Princess Iris

"You look so beautiful Your Majesty," Bridgette says.

"Thank you, Bridgette," I say.

I turn to the mirror again.

"Your Majesty you need to hold still so we can make the vile stick to your hair," Caroline says.

"Oh sorry Caroline, I can't seem to stop my body from moving," I say.

I watch through the mirror as Caroline and Juliette struggle to clip the vile to my hair.

"Ladies why not use a pin to hold the flower in place and then you can clip the vile to my hair," I say.

I watch both ladies look at themselves and just then they scatter in search of pins.

"If you can't find a pin then we have to redo the hairstyle again," I say.

"Your Majesty, I am going to need you to stand on the podium so that I can do the last sewing to your dress," Lady Fab says.

I nod at her. I let her guide me to the podium. Lady fab arranges the gown and lets it fall, I watch as begins her sewing.

Just then there is a knock on my door.

"Elizabeth," I say.

Elizabeth rushes to the door and answers it.

"Your Majesty," Elizabeth says.

"Thank you very much, Beth," Mother says.

I turn and find Mother entering the room with a white box in her hand. She is wearing a lemon satin ball gown. Her hair is neatly packed in a bun. She turns and sees me staring at her and she smiles at me as I smile back at her. "Wow Mother you look beautiful," I say.

"Oh, this old thing. Your father had it made for me for our anniversary last year but I didn't get the chance to wear it. Now that I am thinking about it, I am glad I didn't wear it," Mother says smiling at the dress. "I know you need all the time you have to get ready but I couldn't help it. I needed to come over to see you. I hope I am welcome," Mother says.

"Of course you are Mother," I say.

"In that case, I come bearing gifts," Mother says stretching the white wrapped box in her hand to me.

I look at her and finally at the box in her hand. I take the box from her hand.

"It's light," I say to myself.

"Go on, open it," Mother says.

I lose the ribbon gently and open the box. I look inside and gasp.

I look up at Mother and it seems she is holding back tears. I put my hand inside the box and take out the tiara. It's the tiara I made for Ri on our 16th birthday.

"I thought it was destroyed in the fire," I say to myself.

I look at it for a while and look at mother with tears in my eyes.

"How... how... where did you find it? I thought it was destroyed," I say.

"The bell house didn't get totally destroyed in the fire, well some of it did. The day you moved to Nana's castle, I had the guards take whatever survived in the fire to one of the warehouses and they found the tiara covered in ash. The steel was destroyed but the diamonds remained the same. So I had Constantine take it to the jewelry house for repairs. I have been with it ever since," Mother says.

I can't stop looking at the tiara as I fight back tears.

"She will want you to wear it today," Mother says.

"Oh I know," I say using my hands to fan back the tears. "Oh gosh, tissue please," I say.

Bridgette rushes to me with a tissue. I take it from her and clean my eyes.

"We are done Your Majesty," Lady Fab says.

They help me down from the podium and I quickly hug Mother.

"Thank you," I say.

I feel her nod as she tightens her grip on me. she releases me and warmly touches my cheeks.

"You look very beautiful and I know your sister wherever she is thinks the same," Mother says with a smile.

I hold her hand with mine. I turn and find Caroline and Juliette both staring at me. I look at their hands and find no pins.

"Mother I would love it, if you would make my hair for me," I say.

She smiles at me.

"I would love to honey," Mother says.

I take my seat in front of my dressing mirror as Mother makes my hair humming to her favorite song.

HOURS LATER

I can hear the shouts and cheers from outside. The people are outside the castle waiting for I and King Leonard to be wedded.

We kneel before the priest as he sings and prays in roman, blessing our marriage. We stand and bow to the priest as he kisses us both on the cheeks.

"Do you King Leonard of Octavalia take Queen Iris to be your lawfully wedded wife, to love and to uphold her, to love her at her best and at her worst, in sickness and in health?" The Royal Priest asks. King Leonard takes my hand into his and kisses it.

"I do now and forever," King Leonard says.

I laugh as he keeps kissing my hand. It makes the whole congregation laugh.

"And to you Queen Iris of Filamonda, do you take King Leonard to be your lawfully wedded husband, to love and to uphold him, to love him at his best and at his worst, in sickness and in health?" The Royal Priest asks. "I do always," I say.

The whole congregation erupts in cheers and claps.

"By the power vested in me by Almighty God and his people, I now pronounce you rulers to the throne, husband and wife, King and Queen, you may kiss your Queen, King Leonard of Filamonda," The Royal Priest says. "I love the sound of that, 'Your Queen'," King Leonard says.

I chuckle as he draws me closer to me

"And I will remain your Queen as you will remain my King," I say

"Definitely, now and always," King Leonard says.

And just then we kiss as the cheers continue in the church. King Leonard releases me and kisses my head.

"I love you, Queen Iris," King Leonard says.

"I love you too King Leonard," I say.

We both turn to the congregation. I curtsey and King Leonard bows, the congregation does the same acknowledging us as the new King and Queen of Filamonda. We make our way down the altar, and a train of knights escorts us behind and in front. We smile and wave to everyone we see. We make our way to the balcony of the church. Just then the trumpet starts blowing, I can hear the shouts of the people already.

"This is one of my best parts," King Leonard says.

"Me too," I say smiling at him.

We enter the balcony and when the people see us their shouts and cheers become louder. Everyone is throwing irises in the air, lighting their lanterns and raising them in the air. The lighting of lanterns is a tradition in Filamonda when the new King or Queen is joined in marriage. It signifies the beginning of a new era and the people are pleased with it. I couldn't contain myself as I start waving at everyone. King Leonard joins me. Just then butterflies start flying in the air. "Butterflies?" I ask.

"The girls wanted to surprise you. It was Isabelle's idea. She said she wanted it to feel like a certain special someone was watching you," king Leonard says.

I turn my back into the church and I find Isabelle with the girls all smiling at me. Isabelle became the ruler of Octavalia after King Leonard and I announced our engagement to each other.

"Thank you," I say to them.

They all smile at me.

The Royal Priest walks toward us and behind him is a guard carrying a red pillow with the crowns on it. We knee before the priest.

The Royal Priest raises his hand to the crowd outside. Everyone keeps quiet for the next part of the ceremony. The Priest takes the crown belonging to King Leonard.

"A king must protect and guard his kingdom, provide and guide his people from known and unknown enemies, to lead and direct the affairs of his kingdom, to judge and execute tasks, and love and honor his queen. Do you accept these duties?" The Royal Priest asks.

"Yes I do," King Jeffery says.

The Royal Priest places the crown on King Jeffery's head and the erupts in joy.

The Royal Priest takes the crown belonging to me.

"A queen must protect and guard her kingdom, provide and guide her people from known and unknown enemies, to lead and direct the affairs of her kingdom, to judge and execute tasks, and love and honor her king. Do you accept these duties?" The Royal Priest asks.

"Yes I do," I say.

The whole erupts in joy as the crown is placed on my head. We both stand up and face the people. King Leonard bows and I curtsey, the people do the same accepting us as their rulers.

Another trumpet is blown signaling the end of the ceremony. I turn to King Leonard and he turns to me. He bends his head towards me as our mouths meet.

"Presenting the King and Queen, the 13th King of Filamonda, His Royal Majesty, King Leonard, and his Queen, Her Royal Majesty, Queen Iris of Filamonda," A voice announces.