The Key to X | Editing - but on hold

Epilogue I

December 1st, 2016

Anastasia's POV

It has been so long without all of the attention around the world. News channels would show up at the entrance of the Academy, demanding to see me. The secret was out, and I was back, the missing girl, found. 

Fallon's family and himself, along with my parent's spirits attended my trial at the center of the Northern kingdom. And luckily for myself, I was not guilty of my crimes. The killing and blood I had spilled is still in my mind, even on my wedding day.

I stood in my dressing room with my wedding dress on, staring at myself in the mirror. I was no longer the shy girl that hid behind her classmates and dodged trouble; I was different, wiser, and braver, ready for anything. My jet-black hair was neat in layers, my blue eyes bright and a small smile upon my lips. The door opened, Grace, my maid of honor stepped into the room. "Ar-Anne," Grace corrected herself, stepping over to where I was. "You look beautiful." I smiled at the auburn girl, her brown eyes bright with excitement. She took my hand, pulling me out of the room. "Prince Fallon wouldn't be able to keep his eyes off of you." I blushed, my gaze around the room. 

We were at the Eastern palace, Fallon's home. The palace was the same from what I remembered, elegant paintings along the walls with golden chandeliers. The courtyard was where the wedding was going to be. Grace walked with me, our steps in sync, stopping only at the door that lead to the courtyard. The sky outside was a brilliant hue of pink, orange, purple and blue, the colors of the sunset. Grace gave me a warm smile before taking my hand and opened the door. Within my presence, my father appeared, standing right by me. I spotted my mother in the crowd, dabbing her eyes with a handkerchief. "Are you alright, Anne?" I nodded mutely at my father, taking a few steps forward, my gaze on nothing but the man standing at the end of the aisle.

With sparkling liquid gold eyes, and messy raven hair, my childhood love smiled at me, my breath faltered at the sight of him dressed up all fancy. "Take good care of my daughter, Fallon. If you hurt her, I will not hesitate to... haunt you!" 

"George!" My mother's voice sighed in annoyance, amusing the guests. I stepped closer towards Fallon, his black tux making him look devilishly handsome. I felt his warm breath by my neck as I approached him, his eyes on mine.

"You clean up nicely." I smiled, his gaze twinkling.

"Likewise." Fallon took my hand, walking with me up the aisle to where Fallon's best man, Luis, and Grace were smiling at us. We continued walking until we reached the end, where Fallon's minister, William, stood. The older man cleared his throat, turning to the guests.

"We are gathered this beautiful evening  to join an heir and noble together, and to crown them king and queen. You may present your speeches. Prince Fallon?" 

The boy cleared his throat, his cheeks a bit flushed in embarrassment before speaking. "Ana, the day I met you was probably the first day I've ever payed attention to a girl, seriously. I-I was sure that you didn't like me at all, a weird boy that tripping and fell on his face, right into you." A small smile tugged at the edge of my lips as he continued. "Oddly enough, we became fast friends. I could still remember our past days as children, running away from our principal." He took a shaky breath before continuing. "After a long time, you were gone. We had parted ways, and I, I never got a chance to tell you about how I felt. I saw you again, at the ball, after rescuing you from Ashton, and to be honest, I was shell-shocked. You were as beautiful as ever, and I could not believe my eyes that it was you." He sighed, before reaching the last part of his speech. "You saved my life, fighting Ashton to save mine, yet I could not believe that you were him. You lifted my spirits by accepting, and to me, you've me a better man. You were, and still are, my everything. I love you Anastasia." My cheeks flushed bright pink, my eyes a little teary before I shakily spoke.

"Anastasia?"

"Fal, indeed, the day you met me, you caught my eye. I had grown up with a frozen heart, believing that love was for the weak, and that love would be my downfall. Yet just by your clumsy actions, you caught my attention unlike other boys. I recall never getting in trouble, and the various times you saved me from getting caught. It was a wonder that we never gotten detention." I smiled sadly before continuing. "That night, October 14th, 2013, I had killed the people in your kingdom at Kay Stadium. I was afraid of what you would do, if you were to react how Luis, Marco, and Ashton had about their lost ones. You did not change, and you remained as strong as ever. I had watched over you all these years when you were gone, killing anyone that was planning on hurting your family. I felt that I cared about you, cared far too much. That night that Ashton and I fought, I almost ran over to see if you were hurt. I wanted to tell you everything, about who I was, and why. But I had to fight him to save your life. It was that night that Ashton revealed my biggest weakness, love. Somehow, you broke down my walls, crumbling them and made your way  and broke the icy lock around my heart. Mother was right about you, you are my key. The key to X. I love you, Fallon, from the deep depths of my not-so existent heart." I joked, Fallon's smile turning into a grin.

"Beautiful speeches," William sobbed, dabbing his eyes with his handkerchief. "Your vows?"

"I, Crown prince Fallon Alexander Jaxton of the East, take you, Anastasia Madeline Valentina Lexington, to be my lawfully wedded wife, my constant friend, my faithful partner and my love from this day forward. In the presence of our family and friends, I offer you my solemn vow to be your faithful partner in sickness and in health, in good times and in bad, and in joy as well as in sorrow. I promise to love you unconditionally, to support you in your goals, to honor and respect you, to laugh with you and cry with you, and to cherish you for as long as we both shall live." 

I took in a breath before speaking my vow to him. "I, Anastasia Madeline Valentina Lexington, take you, Crown prince Fallon Alexander Jaxton of the East, to be my constant friend, my faithful partner and my love from this day forward. In the presence of our family and friends, I offer you my solemn vow to be your faithful partner in sickness and in health, in good times and in bad, and in joy as well as in sorrow. I promise to love you unconditionally, to support you in your goals, to honor and respect you, to laugh with you and cry with you, and to cherish you for as long as we both shall live."

A small boy with blonde hair blue eyes walked towards us, holding a red velvet pillow with two rings on it. Dressed in a small and pretty dress, Marco's sister bounced towards us, holding an identical red velvet pillow with two crowns on it. I reached down, taking a silver-blue ring, slipping it on Fallon's ring finger while he reached down, taking another also, a silver-blue ring, slipping it onto my finger.

"Are there any objections?" William stood, his voice raised, glancing around. My eyes skimmed across the crowd, stopping on Luis, who's eyes seemed to be twitching a bit. He caught me looking at him, giving me a small smile before William cleared his throat. The minister walked over, placing the large golden crown on Fallon's head, placing the smaller golden crown on my head. King Jonathan and Queen Madeline stepped forward, Jonathan's hand on his son's shoulder, while Madeline's hand on my shoulder.

"By the power of the royal family, I relieve myself from the position of king, handing the title to my son, Fallon." The king stepped back, waiting for his wife.

"By the power of the royal family, I step down from the position of queen, handing the title to my goddaughter and my daugher-in-law, Anastasia." The queen smiled warmly at me, stepping back along with the king.

"Now, by the power invested in me by the Eastern kingdom, I pronounce you not only man and wife, but king and queen. You may kiss the bride." Fallon ducked his head down, swooping down to capture my lips. A sigh escaped my lips just as we made contact. Losing my first kiss to my childhood love was something, especially now that he and I were married. Fireworks were set in the background, exploding into the sky just as the sun set.

"I love you, little Ana." A small smile tugged at my lips.

"I love you too." 

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Aw! Aren't they just cute? Anyway, since I had titled this "Epilogue I," there's one more coming.

-Charlie