35 35. The Lovers that Conquered the world
"You have no idea." Amaris said as she tightened her death grip around Ivailo's shoulders, making it difficult for him to breathe.
"Too tight!" He wheezed, and Amaris let go. "So, what happened while I was away?"
"Too much." Amaris said, her voice dripping with sadness, as she dropped her gaze. Ivailo took her shoulders and turned her back towards him.
"Amaris, what happened?" He said with such an urgency that obviously scared her, as she looked at him with wide eyes. He relaxed his grip on her arms. "Please tell me what happened." Amaris sighed and looked at him.
"Promise me that you won't be too angry?" She pleaded.
"Not unless it is something that I should be angry about."
"The former lords of the high council tried to take the throne away from us."
"Those bastards!" He yelled, making Amaris wince. "Sorry, I shouldn't have yelled. Good thing they were already slated for execution." He offered her his arm. "Shall we go home, your majesty?" She smiled as she wove her arm so that it was entangled in his. "Did they succeed?"
"For a day. Turns out, a surprising number of Werewolves were keen for the system to change, and for Vampires and Werewolves to peacefully coexist as equals."
In spite of his rage at the idea that she could have been hurt, Ivailo was impressed that his people had come together like that. It was as if everything he had been trying to achieve over the past eighteen years had just been achieved, even without his input.
"Well, I am glad that you are okay." He said, pulling Amaris close and inhaling her scent. She smelled like a combination of rosewater and orange blossom, a combination that reminded him of his mother.
It didn't take long for the pair to make it up the stairs and into his bedroom, where Cyran had already unpacked the cases that they had taken to Thoasia. Ivailo laid down on his bed, grateful to be home. He motioned for Amaris to lay down next to him, which she did.
"I don't suppose you managed to get much wedding planning done, did you?" He asked.
"On the contrary." she replied, snuggling in closer. "Before you left, Lyra and I had pretty much planned the entire thing. All we need is a date."
"How about this time next month?" He asked, gently kissing the top of her head.
"Hmm, August 10th. I think that it could work."
"Perfect." Ivailo wrapped an arm around her waist so that she couldn't get up. "Now, let's get some rest." He said, kissing the top of her head. Amaris laid her head on his chest.
"Milady! Wake up!" Amaris woke up to both Kenia and Lilly shaking her. She groaned and rolled over, trying to go back to sleep. "Wake up! Its your wedding day!" Kenia huffed, obviously annoyed that Amaris wanted to get more sleep.
"Five more minutes? please?" Amaris asked, annoyed that she had been woken up before dawn.
"No, we need to get you ready for the biggest day in the history of Acad, let alone in your life." Lilly argued as she pulled off the covers. "Come on, get up." Amaris grumbled. It was way too early to be woken up, and way too cold to have the covers stripped off her like that.
"Alright, I am getting up." She relented, swinging her legs off the bed. "I hope that a bath is ready for me."
"Yes, milady." Kenia confirmed, motioning for Amaris to head to the bath.
An hour later, Amaris emerged from the bathroom feeling so scrubbed up that she had wondered of she had shed her skin. She walked over to her bed, which had her wedding dress laid on it.
"It's so beautiful." She declared, absolutely mesmerized by the gown.
"So are you, milady." Kenia responded, turning the seat of the dressing table to face Amaris. "Now please sit so that we can make sure that you are absolutely perfect for His Majesty."
"Not to mention all of the other dignitaries and noble guests that will be in attendance." Lyra said as she barged into the room, Kafei in tow. "Now, dear Amaris. Are you ready to become Queen?" Amaris felt sheepish, receiving so much attention while undressed.
"I am, at least as much as I can be." She admitted, as Lilly finished combing her hair and started styling it into a tidy braided low bun and Kenia started to apply the first layers of makeup.
"Good." Kafei replied. "Because after today, you don't have much of a choice." She smiled, something that Amaris had seldom experienced from her. "Your mother would be so proud if she were here." Amaris could feel her eyes watering at the mention of her mother.
"Really?" She asked, her voice cracking a bit.
"Yes." Kenia said in a short tone. "Now pull yourself together, milady, or you will ruin your makeup."
"Yes ma'am." Amaris replied, saluting Kenia and making Kafei and Lyra burst into laughter. Kenia just looked even more irritable than before.
The rest of the morning seemed to go faster than it actually did, and soon enough Amaris was standing in front of her mirror, clad in the gorgeous gown that she had picked out. Nervous, she ran her hands over the delicate beaded lace that adorned the bodice.
"You look breath taking, milady." Jasper said as he entered into the room.
"Thank You." She smiled.
"Are you ready?" He asked, holding out his hand. Amaris took it.
"As ready as I will ever be."
"Your Majesty if you don't get down to the throne room right now you will be late!" Cyran whispered frantically as Ivailo rushed to pull on his shoes. He had woken up later than he had intended and was now rushing around trying to get ready, and Cyran was not being much help.
"Cyran if you aren't going to shut up and help me, which I will remind you is your job, you might not keep said job for much longer!" He growled back as he took the ring box that the valet handed to him.
"How are you feeling about announcing Amaris as your queen?" Cyran asked, helping Ivailo fix his cufflinks.
"I think that she will be a perfect queen, just like she is the perfect woman for me." Ivailo breathed, studying his reflection. "Now, let us go down to the throne room, where I will eternally bind the goddess that is Amaris to me as my wife."
Amaris couldn't stop fidgeting as she and Jasper stood in front of the doors of the throne room, waiting for them to open. She was glad that Jasper would be the one to walk her down the isle, mostly because she only trusted one other man as much as she trusted him, her groom. Trying to calm her rising anxiety, she took a deep breath.
The doors opened. Amaris was now acutely aware of the thousands of eyes staring at her all at once, from many different corners of Acad and beyond, scrutinizing her every move. As if her body had a mind of its own, she started moving forward before she had realized.
The room was glittering with more opulence than she had ever seen. dripping from the necks of the wives of the powerful and prominent, or hanging from the ceiling, it all became a bit of a blur. If there was ever a time for Amaris to feel out of place, it was now. After all, who would have thought that an orphaned slave girl working as a barmaid and wench would meet a royal, let alone become queen?
Amaris started to hear things again as she reached the dais, decked out in roses and ivy. Ivailo, handsome as he always, smiled at her, setting her at ease.
When Ivailo saw Amaris, it was as if he was looking at an angel she looked so beautiful. The way the light bounced off the glass beads that covered her dress made her look a thousand times more amazing than any fancy jewelry or crown ever could.
"Dearly beloved," The officiant started as Ivailo took her hand. "We are gathered here today to witness the union of Her Ladyship Miss Amaris Willow and His Majesty Emperor Ivailo Garr. Before we start, does anyone have any objection to this union?" The officiant asked. After no one answered, he turned to Ivailo. "Your Majesty, do you take Her Ladyship Miss Amaris Willow to be your lawfully wedded wife?"
"I do." Ivailo replied, squeezing Amaris's hand. The officiant turned to Amaris.
"Miss Amaris, do you take His Majesty Emperor Ivailo Garr to be your lawfully wedded husband?"
"I do."
