It would have been terrible of me to say that it was anything but a beautiful wedding. Of that, I was thrilled, and I felt myself glowing inwardly and out with the delight that a dream wedding brings. Well, it wasn't a dream wedding because I had never before had one. But it was my wedding, and it was wonderful. The chapel had been decorated in pink and yellow roses. Willow, as my attendant, had her dress prepared– she looked very pretty in yellow, though I think the ceremony bored her. As for my dress, it was nothing less than stunning. Quick as a candle going out I felt all my fears vanish. I even had to admit that Prince David looked handsome... and even happy to see me. I liked that much. If he were to be my husband, he at least she would be willing to see.

After all, I had asked for this.

We stood as a pair, not even glancing at the other. That was always how it happened in the weddings I had seen. The bride and groom were supposed to completely ignore each other while the priest droned on and on. I never had the patience nor the attention span to listen to long speeches.

I was calm, though. I was oddly, strangely, and ridiculously calm! Whatever happened to the butterflies I was supposed to feel? The dread over Prince David? If Lydia had been in my spot, she would have taken off running and screaming long ago. I had felt like that last night, sort of.

But this was what I had asked for. This was my plan.

Was it the right thing? Would I truly be happy?

The questions were there, but none of the panic. They were only questions, words in my mind that demanded some attention and pondering– but not very much. I was here in a chapel, next to my husband-to-be, sparkling like a star. Beautiful, beautiful. Willow was squirming next to me. I wondered where Lydia was. She was supposed to be here, screaming out from the congregation or even swinging in on a rope to rescue me. We would run off together into the wilderness like the women of our family before us.

But there was no Lydia. It was not something Willow would think to do. My parents would never force me away from my own choice. So, more or less, I was trapped.

"I pronounce you husband and wife," the priest finally said. "You may kiss the bride."

Oh. This part of the ceremony. I had completely forgotten. How silly of me.

As quick as anything came the butterflies.

Prince David (I couldn't think of him as anything but Prince David) and I faced each other. Prince David. My husband. My husband.

It had actually happened. The marriage.

I smiled; the butterflies in my stomach insisted upon that. He smiled back. He wasn't bad-looking. He had a very nice face.

Well, everyone was watching, and Prince David looked interested in doing so, so we kissed.

It wasn't a bad kiss. Not a peck, but not terribly long. Not horrible for my first kiss. From my husband.

"Thank-you," I said the moment it was finished.

That seemed to surprise Prince David. "You are most welcome."

He took my hand, tangling my fingers with his, and with the crowd cheering we went to begin the festivities.

The celebration was held in the gardens Willow had admired the day before. They were very pretty. Tangled and rather wild, just as garden probably should be. I should have admired them more myself. They were mine now.

Prince David and I didn't say much, and I still couldn't really feel anything. Which wasn't a bad thing, I supposed.

"Well, wasn't that fun," he said between kind responses to the throngs of well-wishers.

It took me a moment to realize his words were half-sarcasm. A smile came out against my will. "Aren't weddings supposed to be fun?"

He shrugged, and I tried to read his face. We were no longer holding hands, but he didn't look upset about having married me. "Moriah, all we did was stand there listening to a priest. Though you did look beautiful. I don't mean anything against you."

"Thank-you," I said again. Twice within fifteen minutes.

We didn't say anything else for a long time. At least to each other. We just wandered the gardens, smiling and chatting with the guests. Prince David was very gracious and friendly. I tried to be the same.

Prince David's parents were also very friendly and gracious. I had met them the night before, briefly, but they returned.

His mother, Queen Ella, was more outgoing than her husband. Tears in her eyes, she enveloped me in a strangling hug while telling me just how pretty I was. King Theodore didn't hug me, but he did give me a kiss on the cheek. I decided I liked them, what I knew of them. Then they were gone, off to mingle with the other guests.

For a few minutes, Prince David and I were ignored. It was a strange feeling. It was terribly uncomfortable not to speak to him, but I loved being the bride.

"So," he finally said. "We are now married, and we don't know a thing about each other."

Hm. I had never imagined this happening. What was I supposed to say? I wasn't interesting like Lydia and Willow. "I like singing," I said. "I want to weave a tapestry someday."

Did those things really sum me up?

He nodded with a polite smile. "I like reading," he said. "I read pretty much everything. That's interesting, I mean. Because some things in books are boring. You start reading them and you realize that they are boring and..." His voice trailed off. "Isn't that your sister?"

I followed his gaze and nearly screamed. Willow had managed to climb one of the trees. Her lovely dress that was in filthy tatters, and she was now balancing, smiling, on a thick bough.

"Yes," I replied. "That is." I marched away from him to the base of the tree. "Get down here this instant!"

She just laughed. "But I can see everything from up here!"

What was there to possibly see?

"Please come down!"

She shook her head. "No. I don't want to." She then proceeded to tear out leaves, crumple them into a ball, and toss that an unsuspecting and bald guest.

At least not many noticed her. I bit my lip and returned to Prince David.

To my horror, he was actually smiling.

"She could get hurt," I hissed.

"We have several doctors in the palace. But don't worry about her. I... I prepared something for you, for the wedding." His face went to the slightest blush. "I hope you like it. Alexander!"

Alexander, standing only a few feet away, nodded and held up a glass, which he tapped until everyone was silent.

"Ladies and gentlemen," he announced. "His Highness Prince David has prepared a gift for his bride, Princess Moriah. If you will all turn your attention to the south portion of the garden..."

There was a click of a trap being released, and then I gasped.

Butterflies. Not the butterflies in my stomach, but real ones. Hundreds of beautiful yellow butterflies burst into the air. It was stunning.

"Thank-you, Prince David," I whispered. "It's..."

Then someone screamed.

Magpies rushed into the garden from unseen perches in trees. With her own scream Willow scampered down from her tree.

I joined in the screaming, ducking to the filthy ground as the magpies happily devoured the butterflies.

"That was not supposed to happen," Prince David muttered.