Chapter 16: The Wedding Day Blues
"Do you, Sir Griffin Alexander Pearl, take Princess Arion Calliope Silver to be your loftily wedded wife? To have and to hold? In sickness and in health? For richer or for poor? Until death do you part."
"I do."
This is the same room I had back then. The golden walls now held a more rusted yellow color instead of the old gold. The bed and its matching purple curtains looked as though they were torn and patched several times until some one just decided to give up. The oak wardrobe still stood tall next to where the broken and dusty easel did.
I stare into my bedroom mirror. I saw the white dress and I saw how the person in the mirror stared back at me uncertainly. This is really happening right now. I'm...getting married...to Griffin. I bet he's happy.
The dress was long and poofy. It looked like a dress a princess would wear but, i guess i am one. It had off the shoulder straps and a several layers of ruffles on it that elegantly fell downward to the floor. My hair was braided in its usual way only neater and with white flowers and a diamond tiara. I don't recognize this person I'm staring at.
Are you prepared, my dear? White asked
I reply to her aloud "Yes. Why wouldn't I be?"
Is this the love you want?
"Of course."
"And do you, Princess Arion Silver, take Sir Griffin Pearl to be your loftily wedded husband? To have and to hold? It sickness and in health? For richer and for poor? Until death do you part."
"I-" I look around the church. It was nearly filled to the brim with people trying to watch the ceremony. One half was taken up by the fairies the other by dragons. Most of the dragons just watched mid air for lack of room.
Are you gonna fight for this or just cry all day?
"Either one is fine for me."
Why won't you properly answer our questions? Are you suffering from symptoms of a cold of some sort?
"Maybe."
Ms. Arion... Are you h-happy?
"Do you?" I looked around noticing all the smiling and sad faces. In the very back sat Faron who continuously mouthed the words 'I do' to me.
"I do."
"Now, if anyone has a reason that these two should not be wed, speak now and forever hold your peace."
I looked directly to Gray. Why wouldn't he speak up? He knew I loved him so why not save me from another? Gray met my gave and simply mouthed the words 'I love you' to me.
"No?" The priest assumed. "Then I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride."
Are you prepared? Is this the love you want? Are you gonna fight for this? Are you suffering?
Are you...happy?
No.
What did you say?
~Flashback: A week ago~
"Is this true, Princess?"
"Define true."
"Did you kiss this human?" Faron asked again.
"Oh...That...Well it's possible. You see the electrical shocks were messing with my mind so I am not totally sure what I did and did not do." I spoke fast in hopes that they wouldn't hear how stupid I sounded.
"Spit it out, girl."
"Well... I didn't not do it."
Eldin's temper flared. "Answer the question. Now." he growls.
"Yes I-"
Suddenly Gray's arm shot up in front of my face "No. I did it." he stated.
"What are you doing, idiot?" I whisper from behind his outstretched arm.
"I'm telling the truth."
"But-"
"I'm telling the truth."
Eldin was about 5 seconds from blowing a fuse. He opened his mouth to speak but, Faron swiftly took the floor before he could. "Please excuse us for a moment. We must discuss."
I nod and walk into the next room with both Griffin and Gray in tow. "Damn it, Griffin. You didn't have to tell them."
"But I did." He states matter-of-factly. "I had to inform them that my fiancé was all right." he put extra emphasis on the fiancé part of it. It sounds so wrong coming from him.
"You could've just said that I was fine and needed rest. "
"Grow up."
"huh?"
"Grow up. You know exactly why I told them. You were there when the law was passed. " he stared daggers at me as he continued. " it clearly states that no one will have contact with humans. No playing. No singing. No reading. Nothing and that includes kissing. It was created specifically for you after your mothers murder so that you wouldn't meet the same fate."
"I would never hurt her!"
"I know you wouldn't. If you did I wouldn't hesitate to kill you."
"Then why aren't I dead yet?"
"Because that would hurt her even more." It grew awkwardly silent.
"Griffin you don't know what you're talking about. That law is old and stupid. I've spent a year with them and no one has tried to kill me despite knowing who I am-"
"But how long until your luck runs out? How long until they become greedy and try to sell you for millions."
"Do Not insult my family!"
"It is your family I am concerned about. Not those filthy fairies but us dragons. You are our princess. Act like it."
Why can't I just have both. Why does it always have to be a choice? "I never said I wanted to be a princess."
"Don't say that, dear" I heard Faron say. "We will speak with you now." She lead us back to the room we came from. Obviously seeing the angry look on all of our faces, she did not bother making small talk.
She flew to her perch to the right of Lanayru. The three of us bow respectfully to the dragons as we await their words.
"We have reached our decision. You will wed Sir Griffin Pearl in a weeks time." Lamayru states.
My jaw dropped at this sudden conclusion. "Why?"
"I know you have grown fond of this human but, he will cause trouble for the city's rebuild and that comes before all." Lanayru reasoned.
"The citizens need to know that they have proper guidance."
"There is no sense in fighting this. Our decision is final." Eldin says harshly
"We will give you tomorrow to gather your things and say your good byes. You are dismissed."
I flew home that night for the last time. I asked Gray to ride with Griffin to give me some time to think. He was reluctant but he understood.
I look to the sky. It was night now and all the stars were bright.
The stars were beautiful that night too. The night we played in the snow. And I think that the eyes he had that night shown even more beautiful. How he helped me out of sticky situations when I desperately needed it. When the sun bounced off his hair in the icy clearing when he said he loved me. Gray. When you told me stories and drank milkshakes with me when you should've been looking for the shirt that inexplicably disappeared from your body.
The other too. Though I do not wish to be apart of anything with him, he was once my friend. He was once someone I wanted to love back when I was...her. A happier, younger, kinder version of myself. When we played in the castle halls, though mother said not to. Or when we picked the flowers from the garden. When we caused the sky bison to stampede and pranked Mr. Hopkins by painting his dog rainbow. Those were the days. Griffin. That it what I would rather remember. Not the constant image of you handing me over to an impostor. What you say is protection, I say is betrayal. But hey, potato potato, its all the same no matter how you look at it.
Then what about the guild. They had been the best friends ever. They took me in as there own even though I was gonna kill their brother. Gajeel, my brother, and Wendy, my sister, I'm sorry for the pain I've caused and I hope you can bring yourself to forgive me. Lucy, Erza, and Natsu, I love you guys so much. Mira, thanks for all the milkshakes. Elfman, you are truly a man amoung men. Cana, lay off the booze. Juvia, watch Gray for me, okay? And Master, I couldn't wish for a better father than you (even if I am like five times your age) I appreciate everything. Thank you, Fairy Tail.
~Flashback End~
Answer us! Answer our questions! Do not ignore us for we are you and you are us. All of the voices rang out together as one. We are you answer us.
"What will I gain from answering my own questions?"
Perhaps you will gain wisdom.
Or love.
Strength.
Friendship.
Happiness.
Now answer us! Are you prepared for this life?!
Is this the love you want?
Are you gonna fight for this?
Are you suffering?
Are you happy?
"NO! Not at all! I don't want any of this!" I say before punching the mirror with all my strength causing it to shatter from force.
And then there was only one left. One me staring back, an exact reflection.
Griffin stared at me as he leaned down slowly, not knowing how I would react. Soon our lips met but only for a short five seconds before the audience roared with approval. I noticed Griffin smirking in Gray's direction as saying he had won the greatest prize.
The ceremony moved to the reception hall where the cake was cut everyone danced around the floor, including me and Griffin. We spun around the floor gracefully. I was relieved when I saw Gray tap Griffin on the shoulder. "Mind if I cut in?"
"No. Not at all." Griffin says before he walks away.
I smile at Gray as he takes my hand and we begin to dance."Its nice to see you smile. You haven't smiled all day."
"It is hard to smile when you are forced into a marriage when there is another you love more."
"I guess you have a point." He laughs awkwardly still dancing. "Will you be leaving the guild then?"
"Most likely. I will miss the guild fights though."
"I think you'll just miss watching me kick Natsu's ass."
"Maybe that's what it is... This is just like that time in the snow. when we danced. You were gonna kiss me then too."
"And now me kissing you got you married and torn from me." He sighed, "Listen. Even if this is the last time we dance or anything, I will always love you."
You should smile more.
What?
I like it when we smile. It makes us look less depressing.
Yeah I guess you're right.
What happened that made you so sad?
Life. But, I think one day I'll be happy. I just don't think it's today.
Its a shame you don't have the guts to take what to want.
"What!"
"The guts to take what I want, huh?"
"What?"
"Uh, n-nothing!" I stutter out. "Meet me in that icy clearing you made in a months time ,okay?"
"Uh, ok? What for?"
"Just do it." I say before gathering up my dress and scurrying back to my chambers, leaving him dumbfounded. There were still broken shards of glass everywhere. I sit on the stool that say in front of the vanity. "No guts?" a pause briefly. "Whatever, they are just tryin' to get under my skin."
"Did you say something, dear?" The sudden addition of voices cause me to turn around instantly. It was just Griffin.
Dear? "I didn't say anything, honey?" I say as I force out the word. It felt like dirt in my mouth.
"Are you not enjoying the party?"
"No its great I just wanted to collect my thoughts for a second is all."
"You are sure you haven't fallen ill?"
"Perfectly sure. I think I will actually be going back to the party now. What will they think when both the bride and groom have left? We wouldn't want an assumptions now, would we?"
"No I suppose not." I nod to him before moving to exit the room. He grabs my wrist as I touch the door. "Princess! Uh- Arion. I-I want you to know that I'm glad that you did this. No matter what I've done in the past I want you to be happy with me now."
"Are you happy?"
"Yes, very much." He responds. I sigh before rising to my tip toes and softly kissing his cheek.
"Then that is enough. Just know that I can never fully forgive you. Its because of you that i went through hell."
"I do understand."
"Then you should be happy that you lived long enough to live happily with me. You need to understand that I loved you then and I'm trying my best to love you now and-"
"You still talk fast when you are trying to be convincing."
"Shut up, idiot." I say blushing. I don't know why, he didn't say anything that someone should blush to.
He chuckled and shoved his hands in his pockets. "Its nice to know that you are back."
"I don't what you mean."
"Hmpf. Stubborn as usual." He held out his hand for me. "Shall we?"
I reluctantly take his hand and follow him back to the party. I know what I want so why am acting like a baby? I'm ready for this life now because I know it will soon be over.
You're right about that, hatchling. Mwahahaha!