Inheritance: Scales of Change

Chapter Twenty Six - Change

    The door burst open, startling you awake. There was a small opening in your curtains that allowed a beam of sunlight to shine right into your face. You moaned and rolled over as the curtains on the other side were thrown open, and Roisin and Sis were standing there, more awake and energetic than they had any right to be at this hour.
"Wake up, wake up!" Sis jumped on the bed and crawled over to you. "It's today!"
A wave of nerves and panic swept over you instantly when you realized what she was talking about.
"I hope ye slept well las' night... because ye won' be gettin' much tonight." Roisin smirked at you as she drew back the purple velvet curtains and pinned them to the posts.
"Why not Auntie?" Sis turned back and looked at Roisin questioningly.
"Don' ye worry 'bout it. Go bring tha' breakfast tray in." Roisin quickly changed the subject.
"I'm not ready for this..." You rubbed your face.
"Aye ye are. Ye' ve both been waitin' six months fer this." She smiled at you. "Yer jus' nervous."
"No kidding." You exhaled hard through pursed lips, and threw the fluffy purple quilt off you.
    "Here." Sis carried in a tray of breakfast for three and sat it on the long dining table in front of the giant window. You put on your robe, poured yourself a coffee, and stood in front of it looking down into the courtyard below. The views from Cair Paravel never grew monotonous to you, no matter how many mornings you woke up to the same vision. Your window looked out into the main courtyard, where the ceremony would be held. Countless staff members bustled about setting up flowered arches, benches and tables, and the podium and altar... where in just a few hours you and Caspian would be exchanging your vows.
    Since your arrival in Narnia a month ago you and Caspian had kept separate sleeping quarters. "It's the appropriate thing to do, My Love. You technically aren't fully mine yet." He would remind you whenever you complained about missing him or being lonely at night. He was also doing much better than you at restraining himself from any "overly affectionate activities," as he began to call them. "Welcome to being a noble." He would laugh at your frustration.
    You turned away from the window and caught sight of your silver wedding gown on the dress form against the wall. Even though it was tailored specifically for you, the one time you tried it on for fitting it didn't feel like it fit you. It was much too elegant with its silk fabric, and shimmering sheer sleeves. You had insisted that Raxe be there for the fitting along with your sister and Roisin, and out of everyone, he was the one who cried when he saw you.
    Today however, Raxe was designated to help Caspian get ready. Even though more than anything you wanted your best friend by your side, you knew Caspian would need him if he felt anywhere close to what you felt right now. The more ready you got, the more unprepared you felt. You were nearly shaking by the time the horns blew, and the guests began to arrive and fill the seats below. Someone knocked on the door to let the three of you know it was time to begin, and you barely remember making your way down the stairs and out the doors.
You only managed to come into the present when your father met you outside down a corridor where you were to wait for your cue.
"Ladybug, you are a vision." He began to tear up. "Your mother would be so proud."
"I wish she was here..." You felt the tears sting the back of your eyes.
"She is." He brought your head down so he could kiss your forehead. "I feel her whenever that breeze comes in from the east."
    You smiled, and the orchestra began playing, signaling for Sisni to begin her procession down the aisle. She almost too excitedly began, and had to slow herself after a few steps. Then Roisin followed, and before long, your music began. Your father offered you his arm, and led you around the corner out of the shadows.
    Your eyes focused in the bright sunlight, and you had but a second to take in the entire scene. All manner of man and creature stood around the courtyard, some who you knew personally, most who you didn't. You noticed Raxe and Roisin near the front, and Sisni was standing by Tavros off to the side. As you walked, you scanned the crowd and recognized Cale, Shanin, Rictor, Lailin, and Sevas dressed much nicer than you assumed they ever had in their lives.
And at the end of the aisle, stood Caspian. His lips broke in the biggest smile when your eyes met, and your breath caught at the sight of him in his elegant forest green doublet with silver accents and cape, flowing gracefully behind him. He rarely wore his crown around the castle, but today was an exception, its magnificent gold peaks caught the sun's rays as they shone in through the trees behind him.
    If your father weren't leading you, you would definitely have frozen on the spot. He was too noble, too elegant, too kingly to really be yours. You barely breathed as you approached him, your heart pounding when your father turned to you at the front, kissing you on the cheek and handing your hand to Caspian, but when it was just you and him standing together, and he smiled at you, all your anxiety melted away.
"I can't begin to express how breathtaking you look." He whispered to you.
"I can't believe this is happening." You whispered back.
Cornelius stood in front of you both and cleared his throat. "Are we ready?" He smiled at both of you, and you each nodded.
    "Ladies and Gentlemen, thank you all for coming together on this beautiful day to celebrate the union of our King Caspian and his beloved. We have all waited for this day with great anticipation, some of us more patiently than others, and I know I am not alone when I say our patience has been well rewarded in this amazingly strong and beautiful woman, who I know we will all be very proud to call our Queen. They have each prepared their own vows for each other, and would like to share them now. My King, whenever you're ready."
    Caspian nodded to Cornelius and took your hands in his, holding them firmly. He took a deep breath, and shuddered at his exhale, but he began:
    "My Starlight, I have told you time and time again that from the moment I first laid eyes on you, I knew you were to be mine. Though it took us traveling the world, facing danger after danger, to prove to each other that we belonged together. Every day I know my love for you grows stronger. Every minute I spend away from you my longing for you sinks deeper. You know what I was willing to give up for us to be together, and I know I am going to be saying this a lot in the years to come, but, you were right to make me find another way.
    "You saved me repeatedly, from myself and from others, and though it should go without saying, I vow to do the same for you for the rest of our lives. I vow to cherish you, to worship you, and to honor you as my Queen. To hold you first, and above all others. To be the shield at your back, the sword at your side, the arrows in your quiver. I vow to love you, with every ounce of my soul so long as I live, and after."
    You weren't sure when you began crying, but by the time he finished your eyes were so blurred you couldn't see him clearly. He smiled, and wiped the tears streaming down your cheek with his handkerchief. You blinked to clear your vision, and saw that he too was crying, which made you laugh as well.
"We have to get through this." He whispered through a chuckle.
"Yea..." You sniffed.
"My Lady, when you're ready." Cornelius gently urged you.
    You nodded, squeezed Caspians hands, and spoke: "Caspian, never in my wildest dreams would I ever have imagined the King of Narnia was going to stay at my inn, ask me to join his crew, and then proceed to make me fall in love with him. But, as every event that has succeeded that fateful day has shown, you never fail to push my dreams to even wilder lands. When I tried to force you away, you held tight to me. When I ran, you followed. But when I stay, you do not put be behind you, or restrain me, you let me stand as your equal.
    "You showed me my strengths, accepted me, scars and all, and I vow to do the same for you, no matter how many each of us should acquire throughout the years. I vow to treasure you, adore you, and to hold you in my heart as my King. To put your needs above my own. To be your sails, your army, and the blade at your side. I vow to love you, with every fiber of my being, forever."
    You barely got the last words out before you let out an involuntary quiet sob, and Caspian dabbed your tears again. But this time he had to do the same for himself. Cornelius beamed and motioned to Sis off to the side. "Sisni, the rings if you please, My Dear."
    Sis stepped forward shyly, and held up a small iron chest with two rings nestled inside. You picked up the larger, silver band that was inlaid with streaks of blue, and Caspian picked up the smaller silver band that had a blue sapphire to match your scale. Sisni stepped away, and you each held your rings at the ready.
Cornelius spoke, "King Caspian, do you take this woman, to be your wife and future Queen of Narnia?"
"I do." Caspian smiled and slid the ring on your finger.
"My Lady, do you take this man, the rightful King of Narnia, to be your husband?"
"I do." You slipped Caspians ring on.
    Cornelius continued. "May the gentle breeze bear witness to this ritual, and carry its message to all the lands. May the sun warm their hearts, and its ever-burning fire fuel their desire for each other. May the sea provide for them from its bounty, and comfort their souls with its sounds. May the land lend its strength and reveal its mysteries..."