Chapter 21
As I stood in front of the mirror looking at the simple dress I was wearing I thought of the wedding my own mother didn't get to have with her true love, I felt as though I was taking that away from her. This was supposed to be my wedding, but nothing about it felt magical when I looked myself over. Even as a young girl I had dreamed of a wedding with a magical ball gown and the man of my dreams, of course the vision had changed over the years but I longed for the magic. Letting out a sigh I heard a knock on the door.
"Who is it?" I asked glancing towards the door.
"Regina" I ran down the stairs to get the door.
"Just the person I needed" I smiled letting her in.
"Everything okay?" She asked following me back up the stairs.
"I have no idea what to wear, I want magic and I have nothing." I sighed standing in front of my closet.
"Magic?" Regina asked sitting on my bed.
"Yeah, ever since I was a little girl I wanted my wedding to be perfect with the people I care about, the man of my dreams and a dress that made me feel like a princess. And I know it really shouldn't matter, and it doesn't really, but I still want it." I said sitting next to her.
"Just try stuff on" Regina said I only looked at her. "We have a few hours, and maybe we can come up with something." Regina continued.
"Alright fine" I said pushing myself off the bed.
Pulling out about ten dresses I moved to try them each on. None of them were magical and none made me feel like a bride.
"I feel like a child in all of these, I didn't realize how much the Enchanted Forest and Storybrooke changed my fashion sense." I said falling onto the bed burrowing my head in the blankets.
"It's not the end of the world. Maybe it's time you get creative" Regina suggested, I rolled over looking at the icicles that formed the chandelier.
"Oh My god" I said sitting up.
"What?" Regina asked looking at me.
"I know what I'm going to wear" I said running to my bookshelf to grab one of my books 'The Snow Queen'. "This" I said flipping through the pages landing on an elegant dress.
"How? It's just in a book?" Regina asked as I laid the book on the bed.
"I'm going to make it with magic. I did it with my room. Heck, my whole bed is made of ice." I said studying the dress, the light blue silk that shone from the tiny snowflakes that formed it, the sheer train and sleeves.
Closing my eyes I stretched out my arm feeling the icicles stretch across my skin, my whole body tingled as it covered itself in ice forming the most beautiful dress I could have ever imagined myself in. I looked down running my hand down the soft fabric; I smiled realizing my dress was latterly quite magical. Looking up at Regina I saw her trying to hold back tears.
"What do you think?" I asked twirling around making her chuckle.
"You look amazing," She smiled.
"Thank you" I smiled. "Could you do my hair?" I asked.
"Of course" Regina said, a little shocked. I moved to the chair at my make-up table so I could do my make-up while she did my hair. "What do you want?" She asked running her fingers through my hair.
"French braid?" I asked looking at her in the mirror.
"I think I can manage that" Regina said with a soft smiled as she started to play with my hair.
We fell into a sort of comfortable silence while she worked taking her time to make it perfect and I did my make-up.
"So are you ready for this?" Regina asked me, I sighed setting down the brush.
"I'm nervous, what if I make a complete fool of myself up there and just blabber?" I said a little panicked.
"You know, when I married the king I was terrified. And I continued to be, but when I had the idea of marrying your father and when he proposed I didn't want anything more than to marry him. That was probably a bad example" She said making me laugh.
"I get it, so you don't think I'll make a fool of myself?"
"Even if you do I don't think Terrence will mind." Regina said looking at me in the mirror.
"I don't think he ever has. When we were kids we would play in the courtyards and sometimes we skipped school because I absolutely hated adequate class. There was this one time; we went outside and climbed this tree, we pass it when we come into the city, we spent hours in the branches talking and just getting to be ourselves. Anyway it was getting late and Terrence decided that it was time for us to head back but instead of just saying 'let's head back' he made me think that one of the guards was coming and mind you Aly and Oswin had no idea I wasn't in school. We climbed out of that tree so fast," I stopped smiling at the memory. "There was no guard and I managed to fall out of the tree ripping a hole in my favorite dress" Regina laughed sitting down on the edge of my bed.
"How did you explain that to Aly?" Regina asked.
"I tried to lie but I'm not exactly good at that, and she knew. Well, she knew I skipped my classes."
"Moms always know," Regina said, I smiled laughing a little.
"I didn't think today would be so hard without her:" I said looking at Regina.
"I'm sorry," Regina said softly.
"But I'm glad that you're here." I smiled catching a glimpse of a smile.
"I'm glad I'm here too, I wouldn't miss it for the World." Regina stopped looking down at her hands where she was holding a small box.
"What's that?" I asked turning in my chair.
"I realize that this probably isn't my place but you need something blue for your wedding" Regina said handing me the box.
Opening it slowly I looked down at the blue earrings laying delicately on the velvet pad.
"They were mine when I was queen and one's I always kept. My father gave them to me." Regina explained as I put them on.
"They're perfect, thank you" I said looking at her.
"I don't know that I've said this to you but, I'm proud of you. You're everything I wanted you to be and more." Regina said with a soft smile.
Standing up I moved to the bed taking a seat next to her. Reaching out I took her hand looking at the ring.
"I always dreamed of what you would be like, if you looked like me. If you were into music and books as much as I am," Regina laughed.
"Did I live up to expectations?"
"Pretty close" I smiled.
"Thank you for being here this last year, I don't... I don't know that I would be at this point if it wasn't for you and your curse."
She looked at me, I could see all the pain in her eyes and it broke my heart.
"How can you thank me for taking away so much from so many people? People that you care about."
"Because maybe everything happens for a reason, and maybe I'm being redundant but I believe that if you hadn't cast that curse and my grandmother hadn't sent me away then we wouldn't have the lives we do, with the people we care about. I would have never met Terrence and today wouldn't be happening. So again thank you." I said standing up, she stood up with me fixing my hair never taking her eyes off mine.
"You look beautiful," Oswin said making us both turn. "Sorry I didnt mean to interrupt." He said, I smiled softly looking at Regina.
"It's fine, is everything ready?" I asked.
"The Mayor is is here and Dorothy did a lovely job setting up a special spot for the ceremony under the tree." I looked at him as he came up the stairs.
"The tree?" I breathed smiling at the idea.
"It was Terrence's idea" Oswin said stopping when he looked at me.
"What?" I asked looking at Regina who smiled.
"I'm going to go make sure Terrence doesn't need help with anything." She said walking past us down the stairs.
Looking back at Oswin I saw the glimmer of a tear in his eye. Without saying a word I stepped forward wrapping my arms around him softly.
"I'm so proud of you." He whispered into my ear.
"Thank you for being my dad" I said softly.
"My pleasure" He chuckled looking at me. "I.." He started but there was a knock at the
door and Dorothy came in.
"It's time," She beamed making me smile.
"Give us two minutes" I said quickly she nodded closing the door. "What were you going to say?"
"Nothing important" He said kissing my cheek.
I nodded glancing out the window to see the sun dipping behind the tree's the sky a beautiful mix of red and orange. Oswin gave me his arm, taking it I felt myself relax thinking of the man waiting for me at our favorite spot in all of OZ. The night air was still warm and felt good against my skin while a light breeze played with my dress and my hair. The gates opened as we approached and my heart skipped a beat excitedly. Seeing the tree I was in awe, lights streamed through the branches casting light on the ground beneath it, Terrence was standing there like a soldier quite literally my knight. When our eyes met and he saw me for the first time. It was a look I don't think I have ever seen him make before. He was beaming and in complete disbelief as he looked at me, never once taking his eyes off me. It felt as though in that moment we were completely alone; there was no mayor, no Oswin, no Dorothy and no Regina. Just us. Oswin squeezed my arm bringing me back to reality, glancing at him I squeezed back, our little reminder we were always there for each other. Reaching Terrence and the mayor, whose name escaped me, Oswin turned to me giving me a hug while I kissed his cheek softly. I turned to Terrence, smiling happily and seeing how close I was to my happy ending. A mosquito buzzed by my ear and a swatted it away quickly, maybe the tree at sunset wasn't the best place to get married, but I wouldn't change this perfect moment.
"You look amazing" He said making me blush.
I was so taken in by what was happening to even hear what the mayor was saying till Terrence started speaking, and I realized he was beginning his vows.
"Elsa Yorke, having you in my life has given me a reason to return all those times. Before you there was no beauty in the emerald city. Everything seemed to have no meaning when you weren't around. When I had to leave the first time I was so scared, I had no idea what might happen or if I would ever see you again. Having that book of yours, I knew that no matter how bad things got you would be there waiting for me when I got home. After everything we have been through together you have stood by me no matter what, and I promise that I will stand by your side for the rest of our life together." I hung on his every word tears stinging my eyes. Reaching out he took my hand sliding the gold twisted wedding band onto my ring finger. I couldn't help but notice it was the same one Regina wore. It was my turn now and I felt the butterflies return to my stomach.
"Terrence Rochelyn, from the moment I met you, I fell for you. Literally." I let a smile play through my lips before continuing. "You were the first real friend I ever had, and the first person to show me how to have true fun. Your spirit and insatiable positivity almost never failed, even when mine had. You became my anchor when I needed stability, my ray of sunshine when the world had gone dark, and above all, the love of my life. Years spent without you were the worst I'd ever known, but it makes standing by your side, here and now, all the more special. I promise I will stand by your side for the rest of our life together."
I was beaming, finally professing my feelings for him. From my hand, I produced Oswin's wedding band, which he had instructed me to give to Terrence. It was then that I realized Regina and Oswin had both given up their wedding bands to Terrence and I to give one another. I met Regina and Oswin's stare from the small crowd, to which their gaze seemed to confirm that their sacrifice had, in fact, made the day even more memorable.
"As mayor of the munchkin city, in county of the land of OZ, I now pronounce you husband and wife." The mayor said as I tried to hold back laughter, "You may kiss the bride"
Terrence laid his hand on my back softly, our lips met for the first time with me as his wife and him as my husband. It felt surreal to think that this was it, after the last thirty years of being apart we were finally together and MARRIED. Smiling I laid my forehead against his feeling as though, for a second time, we were completely alone.
"We're married" Terrence whispered making me laugh, taking his hand. We looked at everyone smiling as I leaned into him.