RIPPLE

Coronation Day

TWO MONTHS LATER

Everything is perfect.

       My father and mother came from Atlantis with my sisters, and finally met the mourning Alexandra who put on a happy smile and seemed slightly . . . better. She and my mother immediately hit it off, and quickly became partners in crime; both approved of Tate and Serena.

        Alexandra chose to host my coronation on the beach, an idea I completely loved. She included me in plans and always wanted my opinion. But I ultimately let my soon-to-be mother in law decide and it kept her mind occupied and beautiful.

       All of their relatives were in attendance this morning, and my nerves are getting the better of me. It's almost time.

        I stare at myself in the mirror, trying my best to practice my breathing and try not to fall in these heels. The maids helped ready me, and I was allowed to choose a dress: a beautiful deep blue gown with a long cape that looked like a trail. The maids did my makeup, light and beautiful to bring out my green eyes and full pink lips. They styled my blonde hair into curly ringlets. I don't even look like myself anymore. I look . . . beautiful.

          “Where would a Prince be without his Princess?” Standing in the doorway to our room, Lachlan smiles as he takes me in. The Island of Monsters has made him strong and brave, but I still see his weakest moments. I still hold him through his thrashing nightmares. His cerulean blue eyes are gorgeous in the light, and hold a question not yet answered.

        I grin, “Shouldn't you be at the beach, my love?”

        Lachlan smiles as he comes closer, standing in the mirror behind me in a black suit and matching blue tie. “I should be my dear, but I wanted to take a moment to adore my darling soon-to-be Princess, and how gorgeous she is . . . ” He leans down to kiss my cheek, my neck. “I also have a very important question to ask you. Close your eyes and turn towards me.”

        I could hear my heartbeat in my chest. Unable to stop smiling, I did as he asked, closing my eyes.

        A moment later he says, “Open your eyes, my love.” Nervousness drips from his every word, and when I open my eyes, all the breath leaves my body and I can't find any words. But I don't have to. “Nerissa Brooklyn Caraway — we may have only known each other a few short months — you have opened my eyes to what a wonderful world this can be. Your beautiful, radiant, courageous and selfless. You kept my heart beating in Poseidon's sanctuary, and I never got it back from you. I would slay beasts . . . cross oceans, deserts and climb mountains just to see you smile. No God can try to separate us. You have giben up so much for me: blood, sweat and tears, and I don't want you to give anymore. I want to give you the world, and so much more. As long as you have me, nothing else can hurt you. I love you. Will you marry me?” Lachlan got down on one knee, and has a small black box in his hands that contains an elegant beautiful diamond ring.

        I don't care about the ring or the coronation. Everything in this moment is perfect. Quickly I nod yes, not realizing I'm crying until he wraps me in an embrace and we share our first kiss as a betrothed couple.

         Lachlan slips the ring onto my left hand, and his smile is so bright it hurts. “It was my Grandmother's,” He says matter-of-factly, “and maybe one day we could pass it down to our son or daughter.”

        “It's so beautiful.” I try to dry my happy tears.

        “You have no idea how it felt walking around and waiting for the perfect moment for weeks now. It was so hard keeping it a secret from you.” He kisses my lips, wipes away my tears. “Now Mrs Sinclair, are you ready to become a Princess of the most powerful Kingdom in the New World?”