A Dance Of Twilight: (A Fae Dark Fantasy Romance Stand-Alone )

Chapter 41

Standing at the door of the banquet hall, the faint sound of a harpist playing along to a piano filled my ears. I took a deep breath as Morgana lifted my veil over my head. It had taken them hours of pampering and prepping me, and keeping my hands from reaching for more glasses of wine to be ready.

I needed my wits about me today. I would officially be meeting the entire court, as the new wife of their king. A knot formed in my stomach as the thought of my parents came out of nowhere.

I wondered where they were. How much panic had they gone through looking for me? Could they even reach me? Nicholas mentioned something about magic and a border surrounding his lands, but did that mean my family couldn’t get through?

I hadn’t really asked or thought about it, regretfully.

Morgana and Vanessa stayed by my side for a few more minutes until April joined us to say they would be going in first. I would then wait for the signal and make my entrance. The signal being the doors would be opened for me.

“You will be fine,” April assured me as she gave me a small hug.

“Do you remember your promises?” Morgana asked, her eyes sparkling in the candles that lit the corridor.

I wondered what the room looked like inside. Were there candles lighting my way? What about the colours? Would it be plain perhaps? I’d only read about royal weddings, and some were kept bland, to not take the shine away from the king and queen.

I held the waterfall bouquet tightly in my hands. April mentioned Nicholas had suggested the flower choice, even picking them himself from the gardens. Lilacs, dark pink peonies, wisteria, and purple forget-me-knots were tied together with an ivory ribbon. They smelt divine, and I wondered when he found the time to pick such beautiful flowers.

“I may or may not remember my promises, but I can come up with something on the spot.”

April rolled her eyes at me as Vanessa scoffed. I hid a nervous laugh as Morgana squeezed one of my hands. They made their way inside, leaving me to stand on my own.

I never pictured walking towards my groom without my father at my side. My heart broke at the thought. Even if I was going to marry Dorian, he would still have linked arms with me and led me down the aisle.

I missed him terribly.

I still didn’t know if I should believe the stories about him and my mother. How Nicholas’s aunt was killed for my father denying his vow—his oath.

I would try not to think about it today. I would just enjoy this moment.

Nicholas may be the king who terrified most. He even scared me sometimes. But, I still saw someone who deep down was kind, loyal and loving. The way he tended to me last night and the early hours of this morning, I knew I’d fall in love with him all over again. It would just take time, and time was all we had.

My hair trailed down my back, with two fishtail plaits resting on either shoulder. To much of April’s disdain, she understood and agreed to my hairstyle idea. It felt more like me. Granted, it took a lot of pins for the veil to stay put. I didn”t even know how many were in my hair as two smaller plaits wrapped around my head, like a halo.

As the doors slowly began to open, I swallowed the lump in my throat and relaxed my shoulders, standing up tall. My white laced boots clinked on the ground as I took the first few steps inside. I couldn’t see the top of the aisle before I turned towards where Nicholas stood.

I was surrounded by draped fabric that hung from the ceiling, hiding me from everyone’s eyes until two footmen pulled back the drapes and exposed the hall. I stilled, my eyes unsure of where to look first.

From the ceiling hung wisteria, trailing downwards with what looked like sparkles of starlight lit up around each trail. The aisle was decorated in forget-me-not petals, surrounded by the flowers within my bouquet. And there above the archway was the symbol of the bursting sun—the symbol of my family.

Nicholas seemed so far away as he stood at the top, the harpist playing the most beautiful melody as the pianist was suddenly joined by a violist. Each of them serenaded my arrival. Did Nic think of everything? Or was this all April’s doing?

As I put one foot in front of the other, I was thankful my veil hid some of my expressions. They ranged from astonishment, to joyfulness, and then happiness.

I never pictured something like this.

Finally nearing Nic, I could see him clearly now, and my stomach started to flutter. The sheer sight of him made my heart stop. He wore a gorgeous black suit with a royal purple lining and lilac embroidered swirls across the shoulders and on the sleeves. None of the colours were too bright but looking closely I could see they matched parts of my dress and the room decorations.

His long black hair was tied back. I took his gloved hand as he held it out for my own. My sleeves lifted up, reminding me of my fabric wings and how excited I was when discussing dancing this evening.

We stepped under the archway and an elderly high priestess from the Goddess temple stepped forward. She wore a beautiful ivory cloak with gold trim. She smiled softly at me then she bowed to Nicholas.

The music stopped as Nicholas lifted my veil up. I saw his eyes change from their blue and grey orbs to specks of black then back again. He smiled softly and cleared his throat before turning to address his court.

“Princess Ornella and I welcome you to our wedding ceremony. I know many of you have travelled far and some may have even risked your lives getting here. So for that I am grateful for your attendance. Even if it was a summoned one.” Some of the court laughed along with his jest then quietened down as he held up his hand for their silence. “Like my mother and father, King Theodore and Queen Helena—May the Goddess rest and protect their souls.”

The court echoed his words as I stared in awe of him. Never before had I seen my father command such authority and his entire court beamed up at him all with smiles or softened faces. None of them questioned him it seemed, and I wondered how hard he had worked to gain their loyalties. How hard would I have to work?

“As my parents took their own vows here, the princess and I shall do the same. We value your allegiance and devotion to our marriage.”

The court clapped before he turned to face me again, taking hold of my hand as Morgana joined us under the archway and took hold of my flowers.The high priestess cleared her throat, and the ceremony began. First, there were songs in Nic’s native tongue I had no idea about. I felt shameful when I caught April looking at me with a bit of anger in her brow, as I’d forgotten to learn the words.

Once that was over with, we each turned to face the high priestess as she wrapped our clasped hands with a knot of ribbon, then with a piece of chain mail. She then lit our ceremony candle and let the hot wax drip onto the knot.

Tying our hands together, she flipped them over so our wrists were facing upwards. I watched as she took a small dagger from her ceremony table. She made one clean cut across Nic’s wrist and then the same on mine.

I winced at the sting, as blood dripped from my new wound into a golden chalice along with Nic’s. She mixed the blood with some liquid before holding her hands over our wounds, healing them in seconds.

“As their majesties drink from the sacred chalice of our Goddess, let us lift our hands in prayer. Pray that these two never break the bond created on this day.”

She held her hands up in the air and closed her eyes, as she began to chant something again in Nicholas’s native language. I became angry with myself now. I was missing out on this beautiful ceremony because of my ignorance.

“It’s time for us to drink,” Nicholas murmured.

He stepped closer to me, our hands still tied as he held the chalice up to my lips. As the bitter metallic taste hit my mouth, I felt a rush run through my body, and for a few seconds I was almost in a daze—a trance. I came out of it to share the drink with Nicholas, who finished the remaining liquid and handed the cup back to the high priestess.

“As the blood ritual is complete, their majesties must now promise one another to never break this bond, unless death takes either of them, which in that case will take both.”

We both die if one of us dies first? That didn’t seem like a fair deal. Then again, who would want to be apart from their beloved? Perhaps that was why this part of the ceremony happened, so each soul was tied to one another.

“His majesty will go first.”

Nicholas cleared his throat as the room fell silent once again and I could have sworn his head had a few drops of sweat on it. I stepped from side to side, adjusting my footing nervously.

“Ornella, as I make this vow, this promise to you and in front of our guests, rest assured I will keep it for as long as I walk this world with you at my side.”

He paused, squeezing my hand gently, and bringing my other one to hold in his. My heart began to race as my eyes caught his intoxicating stare. My mouth watered as I watched him closely, lost in his eyes.

“You are the light to my darkness. The beacon to which my soul craves to find. The one I will forever lay my life down to keep you safe. You are what makes me whole. And I pledge myself to you, from now until eternity.”

He kissed the knuckles of my untied hand. I could hear the gasps and sound of some of the women crying as he proclaimed himself to me. Never before had he told me such words, expressing himself in a loving way. I still believed he didn’t really want me, but then hearing those words was like music to my ears and soul.

It was my turn, and I became clueless as to what to say. My mind was running blank as he waited for me to continue on. I wasn’t sure how I would top such beautiful words. All I could hope for was for him to understand how I felt and how I hoped to feel as our relationship continued to grow.

“My king, Nicholas. When I met you, I was but a girl unknowing of the path I would take as I grew beside you and then without you. I always felt there was a piece of me that was missing. I never thought in a million years that piece would come in the shape of a man cloaked in the shadows. One who promised me a life filled with adventure, mystery, and the unknown,” I paused, my mind and heart pulling together the words I never knew I needed to say.

“I would wait on my balcony hoping you’d return to me with some witty jest or ask me to dance with you under the moonlight in a bed of flowers. Stealing me away, bringing me here and showing me your world has opened my eyes to the path I have always craved to be on. At your side, I will forever and always be your devoted servant, your confidant, your loyal wife, and loving friend.”

There was a sigh in the seats as I glanced over at April, I saw her wipe away what appeared to be a tear before turning to face Nicholas again who was silent. I wasn’t sure what part was next but as I stared at him, I felt something warm inside me. It was almost like an embrace. Then a smile crept across his lips. I could feel his warm hands around me and yet they were still within my grasp.

“As they have proclaimed their promises of devotion and love, our majesties may now take their first steps together as husband and wife. Only afterwards, will the Goddess bless this union.”

And so, we walked under the archway, around and then under once again before going around the other way and then stopping where we stood first.

“You may now, sire, seal your vows with a kiss.”

Finally, the part I knew would happen eventually and as his lips locked onto mine, the room erupted in a roar of claps and cheers. His arm wrapped around my waist as he dipped me, our tied hands tangled somewhat. As the kiss was broken, he pulled me to his side.

“How long are we to be tied together?” I whispered.

“Until we leave the banquet.”

“All night?” I exclaimed under my breath and Nicholas laughed at me.

“I hope that won’t be a problem, wife.”

Winking at me, I rolled my eyes as we took our walk back down the aisle, towards the courtyard and outside to the beautiful, decorated garden. Where we were left alone for a few minutes before guests began to filter outside as the banquet hall was changed to accommodate the festivities of dancing and plenty of food.

“It’s not a problem, husband. But when I must head to the ladies’ room, I am afraid you may have to join me.”

I jested back and he laughed under his breath. Would he be like this with me all the time? Or was this for only our private moments? Some part of me was still worried that he would revert back to his treatment of me in the summer house and it pained me deep inside as those words replayed in my mind.

“Don’t think like that. I am who I have always been when with you. The king in me will only appear when he needs to.”

“You sound as if two versions of you live inside you.”

“In some way they do, Annwyl. So please do not try to provoke them. I am just Nicholas when we are alone.”

I nodded, hoping I would come to believe him and not regret the choices I had made in the last two days.