A Millennium in the Making

Standing in front of the full length , Gretchen shook out her fingers and blew out through her mouth. "I can't believe I'm so nervous."

Appearing behind her in her reflection, Teddy put his hands on her arms and looked Gretchen over. "I believe it's quite common for women to be full of nerves on their wedding day, honey. Of course, I suppose it's not everyday that bride also becomes a princess."

Gretchen crossed her arms and rubbed his hands. "Despite how this all came about, I'm so happy that you're both here." As she looked over her dress she asked, "So, how do I look? I clean up good, don't I?"

Teddy twisted his lips to the side and furrowed his brows as he inspected the dress in the mirror. He had tasked Hazel with planning the dress with the kingdom's seamstresses, and she did not disappoint. The off white trumpeted gown had delicate scallop lace trim and flutter sleeves and a chapel train. The master seamstress took the liberty of adding gold threading throughout to compliment Gretchen's golden brown locks and the crown she would be presented with by her King.

Her hair was left natural with the sides swept back loosely and secured with pins. The simplicity of her attire wasn't an accident. Gretchen wanted it to be perfectly clear to everyone in attendance that she was humbly accepting her place in the family and as a protector of the kingdom.

As his eyes teared over, Teddy sucked back a breath through his teeth. "You know, when I married your mother, I told her there was no more beautiful woman on her wedding day. Don't you tell that woman that I lied to her. You, Gretchen, you are the most beautiful woman I've ever seen, wedding day or not."

"Oh." Gretchen licked her lips and fanned her face as she tried to regain her composure. "Oh, Daddy, you know I'm all hopped up on hormones right now, don't you?"

Teddy turned Gretchen around and circled her in his arms. "You got yourself a good man, Gretchen. I'm so happy for you." As he pushed her away gently and looked down in her face, Teddy said, "Everything's going to be great. You'll see."

As Stella closed the door quietly behind her , she put her hand to her chest and shook her head slowly. "Oh, my baby. Look at you." As she choked up on her tears, she put her fingertips to her lips and blinked them away. "You look like an angel."

Stella came to their side's and then tucked herself into the embrace as Teddy wrapped his arm around her waist. "So, Gretch, are you ready?"

Gretchen licked her lips and nodded. "Yeah." She nodded towards the door and said, "Let's do it."

While Stella went back to her place in the the King's Room, Teddy took Gretchen's arm as she twisted her knee inward to make sure her train was straight. "Ok. I look as good as I'm going to."

While they leisurely walked the hall, Teddy glanced to Gretchen and smiled. "You know marriage isn't a piece of paper or a ring on your finger or that bite you laid on Damien. It's not a promise you make someone, it's a gift you give yourself. It's something to be cherished. Things aren't always easy or pleasant, but having the one person that makes life worth living by your side through all those good and bad times is something to be appreciated and protected. When the hard times come, Gretch, remember that you are Damien's shelter in the storm, his safe place, just like he has been yours. You keep that temper of yours in check and remember that he's not your enemy or partner or prince, he's part of you. You get what I'm saying?"

Gretchen nodded. "Yes. I haven't made things easy for him and he's never given up. I know how blessed I am. I won't screw that up."

When they reached the doors, Teddy held Gretchen close and took a deep breath then nodded to the guards. As they pulled pushed the door inward, Damien stood waiting with Nicholas in front of the King and Queen's thrones. As he took her in from head to toe then back again, Damien took a deep breath and smiled at her with glassy eyes.

Even though the room was packed with guests and family, Gretchen saw no one else as she breathlessly inched towards him. With his dark wavy hair slicked back off his clean shaven face, the brown in his eyes reminded Gretchen of sipping hot cocoa on the hearth of her parents fireplace back home on a rainy autumn day. He wore a silken brown tunic with gold tiny gold buttons down the center and a deep blue silken jacket with brown and gold filigree pattern on the shoulders. His ceremonial steel sword with golden handle hung at his side.

When they reached Damien, Teddy unwrapped his arm from Gretchen then took her hand and placed it in Damien's. He patted his shoulder then took his place beside Stella as he pushed the tears from his eyes then placed his hand on hers.

As Nicholas took his place in front of them, Damien brought Gretchen's hands to his lips and kissed each one. "This day has been a millennium in the making. I'm sorry that it's taken so long."

Gretchen sniffed back her tears then said, "Better late then never, isn't it?"

With the ceremonial knife in his hands, Nicholas began. "We are all gathered here to witness the marriage of Damien and Gretchen. As in the old times, we recognize that marriage bonds us forever to our mate. In honor of what the Fates have gifted to us, we offer this sacrifice."

Damien held out his left hand to Nicholas. With a quick motion, Nicholas sliced his palm open. Damien closed his eyes and cringed as Nicholas did the same to Gretchen. As Nicholas placed their palms together, the glowing white sash of the Fates wove itself around their hands.

Nicholas smiled then said, "The Fates are happy with this union and pleased with their sacrifice of blood. Damien, do you promise to love, protect and honor Gretchen? Forsaking all others. Faithful only to her and your children."

Damien looked in Gretchen's eyes and said, "I swear it."

"Gretchen, do you promise to love, protect and honor Damien? Forsaking all others. Faithful only to him and your children."

Gretchen blinked away the tears on her lashed then said, "Yes. I swear it."

Nicholas smiled and raised both of his hands to them. "Then I now pronounce that the Fates have bound you as mates. You are now husband and wife."

With those words, a spell was burned onto their ring fingers that sealed their bond and the sash disappeared. As Daniel took Nicholas's place, Damien pulled Gretchen to him and pressed his lips to hers. He wasn't entirely convinced that, after all these years, that he hadn't just dreamed this moment into being, but as he tenderly sucked in her bottom lip between his and savored her sweet taste the reality of it crashed down around him. He kept his eyes open partly so that he could sneak a sinful glimpse of her as she at long last submitted to her destiny.

As the guests started to snicker at the lovers so lost in each other that they didn't notice that the King was waiting behind them, Daniel softly cleared his throat. "Do you think we can we continue now?"

Gretchen chuckled out nervously as Damien finally opened his eyes, still suspicious that she might fade away.

In the candle lit room, the family and guests stood as Daniel lifted his hand, each one ready to witness Gretchen vow her life to her Kingdom. Damien took Gretchen's hand then motioned for her to kneel before his father.

Daniel stood before them all with his hands clasped behind his back. "Gretchen, is your Highness willing to take the Oath?"

Gretchen took a deep breath as the sound of her bounding pulse pounded in her ears. "I am willing."

Daniel nodded. "Will you solemnly swear to govern and protect the people of the Darke according to it's laws and customs?"

Once thinking she would rule her territory, Gretchen selfishly designed her life to fit what she wanted most for herself, not caring what her pack or her parents thought of it. Kneeling before Daniel now, Gretchen realized that the only thing that ever really mattered was protecting the people who depended on her. "I solemnly promise to do so."

"Will you solemnly uphold and maintain the Religion as set forth by the Fates?"

When she agreed to marry a human and deny herself of her life's mate, Gretchen did so because she didn't want to be commanded by some unknown force that she had no control over. As she glanced to her husband standing to her side with a look of pride on his face, she finally understood that giving up control for once was the best thing she ever did. "I solemnly promise to do so."

When Rosemary brought the velvet pillow to Daniel, he lifted the crown gently from it. The delicate gold crown was woven into a filigree band encrusted with diamonds.

As he held the crown up to the ceiling above him, Daniel said the spell in the old language then placed it on Gretchen's bowed head.

Holding it out to her, Gretchen took Daniel's hand and rose to her feet then faced the guests. As she blew out through her mouth, she looked to Teddy as a smile curled up on the side of his mouth and he winked at her.

Daniel said, "I present to you Her Royal Highness, Princess Gretchen, Shield Maiden of the Darke and Defender of the Faith."