Reflect - Snow White Retold

Part 8

EIGHT

The wedding was a mercifully brief affair, so unmemorable that even after, as she sat on the queen's throne beside Artorius in court, nodding her gratitude for the endless stream of wedding gifts being presented by his vassals, the only details she could recall were about the cathedral. Older than the one at home, and altar before which they'd said their vows sat beneath a circular dome that appeared to be a giant caricature of the bishop's bald head below it.

Firmly yet with great courtesy, Artorius took her hand to guide her from cathedral to throne room, and then on to the feasting hall, where he seated her beside him on the dais. A girl close to her own age sank onto the bench beside Guinevere. A girl who wore white silk, just like her. Guinevere opened her mouth to greet the girl.

"Princess, you have not yet congratulated your father and his new bride," said a male voice from the girl's other side.

Guinevere found herself impaled by the girl's gimlet glare, as the girl pursed her lips into a disapproving rosebud. "She's wearing my silk. I can't help but wonder what else she means to usurp while she's here. I can't imagine what my father was thinking."

The man leaned forward, his eyes bulging as they avidly regarded Guinevere.

She'd never minded people staring at her before, but the touch of this man's eyes made her skin crawl. She wanted to bathe all over again, scrubbing fiercely until she could no longer feel it.

His tongue darted out, l*****g plump lips. "He was thinking like a man. A man with needs that must be met. Needs that only a wife can truly satisfy. I'm sure when you are a wife, you will understand. If you had but accepted my offer, tonight could have been a double celebration, and I would only be too happy to educate you in all your wifely duties. Just say the word, Princess."

Though the lecherous man spoke to the princess, his eyes were undressing Guinevere.

Like Artorius would, after the feast, in the privacy of his bedchamber.

Her wedding night. Guinevere shivered. She had heard many tales about what happened, both bad and good, and she prayed she would not embarrass herself or her new husband. That would be enough. To hope for the pleasure she'd heard some women experienced in the bedchamber...no, that was too much to hope for.

"Lord Melwas, I would not marry you if you were the last man on earth. My father has promised I shall marry a prince, and I am content to wait until he comes to claim me. On that day, I will celebrate." The girl drank deeply from her wine.

Guinevere smothered a laugh. Artorius' daughter might not like her, but she quite liked the daughter. Guinevere vowed to help the girl marry her prince, if that's what she wanted. Perhaps the girl might come to like her, if she could arrange it.