Becoming a Lioness (Book 2)

Chapter 42 The Lioness

I took a deep breath as the doors opened wide and everyone in the room rose to their feet, whispering comments about the outfits and decorations. Traditional Narnian music was being played by a few of our centaur and fawn friends. It was quite different from what I was expecting wedding music to be like, a bit slower, but beautiful nonetheless.

"Please don't let me fall." I whispered to Aslan, tightening my grip on his mane with my left hand as we approached the end of the short stretch before the stairs leading down to the area that was acting as our alter, just before the thrones.

"Never, dear one." He replied, nodding to a few people as we began our descent. Lucy glanced back at me over her shoulder and giggled at my flushed cheeks.

The realization that everyone's eyes were on me hit me like a ton of bricks and I began to shake lightly. My palms grew sweaty and I could feel myself begin to perspire.

A swarm of negative thoughts began to invade my head as I got closer to the bottom of the seemingly endless staircase. I'm seventeen years old, and Peter is eighteen, we are far too young to get married! Of course, everyone has insured me that people younger than us have been wed in Narnia and that it was actually recommended due to something about alliances and ruling a kingdom. What if I'm not ready? What if I can't do this? What if-

My thoughts completely trailed off as I made eye contact for the first time since earlier with my husband-to-be. He smiled that smile that always met his eyes and made me melt effortlessly, erasing my mind completely of everything other than my love for him. Age is but a number, and the only thing that matters is what we feel for each other, and that I know is real.

We reached the alter moments later and I felt Aslan nudge my arm with his nose. I smiled shyly as I slid my hand into Peters and shivered slightly at the contact, blushing even harder than before.

Aslan took his spot in front of us as we faced each other and Lucy and Susan took their spots behind me, just as Edmund and Caspian had taken theirs behind Peter. "All be seated."

"We are gathered here today to witness to union of High King Peter and Lady Magdalen. If you would both repeat after me." He paused for a moment, just long enough for me to get lost in the pools of blue that were Peters eyes as he stared into mine with such an intensity that I felt myself grow faint.

"I, Peter, do so faithfully take Magdalen, to have and to hold, for better or for worse, through sickness and in health, until death do us part."

Peter took a breath, his eyes leaving mine to look at his feet for a split second before repeating the words, "I, Peter, do so faithfully take Magdalen, to have and to hold, for better or for worse, through sickness and in health, until death do us part."

Aslan smiled, turning to me. "I, Maggie, or- uh- Magdalen," I stuttered quickly, laughing a bit myself as Peter and the others chuckled softly. "Do so faithfully take Peter, to have and to hold, for better of for worse, through sickness and in health, until death do us part."

"Do you, Peter, take Magdalen as your wife for as long as you both shall live, to rule by your side no matter what is to present itself to you?"

"I do." Peter reached up and tucked a loose strand of hair behind my ear, letting his fingers linger on my cheek as he spoke.

"Do you, Magdalen, take Peter as your husband, to rule by your side no matter what is to present itself to you?"

"I do." I replied confidently, placing my hand against his that was still cupping my cheek.

"Do you have the rings?" Aslan looked to Edmund who quickly stepped up and placed a golden band in my palm and the other in Peters.

"Please repeat after me. With this ring I the wed."

Peter lifted my left hand gently and rubbed his thumb along the back of it for a second before speaking directly to me as he slid the ring into its new position. "With this ring I the wed."

I grinned, taking his left hand in mine and repeating his actions. "With this ring I the wed."

"The time has come to ask if there are any objections?" The room was silent. "You may now kiss the bride."

I barely even had time to smile before Peters lips crashed against mine eliciting cheers and applause from our guests. My arms wrapped themselves around his neck as his encircled my waist. We broke apart momentarily to press our foreheads together and laugh, long enough to hear Aslans booming voice above the crowd.

"I give to you from the Clear Northern sky, High King Peter, The magnificent, and from the rolling hills of the north, High Queen Magdalen, The Lioness!"