The Third Wedding

Chapter 26: The Third Wedding (Part 1)

No one likes talking about the endings. Is it a way of admitting defeat? Is it like saying goodbye and knowing that this time it means forever?

Sondra stared in the mirror, she had stolen something, something powerful, something she wanted to be truly very far away from. She glanced down seeing the long wand lying on her vanity. She wanted to destroy it, or hide it or return it? No.

The words echoed through her brain, she felt acid run up through her throat making her breath shallow and bitter.

"You wanted to see me?" Rosalina asked stepping in.

Tonight was the night before the wedding, it was Oida's ceremonial celebration feast. Sondra felt the cold air hit her throat clearing her pallet as she covered the wand back up.

Maisey was fixing up Sondra's outfit as it was hanging up on her closet door.

"I just wanted to talk to you about something that happened, I was out in the forest and hubby," she caught herself, "Ash-"

"Ashton is not your husband." Rosalina corrected.

"I know I-" she had gotten so mentally used to seeing him that way over the last week that she didn't mean to slip up.

"He's going to be," Maisey clapped back, her tone was stern and a bit aggressive towards the older princess.

"I just meant we were in the forest-"

"I get that," Rosalina snapped back at Maisey. "But she has no idea what it's like to actually be married."

Maisey opened her mouth to say something, but this time Sondra stepped in.

"What are you talking about? I've stayed at Ashton's house, he's been living here helping with all of the weddings actually showing up for them, he's been through trauma with me, he's been there through everything, if that's not what a husband is then I don't know what is!"

Rosalina eyed her sister, "then I guess we have two very different ideas of what the word husband means." She said and turned on her heels to exit.

Maisey watched the tall brunette leave, "that's absolutely uncalled for." She shook her head, she turned to Sondra, "what was it you were actually wanting to talk to her about?"

Sondra sighed, "a lot of things, Dorthy, magic...but what's really bothering me is I spent the night with her before her wedding making sure she was okay and didn't feel alone. I just wanted to ask if she'd stay with me."

Maisey gave her friend a small hug, "come on, let's get dressed."

***

Sondra got dressed in a beautiful white dress, it looked much more delicate than Sondra felt about herself, but it did make her look more like a princess than her regular attire.

Maisey smiled, "You look beautiful." She told her.

The two head to the grand hall, it had been decorated in beautiful rustic detailing that represented the culture of Oida.

Sondra lit up with happiness upon seeing her sisters in law, she rushed to Ella who giggled and gave her the biggest hug from her chair.

"Did you miss me?" She asked softly.

Ella nodded her head and hand to indicate that she did.

Ann wrapped her arms tightly around Sondra making the brides heart melt.

"Mind if I cut in?" Ashton chuckled pulling his future wife away, he pulled her into a hug, he knew she was looking for answers about Dorthy and magic, they both her, "did you get the answers you needed?" He asked softly during the hug.