Chapter 25

Sadness weighed on Ely's heart this day.  A month of closely monitoring the village people but Vanessa did not bring the news they hoped for.  Infrastructure improved, building projects for the orphanage were being planned and wells were being dug.  However, Ely did not feel that the prisoners were strong enough yet.  Especially for a rebellion that surely would lead to war and unrest.  Plus, they didn't have anywhere to send them.

A whirlwind month of wedding plans, gown choices, symbolic items to gather had the pressure growing heavier with each passing day.  Ely could hardly eat.  Ely barely slept, consumed by the pressure to further the rebellion before the fateful day.  She didn't want to have to marry Killian.  Her hope of the rebellion stopping that event had shattered.  The royal wedding now stared her in the face.  On what should be a woman's happiest day, Ely's chest tightened with swirling emotions.

They were too late.

The breathtaking fairy tale dress sat on her curves.  Ornate details, not a single one missed, intentionally to have every eye set on the royal bride.  Truly fit for a Queen.

Pale baby blue silk. It served as a reminder of the occasional flecks Ely would see in Killian's eyes. The gold symbol of her royal station, beading and embroidery telling a story of complicated beauty.  The sweetheart neckline gave a modest hint of her womanly shape.  It truly was breathtaking.

"I found them," Vanessa declared, bursting into the chamber.  "I found them Ely!"

Chest swelling at the sight, a smile still tugged at her lips seeing the pair of her aunt's shoes.  A symbol of old as she crossed into a new life.  Bare toes attached to trembling legs slipped into the shoes Vanessa crouched to hold out for Ely, fitting like they were made for her.

"Are you ready?" Vanessa asked quietly, hands clasped around Ely's.

Eyes up at the ceiling, Ely took deep breaths fighting away the moisture. Her parents should be here, her aunt and uncle should be here.  But they were gone.  Thankfully, Vanessa was here.  If  her aunt and Uncle were alive, Ely would be married to a strong, honorable match. Perhaps a mother by now.  Vanessa would be married off as well.  How different their lives had become.

Duty, honor, sacrifice for the good of the kingdom.  That was her present reality.

"Yes," Ely sighed.  "I am ready."

Vanessa released Ely's hands, cupping her cheeks.  "This is not the end, Ely."  The younger sister nodded fervently, forcing her mind to believe her sisters words.  "The people grow stronger every day.  You have lit hope in their hearts."

"We have, Vanessa."

"Yes, but listen to me."  Vanessa's lip trembled, hazel eyes searching Ely's to hold her attention.  "Do anything you must, make excuses, anything to not consummate this evening.  That deed makes the marriage binding.  If you do not consummate, we can have the marriage annulled.  Do you understand me?"

"Yes," she replied weakly. Tears streamed down her face.

"Alright."

Turning to open the door for Ely, she reached out and grabbed her sister's arm.  "Wait. "

"What is wrong?"  Vanessa turned to face Ely, letting the door close softly.

"Wh-what if he," Ely bit her lip to stop the trembling, "forces me?" 

"I thought of that," Vanessa nodded then pulled a foul green vile out of her belt cinching the navy silk gown.  "Pour this in his drink when he is not looking.  The alchemist assured me it will make him fall asleep for several hours."

Slipping the vial into her cleavage, Ely forced a tight lipped smile.

"Thank you."

****

Most of the wedding was a blur through barely restrained tears.  Killian's onyx eyes watched her every step down the aisle framed with fresh flowers newly bloomed in the garden.  Hands clasped in his front and dressed in his finest, Killian was every bit the regal King she was about to secure him as.  The corner of his lips twitched as she approached.  He remained the stoic King the kingdom knew him to be.  Warm hands took hold of hers, drawing her close to face each other.

She faced the altar. Ely's foggy brain cleared when the officiant wrapped the tie around hers and Killian's conjoined hands.

"Do you, Killian, take Elyena to be your wife, to be her constant friend, her partner in life, and her true love?  To love her without reservation,
honor and respect her, protect her from harm, comfort her in times of distress, and to grow with her in mind and spirit?"

His booming authoritative voice left no one questioning, "I do."

"Do you, Elyena, take Killian to be your husband, to be his constant friend, his partner in life, and his true love? To love him without reservation, honor and respect him, protect him from harm, comfort him in times of distress, and to grow with him in mind and spirit?"

The air in Ely's lungs froze, unmoving.  For a few heartbeats, she  wished she could scream, "No!  Get away from me!"

Duty.

Honor.

The good of the kingdom.

Head high, Ely agreed, "I do."

Air rushed into her lungs, the applause and cheers falling deaf on Ely's burning ears.  Killian cradled the back of her head, his other hand tightening around her waist.  His thumb grazed at the side of her breast bumping along the beadwork on the bodice.  Eyes searched her own, gleaming with emotions Ely was confused with seeing.  Admiration, adoration, even love.  Killian leaned in, tilting his head to the side. Eyes closed.  Warmth flooded her lips, trickling down through her head and spine.  His soft lips pressed to hers unrushed and gentle until he pulled back.  Swaying in his grip, Ely's eyes fluttered open to find Killian's grinning face as he turned to face the witnesses.

"Good people of Kildare," Killian's voice broke through the cheers, free arm raised to silence their cheers. "Now, I will gift you a Queen!"

"Elyena of Kildare, daughter of Shawn and Brielle O'Connell," Killian began, facing Ely again.  "Do you swear to do the utmost of your power to maintain the Laws of Tara as established by laws of Kildare?  Do you  promise to preserve this realm and to the people committed to your charge all such rights and privileges as by law shall appertain unto you?"

Kneeling before the monarch, chin tilted upward, Ely had all confidence in this portion of the ceremony.  She answered with no hesitation, "I do."

"Do you swear to govern the peoples of the Kildare and the dominions belonging to them according to their respective laws and customs?"

"I do."

"Do you swear to cause law and justice in mercy to be executed in all judgments, to the monarch's power?"

"I do."

"Do you swear to maintain the laws of Kildare, the true realm of Tara, to the utmost of the Sovereign's power?"

"I do."

Hovering the glistening crown above her head, Killian waited for her to continue the vow.

"I, Elyena O'Connell of Kildare, daughter of Shawn and Brielle O'Connell, do solemnly and sincerely in the presence of my people profess, testify and declare that I am a faithful blood relation heir, and that I will, according to the true intent of the enactments which secure the Kildarian succession to the Throne of my Realm, uphold and maintain the enactments to the best of my powers according to law."

A wide smile spread across Killian's face.  He lowered the glittering jeweled golden crown atop Ely's head, secure in it's perfect fit.   Golden vines braided into a circle, adorning with gold poppies.  Offering a hand, he guided her to standing, both now facing the witnesses. 

The officiant stood behind them stretching out both his arms  "I now present to you, King Killian and Queen Elyena of Kildare!"

More applause and cheers drowned out the slamming of Ely's heart against her rib cage.  Glancing in Vanessa's direction, the older sister nodded her head, lips curving into a soft smile of comfort.

****

The feast continued to be blanketed in a fog of anxiety.  Despite choosing and having tasted the selection of morsels over the last few days knowing full well of their deliciousness, Ely tasted nothing of those flavors now.  She sipped her sweet wine not wanting to be out of control in any way the remainder of the evening.

"Honored guests."

Ely jolted at Killian's booming voice, cheeks flushing realizing she didn't notice he stood from his chair.

"My wife and your Queen shall now retire for the evening."

Laying her hand on his upturned palm, Ely rose from her own chair and descended the steps along Killian's side.  They accepted congratulations and well wishes for many children during their exit.  They only broke contact for Ely to embrace Vanessa.

"Any excuse," Vanessa whispered into Ely's ear.  "If it does not work, you have the vial."

The sisters released, exchanging pleasant smiles.  One trembling hand laid onto Killian's palm while Ely's other laid upon her chest silently signaling she had the vial.  With a nod goodbye for the evening, Killian led Ely from the dining hall.

Heavy, tense silence reigned between the two as they strolled through the quiet halls.  The sounds of laughter, chatter and music muffled. It all faded away the further they went from the hall and the closer they journeyed to Ely's fate.  Only the echo of their footsteps registered in Ely's ears.

"Your chambers, my dear."  Killian's soft, husky voice roused her from  her dungeon of thoughts.

Forcing a small smile, Ely nodded.  She entered through the open door.  They were at her rooms, much to her surprise.  When she turned to face him, Killian had closed and locked the door with a determined click.  The sound echoed through the chamber much like an iron gate to a prison door.

"You did not eat much, Elyena," Killian cooed, grazing his thumb along her flushed cheek.  "Are you feeling alright?"

"Nervous," she forced out along with a small smile.

He nodded his understanding, retreating his hand, fingers curling into a fist.  "I will give you a few moments of privacy to prepare for our evening."

Ely watched his form disappear onto her small balcony through the billowing curtains, brows raised, jaw clenched.  She scurried over to the already turned down bed, slipping the vile under a pillow.  With shaking fingers she pulled at the laces in the back of her corset, letting the heavy material fall to the floor.  Pushing the skirt down, she stepped out then removed her shoes and stockings.

The warm night breeze pushed the curtains open.  Dazzling bright moonlight highlighted Killian's form leaning on the stone wall of her balcony.  She stared for a few moments, attempting to guess what he intended for the evening.  Would he be kind?  As he often was toward her alone?  Would he be cruel and harsh as his reputation may demand?  For a moment, Ely fell lost to the exterior beauty of this man now her husband.  If only the outside matched the inside.  Then they would be in a vastly different situation.

Clearing her throat, Ely clasped her hands in front of her, waiting, watching for Killian's cue as to what to do next.  He turned halfway, dark eyes trailing down her form covered only in a white chemise.

His boots clicked on the tile floor, stalking his way toward her like a predator hunting his prey. 

"Lay on the bed, love," Killian's  voice directed.  One button at a time, he opened the dress coat. He yanked it off his arms to toss over a chair.

Ely did as he directed, padding barefooted toward the bed. Sitting on the edge, her eyes focused on the hands clasped on her lap.  A single finger lifted her chin upward.  Swirling charcoal and cerulean eyes gazed down at her.  Killian was only in his white tunic and pants.  Boots, coat and vest strewn across a nearby chair.

"You are radiant, darling," he murmured, a soft upward curve pulling at his lips.  "Scoot all the way back."

Ely swallowed then did as he asked, not questioning why he was still dressed.  He crawled onto the bed, hovering atop her.  Eyes locked onto hers.  Killian's body heat radiated to her skin even through the linen chemise.  Fingers curled into the satin sheets beneath her, legs trembling as Killian guided first one then the other aside to kneel between them.

"I will not hurt you, Elyena," he murmured.

His warm breath fanned her cheek.  His lips softly grazed over hers.  "Not this night or any other we are together."

He was so close pressed up against her, she felt every firm ridge of muscle through the thin layers of linen that separated them.  The hard evidence of his readiness pushed against her thigh.  Killian slid a hand down from her face, down her side to settle on her hip slowly pulling the chemise up higher.  When it was at a sufficient height, he sat up to kneel between her legs.

Words caught in Ely's throat but she watched wide eyed as Killian took out a small dagger from behind his back.  Would he kill her on their wedding night now that he had his title as King secured?  Oh God, what had she done?

Ely gasped when Killian sliced the tip of his finger, squeezed it then let crimson liquid drop onto the sheets between her legs.  She flinched when he pushed his way back, swung his long, lean legs over the side of the bed and turned his back to her. 

"Wh-why did you-" she began, now sitting up, bending her knees, hugging them tightly to her chest.

"Remove your shift and give it to me," Killian demanded, turning his face away.  "I will not look."

Brows furrowed in confusion, Ely did as he so oddly demanded covering her nakedness with the sheets and blanket.  Killian took the garment and tossed it lazily to the floor.  He then stood, collected his vest and coat but stopped before walking farther.

"I know you do not care for me the same way I care for you, Elyena," he whispered, voice tense and hushed.  "You are not ready for intimacy but the marital deed is still required."

"Killian, I-"

"When the maids come in the morning," he interjected, fists clenched at his side, head turned part way toward her.  "They will see the blood on your sheets along with your nudity and assume we consummated.  I will not force you to give such a precious part of yourself until you are fully ready to give it."

Ely's throat clenched but she forced out a mumbled, "Thank you."

"I have been present long enough for a suspected consummation.  Goodnight, love."

In several long strides, Killian crossed to the door, unlatched it, flung the heavy wood open then exited allowing the door to close with a soft click.  Silence loomed in the minimally lit room surrounding and threatening a very confused Ely.

Yet his words had been clear.  Killian wouldn't  force himself on her but had a well thought out plan he executed to set up the farce they had been intimate.  For that, Ely was thoroughly grateful.