39. A Grand Wedding
A Grand Wedding
Scarlet
M y hands tremble uncontrollably as I smooth out imaginary wrinkles in the voluminous white skirts. Today I walk the aisle to be bound forever to a cruel man I despise. Even the soaring cathedral arches and elaborate floral displays do little to settle my roiling nerves.
This dress feels like a ridiculous costume, the layers of silk and lace suffocating me. I wish I could tear the whole farce away. Nearby, my awful stepsisters preen and gossip loudly in their gaudy bridesmaid dresses, ignoring me completely. I have never felt more alone, an island adrift in a churning sea of expectations.
Too soon the musicians strike up a lively processional. With shared smirks, my odious stepsisters sashay haughtily down the aisle, chins lifted as if on parade. Now only I remain, rooted in place by cold dread.
Drawing a shaky breath, I force my leaden feet to carry me forward. The interminable walk stretches before me like a death march. All eyes turn my way, hundreds of faces blurring together as the crowds "ooh" and murmur over my dress's ridiculous ruffles and sequins. My corset squeezes so tightly I can scarcely breathe. I keep my gaze locked straight ahead, every step towards that altar taking monumental effort.
At the front, Lord Greystone waits with a satisfied smirk that makes my skin crawl. How I wish I could rake my nails down that smug face. The officiant gestures for me to take what feels like the final steps over the gallows trapdoor. On wooden legs weighed down by despair, I climb to stand frozen beside the vile man who will soon claim me.
This cannot be happening. Someone, anyone, please halt this madness!
Greystone's grin widens like a wolf baring its teeth. His clammy hand on my lower back makes me want to retch. Clenching my jaw so hard it aches, I stare fixedly ahead. Steady yourself, Scarlet. Just get through this nightmare. Do not shame your family by fainting or fleeing like prey.
The officiant drones on in a nasal voice, the cloying incense threatening to smother me. Or perhaps that is the restrictive dress, tight as a noose around my throat. When the officiant finally bids us recite our vows, bile burns my throat. I force the hateful words out past stiff lips. Each one feels like a nail in the coffin sealing my fate. Beside me, Greystone beams, reveling openly in his triumph.
Panic beats against my ribs like a trapped bird. This isn’t happening! I must escape! But there is nowhere left to run. No more options or gambits remain. Checkmate.
"If any object to this union, speak now or forever hold your peace," the officiant declares. My heart leaps. Surely someone will intervene! The silent moments crawl by, no one stirring. Despair crashes over me. There is no escape.
"I object."
The strong voice rings clearly through the cathedral. Shocked gasped ripple through the crowds. I snap my gaze up to see King Remme striding fiercely down the aisle, eyes blazing.
"On what grounds?" Greystone demands through gritted teeth.
Remme mounts the altar steps until he stands mere feet from us. His palace guards file into the cathedral. "That you are an honorless coward who does not deserve her." His words slam into me. Could he truly still care so deeply?
With a growl, Greystone draws his sword. In a blur, Remme twists his arm viciously behind his back. "Think carefully, cretin. You are gravely outmatched."
Chaos erupts throughout the cathedral. Armored men pour in through every entrance, weapons bristling. My heart drops to my feet. Greystone's private guard.
With a savage kick, Greystone breaks Remme's hold. "You should not have come, your majesty. Now your curse will be your undoing." He rips off one leather glove, tossing it at Remme's feet in challenge. "My men wear enchanted items. Your touch cannot harm them. But theirs will end you."
The guards surround us, grinning cruelly. Remme holds my gaze. "Then we will face darkness together and emerge shining," he vows. My eyes sting at his faith. I do not deserve it, yet cannot resist its kindling flame.
With matching roars, Remme and I throw ourselves at the enemy forces swarming the cathedral. I drive my elbow viciously into the first attacker's throat before flipping another over my shoulder, not holding anything back. Their enchantments may shield them from Remme's power, but not my daggers and fury.
The once-cheering crowds flee screaming before the vicious onslaught, but I stand firm at Remme's side. We battle in flawless tandem against the endless waves, our skills complementing each other seamlessly. Though exhaustion burns in my muscles, I refuse to yield any ground.
A pained shout draws my gaze - Darius materializes from the shadows behind Remme, sinking a cruelly barbed dagger into his side. The king crashes heavily to the floor, crimson flowing freely from the grievous wound. Rage and anguish white out my vision.
"Traitorous snake!" I scream, my voice ragged and raw.
Darius' eyes glint with malice and triumph. "Surprised? You should choose your friends more wisely."
Before he can strike a death blow, I tackle him with savage force. We crash to the ground and I pin him down, blade to his throat.
"Why?" I demand through gritted teeth.
Darius laughs coldly, a sick gurgling sound. "I've served Greystone from the start. Always been a member of his family's court. Told him of the curse." His lips twist in a bloody smile. "You'll never win."
With a feral cry, I drive my dagger down in a blind fury, stabbing over and over. Hot blood sprays across my skin as Darius finally goes limp beneath me, eyes staring vacantly into nothingness.
I stagger back in shock, bile rising in my throat. He had been my friend once, or so I believed. This betrayal cuts deeply, but I force down the pain. I cannot afford sentiment now.
Chest heaving, I look down at his mutilated corpse. "May your treacherous soul find no peace." I turn my back, steadying my heart. Mourning will have to wait - the battle still rages. I leap back into the fray, blades flashing. There will be time later to make sense of it all.
I whirl back to defend the king, heart in my throat, but we are badly outnumbered now. His body guard fighting desperately to protect him. Despair threatens to crush me. Unexpectedly, shouted war cries ring out as the Triple G members smash fearlessly into the attackers' flank, evening the odds.
White I was distracted the king had attempted to make a move on Lord Greystone, but it doesn’t appear to have gone well. Eyes blazing with cold purpose, I carve my way toward the altar where Greystone fights. He will pay dearly for threatening those I care for and masterminding this bloodshed. Today his vile machinations end forever.
I find Greystone fighting a weakly struggling Remme. Seeing me approach, murder etched on my face, Greystone's expression twists with hatred. With callous force, he hurls Remme's limp body down the altar's stone steps.
I throw myself desperately in Remme's path, barely catching him before he crashes onto the unforgiving floor. Gently I lower him down, unable to look away from the ugly wound still bleeding heavily. Please, Halisar, do not take him from me now! Not when we have come so far together.
Greystone descends the steps toward us, magic crackling ominously around his hands. "I knew you were trouble from the start, witch," he spits viciously. "After I finally end your miserable life, his Majesty will serve my ambitions nicely."
His hand flashes out, vile magic bursting towards me like a bolt of venom. I twist Remme behind a protective marble pillar just in time, the spells shattering stone right where we stood. In Greystone's moment of distraction, I slip a knife from my belt and hurl it in one smooth motion straight through his shoulder.
Greystone clutches the wound in dumb shock. A body slams into me as a member from my guild takes down one of Greystone’s men, pulling my eyes off of Greystone for a moment. When I looked back, he is gone. Cursing under my breath for letting him escape, I'm half tempted to chase after him, but I can’t pull myself away from the king.
I turn Remme as gently as possible, though he remains limp and terrifyingly pale. At the sight of his freely bleeding wound, something inside me finally snaps.
"No!" I scream in primal anguish, clutching Remme's body tightly. Around us the battle still rages, my companions barely holding back the endless attackers. We are gravely outnumbered. At this rate, we will all be slaughtered.
Desperation and fury roar through me. I cannot lose him like this! With a ragged cry, I call out to the only one with the power to save us. "Halisar, give me strength!"
In response, an ancient wooden staff materializes in my hands - the God of Thieve's own weapon, overflowing with divine magic. I grip it tightly, allowing Halisar's essence to flow into me, granting his supernatural skills and strength.
Raw power surges through my veins like lightning, sharpening my senses. I gently lay Remme down and rise to my feet, eyes blazing. With a thought, I summon eight of the discarded daggers to float in the air around me, poised like fang-filled vipers ready to strike.
The remaining soldiers advance warily. With a guttural scream, I unleash my rage and pain through Halisar's staff. Blinding divine light explodes outward, disintegrating the attackers instantly. Their ashes drift to the ground, all threat removed in a breath.
At the altar, Greystone watches in wide-eyed terror, unable to flee. With icy calm, I command the circling daggers to shoot forward, pinning his limbs to the marble. He howls in pain and fear. But my onslaught is not through.
I stride forward until I stand directly before the whimpering man. Making eye contact, I pour all of my grief and fury into one final strike. The daggers yank free and converge as one, driving straight through Greystone's blackened heart in a deadly metal bloom. His screams echo, then fade to silence.
The staff tumbles from my shaking fingers as I fall to my knees, fully spent. The divine presence recedes gently from my mind. Halisar's aid was given freely, not forced.
Fairy Godmother's arms encircle me comfortingly. "It's over, child. You are safe now."
I cling to her, exhausted and hollowed out. But despite it all, we endured. And with Fairy Godmother's guidance, perhaps in time these wounds will heal as well.
She begins rocking me gently like a child as my wracked cries echo emptily through the bloodstained cathedral.
Healers hurriedly enter the cathedral, I can feel their hands on me but I push them all away. Mumbling something about the king. I don’t matter. Only he does. I can’t help him now. I need him to live. I have too many unsaid things that are bursting from within that I need to share. He can’t be gone. I won’t let him.