Here is another chapter. I might do a time jump in the next so it will be in a time where Shaylee in Her Champion had not point of view.
As I rouse from a heavy slumber, I am first aware of the coolness of the air and its loamy fragrance. The ground is lumpy as if I were on a bed of earth and rocks. My clothes feel as damp as a flower in the dew of the dawn. I half wonder if I'm still dreaming as I sit up to take in the shafts of light that burst through the stained glass above. Now I'm awake, perhaps more fully awake than I've ever been. There are no paths around me and no sign of another person. As far as I can tell I am alone with the birds who make their carefree song around me, and in that sweet melody, I feel more alone. This bizarre nightmare is mine alone. It's worse though than it first appears, usually after this point in waking I know who I am. But after today, I was not the same man, I was married and not to just anyone, to our Princess our future Queen.
The silence doesn't last much longer as a loud rattling on the chamber door alerted me my peace was gone. "COME IN!" making my voice louder. My mother and Gale walked in together, mother had a platter of food in hand and a bright smile on her face. She looked stunning in her gown, and Gale his clothes pressed, and his armor gleamed in the sunlight.
Taking a seat, his voice husky. "You finally slept, you need food and to ready yourself. Princess Shaylee is up and doing whatever her mother and Kylie are having her do. Your mother came to feed you before joining the bridal party,"
The platter was filled with cheese, meat, and bread it wasn't enough but we would have such a massive feast this was her way of alerting me not to overeat. I did not need to do much, just dress since I bathed late last night due to not being able to fall into slumber.
He asked, "Are you nervous?"
"Wouldn't you," I retorted in a joking matter.
Nodding, "Very much so, and I do not have the privilege of marrying the Princess. I am already nervous to be set to marry my love, Kylie," he was right this emotion was okay. I turn down food but accept a glass of water which I take tiny sips of as we wait in my chambers I don't want to chew on my nails or lips, so I find myself gnawing on the inside of my cheek. It still hasn't healed from a few days ago. Soon the taste of blood fills my mouth. All the reasons not to do this to her come flooding in as if my body chemistry just sent them a blanket invitation. I feel the soft panic that can grow or fade depending on what I do next. It will fade if I back away, but then I have to do this all again another time because she is what I have wanted for so long. It will grow if I let these thoughts swirl into a vortex of stupidity, eating their tail. Or I can breathe real slow, let the thoughts leak into the ether and be the real boss of me.
Gale clasped my shoulder, "Stop overthinking my friend, this was fate. Look at it, you watched this girl grow, you bellowed at her while treating her like a tiny warrior she was scared to fly due to you. It was Helena you gave her wings to learn while you were in Perth, it was not a shock to Helena and I that you fell for her out of everyone. She was always the reason you could never leave, not your duty to Theo or Queen Lenore. After she was born you changed and never noticed, this was fate," I listened to every word he said and some part of me wanted to agree but the other half felt I was dooming her to a half-life. I was old and change was not an easy thing for me, my way of thinking and actions are bound to get in the way.
My hands grasp my face, "I feel like I am dooming her. That my actions and mindset are going to set up future issues,"
He stood, "You're right, at least about your actions and mindset. Might want to work on that," his chuckle vibrated through the room as I finally stood ready to dress since I wanted to ensure the hall was to her liking and unlike her, I was able to roam the halls.
I was dressed, my boots new and my armor shone like spun silver, even the engravings have been redone and repainted by my mother for this day. My breath, my hair, and odor are all good as I leave this room for the last time. Now more than ever I was ready, knowing for us every day was a work in progress.
"Come on let us ensure everything is good, she will be taking her final walk in near thirty minutes," the halls smell warm, like a swirling warm cinnamon apple cider. My brethren roam the halls all in jovial moods on this day, it has been the talk of our great nation. So many have come to attend this union, representatives from every coven, every legion have arrived.
I think as we walk to the grand hall where we shall be married.
Marriage isn't a ring worn or a paper signed. It is not something endured but savored. It is the union of two hearts beating as one, each that would sacrifice for the other's happiness and wellbeing. Marriage is something so beautiful that in that natural world it would be an opening rose, always with radiant petals left to unfurl to a warm sun. Perhaps that is why we give roses to those we love and often have them at our sacred unions. Marriage is the blessing we give to one another, an eternal bond of soulmates.
I was stunned and not at all surprised the halls looked so new, so awestruck. Lilies and some unknown soft cloth are draped in patterns, a canopy rest above were we will stand it looked to be floating. Pastel pink, blue, and white filled the large grand hall. "The Queen never lets us down," Gale laughed, and many joined in.
Fin was laughing, "A grand day this will be my friends, Commander Gideon you have been blessed," he nearly dislocated my shoulder when he hit me on the upper shoulder, but it was all in good fun.
The harp started to play soon after the piano blended in, the sound was harmony rolled into a lullaby. "I stand by your side today my friend," he did, taking his place as my best man one who would watch my back if anything was to go wrong today. But with the witches and legions here none dare attack it would be suicide.
The Queen walked in, her gown glowed a silverfish, her crown was a perfect match as she took her place at the altar, we all go on one knee until she speaks. "Please, stand. The time has come," her voice drifted like a feather over water. Keziah stood in an actual dark red gown, she would stand for Princess Shaylee in this union, her face was not giving me the impression she was okay with this taking place, but she says nothing.
I felt ill, my stomach was churning like nothing I have ever felt, not even in battle. Sweat was forming as I glanced at the Queen who was staring right at me, "Oh finally, Theo was like this for days. It shall pass," humor, she found my ailment funny and amusing as I wanted to vomit on the white cloth draped everywhere.
The hall was filled like never before, so many faces stare up at us waiting here making my head spin. I was happy but something was bothering me, but time was gone now.
Gage and Nat are at the double doors now, ready to open them to Shaylee. If she was smart, she bolts and never look back on me, but I prayed she walked to me. But there she was as they opened the doors her arm was intertwined with Ophir, her face was covered with her veil, the dress only intensified her beauty, cream-colored with pale blue and pink. She looked like an angel and until we both passed and even after she would be mine. She was walking far to slow for my liking, Ophir was beaming looking so proud he was chosen for this very high honor.
It would have been me if I was not the groom.
I beamed even with nausea rising like the tide, she stood in front of me and it was like the sun was just about to peek over the mountains. Was spoken, "Do you Queen Lenore, the humble, the Just, give your Daughter Princess Shaylee of the Gargoyles to Commander Gideon of Perth, Commander of the Queens guard your only daughters hand in marriage," High Gargoyle Lukia said his voice old yet it held so much power and demanded respect, a fact which we all understood and gave.
"I don't," the room went silent, my heart dropped as my world started to crumble, she finally understood how bad I was for Shaylee.
She finished, "I, Queen Lenore, give Commander Gideon the gift of her, she belongs to no man." Now she placed the small hands of Princess Shaylee into my much larger ones, in this simple act I was home.
My voice is firm even with everything spinning, "I will love her, I will protect her, I will cherish her always as long as we live and even after we ascend to the heavens," the Queen took her seat with this smile that was not seen in so very long.
"We have all gathered in the Holy Place to be witness to this great and powerful union. Princess Shaylee of the Gargoyles to Commander Gideon of the Queens Guard," was spoken but my eyes stayed locked with the sparkling purple eyes of this angel before me.