Chapter 23
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
WENDY
The carriage ride back to the cathedral seemed to take eons and we technically arrive before our wedding is scheduled to begin, but now I have to redress and when Roc parted ways, he was still covered in blood and viscera, and James was still missing his hook.
Now, I’m pacing my dressing room, hands wringing. I’m half-dressed and fully freaking out. I dismissed everyone other than Asha because I can’t take being perceived right now. I am not acting queenly. Not in the slightest. I feel like a frightened little girl.
Asha comes in from the adjoining room and hands me a white ceramic mug. There’s a dark liquid inside, steam rising from the surface.
“It’ll help calm the nerves,” she tells me and I don’t have to hear any more.
I take the cup and appreciate its warmth and Asha’s kindness, but the scent is pungent and overwhelming. And I know immediately what it is. “Valerian?” I ask her.
“Yes. But there’s also lavender, chamomile, and honey. It smells worse than it tastes.”
I’m only slightly dubious, but I could use all of the calming medicine I can get, so I take a sip. She isn’t wrong. The other flavors help mask the valerian’s undertones of damp wood.
“Did Roc get changed?” I ask.
Asha nods. “And a delivery boy just arrived with James’s hook. All is well.”
I exhale and finally drop into a nearby chair. “Maybe it will still go off without issue?”
“Are you concerned about issues?” she asks.
“Anything other than perfection will be perceived as a bad omen.”
“Will it?”
I sigh. “You weren’t there for my wedding to Hald.
Right before I was to say, ‘I do,’ one of the glass candle holders shattered.
I was ostracized from court for months with gossip swirling around our union, how I must have cursed him or put a spell on him, followed by the even more insane rumor that I was a witch trying to overthrow the entire kingdom. ”
“Yes, but that was in Everland and you were forced into that marriage. You are choosing this. No matter what happens, this time, it will be different.”
I take another sip of the tea and let the warmth soothe my frazzled nerves.
I just hope Asha is right.
My heart is racing.
The wedding ballad is playing from the giant organ set at the heart of the church. Darkland’s wedding ballad is haunting, almost melancholy, and it makes me immediately emotional.
Tears burn at my eyes.
I’m doing this. I don’t care what bad omens say about any of this. I love Roc and I love James and I can’t imagine going back to a life without them.
I’m waiting in the west wing for my cue to enter.
Asha is just behind me and to the right.
Darkland wedding tradition calls for each party to have a witness.
Asha was a no-brainer, though I do feel slightly guilty that I was unable to add a second and have Winnie join.
She assured me she had no hard feelings and that whoever was by my side should be my very best friend and we had only just recently met, pointing out that it was Asha who had been by my side for every major life event and that this one should be no different.
Truly, it was kind of her to insist and absolve me of my guilt, and yet it remains.
Vane is standing for Roc and Smee is standing for James.
If all has gone according to plan, the four of them will be waiting for me on the dais. Roc on the left, James on the right, with space held for me in the middle.
The wedding ballad finally hits my cue and I take a deep breath, leave the shadows of the west wing behind, and walk down the aisle.