Days passed, and Katherine had only woken a handful of times. Arthur rarely left her side the entire time. He would occasionally to deal with royal matters, but he was waiting on his crowning until his love could be at his side. The subjects had heard about their future queen and her condition. They were accepting of their king's wishes and brought gifts for the queen in hopes of a quick recovery.
Katherine awoke with a groan of pain.
"Katherine." Blue said getting up to stand beside her.
"Blue?"
"Arthur!" Blue yelled out the open door.
"Blue, what happened?" Katherine asked.
"Stay still. The mage says you shouldn't move too much."
"What?" Katherine asked and slowly pushed herself up.
"You were hurt. When Arthur defeated Vortigern."
"I recall. How am I here?"
"The mage, she saved you." Blue smiled.
"Blue? Blue, what's wrong?" Arthur asked running in.
"Hello, my love." Katherine smiled.
"Kat?"
Arthur smiled back at her before rushing to her bedside and kissing her.
"You're awake."
"It seems so."
"I was so worried."
"Nothing to fear, my love." Katherine said holding Arthur's hand.
"It seems we were both wrong. You now have to be my queen and rule by my side and give me little princes and princesses."
"I want nothing more."
"I love you."
"And I love you."
Katherine had been able to get to her feet in a day or so. Her wound had closed and all that remained was the makings of a scar.
"You must be looking forward to your wedding?" Rita, her new maid said as she helped her into her white gown.
"I have been waiting for this day since Arthur and I were teenagers. Today just makes it known in the eyes of God." Katherine said and then hissed in pain as Rita tightened the dress.
"I'm sorry m'lady."
"It is fine, just a little looser so it does not press against my wound." Katherine said smiling over her shoulder.
"Of course."
"I just wish my father was here to see this. He did not want me to marry Arthur. He believed it would never amount to anything except the boy that was raised in a brothel. If he could see him now. See us. I'm wearing the dress that the previous queen had worn on her wedding day. Marrying the king of England, and yet that king is still the same boy from the brothel I fell in love with." Katherine said as she admired the dress in the mirror.
"You are very lucky." Rita said with a smile.
"Thank you. I feel lucky."
"The new king is loved by all the people. He treats us well. I believe he does not want servants but realizes he could not run this whole castle without us." Rita laughed.
"Oh, never. It is so large. We would get lost. And with all the duties of a king he needs someone to help with the small things."
"He treats us better than the previous king."
"I hoped he would."
"And now that you are back to health we can have a crowning ceremony and a large festival to celebrate the new royal family."
Katherine smiled and there was a knock on the door.
"Sir Bedivere, please come in." Rita said and led Bedivere inside.
"You look beautiful. Your father would have done anything to be here with you." Bedivere said.
"Thank you, Bedivere."
"Come, your king is waiting for you."
"Well, he is going to have to learn to wait for his queen."
Bedivere smiled but held out his arm anyways.
"Come, darling."
Katherine looped her arm through his and happily followed beside him.
"Are you ready, m'lady?" Bedivere asked at the edge of the door.
"Yes."
The doors opened, and the entire kingdom turned to look at their future queen who had been laid up for quite some time. And Katherine saw all the people crammed in shoulder to shoulder to experience this day. But that was not it. At the end of the hall was Arthur dressed in all white, just as she was.
"Are you okay?"
"Just get me to the end on my two feet." Katherine smiled at him.
"As you wish, m'lady."
Katherine and Bedivere made it to the end of the aisle and Katherine grabbed Arthur's hand.
"Hi." Arthur smiled.
"Hi." Katherine said with a small laugh.
"Are you ready?"
"Darling, I have waited half our lives for this day."
"As have I."
"Good people of England, we are here today to crown our king and queen as well as unite them in holy matrimony. I have never seen a love as these two share. Although I have only spent the last few weeks in the presence of our king, and only a few days with our beloved queen awake. But in that time I have seen them both sacrifice much for not only each other, but also their kingdom. Now, it is time for them to seal their love for one another under God's eyes."
Katherine and Arthur smiled as they stared into each other's eyes. In that moment, no one else mattered. They could not look away from one another if they tried.
"Katherine, do you take King Arthur Pendragon to be your lawfully wedded husband? To have and to hold until death do you part?"
"I do." Katherine smiled.
"And do you Arthur, take Katherine Lavely to be your lawfully wedded wife. To have and to hold, until death do you part?"
"I do."
"I now give to you, King Arthur and Queen Katherine, you may kiss your bride." The bishop smiled, and Arthur gently grabbed the back of Katherine's neck to kiss her.
The people cheered, and Arthur and Katherine looked into the grand hall to see their friends and loyal subjects.
People were rushed out into the main square before the castle where those that could no squeeze in were waiting to see their king and queen.
Arthur and Katherine walked out hand in hand and smiled at the people down below.
Bedivere grabbed Arthur's crown and placed it atop his head. The people cheered even louder as did Katherine from her spot beside him.
"Your turn your highness." Bedivere smiled and Katherine faced the people once again as her crown was set atop her head as well.
The king and queen of England. United for all to see.