The King's Bride

Walk With Me

Three weeks passed a lot quicker than Everleigh had wished. One moment, she is having tea with Mackenzie in her room, talking about the Ball, and the next she is standing in the Great Hall, Mackenzie next to her, watching the Ladies and Lords of Court avoid her like the plague, the very few that speak with her only doing so because of Mackenzie.

Everleigh is wearing a beautiful light blue dress, her back is straight and she has a soft smile on her lips. However, if anyone looked close enough they would see she is uncomfortable, feeling unwanted and unwelcome, and wants nothing more than to go to her room and just be alone.

She feels a soft nudge to her arm, pulling her from her thoughts, and looks back at Mackenzie, who tilts her head towards the room. Everleigh looks to where she is signaling and sees Jensen walking towards her. She stands a little bit straighter and takes a deep breath, waiting for Jensen to get to them.

Jensen makes his way across the room, towards Mackenzie and Everleigh, and notices Everleigh's reaction when she sees him, almost as if she is steeling herself for battle and kicks himself for eliciting that reaction from her.

He had agreed with Mackenzie's suggestion to throw a Ball as a way to officially introduce Everleigh to his Court as his bride, to make it known that this agreement was something he had agreed to, but he has to admit that that wasn't the only reason why he had agreed to this.

When Mackenzie brought the idea to him, he immediately thought that this would be a good way to show Everleigh he was sorry and that he was wanting to create something with her, but from the moment he has set foot in the Great Hall, the Lords from his Private Council have been keeping him busy by having Lords and Ladies come and greet him.

It took him a minute to realize what they were doing, but as soon as he did, he excused himself and made his way to Everleigh. He didn't know what he was going to say to her once he got there, but asking her to dance was definitely not it, surprising himself when the words came flying out of his mouth, as well as Everleigh and Mackenzie, the latter smirking at him before hiding it behind her wine glass. He was surprised once more when Everleigh actually agreed, before allowing him to lead her to the middle of the room.

They waltz around the room, Everleigh secure in his arms, and Jensen has to admit that it feels right having her there. He can see the people around them watching intently, some even starting to smile as they turn and glide across the floor, making Jensen wonder if maybe now that they are seeing their King openly welcoming his bride, they will stop making Everleigh feel like she doesn't belong there.

The song builds into a crescendo before it ends, Everleigh and Jensen curtsying at each other. Just as Everleigh is about to leave, Jensen takes a leap of faith and grabs her hand, stepping closer to her.

-"Will you take a walk with me, My Lady?"

-"Of course, Your Majesty."

Jensen leads her towards the doors, her arm around his, but before they can reach them, they're stopped by Lord Evans, one of the Lords from the Private Council and the one that, according to Mackenzie, seems to be the one that has given Everleigh the hardest time.

-"Your Majesty, there are a few people who wish to congratulate you on your upcoming nuptials." - The man gives Everleigh a side glance, something that doesn't go unnoticed by Jensen.

-"If it's all the same to you, Lord Evans, I would like to have a moment alone with my bride."

-"Certainly, Your Majesty."

The look on Jensen's face gives no room for argument, making Lord Evans bow and step aside, clearly unhappy with being dismissed like that, as Jensen leads Everleigh out of the room and towards the garden, and he hopes that by the time they return to the Great Hall, things will be a little bit better between them.