Coalesce: The Escape

I spend some time packing away a few of my things, things I’ll need at the least. As I’m finishing I am summoned by the council to the Royal Council room. When I arrive I am greeted by King Philip, Geoffrey, Isaac, my betrothed, and several others that I didn’t know by name. I took my seat, neither caring, nor curious about why I 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... I think in a silent panic. I glance at Luciack and conceal a grunt of disgust.

“If I may, Your Majesty, it could be held tonight, just after dusk. I feel it would be easier for you. Have a day to prepare to leave,” Luciack offers. I take a deep breath and close my eyes. Why did I have to pick the eager one?

“This is an interesting proposition,” Isaac offers from where he stands at the King’s side. Phillip considers, stroking his beard.

“Indeed it is, though I don’t know much about the Valley Forge customs for marriage,” One of the men accompanying Luciack from Shadow Mountain says thoughtfully looking at Phillip.

I open my mouth to have my say in the matter but I am cut off by a stern look from Geoffrey. “I think it is a wonderful idea, Prince Luciack,” Geoffrey says with a snide look at me. I sigh and fiddle with my sash ends and listen to the ongoing meeting. It’s very clear I’m only there to hear the discussion, not participate.

The rest of the meeting went on in quite redundant opinions on the matter of my wedding, which I got no say in, as usual. The verdict of the meeting was that Luciack and I were to be wed before dinner and a feast would be prepared in our honor. How predictable, I thought crossly as I was being stabbed with pins. Before the meeting was fully over I had been dragged out by the maids. There began the fitting for my wedding gown. I had a very bad feeling about this. I would most likely not be able to sneak away anytime soon. Looks like I would have to be married before I could make my escape... I guess there is a bright side to it though, Luciack would be the legitimate King and I wouldn’t really be needed. I just hoped that I would be able to last the next two or three hours and then the feast. My gown was long and had a stiff neck made of lace and lace sleeves that stopped at my wrists. The bodice was fitted well and made of silk covered in a layer of lace with small pearls sewn to it. 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, I admit. If only it was being worn when I was marrying someone I truly wanted to marry. This was all too overwhelming for me.

The fitting took at least an hour and now the maids were fussing over my hair and powdering my cheeks. My scalp ached from all the pulling and my face had been scrubbed raw. If I could endure this pain, I could last through anything. Half an hour of prepping by the maids and I was pacing nervously around my room. Phillip came in a few minutes before he was to take me down to the main hall.

“You look wonderful,” He says, coming over to me and smiling. I smile softly, tensely.

“Thank you, but I feel like a fool. I don’t feel that this is right,” I turn and look at him. He puts a hand on my cheek and looks at me with a sympathetic expression.

“I’m sorry I have to make you do this, I just want you to know-” He is cut short by a maid coming into the room.

“It is time,” She informs us and we glance at each other then Phillip nods and hooks his arm in mine and walks me down to the main hall where, to my surprise, what seemed like hundreds of people waited. My heart thundered frantically in my chest and I felt if I said anything I would lose my lunch. I tried to calm my nerves, but couldn’t seem to. I was hardly aware of Phillip walking me toward the altar where Luciack and a priest of Uvalya waited. The beginning of the ceremony went by in a blur as well and I only paid attention to the end, where I had to actually say something.