To Save a Kingdom

Chapter 25

I looked into the mirror in front of me and I almost didn't recognize the girl staring back. Liddy walked around fussing with the skirt that swirled down around my ankles. The fabric was white and there were pearl buttons up the back. It was simple yet elegant. Even though I didn't like dresses I couldn't deny that it was beautiful. My dress. My wedding dress.

"There!" Liddy said standing next to me. "You're beautiful." She said slinging her arm around my waist looking at the two of us in the mirror. Her dress was similar to mine although much more elaborate with lace and jewels practically everywhere. It was Liddy's idea for us to design our own gowns for the wedding. When she saw my dress she had been appalled and insisted that I add something so it wouldn't be so plain. When the pearl buttons were the only thing added she had sighed in defeat and let me have my own way. She was just relieved that I had allowed her to talk me in to wearing a dress.

"You look beautiful too." I told her honestly. She blushed and did a slow twirl admiring herself from every angle in the mirror.

There was a knock at the door. Liddy practically flew to it and leaned against it to deny the knocker entry.

"Who is it?" she demanded.

"It's me." Jared said.

"What do you want?"

"I need to talk to Eve." He said.

"Well you can't." Liddy said crossing her arms as though he could see her actions through the door. "You'll just have to wait until after the ceremony. It's bad luck to see the bride before the wedding."

"Liddy." I whined at her as I stood next to her at the door. I clasped my hands together and held them beneath my chin to beg her to allow us a few minutes to talk.

"Fine." she huffed. "You can talk to her but you're not allowed to see her. This door will remain closed" She walked into the other room grumbling something about tradition.

I leaned my ear against the door and waited for Jared to speak.

"Eve?" He said.

"Yes?"

"Are you ready for today?" he asked. I knew what he was doing. He was giving me my chance to back out. Because he cares about what I really wanted. If I didn't want to marry him he was letting me out now instead of in front of a hall full of important guests.

"Are you?" I replied through the door answering his question with another question.

I smiled. As I listened to him fumble for the right words.

"I've been ready for this day since I first met you." He said and I couldn't breath. "I love you." He said and I yanked open the door then threw myself into his arms. His lips found mine and I kissed him for all I was worth out there in the hall visible to anyone who might pass by.

"I love you too." I said. I was ready. Any doubts I had had earlier were instantly chased out of my mind.

There was a loud gasp and I knew we had been discovered. I looked back over my shoulder at Liddy who looked like she was about to breath fire.

"What are you doing?!" She demanded with her hands on her hips. She looked horrified that Jared had seen me before the wedding. She marched towards me and grabbed my arm all the while glaring at Jared. "Don't you two care at all about tradition? it's bad luck to see the bride before the wedding." I reluctantly let go of Jared's hand as Liddy pulled me back into the room and slammed the door in his face. "Goodness. I am getting married today to and do you see me kissing my intended out in the hallway like a common trollop? No you do not! I have something called self control. Not that you would know anything about that!"

She released my hand and turned to glare at me with a truly terrifying look on her face. I couldn't wipe the happy smile off of my face as I faced her wrath. When she saw my grin she stopped glaring and simply sighed in defeat. She wasn't getting anywhere.

§

The double wedding ceremony went without a hitch. It seemed to only last a few minutes and there I was a married woman. Liddy had a large smile plastered to her face as she clung to Joseph's arm as his wife. They looked happy together.

I had my own man at my side and he made me happier than I could express. We had already survived so much together and I knew we would continue to survive much more. He was my best friend and I couldn't be happier to be his wife. I couldn't imagine myself ever with anyone else.

I leaned against his shoulder as a dance struck up before us. Liddy was on Joseph's arm and together they twirled around the dance floor. Surrounded by our guests.

"Shall we?" Jared asked extending his hand. I took it and let him lead me out onto the floor. He wrapped his arms around me and spun us around in the sea of multicolored gowns and dark suits. I smiled as he navigated the other dancers performing a dance all his own. Jared never cared what the other dancers were doing. If they danced fast he danced slow when there was a slow song he would dance with energy around all the other couples.

The other dancers were swaying together as a slow tune was played. Jared spun us around all the other couples ignoring the beat of the music I clung to him as some of the other dancers looked at us with confused expressions.

When a fast song started playing I smiled as he slid his feet under mine. He led me through all the steps with ease. Standing on his toes earned us some odd looks but if didn't matter. We were together.

"Are you happy?" he asked as he watched my face while we swayed back and forth. I pulled myself up with my arms around his neck.

I answered his question with a kiss. I felt him smile against my lips. I was happy. More than I had ever imagined I could be. Out there in the middle of the dance floor I could see my whole life stretched out before me. We would be happy together. Jared was everything I had ever known and everything I had ever wanted. We were finally together and we would never be separated again.

AN:

This book has a sequel! Be sure to check it out if you're interested. It's called To Save a Heart  it is a story about Saphrine because so many of you requested to know what happened to her.