Valentine's Challenge: Day 04 - Vlad x Zelda
@~~Wedding Day~~@
@~Wedding Day~@
Zelda Bladewing had faced many a threat in her years. She could make an orc cry and throw lizardmen nearly twice her size on the field. She had worked hard, all her life, to earn the respect of her peers. She was not the type to be overly emotional; always keeping herself in check and inline. She always had to be strong.
So why was this getting to her? Was it because it's been in waiting for decades now? That the wait to finally reach this day was over? Was it the pressure of the crowds? Or simply how monumental of a turning point this was in her life?
She never cried at a funeral. The men wept for the previous general. Some few close friends had cried for her parents when they fell. But she never felt the need to cry. And now she couldn't stop her lip from trembling. Her shoulders shaking as Mrs. Balludson circled around her, pulling on the garments that were much more beautiful than she ever dared to wear before. Zelda almost feared how easy it'd be for them to tear if Evangeline didn't know what she was doing.
"Zelda, what's wrong?" Abigail asked, pausing her efforts of applying make up and gently touching her chin.
The soldier tried to clear her throat, but found a large lump had wedged itself in there somehow. "I.. I'm going to look…silly." she said in a voice smaller than she meant it.
"Silly! Silly- Darling you're gorgeous." Evangeline scoffed and tossed back her shimmering red hair. "I wouldn't dare make a bride look silly on her wedding day."
That wasn't what she meant, but she didn't have it in her to correct the other.
"You're beautiful." Abigail reassured in a soft voice and smile. Out of all the other royals of their generation, Zelda always appreciated how level-headed Abigail was.
"I feel like I'm going to break these heels.." Zelda continued to worry, the shaking spreading down to her knees now.
"Nonsense. We've had several practice walks in them. You'll be fine." Abigail reassured and looked around. "Silver! Silver, where's the bouquet?"
Maybe it was all the fussing that was getting to her. Making her feel this foreign pit of anxiety in her stomach. Maybe it was because she never did these kinds of girly things growing up? Maybe because there was a million ways today could go wrong? There could be a lizardman attack? Or a breakout among the clans?
Maybe because…
"Holy crap!" Thor breathed as she and the flock of other girls made it to the entry way.
"Wh-what? What's wrong?" she asked nervously.
"I thought Bladewing was supposed to get married today?" he asked, pretending to look around her. "You know. Tough. Burly. Kinda manly? Who's the angel?"
There was a few laughs, including the bride, which helped the tension. She nudged her leader, not wanting to dent the metal of his ceremonial armor. "Very funny, Sir."
Suddenly everyone got quiet. The music was starting. There was a hushed murmur of excitement from the bridesmaids. Zelda felt a pang of a pulse through her veins.
"It's time!" Abigail smiled up at her. "Just breathe.. You'll be fine."
One by one the bridesmaids stepped out with their groomsmen. Zelda gripped the bouquet of orchids tightly. Which of course, hadn't gone unnoticed by her general.
"Hey… What's wrong?" he asked, looking up.
"I'm.. I don't know.." she whispered. "I'm just suddenly feeling…"
"Heh. Everything at once?" he asked, earning a nod. He gently took her arm. "Yeah of course you are.. And that's fine.."
"..is it?"
"Yeah.. It is. It's okay to feel, Zelda…" he smiled.
"I don't want to ruin the moment."
"You won't… Trust me." he gave her a small squeeze. She held his arm and the doors opened. The march began.
Vladimir looked up from the altar, and Zelda wanted to cry. Overwhelmed by how sweet he looked. And when she approached the altar and was handed off by Thor, she had to hold back a laugh as she saw the wizard had tears in his eyes too.
"You're gorgeous." he whispered.
"I'm a mess." she scoffed.
But Vlad simply shook his head and held her hand. "We've been waiting too long for this day…"
Zelda chuckled. They had… And they didn't have to anymore.