A Fickle Fingered Fate
Chapter 5
Marriage stings and Beast Reins
The grey ceiling above Mia's head had a strange blue stain. It was shaped like a dog, or maybe it was a horse, possibly even a cat if she tilted her head. She wondered what could have caused the mark-maybe it was faded paint? How it had gotten up there in the first place, she had no idea, though she tried to imagine all sorts of circumstances that could have led to it being there.
Or at least she tried to.
She hadn't been able to fall asleep all night. At first she had simply attempted to force herself to sleep, but when that hadn't worked she'd decided to do something with herself. First she thoroughly brushed and braided her hair, wondering what sort of styles monsters had for their hair. Then she started thinking of what she was going to do with her hair for the wedding, and quickly decided to do something else.
Fishing out her silk gloves and one of her books she attempted to lose herself in a romantic adventure. But after a chapter or two she suddenly realized the handsome Mewman she'd been picturing had somehow turned into Toffee and the woman was herself. Her mind wandered from the actual plot, taking her to a fantasy future as she thought about their life together. She could see it going one of two ways, and she wasn't sure if she particularly liked either one.
She snapped the book shut, as she'd stopped reading it a while ago, and put it back in her trunk. After that she pulled out her sewing bag and worked on a handkerchief she'd been embroidering. Her pattern was a swirl of feathers in pale blue and light brown and mint green, the design on each feather unique from all the others. Despite that she'd been working on it for weeks prior, somehow she finished it in just a few hours. Even after she added a few random swirls and patterns around the boarders and finished it by embroidering a little periwinkle crescent moon in one corner, she still had several hour left until morning.
That was what led her to laying sideways across her bed, staring at the ceiling and then she had spotted the stain. Now it was nearly dawn, and she was fighting with her own mind as it tried to constantly return to the ceremony and to her groom. She didn't want to think about him, or any of what was planned for that day.
Everything in her life was changing and it would never be the same. It was a scary thought, one that kept taunting her. She didn't want to be afraid, especially when she had brought this all on herself to begin with. But this was the end of who she had always been. The young Princess Miakoda, heir to the Mewnian throne had disappeared. In her place was soon to be the Monster Queen, wife of King Toffee.
Childhood was over, and instead of slowly waded into the water of a responsible adulthood, she was jumping off into the deep end and was relying on a virtual stranger to help her stay afloat.
'Maybe it was some kind of makeup the monsters with blue skin wear,' she thought, purposefully ignoring the way her chest felt tight with anxiety. 'Or perhaps a moisturizer? Burn pastes sometimes have that blue color when they mix in the winter's breath...I wonder if Toffee actually slept at all, unlike me.'
Mia sighed as she sat up, scrubbing her hands over her face with a soft groan. "I'm getting married," she told herself. "Mom said this was suppose to be a happy day in my life. Why does it feel like I'm waiting for disaster when I'm only doing this to prevent one?"
Forcing herself to her feet, she crossed the room to the cabinet housing the mirror and took in her reflection. "You look horrible," she told herself, frowning at her reflection. "At least your hair isn't a mess. Good thing Mom taught you how to tie a decent braid." She pulled the ribbon out, setting her bound locks free. Combing her fingers through them, she shook out her curls, watching the mass of pink and blue hair settling around her shoulders. "Maybe I should have cut it..."
Her shoulders sagged as she turned away from the mirror, looking apprehensively at her trunks. "I don't even own a wedding dress, and I didn't take anything that would work as a substitute." She reluctantly opened the lid, moving slower than she would normally, as if she could prolong the need to pick out her attire. Shifting through her dresses, she headed for the bottom of the trunk, thumbing through the folded garments for a white, cream, pale blue-heck, she'd even take light yellow. But all her gowns were too bright or dark to serve as an emergency wedding dress.
She pulled out the lightest colored gown she had and shook it out, holding it against herself. It was a long sleeved deep turquoise-blue satin dress with gold silk trimming on the cuffs and neckline and a golden sash that wrapped around the waist. Turning back to the mirror she held it against her chest, frowning harder. "How can it be too much and not enough at the same time?" she grumbled, and tossed it onto the bed to look for another.
Despite the fact that she loved every dress she had brought, she couldn't find a single one that seemed to fit her idea of a suitable wedding gown. One was too flashy, another not flashy enough. This one was too bright, that one too dark. Too much ruffle, too short sleeves, too colorful. By the time she reached the bottom of the trunk, she was frustrated to the point of blinking by tears as she paced the room.
Her fingers tugged on her bangs as she wrapped her free arm around her unsettled stomach. "This is ridiculous! How can I not find anything?!" She groaned as she sank into the chair by the small table, burying her face in her hands. "I can't believe I can't pick anything..."
Mia leaned back with a sigh, dropping her hands to her lap. She looked over the dresses scattered around the room, each laid out over every available surface. Her eyes drifted to the cord by the door, but she hesitated. She knew pulling it would summon a servant to aid her in whatever she needed, but she was nervous. In her father's castle she'd had the same thing in her room, and her lady's maids and butler had always been kindly towards her and she treated them with as much respect as they gave her. Her mother had taught her from an early age that the servants were all people and tending to them was their job, they weren't slaves who had no choice.
But if she pulled that cord now, a monster would come to answer her call, and she wasn't sure they would be as willing to help her. They hated her, and she wasn't sure what they would do if she asked for help. However, as she glanced over the dresses again and felt a wave of despair, she began to think maybe it would be worth the risk. "Besides, I'll need help lacing up the backs anyway." Before she could talk herself out of it, she crossed to the door, and pulled the cord, hearing a bell ring faintly.
She waited patiently, but felt a steadily growing sense of anxiety as the moments ticked by. Maybe it had been a mistake after all. The princess shook her head, her candy pink locks bouncing around her head. 'No, stop doubting!' she scolded herself. 'You can't show weakness. Stand by your decisions and see things through, that's what Mom always says.' A knock at the door nearly made her jump out of her skin, whipping around with a hand to her heart. "E-enter!"
The door squeaked softly as it was eased open, a grape colored head poking inside. "You called...uh, M'Lady?" she asked, sounding uncertain. It was a little reassuring, knowing she wasn't the only nervous one in the situation.
She tried to give her most charming smile, hoping she didn't come off too strong. "Yes I did, thank you so much for coming," she replied, beckoning the monster inside. "I could really use some help." She hesitantly shuffled her feet, then pushed the door open, gently closing it behind her. Now that Mia could see her, she noticed with was some sort of purple porcupine, her dress being backless to leave her quills free. Mia briefly wondered how she went about her day without accidentally pricking somebody or getting them caught on things like furniture.
The monster wrung her hands, looking like a sheep ready to flee a rabid dog. "Of course, ma'am," she said, dripping her head, her blue eyes staying on the floor for several seconds before she seemed to dare glance up. "What may I assist you with?"
Mia picked up one of her discarded dresses, holding it up in front of herself. "This might sound a little crazy, but...well, I can't choose a dress for the wedding." Draping the gown over her arm, she picked up another, frowning between them. "I really don't know what to do-I'm so frazzled that everything looks lackluster or gaudy." The porcupine blinked at her, looking somewhat lost. Mia smiled helplessly. "Do you think you could lend an opinion?"
The servant glanced around, smoothing down the front of her own dress as she stepped over towards the bed, eyeing the dresses laying upon it. She nibbled her lip as she looked at each dress, moving around the room until she had seen each one, then turned to Mia. "Your dresses are all very nice, M'Lady," she said hesitantly. "But..."
"But...?"
Deeply inhaling, the monster clasped her hands together tightly. "They aren't exactly...well, what monsters wear for such events. So I don't think would exactly matter which one you picked. I suppose as long as you feel like you look nice, then any dress would do."
Mia sighed dejectedly, shoulders slumping. "I was afraid you'd say something like that," she murmured, glancing at the gowns in her arms. "What do monster wedding dresses look like? Do I have anything even close to one?"
The servant tapped her chin in thought, sweeping her eyes around the room. She moved over to the trunk where the turquoise dress lay, looking it up and down as she tapped her clawed fingertips together. "Mmm, this one is suitable for a royal wedding," she said, turning back to Mia. "If you wish, I could take it to the seamstress for a few alterations. It wouldn't be anything major I'm afraid, but the devil is in the details, as they say."
A rush of relief swept over the princess. "Oh, that would be wonderful! Thank you so much." The purple monster picked up the dress, folding it carefully, dipping her head with a slight smile. "And, if you would, I'd like to do my hair according to monster tradition. Do you think you could find someone to help me with that as well?"
"I think we could spare one of the ladies once your dress is finished," she replied. "Would that be alright, ma'am? In the meantime I could grab you a snack while you wait."
Mia all but beamed. "That would be perfect. I can't thank you enough!" As the porcupine left with a slight curtsy, a new hope fluttered through her chest like a butterfly fresh from the cocoon. It hadn't been much, but her first solo interaction with a monster had gone rather well. With a sense of confidence, she began picking up her dresses to stow them away, feeling just a little steadier than she had in her topsy-turvy world.
O.O.O.O.O.O.O.O.O.O.O.O.O.O.O.O.O.O.O.O.O.O.O.O
The smell of hot metal hung in the air, a humid cloud filling the space as steam rose out of the water trough. Moisture collected upon Toffee's bare scales as he worked, a mixture of sweat and droplets of water trickling down his chest and arms. His hair was slicked against the nape of his neck, his brows furrowed with deep concentration. Tail twitching, he watched the surface of the water boil, hissing like angry snakes as he plunged a set of tongs into the trough.
Flames roared in the forge, smoke billowing from the glowing coals. Shadows danced across the sooty walls, the light of the fires a deep orange. Sparks flew from the stirred coals, twinkling like fireflies. The sharp clangs of a hammer striking hot iron rang out as the blacksmith worked hard. But today he was not the only one making use of his forge, for Toffee had a project of his own to complete.
The monster king slowly counted in his head, then removed the tongs. In their grasp was a ring, a delicate circlet he had spent the past few hours creating. Drawing his inspiration from a magical plant called the bridge ivy, he had painstakingly woven and shaped the dainty vines. Turning it about, he carefully inspected every centimeter to ensure it was perfect. "Is looking very nice, Lord," came Buff Frog's voice from over his shoulder. "Princess Mia shall be most pleased."
"Its not done just yet," the reptilian murmured, cautiously touching the metal, testing the temperature. Deeming it cool enough, he whispered a spell under his breath. With each word and every syllable, black flakes peeled themselves off the metal, falling away like ash to reveal gleaming platinum beneath. He blew off a few stubborn bits as he stood, moving over to a workbench. Running his fingers along the vines he located a few sharp edges, and sanded them down until they were smooth.
While he didn't forge much, Toffee still knew his way around the blacksmith's workshop. Though normally he had come to make weapons or armor, not jewelry. "In all my years I never actually thought I would preforming this ritual," he murmured as he grabbed a polishing brush.
"Did you think to be bachelor forever?" Buff Frog chortled, leaning against the bench as he watched his friend bring the dainty ring to a glittering shine. "Surely you would have taken a wife eventually-to make heirs to throne?"
Toffee wiped the sweat from his forehead. "Not really. I hadn't ever planned on marrying, though that's not to say I would have been against it if I had fallen in love. If that never happened, however, I would have gladly stepped down to allow Renata's children to take the throne." The ring glinted flawlessly in the as he turned it about. All that was missing was a gem for the setting. "Yet here I am, carrying out a monster tradition as old as our race, all for a brave mewnian woman." He took a ring box that had been sitting on the table, and carefully set the ring into the velvet lining before handing it to his friend.
"She has much kindness in heart," the amphibian stated, cradling the box as if it were fragile as glass. But he playfully nudged his friend with a chuckle. "Maybe you shall be the one having heir to pass the crown to, da?"
The king rolled his eyes as he grabbed his previously discarded shirt, heading for the exit. "I highly doubt anything productive will come from our union aside from peace," he stated. "Besides, what sort of relationship would a sheltered mewnian princess want with a monster?"
Buff Frog smirked. "Your father thought the same of your dear mother, did he not?"
Toffee jerked to a stop, glancing back at the smug looking amphibian with narrowed eyes. "What are you suggesting?"
"Who is suggesting?" he shrugged, feigning innocence. "I was just thinking aloud. After all, Queen was Mewnian, King was Monster, had beautiful babies-"
"Buff Frog, I have a wedding to finish setting up. Get to the point."
"All I is saying is does not matter what either of you are, or what purpose for marriage is. You now have partner for all life, and shall not know a day of loneliness...but only if you allow wife to be close," he stated, but shrugged with a helpless gesture. "But, eh, what do I know? I am not but silly romantic and best friend of you, My Lord. You shall make best decision for all, yes?" He patted the lizard's shoulder, still wearing that smug grin as he headed towards the front of the castle. "Be sure to clear up nice for bride. No lady wants stinky groom for husband."
O.O.O.O.O.O.O.O.O.O.O.O.O.O.O.O.O.O.O.O.O.O.O.O
"Hey! You decent in there?" Renata's voice came from the other side of the door. Mia fought the urge to turn her head while a llama-like monster worked on her hair, but she bid the young girl to enter. The lavender skinned girl stepped into the room, adjusting her glasses as she swept her gaze over Mia. "Wow, you almost look like a monster."
The princess smiled shyly down at her altered dress, hardly believing the change in it herself. The color had been darkened to a blue-green, polished leather bindings with imprinted symbols now wrapped around her forearms in intricate knots, and the collar had been removed to bare her neck and the tops of her shoulders and brought the neckline down to her breastbone where leather ties loosely held a V cut together over a strip of gold fabric. Even the sleeves now had paned elbows, and the padding in the skirt had been removed, allowing the fabric to flow more freely and natural around her waist and legs."I can hardly believe the seamstress was able to do so much in just a few hours," said Mia. "I barely recognized it when I saw it."
Renata smirked, folding her arms as she looked her soon-to-be sister-in-law over. "She used magic to get it done quickly. Normally she won't use her spells for something as simple as dress making, but since its a big occasion that none of us knew about, she made an exception." She glanced down at Mia's waist, frowning slightly. "You aren't gonna wear that sash though, are you?"
She touched the golden belt in question. "Uh, well, yes I was. Why? Is it inappropriate?"
"Sorta. See, monsters wear tartans when they marry-men wear it hooked on their shoulders and women wear it around our waists," Renata explained, getting a thoughtful look. "But Mewnians don't have tartans, so you wouldn't have one for your family...hmm."
Mia wasn't sure what a 'tartan' was, or what it had to do with a wedding, but she wanted to stay as close to their traditions as possible. "Is there anyway to get one before the wedding?"
Renata snorted in an unladylike manner. "No, you can't just go to the market a pick up new family colors," she chortled. "A tartan is woolen cloth woven into a pattern of plaid, each family tartan is unique-the colors, design, and meanings are all different."
"Oh-like Mewnian's coat of arms?"
"Yeah, more or less."
"I have my family's coat of arms on a pin, would that do?"
Renata hummed in thought as the llama monster finished with Mia's hair. She had tied a small braid over her right ear, fastening it with a crisscrossing leather hair wrap. Another braid hung over the back of her hair, forming a crown around the top of her head, the end of it tied up in another wrap along with the last few inches of her hair. The style gave the illusion of free flowing hair, while keeping her massive and wild locks tightly locked in place. "I...I might have something you can borrow," said the half-monster, sounding somewhat uncertain. "You'll just have to be careful with it and return it as soon as you're done."
The statement caught her slightly off guard. She knew Renata didn't care for her very much, so lending something to the wedding that would bind her brother to her was rather unexpected. "Renata, you don't have to lend me anything. I'm sure nobody is thrilled for this wedding anyway, so I doubt they'll care if I look proper or not."
"Then why bother going through all this if you know people won't care how monster-like you look?" Renata demanded. "You could just go in anything!"
Mia cast her a soft smile. "I want them to know that I care. I care that they have their own culture, one that I'm becoming a part of and want to learn about. Besides, this isn't just my day, it's about Toffee too, and with what he's giving up, he deserves to have a decent wedding." She looked down at her hands, folded neatly in her lap. She idly brushed the spot where a ring would soon be, wondering what it would look like. "I want things to work between us, Renata. Your brother has been nothing but polite and kind to me. I don't really deserve it-I haven't done anything to earn such tenderness. But I want to return it in kind, and be a good wife to him."
Renata and the llama monster shared a look, both equally confused. But as the lavender skinned girl let the words sink in, she got an idea, and crossed the room to grab Mia's hand. "C'mon, you're gonna need a couple of things from the tower," she stated, already pulling the older woman out of the room.
O.O.O.O.O.O.O.O.O.O.O.O.O.O.O.O.O.O.O.O.O.O
Due to the unexpectedness of the wedding, the ceremony didn't have much decoration, but Toffee made use of everything they had available. Flowering grasses tied with colored twine lent color to the white lace and cloth that covered every surface, candelabras of brass and silver glittered in the light of the candles they held, casting a soft glow throughout the church. A large green lizard monster stood on top of a ladder, tying a banner displaying the royal family's tartan pattern-a midnight green field with squares pools of carmine red, trimmed and accented in sapphire blue and coal black. He rumbled softly as he leaned back, glancing at the other side. "Does that look even?" he asked, looking down to Buff Frog, who was holding the ladder steady.
"Looks good to me," he replied, stepping back as the lizard climbed down. Buff Frog looked around the church, searching for anything that might be out of place or need adjusting. "We did good job I say. Lord will be most impressed."
The green lizard snorted as he turned, the light of the candles glinting of the purple jewel that took the place of his left eye. "He might, but what about this Mewnian girl? You've seen her, so what do you think? I'd like to know what kind of trouble we're jumping into."
Buff Frog chuckled. "Must you always be expecting worst, Rasticore?"
"I'm Princess Renata's bodyguard, it's part of my job." He picked up the ladder, balancing it on his shoulder. "Just tell me. We got something to worry about?"
"Ne, moy drug-"
"Common tongue."
The amphibian chuckled. "No, my friend, the Princess is harmless. Scared and ignorant of monster ways, but has open mind and good heart. Give her a chance, and I believe she will be like Dear Queen."
Rasticore nodded, and headed for the door of the church. "That's all I need to know."
Buff Frog shook his head with a smirk, and spotted a crooked bouquet hanging off a pew. As he set about fixing it, he heard the doors open and looked up to see his king, dressed in his finest attire. A flowing snow white dress shirt, black leather vest and boots, and formfitting black breeches with shiny chain mail hanging from his waist along with a sword and scabbard. A cape of black fur hung from his shoulders, a pair of round bronze buckles held it in place and the woolen tartan of his family was draped across his front, attached to the buckles. His hair was tied in a braid with a leather wrap, and upon his head sat the crown of the Monster King. Bronze antlers, vines, leaves, and branches wound around his head, rough cuts of amber tucked into the crevices and a large blue-green stone set in the center.
In his hands he held a silver chest, magic runes carved into the surface. A pair of black velvet gloves rested on top it. "Everything set up?" he asked.
"Da, all things is perfect, Lord," replied the amphibian as he stood up. "You look very good, much regal. I haven't seen you wearing your crown since your coronation. Princess Mia will be most impressed."
"It's not about impressing the bride, Buff Frog," he said as he walked to the alter, setting the chest down on a small polished steel table, where two ring boxes already sat. "This about tradition. But I wouldn't object if she found things to her liking. Just so long as everything goes according to plan, we'll be set."
Buff Frog rolled his eyes. "Shall we begin the ceremony, Lord?"
Toffee nodded. "Send for the princess and Renata, I'll tell Lekmet we're almost ready."
O.O.O.O.O.O.O.O.O.O.O.O.O.O.O.O.O.O.O.O.O.O
Murmurs from the crowd in the pews filled the air of the church, all eyes trained on the king or seeking out the Mewnian. Buff Frog sat on a stool to Toffee's left, tuning a lute as they waited. The winged-goat stood to his right, bleating quietly to the crystal-headed Rhombulus. Rhombulus was the only creature Toffee had ever met who could actually understand him without a translation spell. The king's tail twitched slightly under his fur cape, the itch to get everything over with settling in.
He finally spotted Renata stepping into the church. She hurried up the aisle, climbing up onto the alter. "She's waiting outside," she whispered. "Are you guys ready?"
Toffee nodded. "Tell her to come in when the music starts, then get to your seat." She gave a nod of her own, then moved swiftly back to the front of the church. Toffee turned to the chest and grabbed the gloves, tugging them on as his sister came back and took a seat in the front pew. She gave him a thumbs-up, and once Lekmet gave a nod of his own, the king turned to Buff Frog. "We're ready. Let's begin."
Soft notes of the lute suddenly filled the air, a hush falling over the crowd as the music swelled. Heads turned, watching the door. Toffee felt his pulse quicken slightly. Was he anxious? Nervous? He wasn't sure, but when the doors swung open, his jaw slacked slightly. His bride stepped into the church, a fur hood shrouding her face, the cape falling down to trail behind her. A leather belt with intricate designs burned into it hung off one hip, a buckle identical to the ones on his shoulders held a length of his family's tartan rested on her upper thigh.
As if in a daze, he watched as she seemed to glide across the floor, until she was standing in front of him. Slowly, she lifted her head, peeking out from under her hood, looking uncertain and lost, and he had to fight the urge to squeeze her hand. But he did offer her a smile, and something squirmed in his chest when she returned it shyly. They turned to face the goat-like monster, who gave them both an encouraging smile before he started bleating.
Rhombulus cleared his throat, and began to translate. "Goddess bless ye all who this day bear witness to this-a union of two souls! Watch with unclouded eyes and clear minds." He waited a moment, letting Lekmet say more before continuing. "Today, our King takes his bride, he gives to us a Queen, and with this Queen, we shall have peace." Lekmet gestured to Toffee. "Reveal to your witnesses she who will be mated to you."
Toffee turned towards Mia, and she lowered her head slightly as he slipped his fingers under her hood, her silken hair brushing against his scaled skin as he lifted it from her head. A gold pin in her hair drew his attention, her family's coat of arms, a lock of her blue streaks running beneath it reminded him of why he was doing this. But when his hands lingered on her shoulders, she turned those blue orbs up to him and their night in the tent flashed across his mind.
Their quiet voices in the dark, the warmth of each other as they sat shoulder to shoulder...the way he had fallen asleep beside her so easily. Despite what their marriage meant, he wouldn't allow it to taint whatever relationship they might have. Buff Frog had a bit of a point, he didn't know what could happen between them, and if this sheltered princess could sacrifice so much for one she loved, surely he could become a companion worthy of them.
Lekmet picked up one of the ring boxes, holding it open to reveal the tiny circlet within. Toffee carefully picked it up and lifted Mia's left hand, knowing what to do. "This ring has been crafted by the hand of this monster, a symbol of the hard work, dedication, and passion he shall pour into this union." Lekmet gestured towards Mia's hand. "Place the ring upon her finger, and remove the glove from your left hand."
The ring slide slowly onto her finger, the cool metal skating across her skin, the velvet of his gloves brushing against her hand sent shivers down her spine. Toffee watched as her eyes widened slightly at the sight of it, and he couldn't help how his lips curled into a faint smile. As he peeled off the glove, Lekmet opened the chest. Inside lay two objects, an ornamental dagger and a tiara. The dagger's blade gleamed silver, the handle coated in solid amber, and it was what Toffee picked up.
Mia's eyes followed the dagger, a look of unease on her face. "King Toffee Arigor, should you preform this act, no force of might nor magic may undo the deed. Are you of sound mind and body? Do you chose to willingly bind yourself to this woman till your dying day?"
Somehow the ceremonial words felt more like a personal question in that moment. As if Lekmet was asking him to truly think about what he was doing, and what it meant for him on a personal level. "I, Toffee Arigor, King of Monsters, am of sound mind and body, and on this day pledge myself in body, heart, and mind to this union." He wrapped his palm around the dagger's blade, feeling the edge biting into his flesh as he sliced down across his hand. Mia visibly jumped, a mousy gasp flying from her lips. Passing the knife to Lekmet, Toffee took her left hand, tilting his own until the blood pooling there formed a large crimson drop, and let it fall.
It landed on her ring, yet it didn't splatter, settling perfectly into the setting. Instead, right before her own eyes, the blood crystallizing until it resembled a gemstone. Toffee opened his hand, watching as the wound began to heal, his very flesh knitting itself back together, new soft scales sliding out of the freshly stitched skin. His gaze turned back to the Mewnian as he took her hand, bringing it up to his lips, placing a soft kiss first to her fingers, then to the ring itself, all while holding eye contact.
"Miakoda-Alindas Apis, on this day and for all days after this, I take you as mine. This ring has been forged by my hands, made only for your hand. A circle of devotion, filled with a drop of my heart's blood, held close to your love vein." Turning her hand over, he slowly ran his finger down from her ring finger, down her arm and up to her chest. There, he rested his palm over her heart, feeling her pulse fainting beneath her skin. "May it give you strength each day, and be your beacon in the night. From this forward, I take you as mine, taking your safety, happiness, and needs into my care. Above all else, I place you, my wife."
As he spoke, he watched tears form in her eyes, the salty drops clinging to her black lashes, a few falling down the periwinkle crescents on her cheeks. She looked ready to speak, but she tightly pressed her trembling lips together, giving him a watery smile. The woman was brave, he'd give her that. Lowering his hand, they both turned towards the winged-goat as he picked up the other ring box. He placed his hoof on her arm, and spoke softly. "Your part is much more simple, I will guide you through the vows," he whispered. "First, take the ring and place it on his finger, then take the knife and cut off a few inches of your braid and wrap it around the band."
She blinked t him for a moment, then took the ring from the box in Lekmet's hoof. It was a simple metal band with a dip in the middle, as if someone had cut a strip out of it. Taking his hand, she slipped the ring over his finger, her fingertips memorizing the feel of his scales. Then, with a trembling hand, she took the knife. Blood still clung to the mirror-like blade, Mia could clearly see the reflection of her eyes as she raised it to her hair, and pressed the sharpened edge against it. Tightly gripping the end of her braid, she carefully sawed through the twisted hair, her locks parting near effortlessly under the knife until she had cut clean through, slicing both hair and the leather wrapping.
"Good," said Lekmet, taking the dagger from her. "Now wrap the hair around the ring's groove, I'll recite the same line as before, then you repeat after me."
Setting the leather aside, she did as he instructed, only half-listening. As she wrapped her hair around the ring, she watched in awe as the ends fused together, forming an endless loop around the ring. When he finished his speech, he whispered the vows softly. "I, Miakoda-Alindas Apis, Princess of Mewni, am of sound mind and body, and on this day pledge myself in body, heart, and mind to this union." She took Toffee's hand, mimicking the two kisses he had place on hers earlier. "Toffee, on this day and for all days after this, I take you as mine. This ring is freely given, made only for your hand. A circle of devotion, bound in the hair of this maiden, held close to your love vein. May it give you strength each day, and be your beacon in the night. From this forward, I take you as mine, taking your safety, happiness, and needs into my care. Above all else, I place you, my husband."
Lekmet took their left hands together, folding them between his hooves and began to chant. The words sounded ancient, and felt powerful. Mia could all but feel a crackle of raw magic in the air. Then, without pausing his performance, the goat-like monster picked up the tiara that was still sitting in the chest, holding it up for all to see. A circlet of bronze vines, studded with chips of amber and a blue-green stone on a thin chain that hung from an arch of flowers. Lekmet gently placed it on her head, the cool gem resting in the middle of her forehead.
"And now, before the witnesses of this room, seal your marriage with a kiss."
Mia's face flushed red, she gazed up at the reptilian through her dark lashes and swallowed hard. But as he gently tilted her chin up with his knuckle, and took a step closer, all her thoughts ceased. He leaned down, she rose up onto her toes, and their lips met.
The touch was gentle, a tender embrace. His lips were surprisingly soft, and warm against hers. While hers were like butter against his mouth, his hand leaving her chin to cup her cheek. Slowly, as if they were awaking from a trance, they pulled away as Lekmet threw up his arms. "Monsters! I present to you King Toffee and Queen Miakoda-Alindas Arigor!"
O.O.O.O.O.O.O.O.O.O.O.O.O.O.O.O.O.O.O.O
"I didn't expect to see you in anything like this," said Toffee, looking over his new wife as she sat beside him. The Grand Hall was filled with the sounds of music and merriment, monsters feasting in the honor of their new Queen. Whether they liked her or not, people rarely turned down a chance to have good food and cold mead.
Mia smiled down at her outfit, her blush seeming almost permanent on her cheeks. "One of the maids took my dress to the seamstress," she replied. "Renata said she used magic to fix it up so fast. I'll have to thank her for it-her work is amazing."
Toffee chuckled softly. "Yes, she's very talented. But I meant the cloak and belt. How did you come by them?"
"Renata. She took me up to one of the towers and pulled them out of a chest," she explained. "She said I could borrow them for the wedding."
"They were my Mother's. She wore them when she married my father," he stated, watching her eyes go wide. He lifted the cape from her shoulder, stroking the fur with his thumb. "Furs seem to suit you. Perhaps I'll find something during the winter to make you a cape of your own."
Mia gently touched the collar of the cloak. "Your mother...? If I had known-"
Toffee patted her hand with a crooked smirk. "She would have wanted you to wear them, Mia. Despite the circumstances-or possibly even because of them-I think you two would have hit it off rather well."
A soft smile curled her painted lips. "Your mother sounds like a lucky woman. I'm curious as to how they met. Hopefully under better circumstances than we did." She turned to face him more, an eager look in her eyes. "Tell me the story?"
"Right now?" he chortled.
"Pretty please, Dear Husband," she teased, playfully batting her eyelashes.
Toffee shook his head with a soft chuckle. "As you wish." He took his glass from the table, taking a quick sip to wet his throat. "Believe it or not, she actually shot him with an arrow while she was hunting."
Mia's eyes went wide. "She shot him?"
"Indeed, the arrow went halfway through his shoulder. She'd mistaken the flash of his brown fur through the foliage for a deer's hide. When she realized her mistake she ran to his aid, completely unafraid of the four-eyed, horned, eight-foot-tall monster. Not only did she remove the arrow, she tore off her dress sleeves to bandage the wound. She felt so guilty she insisted he allow her to make amends."
"And how did she do that?"
"For starters, dinner."
Mia giggled. "My mother always did say the best way to a man's heart is through his stomach."
"And my father was no exception," he replied. "After all, in that time, our lands were suffering from a terrible drought, and my father was on the edge of Mewnian lands to hunt and gather food to take back home. He was worried she would rat them out if he didn't humor her."
"Surely not-she wouldn't go through the trouble of helping him if she was going to turn him in."
"No, she didn't, and that surprised him greatly. She even came back every day and brought him more food and medicine. But when it was time for him to leave, he saw just how sad it made her, so he promised to come visit her. For the next year they met every few weeks in secret, until one night, she asked him to take her away. She claimed to be miserable, saying he was the only good thing she had in her life, and if he wouldn't have her, then death itself would."
Mia nearly choked on her drink, coughing briefly before turning to her husband. "She was going to take her own life if he refused her?!"
Toffee shrugged. "That's what she said to him. I don't know where exactly my mother came from before she was with my father, only that she was very gifted with magic and wealthy-so she was likely of high birth. But apparently she was very unhappy with her life, and she found something in my father that just sang to her. The rest is pretty straightforward, she married my father, had me, then Renata."
"Practically a fairytale," she murmured. "I'm glad she got to be with someone who made her happy."
"As am I." Finishing what was left of his drink, Toffee stood, offering her his hand. "Come, I have something for you." She took it, letting him pull her to her feet. "Let's see if we can't slip out of here without causing a ruckus."
They made their way out of the Grand Hall, following the empty corridors to the back of the castle. Magic lights were all that lit their way, the shadows of the night had fallen some time ago. Yet Toffee didn't hesitate or stumble, having walked those halls all his life, and he guided Mia along with completely confidence.
When he opened a door and pulled her out into the dark, Mia tightened her grip on his hand, trusting him to guide her safely to wherever they were going. She felt the cool breeze against her flushed cheeks, smelled the scent of hay and cut grass, and faintly saw the strip of light. As they drew closer, she realized it was a door. The door to the stables.
Toffee pulled her inside, closing the door behind them before grabbing a lantern from a hook by the door, whispering a spell to lit it. Taking her hand again, he walked further in, a few curious unicorns poking their hands out of their stalls, Mia even spotted a warnicorn or two. "What did you need to show me out here?"
He smirked as he led her over to a rather large stall, hanging the lantern up before releasing her hand. "A wedding present," he said, reaching for the latch of the stall door. "Just don't panic." The door rattled, the scratching of claws on wood filled the air, and Mia's pulse quickened. Toffee chuckled, slowly undoing the latch and the door burst open. Mia screamed as a huge furry creature leaped forward, a mouthful of teeth lunging for her face.