Song is "A thousand years" by Christina Perri
Athena was woken by Morgana throwing open the window, and whistling a lively tune, whereas Arthur was woken up by Merlin jumping on his bed excitedly, the boy whisper-yelling, "GETUPGETUPGETUPGETUP!"
The day was full of bustling people, servants getting the dining hall and ballroom ready for the reception, and getting outside ready for the service.
The alter Athena and Arthur were to be standing in was modestly sized, but covered top to bottom in red and yellow poppies, to everyone's confusion, but they just went with it.
Athena was taking deep breaths as she was sat down in Morgana's room, in front of a mirror.
Morgana got to work, putting a bit of lipstick on her, which was just raspberry and blueberry juice mixed to create a deep, gorgeous purple, that made her pale skin look as beautiful as ivory.
She put a bit of charcoal around Athena's eyes, making sure to keep it light and simple.
She had crushed up some dried pink rose petals and then mixed them with a tad of water to create a paste that would turn Athena's cheeks a rosy, light color.
When she was done with her friend's face, she started upon her hair, she tapped her lip with her finger in thought, before frowning.
Athena, knowing her friend's problem, laughed slightly, and blinked. Suddenly her hair was a mass of ringlet curls, which made Morgana grin.
Combing her hair back, but leaving the bangs across her brow, she asked her friend to lean over forwards.
Confused, but complying, she felt her friend start braiding from the base of her neck, to the crown of her skull. She wrapped a lock of hair around the ponytail of curls she held in her hand, then secured it with a few well-hidden pins.
Athena threw her head back, and grinned, pulling out a few curls at her temples. Morgana nodded approvingly after fluffing out the curly, fiery mass of hair on the top of Athena's head.
They got Athena into her dress, and she started to cry when she looked in the mirror. She couldn't believe that beautiful person was her.
They heard a knock at the door, and when Gwen checked to make sure it wasn't Arthur, she let the person… People? In.
It was her father, Gaius, and Uther, all here to wish her well. She hugged them all, lingering on Gaius, for he was part of the reason Arthur was here today. He told her what needed to be done, and she was ever grateful.
But there was someone she forgot to thank.
"I'll be just a moment!" She called, as everyone looked on in bewilderment as she picked up her train, and ran down, down, down to the one person..? That had made this possible.
"Kilgharra!" She yelled, panting as she tried to catch her breath. The dragon flew down, a pleased look in his eyes.
"Getting cold feet already, Athena?" His words had a tone that made her know he was just jesting.
"I've come to thank you! Thank you so much, and I do promise, that one day when I am Queen, you will be free." There was so much compassion, so much promise in that girl, and the Great Dragon knew what she said to be true.
"Thank you, Athena. Now you don't want to be late for your own wedding, do you?" Athena shook her head, and as she turned, she felt a burst of cool air cover her, and she had a bouquet of red, yellow, and lavender poppies in her hands. And if she reached up, she could feel small flowers in her hair. She turned to Kilgharra and blew him a kiss, causing the dragon to chuckle as she ran back up the stairs.
When she got back to Morgana's room, the only one still there was her father, who held his arm out for her to take. She looked up at him and smiled, wrapping her arm around his, they walked downstairs, and waited around the corner of the large doors outside, for the music to start.
As soon as the first chords were hit on the piano, Athena could feel her heart leap into her throat. This was it. This was the day she was to marry Arthur Pendragon. The single most arrogant, caring, egotistical, loving prat she had ever known.
She was happy.
She heard a small gasp from the crowd as she and her father turned the corner, but she had eyes only for one.
That blond-haired, cerulean eyed idiot at the end of the isle. He was grinning like a moron, and she saw him wipe his eyes. She dared a look around, and she saw Morgana and Gwen in matching lavender dresses on her side, and Merlin and Uther standing beside Arthur, the king wore an expensive looking black getup, and Merlin was in a nice shirt and pants, which Arthur had ordered to be made for him.
When he had given that order, Merlin looked baffled.
"I'm not going to have my best man looking bad, now am I?" Arthur said these words harshly, before grinning and slapping a stunned Merlin on the back.
As Athena walked down the aisle, she realized that she didn't even need the petal-paste Morgana had made, for her cheeks were blossoming pink already, and she hadn't even reached Arthur.
Every step she took, she fell deeper and deeper into his gorgeous azure eyes, until she finally realized her father had stopped walking, and she was in front of the Prince.
Turning, she placed a kiss upon the High Kings cheek, and he went to his seat. When she looked back at Arthur, her heart seemed to melt, and she finally felt calm. She was where she belonged.
"Athena Faebar Glas, do you promise to uphold the laws of Camelot, and keep Camelot safe, should its safety ever fall to your hands?" Said Geoffrey, looking at her.
"I do."
Geoffrey went on, asking them each the same questions, but she didn't care. She happily agreed to every single one, when it came time for their vows. Arthur was to go first.
"Athena Faebar Glas, I promise to stay with you until the end of times. I promise to hold you when you are scared, I promise to protect you when times get hard. I swear that I will never hurt you, and when I need a friend, I'll look to you. I will use you as my crutch shall I ever be harmed. I shall trust you with my heart, and all that it contains. I trust you with my life, and my Kingdom." His eyes were brimming with tears, as were everyone else's. She took a deep breath, and smiled at him. He smiled back, nodding at her, then a look of fear flashed over his face as she hesitated.
She looked behind herself, at the band behind her, and they strung a few chords.
She looked back at Arthur, who had a mixture of confusion and apprehensiveness upon his face, which caused her to giggle.
"You didn't think I'd tell it to you normally, did you?" She said, and she heard laughter from the crowd, and a look of relief washing over him.
"Never."
She grinned, and the band played on for a few moments, before she spoke, and everyone was blown away at how much emotion this small woman had in herself.
Heart beats fast
Colors and promises
How to be brave?
How can I love when I'm afraid to fall?
But watching you stand alone,
All of my doubt suddenly goes away somehow.
One step closer…
She took his hands, and indeed took a step closer to him, staring into his eyes, and blinking tears away.
I have died every day waiting for you
Darling, don't be afraid I have loved you
For a thousand years
I'll love you for a thousand more
Time stands still
Beauty in all she is
I will be brave
I will not let anything take away
What's standing in front of me
Every breath
Every hour has come to this
One step closer
She pressed his hands to her face, letting him know that she was there, she was real, and so was her love.
I have died every day waiting for you
Darling, don't be afraid I have loved you
For a thousand years
I'll love you for a thousand more
And all along I believed I would find you
Time has brought your heart to me
I have loved you for a thousand years
I'll love you for a thousand more
One step closer
One step closer
Tears slowly started sliding down her Princes face, and she held back a happy, melancholic laugh.
I have died every day waiting for you
Darling don't be afraid I have loved you
For a thousand years
I'll love you for a thousand more
And all along I believed I would find you
Time has brought your heart to me
I have loved you for a thousand years
I'll love you for a thousand more
Athena looked towards Geoffrey, letting him know that she was done, and he said the magic words.
"You may now kiss the bride."
Arthur immediately scooped Athena into his arms, and sipped her low to the ground, like the first time they had danced, and pressed his lips against hers, the salt of their joy-filled tears mixing against their lips. They were deaf to the ecstatic roar to the crowd, they heard only each other as they whispered their love.
No, this story is not yet completed! Do you really think I'd give this damn thing an M rating for no reason? Smut to come soon! Dirty, dirty, Submissive!Arthur smut!