13: The wedding
Before she knew it Gertrude's 18th birthday was just around the corner. With it came the royal wedding, it was set to be nothing short of the event of the decade. No expense was spared, the nobles saw to that. She was a be a symbol of the coutry becoming young and innocent again. Beautiful. Untouchable. That's how they betrayed her. The princess who was kept secure all these years--to Gertrude it sounded like they were almost proud of the freedom the had taken from her. The clipping that had been done of her wings. Her inability to free herself from her fate.
Despite the extravagance, Gertrude did find a way to add her own flare. Any extravagance she asked for the wedding was granted, so she disguised things as extravagances and used it to give money where it was needed. An orphanage. Food for a villiage. This was her first chance to use the royal funds in about a year. She had been cut off after her purchase of the cottage. She was determined to be the queen worth waiting for, since she had made her people wait. It's not that Horatio was a terrible regent, but he definately focused more on appeasing the nobles than the commoner's needs.
Her dress made her look like a fancy pastry, or a doll all dressed up. She was no longer human, but a vision of an angel when she was prepared for her walk down the isle. Snow White looked even fairer in her flower girl gown. This was a time where Gertrude would be the focus of attention, but she feared after that moment passed would Snow White be viewed, when she was no longer the focus, would Snow White be looked at as a political chip as she had been before she was Horatio's arm decoration.
The ceremony had some nice dancing afterwards. Honestly, Gertrude struggled to find the joy in it as she hated the thought of the next part of the ceremony--consumation of the marriage--where there would be like 5 people watching, clergy, notable nobles. She didn't like the thought. The thought of laying with her husband, a man she thought of as little less than an enemy, disgusted her, but it was her duty. She must be brave.
That night she was escorted to the King's chambers by the witnesses. Horatio put his arm around her. Gertrude couldn't help but tense up at it. Her expression gave way to her lack of comfort. Horatio gently kissed her on the cheek, she recoiled as if in pain. This was too much for her. How could she play this part? Horatio turned to the witnesses "give us a moment".
"but sire" a noble protested.
"I will let you in to bear witness, however I need a word with my wife in private" Horatio said sternly.
With this the witness excused themselves for a minute. Gertrude stood there silently waiting for what Horatio had to say.
"Why!? Why do you recoil? Why do you treat me like a monster? I know there was a time you wanted this too. Don't deny it. Have I not waited like you wanted? Have I not honorred both your parents wishes, your mom's by waiting and your dad's by marrying you? You know that when they come in I could have my way with you,regardless of how you felt about it, no one would blink an eye. In the eye's of the world you now belong TO me. But I don't want my daughter treated that way, so I'm trying to have a real marriage, but you know as well as I do that us consumating the marriage tonight is neither of our choices, it's a duty to perform. Show them a united front. Show them our kingdom is strong." Horatio raised his voice.
"Why? you killed my parents" Gertrude whispered.
"They killed each other...come back in" Horatio growled the first part and summoned the second.
With that Horatio had his way with Gertrude, for the strength of the kingdom she fained a willing participant for the audience, though Horatio knew very well she wasn't. Though he found it to be enjoyable.