Chapter 19 - The Royal Wedding
The day of the wedding dawned brighter than any in Oakhaven’s recorded history. The autumn sky was a brilliant, cloudless expanse of royal blue, and the cathedral bells rang out across the valley, summoning nobles, commoners, merchants, and peasants alike to celebrate the union of their king and the remarkable young woman who saved them all.
Inside the grand cathedral, stained-glass windows cast long, beautiful beams of ruby and sapphire light across the aisle. The pews were packed to overflowing, filled with cheering citizens, foreign dignitaries, and palace staff who had known Lucy when she was nothing more than a quiet girl with a mop and a bucket.
At the altar stood King William, dressed in a magnificent white and blue velvet tunic embroidered with silver thread. His eyes were bright, fixed entirely on the heavy oak doors at the end of the aisle.
When the doors slowly swung open, a collective hush fell over the cathedral.
Lucy walked down the aisle on the arm of Captain Marcus, who wore his dress uniform adorned with polished medals. She wore a breathtaking gown of spun silk and silver lace, shimmering softly under the light of the chandeliers. On her head rested a delicate, beautifully crafted silver circlet—not the cursed golden crown of the past kings, but Queen Eleanor’s crown, cleansed and restored to its rightful glory.
As she walked, she could hear the soft, joyous hum of the cathedral's stone walls, welcoming her like an old friend.
When she reached the altar, Marcus gently placed her hand into William’s. The king looked at her as if she were the only person in the entire world, a breathtaking smile lighting up his face.
"You look magnificent," William whispered softly as they turned to face the high priest.
"You clean up nicely yourself, Your Majesty," Lucy whispered back with a teasing wink.
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The ceremony was filled with warmth, tradition, and genuine love. When the high priest finally pronounced them husband and wife, William lifted the delicate veil from Lucy’s face and kissed her tenderly.
The cathedral erupted into deafening cheers and applause. Outside, church bells rang out across the city, followed by the joyful roar of the gathered crowds throwing flower petals into the air as the newly wedded royal couple turned to walk back down the aisle together.
