The Wedding

Katherine wailed silently while he softly rocked her in his arms. "Shh, don't cry. I will stay with you. Don't cry."

Nathaniel didn't know why her tears made him feel so bad. They certainly made him want to protect her from everything, including his own bad temper. He just couldn't let go of her. And now, he wouldn't anymore. She asked for it herself. She asked while knowing the truth.

A sad kind of elation had followed her words. She would stay with him even if they couldn't really touch each other for the rest of their lives. Her dedication had humbled him, and at the same time awoken a desperate craving. He wanted her like nothing before in his life. All of her. Even though he couldn't give anything back, he wanted to take whatever she offered of her heart until he was the only one she could think of, the only one she could lean on desperately like right now.

All this time he had wondered how to tell her about his worst fault, about the demonic magic in him. And now, it seemed like she knew and didn't care. She wanted him nonetheless.

He never felt this blessed in his life, so blessed that it felt irreal. Even his own mother rejected him when she knew of the danger he bore. Nobody wanted him, dared to take him in their arms. Certainly, nobody but her would marry a man so selflessly.

His heart was breaking for her, the frustrations she would suffer in the future, and at the same time he was so full of elation that he couldn't let go. Guilt clashed with need, and the need won. Just once more, he wanted to be selfish again. Surely, she would overthink her decision soon, but right now, it was like a dream come true. He was too weak to reject it, wanted to bath in the illusion as long as possible.

His suit was already wet with her tears, but he let her be, and softly stroked her hair as if it were the feathers of a fragile fledgling.

"Why?", she mumbled against his chest. "Why did you suddenly change your mind?"

Before he could answer, the priest cleared his throat. For a minute, they had both forgotten where they were, sunken in the rush of feelings. Now the sounds around them reminded them that there was a ceremony to fulfill.

They looked each other in the eye, one pair red, one violet, and none of them wanted to let go. With or without marriage, they had broken the thin wall between them and entered each other's life. Their lips curled up at the same time.

"You got your make-up all over your face", Nathaniel grinned, which made Katherine blush, before she pointed out: "And over you!"

Gazing down at his chest, where powder had stained the black fabric, his grin widened into a stunning smile like it was never seen before. His voice was warm, with a certain amount of pride. "So be it."

They took each other's hands, and while the priest recited his monologue, they gazed at each other with unspoken feelings. It could as well have been just those three, without the crowd, and in a tiny room. Surroundings and other people didn't matter. This was the first time they had found love. Till now, they didn't know how stunning it was to be loved back.

But even when trying to shove it away, in the back of her mind, something was irking Katherine. She felt like she had to remember it, but she didn't want to. The moment was too wonderful, and too easy to pass by.

"Nathaniel Julian Raymond Icefall, son of King William Timothy Icefall and Queen Layla Fatima Icefall, will you take Katherine Mary Balder as your lawfully wedded wife?"

Katherine gasped. She nearly forgot that she was supposed to marry a prince. He really was a prince, the priest's words were proof of it, but she still couldn't believe it, so she gazed up at him curiously. A second late, but surely, Nathaniel nodded back. Then he opened his mouth to say much more wonderful words: "I, Nathaniel Julian Raymond Icefall, take you, Katherine Mary Balder, as my lawfully wedded wife, to cherish and protect, for rich, for poor, for good times and worse, and for as long as you want me to be."

His eyes were so serious when inter-locked with Katherine, that she thought for a second that this was the usual marriage vow of the Icelands, until she heard the slight commotion in the crowd. Right, how could a marriage vow be breached by just the words of the wife? He seemed to be adding his own formula, but somehow she liked it. Not that she planned to ever let him go, but it gave her more power in this marriage than normal women could expect.

Before the priest could intervene, Nathaniel ended with the traditional words: "May the great goddess Skadi watch over my pledge and let it stay still like her Palace of Ice."

Brought out of rhythm, the priest hesitated for a bit, but a heavy nod by the King made him continue. "Katherine Mary Balder, daughter of Duke Patrick John Balder and Duchess Shayenne Balder, will you take Nathaniel Julian Raymond Icefall as your lawfully wedded husband?"

Suddenly, Katherine's heart started pounding so fast, that she felt a bit dizzy again. Now was her time to speak the vows. She opened her mouth, and first took a breath of cool air. How should she begin? Well, it was simple in a way, but at the same time it seemed to be the hardest thing she ever did. At least she knew Nathaniel's answer already.

She looked into his eyes, only saw patience and affection. His long fingers softly squeezed hers as he mouthed 'last chance'. He still expected her to run away, may god know why. But she didn't plan to give up, even when his behavior seemed to indicate deeper trouble than what was normal in a marriage.

His dissuasion made her even surer of her choice. "I, Katherine Mary Balder take you, Nathaniel Julian Raymond Icefall, as my lawfully wedded husband, to cherish and support, for rich, for poor, for good times and worse. I promise to trust in your judgement and help you archive your aims, till death do us part. May the great goddess Skadi watch over my pledge and let it stay still like her Palace of Ice. May the sun god shine brightly on our ways."

The last part was added from the wedding vows of Dragsa, an ancient vow. Though she didn't feel as a part of this country anymore, the sun god was still the religion she grew up with. The rite didn't feel complete without it.

Katherine knew that with this pledge, she was laying the first stone for a future she never hoped to find, a future that might collide with her plan of revenge. But she knew now what she would do if she had to choose. Her parents were dead, but she was still alive. And so was Nathaniel.

Though she felt many strange gazes on her, not even the priest called her out for praying to the wrong god. With one look at her dark hair and small frame, everyone could tell where she came from.

With strong, tanned hands, the priest handed Nathaniel a golden goblet and made him drink the wine inside. His red eyes never left hers. When it was Katherine's turn, she chose the same spot. A blush crept up her cheeks that wasn't only from the wine. Nathaniel's gaze was intense.

Anticipation for their first night tickled down her spine. How would he be with his strong, slender hands? Would he let her feel up his body, or be impatient?

After them, it was the King's turn to drink and seal their marriage. The priest brought the goblet over to his side, while the couple only had eyes for each other.

Suddenly, there was a strange sound. Katherine saw Nathaniel's eyes widen in horror, before metal hit the floor and rang out like a bell in her ears. Suddenly, there were screams everywhere.