by Zara Zenia
“I give you this ring as a symbol of my love, and with all that I am, and all that I have, I honor you, in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit,” Margot whispered, surprised that her voice was shaking. She hadn’t expected to be this nervous, and she almost missed his finger entirely.
Draklan smiled, making sure his hand was steady before she slid it over his knuckle.
“I give you this ring as a symbol of my love, and with all that I am, and all that I have, I honor you, in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit,” he repeated, taking her hand and slipping her ring on her hand.
It fit perfectly, as if her hand was made to wear a ring. It sparkled due to the sunlight coming into the window, and Margot smiled, feeling calmer as the familiar weight of the ring was returned to her finger.
“Now that Margot and Draklan have given themselves to each other by solemn vows, with the joining of hands and the giving and receiving of rings, I pronounce that they are husband and wife, in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Those whom God has joined together, let no one put asunder,” the priest said.
Margot realized that they were close to the end of the ceremony.
“Let us stand and pray together the words our Savior taught us,” the priest said, and the congregation rose.
“Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on Earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, for thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen,” he said.
“Amen,” the congregation said in unison.
“God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit, bless, preserve, and keep you. May the Lord mercifully with his favor look upon you and fill you with all spiritual benediction and grace that you may faithfully live together in this life, and in the age to come have life everlasting. Amen. The peace of the Lord be with you always,” the priest said, half turning to the couple.
“And also with you,” the congregation replied.
Margot took a step toward Draklan, the rest of the world blurring away. All that mattered was his beautiful eyes and his loving gaze.
“Margot and Draklan, having witnessed your vows of love to one another, it is my joy to present you to all gathered here as husband and wife. Draklan, you may kiss your bride.”
He dipped her low and kissed her to the roaring of the crowd.
“Well, wife,” he said as he brought her back up. “Shall we finally take a honeymoon?”
“Are you sure you don’t want another wedding?” she teased him as they joined hands and began to walk down the aisle. People cheered, wishing them luck, and Margot beamed as Draklan kissed her on the cheek.
“I love you,” he said simply.
“I love you too,” she replied.
Epilogue
Margot
Margot had always thought that there was nowhere better than the Tamarax palace. She thought that the views were the most beautiful places in the universe. But now, a year later, and living in the Archipelago Kingdom, she realized that she had been wrong all along. Where she was now, looking out over the water, was the most beautiful place in the universe.
She put a hand to her slowly growing stomach as she watched the calm waves of the water lap by. She was thrilled that her pregnancy was going well, aside from some odd food cravings. She craved food that she hadn’t known existed in the combinations she wanted. She wanted Earth food, she wanted Tamarax food, and she wanted it all at once.
It amused Draklan, luckily, instead of annoying him, and he seemed to wait for Margot’s next craving with excitement. Even now, as dawn rose, he checked in with her.
“Nothing at the moment,” she said with a smile. “I am so excited for the visitors today.”
“Well, please make sure you eat,” he said. “I’m going to attend the throne today, but I’m hoping as soon as the others arrive, we can get out of our duties and perhaps go for a short hike.”
“That sounds wonderful,” Margot said as they kissed. Her pregnancy had made them grow even closer together, and Draklan seemed to love her more with each passing day. Margot thought her heart would burst if she loved him any more.
“Please come and get me if anyone gives you a hint of trouble,” he said, and she nipped at his lips, not wanting him to go. “I’ll see you soon.”
Margot knew that he had to go, and she often attended the throne with him. Today, however, she was making the final preparations for Draklan's family to visit. Milinna, Bhatraz, Pralmav, and Joronna were coming, and they were due to arrive within an hour.
Margot was excited to see them. She had come to love Draklan's family as much as her own. She hadn’t seen Bhatraz since he’d returned from the mind healer, but she had spoken to him since then and he seemed to be doing much better. She hadn’t spoken to Rabbina, but she had put out a query and found out her former sister-in-law was thriving and happy, which was all that mattered.
She had made sure to arrange a special feast when they arrived, half for their benefit and half for hers. Her stomach was already growling at the prospect of what was going to be served. Now, she made her way to the kitchens to check in with the chefs.
“My Queen,” the chef bowed to her, something that she was pretty sure she’d never get used to. Draklan had told her time and time again that she needed to insist on it, but when she was alone, she couldn’t bring herself to make it part of every moment. “How are you this morning?”
“I’m fine, thank you,” she said. “I just wanted to make sure that everything was ready?”
“As far as we can tell, my Queen, everything will be right on time.”
“Could you . . .” Margot paused, wondering if it was too extravagant. “Would it be too late to add a last-minute addition?”
“Such as?” The chef knew Margot well enough to know she had wild cravings. He paused, his pencil poised.
“Kraft mac and cheese and hot dogs?” she said. “We should have gotten a shipment from Earth last time, and if there is any left . . . perhaps just for me . . . if there’s any left?”
He looked as though he was trying not to laugh. “There is enough left for me to serve you quite the meal, my Queen,” he said. “And perhaps some left over if your guests want to partake.”
Margot’s face lit up. “Wonderful!” she said. “Thank you so much.”
“Your wish is my command, my Queen,” the chef said with a smile.
Margot let him get to work and checked her watch. She made sure the table was set and the bedrooms were prepared and then headed to the dock yard. The family could have taken a flying ship, but they had chosen to take the royal barge, a more leisurely experience, down the river. It would have taken them most of yesterday and overnight, but Margot was certain they would arrive more relaxed than if they had flown.
She could barely contain her excitement when she saw the royal barge approach. The dock was private, so she didn’t have to wear her crown, which she appreciated. They were family, and they understood each other.
Pralmav got off the ship first and then stopped as soon as he was on dry land, turning around to help his wife get off. Margot was delighted to see that Pralmav and Milinna continued to hold hands, looking enchanted with each other.
She tried to contain herself, but after not seeing her sister-in-law and Tamarax best friend every day, she couldn’t resist throwing herself forward, the gaps of months disappearing as they hugged.
“Hello!” Margot cried. “I missed you so much.”
Milinna chuckled softly and hugged her back. “I missed you too,” she said, pulling back to look at Margot’s stomach. “You look stunning. You’re glowing.”
“Still a few months to go,” Margot said as she hugged her sister-in-law again. “How are you? How was the journey?”
Milinna was about t
o answer when Bhatraz stepped off the ship, escorting his mother.
“The journey went well,” Joronna answered for her with a wide smile as she reached out for Margot.
Margot hugged her mother-in-law and then turned to her brothers-in-law, greeting each of them as well.
“We are so glad you are here,” Margot said. “There’s so much to show you.”
“How is Draklan?” Joronna asked. “He must be busy.”
“He is,” Margot said. “He’s doing throne duty. There’s no one to share it with us here, so we miss all of you very much.”
Bhatraz smiled at her. He looked like an entirely different person, healthy and strong. His eyes were no longer wild and his cheeks were pink and healthy.
“Perhaps we can help,” he said. “Whatever you need.”
“Thank you,” she said. “But we’ve prepared a feast in honor of your arrival. Come this way. You’ve all been here before, right? Let me show you some of the changes we’ve made. Small things, but . . .”
She couldn’t stop talking. She was so excited, and when they finally got to the throne room to see Draklan, her excitement grew in watching him greet his family. Seeing her husband happy made her happy as well.
“You look quite comfortable up there,” Bhatraz teased him as Draklan stepped off the throne. “I offered to help, but you seem to have a handle on things.”
“Ah, Brother,” Draklan said. “You will be on your own throne soon enough, I would not put that burden on you. You, however . . .” He turned to Pralmav, which made the rest of the group laugh.
“I’m willing to help,” Pralmav said. “But to be fair, I deal with millions of beings every day.”
Draklan looked confused. “You do?”
Milinna smirked at her husband’s joke. “Through the microscope,” she said. “The cells usually don’t complain like those who approach the throne do.”
“That doesn’t count,” Draklan said. “You can help me after the feast Margot has arranged. Are you hungry?”
“I’m starving,” Bhatraz said.
“Come this way,” Margot said, leading them toward their banquet hall. It wasn’t as grand as the banquet hall in the palace, but they had decorated it and she thought it looked fit for any visiting royalty. The food was already out and the smells were wafting through the air, making her salivate. “Oh, good, everything is ready.”
“How are you doing?” her mother-in-law asked her. “No issues?”
“She wants to eat everything,” Draklan blurted out, making them laugh. “Usually at three in the morning.”
“That does sound like a healthy pregnancy then,” Milinna said.
Margot turned to her, lowering her voice in case it was a sensitive topic. “What about you?” she asked. “Do you have any plans?”
“Maybe.” Milinna seemed coy. “In the past, it was not an option. But now, it seems that it may be a possibility.”
Margot squealed, taking her hand. “Please do it soon. Maybe we can be pregnant together?”
“There is science to plan that,” Milinna said. “Next round, though. You’re already halfway along this go-around.”
“Some days, I just can’t wait,” Margot said. “Other days, it seems like time is flying by.”
“Do you know the gender yet?” Milinna asked.
Margot shook her head as they sat down. “We’ve chosen not to,” she replied. “We want it to be a surprise.”
“I suppose you don’t mind either way, then?”
“Not at all,” Margot said. “As long as the child’s healthy and as long as Draklan is at my side, I’m happy. And I’m sure we will have more.”
“Oh, my.” Milinna gave her a coy smile. “That does sound like quite the future you’re planning. How many do you want?”
“Draklan wants ten,” Margot said. “But I’ve told him we’ll start with two.”
“I have ten brothers and sisters,” she said.
Margot reacted in surprise. “Really? I didn’t know that. I mean, you’ve talked about your brother and sister . . . but I always assumed it was the same one. Are they smart like you?”
“I’m sort of the black sheep,” Milinna admitted.
“Oh, my goodness. If you’re the black sheep, I don’t know what that makes me,” Margot said with a smile. “My mother’s a professor. I’m a painter.”
“And a queen,” Milinna reminded her.
“And a queen,” Margot echoed, still in disbelief after all this time that it was real.
Once the feast was over, Margot decided that she needed to take a nap. She got tired easily, and she thought that afternoon naps were the best thing ever. The rest of the family gathered on the outside porch as Draklan spoke of his plans for their visit.
“I thought, though . . .” he said, trying to choose his words carefully. “Our child should know the palace just as much as they know this island.”
“What?” Bhatraz answered. “What do you mean?”
“I realize that it breaks with tradition,” he said, “but that palace held some of my happiest memories. And while I’m sure we could create a beautiful childhood for them here . . . I don’t think I could live if my child didn’t know the palace like I did.”
“Of course, they can visit,” Joronna answered. “But I have a feeling that you mean more than visit.”
“I know what he means,” Pralmav said, the voice of reason, as always. “And since Draklan is the only one who has a child right now, his child, unless something changes, will be the heir to the kingdom. To both kingdoms.”
Clearly, by the looks on their faces, no one had considered that except Draklan.
“It’s not that I am trying to take that right away from you. From any of you,” Draklan said. “It’s just . . . things happen in this family that we never expect. And I want us to be prepared. I never expected Father to die. No one ever talked about it. But if my child was prepared for anything—for either crown—until he didn’t need to be . . .”
“I think it’s a marvelous idea,” Bhatraz said, surprising all of them.
“Really?” Draklan said, happy that his brother wasn’t jealous or angry.
“It makes the most sense,” Bhatraz said. “I’m unmarried now, and you two,” he referred to Pralmav and Milinna, “don’t have a child right now.”
“Ahem,” Pralmav said. “We are hopeful . . . but I think it’s time to be honest.”
“Honest?” Joronna looked at the two of them.
“Milinna and I hope.” Pralmav took his wife’s hand. “And we pray. And we try. But we may need to face the reality that we won’t conceive naturally.”
“There are other options,” Joronna said.
“Perhaps there are,” Pralmav said. “But if we just have our work and each other, that could be enough.”
Milinna looked sad, but she seemed to accept the truth. She was bathed in her husband’s love, and that was all she wanted from the moment she married him. That seemed to be enough for her as she leaned against him.
“So, it’s settled,” Bhatraz said. “Your child will be raised as heir to both kingdoms, in both places.”
“Plus, it means that we will see each other a lot more,” Draklan said. “Which I want my child to do as well. Family is everything.”
For the first time since his father’s funeral, Draklan felt peace. And from the smiles from the rest of his family, it was clear that they felt peace as well.
“How do you feel about the fact that you are going to be a father soon?” Bhatraz asked him.
“Surreal,” Draklan answered. “And yet, I’m very happy.”
“What if she’s having twins?” Bhatraz teased him.
Draklan choked. “I’m sorry, what?” he asked him.
“Don’t worry, little brother. Our high-tech scans only miss twins once every ten pregnancies.”
Draklan’s mouth dropped. “That’s not true, is it?” he asked.
Bhatraz smiled.
Draklan begged him
for an answer. “Bhatraz?”
“I think he may have meant once in every million,” Pralmav said. “I’m not sure, though. It’s not my area of expertise.”
“You two are horrible,” Draklan informed his brothers, although he had missed them dearly.
That night, in bed with Margot, Draklan told her what had happened out on the porch. Margot felt pure joy as she put a hand on her stomach and the baby kicked.
“I think the baby agrees,” she said.
Draklan moved to snuggle with her.
“Milinna asked me if we wanted a boy or a girl,” she said.
“Oh?” Draklan replied. “What did you say?”
“I said that I didn’t care,” Margot said. “But it occurred to me that I never asked you whether you cared.”
“I don’t care,” he said. “But I want more than the baby being healthy and strong.”
“Huh?” she asked, confused.
“I want you to be healthy and strong and happy,” he said. “And I want our child to have many siblings.”
“Oh, my goodness.” Margot covered her face. “Why don’t we start with one and then see where it goes from there?”
“I suppose,” Draklan replied, “but I can’t see anything wrong with having a carbon copy of you running around.”
Margot raised an eyebrow. “So you do want a girl,” she said.
He kissed her. “No,” he said. “I want whatever comes. I will love them just the same.”
“Good,” she said. “Now, I’m exhausted.”
Margot thought she had never been happier in her life than snuggling in bed with Draklan and feeling her baby in her belly. She never knew such happiness; such love and such warmth. She didn’t take a single one of those moments for granted, and yet they seemed to fly by.
When she felt the pains come, she knew that her life was about to change.
“Draklan,” she said, shaking him awake. She wasn’t sure what time it was, but the sun wasn’t up yet. “Draklan.”
“Mmm?” he answered.
“Draklan!” she gave him a tiny shove. “I think my water just broke.”
