Borderlines

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Fawn and Garth rushed down the aisle as the guests threw petals at them. Adrenaline ran through Fawn's blood and she felt very giddy with its effect. Garth pulled her to a halt just as they were outside the throne room doors. Both his hands cupped her face and he pressed his lips against hers. Fawn felt her insides melt at his touch.
"I love you so much, wife." He said quietly, his forehead rested against hers. Fawn felt their noses brush.
"I love you too, husband." The name sent shivers through her body. Garth let go of her waist.
"Time for the reception once they get everyone filed out of the throne room." Fawn nodded, unable to keep a smile off her face. Garth was beaming with joy. They headed to the banquet room where they would greet all the guests. Garth held Fawn's hand in his as they entered the room. It was lavishly decorated.
"Wow. They really spared no expense on this." Fawn said in awe.
"I guess they wanted to impress the future king and queen." Fawn had forgotten about the throne that was going to be theirs. She frequently did because she had never really wanted it. They would have three days before the crowning ceremony, three days to themselves. Fawn's skin tingled with nervousness. She and Garth settled at the entrance and he kissed her cheek softly.
"This is all I've ever wanted." He whispered as the first guests rounded the corner. Fawn smiled. First was Clay and the old members of Congress. As much as Fawn loathed Clay, she refused to let that hate seep into the wedding reception. Clay kissed Fawn's hand.
"I never would have thought to see this. Not in a million years." He smiled, but Fawn saw a hint of something else in his eyes. She kept herself from blurting 'Because I should be dead right?' Ever since the ambush at the airport, Fawn had begun to suspect Clay was part of the Black Ivy. It made sense. Everything he was doing to take out the East, but yet pretending to play favorites for them. He had hid documents that only Fawn and Travis as well as Garth now knew about. Clay quickly moved on, where Garth gave him warm, but curt welcome. He didn't like the man either, not after Fawn had filled him in on her discoveries. She left Travis out of the story, not wanting cause more resentment between the two overseers. Fawn looked up just as arms wrapped around her.
"Congratulations!" Emma exclaimed. Fawn hugged her back, happiness flooding through her once again. Emma pulled back, holding both of Fawn's hand in hers. She beamed and then let out a squeal, hugging Fawn again.
"This is so exciting!" Emma exclaimed. Fawn nodded with a laugh. Something about Emma's eyes made her stop though.
"Emma?" She asked. Emma squeezed her fingers and Fawn saw a glistening of tears in hers eyes.
"Oh Fawn, I'm sorry. I just wish, I just wish." She stuttered. Fawn felt her stomach drop.
"That Willow was here? I do too." Fawn said quietly. Her friends absence stung her with ache. Willow deserved to be standing here, Garrett at her side. Emma sniffed.
"I wish Sean were here too." Fawn looked at her, noticing the pain behind her eyes.
"I didn't know you and Sean were so close." Fawn said. Emma bit her lip.
"We were going to elope you know, if he got picked and I couldn't marry him." Fawn felt her heart aching and she pulled her friend close.
"I'm so sorry." She whispered. The words stuck painfully in her throat. Emma sighed.
"I'm afraid I'm ruining all your happiness, excuse me." She said quietly and walked away. Fawn watched her wordlessly, not having the heart to stop her. Garth touch her arm lightly.
"Are you okay? You look upset." He said in a concerned tone. Fawn looked at him, blinking away the extra moisture in her eyes.
"I'm fine, just remembering some things of the past." She told him. Fawn steeled her emotions that tried to tug her down. This was her wedding day and she was going to be happy.
"There's our daughter!" Fawn saw a beaming Nelson and Cassie making their way over. Cassie embraced Fawn and she hugged her new mother-in-law back. Nelson and Garth were embracing. Cassie clasped her hands together in excitement.
"I can't believe it! My little boy, married!" She exclaimed. Garth smiled, looking over at Fawn. Fawn held his gaze for a moment before looking away. Cassie smiled softly.
"I couldn't be happier." She said. Fawn looked at her.
"Me either." Fawn leaned against Garth. Nelson and Cassie were like her parents now, her new family, and she couldn't be more excited for it.
"When you two aren't busy running the country you will have to come over for more volleyball lessons." Nelson said. Garth rolled his eyes and shook his head as his parents walked away. Fawn's breath caught when she saw the next people heading toward her, Ruth and Travis. Ruth traveled by silently, giving them an obvious glare of contempt. Travis halted in front of Fawn. She saw Garth tense and mentally cringed. His green eyes stared into hers, making her want to look away.
"Congratulations." He said slowly. Fawn fought the urge to close her eyes as he stooped down and kissed her hand, his eyes never left hers. It felt like he was trying to make her guilty, to look at what she had walked away from.
"Madam." He said curtly and began to walk away. Fawn fought back a sigh of relief, he hadn't said anything to Garth and she wasn't sure whether to be grateful for that or not. Garth wrapped an arm around her.
"Do you think he'll cause any trouble?" Garth asked in a low voice. Fawn watched the overseer walk away.
"I honestly don't know." She sighed. That was what worried her, of all the things Travis was, predictable wasn't one of them. The rest of the guests filed through the line without any other problems. Garth led Fawn over to the stunning wedding cake that stood before them. Cameras were poised once again to capture any passing moment that happened between Fawn and Garth. They would be the headline tomorrow and the palace would be buzzing with gossip. She and Garth cut the cake together. Garth politely didn't shove a piece of cake in Fawn's face, which she was grateful for. She returned the favor. Bulbs on cameras flashed and Fawn was temporarily blinded as the room exploded in cheers and applause. Garth was pulling Fawn across the room, when an interviewer stepped in the way. She was the same one from the past and Fawn wondered how high rated she must be, the women seemed to be everywhere. Garth stopped to avoid running her over.
"Garth, may I have a word please?" The women asked. Garth shoved her microphone away, a look of annoyance passing across his face.
"I believe I owe my wife a dance." He said curtly before tugging Fawn past the women. Fawn suppressed a smile as the interviewer seemed shocked at Garth's stony attitude once again. He pulled Fawn into the center of the dance floor, people clearing the way for them. Fawn felt self-conscious when she rested her head against his shoulder. Garth's nose touched part of her ear. She turned her head towards him.
"You didn't want to speak to the nice women?" Fawn asked. Garth rolled his eyes.
"I understand why you don't like reporters. The last thing I want to do on my wedding day is to have an interview with one." He spun her away from him and pulled her back.
"I want to spend my time with you." He whispered in her ear. Fawn felt her stomach flutter. When the song with Garth finished, Nelson took the next dance. Fawn laughed the whole time. Garth must have gotten his dancing skills from Nelson, who turned out to be the perfect gentlemen and dance partner. Fawn was standing with Emma and Nathan when someone tapped her shoulder. Turning, Fawn's stomach dropped. The emerald eyes that she had come to recognize, watched her. Travis bowed lowly.
"I believe it is my turn to dance with you." Travis said, his green eyes holding an ominous glimmer. Fawn looked around the room frantically, Garth was nowhere in sight, but almost every camera crew seemed trained on her. Fawn felt a tremor, she wasn't going to be able to back out of his one. She looked at Travis as he pulled her with one hand toward the dance floor. Fawn didn't look him in the eyes as his hand settled around her waist. Travis swayed to the music silently until Fawn could no longer bear it.
"What are you doing?" She demanded, still not looking at him. Travis touched her chin swiftly and she jerked it away.
"You could at least look at me when you speak." He said. "Do you think I'm that despicable?" Fawn turned her stone cold gaze toward him.
"What are you doing?" She demanded. Travis smoothed his thumb across the fabric of her dress, Fawn closed her eyes quickly and then flashed them open.
"Ahh, so you do feel something." Travis said quietly. Fawn looked away from him. Garth where are you!  Fawn bit her lip.
"Whatever I felt for you has died." She said coldly. Fawn inhaled as he pulled her closer to him.
"Are you sure about that?" Travis asked, his warm breath tickled her ear.
"Yes." Fawn ground out between her teeth, refusing to give into the thoughts that trickled into her mind. Travis chuckled.
"You think you made the right choice, don't you?" Travis said harshly. Fawn caught sight of Garth coming through the crowd, he looked furious.
"I know I did." Travis's hands tightened around her.
"Do you really believe that?" Fawn felt a heat rising uncomfortably between them.
"Of course I do." She said, wriggling beneath his iron grip. A hand shoved Travis away from her. Garth held her at an arm's length away from Travis.
"That will be enough." He growled. Travis watched Fawn.
"For your sake, I hope he turns out right for you." Travis said and then bowed. Garth was seething with anger as Travis walked away. Fawn touched his arm lightly.
"Garth, I-" She tried to explain what had just happened. Garth looked at her and stroked her cheek lightly.
"You don't have to explain anything." He said. Fawn wrapped her arms around him, pressing against his chest.
"Thank you." She whispered. Garth rubbed her back.
"He can't ever have you, not as long as I live."

~

The afternoon went by in a blur and before Fawn even knew where the time had gone, it was ten o'clock. Garth walked with Fawn up the stairs while they traveled to their own personal room now. It was the room for the king and queen. Fawn stopped when they had entered the room, she couldn't take in any of it yet. There were three servants. Anxiety flared throughout her body. She had forgotten this part. With the crowning needing to happen as soon as possible everyone was expecting a consummation, tonight to be exact, to ensure that the future king and queen were united. Garth let go of her hand and she couldn't read his face. The servants closed the door. Two came to Fawn, one to Garth. Fawn was forced to turn her back on Garth. The servants gripped the cloth of her wedding dress, beginning to unzip it. Fawn began to shake as the dress fell from her shoulders. The servants picked it up, not one of them meeting her eyes. Her corset and skirt were left when the other servant joined them, a shirt in hand. They exited the room hastily. Fawn stood there. She felt so open, so vulnerable, she was scared.
"Fawn?" Garth called to her from across the room. Fawn turned toward him slowly. He stood directly across from her. His clothes were gone except for the breeches the he wore. They were both exposed to each other. Fawn hugged her midsection and looked at the floor. Garth crossed the room, carefully, like he was trying not to frighten an animal. He touched Fawn's chin and for some reason she wanted to flinch.

"I was excited for this night, but now...." Fawn looked at him. His brown eyes took her in.

"I'm nervous too." He said. Garth drew her into his arms, kissing her slowly. Fawn wrapped her arms around him, embracing his touch, trying to let her anxiety melt away. Garth separated his lips from hers and they grazed her shoulder and collarbone.
"If you don't want this, stop me." He said quietly. Fawn pressed her body against his bare, warm chest, taking in the smell of him. Her fingers intertwined into his hair.
"Don't stop." She whispered in a shaking voice. Garth's hand wound around her back, reaching the strings of her corset. Anxiety and excitement began to flow together, until Fawn wasn't sure what she felt. Garth began to unlace the strings, one by one, very slowly.
"Don't think about anyone else. No one from the past, any man who has ever kissed you, ever had any pleasure from the site of you. Don't think of anyone." The last of the laces tugged free.
"Think only of me." He whispered and his lips collided against hers.