"Silver?"

"Sterling silver, yes. They will match the crowns."

Alfred gazed at the small open case in Arthur's palm, breathless at the sight of two rings nestled in its soft confines.

"I-I know I said the crowns would be our rings, but we usually won't be wearing them unless there's a formal event such as today's." The ring box bobbed in Arthur's hand as he glanced to the side and coughed out, "So...with you mentioning marriage, we could have these at all times, instead."

"Oh!" Alfred glanced down to his feet, like the floor had his script. It didn't. He winged it, "Yeah!"

Arthur's gaze pivoted to his face, now steady, sterner, "Yes...?"

Alfred picked up his head and beamed, nodding a few times, maybe too much. He felt jiggy with it as he stuck out a hand, curling and uncurling his fingers. "You gonna..."

"Yes!" Arthur grasped the little case to pluck one of the rings from it. His eyes flickered up and his eyebrows scrunched the slightest in focus as he took Alfred's finger.

Alfred laughed as he held up his now-ordained hand, "It fits!"

"Of course it does." Arthur passed the box into his hands with a flustered flourish. "I measured your finger, after all."

"Really? When?"

"W-when you were sleeping...a few days after the chain came off."

"Ah. Hm..." Alfred took the remaining ring and snapped the box closed before tucking it in his pocket. He gave Arthur's finger a pinch before sliding it in place. Perfect. "You're real sneaky, Arthur."

A lighthearted scoff, "And?"

"I love you," Alfred said, and lifted his Queen's knuckles to his lips.

Arthur's expression melted into a soft smile. "As I hope to love, and keep loving you?" He stood on his toes for a kiss. "Idiot."

A quiet, shared moment.

Then, an entourage of handmaidens, with Yao at the lead, poured into their secluded lounge. "I thought you two might be here." He smiled genuinely as they looked up in surprise. "Are you ready?"

"Ready to get ready?" Alfred chuckled. "Sure thing!"

"Ladies," Yao gestured, "Take the Queen to the master bathroom." To one of them, "Oh, you and I will prepare Alfred."

"Ooh, you're with me? Special!"

"I need to make sure you know what you're doing, young man."

"You too, Arthur."

Arthur tossed a smirk at Alfred. "I already know what I'm doing. I always know what I'm doing."

"I know." Alfred gave him a chaste kiss on the lips before squeezing his hand and slipping away. He clapped and held his arms in the air, bellowing, "Take me away!"

A low murmur behind him, "See you at the altar."

Alfred grinned the rest of the way.

~.~

"Have you ever did a crowning ceremony before, Yao?"

Yao glanced up, hesitating before dragging a comb through Alfred's hair again. "I was there for Queen Rosa's crowning, about forty years ago. Ah, I was quite young back then. I just became the Jack. I remember she said nothing to me that morning besides giving me a stern look and saying, 'Don't mess this up.'"

Alfred let out a dry snort. "Sounds like her." He smiled at one of the maidens when she looked up from tying his oxfords with haunted eyes.

"However, that was just a crowning. Rosa was never bound to anyone. This will be my first binding."

"How exciting."

Alfred watched Yao's down-casted reflection smile to himself in his bathroom's mirror. "Yes, it is." The old man leaned over and brushed a finger along Alfred's hand, "You two started, I see!"

"Oh, this?" Alfred uneasily laughed and put his unordained hand over the other. "I want to keep it on during the ceremony."

Yao scoffed, "I wasn't going to ask you to take it off in the first place."

The maid stood up, hurrying to grab a few garments, varying from white to a rich, navy blue. Alfred rose to his feet and held his arms out. He already had an undershirt on and some stiff, fancy slacks, but apparently it was cold outside. A crowning ceremony on the winter solstice. Something magical, and obviously, cold.

The bathroom door creaked open as the maiden tugged on Alfred's waistcoat and snapped the buttons. Ingrid. Ugh. "Oh, look at that!" She buzzed, "You look so fancy!"

"I should," Alfred jested, "I'm going to be the King."

"I bet you are so excited," She clawed at the air with this weird scrunch to her face, like she was smiling, but smelled something funny. It definitely wasn't Alfred, because he had been subjected to a scrub down no less than three times. A suit jacket. And then another longer, blue over coat that came down to his knees. He appraised his reflection getting more and more Kingly by the article.

Oh, Ingrid was still there, still staring. Yao lifted his eyebrows. "Is there something else?"

"Just to let you know, there's a bunch of people crowded outside the palace. It's a riot!"

"There better not be a riot," Yao said. "That means the Knights are not performing up to par."

Ingrid swished a hand, shaking her arm that was weighted by jangling bracelets, "You know what I mean. Always so tense. There are martinis down in the kitchen, if either of you want to calm your nerves-"

"Ingrid," Yao said without taking his focus off the King-to-be, "with all due respect...go bother somebody else. We're obviously too busy here trying to prepare for a crowning ceremony to entertain you. And martinis? At this hour? For a crowning ceremony? Really?"

Alfred sank his teeth into his lip, suppressing a squeal of delight.

"Well, then," Ingrid sneered, "that's more for me."

The door shut, and she jangled away.

"Go on, Alfred, I know you want to laugh."

Alfred busted into laughter, shaking his arms that were still held out from his sides. "Yao! I love you, man."

"I'm being serious. I'm not having bitter women sticking their noses where they no longer belong, trying to wrangle some attention wherever they can. It's your day. I'm going to see it through."

Clearing his throat, Alfred let his arms relax when Yao pressed on his biceps. "Thanks, Yao. You're doing great. I appreciate it."

"It's my duty."

"Yeah, but..." Alfred caught Yao's eyes flickering up, and a sly smile made its way along his aged face. He caught on and gave a curt nod. "Ah. As you were."

"Don't start bossing me around just yet, young man." Yao straightened, making a 'gimmie' motion to the maiden. She deeply nodded her head and hurried across his bathroom. Combs, pins, and other beauty supplies sat on a counter, and she grabbed something before coming back. She relinquished a golden object that clinked into Yao's hand.

Alfred pursed his lips as Yao dropped something in his front pocket, before attaching the chain to his waistcoat. He automatically snuck his hand in his pocket to fish out a flat, golden object. It sprung open from squeezing, and he gasped in delight at thin gold hands ticking away on an ivory surface. A spade was etched into the inner lid. "Ooh, that's fancy!"

"A Spadian heirloom," Yao brushed Alfred's clothes down, giving him a twice-over before tucking his hands into his sleeves. His fancier, more decorated and dipping-toward-the-floor sleeves. "It's been more than a half of a century since it's been held by a King. The people, the thrones, are not the only things that waited for you." He raised his chin, looking proud as Alfred turned to him. "I believe they waited long enough."

"It's time to go?"

"Yes. As soon as I check on our Queen." Yao stepped to the door, but called to the maid, "Escort him to the balcony."

"Yes, sir!"

"Aw, I wanted to see Arthur."

The maid put a fist to her mouth, covering her smile clearing her throat. "This way, sire. Sir! Sir."

"Thanks." Alfred grinned a hundred stars. "You can call me sire now. I won't tell anybody. You've been great!"

"Th-thank you...sir. Sire."

Alfred patted the maid on the back, and she yelped, eyes going wide, and he laughed over that, too.

They neared the doors leading up to a winding staircase, into guard towers, then the outside world. That meant stairs. Ugh. Alfred ran his palms over his fancy duds before ascending. A platform, then a door. Another door after that, like an entrance/exit room, but that door was open. A heavy curtain was the only thing that separated Alfred and the collective voices of many, many people. He stilled, listening to indistinct whoops and hollering. The whole Kingdom could be out there. Correction—the whole Kingdom would be out there. He let out a soft scoff of disbelief. It all started to swirl onto his head; the citizens, where he was, who he will become. He put his hands over his mouth and took a deep breath.

The maiden leaned forward, eyes going wide and concerning, "Sir? Are you all right? Would you like to sit down for a little bit?"

"No!" Alfred stuck his arms back at his sides and bounced on his toes for some movement. "I'm fine! Just...you know! Ecstatic. Nervous. Bit cold. Really cold, actually. The usual, I guess!"

"Oh, I wouldn't know," the maiden jested with a swift bow before scurrying away.

Alfred thought of the farm, filling the troughs, scrubbing down the cow, wrangling the chickens. Getting his shins pecked at by vicious roosters. Matthew's vegetable soup. Seven plates of fruit tarts. The absence of the chain around his wrist. He wrapped his fingers around where it used to be but caught sight of the silver band that had a new place on his hand.

He lifted his hand and pressed a gentle kiss to his ring before sticking his hands in his pockets, bouncing some more.

Eventually, Yao came up the stairs, gripping the railing and stepping up one at a time. Alfred twisted to watch and smiled. "Took you long enough!"

"There was a little...unforeseen issue."

Alfred's face (and heart) plummeted. "What? What happened?"

Yao huffed as he managed the last stair and scooted beside Alfred. "There's too many steps in this place for one. Oh, we also had to separate Arthur and his mother before there was a cat fight."

"Seriously?" Alfred squawked. He was glad it was nothing more serious. "Is Arthur okay?"

"Yes. He's on his way up the other staircase now." Alfred's insides started to wiggle around just from the sound of that. "Rosa wanted him to wear this, wear that. Some things she brought along that she had for her ceremony. 'Would not be a true crowning without them,' she tried to say."

Alfred snorted. "What's up with this family? Are they all nuts? Arthur's like, the least nutty out of all of them, and even he's..." He tried to come up with something but wound up smiling like a dope instead.

"The black sheep of the bunch, yes." Yao pulled a half-smile. "Do not utter a word to him about that. He loathes when people say that to him. He's more than well aware of his family's—ahem—lunacy."

"Me too."

"Good. You are marrying into it, after all."

"Heh. Don't remind me."

Yao smacked Alfred's forearm. "Get your hands out of your pockets. You're crinkling your tailcoat!"

"Okay! Sheesh. When is this thing about to start?"

"Now, actually." Yao started for the curtain. "Stay there until your signal!"

"I know!" Alfred called back, resisting the urge to stuff his hands in his pockets again. "We've been over this hundreds of times!"

The curtain swallowed up Yao. Alfred swore the crowd grew louder for a good, ear-splitting moment, before it started to quiet. As quiet as thousands of people could be all crammed before the Spadian Palace could be.

Yao started at room volume, "Citizens of Spades." Alfred might have been the only one that heard him. Then, an unnatural boom took a hold of the overlook, shaking the ground below his feet, "Citizens. Of Spades."

Some magic going on there, to amplify his voice over an ocean of heads. The crowd hushed to near silence.

All that hustling, all that rushing, and yet Yao paced his voice, as it sounded like he smiled with his words, "The Gods smile upon us this fine day. People of every class, every view, and every company have gathered here, before the Spadian Palace. She welcomes all of you, as do I.

"It has been many years since we find ourselves blessed by your presence on a scale like this. It is a fine day indeed. May we warm our hopes, and warm our hearts over the future, which burns brightly once more as we turn to fill that empty space in all of your minds, and a seat within our very own home."

It wasn't hard to imagine the way Yao bent himself to bow, holding an arm toward the other tower as he backed away. Alfred's stomach twisted at the long pause. Arthur must have been out there. But it was quiet. He crept closer to the curtain.

"Don't peek."

Alfred jumped. The maiden that helped him throughout the morning giggled. He let out a lighthearted, "Argh," and took a step back.

"I know." He stilled as Arthur's voice poured down the balcony. Smooth. Almost eerie. Alfred wanted to melt in that spot.

"I know why you are all looking at me like that. What do I have to say for myself? Nothing. I have nothing to say. I wish not to blabber on how I dragged this Kingdom through the mud, not caring where it gets us, only that we go. I tried to do it alone, and I made myself, and our Kingdom suffer for it. Suffer no longer."

Snapping to a stronger, ascending thrill, Alfred started think of the way Arthur would run his deft hands up his back, just from his voice, "I want to dedicate this day to the man I love. The man that pulled me from the dark. A man that knows life amongst the dirt, and will know life against my side as we guide you to prosperity and sanctuary through these cold winter months." Softer, "Our pinnacle of strength. "My husband. A King. Your King." A pause. His voice grew sharp once again, typically, "Alfred Franklin Jones...get out here."

Alfred took his hands from cupping his face, smiling and shaking his head at his feet before pulling back the curtain. A bright blue sky greeted him, along with the sight of the balcony leading to hundreds—no, thousands of people awaiting for him. He derived from his intended footpath to clamp his hands on the railing. He gawked at all those people, all their faces tipped towards his.

Alfred lifted an arm and let loose an excited wave.

A small group of people bounced amongst the crowd, cheering and waving their arms and yelling incoherently. Alfred guessed those fishermen got his letter. He lifted his other arm and bounced in place, going, "Woo!"

Drawn symbols on the balcony floor glimmered in the sunlight as they shot his voice over the crowd. That spread, and the whole half of the gathering hosting the lower district erupted in obscene noise. People threw their arms to the sky, jumping and bopping amongst each other as they praised the contagious excitement sweeping through their bodies. Alfred stuck his fingers to his lips, before blowing a kiss and wink to the other half, which held scattered applause from higher class attendees. The Knights stationed around and between chunks of people kept glancing over to the excitable poor folks, unsure what to make of it.

He then turned to his family, stopping in his tracks as his eyes took in the sight of his Queen in the middle of their gathering. Arthur tilted his chin up in the slightest, trying to keep his expression calm and blank, but a smile wedged its way into his life as Alfred frothed at the mouth. Yao stood beside him, and pointedly cleared his throat at Alfred wandering away from the script.

"Oh, my Gods," he whispered to himself. That echoed across the crowd. He stepped forward, arms raising to his Queen. Ordained in a similar fashion, the rear of Arthur's coat dipped all the way to the ground, and spread in a pool of gorgeous, rich indigo against the stone-gray tiles. A silvery crown with deep blue jewels nestled on top of his golden head. He let out a little scoff, and despite putting up his best shot, his grin kept getting wider and wider with Alfred's.

Alfred let out a small laugh of disbelief as he neared his Queen, placing his hands over his cheeks. Arthur's lips trembled as he fought laughter, and they parted in a shocked cry as Alfred swooped down and plucked him from the ground, spinning them around and around and around so his trail twirled around their conjoined bodies in a great flutter of cloth.

"Ai-yah! Alfred-" Yao's scold was drowned by the crowd exploding into whoops and clapping of all various levels. He clamped his mouth shut, raising his eyebrows as the pair spun one more time before Alfred bunkered down.

"Alfred!" Arthur gasped, grasping his arms for stance as he tried for breath.

"You're beautiful!"

"Do you want to be crowned or not?!"

Alfred immediately hopped away and crouched before the Queen.

"Not yet!"

"Oh!" Alfred sprung to his feet. Yao put a hand to his chest, guiding him away so he could be the one in the middle. He held a deep blue pillow with a shiny silvery crown nestled on it. Alfred's crown. He marveled at the curves poking from the cushion in the middle, into the air to form shapes of spades between their dips. The Jack had a sourpuss eye on him, but Al could not stop grinning for his own life.

Arthur titled the ornament on his own head to a straight position again. "Phew. Anyway," he called to their people, "yes, a very...exciting entrance."

Yao asked, "Are you done?"

Alfred nodded.

Light laughter swept the crowd.

Yao looked to Arthur. "Queen Arthur Kirkland."

"Yes, my most trusted Jack in all of Spades?"

"Hmph. Both of you," Yao muttered with a grin creeping up to him. He waved his arms with gusto, "Do you accept this man to be your King?"

"Yes."

Happy feelings ran down Alfred's stomach. He wanted to pick up Arthur and twirl him around again.

Yao, to Alfred, "And you, Alfred Franklin Jones, do you accept the responsibility of the Spadian throne?"

"Yes!"

"Do you accept this man to be your Queen?"

"Uh, yeah! Of course!"

Yao stared.

Alfred cleared his throat. Almost annoyed, "Yes!"

"Good. I wouldn't have come this far for either of you to say no." Yao held the pillow to Arthur, who delicately grasped the crown, and lifted it from its bed.

Alfred unleashed a slow exhale and lowered himself to kneel on the ground. He dipped his head, staring at Arthur's shoes. Raise the crown, show it off, yadda, yadda. He squeezed his eyes shut as a shudder brushed down his back, and Arthur pressed the crown onto his head. Still down, Alfred gnawed on the inside of his cheek as the 'pillow' unfolded to a rush of fabric, and a fur-lined cloak draped over his shoulders. Now, he could stand up. Alfred rose, slowly turning to the crowd. He shot an arm in the air, and the entire courtyard swathed in celebration.

Yao was by his side, puffing out his chest as the deafening roars washed over his ears. A weight touched his shoulder. It was his Arthur leaning his head against him and smiling to himself, but that was short-lived as Alfred swept him into the air again as if he were weightless. "Al-fr-ed!" He yelled as he was whipped around and around. Alfred clutched onto him tighter and tighter with each turn, before abruptly stopping, and let his feet touch the ground. A moment before he found his Queen's lips.

Apparently, it was possible for the crowd to rejoice louder.

They parted, and Arthur beamed at his King before they turned their gazes to their people.

Letting them go at it for a few more minutes, Alfred lifted a hand and waved. People stuck their arms in the air and waved back. He shouted, jabbing a finger to the sky, "Opportunity is waiting for you! Go out and get it!"

He didn't think the crowd could get louder.

Yao put his hands on their shoulders. They glanced back and exchanged a mutual nod. They left the balcony in a hurried sweep. Their people's cheers followed them through the Spadian Palace.

~.~

"Did you see me? Did you see me, Mattie?"

"Yeah! I saw you! I saw you, Al!"

"Give me a hug, man!"

"Aw, yeah, I'm giving you a hug!"

Yao rushed the brothers' embrace, "All right, enough! Both of you need to get on that carriage! Your people wait for you!"

"Heh, see you, Al!"

"I'll be right in front of you, dumbass."

"You're an ass!"

"Uh, King Ass!" Alfred rolled his eyes, nudging the crown on top of his with his finger before hoisting himself onto an ordinate carriage. There was another behind them, with a stable hand readying his cart to guide Rosa and Ingrid, who sat with their arms crossed, staring ahead with blank expressions. Alfred flopped himself beside Arthur and snuck a quick peck to his lips.

The stable doors cracked open, and the roar of the crowd poured into their secluded area. Knights rushed to make way. Yao settled at the head of the carriage, on his own little seat, and snapped the reigns. Four horses threw their heads back and pushed onward. Alfred glanced behind himself, to his brother, and flashed a thumbs-up. Matthew had the rear seat all to himself and grinned right back. The King turned to the sunlight and put an arm around his Queen.

Drawing forward, the crowd's hollers tackled their ears, and Alfred lifted his arm to their bobbing and jumping. Knights had lined the gathering, forming a wall of themselves to shield anyone from the carriage. He squealed and flapped a hand toward a couple of old fishermen jeering and shaking their fists at him.

Oh, it was so wonderful. The sounds, the sights, the warmth against his side, Alfred took a deep swig of winter air, giving life to his lungs. He glanced over. Arthur had his hands on his lap, almost looking embarrassed as he gazed at the passing people. So, of course, Alfred clamped his arms around him and squeezed that look right off his face before popping a big wet kiss on his cheek.

"Alfred!" Arthur tried to scold, but he was totally smiling then, "You're supposed to behave yourself in front of your citizens."

That's right; his citizens now. Their citizens.

Yao led the carriage at a brisk pace, too fast to study their people, but slow enough not to bump and jostle his precious cargo. Matthew just sat in the back, both arms against the rear cushion, and nodded along to the beat of the wheels against stone. He looked rather Kingly, too. Down the path to the palace, into the upper yards of barons and lords who eyed the passing from their balconies. Then the scent of dirt and manure from the lower district. Alfred put his face to the sky and closed his eyes, letting the smells of old home wash over him. Matthew clamped a hand over his shoulder, and he looked up. His brother jabbed a finger at something.

Their own farm. The carriage slowed a bit, to accommodate uneven gravel (which was one of the things Alfred was going to look into as King), so they had enough time to crane their necks toward a picket fence surrounding the house. A large sign had been affixed to the entrance posts, now welcoming sick animals and their weary parents. The brothers exchanged enormous grins and shook their hands at each other.

The end. Of the road, at least. Responsibility and opportunity waited for them back at the palace.