Chap 20

A/N: I took forever to craft this chapter, I kept rewriting it since its so important and I'm not sure it came out right. Constructive Criticism is heavily appreciated btw.

Also :Dutchrub, thanks for the review! I always keep your suggestion in mind and I hope I don't disappoint! :)

I stood before the mirror and threw punches at it. I then started jumping up and down.

It was all to relive the nerves and the urge to vomit that was surging throughout my body.

I must have looked ridiculous but no one was around.

I sat on the floor and tried to touch my toes. I almost got them, I was away by mere centimeters when there was a knock on the door and I flew up. I raced to the bed and sat just as Agnes was opening the door.

She was followed by the dressmaker, Sonya, and the maid that had done my hair. They all had packages in their hands. They sat them down on a pink settee. Agnes headed for the windows where she pulled open the curtains, the dressmaker was looking through the packages, Sonya left, and the other maid headed for the vanity.

The torture had been commenced.

I got off the bed and slipped on the slippers I had ignored previously.

"I think a bath is in order, your grace," Agnes said, smiling. Yep, she definitely thought I cried last night.

"Let's get this over with, Agnes."

Moments later, once I was bathed and padded dry did the real torture begin.

Sonya had come back with the wooden figure that held the wedding dress with the help of footman.

"First thing we want to do is get her in the corset."

Wait a minute, they were forgetting the most important part of the day.

"What about breakfast?" I asked, shrugging off the slip I'd worn to bed.

The dressmaker was examining the wedding shoes with her back to me.

"After the corset is on. We can't risk the Dowager not getting her 18 inches."

I looked at Sonya. She winked at me and the nervous knot in my stomach loosened up a little bit.

They made me stand with my hands out. I felt the air slowly be squeezed out of my body. I didn't get black corners in my eyes like yesterday but I wriggled about and pulled on the corset when no one was looking.

For breakfast, I was given a penury meal. It was tea with a bowl of blueberries and some yogurt.

The food went down harshly and I didn't finish it all, the urge to vomit was getting stronger as the morning went on.

While I ate, the maid started on my hair. Once she got rid of the white rags, I got the urge to laugh. My hair had clumped instead of curled. The maid sighed loudly and called over the dressmaker. I wasn't sure but I think I heard Sonya call the dressmaker Camille. Camille gasped in horror, she picked up one of the clumps and then let it drop.

"Brush it slowly with the silver prongs. That should get rid of the tangles but be very very careful. The curls are there. They just need to be separated."

That felt like an eternity. The maid was being so delicate and so slow that Camille lost her patience and did it herself. Camille's tugs were more painful. My scalp felt like it had been set aflame.

Once all of my luscious hair had been de-clumped. They styled the longest pieces of my hair to spill over but stop at the top of my nape. Then they scratched my hair and pulled until it was in the shape of a small plump cone. It wasn't very high, perhaps three inches up at the highest part of the slope, which was in the back of my head. Then they pulled some ringlets to frame my face. After that headache, they stabbed the back of my head with small pins encrusted in white pearls.

I let out a sigh of relief when Camille proclaimed me finished.

Pity the dress was next.

They made me stand with my hands out again. The dress felt heavy on me. They were using wires to make the dress stick out more. They hadn't gone with the initial ivory. It was light beige, to hide the contrast of my skin against white cloth. The bodice was an array of a baroque pattern of golden beads, pearls, and more golden frills. The sleeves were more like laces that encased where my shoulder met my arms in a slanted, almost fallen way, then they went on to my elbows where they were split by short ruffles. The sleeves couldn't be too long, they might get in the way of the ceremony. The skirt was lined and fashioned in the same way the bodice was. It was a pretty dress, I had to hand it to them. Although, there was one thing I could not stand. The corset had pushed my bosom rather far up and the dress was cut lower than what I was used to. I felt like a strutting hen.

So much for the famed Brittanican propriety.

They gave me a thick diamond necklace. It had pearls after every other diamond but in the middle three big diamonds lay heavily against my neck. The earrings were almost identical to the necklace, large, drooping ovals that pulled my ears down to my feet.

I wasn't given any gloves. They'd only get in the way of the ceremony. The stupid ceremony.

Once they started to finish and the little details were taken care of, did my stomach act up. I felt bile rise in my throat. I put a hand on my mouth until the feeling went away.

I had no idea how I was going to get through this infernal day.

Fingers snapped in front of my face, Camille wanted my attention.

"I need you to listen very very carefully," She was attempting to stare me down even though I was taller than her " When the prince goes to undress you, you must indicate that there are two buttons-"

That's when I lost it.

I couldn't hold the bile back. I clamped a hand over my mouth again and looked around the room. The closest thing was a pink box. That's where last nights dinner and today's breakfast and lunch ended up. Not that they had given me much lunch, to begin with, just toast and tea. I was going to be ravenous later, too bad dinner wasn't until seven.

I hadn't really given much thought to the wedding night. Whenever the notion popped into my head, I'd cover my ears, close my eyes, and pace back and forth mumbling gibberish until the thought passed.

"Some water Agnes, I gravelly need it." I said, sitting down on the settee and pushing the puke box to the other end of it.

Camille tapped her foot impatiently with her hands on her hips.

"There are two buttons under each sleeve. Once undone, the dress will simply fall off."

She screeched when I heaved into the box again.

Maybe that would shut her up.

It took me a while to regain myself. Agnes had placed a cold rag on my forehead and I laid with my head against the settee until my stomach calmed; the puke box next to me. I took a deep breath before standing.

"All right Camille, If I remember correctly you were almost done. You better hurry, there are 400 guests to keep in mind after all."

I was bored out of my mind waiting in the hallway

Everyone had to go in before I did. These ceremonies were so stupid and hyperbolic.

I started to spin slowly out of boredom, I liked the sound the dress made when I moved. I had my back to the doors when they opened them. I hadn't planned to be embarrassed so soon.

I cleared my throat. I could feel the heat spread all over my back, up my ears and rest on my face.

Bloody hell.

I knew I walked down the aisle excessively quick, more like stomped if we were honest. The stained glass of the hallway was making the sunlight come in and I couldn't see anything. I was trying to get underneath the sun rays as soon as possible. Once I was near the second row did the sun ease up and I could see where I was going and where I was.

The floor was made out of grey limestone. The Grand Hall was part of the original structures, the Brittanicans had kept the floor and the stained glass but they had added a white marble façade to the grey stone that made up the Grand Hall. There were columns on each corner of the hall that had the original jagged grey stone but they had encrusted the top and bottom with gold. The long benches had the original grey stone on each exit but the original wood had been replaced by expensive pine. Pine was only ever used on ships and it only came by with an exceptional amount of money. What a waste. 400 guest were sitting on a Baron's fortune or a small armada.

I had to step up onto the small stage. I nearly tripped when my foot snatched on a rugged limestone. I thought I heard the dress rip but I when I felt the cold air on my toes I realized the top of my shoe had lost contact with the sole. Whoops.

I slid my right foot until I was standing parallel to Newt. I don't think anyone noticed, the dress was so pompous that it didn't really look like I was walking, to begin with.

There was a blonde woman in front of me. I hadn't really looked at anyone. The sun was too bright to let me focus on anything. I got a peak of the room from the slit on the door but when the doors opened I lost visibility. She, whoever she was, was dressed in a black scholars robe. There were gold threads on the hem of her sleeves and gown.

"My brethren, you may sit." She held her hands out as she spoke

I heard the shuffling of feet and rustle of skirts.

The woman clasped her hands in front of her chest.

"We are gathered here today to join our nations. To strengthen our bonds and to place our crown prince one step closer to a throne he rightfully deserves. The purity of this nation rests on the shoulders of our future leaders and this marriage will solidify the importance of our plight against imperfection," the woman turned around and grabbed the ceremonial ribbons. They were ancient, there were holes and loose threads. Newts ribbon was a dark royal blue, the one we had brought over was grey, it was in worse shape but the silver threading on the ends make it look pretty "Your hands, please" The woman smiled widely at us. I hadn't looked at Newt out of nervousness once I got on the stage, the sun had impeded me before, but now I had to face him. He was wearing a dark blue suit with gold trimming and large golden buttons with Brittanicas insignia. He looked paler than usual.

I avoided eye contact but held out my hand in front of me. Newt did the same.

The unknown woman tied my ribbon on my wrist and then Britannicas on Newt, she then proceeded to grab one of the ends of Newts ribbon and pass it through the hole between my hand and the grey ribbon, she did the same to Newt before tying the singular ends together. We had to step closer to each other so that the whole thing could be done, our palms had to be fully pressed against each other. His skin was moist with sweat.

The woman then handed Newt a silver goblet, encrusted with rubies and emeralds. Another small fortune wasted. It was full of a specific wine. They called it Ambrosia. It was supposed to bid us good fortune, enhance fertility, and clean our blood. In reality, it was aphrodisiac with different herbs and spices. I doubted it worked or at least I hoped it didn't.

Newt sipped half of it, it took him a while. He had to keep making sure he had drunk his half after each sip. It was rather uncomfortable, he had to hold the goblet with the hand tied to my own. In order not to pull my arm and rip the ribbons, he stepped even closer. He smelled like fresh soap.

Carefully, Newt handed the goblet to me. The aphrodisiac was just barely underneath the carved marker that indicated it was my turn to drink.

It was a peculiar mixture, a punch of flavors, I could taste cinnamon, pomegranate (obviously), vanilla, and the distinct taste of figs. It wasn't awful but I wouldn't drink it again.

Once I finished the rest, the woman took the goblet, placed it on the marble table behind her, and then took out the knife.

The good old knife.

I bit my lip when she dug the ancient tool into my palm, the blood dropped into the same goblet, she did Newt next.

After that, Newt took hold of my hand and pressed it against his. It took ages until our blood fell into the goblet. Three drops of mixed blood were all she needed.

The woman wiped our hands with a handkerchief and then untied our hands. It was all done in silence. It had to be.

I wanted her to stay quiet.

"Do you Crown Prince Newt of Brittannica, take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife to uphold the purity of your blood, to rule this land justly, and to love?"

It was a long time before he answered.

"I do."

His voice was flat and the response came out dry.

And I thought I was disappointed.

The lady turned towards me. Here we go.

"Do you Princess Roan of Suecia, take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband to uphold the purity of your blood, to rule this land justly, to obey and to love?"

Had to throw obedience in there, did you?

"I do." I said, with a long sigh at the end, just to bug Janson.

The lady smiled widely again and held out her arms.

"You may kiss the bride."

Oh, there was that little bit.

Newt turned towards me, stiff, downcast.

I stood there, frigid and nervous.

He grabbed the side of my face and I fought the urge to recoil, there was dry blood on it.

Newt really didn't kiss me, he tilted my face so it looked like it but he just pressed his lips to the corner of my mouth. I shivered, the proximity was deafening.

"With the power vested in me by the crown and the purity of my blood, I pronounce you man and wife."

There was a round of applause. I always thought I was going to break down when this moment came but in complete honesty, I was just annoyed she'd pricked my skin.

Once the clapping was done, the woman gave us a large smile and held her arms out.

Newt offered me his elbow, he was going to escort me down the aisle and then we had some crowd waving to do, the rest of the wedding party would go to the ballroom and enjoy all the cream puffs I should be eating.

I wasn't sure how that was going to be accomplished considering that my shoe had come apart.

I pushed my foot back into the heel. It was a good thing they had laced the shoe to my leg, otherwise, this entire day might have been a disaster. A lost shoe really made a big impact on how festivities panned out. Especially if the bride lost one.

I tried not to limp as we walked but the shoe did make weird clacking noises, Newt noticed, I felt his eyes on my face but he didn't say anything. We had a head start on the guests and thankfully we had to go a different way.

I had expected Minho or Janson to accompany us to the back entrance. That's when I realized I was married, when they left us alone to walk to the front of the palace to meet some guards that would take us to the gates.

There was no need for a chaperone anymore. Newt was my chaperone now.

I pulled my arm from his.

"I think she cut too deep." I said, examining the cut on my hand. It went from the middle of my palm all the way to the bottom. It wasn't an excuse to disentangle myself, of course not, I would never do that.

Newt held his up. His cut was by far smaller. His was on the middle of his hand, about an inch and a half. The cut I had taken up ¾'s of my hand.

"I don't think she liked me very much." I said, letting my hand drop to my side.

The cuts were supposed to be equal, so the equal amount of blood would blend and fall into the goblet.

"I don't think Counselor Ava likes a lot of people. Don't take it personally."

"I see."

We continued in silence as we walked. This marriage had really set us back, if it was hard to communicate before, it would be impossible now.

I got worried when we reached some stairs. My shoe wasn't going to be able to surpass that, I was sliding my foot along, only lifting it when Newt and his giraffe legs went too fast. There were only three, I could handle three.

I couldn't. I got past the first step but on the second one, the sole of the shoe twisted backward. I thought I was going to kiss the floor.

Newt instinctively reached out, his long arm grabbing my torso while the other held my shoulder.

I had bribed Sonya to loosen the corset but the extra inches weren't enough. The scare I had just suffered made my torso push forcefully against the stays. I put a hand on my chest to calm myself.

"It's my shoe. It ripped during the ceremony." I said, once I caught my breath.

Newt had helped me to sit down on the stairs but it was hard to bend with the corset.

"How did that happen? It's a shoe."

I shrugged and lifted my dress so he could see. It's not like it mattered if he saw my leg, we were married after all.

The sole of the shoe hung to the side and the end of stocking was grey from sliding against the floor.

Newt sat down on the last step. He tried to grab the sole and press it against the top of the shoe.

"That's not going to work, Newt." I was growing annoyed but he tried it one more time.

"It was glued together I thought I might get the glue to stick again. Do you have a loose ribbon or something?"

I paused to think for a second. He wasn't going to like my solution.

I reached inside of the skirt and untied the garter that had been forced on me. The motion had made the dress hike up. My stockings only went underneath my knee, I had refused anything longer, the lack of circulation would have made it impossible to walk. Newt got a good eyeful of my bare knee.

I held up the encrusted garter; Newt frowned but took it nonetheless.

Newt kept the encrusted part of the garter on the top of my foot but tied the sole of my shoe to the top of my foot.

"That should hold it together until we can get back and get you a new shoe." He said, standing and brushing off his clothes.

"Thank You, I don't know what I'll do without you Newt." I said, taking his hand to help me up.

I had decided to be nicer to him, at least for now. He looked positively depressed and he did save my life after all.

We continued to head on to the front of the palace, I limped when I walked but otherwise, I did a good job of getting through and on the carriage that would take us to the Palace's gate. Newt helped on and off, in and out.

"Aren't you cold?" Newt asked. They had loaded us unto an open cart. It wasn't a fancy one, just a normal one the soldiers used. It made things quicker.

I clutched my arms. "Just a tad."

"It's a nice dress but perhaps it's the wrong season."

"Definitely the wrong season."

We reached the front gates within minutes. The guards saw us through a side door on the large columns that framed the gates. There was a thin wooden stair, it creaked with each step we took. I took a deep breath but when Newt grabbed my hand the air circulation to my lungs was cut.

"For show." He explained.

I nodded, I was too nervous to speak.

Would they still hold the scandal against me? Had my plan worked?

I had decided that I would host a city banquet for the urban dwellers the morning of the wedding. When the announcement hit the papers, my poll scores had improved but they still hadn't fully recovered. I reason that it was winter and everyone was starving. Janson had approved but he hadn't been fully impressed.

The guards opened the small wooden door that lead to the balcony. I could hear the rustle of the multitudes.

Regrettably, the day's weather was almost too lovely for winter. There was a strong wind but nothing some wool and a cloak wouldn't fix. If it had been frigid and cold, a small crowd would have shown up. Now I had to deal with ¾ of the city. I tried to smile as much as I could but nervous nausea had taken over. I shivered either from the cold or from the nerves.

A multitude of people stood out chattering and loud. When they saw us, they erupted into cheers. I felt the anchor of tension let go of my ankles and I was no longer weighed down by trepidation.

"They're ecstatic to see you." I said, waving away.

"And you." Newt said.

"I doubt it but as long as they're not booing, I'm not complaining."

It was all going to so well, we were so close to making it out unscathed when the crowd's humor shifted.

I couldn't tell who started it but it spread like smallpox.

"Down with the Regent! Down with the Regent! Free the monarchy! Long live the Crown Prince!"

I froze and looked at Newt, the whole crowd had become inflamed with fervor.

"I think that's enough waving for today." Newt said, pulling me back. He was still holding my hand and as much as I hated it, his grip gave me assurance.

The guards had grown wearisome and posted guards at the front of the gates and pulled down the wooden door over the Iron Gate with open squares that let people look into the palace's courtyard.

The guards rushed us on to the carriage and hustled to get us back.

It was a bumpy ride.

I put my hand over my mouth in order not to laugh. I'd always been told it was rude to openly laugh, only chittering and giggling was allowed.

"Its not funny Roan," Newt said, he was staring me down, "My uncle isn't going to like it."

"Obviously, I wonder if he will still insist on a revolt in his favor."

Newt shook his head at me "If asked we pretend it didn't happen. Any newspapers worth a dime won't print it."

"Then maybe they're not worth a dime." I said, and lifted an eyebrow,

The carriage pulled up to the front doors and the guards discarded us promptly. They were eager to see if there was a situation to handle.

"We need to find you a shoe." Newt said handing me his hand.

I had to go up all those steps to get to the front doors. Eight in total.

"Lets not, the more time we waste, the less time we spend in the wolfs den."

Newt rolled his eyes but he knew I was right.

This wedding was the political soiree of the year and all the players were set and ready. All I could do was hope and pray Janson's training wouldn't fail me. We had deadland tribes to impress.

I decided to stop here, we'll get to see the actual wedding party but this chap hit 4,000 words and I decided that was rather long but I have the next chapters general outline all ready so it won't take long to get it out here.