Harry Potter and the Berserker

Chapter 68 Blessed Day

Disclaimer- Harry Potter is owned by J.K. Rowling and Berserk is owned by Kentaro Miura. I own nothing.

Today had finally arrived. It was the day she had been looking forward to for years now since she was in her teens and first gotten to know the charming hero of Midland. Now, she was to be married to him on her twentieth birthday. The feelings of excitement and wanting mixing with uncertain notions of longing were building in her chest as she moved a slender hand up to her bosom.

And still, she felt nervous.

It can't possibly be true, could it?

A brief moment of doubt.

Charlotte shook her head. This was no time for doubt. She knew all there was to know, yes? She closed her eyes and felt her fingers brush across the skin above her heart. All she had to do was believe, to have faith.

And... I know that I have to be sure where I put my faith.

The sun was barely up, she had not gotten much sleep - no. She had not gotten any sleep at all since the previous evening. But she did not feel tired.

Anna had even stayed by her side all night as a means of comfort but by now it felt more like Anna was trying to comfort herself and her own guilt about leaving her when there had been an intruder in the palace.

"The whole thing was my fault!" Anna exclaimed for the twelfth time since she awoke from where she had passed out on Charlotte's bed. She sounded as nervous as Charlotte felt on the inside before she tried her hardest to push those feelings away or to hide from them.

"Do not blame yourself, Anna," she told her long-time servant and friend. "What would you have even done anyway?" it sounded harsher than she meant it to but she didn't utter an apology after. What good would it do?

The blonde girl hardly seemed too concerned by the tone. "I would have stayed, of course! A young, beautiful lady such as yourself needs to have those she can trust around. You're far more important than you realize."

"Because of my blood?" Charlotte asked, surprising Anna a bit.

"Not just that and your titles, but your standing with the city and Lord Griffith," Anna listed. "This is your city as much as his, you know."

She nodded. "I do."

That would have normally been enough to satisfy anyone questioning her, but Anna was perceptive of her response. "Queen Charlotte, are you alright?" Anna brought the back of her hand to feel Charlotte's forehead. "You seem awful... well, to put it frankly, wooden. Are you positive that... that... rapscallion didn't do anything to you?"

"He didn't do anything to me," Charlotte truthfully told. "It is over and he has been detained. May we please not discuss him anymore?"

To that, Anna nodded obediently. "Of course. But let me just mention that no one will blame you for wanting to postpone the wedding for a few more days. Lord Griffith would be more than understanding."

"That is kind of you to offer, but my mind has been made up." Has it? "I've waited for this day for far too long. Besides, it would be poor manners to have all the assembled guests leave now just to return shortly after. Whatever I may have experienced earlier cannot come in the way of my decision. What kind of queen would I be if I didn't listen to the needs of my people?"

Her response seemed more than enough to satisfy the doubt that Anna had. "Well, I'm certainly joyed to see you find your resolve. Shall I help you get your dress on? Or perhaps get your hair ready? What about-?"

"Could you perhaps go and get a few more flowers from the gardens for the bouquet?" Charlotte interjected by giving Anna a proper task to set her mind to. A bouquet would be nice.