42. Nelle Wedding Promises
Nelle: Wedding Promises
The wedding between Princess Nelle of Coleur and Prince Christopher of Hopka was supposed to be the event of the century.
King Alistair had offered to host it, saying that it seemed a shame not to take advantage of the fact that all the kings were already there.
People from Camelot to Talon and everywhere in between streamed in, filling up all the nearby inns.
Even most of the Sherwood Company had sent messages, assuring the royal couple that they’d be attending.
“I don’t know how that happened,” Nelle confided in Kemma as she adjusted her veil. “They wanted nothing to do with me when I was at camp, but now that I’m about to become a princess?—”
“I keep telling you, you already ARE a princess,” the tressym yawned from her place in the cushiest chair by the fire. “But I’ll bet they’re coming because Robin will be there. They’re trying to make it up to him. They know they didn’t put nearly as much effort into finding him as Kit did.”
“I’d take that bet.” Nelle turned to see Kai striding in the room, his hands in his pockets. “You called, and I came, as ordered, Little Sister.” He smiled fondly. “You look beautiful, Nelle. As pretty as my Gerda on her wedding day.”
Nelle’s face grew warm. “Well…thank you.” She fingered the dragons painted on the corset of her wedding dress, her favorite detail. “Sir Sebastian made it for me. Apparently, Lucy owns a dress shop in one of the nearby villages, and he helps her with the stock.”
“He does good work,” Kai said, nodding approvingly.
“Where are Hansel and Gretyl?” Kemma wondered, a hint of longing in her voice.
“They’re getting into their outfits for this affair,” Kai said.
“I expected Gretyl to be excited, but Hansel can’t stop talking about bringing you and Kit your rings.
I’ve not seen him so excited since…” He trailed off.
“Well, he’s thrilled. Thank you for ask them to be the flower girl and ring bearer. ”
“I should be thanking you for letting me borrow them,” Nelle asked. “I would have asked all the kids from the Company, but Robin didn’t think that would be such a good idea.”
“He’s right,” Kai muttered. “There’s been some…
conflict in the ranks. Since Robin came back, talking about Will and Guy’s traitorous actions, there’s been a lot of fighting amongst the men.
Little John and I had to break up a fistfight between a few new recruits and one of the men who’s up to be a lieutenant.
It got ugly really fast.” He shook his head.
“That’s why I’m leaving the company after the wedding. ”
“You’re leaving?” Nelle whispered.
Kai nodded. “At the start, I was only there on the Snow Queen’s orders, and I don’t feel right staying now that Robin knows the truth. Besides, Saphira never liked it there. If I want to keep my marriage afloat, leaving is the best thing for us.”
Nelle understood where he was coming from, but at the same time, she didn’t like the implication. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be sorry, Little Sister. It’s all for the best,” Kai assured her. “But no more sad talk. Are you ready for your wedding?”
A smile bloomed on Nelle’s face. “So ready,” she burbled.
“I’m glad. You deserve all the happiness in the world,” Kai said. He scuffed his shoes against the stone floor. “Who’s walking you down the aisle?”
Nelle shook her head. “No one. King Edmund offered, but I didn’t think that was quite appropriate.”
“Could I—I mean, if it’s alright with you, could I walk you down?” Kai’s eyes were shining with unshed tears. “I mean, it’s okay if you don’t want me too—the Maker knows I haven’t done anything to deserve it. But I just thought?—”
“I’d be honored if you walked me down the aisle,” Nelle said, interrupting his babbling by throwing her arms around him. “Thank you, Big Brother.”
“If you want to be on time, you should get going,” Kemma said, flapping her way into the air. “The ceremony was meant to start at 1, and it’s now five minutes til.”
“Oh!” Nelle pulled the veil down over her feet. “I didn’t realize it was so late. Kit’s going to be?—”
“He’s going to be enamored with you. He already is,” Kai assured her. “Now, come. Let’s go see if Hansel and Gretyl have kept up their end of the bargain.”
“What bargain?” Nelle asked, laughing.
“The bargain that I made, saying that if they were dressed by the time I got back, I’d give them each a chocolate bar. And they’d get another if they behaved during the service,” Kai whispered as they left her dressing room.
“You are a horrible father,” Nelle laughed.
“Yes, but you all love me anyway,” Kai smirked as they came to a stop in front of the chapel. Fortunately for them, Hansel and Gretyl were both dressed and bouncing up and down.
“Nelle! You came back!” Gretyl squealed.
“You look pretty,” Hansel said shyly.
“And you look very handsome,” Nelle assured him. “You both do.”
Hansel grinned as twirled in place, showing off the suit of silver and gold, making his bright yellow hair shine. “Papa said that a member of the royal guards made this suit. He promised to introduce us after the wedding!”
“And he said that my dress looks like yours!” Gretyl chirped. She hesitated for a moment, then wondered, “What does it look like?”
Heedless of her own dress, Nelle kneeled before her and told her, “It’s as white as the fluffy clouds in the sky, and it has gold flowers embroidered on the sleeves.
Can you feel them?” She guided Gretyl’s hand to the spot and let the little girl run her fingers over them.
“My bodice has little dragons painted on it, but yours is plain, because we thought it would be something you might like to design on after the wedding.”
Gretyl’s face bloomed into a smile. “I’d love that! I think I want to put stars on it. Or maybe more flowers. Or maybe a tressym, like Kemma!”
“You can put whatever you’d like on it. After the wedding,” Kai said firmly, pulling Nelle to her feet. “Right now, we need to get into the chapel. The music’s already started. Do you two remember what you’re supposed to do?”
“I memember,” Gretyl said, and Hansel nodded. “I’m going to spread flower petals on the ground where Nelle’s going to walk.”
“Exactly. And Hansel will be at your side so you don’t get lost,” Kai said. He popped the door open a crack and nodded. “Okay, they’re ready for you. Go ahead, kids.”
Without a moment of hesitation, Hansel and Gretyl took their places and, after a gentle nudge from their father, they started down the aisle. Once he was certain that the children had started on their brief journey, he tucked Nelle’s arm into his elbow. “Alright, Nelle-girl. Are you ready?”
Nelle smiled. “Oh, yes. Let’s go.”
Kai nodded, and together, they marched into the chapel.
The music was the piece that Nelle had heard played at countless weddings at the Sherwood Company’s camp.
Today, though, it had a new meaning for Nelle: it would be the song that played as she started a new chapter of her life.
Ahead, she could see Kit. His back was toward her, but as the opening notes of the song started, he turned, and immediately, his jaw dropped.
Fire burned in his eyes, and she knew, instinctively, that if he didn’t have a tighter hold on his power, he would have turned into a dragon with no effort.
Somehow, she made it to the front of the chapel without stumbling or falling. Kai removed her hand from his arm and murmured, “Take care of Little Sister for me, please.”
Kit nodded mutely, as his gaze intensified, so much so that Nelle dropped her eyes.
As one, they turned toward Friar Tuck, one of the few members of the Sherwood Company who both Kit and Nelle had agreed to officially invite.
His jovial smile lit Nelle up from the inside.
“Right then. Are we ready to get started?” he beamed.
“Almost.” Kit squeezed Nelle’s hand, before turning to the crowd, and in a loud voice said, “I just wanted to let all of you know, I adore all of you here, but if anything short of a dragon attack interrupts this wedding, I will personally take it upon myself to make the rest of your life absolutely miserable. So, for the sake of your sanity and my own, please contain yourselves.”
Nelle stared at him. “Why did you do that?”
“Because I’m so excited to be married to you, I want nothing to prevent it,” Kit said in an undertone. He turned to Friar Tuck. “Go ahead. We’re ready.”
“Gladly,” the friar said, opening the book and muttering in an undertone, “Just think, if you’d been able to contain yourself, you’d have been able to be married to her a whole thirty seconds sooner.”
Nelle fought the urge to giggle as the friar began the marriage ceremony. She felt Kit shift next to her, squeezing her hand every so often, sending sparks of desire through her. She forced herself not to look at him, for fear that she’d see that same desire reflected in his eyes.
At long last, Friar Tuck closed the book and said, “You may now kiss the bride.”
Only then did Nelle trust herself to turn to Kit. His lips captured hers in a kiss that she felt down to her core. Someone cleared their throat, reminding them they had an audience. With reluctance, they broke apart, Nelle’s face blazing red.
Kit merely grinned. “That’s a memorable first kiss, wife.”
“For me too, husband,” Nelle whispered as joy shot through her veins. Kit is my husband now! She almost couldn’t believe it.
“I present to you Prince Christopher and Princess Nelle of Hopka!” Friar Tuck announced, and the entire congregation burst into applause.
“How do you like the end of our first adventure together?” Kit whispered as they ran down the aisle together.
Nelle stared at him. “First?”
“The first of many,” he said, nodding. “I plan to enjoy all of life’s adventures with you by my side.”
“Me too,” Nelle said as they reached the end of the aisle and burst into the hallway.
She pushed him against the wall and murmured, “As many adventures as life will give us. For the rest of our lives.” It was perfect.
A soft sigh escaped her as she leaned in, pressing her lips against his and smiling at the warmth of his kiss.
This was the man she loved, and now she was bound to him, body and soul, for the rest of her life. What could be more perfect than that?