His Common Queen (Temporary ending)

Chapter 9

Here it is! Another chapter. I have edited this so it's probably still riddled with mistakes. Its a shorter chapter but its filled with lots of good stuff. 

If you enjoy the story so far make sure to show it with a VOTE. 

Enjoy!

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Elizabeth could hardly contain her excitement. For the rest of that day a permanent smile stayed on her lips, her cheeks remained rosy and her eyes held a mysterious glint. Through her happiness she wasn't able to smother the flame of doubt she felt. The King had told her it needed to stay a secret; Elizabeth couldn't help but question the King's reasons. What if their union always stayed a secret? Surely the King didn't mean to ruin her and her good family name for his own selfish pleasure. No, she thought. Though she had only known the King for a short period of time she was almost certain he would not do such a thing. The King wasn't that sort of a man. Elizabeth couldn't help but laugh at the thought of Anthony's reaction when he found out.

After dinner Elizabeth took her mother aside and told her all that had happened earlier that day.

"Oh mamma, it wasn't terribly romantic, but so wonderfully perfect. I wouldn't have wanted it to happen any other way."

"Elizabeth, you still haven't told me if you agreed," Jacquetta exclaimed. It was cruel, but Elizabeth was taking her sweet time telling her mother all that had happened.

"Oh yes! I agreed, of course," Elizabeth replied, finding it hard to contain her smile again. Jacquetta let out a cry of joy before pulling her daughter into a crushing hug.

"I do doubt him, though, Mamma," Elizabeth said, lowering her voice as if doubting the King's honesty was a crime. "He told me not to tell a soul other than a witness. Mamma, what if he ruins us for his own gain?"

"Elizabeth, remember the rose. The spirits don't lie. You will be queen, which means that it will not remain a secret. If I may bestow one lesson from my own marriage, it is to always have trust in your husband."

That night Elizabeth went to bed with her mind playing on a continuous loop of the conversation the King and she had had. She still couldn't completely fathom that she was to marry the King.

The morning of Elizabeth's wedding she woke before the light had even come through her window. She planned to stay in bed until the room was filled with the rays of the sun, but when she heard a knock on her door she jumped up like a little girl on Christmas morning and ran to the door. When she opened it her mother stood there with a diamond-beaded gown in hand.

"I wore this on my first wedding. It was the first day I ever saw your Papa. I was hardly interested in my soon to be husband, just his handsome friend, your father," Jacquetta said, caressing the soft silk fabric.

"Oh mamma, it's absolutely stunning and so elegant. I can't possibly wear this."

"Nonsense, my dear. It is fit for nothing less than a queen, and a queen you soon shall be. Let me help you put it on." Elizabeth wrapped her arms around her mother and placed a gentle kiss on her cheek. She stood in the mirror in her plain undergarments as her mother laced up the white corset. She combed her hair lazily with her fingers in a daydream of what her life would soon become. The dress ran down her body like a dream. It fit her perfectly. The sleeves ran midway down her arm and came to a perfect little poof around her shoulders. The waist came to a point and was held together by a thick belt of diamonds. Jacquetta watched Elizabeth in the mirror as she admired herself. She truly did look nothing short of a Queen. Jacquetta's eyes filled with tears, one slipping down her cheek, and she swiped at it vehemently.

"Oh this darn dust!" she said, sniffling and wiping away the tears with a handkerchief. Elizabeth turned and hugged Jacquetta again.

"Thank you for having such faith in me and my future, Mamma." Jacquetta smiled, remembering her wedding to Richard. Her mother had disapproved of the union and refused to come to the wedding.

"Come along, dear, you'll be late if we wait a moment longer. You go along, I will meet you there in a moment," Jacquetta said, giving Elizabeth's hand a little squeeze.

Elizabeth walked down the stairs to see her sister Catherine waiting by the door for her. Out of all her siblings Catherine was the one she confided in the most.

"What do you think, Catherine?" Elizabeth asked, descending from the last flight of stairs; once she reached the landing she did a little twirl.

"Oh you do look absolutely stunning, Elizabeth. The King is going to have a hard time taking his eyes off you." Elizabeth looked down to conceal her blush but Catherine noticed it and laughed.

Catherine and Elizabeth walked down the long and twisting path towards the chapel arm in arm enjoying the cool breeze.

"This must be what love is like," Catherine said, looking up at Elizabeth.

"What do you mean?" Elizabeth asked.

"I don't believe I have ever seen you as happy and radiant as you are today. You loved John but not with the same force you love the King."

" I do wish sometimes I did not love him so. My life after today will be anything but simple, I will never feel the freedom I've had my whole life. I don't doubt that the King will treat me well, and I truly believe the King loves me just as much as I love him."

"I envy you. Not all unions are as blessed with love as yours. Out of all of us I see why you are the one the King has chosen to be his perfect match. You will make a brilliant Queen. Do promise me though that you shall remember your family." Elizabeth stopped walking and looked Catherine squarely in the eye.

"I do so solemnly swear to never forget about you or Mamma, Pappa, John, Anthony, Margret or Eleanor. It does pain me to deceive all of them, I wish it weren't so, but the King has made me promise."

"Oh don't worry, they probably won't even notice it after they hear, they'll be too shocked to care. Forget about that though, today is your day, you deserve it and you must enjoy it." Catherine and Elizabeth walked the rest of the way down the path to the chapel. Shortly after they arrived at the pretty little chapel, that had red vines creeping up the front of it, Jacquetta arrived.

"What on earth are you doing waiting out here?" Jacquetta demanded.

"I have to wait for the King, Mamma." Elizabeth reasoned.

"Such nonsense. He won't arrive any faster with you waiting here for him my dear. He mustn't see you in your gown. Come inside, you'll catch a cold standing out here." Elizabeth reluctantly came inside to wait with Catherine, the priest and her mother. When she heard the sound of hooves beating down on the dirt path, Elizabeth let out the breath she didn't even know she was holding. The priest took that as his cue and walked to the head of the church. The small wooden doors creaked open and the King strolled in with a squire by his side. The King's muscular arms slid around Elizabeth's small waist and he planted a kiss on her puckered lips.

"You look quite handsome," the king whispered into her ear. "I don't think I would be able to wait a day longer to be with you." The ceremony passed quickly. They exchanged their 'I do's' and then slipped a golden band on each other's fingers. The King leaned down and gently placed his lips upon Elizabeth's. It wasn't a passionate kiss; it was sweet and tender. The kiss seemed to seal the ceremony and within a matter of minuets Elizabeth went from being a simple nobody to one of the most important people in England and the luckiest girl in the world.

"I have prepared the small hunting lodge not far from here for you. I am afraid it will not be what you are used to, Your Grace," Jacquetta said, curtsying deeply to the newlyweds.

"Oh none of this nonsense. We are family now. We are truly grateful that you have made this all possible, Lady Woodville," Edward replied, bringing Jacquetta up from her curtsey.

"Take care of my little treasure," Jacquetta croaked out, tears threatening to fall from her eyes. Catherine and Elizabeth kissed before parting ways. The King picked his Queen up in his arms and carried her down the path in the direction of the small cabin.