"Caitlyn!" Rose screamed.
She had felt something touch her before the world went white, but the lady in waiting had been at the door, too far to touch the princess's arms.
Rose squinted against the blinding light, wanting desperately for her eyes to adjust. What was holding her? A hand!
Part of the princess wanted to fight against the fingers that gripped her arm, but the warmth emanating from the touch was soothing, not frightening.
"Calm down, Dearie. It is me," Hanna's voice sounded close and far off all at once.
"Where are we?" Rose began to see an outline of the Fate's form.
"In-between…" was all Hanna responded.
"But Ethyn…the wedding!" Rose looked around for an exit from the blinding place.
Hanna shushed her. "Don't worry. I will put you back right where I found you. No one will even know you are gone."
The princess relaxed slightly. The Fate had technically abducted her, but Hanna wouldn't harm her.
And the fact that the blue-skinned woman had said she would return her to the same spot meant that Hanna wasn't trying to stop the wedding.
The princess's heart stuttered. "Did something happen to Sean?"
"No, nothing like that." Hanna's musical laugh set Rose at ease. But it also brought a new question.
"Why am I here?" The bride finally felt her vision clearing.
It turned out the world wasn't glowing. Hanna was. The world—the real world—was frozen around them.
"I brought you here because someone doesn't know how to be on time for things…" The ethereal being clicked her tongue judgementally.
"You are the one who didn't come sooner," a deep voice retorted.
"You didn't ask me to come. You tried to rely on your own strength instead of asking for help. If it weren't for your sweet sister's request, you'd still be halfway between here and Rynnlee…"
"Sean?" Spinning around, Rose found herself in the warm embrace of her older brother. "You made it!"
Silver patted her gently. "Did you think I wouldn't?"
"You almost didn't!" Hanna huffed.
"You can't prove that!" Silver blustered.
Hanna crossed her arms with a dangerous smile. "Oh? I'll put you back where I got you and we can find out for sure!"
The man paled. "Thank you for expediting my journey. I would like to remain here if it is all the same to you."
Releasing Rose, Silver stepped back and pushed his hood to his shoulders. While the Guardian's black cloak was pristine, the rest of his tunic was travel-worn and filthy.
With a look down at his at his appearance, his face fell. "I am not very presentable, am I? Don't worry! None of it came off on you."
"I wouldn't care if it did," the princess answered. "You are here, I am content." Rose hesitated. "Why did you leave?"
The Guardian kicked at the ground. "I…there was a bit of miscommunication. I wanted something brought from Rynnlee for you, but when Lily arrived yesterday morning, it was not with her. So I made an emergency trip to get it."
The princess furrowed her brow. "What could be so important that you went all the way to Rynnlee and back…"
"Halfway back…" Hanna mumbled.
"…in a day?" Rose could not fathom what would make her brother almost miss her wedding day.
"I wanted to make a better presentation of this, but—" Silver pulled a small object from his cloak.
Rose gasped. The doll was well-loved, but as beautiful as ever. Little Haven had many happy memories with the little toy.
"Alexis made it with her own hands. It was crafted with love. Her love for you. Since she cannot be here…" Silver choked on his words.
Rose hugged the doll tightly. "Thank you. I can feel mom's love."
"And maybe…some day in the very distant future…your children can play with it and know their grandmother was wonderful."
"I will make sure they know," the princess blinked back happy tears. "I do wish there were some way to carry this down the aisle…" Rose searched her gown for a hidden pocket.
"Ahem," Hanna batted her eyes at the Princess as she cleared her throat.
The bride looked at her with confusion.
"I think Hanna would like you to ask for her help." Silver cut a sidelong glance at the Fate. "Though she could just offer."
"I could," the lady with the swirling iries agreed with a sagely nod.
Rose wondered if the two were always like this. She hadn't really seen them around each other much.
"Hanna, could you help me find a way?" The blue eyes of the princess pleaded.
The Fate nodded. "I have an idea."
From the doll, the little white apron untied and floated into the air. While the strings twisted into a long stem, the bib curled on itself many times over. The result was a flower very similar to the ones in the bride's bouquet.
"You may not be able to take the whole doll, but I hope this will suffice." Hanna dipped her head.
"It is perfect, thank you." Beaming, Rose looked for a spot to add the bloom to her existing flowers.
"I wish I had something to give you from Gareth. The only thing left from him is my belt and I am not sure it matches your ensemble…" Silver glanced at the Fate. "Unless Hanna would like to help with that as well."
"Is that a request? It didn't exactly sound like one." Hanna smiled innocently.
'Blasted Fate is really going to make me ask…' "Hanna would you work a little more magic, please?" Silver would do anything for his sister, even beg.
"As you wish," Hanna's eyes glimmered.
From the end of Silver's belt, a small triangle was removed. Instead of a pointed edge, the tip of the belt was now rounded and smooth.
The triangle lifted and split in two before attaching to the apron flower like two leather leaves. The result completed flower hung in the air for Rose to view.
"Will that suffice?" Hanna plucked the flower and held it out for Rose to take.
For the first time in a long time, the princess was truly speechless. "Thank you." She added the eternal bloom to her bouquet.
Looking at her brother, Rose held out her hand.
"Are you ready to walk me down the aisle?"
Silver winced. "Are you sure? I don't want to ruin your day by tracking dirt to the altar. Perhaps I should wait at the back."
"Are you really not going to ask me to…nevermind," Hanna clicked her tongue. "Consider this help a wedding gift."
Some of the light shifted from Hanna's being and surrounded Silver. He was engulfed in a heavenly glow. When it subsided, his clothing was as white as snow. Only his belt remained a characteristic brown, though it, too, looked pristine.
"My cloak!" The Guardian's voice broke.
"It's only for today," the Fate shook her head. "You can go back to being gloomy tomorrow."
The man forestalled his argument and addressed his sister instead. "How do I look?"
The princess smiled. "You look like someone who is about to walk me down the aisle."
Silver pulled up his hood. His face disappeared, but Rose could still feel the warmth of his smile. He took the doll, stowed it in his cloak, then offered his elbow to his sister.
In position, the pair nodded to the Fate.
"I'll be watching, Dearies," Hanna's ever-present grin grew even wider. "See you soon!"
All at once the world came back into focus. The music continued as if it had never stopped.
Caitlyn knocked on the doors and they flew open.
Looking over her shoulder, the lady-in-waiting gasped.
"I'll explain later," Rose whispered as she clutched the bouquet with one hand and her brother's arm with the other.
Caitlyn gave a gentle nod and marched forward. The doors shut behind her, allowing the song to finish.
"Are you ready?" Silver asked, "It isn't too late to run," he teased.
"I'm ready," Rose answered without hesitation. "I was born for this, remember?"
The Guardian looked at the crown on his sister's head. "Yes, I do believe you were."
A grand aria sounded in the throne room. An entire choir burst into a tune which was too lovely for human ears.
The audience stood in anticipation of the glorious moment to come. The back doors parted to admit the final two guests to the wedding: the bride and her brother.
Looking around, Silver knew that Rose's joke about being born to be a princess was indeed true. This life, and the people in it who loved her, spanned both sides of the aisle.
If he could have frozen time like Hanna, he would have done so right then. But there was an eager groom at the end of the aisle, and it was Silver's job to deliver the bride.
Silver squeezed Rose's arm. "I love you, Haven."
"I love you too, Sean." Rose nodded.
They both looked to the dais and the bright future ahead.
Together, they took the first step.