The Summer King and His Winter Bride-Chapter 25: Wedding Preparations

The journey back to the Summerlands was a long and familiar one as the they made their way from winter’s grasp to the golden embrace of warmer lands, it was gradual yet unavoidable. From forests covered in snow to sunny meadows and rolling hills, ice-bound rivers thawed to rushing waterfalls and the crisp scent of frost melted away into the spicy and earthy richness of summer.

Casimir and Caroline were silent as they rode together in a carriage for most of the journey. Her mind was scrutinizing everything she knew about the Summer Court and her soon to be husband.

The air between them was comfortable tinged with things left unspoken. He did not press her to reveal her thoughts neither did he withdraw himself from her. As they rode together tethered by an invisible thread neither dared to sever.

Once they reached the outskirts of the Summerlands, the air was heavy with the scent of blooming jasmine and sun-warmed earth. The golden and white marble towers of the palace gleamed came into view kissing the sun good bye as it set, tinging the sky in hues of blue and purple, to usher in twilight.

They rode past the gates of the Summer Palace as a line of courtiers and servants stood waiting, their expressions carefully schooled yet their eyes were alight with excitement and curiosity in preparing for the upcoming nuptials of His Royal Majesty King Casimir Sol Aurelius.

Casimir dismounted from the carriage first, turning he offered Caroline his hand. She hesitated just a second before taking his hand as she newly registered the fact that this was now her new home and she had yet to embrace this foreign land and its people as hers.

She needed to trust him, she reminded herself like that night when she did by the fire.

A maidservant showed guided Caroline to her chambers, which were grand, airy with high arching windows and gold and crimson curtains. Her chambers were right next door to Casimir’s which was no surprise to her.

She closed her eyes as she ran a hand along the familiar cool marble vanity table. The momentary stillness eased her the ache of missing home and her shoulders relaxed and as she breathed in the warm scented air of the Summer Palace. Tomorrow she would have to begin her wedding preparations but tonight she could just relax and settle in.

A soft knock startled her out of her reverie.

She opened the door to find Felix Gray standing at the entrance.

His gaze swept the room before settling in on her.

"You should rest," he said simply.

"Is that an order?" She asked him.

"Merely a suggestion, Your Majesty." He answered swiftly.

She sank herself into a nearby chair near a round marble table.

"I do not know if I will find rest," she replied rubbing her temples.

Felix was silent for a moment then he crossed the room and stood near the window, staring out at the twilight, where the Summerlands stretched endlessly.

"Your mother was the same before she married your father." He said finally.

"She barely slept the nights before, she would pace her chambers convincing herself she would not be walking into a cage for life."

Caroline swallowed slowly.

"And did she?"

"That depends on who you ask." He replied.

"But for your sake I’m glad she did, if not you would not be here" he said gently.

She looked away and studied the curtains that framed the windows.

"I fear I shall not be what they expect."

"You just need to survive long enough to decide what you want to be for yourself." Felix’s voice was steady as he said so.

She nodded, agreeing with him.

Felix then inclined his head in a farewell.

"Rest well, Your Majesty."

He left as quietly as he had come in and Caroline was left alone with the flickering candlelight and the weight of his words as she pondered her mother’s similar decision.

The next morning the Summer Palace came alive with a flurry of hurried activity as servants almost ran through the halls with arms laden with bolts of shimmering fabric, trays of exotic delicacies and garlands of marigolds harvested from the royal gardens.

The air was thick with scent of citrus and marigolds a stark contrast to the icy winds of the Winter Court that she had grown up in.

She sat on a cushioned divan, her hands folded in front of her as a team of attendants unfurled swatches of silk and lace in shades of gold cream, white, blue, pink and silver. The royal seamistress remained unsatisfied as they held up each colour against her fair skin.

"Is it possible to combine both elements of Summer and Winter into the dress?"

She bravely asked the seamstress who was sifting through pages of patterns for the wedding dress in a book.

"It is possible, and I will be glad if we could pull off such a feat!"

"Margo hold up those shades against her skin we will choose the colours now!" She ordered the young maid.

"I think we will go with this light blue, shimmering gold, sparkling silver and rose pink to combine and symbolize summer and winter coming together. Would that suit you, Your Majesty?"

"Yes that would be lovely." She replied pleased with the outcome.

"These shades will complement your complexion and we will add on stitched in gold symbols of the sun and stitched in white, snowflakes. The veil will be a glittering gold and silver mist that will disappear as you stand next to the king. Yes that will do nicely."

She mused to herself.

Caroline exhaled sharply. "And there are no other options?"

"Are we still trying to choose the right fabric, my love? At this rate we may never be married."

Casimir’s amused voice cut through the conversation before the seamstress could reply.

She shot him a glare as he leaned lazily against the carved doorway with arms crossed watching her predicament with merriment sparkling in his eyes. He was dressed in a loose white tunic with gold embroidery but he looked every bit as the effortless ruler he was while she was suffocating beneath the weight of designing her bridal gown.

"They are giving me too many choices," she complained. "Winter weddings are far easier to plan."

"Ah darling but this is not a Winter wedding," Casimir said striding into the room.

He plucked a fabric sample from the seamstresses’ hand and twirled it between his fingers.

"This is a Summer wedding it will be grand, radiant, filled with feasts and songs for days of celebration on end."

"You’re not intimidated are you?" He asked a knowing smile touching his lips.

"I am not!" she replied more forcefully then she intended to.

"Just.....tired is all," she finally admitted.

Casimir chuckled with a swift motion he plucked her hand from her lap tugging her up from the divan. The attendants looked shocked as the king led his bride to be out of the room.

"Where are you taking me?" Caroline demanded to know as he pulled her through winding halls.

"To escape," he replied as his grip was firm his countenance playful.

"If I let them have you much longer, they will trap you in silks for the rest of the day."

They slipped through the corridors and reached the terrace of the palace that overlooked a cascading waterfall. Casimir then released her hand and leaned against the stone railing gazing at her with a smirk.

"Better?"

"Much." Caroline replied as she breathed in the fresh air feeling lighter.

He tilted his head. "You know if the colors overwhelm you, we could marry in the Winter Court. I’m sure your advisors would prefer a frozen feast of ice sculptures to sun drenched revelry."

He remarked dryly.

"Ooooh don’t tempt me," she said narrowing her eyes at him.

He laughed and the sound echoed across the walls and floors.

He tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear.

"You are not alone in this. As much as this is for our people it is also for us. If the preparations become too much to bear then just tell me I shall steal you away again."

Caroline melted a little. "You would abandon a grand celebration the Summer Court has ever seen for me?"

"Anything for you, love," Casimir said slowly and quietly, his fingers absently tracing her jawline.

A warmth burning hotter than the sun settled in her chest and she sighed as she leaned against the railing beside him.

"Fine we will keep the revelry."

"But?"

"But," she said "if I must endure hours of flower arrangements and fabric choosing, you will suffer with me."

Casimir groaned dramatically.

"Cruel you are my Winter Queen."

She smirked, "soon to be your Summer Queen as well."

"I would not have it any other way, my dear." He replied eyes gleaming with satisfaction and mischief.

Before she could respond, he quickly closed the distance between them and stole a quick kiss, catching her off guard.

She gasped and her fingers clutched his tunic to keep her balance, when he pulled away his smirk full of triumph.

"That, should give you enough strength to endure another hour of wedding planning without me."

He murmured, brushing his thumb over her lower lip.

She huffed her cheeks turning red. She shoved him lightly away and remarked.

"You’re insufferable."

"Yet you still want to marry me," he said with a wink.

She shook her head but could not stop the beautiful smile that broke out on her face.

"Yes, I suppose I still want to." She replied.