Gabrielle's heart was pounding in her chest as her servants dressed her in Mother Goose' wedding gown. She had to admit it was very lovely, far too lovely for her. She took a deep breathe as she felt the veil crown being placed over her head.
"Oh, you look so beautiful!" Said a young brunette servant girl. Who was doing some last minute checks at the hem to make sure everything was perfect.
"Thank you.." Gabrielle said in a small voice, as anxiety was building up in her. She was thankful now, more than ever that she was having a relatively small royal wedding. She didn't think she would be able to make it down the aisle if the entire kingdom was staring at her.
Then there was a knock at the door.
"Who is it?" Called one of the busy seamstresses.
"The king."Came Adrian's voice, "I have something to give to Gabrielle...alone." The seamstresses gave excited whispers as they got up. Gabrielle gave a half smile, without a doubt the king's visit would be palace gossip. The girls cleared out of the doorway, leaving Adrian dressed in his black and white groom's clothing holding a box. He looked up at Gabrielle in her wedding dress, and they stared at each other for the longest time. Her husband to be face's was emotionless, but she felt his mind was far from it.
He then began to make his approach to her and when he stopped in front of her, he removed the box top. The bride's green eyes widened at the what was in the box. There laid the pair of glass slippers from the ball, that she had went too in disguise.
"How...how did you get these?" She was sure the one lost at the ball was forever lost, or that no one had a reason to just keep one shoe no matter how fancy it was, and the other was at Miss Goose's seamstress shop.
"Well, my guards found it at on the manor grounds and I've been keeping it ever since and when I sent word for Miss Goose to come, I asked her to bring the other slipper with her."
"Oh, I see." Adrian knelt down and Gabrielle realized what he was about to do, so she stuck one of her feet out from the gown and the groom slid the glass slipper unto his bride. Then when that was done he slid on the other, before rising up. Gabrielle felt the slippers on her feet, and remembered their dance at the ball, where she had been too much of a nervous wreck to enjoy it.
"I am afraid that I can't take you away at this moment to have a proper honeymoon. I don't want to risk going away while the kingdom is in need of a stable ruler, and even when we do go, it won't last long, I hope this doesn't disappoint you." Gabrielle shock her head.
"I haven't really even thought of a honeymoon until you brought it up." At this Adrian shoot her a puzzled look at Gabrielle couldn't understand. Why did he look surprised that she hadn't thought of a honeymoon after the wedding?
"Well then...I'll see you in a few hours. Good bye." He said, before taking his leave. After he had left the servants came piling in, wanting to know what the prince had given her. She lifted up her wedding skirt to reveal the glass slippers. The girls went crazy over them.
"Are these the one you meet while dancing with the prince before you ran off at the stroke of midnight and lost one?" Asked one servant. Gabrielle gave a blush.
"You...know about that?"
"Why, my lady, everyone in the kingdom knows about that." Gabrielle blushed, oh dear, had Adrian revealed every detail to the kingdom.
"It is so romantic..." Sighed another girl and all the girls chimed into agreement, only adding to the redness of her cheeks. Eventually the girls took their leave and Gabrielle was escorted into a royal carriage that was made for a bride. She saw she had several guards on horseback that would be guarding her carriage. She stepped inside, smoothing out her large skirt, before the carriage took off. Then they were outside the city gates, Gabrielle was almost deafened by the sound. The streets were back to the brim with citizens waiting to see the royal bride. Her nervousness grew at the thought of so many people looking at her, but she took a deep breathe as the carriage drove forward. Flowers were tossed in front of the carriage as the people cheered.
Gabrielle then decided not to introduce herself so aloofly, to the people. She moved the curtain back and waved and smiled at the people as they passed by. She prayed to Hestia that her nervousness would not show in her smile, as she waved to the kingdom. The journey took longer than expected with the guards and the crowds that were carefully watched. By the time they had reached the temple, Gabrielle's hands was quite exhausted. She had switched hands during the ride whenever one got to tired.
She was escorted out the carriage and now the crowd could see her royal wedding dress that only added to the cheers, making her blush. Oh, she had been turning red so much today she wondered if it would eventually lead to a rosy tone permanently on her cheeks. However, she couldn't help, but imagine the ot horror the crowd would have, if they saw her wearing the tailor's wedding gown. The entourage of guards escorted her into the temple.
She was lead into the temple's bride's room, there inside she was meet with Miss Goose who was wearing a tasteful purple and silver gown, along with her three bride's maids; Kianda, Rosella, and Estelle. Kianda was decided to be the maid of honor since she had helped in Gabrielle's rescue and Gabrielle felt that Kianda deserved such an honor as being the maid of honor at the king (who she was so loyal too" wedding's. The bride's maid were dressed in different colors with matching bouquets and accessories. Estelle was dressed in green, Kianda; Blue, and Rosella; Pink. Of course, all the dresses had the same design, but a different color.
They greeted each other with smiles and hugs. Even the usually stoic Kianda seemed excited and they all commented on the gown.
"I saw that pink monstrosity, as King Adrian called it, when it was set to burn at the soldier's quarters. They called us all out there to have a good laugh at it as they started the bonfire." Kianda told Gabrielle. The bride couldn't help, but give a giggle at the thought of a bunch of manly soldiers handling that giant pink gown and burning it. Well at least something good came out of that ugly dress.
Gabrielle lightly, lifted her skirt to show them her glass slippers and she learned that everyone knew they were from the ball.
"I actually thought the girl who was dancing with the prince looked familiar." Rosella commented, and Estelle rolled her eyes.
"Of course, you did." And they all had a laugh at that. It felt good to have a laugh among friends after all the nervousness she had felt this morning. Then she told them about how Adrian had given to her, then she got to the part about the honey moon.
"I told him that I hadn't even thought about a honeymoon and he gave me the strangest look, like he was surprised or something. At this Miss Goose and the bridesmaids all looked at each other, with now serious expressions and then the looked back to the bride. Miss Goose cleared her throat.
"By dear, do you know what happens on after your wedding...on the wedding night."
"Of course-" Then Gabrielle's cheeks turned at least fifty shades of red. "Oh my Gods, I haven't even thought about that." She covered her cheeks as though to hide the redness.
"Really?" said Estelle in a surprised look, "Usually girls are fretting about their wedding night, or looking extremely forward too it.
"I must have admit. I never heard of a bride who didn't even think about her wedding night." Added Miss Goose.
"Well, if there is one bride, it would defiantly be Gabrielle." Rosella said, adding her two cents in. At this the fae and the bridesmaids gave a laugh. The blushing bride managed to crack a small smile at this. But now she had another reason to be nervous. The wedding night...she hadn't even kissed Adrian, yet. Unless that rose petal kiss counted. How could she be thinking about...that.
"You do know what happens...right?" Asked the fae, "We don't have to explain it to you, do we?" Gabrielle widely shook her head at this.
"No, no you don't need too. I know what happens." After this, she was thankful that the subject was changed to less...personal matters into light hearted topics, like wondering what the cake would look like, or how the reception would go. All things like that. Then a guard dressed in white and gold came out.
"It's time for the bridesmaids to take their places." He ushered the girls out of the bride's room, and they said their goodbyes, leaving Gabrielle all alone. The bride felt her nervousness come back to her. She pulled the veil over her head, as she paced the room. Finally, after what felt like forever, the guard came back.
"Your groom awaits you." She gave a nod and the guard offered her his arm. Since she had no close living male relations an honored guard would be walking her down the aisle. Finally, they entered the wedding hall of the temple. She took a deep breathe as she saw Adrian and all her friends at the other end. The music started and Gabrielle started her slow walk down the aisle with the honored guard. If she was a normal girl getting married to an average man, the crowd would have been huge for her. But since she was marrying the king, the crowd was rather small by comparison to other royal weddings.
Finally, they made their walk to the altar and the honored guard released her and she walked in front of Adrian, her heart pounding to the point where she was afraid the entire temple might hear it. She prayed to Hestia that the veil was covering her nervous face. She felt Adrian gently grasp her wrist, as the Hestian priest began the ceremony. This was the first wedding in the kingdom's royal history to have be dedicated to Hestia. The priest went and on about the values of marriage and virtues of love. Then it was time for the vows. Adrian said his and Gabrielle repeated her's in the most confident voice she could muster. Then came the I do's.
"King Adrian do you take this woman as your wife and queen?"
"I do." Adrian said without hesitation.
"And Lady Gabrielle do you take this man as your husband and take the crown as our queen?" Gabrielle gave a regretful pause that filled the wedding temple with tension, but finally she said, in a voice barely above a whisper.
"I do."
"Then by the gracious Hestia and all the Gods. You are now husband and wife, and king and queen of Svertiana! The crowd gave a loud cheer at this. Gabrielle felt must had been her thousandth blush that day. She truly gave new meaning too the term blushing bride.
"You may now kiss, her majesty, Queen Gabrielle of Svertiana." Gabrielle held her breathe as Adrian lifted the veil and stared with his ice blue eyes at her for a moment, and then laid a tender kiss on her lips. It was so soft and chaste. Then he pulled away and the wedding crowd stood up and gave a loud cheer. Adrian then offered his queen his arm and she took it.
The crowd was still standing and clapped as the new queen and her king made their way down the aisle. I am now queen and a wife. I am now queen and a wife. Gabrielle kept telling herself, because a part of her didn't believe this was real. She couldn't be queen, less than a year ago she was dressed in rags and sleeping on hay, now she was by the man who was both her king and husband's side in the most beautiful gown she had ever seen, with some of the most important people in the kingdom giving her applause.
No, this had to be a dream, it had to be. In a moment she would wake up in a straw bed with her cat beside her and Isodara calling her up to make breakfast because she had spent most of the night secretly reading. This couldn't have been reality. The newly wed couple with guards by their sides stepped outside the temple to the great noise of the citizens who had come to see them. A train of carriages awaited them to carry the bridal party and the guests to the reception.
The front carriage was, of course, for the newly wed royal couple and Adrian helped her climb in it. He got in the seat beside her and shut the carriage door. They didn't say a word to each other and Gabrielle couldn't think of a thing to say right now. The rest of the bridal party and guests began to load into the carriages and soon they were off back to the palace for the reception. The crowds had grown even larger since Gabrielle had first seen them when she left this morning. The cheers were even more deafening. The newly crowned queen waved to the people outside, but Adrian did not, probably to keep his reputation up, but also because he didn't truly feel like it.
They finally, came to the palace gates and were let in. When Gabrielle stepped out of the carriage, she could still hear the crowd, but less of it, now that they were gone the crowd had began to disperse. Miss Goose and her bride's maids came up to her.
"We need to change you into your reception dress." The fae told her. She looked back at Adrian, and said,
"Excuse me, my lord." My lord, that was the proper way a noble woman, especially the queen, addressed her husband. He gave a nod of approval, then took her gloved hand and kissed it. She gave a bow, not being able to curtsy in such a thick dress and left with Miss Goose and her bride's maids. They servants were also gathered in groups when she entered the palace. Would Gabrielle get a moment today when she wasn't surrounded by crowds? However, she couldn't truly blame them because if she was an ordinary citizen she would be wanting to see the new queen true.
"All hail, to her newly crowned majesty, Queen Gabrielle of Svertiana!" Announced a butler and the crowd of staff and nobles announced together.
"All hail the queen!" Along with cheers. Gabrielle gave a blush (how many times had she blushed today? She had long lost count) She waved at the staff and nobles as Miss Goose and her bridesmaids ushered her to the seamstress room. Once there, she was helped out of her heavy gown, but her glass slippers remained. Then the fae seamstress pulled out her reception dress and she gasped. It was golden , it had a thick skirt of bunched up fabric with yellow roses embroidered on it. The bodice had a heart shaped neckline with a yellow see through fabric over the shoulders, but the rest of her arms would be bare.
"Do you like it?" Asked, Miss Goose.
"I love it...you have done so much for me. I don't know how I can ever repay you." The fae laughed
"You don't need to repay me, your majesty-" It was so odd to hear an old friend address her as 'your majesty', she was tempted to tell the fae to just call her Gabrielle, but then again Miss Goose had probably been looking forward to calling her, your majesty, for the longest time. "-your husband has already rewarded me enough."
"Oh, he has paid you handsomely?"
"Yes...and he has offered me to a job as the official palace tailor and I accepted." She told her with a laugh and Gabrielle covered her mouth. Her heart was about to burst with joy.
"So you...will be staying with me..here at the palace" The fae smiled and nodded and the queen smiled back. With her stepsisters gone, at least she would have someone familiar too talk to."
"Oh, Miss Goose, I am so happy." Gabrielle cried in happiness.
"Oh, your majesty, so am I." The quickly helped her into the yellow ballgown. Her hair was let down with a braid wrapped around her head, the same style she wore when she went to meet the widow, Alice. But this time a white and gold tiara was placed on her head. Then a necklace with a gold swan pendant was snapped around her neck.
"Oh, you look so beautiful!" Rosella said with glee.
"Thank you, Rosella." Estelle went to the door and opened it.
"Well, we can't keep the king waiting." The girls nodded and they all made their way to the reception the nobles had already went to the reception, and the staff crowds had dispersed, but a good amount of servants still lingered in the hallways, mostly women, who wanted to see the reception dress. She saw many eyes widened and mouths dropped at the sight of the golden dress and a few rushed off, likely to gossip about it among their friends. Finally, they made their way to the royal ballroom where the reception was being held. Miss Goose and her bridesmaids went down first. An announcer was proclaimed their entrance.
"Lady Estelle and Lady Rosella, sisters by marriage to Queen Gabrielle." She didn't hear many claps at their presence and was confused to why. Then she realized it was because the people knew that she had been a slave in her own home and had waited on her stepsisters' hand and food. They likely thought of them bad women for their condoning of their stepsister's treatment.
"Lady Kianda, honored woman warrior of King Adrian's army and captain of the Queen's guard." At that announcement, Kianda turned to Gabrielle with a puzzled expression on her face and Gabrielle gave her an equally confused one. Queen's guard? When had that been announced? It was likely something she would have to ask Adrian. Anyway, the crowd gave Kianda much warmer applause than they did her stepsisters. Kianda descended down the steps were Shango dressed in a much richer uniform was there to greet her.
Next was Miss Goose, as she started her descent she was announced.
'Miss Goose, the designer of today's wedding and reception gown." At this the crowd gave a far larger cheer than Gabrielle would have expected a seamstress to get. So that most have meant the wedding gown was popular in the public's eye. One the fae had finished her descent it was Gabrielle's turn.
"Presenting, her majesty, Queen Gabrielle, of Svertiana!" At her appearance in the gold gown at the top of the stairs, everyone stood up to give their applause. Gabrielle tried to maintain the composer and grace befitting a queen, as she made her descent down the staircase, much slower than her predecessors with her thick gown skirt. Finally, she made it down without tripping, or tumbling down the stairs. She spotted her husband at the other end of the room at a table and their eyes meet. The crowd made way for her to get to the king's table where she took his seat beside him.
"You look beautiful." Adrian told her, causing the queen to blush. She smoothed her heavy skirt and looked at the man she still couldn't believe was her husband.
"Thank you...my lord." My lord, the proper title for a noble lady to address her husband. She hoped she would get use to it soon. There was a silence that followed as the guests mingled and a few came up to congratulate the newly weds.
"My lord.." Began Gabrielle and he looked over to her,
"Yes, my lady?"
"What did it mean when Kianda took her descent and they announced her as captain of the Queen's guard. What does that mean?" Adrian took a sip of his wine.
"I imagine that Shango is now explaining the finer details of this to Kianda now, but to put it simply. I have formed a small guard that is dedicated to your protection and is loyal to you, and the only one above them is me. Not any general or councilmen. They follow your orders and protect you, and only I, which I imagine won't happen, can get them too dismiss an order from you."
"Does...Kianda want this?" She didn't want to have her friend forced into this job.
"Well, she has the right to reject it, but knowing her I doubt it. Kianda will be given a much higher station in the army and have more benefits. She will also make history as the first woman to be captain of a guard and the first non-white person to be as well." The king took another sip of the wine and Gabrielle looked down.
"I see..." Inside she hoped Kianda would not reject the offer, with her sisters away, she would like as many people she could count on to be by her side in this new and strange role of queen. Then they were served cake and it had cream cheese icing. Gabrielle's favorite type of icing, but she hadn't had it in years. Then Rosella and Peter came up to them. Rosella gave them a curtsey and Peter a bow.
"Congratulations on your marriage, my majesties." Began Peter.
"Than you, Peter." Adrian told him in a much more relaxed tone than usual. With the wedding winding down, he was under much less stress than he had been under planning it.
"Your majesty, I hope I do not cast a sour light on your wedding day, but informing you that I would like to leave your council." Adrian gave him a curious look, but didn't seem offended.
"You have not cast a sour light, Peter." The king told the dwarf, "But would you give me an explanation for your sudden departure from my council?" He and Rosella looked at each other, and then back at the king.
"Isodara fully expected her daughters to be married off before her demise. However, that has not happened and she has left them unprepared to manage affairs of the state. I want to help them." Peter would have a lot of work ahead of him, thought Gabrielle. Isodara had greatly mismanaged her father's estate and she wouldn't be surprised to find gray strikes in his hair by the time he managed to sort out Isodara's mess.
"Your permission to leave is granted, Peter and best of luck with your new position." Peter gave him another bow and if it was physically possible, Rosella would have been smiling from ear to ear. Rosella gave the king another curtsey before taking Peter's hand and they walked out to the ballroom floor together, where other couples had started gathering to dance. When they were out of ear's reach, Adrian remarked,
"It is so obvious that he is so head over heels over that girl. That I almost feel embarrassed for him." The queen turned sharply too him.
"You...think, he is in love with her?" Adrian gave a nod.
"I know your stepsister has changed for the better, but I don't know if she has changed enough for her to able to love and marry a dwarf." Gabrielle watched the dancing couple, as they both made up for Peter's lack of height in their dance.
"I don't know...I think you are underestimating my sister."
"Oh, really now?"
"Yes, I think so." Adrian gave the tiniest hint of a smirk before taking his wine. Soon it began time for the bride's and groom's first dance. Adrian got up and offered his wife his hand and she took it. He escorted her out to the ballroom floor. Where he wrapped one hand around waist and with the other hand twined his fingers around hers and she placed his hand on his shoulder, as they began to dance.
It occurred to her that this was the first time she had danced with Adrian since the ball. The king seemed to realize this, because he whispered in her ear.
"Don't think about running this time. I have guards posted at every exit in such an attempt." She gave a laugh, but knowing Adrian it might not have actually been a joke. The guests watched as the royal couple gave their dance. Gabrielle had received a few dancing instructions before this because it had been so long since she had danced. However, her tutors told her she was far more graceful than a woman who only danced once during the last decade. Adrian spun her around the floor and then brought her back to him. Finally, the music ended and the royal couple returned to their seats. The party went on for a few more hours, it would likely last until after it was gone. It was expected for the bride and groom to leave early for obvious reasons. Adrian whispered in her ear.
"Gabrielle, you should leave now. If we leave together they will start a fuss that will likely embarrass you. I will follow you after a few minutes." Gabrielle nodded, glad she didn't have to go through the expected ritual that a couple were expected to go through when they went to their marriage bed. The queen gave a bow of her head to her king, before quietly getting up and leaving through a back entrance. She caught a few looks, as would expected of a queen on her wedding day, but their were also some smirks, but luckily no one said a word to her.
A guard escorted her out of the ballroom. They went to the royal hall, and Gabrielle was confused for a moment when they walked right past her bedroom. Then it dawned on her that she was a married lady now and that meant sharing her husband's bed. She turned red (For what had to be the millionth time) but lowered her head so the guard wouldn't see it as he opened the door to her new chambers that she shared with her husband.
She door shut behind her and she was alone now. She took a glance around the king's chambers, it was a good deal bigger than her chambers and had a more masculine feel too it than her rather dainty princess chamber. The room was decorated in whites and golds. Mostly white marble with tapestries of historical events decorating the walls. The most dominating parts of the room was a huge canopy bed that was blue and a large roaring fireplace. The walls were also decorated with swords, spears and all kinds of weapons. There were two wardrobes and she checked them to find out that one was for her husband and the other was for her with all her clothing from her previous room moved in it. It must have been moved during the wedding.
She took a pink nightgown and went to the washroom and took a quick rinse of herself to freshen up after her long and exhausting day. Whoever knew that being a bride could be some tiresome. She slipped into the pink nightgown and crawled into bed. There was a bookshelf in the room, but Gabrielle had no desire to read now. She sat up on the bed with her heart pounding as she looked over at the clock. Around thirty minutes passed when the door open, causing the queen to jump a little as she looked over to see Adrian.
"Good evening, my lord." She got out, trying to hide her nervousness.
"Good evening, Gabrielle, but you don't have to call me, my lord in public. Adrian will do just fine when we are alone. Gabrielle gave a nod at this, and Adrian went to his wardrobe to pick out something to where for the night before heading to the washroom. She heard the sound of water, before Adrian came out. When she looked up at him she gave (yet, another) blush. He was wearing a loose pair of trousers and no shirt. She had never seen him without a shirt, but it brought back how handsome he was. She also noticed a few scares on his well defined chest, likely battle scars. She quickly averted her gaze down to the comforter before he could notice her stare.
She felt a dip in the bed as Adrian sat down. He moved toward her and gave her a kiss. Here it comes, Gabrielle thought, but then Adrian did the unexpected. He laid back down on a pillow and covered himself.
"Good night." He told her. Gabrielle sat there and blinked, not understanding.
"Is...that all?" She asked him, which caused Adrian to set up with a bit of stunned look on his face. Gabrielle looked at him and continued. "I thought you would be wanting...to claim your...marital rights." The king blinked at her.
"I want too...but I assumed you weren't ready for it. I was going to wait until you were more comfortable around me." Gabrielle looked at him.
"I'm comfortable around you." She told him. Adrian looked into her green eyes.
"Are you sure?" He asked her. Gabrielle sensed a bit of excitement in his calm voice. She gave a nod.
"Well then." Adrian went to her and gave her a kiss slowly pushing her down on the bed.