Chapter 6 I Vow
Verena
King Dryston and Princess Verena’s Wedding Day
Your presence is hereby cordially requested by the Queen Regent to witness the marriage of His Majesty Dryston Whitewell to Princess Verena Woodall
M y mind keeps racing about the Dark King.
His hand. It could not have been a coincidence… right? The marks. They are the same. I would know, I’ve been dreaming of them for years. The same exact tattoo. But what does it mean?
It shouldn’t matter. I am getting married today. To Dryston— the same man who protected me as children, the same man who keeps me safe in the castle, the same fae being that I have known forever.
We are meant to be, meant to rule side by side as King and Queen of Zorya. To keep peace between our bordering country and have royal babies and live happily ever after— as well as we could. And maybe, just maybe, we’d fall in love. We respect each other, care for one another, and honor each other. And I do love him, as much as you do when you grow up with someone with the same goal as yours.
I shake any unwanted thoughts from my head, trying to not be distracted in the early dawn. No one is yet awake, and I managed to sneak into the war room, wanting to leave Dryston a wedding present knowing he’d be in here today.
My gaze lingers on the massive table, its surface graced with a detailed map of the continent. My eyes trace over the jagged edges and winding rivers, eventually settling on our own country, marked in bold colors. But something else catches my eye — yellow pieces scattered across Khyrel, our soldiers strategically placed in key locations. I thought we were prepping to negotiate a peace treaty, not prepare for battle to wage war. The atmosphere in the room suddenly becomes tense and uneasy as I realize the true nature of his hostility about Eryx. My heart sinks as I wonder how long this conflict has been brewing beneath the surface and what it will mean for our people.
I’d naturally assume it’s just scouts enforcing the border but the solider count is more than triple what would be needed for that. Why would he be planning on a war? There aren’t any Khyrelian pieces on our land so I know this was all Dryston’s doing. That is why he has been so busy. He is planning on surprise attacks to weaken Khyrel.
I take engrave the map to my memory, not wanting to forget a single piece of it. Each Khyrelian spot, and each Zoryan one.
Instead of leaving the gift here, I will leave it with his guard posted outside his room. This feels as if I should not be seeing it.
I stare at my wedding gown once I reach my room and start dressing. It is not exactly what I want but Dryston loves it. It was big, dramatic, and light pink. His favorite color on me. It was also his mothers wedding dress.
I had it altered, of course. But in all it’s old fashion glory, it was his mothers. Definitely not what I would’ve chosen for myself but I do enjoy traditions. It is just as much his wedding as mine, even if he did have most of the say-so on everything. I did not plan this wedding, I simply carried it through.
But, today was the day.
Lianna and some ladysmaids arrive to my room and Hadeon lets them in to help me ready.
We go through the same routine as I’d assume any wedding would.
They bathe me, scrubbing me down in my signature scent.
After, they carefully construct my hair while a couple of the girls paint my face.
Charcoal lines my eye lids, rouge dusts my cheeks, and a sparkly powder highlights my cheekbones, jawline, and the tip of my nose.
My hair is all down, once again curled to perfection. The girls work to hide the blue within the black locks and I mentally roll my eyes.
With gentle hands, Lianna helps me slip into my dress. The fabric is a delicate lace, draping over my arms and down to my wrists in elegant sleeves. It cinches tightly at the waist, accentuating my figure before cascading out into a grand ballgown style. Intricate patterns of laced leaves and winding vines adorn the top layer of tulle, adding an enchanting touch to the already stunning gown. I can’t help but feel like a princess from the stories my mother would read to me as I twirl in front of the mirror, mesmerized by the intricate details of the dress.
“You look so beautiful. I can’t believe you are becoming my sister today! And then Queen tomorrow! This is so exciting!” Lianna exclaims. I know we’ve enjoyed each others company, but Lianna has been more of a confrere than a friend, which neither of us have ever minded.
“Thank you, Lianna. I’d be honored to be considered your sister, even if we are just in laws.”
She smiles before placing a hand on my shoulder and excusing the other ladies. Lianna is beautiful. She looks more like their mother but true beauty graces her. She helps me sit and joins me. “I want you to know,” She lowers her voice, “You can come to me for help with anything. I know Dryston can be… a lot. Honestly, I wasn’t sure if you would marry him. Since you have connections to the court-” A knock interrupts her and we freeze.
“What? Connections here?” I question, confused, but she goes to stand.
“No, silly. The court of D-” Another knock before she puts her fingers to her lips aimed at me and opens the door as if we weren’t just talking.
“Oh good! I was hoping you’d still be in here. Hello sweet girl. How are you?” Rya smiles big. Queen Whitewell is anything but happy with me. I know. She is obsessed with her son and she loves being queen.
“Great! Just chatting with Lianna about the future.” I state and note Lianna’s thankful look. How so very odd. If I had connections here, why wouldn’t I know about them? Unless she was trying to say the Court of Dusk but who in the world would have connections on the opposite side of the continent? And why wouldn’t I know? I knew my mother was from Khyrel but I just assumed she was from low-income and not High Fae, that I had become High Fae because of my father based on how they acted.
“It’s an exciting day. I can not believe you’re marrying my baby boy. Let me fix that hair for you.” Even though nothing was wrong with it, she goes in and ‘tidies’ it up. “You look beautiful in my dress, although not as beautiful as I did. Obviously. It was hand made for me. One of a kind. I can’t believe they had to take it out a little.” I leave my face stoic, knowing shes trying to get a reaction out of me.
For another few minutes, we sit in silence. And then, Lianna and Rya stand up with me to leave the room and start making our way to the throne room once more this week.
They leave me at the doors. Hadeon is supposed to already be in there and since I don’t have a father, I was walking alone.
I was torn between anger and sadness as I realize my parents were not going to be at my wedding. My father, who always claimed to have sacrificed so much for me to make this happen, won’t be here to witness it. And my mother, who I know did her best despite their constant fighting, was only here in spirit through the necklace she gave me. Holding back tears, I take a deep breath and hid the necklace under my dress. How can I celebrate this day without them? I hate that they were taken from me.
At least she is here with me in spirit.
I nod to the guards that I am ready and they simultaneously open the double doors to reveal me. The same decorations that fit the coronation, also fit the wedding. Aside from the fact that there are more flowers now than then.
Dryston stands at the altar with the archbishop. His mother and Lianna at the front of the crowd. I take another breath.
All eyes are on me and music starts to play. I go to take my first step when a body steps to my side.
“Hadeon?” I question him, looking up into his hazel eyes. In his military uniform, he is still so handsome.
“You didn’t think I’d let you walk alone, did you?” He smirks before putting on a stoic face and walking me down the aisle that was littered with loose flower petals. “Don’t worry, I asked for permission.” And it seemed true. Dryston doesn’t look at him with disdain at this moment.
He looks pleased as we walk. Everyone stares, as they did when a bride walks.
When we make it to the front, he hands me to Dryston and stands on my side of the room.
The archbishop greets everyone, going through his speech on marriage and our duty to the Gods and to each other. My eyes meet Eryx’s watchful gaze and after the initial shock disappears, I remember he hadn’t reserved his seat for the wedding. What made him change his mind? Something burns inside me before I jerk my eyes back to Dryston.
It feels like it takes forever but while Dryston watches the archbishop, I watch him.
He gave Hadeon permission to walk me down the aisle. He put thought into the fact that I was an orphan who was going to walk alone. This is the man I am marrying. The one who knows everything about me, who treats me as his princess and who will treat me as his wife as I rule beside him. He might not be in love with me. But, he does care for me. And in this world? That’s all I can ask for. We’re not mates, no. But the chance of finding your mate are slim, a rare commodity.
We will have a grand life together. A great rule and reign. One for the history books.
“Verena Woodall, repeat after me.”
And I do.
“I, Verena Woodall, vow to respect you and cherish you. I vow to help you when you are sick, support you in your health and your decision. I vow to stay true to you, to stay loyal to you, and to obey you as my husband. May the Gods bless our union.”
Dryston had already said his first, now it was time for the marriage unification ritual.
Dryston is handed a marcam, a utensil used to permanently mark us for the wedded rune so the Gods bless our unification.
He pulls the sleeve up and away from the skin and starts to draw the eloquent silver mark on my forearm. But, as he does, the birthmark on my hip flares into a burn so harsh, a hiss leaves my lips. Dryston can only assume the pain comes from the marcam but that feels like nothing compared to my hip. When he is finished, I do the same to him and hand back the marcam to the archbishop. The burn less evident but very much still there in an ache.
“In the power vested in me by the God Sorin, I hereby announce you husband and wife in the eyes of the Gods. You may kiss your bride.” Dryston greedily pulls me to him and slaps a sloppy kiss on my lips in front of everyone.
Cheers erupt and while I should be happy, my hip burns and suddenly I do not feel like celebrating.
* * *
After celebrating with everyone, Dryston and I are in his room, alone.
I stand off to the side of the room, my hands resting in front of me as I hold myself out of comfort.
“Why are you so far away from me?” He asks, waltzing over in a playful mood. It makes me want to fall for it. I love when he’s in this mood. It helps me forget the punishments and the anger.
His hands grasp mine, pulling them from my body and pressing my body against his. “We’re married now, Verena. We must consummate this but I do love you.” He speaks before moving his lips to brush against my throat. He places a gentle kiss there.
Maybe he’s right. Maybe now that are married everything will be better, easier. I’ll be queen shortly enough, practically am now without the actual power since I haven’t been vowed in like you are during the coronation. I know we love each other— we’ve been friends since childhood. My body relaxes at his lips pressing sweetly to my neck, my jaw, and finally my lips.
He has an almost metallic taste to him but I know it was residual from his High Fae powers. I power through it and kiss him lovingly back.
It will be different this time. It has to be.
I melt into Dryston’s embrace, letting myself be consumed by the love and hope that his touch brings. As his lips move against mine, a sense of peace washes over me, momentarily pushing aside the weight of my worries and doubts. The world outside this room fades away, leaving only the two of us entwined in this moment of intimacy and connection.
But as our kiss deepens, a nagging voice at the back of my mind begins to whisper, reminding me of the challenges that lie ahead. The brewing tensions between our kingdoms, the shadows of past betrayals, and the looming responsibilities of ruling a realm on the brink of war—they all threaten to shatter this fragile illusion of happiness.
I push the thought back, enjoying this moment with him. Who knows if it will last?
But reality comes crashing back all too soon. As Dryston’s hands move with a familiar urgency, a sense of unease creeps over me. The weight of my unspoken fears presses down on me, suffocating the joy that moments ago felt within reach. I pull away slightly, searching his eyes for any sign of the boy I grew up with, the one who used to chase me through the palace gardens and share in my dreams of a better future for our people.
But all I see now is a man hardened by the expectations placed upon him, by the burdens of his crown and the secrets he must keep. I see a stranger wearing Dryston’s face, and it fills me with a sense of apprehension I cannot ignore.
As his hands roam eagerly over my body, I feel a sense of detachment settle over me. This is not how it’s supposed to be. But, I see no room for negotiation or compromise, only a fierce determination that sends a shiver down my spine. I lay back as he urges me to follow his lead .
After all, I am going to be queen. I will be his wife, the mother of his children. I will do what I can without expecting anything else in return. This is the life that was chosen for me and I will accept it with grace.