guards opened the door, allowing Raven to step out of the castle into the sunshine and onto the steps of the castle.

As King Stephan saw his daughter, he smiled at her softly and with pride clear in his blue eyes. Raven returned her father's smile, as she made her way over to his side. When Raven reached where her father was standing, he whispered to her. "You look beautiful Raven."

"Thank you, father." Raven told him gratefully while her eyes staid fixed eagerly on the road leading from the town into the courtyard of the castle.

They fell into a comfortable silence as they waited for Darling and her family to arrive. When at last Raven began to hear the cheering and thrumming of the drums in the distance her heart leapt in her chest.

Slowly, but surely the cheering and drumming grew louder and closer. After what felt like forever to Raven the parade at last came into sight. Eagerly Raven's eyes swept over those coming towards her until she caught sight of Darling riding towards her.

The moment the eyes of the couple met, they shared a loving smile and the anticipation of being together grew in them both.

When at last Darling reached the spot before the stairs where Raven and her father stood she brought sir Gallopade to a halt, without hesitation Darling swung down from the saddle and turned towards them.

Darling didn't go to Raven just yet, despite the face she truly wanted to instead she waited for her horse to be taken away and for her parents to dismount and stand behind her.

To Raven Darling looked utterly beautiful, she wore jacket and trousers of icy blue, both of which shimmered slightly in the light, under this was a white shirt and a silver waistcoat. As was always her way since Darling had become a knight and prince, she wore knee high flat soled boots, which were in silver. Darling's hair was braided back at each side, while the rest was left free to flow down her back and over her shoulders.

As soon as Darling's parents where with her, she walked confidently to the bottom of the steps, she stopped there Darling gave Raven a small smile, before she bowed respectfully to Raven and then more deeply to her father. "Good King, Stephan Good King, I prince Darling Charming your daughters betrothed have come to claim my bride and my place at her side."

Slowly Stephan made his way down the steps saying as he did so. "Prince Darling Charming, I recognise you as my daughter's betrothed and bid you welcome. I will not deny you her or your place at her side. My daughter come join me."

Without a trace of hesitation Raven walked down the stairs to her father's side. When she reached him, Stephan held a hand out to her, Raven slipped her hand into his. Stephan then held a hand out to Darling, who placed her hand into his. Stephan joined their hands together and held them between his as he said clearly. "Welcome to our family prince Darling Charming, I look forwards to you wedding my daughter."

"I too look forwards to that King Stephan." Darling assured him, while smiling at Raven lovingly.

Raven returned her smile and when Stephan released their hands Darling and Raven shared a brief but loving kiss, before they then made their way up the stairs and into the castle. Smiling to each other warmly the three parents followed the couple inside.

The next day Raven stood before the mirror in her rooms in her wedding gown smiling widely. The dress she had chosen with Hope's help was a mermaid dress which clung to her figure and then flared out around the knees in layers of floral lace, the flowers on which were picked up in lavender, which swirled up onto the body before petering out. On her head was the white lace vale from hope covered her hair, it fell all the way to the floor and out behind Raven in a small train. Settled atop this was the flower crown which Raven had chosen the blooms for.

"You look so beautiful Raven." Hope told her honestly, as she smiled widely at the witch.

Raven returned her smile. "Thank you, mother."

A knock sounded on the door and Raven called out. "Come in!"

Stephan entered the room, he caught sight of his daughter and came to a halt. His eyes went wide and he said in an soft but awed voice. "Oh…Oh little bird…You're like and exquisite bloom."

A blush spread over Raven's cheeks. "Thank you, father."

Quickly Stephan pulled himself out of his surprise, he smiled at Raven and held an arm out to her. "Are you ready?"

Raven nodded to him, she put her arm through her father's and with Hope following them they made their way from Raven's rooms to the castle chapel.

At the doors Raven stopped for a moment, when her father shot her a concerned look Raven held up a staling hand to him, she took a deep breath and then quickly cast the spell she needed for the flowers to appear in the chapel when she walked in. As soon as this was done Raven gave her father a wink, a smile and then a nod.

Stephan nodded back, he gestured to the guards to open the door, which they did right away. The moment Raven stepped through the door of the chapel it filled with the magical illusion of flowers which moved in a breeze which wasn't there.

Gasps of awe left the guests in the chapel at the sight of these magical flowers. At the same time Darling turned to look at Raven, her eyes where full of delight and she was smiling widely at the sight of her illusion.

As Raven's eyes met hers, she smiled softly and kept her eyes fixed on Darling until she reached her side.

Stephan took Darling's hand and placed Raven's hand into hers saying as he did so. "Prince Darling Charming, take good care of my daughter from now onwards."

"I shall King Stephan." Darling assured her.

Raven placed a kiss to her father's cheek, before he turned away and sat down in his reserved place in the front pew.

Darling and Raven shared a loving smile and then they turned to face the priest who was marrying them.

Eventually it came to the point in the ceremony where they where to make their vows. Darling and Raven turned to face each other and Darling started by making her vows first. "I Darling Charming, promise to love Raven Good King always. I shall stand beside Raven for the rest of our lives and I will always act as a sword and shield to her. I promise all of this this before all these witnesses. Raven has all of my heart and soul she is both my true love and soulmate I acknowledge this bond before all these witnesses." Once Darling had finished her vows, she carefully placed her white gold wedding band onto Raven's finger.

When Darling had finished putting the ring on her finger, Raven began to recite hers in her turn. "I Raven Good King, promise to love Darling Charming always. I shall stand beside Darling for the rest of our lives. I promise all of this this before all these witnesses. Darling has all of my heart and soul she is both my true love and soulmate I acknowledge this bond before all these witnesses." As soon as Raven had completed her vows, she gently slipped her own white gold wedding ring onto Darling's finger.

The priest smiled warmly at the couple standing before him, before announcing in a clear voice for all the people there to hear. "I know declare you married. Prince Darling Charming, you may kiss your bride."

Darling gently but firmly kissed Raven and she returned the kiss without hesitation. As they kissed everyone began to clap and in the case of those from Wonderland cheer for them.

Darling and Raven broke the kiss, and then made their way back to the door of the chapel. They made their way to the ball room for the reception. Raven and Darling were followed by their families and guests.

Raven and Darling settled at their table and once everyone had settled down, toasts to the couple were made by their parents and by Darling's brother's and once this was over the food was served.

After the food had been consumed, Darling stood up, she held her hand out towards Raven and says to her. "Shall we dance our first dance as a married couple?"

"I'd love that." Raven assured her, as she accepted Darling's hand and came to her feet.

As they made their way to the dancefloor the conversation amongst dropped to a respectful murmur, Darling and Raven stepped out onto the dancefloor and once they were in position for their waltz Melody played the song which they had chosen for their first dance.

As they danced the waltz together Raven and Darling only had eyes for each other and it was very clear to all those there that this couple where completely in love with each other.

Darling and Raven where so happy to be married at last and they where also very relieved that now they where married the Evil Queen would no longer be able to harm them or their children.

In time Raven with Darling's help did indeed revive the round table, it had many more members than it had before and a good portion of them where female knights. This new round table ran well with Raven and Darling there to carefully steer things in the right direction when needed. They also made sure that every member of the round table had their voice heard and that everyone was treated as an equal.

The reputation of the round table for being good at what they did had grown quickly and they were often busy with adventures, quests and requests from all across the lands.

As had been predicted Raven came to dress in light colours and in a style reminiscent of her great ancestor. Her new look meant that no one questioned that she was both a good person and the Good Queen ruler over the round table.

Darling loved ruling over the round table at her wife's side, it was far more fulfilling to her than going on adventures would have been and she was happy to admit that she did not regret going on her own adventures.

Raven and Darling had become a symbol of hope to others, a sign that if you truly want to you could change the fairy tale life which fate and the Grim brothers had mapped out for you and live the life which you had always dreamed of having.

When they felt that the time was right Darling and Raven decided to start a family. Eventually they had two children a daughter who they named Robin and a second daughter who was named Delightful to honour the tradition in Darling's family of using the letter D as the first letter in the name.