Sincerely, yours (Completed)

Chapter 28

   It's been four days since I've been collecting all the food I could get, they were some cakes, cookies and some ham and cheese sandwiches. William gave me a duffel bag to put everything in it and tomorrow we would go to the forest and hopefully find our friends quickly before anyone notices our absence or senses something wrong.

   The palace was busy preparing for the royal wedding that will occur in three days. Cooks were busy baking the five stories cake, the maids were cleaning and designing the gardens. The once soft empty grass was filled with tables and chairs covered in a fancy white satin and huge silver bows.

   Two days ago, Jessica finally got to try on her wedding gown and took me with her for approval. Once she exited the fitted room and stood in front of the mirror, we both hugged each other and cried. She looked like a goddess in her dress.

   It was a floor length, white ball gown. Her strapless sweetheart neckline really showed her sharp collarbones, the princess waistline really complimented her tall and slim body. Her cathedral length train filled the entire room with its tulle fabric, it was a literal ROYAL wedding dress; the crown must weigh at least four pounds, with all the silver and diamonds.

   "It's really hard walking with all these," she laughed. "I'll need your help and support to stand straight."

   "I'll always stay by your side Jess, you look stunning in this white dress. Our dream was to see each other in the bride dresses and here we are." I cried while she held my hands.

   "Don't cry, you still have to try your bridesmaid dress." She pushed me into the changing room and a maid helped me into the dress. I wore a greenish-blue gown made of soft, satiny fabric, long and loose. A semicircular, high collar made of silk-like materials headed the ankle-length robe.

   I can't believe we're putting so much effort in this fake wedding, except it's a must since the entire country would be watching us from their town square. The king is expecting a good show from us and we must do the best we can to assure that he'll believe whatever excuses we have to that sudden happy ending.

   I stared at both of us in the mirror, we looked stunning side by side, I remembered the old times when we could sneak into my mother's wardrobe and try every dress and accessory she had. We would pretend to be famous woman followed by paparazzi, and take the silliest pictures together.

***

   We were supposed to be already on our way to the forest but I promised to escort Jessica and see how did the cake turned out. The wedding cake was the hues of soft summer roses, everything from champagne to dusky red. Rather than being one cake with many layers as the king ordered before, it was assembled from many tiny ones that arose in columns with buttercream between it showed Jessica's personality, it didn't take a lot of convincing to change the cake a few days before the wedding. And amid the rose-hued cake were fresh roses from nature's garden. It was romantic, as marriage should be, except this isn't the perfect one for any of the couple.

    We were already on our way and I remembered that I haven't visited my new garden, so we made a stop there and I was amazed by how everything turned out. With the winter season coming soon, I'm glad I got to plant this colorful place although it will be covered with snow in two or three months.

   No time to waste, we rode Obsidian to the entry of the forest and slowed down waiting for them to come and find us, it might take a few minutes or the entire day however good thing we have each other's company.

   "How are the preparations coming out?" He asked while helping descend the horse.

   "Oh they're coming," I didn't know how to fill him in. "The dresses are amazing, I'm sure you'll love them once you see them and today we checked up on the cake, the bakers did a great job, it looks delicious, they really outdid themselves this time."