Chapter 6 - A Night to Remember, For All the Wrong Reasons

Before the council meeting was to take place, Morgan spent some time packing away her things, things she'd need at the least. As she finished, the council summoned her to the Royal Council room. When she arrived, King Philip, Geoffrey, Isaac, her betrothed, and several others that she never knew by name, greeted her. She took her seat, neither caring nor curious about why she was there.

“Tomorrow, just after dawn, Princess Morgan of Galeiseth, and Prince Luciack of Shadow Mountain are to be wed. Due to a change in High King Aaron's plans. The wedding was to be held a week from today. I am, however, being called to Aaron's aid the day after tomorrow.” Phillip starts.

Tomorrow? After dawn... Oh no... A silent scream built in her throat at the sudden change of plans. This would ruin everything. She glanced at Luciack and concealed a grunt of disgust. His eye caught her own, a mischievous glint that she didn't like danced there. Her heart dropped as she looked away. He had something planned.

“If I may, Your Majesty, we could hold it tonight, just after dusk. I feel it would be easier for you. Have a day to prepare to leave,” Luciack offered. Morgan forced herself to take a deep breath as that silent scream threatened to tear from her lungs like a raging beast. Her palms cried out in agony as her nails dug into them. Why did I have to pick the eager one?

“This is an interesting proposition,” Isaac offered from where he stood at the King's side. Phillip considered, stroking his beard.

“Indeed it is, though I know little about the Valley Forge customs for marriage,” one man accompanying Luciack from Shadow Mountain said, thoughtfully looking at Phillip.

“I think it is a wonderful idea, Prince Luciack,” Geoffrey said with a snide look at Morgan, cutting her off as she opened her mouth to have her say in the matter. She clenched and unclenched her fists as she sat, forced to listen to the ongoing meeting. They made it very clear she was only there to hear the discussion, not to take part.

The rest of the meeting went on with the same redundant opinions on the matter of her wedding, which she got no say in, as usual. The verdict of the meeting was that she and Luciack were to be wed before dinner and they would prepare a feast in their honor.

How predictable, she seethed, pins poked and prodded from all angles. Before the meeting was fully over, the maids had dragged her out. There began the fitting for her wedding gown. The pit in her stomach only grew with each pin that was set into the dress. With the wedding to be held in mere hours, servants and guards would swarm the Palace. There would be no chance to slip away unnoticed. She would have to be married before she could make her escape. The realisation soured her mood even further.

I guess there is a bright side to it, though. Luciack would be the legitimate king and I wouldn't really be needed. All I have to do is last the next two or three hours and then the feast.

The gown was long, with a stiff lace neck and long sleeves to match. The bodice was fitted and made of silk with small pearls sewn to it in the Kingdom's crest. The skirt had an under layer made of silk and a top layer of velvet with gold embroidery around the edge. It was quite stunning; she had to admit. If only it was being worn by someone marrying for love. The reality of it had yet to sink in. It felt too distant, like she was watching someone else’s life play out around her.

The fitting took at least an hour more, then the maids fussed over her hair. All the pulling they did made her scalp ache. They had scrubbed her face raw to match before putting all manner of creams and powders in layers across her skin.

If I can endure this pain, I can last through anything. Fighting back the urge to roll her eyes at the thought, she held still as she could to lessen her own suffering. Half an hour more of prepping by the maids, and they left her pacing around her room.

Mere minutes before the ceremony, Philip knocked gently on the door. Hesitantly, she opened it and greeted him with a tense smile.

“You look wonderful,” He said, going to her side with a smile.

“Thank you, but I feel like a fool. I don't think this is right,” She turned towards the mirror, all she found was a stranger staring back at her. Raising a hand to her cheek, he looked at her with a sympathetic expression.

“I'm sorry I have to make you do this, I just want you to know-” A maid rushed into the room, and cut him short.

“It is time,” She informed them, out of breath. They exchanged a look of understanding. Phillip then held out his arm for her to take.

The walk down to the main hall had been far too short. To her surprise, hundreds of people waited for them. Her heart thundered frantically in my chest. Knowing if she said anything, she would lose her lunch, she kept her lips pressed tightly together. The vain efforts to calm her frantic heart were useless. It only made her feel dizzier. She was hardly aware of Phillip guiding her toward the altar where Luciack and a priest of Uvalya awaited her.

The beginning of the ceremony was the hardest for Morgan. She waited, still as a stone, for the priest to turn his eyes to her. First, he looked at Luciack, who was steady and unfaltering. Then he'd look at her and her blood ran cold, her breath caught in her lungs.

The floor swayed under her feet. The Priest's face grew more distant with each word he said to them. She tried to count the times he said her name, but they all blurred into one another. Until he turned to her, his eyes locked on her.

“Princess Morgan of Galeiseth, do you take Prince Luciack of Shadow Mountain as your husband and King?” The Uvalyan priest said. She knew it was only moments, but the silence felt like an eternity as she tried to force the words out. Shifting her focus from staying on her feet seemed an impossible task.

“I... I do,” Her heart raced, blood pounding in her ears as she forced the two words from her stiff lips. Her words faltered as tears threatened to spill from her eyes. It was almost over. She had nearly made it through in one piece. After all that, she’d be able to think about leaving. The priest turned to Luciack. The weight of his gaze no longer focused on her, Morgan felt the world spin around her. It was a dizzying lightness she couldn't place.

“Prince Luciack of Shadow Mountain, do you take Princess Morgan of Galeiseth as your wife and Queen?”

“I do,” His voice was clear and strong, unlike the woman's beside him. How he was so calm, she would never know.

“Then by the power of Uvalya, I declare you husband and wife.”

Luciack smiles warmly and takes her in his arms to kiss her. Several hushed exchanges meet this. She just hoped he didn’t notice how stiff she was in his arms. In that moment she could only focus on one thing, and it wasn't the hundreds of eyes on them.

She looked up at her husband slowly, eyes glazed. “It is done,” She murmured, her voice came out in a low rasp. His face briefly flickered with confusion, but he quickly composed himself and took her hand to lead her towards the tables. When they made it to the table, the servants seated them as Phillip made a toast to them, then the feast began.

Many people wished them luck in their future and some women offered their blessings of many children to the couple. This made Morgan blush and look away. It made Luciack smile. How different they were already. By the time the feast was over, she wanted nothing more than to lie in bed. Alone.

With a stifled yawn, the bride tried to say that she was going to retire for the night, but the talking and singing drowned her tired words out. Luciack had taken notice of her attempt at getting away and stepped up to make the announcement for her.

“The Princess is tired. She will be retiring to her chambers for the night. I will accompany her. Stay as long as King Phillip will allow you,” He bowed with a flourish and took her hand to lead her away to her room for the second time that day.

Her heart sank. She should have expected as much. It was a minor setback. She was determined and not even her new husband would stop her. Though she should be grateful. Better him than any other suitor she had met. Their walk was eerily silent, and she was all too aware of his hand holding her own.

“Thank you,” She murmured, genuinely meaning it. In her exhausted haze, she didn't mind that he made no sign of leaving her side. It took too much energy to care. When they approached the doors to her chambers, he gestures towards the doors with a nod. With a skeptical glance at him, she can't help but notice the softness of his eyes, a stark contrast to the look she'd seen in them the night before.

At least he has the decency to wait outside while I change, She thought as she slipped into her chambers. As she takes her dress off, she casts a glance at the window. Part of her wanted to leave then, but Luciack would no doubt alert the King. All she wanted was to get a bit of rest. She was too tired to outrun any guards anyhow. When she'd changed, she opened the door for him as she started undoing her hair. Escape would have to wait.

“So, what did you mean when you said 'It is done' earlier?” Luciack asked as he leaned against the wall beside the vanity where she sat. A perfect eyebrow raised at her. He watched every move she made with, like he was memorizing everything she did. She didn’t think she could ever get used to the way he looked at her.

“I honestly have no idea...” She said, and it was the truth, she had no idea where it had come from. She didn't see the small smirk that briefly touched his lips. As she looked up at him, she saw a raging mix of emotions in his blue eyes. What went on in his mind, she didn't dare ask.

The more she looked at him, the more she noticed, from the scar just above his left brow, to the slight crook in his nose. He was handsome. She couldn't deny that, but that alone would never be enough to keep her there. It wasn't until the corner of his mouth tilted up that she realised she'd been staring. Heat rose in her cheeks and she turned away hastily. The last few pins in her hair clattered onto the vanity's counter and she jumped up from the chair.

With her hair hanging freely in loose waves, she crossed over to the bed, where she lay down to stare at the ceiling.

“You really are something else. It should make my life more bearable,” He gave a small laugh, and she just rolled her eyes. If only he knew. As she lay there, he disappeared for a few moments, returning in his own nightclothes and settling in next to her.

She forced a smile as she looked at him. They lay in silence for a while, both lost in thought, neither sure what to do. They were married, but what did that mean for two strangers, really?

“I know you don't trust me now, Morgan, but we must keep up appearances, yes?” The words chilled her, an echo of her thoughts from earlier that day.

“Good night,” The words were blurted out before she could think. She glanced over at him one last time, trying to glean anything she could from his face. His face was carefully blank. He eyed her sidelong as she studied him. Swallowing hard, she looked away and closed her eyes, heart skipping a beat. Something about him was off.

She heard him whisper back to her as she drifted off to sleep. She fell into a restless sleep with him by her side.