Chapter 23 #2
And no one was celebrating his victorious moment with him.
That was because no one knew he was here, Riven realized.
He smiled, tugged his royal white jacket into place, and marched his way through the crowd.
A few gasps carried to him once they realized who he was, and people parted with awed expressions as he drew closer, but Riven only smiled once he stood behind Bella and his mother.
Choosing to resume his carefree nature, he said, “There seems to be a whole lot of crying going on here.” He grinned and added, “It’s almost like someone died.”
His mother whirled upon hearing his voice, crossed herself, then stood. “Is it you?”
“Hello, Mother. It appears we’ve broken the curse.”
“Riven!” His mother broke all royal protocol and wrapped him tightly in her arms. “I cannot believe you survived. Are you hale?” She began patting him down, touching his chest and arms as if seeking breaks and bruises.
“I am hale, Mother,” he said, his eyes locked on Bella. He took a step closer to her. “Bella, darling.”
Her mouth dangled open as she stared at him. “Are you really here? Is it really you?”
He grinned. “I know you have never seen my face before. Would it help if I said, wum?”
She caught her laugh behind her wrist as she nodded. “I thought you were gone forever.”
“So did I. Tilisandre said you solved the riddle of the curse.”
“I did,” she sniffled, “but I didn’t feel I could just tell you. The storybooks say the characters must come to the conclusions on their own.”
“What conclusions?” the queen asked.
Riven took a decisive step closer, his eyes locked on Bella. He raised one hand to her face, cupping her cheek in his palm. “That we love each other.”
Bella nodded and smiled.
Riven took that as a sign to move completely against her. “Bella, darling, I love you. I have loved you since the moment we met, and every moment since. And,” one eyebrow danced suggestively, “I believe I promised you something, something that you were going to hold me to.”
Her cheeks pinkened right on schedule. “Here?” she whispered.
He made no reply, just lowered his head to hers. This time, he waited for her to bridge the agonizing one-inch gap.
She did, and Riven drew her close in his human arms, guiding her hands behind his human neck to draw her against his very human body.
Bella melted, just the way he’d hoped, as he pulled her to her toes.
He released her back to the ground, keeping his steadying hands on her elbows as she seemed a bit disoriented. “Bella, will you do me the honor of being my wife? Forgive me for not having a ring on my person.”
She was nodding, and nodding, her eyes still damp from her previous tears. “I will. I will! I know you are a good and kind person.”
“I am also a talented musician.” He got down on one knee and took her hand in his. Then he began to sing:
“Do, da do, da do do da do dum
I love my whole kingdom, but that pales beside you.
Together, forever, like the storybooks tell us,
Overcome evil curses with a love that is true.
Do, da do, da do do da do dum
I will never be happy without you forever,
For the true love I hoped for was rather hard earned.
Do, da do, da do do da do dum
For the true love I hoped for was rather hard earned.”
The townsfolk, quite used to his performances, erupted into cheers, while Bella clapped with joy.
“That was delightful! What a wonderful singer you are!”
“It is a talent any a wastrel can attain,” he said, aiming the comment at the queen.
His mother shared a reluctant smile. “Romantic frippery, but you sounded quite pleasing to the ears. I am glad you are able to sing again,” she added, then removed a ring from her finger.
“You cannot propose without a ring, son. This was my mother’s.
She also believed in true love.” She extended the item to Riven in the palm of her hand.
“Thank you, Mother. This means a lot.” He took the emerald and extended his palm for Bella. She reverently extended her left hand and watched as he slid the ring up her finger.
“Perfect fit.”
Bella gasped and said to him, “Your Royal Highness, I have never seen its like.” She then addressed the queen. “Thank you, Your Majesty, for this gift.”
The queen smiled. “You saved my son’s life. It is the least I can do.”
“We shall marry as soon as the bans are read. Two weeks? Is that suitable, darling? Would you like to head north so your family can attend?”
Bella looked around at everyone, and he watched her lick her lips in thought. “Considering what I went through trying to get here, I think we should alert my father to our union after the fact. We will never make it up there in time anyway.”
“That is true,” Riven said, then kissed her again. “My clever girl, always thinking ahead.”
She smiled at him, her eyes dancing at his compliment.
The queen rested one hand on each of their forearms. “I worry, in light of Luc’s punishment, that your father will not take lightly to you marrying a commoner, though I find her a worthy match for you.
You may have a royal battle on your hands,” she warned, “though I pledge to do my part to defend your decision.”
Bella tipped her head and half laughed. “Well, if it helps, I do have royal blood.”
“What?” Riven snapped his head to her. “You do?”
She nodded and reached into her coin purse to remove an envelope, which she handed to the queen. “King William is my grandfather.”
“How is this?” she asked as she studied the wax seal on the letter.
“The king in his youth loved my grandmother, a lady-in-waiting at his castle. Together they had my mother. Once he was married and his new bride learned of my grandmother’s and mother’s existence, she banished them from the grounds.
My grandmother raised my mother in Esch-Sur-S?re on the stipend Grandfather provided.
Mother had grown up and eventually married my father and had me.
The stipend ended with her death.” She indicated the letter with her chin.
“It is a congratulatory note of my birth. Grandfather is aware of me, though we have never met. Mother told me I was finally named once she received this letter.”
The queen blinked in apparent shock before turning her gaze to the note.
She read aloud, “My dearest daughter Adelheid, I am so delighted to hear of your safe delivery of your little girl.
I bet she is as beautiful as you, ma belle fille, with long dark hair and eyes.
I hope she is filled with your curiosity and intelligence, and that she seeks the same adventures you did as a wee child.
“It is with deepest sympathy that I will not be able to come visit you or my new granddaughter. I hope you understand. Please accept the gifts that will soon be headed your way.
“With love, Papa.”
The queen nodded her approval. “The seal is the king’s, and the letter I hold is exquisite. Finer paper I have not beheld. Look you at this delicate gold scrolling in each corner.”
Riven felt his heart fill with hope. “So, there is no issue with us marrying?”
His mother smiled. “Royal blood is royal blood. I care not which side of the blanket she’s from, and neither will your father.” She looked at the new pond and added coyly, “He has bigger fish on his plate to deal with.”
“Harsh, Mother. Harsh.”
She smiled at her pun.
Riven picked up Bella, hoisted her against his body, and swung her in circles. “I am marrying the woman I love!”
Everyone around them cheered.
He lowered his head to kiss Bella again. “And, like they say in the storybooks, together, we shall live happily ever after.”
“I cannot wait for our story to begin,” Bella said, joining him in another celebratory kiss.
When that kiss ended, Riven said, “Let us start planning our future.” He claimed Bella’s hand, led her over to Nocturne, and hoisted her into the saddle.
He mounted behind her and said, “Henriette, you of course will make our wedding attire. I hereby elevate you to the Royal Clothier. Mother, I leave you to pass the day’s events along to Father.
For the rest of you, let us get started with the merrymaking! ”
More cheers erupted at the promise of ale, wine, and good food.
Together, they rode off to the castle to start their new life.