Birthday Bash Prompt 7: Fairy Tale
Or, Part 2 of Tea Party
Lord Waul didn't want to be here. Everything about this garden was an affront to his sensitive disposition.
His distaste wasn't for the garden itself, nor was it for the charming tables and chairs strewn over the lush green grass behind the large estate. He couldn't so much as fault the tea service. If anything, the tea was the only thing that was keeping him sane at the moment.
He took a long sip to enjoy the subtle flavor as one gloved finger trailed around the side of a biscuit, debating if he wanted it now or later in an effort to distract himself. All unnoticed, servants passed between tables, laying out new dishes of sweets or tea as they ran low.
No. His agony was because this stately manor had almost become his home. He had almost moved up to the rank of 'marquis'. If that… that freak had left Lady Haru alone for just one more week, Lord Waul's financial obligation to an engagement would have been possible. He could have had the perfect wife.
A small smirk played across his lips as he noticed the king's favorite pass between the tables, making sure that everyone was enjoying this friendly little get-together. It was too late to claim this estate and the adjoining rank, but…
"Marquis Chosha!" Lord Waul called out, making the former knight glance up at him.
His lip twitched with dislike, but he nonetheless sauntered over to join him at the little white table. "Enjoying your tea, my lord?"
"Indeed I am, my lord." Waul finished his cup before pouring more from the silver teapot. "I don't recognize the flavor, but it is masterful."
It was rare to see a smile out of the new marquis without his red-headed bride prancing about like a schoolgirl, but the man managed it all the same. "It's a special blend a new friend of mine has been perfecting since childhood. He practically begged to be allowed the chance to share it this afternoon."
"If he allowed you to sample it first, I doubt it took much groveling," Lord Waul asserted as he added a sugar cube, trying to will the tiny white granules to dissolve faster. He breathed through his nose to keep the man from noticing his nerves. "It could be my imagination, but shouldn't the ladies be done with their preparations by now? I know the queen at least was presentable before she disappeared inside." 'Inside the home where I should be master. The king married the eldest, so the estate should have gone to the second eldest's husband instead of the third. I should be hosting this tea party!'
Fakir's strange smile deepened. "Haru may be having second thoughts about coming out, and her sisters are talking her back into it. You know how she avoids social gatherings anymore."
'She wouldn't have to if I were her husband!' It was all he could do to avoid screaming it to the heavens. 'No one would think less of her if she were by my side instead of wasting her life waiting for that mongrel.' "It's been over three years, Marquis Chosha. She's waited long enough. Can't you intercede for me?"
Fakir spread his hands out helplessly. "I've already tried talking sense into her, but she keeps repeating 'It hasn't been four years yet.' You can try your luck when she comes out if you must. But if I were you, I would start looking elsewhere for a bride. Her stubborn heart is set on Catskin." With that, the lord stood up from his chair, gave a polite bow, and continued to circulate among the guests.
It was only Lord Waul's good breeding that kept him from howling in frustration. Reaching into his pocket for the small bit of wire he had coiled, he carefully held it under the table and imagined breaking Catskin's neck over and over as he bent the wire accordingly. It was a good twenty minutes until he was soothed enough to allow himself to enjoy his cold tea.
'Come, come!' he thought furiously. 'At this rate, I'll break the doors down if Haru refuses to come out!'
Finally, there was an almost fairy-like tinkling as the king tapped his silver spoon against a crystal glass, standing at the top of the impressive stone staircase that led down to where the guests were all sitting. The thirty-odd guests stopped almost in mid-chatter to collectively turn their gazes to their young monarch.
Even the servant setting a fresh teapot on Waul's table stopped in his tracks, straightening up almost like a soldier awaiting orders.
The king's large golden orbs were warm once all eyes were on him, and he lowered his glass as his queen stood proudly by his side.
'Finally! But where's Haru?' Lord Waul tried not to growl.
"My lords and ladies; we are honored by your presence here this day. Although I have been soundly scolded for my lack of control, it has escaped precious few that this isn't simply a tea party," the young king confirmed.
Rue smiled lovingly at him, wrapping her arm around his in order to hold it to her as if to remind all present what was hers alone.
"An heir," Lord Waul muttered under his breath. 'I should have placed a bet on it. They were both too overexcited for this gathering.'
If it weren't for Catskin, he'd have at least one heir by now. He gulped the entire cup down and tried to convince himself it was made with whiskey.
"You see, this is my family home," the queen explained while increasing her loving squeeze on her husband's arm. "This is the exact same garden where my dear husband proposed to me."
Marquis Chosha soon joined them, his own wife on his arm as she smiled up at him almost childishly. "This is also where I chose to propose to my sweet wife."
Ahiru beamed up at him, and then turned to face the crowd below. "So it is with great pleasure that this spot was chosen to announce the next member of our family."
A double pregnancy, then? Haru would have to leave off that wedding quilt she's been 'making' for the past three years if she was going to properly dote on nieces or nephews.
"Of course, we have to make him a member of the family first! Please welcome my newly appointed Baron of Piaal, Humbert von Gikkingen!" the king announced proudly, flinging his free arm grandly to the left side of the staircase.
"Wait, what?!" Lord Waul demanded, standing up from his chair before the large servant next to him grabbed his shoulder and rammed him back into his seat. "How dare you! Release me at once!"
"I was ordered by the king to keep you where you are," he growled with a savage grin. "Consider this payback for harassing another man's fiancée for years on end."
"But she was supposed to be mine! Why can't any of you fools see-"
The next action was a partial slap across the mouth and keeping his huge hand there. His grip turned fierce on the nobleman's shoulder, clearly enjoying watching the man struggle.
With Waul silenced, a man about his age revealed himself from the other side of a large hedge.
That… no, that couldn't be Catskin! The only hair on his body was the thick crop of orange hair, and barely any on the eyebrows. He was taller than either of the men standing on top of the stairs with him, though only by half a head's worth. He almost seemed to carry himself like a soldier; tall and proud from the challenges he'd conquered. The suit he was wearing seemed white on first sight, but a second glance showed a light pearl grey.
Worst of all, he could already hear the women from other tables swooning and murmuring in disappointment at his handsome face and solid build.
"Shall we, then?" The king asked the almost unnoticed priest that had been walking by the new baron's side.
The young man flashed an almost mischievous smile at his monarch. "I was summoned for a wedding service, after all. The lovebirds have been patient enough."
"Truer words could never be spoken," Humbert sighed, looking past the two couples separating, the men joining him on the priest's right and the sisters nearly trembling with excitement on his left. His green eyes melted with love as he offered his hands to what appeared to be another hedge.
As soon as Haru stepped into view, Lord Waul could see the cause of the ladies' delay.
She was breathtaking in a light grey ball gown that was about the same shade as the baron's attire, and everything from her careful makeup to the elegant bun that left part of her hair loose was perfect!
But Waul had to admit to himself that he would have insisted that Haru stuck with a more traditional veil as opposed to a slightly too large flower crown that consisted of red and yellow rosebuds. That crown threw off the rest of her ensemble, as far as he was concerned! It made her look like a giddy village girl, and she was a lady of high breeding!
Why was the king allowing this?! Any of this?!
Haru still walked across the flagstones like a lady, joining her hands with Humbert's as he stole a kiss from both sets of her knuckles.
"Are you ready, my love?" the baron murmured in a voice that could make angels weep.
Haru's large brown eyes glowed as she looked up at him, and although her skirt was just long enough to make it hard to see from this angle, everyone could tell she had to stand on tiptoe in order to press a kiss to his cheek.
"We just got called lovebirds. I say we live up to the name," she crooned only loud enough to be heard.
"What a splendid idea!" he agreed through a broad smile, tucking her arm into his and approaching the priest.
It would be foolish to say that Lord Waul didn't try to interfere. He flailed, he screamed, threw as many kicks and elbow jabs as he could at the man holding him prisoner, but the man was clearly a professional at holding down an uncooperative prisoner.
"And, of course, since you only invited friends here," the priest declared, smirking like the devil himself at Lord Waul. "I can't imagine why I would need to bother asking if anyone objects to the marriage."
He tried another, louder scream, but it was no use. Despite looking like he was made of body fat, the servant now keeping a whole arm over his mouth was built of solid muscle.
All that could be heard was a muffled whimper, almost like a whipped dog that had done nothing wrong.
"Yes, it must be so wonderful to have such loyal friends around rooting for nothing less than your eternal happiness!" the priest drawled on before concluding the ceremony.
Waul hated to admit it, but he wasn't accustomed to exerting himself in such a barbaric manner. Whether he liked it or not, he was out of energy by the time the baron kissed his bride.
He would never be able to show his face in court again.
xxXxx
A/N: Okay, to the people that fussed that because a one-shot got published, it means it will never become a longer fic, this is the story that proved everyone wrong, including me. The reason I gave up on the idea of Catskin years ago was because I didn't want to write a story where Baron gets beat up in more ways than one until the triumphant end, or at least meeting his future wife.
But after writing the prompt for Tea Party, my head started popping with ideas on how to do this story, why things happened a certain way… before I knew it, I was writing the third take for this prompt, and I was leaving so many good details out for the sake of time (and is also why this was uploaded later than usual). So, Catskin is back in the lineup. I won't promise that it will turn out the same way this two-shot did, but this isn't the last you've seen of this idea.
And I just might post the second part of Fisticuffs in two weeks before returning to Choice and Consequence. I ran out of time to get to the real end on that one, and I don't think I'll want to wait until after CaC is done.