Bondage (formerly Escape from the Obstinate Prince)

Ami jerked awake. Why had she awakened so suddenly?

Oh.

Today was the day. Today was the day she was marrying Prince Jacques. Today was the day that she would become the bride of a Carenthian Prince.

“Good morning, Your Highness,” Heather was near her bed, setting some things on the foot of her bed. “Ready for the big day?”

“To be completely honest with you, no,” Ami replied. She sat up and rubbed her eyes. “Am I expected to eat breakfast with the Royal family?”

“The Queen sent up a big meal for you, Your Highness,” Heather folded one last thing before setting it on the bed and walked over to her table, picking up a tray full of food. “Here you are. Would you like anything else, Your Highness?”

“No, thank you, Heather. I’ll just eat this and call for you when I’m done,” Ami managed a small smile.

Heather curtsied and left the room.

Ami looked at her tray. That is a lot of food.

The Queen burst into Ami’s room. “Ami! Don’t touch that food!”

Ami quickly dropped her spoon and recoiled slightly. “Why? What’s wrong?”

“Yesterday, Madison ate with us, since you were absent and so he was eating your food, well actually we believe it came from the wine but anyway, I just found out this morning that apparently all through the night he was retching and he just was having a terrible time and so we think someone was trying to poison you. Thankfully for Mad, he only had a sip of your wine, he thought it tasted a bit funny and so he stopped there but because he didn’t want to offend us he didn’t mention the funny taste, as no one else seemed to notice. But I don’t want you to eat that food.”

“Yes, Your Majesty,” Ami looked at the Queen with wide eyes.

“Come, let’s get you ready for the wedding,” the Queen said.

She ushered her out of bed and the servants helped bathe her, perfume her hair and then came the corset. The wonderful corset that she used to get her waist sixteen inches thin.

“I can go tighter,” Ami held onto the wooden part of her bed.

“Careful, not too tight,” Katherine warned. She leaned close to Ami. “Jack told me what happened and that won’t happen again, I can assure you.”

Jack told the Queen? Ami swallowed. “I hope and pray it never happens again.”

“Is that too tight, Your Highness?” a servant asked.

“That’s perfect, thank you,” she took a deep breath, to see if she could manage it. Yes, she could still breath.

“Now, are you ready to see the final version of your wedding gown?” the Queen looked ecstatic.

Ami smiled for her sake. “Yes,” although to be perfectly frank, she was not looking forward to it, as it was a hot day and all of those layers of fluff did not appeal.

Two servants brought in the soft white gown.

It looks different.

Ami voiced her thoughts. “It looks different.”

“That is because I had it changed quite a bit,” the Queen said gleefully. “I looked into Rhone’s style and then I took into consideration the weather and decided that your other gown was too dreadfully hot and so I had another one made.”

“But, you never had it fitted,” Ami interjected. And then the sleeves...everyone will see my shoulders and I will be a disgrace to Rhone.

“I had your measurements and did my best. I have the best tailors. It should fit,” she beamed at Ami. “Well aren’t you going to try it on?”

Ami nodded, still uncomfortable with the change.

“I do hope you aren’t uncomfortable wearing a dress that does not have long sleeves,” the Queen looked like she was chewing on a fingernail. Ami wasn’t sure. “I also took some different fashions and added those.”

Ami slipped into the dress.

A servant tried to tie the laces. A good five minutes later the servant was still going. “The dress is a bit small.”

The Queen’s smile fell. She shooed the servant and grabbed the laces, trying to tie it. After another five minutes she sat on Ami’s bed.

“You can tie my corset tighter,” Ami concluded, after a solid chunk of awkward silence.

The Queen’s head snapped up. “No. I will not have you fainting at your wedding.”

“As of right now it isn’t that tight, I promise you,” Ami smiled, as if to prove her point. “I could go tighter.”

“Alright,” the Queen sighed dejectedly. “Go ahead.”

The servant took hold of her corset strings and pulled tight.

Ami let out a yelp.

The Queen stood up.

“I’m alright,” Ami assured.

After it was tightened, she tried on the dress again.

They tied it easily.

“Now for your hair,” the Queen smiled maliciously.

“You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?” Ami commented dryly.

“Quite right, my dear,” the Queen grinned. “I only have one more daughter and I’m going to enjoy my first one as much as I can.”

Ami just shook her head and let the Queen take charge of her and the servants.

“Ready, Ami?” Katherine put a crown of flowers on Ami’s head.

“If you say I am, then I suppose I am,” Ami replied. “Might I ask why I have a crown of flowers?”

Katherine smiled so big that her eyes crinkled and almost disappeared. “I know that you’re supposed to wear your own crown but I just thought that since it was because if a Rose Crown your father and I were married - well sort of, not really - that you should be wearing a crown of flowers when you marry my only son, Jacques.”

Ami felt slightly guilty that she and Jack didn’t get along. She felt even worse that they would most likely never love each other as the King and Queen did.

“Are Jack and I expected to share a room after today?” Ami asked as the Queen arranged her crown.

“You won’t be forced to...but,” the Queen halted her speech, “I know that you and Jack will likely not be comfortable sharing a room, and I realize that most Kings and Queens never learn to love each other as Gavin and I cannot lie to you in saying that you must. But it is strongly encouraged and Gavin and I had a room all prepared for you and Jack.”

Ami sighed. Why does the Queen have to be so thoughtful and make up a room for us?

“Don’t despair, my dear,” the Queen stopped working on Ami’s hair for a moment, “I know it will be hard, but I think that you and Jack have potential to be a great pair. I believe it wouldn’t be hard to love each other if you both just tried.”

Ami said nothing for a good couple of minutes. In fact, she said nothing at all until the Queen finished Ami’s hair. “There you are. You look beautiful. I’ll be proud to call you my daughter.”

Ami smiled up at the Queen. “Thank you. And I shall be proud to be called your daughter.”

The church bells pealed.

“Hurry, Ami!” the Queen ushered. “You only have an hour left and you still have all those things to do and-”

“Relax,” Ami put a hand on the Queen’s arm, “there is plenty of time. What left is there to do? Now, now, just relax, leave everything to the servants. We’ll manage. Although you might want to check up on Jack; make sure he isn’t hiding any knives up his sleeve and then maybe check on Madison.”

“Knives up his sleeve?” the Queen raised an eyebrow. “My dear, I don’t think he hates you, and certainly not to that extent.”

Ami laughed lightly. “Then maybe you had better go check on Freya. I’m sure she would love to see you all dressed up for the wedding.”

“Quite right, Ami. I think that’s what I’ll do,” Katherine nodded and opened the door to her bedroom. “I’ll see you at the wedding, yes?”

Ami smiled. “I’m not going to run away, if that’s what you’re worried about.”

“Good.”

Ami laughed again.

The bells rang loudly. The chattering was almost as loud. She stood in front of the double doors that separated her from the people.

“Nervous?” Cedric offered her his arm.

Ami took a deep breath. “I’m not sure if I’m nervous or if I just dread the life that is soon to be mine.”

Cedric chuckled.

The music started and the double doors opened.

Cedric started walking; Ami held tight to his arm with one hand, the other hand holding on to her bouquet of flowers and herbs.

The whole congregation stood and they all stared at her.

Cedric patted her hand as if sensing her discomfort.

Ami steadily walked towards the altar, where Jack awaited.

He looked quite dashing in his wedding attire and with his hair combed and styled, pulled to the back

At least I’m not marrying into an ugly family, Ami thought.

A sword and sheath hung from Jack’s waist in case someone tried to steal Ami away from him. I doubt he would come to my rescue, Ami almost laughed, but remembered that this was not a good time to laugh and kept her giggles to herself.

She met her future husband’s eyes. His face swept over her dress, finally reaching her face. Whatever he was thinking, he masked it well.

She wished she knew what he was thinking or how he was feeling. Was he as nervous as her? Was he as frightened of his new life that was waiting to be claimed as she was off hers?

Jack smirked.

He probably knows what I’m thinking and he probably isn’t nervous at all, Ami kept her face neutral - smiling for the common folk, lords and ladies.

They went through the processional - Cedric handed her away to Jack, the music stopped. Then the priest started talking.

Ami was hardly listening to what the priest was saying, she figured it went along the lines of “do you promise to be faithful to this here young pig-of-a-man” and since she knew she had to marry him and couldn’t back out, she didn’t think it would do much of a difference if she listened or not.

The priest stopped talking.

Jack looked at Ami.

Ami blushed and took her vows.

Jack put a ring of Ami’s finger and she felt herself blushing even more. Who needs to put on any rouge when I have a natural blush color to my cheeks already? she looked at the ring. It was beautiful. It was just a shame the one she was marrying wasn’t a prince charming.

When Jack vowed to protect, honor and love Ami all the days of his life, she was tempted to scoff. But she had enough self control to restrain herself.

She shook her head, not noticeable from a distance, and put a ring on Jack’s finger. It was a dark silver color, coincidentally matching his eyes.

Ami shifted the weight on her slippered feet. Is he quite finished? she glanced at the priest. I should probably be listening to what he’s saying, she fought a yawn.

“You may kiss the bride,” the priest’s words finally caught Ami’s attention.

Her head snapped up and she looked at Jack. She knew this was coming, only she didn’t think it would be so soon and sudden.

Jack must have caught a whiff of Ami’s fear and smiled almost evilly. “Well, darling? They’re waiting for us,” he spoke softly.

At that moment, Ami wanted to fall into a hole and die.

Her fear did not stem from not wanting to kiss Jack; she simply did not want to do a bad job of it and give him any more material to use to make fun of her.

Now he’s leaning in for the kill - uh, kiss, Ami forced herself not to cringe and hoped that her fast heart beat want visible.

Jack’s lips meet hers and she stiffened.

If she had to guess, she would have said that he had kissed other girls before, as he did not seem amateur.

He drew her close and she felt like he was smiling, teasing her in a way - mocking her youth and inexperience.

She, at that moment, felt small and insignificant.

Jack pulled away and Ami’s cheeks flared up once again.

“Price Jacques and Princess Andromeda Aurora Amélia of Carenthia!” the priest introduced the newest couple in Carenthia and deafening whoops and hollers started up, along with the tossing of rice and other grains.

The music started up again and Jack took Ami’s arm, leading her out.

Ami didn’t know if she should cheer or cry.

She was now, officially, the wife of Prince Jacques of Carenthia.