Trumpets blared without ceremony or melody. In an instant Hunter was at her side, gripping her arm tightly as the camp around them moved as one, soldiers grabbing their weapons and shields before moving towards the east.
“What’s happening?” Saachi asked. Her heart was beating so fast she feared it would fly right out of her chest.
Hunter looked down at her, unshaken and determined while his brothers began to assemble their own weaponry. “Serenno is approaching. We have to be ready to meet them.”.
Saachi nodded dazedly, her gaze stuck to the waves of men that marched past. Hunter gently took her chin in his hand, turning her to face him.
“I meant what I said; So long as you’re with me, you’ll be safe, I promise you that. You will never go back to them.”
Saachi nodded in his touch. He gently pressed a kiss to her forehead and she felt courage flooding her veins. He took only a moment to gather his things, handing Saachi her own sword, and hand-in-hand, they made their way towards the battlefield.
I commissioned the lovely @amalthiaph to draw this scene from Chapter Four of Secret Kingdoms, with Saachi as the reader. Amalthia was wonderful to work with, and an incredibly talented artist!
Notes: FINAL PART. Sequel to follow. Thank you for following this story and enjoying Knight Hunter and His Lady with me. Christianity-based wedding ceremony (spoilers). Beta-read by google drive Divider by @saradika
Padme gifted you the blue dress, saying it became you more than it ever had for her. Since it was the dress you were wearing when you first met Hunter, it only seemed fitting that you wore it when you married him.
Padme’s new maid, Dorme, styled your hair, and Padme threaded greenery through the twists and turns like a crown. It felt strange having Padme help you with your hair when you had always been the one to do hers. She insisted that this was what friends did for each other on their wedding days, and that was what you were, after all. A maid and a princess. No, a duchess and a princess.
“If you weren’t leaving for Serenno after this I’d make you one of my ladies-in-waiting when I become queen,” Padme lamented, her face hovering next to yours in the mirror. You traced the braid and the greenery in awe. Dorme worked magic with her hands.
“Hunter and I will be too busy helping rebuild Serenno anyway,” You pointed out.
“True,” Padme sighed, but smiled. “You look radiant. Everything a bride should be on her wedding day.”
You held your head high and squared your shoulders. You felt radiant. Confident, beautiful, everything those you loved said you were. How much you had changed in the last few months.
Padme and Dorme walked you to the chapel, where Crosshair was waiting for you just outside the doors.
“Are you ready, little lady?” he asked, offering his arm like a gentleman.
You were smiling so broadly you could hardly form the words to express your excitement. Crosshair chuckled and kissed your forehead.
“Is everything else ready?” Padme asked.
“They're all set up,” Crosshair nodded, “All we’re missing is the bride.”Hunter's got more pent up energy than one of the hunting dogs. “
“Just so you know, I'm proud to have you as a sister-in-law.”
You smiled down at your bouquet. It was the middle of winter, so there weren't many flowers available, but you and Padme had managed to find some wildflowers growing in the woods. The tiny pastel blossoms were sprinkled in the bouquet amongst boughs of pine and ivy, all tied together with the bandana Hunter had given you.
“That being said, if you hurt him, I'll kill you.”
You laughed nervously, but Crosshair's face was deadly serious. You quickly composed yourself.
“I promise I'll take care of your brother, Crosshair.”
“Good,” the organ inside the chapel played a fanfare, “Someone has to.”
The doors swung open, and Crosshair escorted you down the aisle.
Only the first few pews of the chapel were filled, with the few friends and family you'd invited. Duke Kenobi nodded as you passed him and his wife, Wrecker gave you a thumbs up, and your aunt and uncle who'd gotten you a job at the castle in the first place dabbed at their tears with their kerchiefs.
Padme and Anakin were standing in the front row with her parents. Anakin's hand was clutching his betrothed tightly, daydreaming of their own future wedding. The wedding of the Naboo princess would be a much more lavish occasion, with delegations and royalties from all across the Nine Kingdoms venturing to wish the future Queen and Prince Consort the best of luck in their marriage. Your wedding was much smaller, but you and Hunter agreed you didn't need anything much more than that.
With butterflies fluttering in your stomach, you looked to Hunter, standing next to the altar.
He was standing at attention, like he would at the training grounds, but you could see his shoulders trembling as he smiled at you. Tears bubbled at the corners of his eyes as he watched you. He looked as handsome as ever, wearing a bright red tunic over his polished armor. It gleamed in the light of the stained glass windows, like a star on a dark night.
He couldn't even wait for you to reach him. When you reached the steps of the dias, He stepped down towards you, taking your hand from Crosshair to lead you to the priest.
The priest was a short little man who reminded you of your grandfather, and he chuckled softly as Hunter helped you kneel at the altar beside him.
“Together, to witness this union, we are gathered.”
The priest continued his speech on the sanctity of marriage and the loyalty spouses should have for one another. You tried to pay attention, but it was hard when you could see Hunter looking at you out of the corner of your eye.
He leaned over to whisper in your ear. “You look radiant.”
You held back a laugh out of respect for the priest, “Did Padme tell you to say that?”
“No…” that threw him off for a moment, “But it must be true if we can both agree on it.”
Hunter squeezed your hand as it rested on the altar.
“You look stunning,” You complimented back.
Hunter glanced at the priest to show that yes, he was actually still listening, and then quickly lifted your hand to his lips to kiss your knuckles while the priest looked out over your wedding guests.
You wanted to get him back, but the priest looked at the two of you again.
“Do you, Duke Hunter of Serreno, take this woman to have and to hold, for better or worse, in sickness and in health, until death do you part? “
“I do.”
The Priest asked you the same question, to which you replied-
“I do.”
“The ring, do you have?”
Hunter reached into his pocket with his free hand, cradling your hand in his palm as he produced a small ring. It shone like gold, though it was just polished wood, and the pattern of twisting vines and leaves resembled the pendant on your necklace.
Under the guidance of the priest, Hunter slid the ring on and off your first two fingers before placing it on the third, as tradition dictated.
“This couple, I now pronounce as husband and wife, I do. The bride you may kiss.”
Hunter took your face in his hands, gently turning you to face him. He smiled at you as he tapped his forehead to yours before he kissed you.
You knew that people must have been cheering, it was only natural, but all that existed for you in that moment was Hunter, your husband. His hand slid down to cradle the back of your neck and you gripped his shoulders, pulling him closer. When your first kiss as husband and wife ended, you kept your eyes closed for just a bit longer to savor the moment. You could feel Hunter's warm breath inches from your face as he chuckled.
“What's so funny?” You asked, finally opening your eyes.
Hunter kissed your forehead, ignoring your crowd of cheering friends in favor of drinking in the vision of you that sat before him.
“You look so beautiful right after we've kissed. It's like it makes you glow.”
You doubted you had ever loved him more than you did at that moment.
At long last, Hunter pulled you to your feet and you wrapped your arms around his. Your family and friends rushed forward to congratulate you once again.
“Welcome to the family, little lady! “ Wrecker gave you a big hug and a whoop of joy, and his brothers gave you similar salutations while your little cousins all threw themselves at Hunter with a million questions.
The dining hall was a bit smaller than the throne room, but it was the perfect size for your party. A few more lords and ladies were invited to the celebrations after the wedding ceremony, an effort to make a good impression on your now-peers. And if the king and queen were there, most of the court insisted on attending anyway. But if they were going to vie for Ruwee and Jobal’s attention, that was fine with you. You had more important people to worry about.
The minstrels began to play the first notes of a waltz, and Padme and Echo dragged Hunter and you out to meet on the dance floor.
Despite everything you'd been through, Hunter still approached you shyly. His primary objective for most of his life was working from the shadows, keeping an eye on everything from the background.
Hunter waited until everyone had gotten a good look at you dancing before be spoke to you in a hushed voice.
"Are you sure you're alright with this?"
You looked at him. You had just said “I Do” to marrying him in front of the whole world,and now he was asking you if you were certain about all this?
"Going back to Serenno," He clarified, "The last few days have been hectic, and I never... I asked if you would marry me, but I never thought to ask you if you wanted what came with it."
You laughed softly. You thought over your answer as you swayed back and forth on the floor with your husband.
"Hunter, I want you, and everything that comes with it."
"Even if it means returning to Dooku's lands?" he looked at you in earnest. His dark eyes reflected the glimmering candlelight as he searched your face for any doubt.
Dooku's men had kidnapped you, yes. But Dooku was dead, killed by the man in front of you. His followers had been ousted from the Serenno, according to the letter from Captain Romar. The people who were left were the innocents who had suffered from Dooku's reign, you didn't have to fear them.
"Someone has to take care of the people of Serenno. It might as well be us."
Hunter sighed in relief, his cheek resting against the crown of your head as you tucked your head against his chest.
“It takes a certain amount of bravery to be kind in the way you are, my dear wife.”
You chuckled, ”It's a good thing I have an equally brave husband to help me then.”
Hunter laughed at the compliment. He secured his hold on your waist and lifted you up in the air to spin you around, sending the train of your dress swirling around you like some kind of far magic. You squealed in delight, and your audience applauded.
With that, the waltz ended abruptly, transforming into one of the vibrant, lively tunes that they played in the village where you grew up.
Squeezing Hunter’s hand tightly, you took the hand of your nearest cousin. She grasped Tech’s hand, and led a good part of your guests in a circle to the tune of the music the castle minstrels played. You wove in and out of the crowd feeling lighter than air. Several people tried to talk to you, but you simply threw yourself back into the dancing with your husband and friends.
Hunter kept true to his promise that he would never let you dance with another. Even the Duke of Mandalore tried to offer you a dance when his wife’s discussion of politics with Lord Taa became too heated for his own liking. He failed, to no one’s surprise. Hunter kept his hand in yours the whole night, even when you had to stop and get a bite to eat.
It was in the later hours of the night when you spotted Anakin and Padme sneaking out together. Old habits died hard.
Hunter noticed them too. “We should follow their example,” he whispered into his goblet of wine. His cheeks were flushed, and his hair was a bit unkempt from all the dancing, but his eyes were sharp as ever.
“Do you think it’s be rude if we left without a goodbye?” You scanned what remained of your guests.
Crosshair and Tech had left a good while ago, thought Echo and Wrecker were seated on a bench with several other knights from the training grounds with their own casks of wine. King Ruwee and Queen Jobal had plenty of courtiers to talk to, and your aunt and uncle and their children would be staying for another week. You’d be able to say farewell before you left for Serenno around the same time.
With all this in mind, you allowed Hunter to convince you to leave. You led him into the servant’s quarters and up the narrow spiral staircase that led to the private chambers. Upon receiving their dukedoms, Hunter and his brothers had each been granted their own guest quarters on the floor just below the royal family. You almost skipped past the door to the right floor, so used to the one you would take to go prepare Padme’s rooms, but Hunter tugged at your arm.
“I guess I have a few habits you break,” You looked down so that he couldn’t see your embarrassment.
Hunter stopped outside the door to his room- your room- and took your chin in his hand, tilting it up to look at him.
“You, my lady, look down for no one. And especially not to me. I am your husband, your equal, remember?”
Before you could say anything, Hunter led you into the room. It was dark but for a few embers in the fireplace, and the moon shining through the glass window. It reflected off the crisp, fallen snow, casting more light than usual. You stood there for a moment, staring out the window. The world was so still, so peaceful, so calm. Like the new beginning of your marriage. You didn’t even realize you’d started to shiver until Hunter wrapped his cloak around you.
“Thank you,” You whispered. Hunter stood there for a moment, just staring into your eyes. You couldn’t quite tell what he was thinking, but it felt like he was studying you, trying to engrave this memory of you into his brain.
“Hunter,” You whispered his name and reached up to caress his face. In the cool stone rooms, so far from the heat of the palace kitchens, his skin was growing cooler too.
Hunter kissed the palm of your hand and pulled you closer. His eyes fell to the pendant he’d made you, secured twice as well around your neck this time.
"When we get to Serenno, I'm going to get you a proper wedding present." Hunter said. He slipped around behind you so that he could look out the window with you. His cheek pressed against yours as his arms wrapped around your waist. You reasted your arms on his.
"A necklace made of diamonds. One for every star in the sky."
You didn't know what to say. You were still getting used to the elegant hand-me-downs from Padme when she insisted that a Duchess deserved better. You'd never even dreamed of owning a diamond necklace.
Hunter turned to press his nose to your cheek.
"I'd give you the world if you asked for it," He said, almost in a whisper.
You ran your fingertip over the flowers he'd carved in your pendant.
"I... I don't need the world," You stammered, your cheeks flushed with heat despite the chilly night, "I just want you."
Hunter breathed deeply, "You deserve everything good that this world has to offer you, my lady."
You closed your eyes, and tried to think of your childhood dreams. Some of them had already come true, and now you had the ability to make others come true, and then some.
“It gave me you, didn’t it?”
For once, you had left Hunter speechless. You laughed softly, and he joined you, gently swaying you back and forth as he had during your dance.
You hummed softly, only for yourself and Hunter to hear.
"If that secret kingdom's ours to share,
I could never wish for more, for you'd be there.
Just two subjects, you and me,
In our private monarchy
All alone together
We would love forever
In our secret kingdom far away somewhere"
When I started writing this series, I was a single college student. It's been over two years since then, and now, like Hunter's lady, I am married to my own Knight in Shining Armor 👰😁 thank you guys for reading this story and for all your enthusiasm for it. I hope you'll keep an eye out for other works in this universe, coming soon!!
Well, I was gonna write Secret Kingdoms but I found this dollmaker and ended up making Hunter and the reader instead. Here they are in maid/knight attire, and all dressed up for the ball. This one has so many outfit styles and options and it's lots of fun!
look here's Hunter and Saachi too
@dragonrider9905 @photogirl894 @imabeautifulbutterfly @avathebestx Check it out!
Patricia C. Wrede's questions for authors to consider in creating fantasy worlds: Index
this is not just for writers making up fantasy worlds. If you already have your own world, these questions might help you discover more details about it.
