The next morning when I woke I was in my bedroom. I would have thought I dreamt the whole thing if I wasn't still in the dress from yesterday as well as the soreness between my legs.
Looking over I was surprised to see a white gown on a mannequin. It had long sleeves, a vine pattern coming up the bodice of the dress and down the sleeves. It was made out of a mesh material making it appear as though whoever wore it was nude beside the white and silver vine pattern which cover the essential areas. The skirt was full, a train so long it seemed to not fit in the room as the fabric was bunched. As I got closer I saw the train was detachable, I assumed for the reception. On the desk next to the dress were boxes opened to reveal jewels. A silver crown again shaped like vines sat on a velvet cushion. As well as a delicate silver chain necklace with a tear drop shaped sapphire pendant. Then earrings that matched the pendant.
"Oh good, already awake!" I turned to see Cara, Makenna, Nina and Sirona walk in.
"Your mother and grandmother said they would be in momentarily, let's get you fed and your hair done." Cara was already pulling me to my vanity where Makenna had set trays of fruit, as well as bread and cheese. I slowly started to eat as Cara took the time braiding and pinning my hair in a low bun up-do that I could never wish to recreate. Tendrils of my blonde hair framed my face as she curled them with a hot tool. She applied a light rouge to my cheeks and lips then hooked the necklace around my neck as well as putting the earrings on me.
"Good morning girls." I heard my mothers voice as the door opened again. I saw my grandmother and mother walk in carrying what looked to be a veil.
"Took us all night to match your mother's veil to the queen's dress but we did it." My grandmother came and helped Cara pin the veil onto my bun. The tulle reached the floor vines coming up the veil in an elegant way.
"Now let's get you into this thing. Who knew the Queen liked to be so exposed." Makenna laughed as they started taking the dress off the mannequin.
"I heard she has a wardrobe full of dresses that are see through." Nina smiled
My mother and grandmother laughed as they helped me into my undergarments which I soon realized were only on the bottom.
"We make her dresses, she loves to show some skin and yet still be modest." My mother said
The girls continued to gossip before telling me about the day's events. Which consisted of getting married, spending the day dancing, eating and celebrating the marriage before the consummation.
Looking at myself in the mirror when I was dressed I barely recognized who was looking back. When my mother placed the crown on my head and tears in her eyes I could help but see the beauty everyone saw.
"You are lucky. Dorian is a good man and I am sure he will do you no harm." My mother whispered as she wiped tears from her eyes
"He is also devilishly handsome." Cara giggled as the other girls scolded her.
"Yes, I suppose you are right." I whispered, still looking at myself.
The walk to the main ballroom was quiet besides our footsteps. Makenna said everyone was either working the wedding or was free to be a guest so everyone would already be in or near the main ballroom. Getting closer you could hear everyone talking and then suddenly music started to play. Violins it sounds like as the doors opened, my ladies walked in first then my grandfather was there waiting for me to take his arm as he walked down the aisle. The room was packed with women, men and even children. Looking down the aisle I saw the king standing, the queen sitting on her throne behind him with a wide smile on her face, and then to the king's left was Dorian. He wore what looked like fancy armor that a knight would wear only he had on a black cloak with sapphire blue velvet on the underside of it. A silver crown shaped like vines as well, only more masculine was placed on his head as he stood tall, his eyes watching me walk towards him.
"Who gives this woman to be wed?" The king's voice boomed through the room, making me jump slightly.
"I, Sir Elric, give this woman, Aylin Elric, to be wed today." I had never heard my grandfather's voice so loud and strong before.
He placed my hand into Dorian's, clasping them together tightly before bowing and going to stand next to my mother and grandmother.
"You look breathtaking." Dorian whispered, kissing the back of my hand.
I smiled a blush spread across my face as I heard the awes and whispers from the crowd. The King went on with the ceremony, having us say our vows, and oaths to each other and the Kingdom before he took what seemed like ribbon wrapping it around our joined hands so tight it seemed it would cut skin.
"As King, I now pronounce you man and wife. May your bond and life be as strong as the eternal flame."
As he said this the Queen walked up to us holding a torch with blue fire. My arm involuntarily jerked before I felt Dorian squeeze my hand making me look at him. His eyes were calm, telling me to be still. His mother put the flame on the end of the weird ribbon setting it ablaze. The fire started on Dorian's side and I watched it burn quickly. I felt the heat from the flame, and pain but nothing like a real burn. It felt almost like ice on the skin as the ribbon burned away in its path was now a white almost glowing scar that traveled from my wrist to Dorian's. A strange sensation came over me almost as if I were feeling two things at once.
"Son, you may Kiss your bride." Irene said
Dorian pulled me in, dipping me low as he kissed me passionately, shocking me as I was not expecting it. The crowd cheered loudly as Dorian lifted me back up and gave me a small smile, taking my hand and raising it above his head as if he were putting on a show for the people. He kissed the back of it before the queen came up next to us.
"Time to celebrate my new Daughter!" she exclaimed, patting my arm as the servants came out carrying trays of food, setting them on the tables that lined the ball room. The music started up again as my ladies came up behind me unhooking the long train from around my waist leaving me in the ball gown shaped dress.
"May I have a dance?" Dorian asked bowing to me as I gave a small nod. I wasn't comfortable with everyone we passed congratulating us and staring as we started dancing people moving to make a circle around us as we danced. Though I was grateful that the prince was an excellent dancer with how he moved, twirling me around almost made me forget about the eyes on us.
The celebration went all day, Dorian introduced me to people I barely remember and the people of the palace had given us many gifts, including jewels and food. Some fine silks that Dorian told me he would send home with my mother and grandmother to make me as well as my ladies new dresses which made me happy to know my family would be taken care of. As night fell Dorian pulled me outside and I was grateful for the fresh air as everyone seemed to be leaving.
"The servants are getting the room ready for tonight." he sighed as he leaned on the balcony removing his crown and running his hand through his hair disheveling it.
I nodded the images of yesterday flashing in my mind and I flushed. My stomach churned at the thought of people watching, reminding me of how the men watched in the alley.
"I tried all morning to convince my father it wasn't necessary to watch, but of course he's a man of tradition. Which unfortunately means we can't take our time like yesterday."
Taking deep breaths and turning away from him trying to keep my composure.
"I thought after last night I would be okay." I whispered "Now I feel so silly about being sensitive about these things, as if I am not used to it."
"You have a right to feel that way." When I looked at him again he looked hurt by my words.
"I am sorry, I didn't mean that you were taking advantage." I said quickly back tracking my words not even sure if I believed them myself. Thinking about how he was all too eager.
yesterday when I told him what I wanted.
"Like I said, you have a right to feel the way you do. I know how you feel about what we have to do. Your ladies will escort you to the room when it is time." he placed the crown back on his head as he walked back inside the palace leaving me alone in the night.
Letting out a deep breath I sat on a bench that isn't too far from the door, hoping to just disappear into the wall as I heard the party continue. Closing my eyes I listened to the laughter and the music, a slight smile on my face at the sound of others enjoying themselves. My eyes shot open though when I heard heavy footsteps approaching, a short, round bald man stood a few paces away with a smile on his face that made me want to vomit.
"Ah, Lady Aylin, I am looking forward to the show later tonight." he slurred out as he eyed me up and down when I stood up.
"Excuse me sir?" I frowned, backing towards the doors slowly. I felt like prey and him the predator with the way he was inching closer and looking at me.
"I believe what Sir Reginald was saying was congratulations on your wedding. Correct Sir?"
"Y-yes your majesty." the man stuttered out bowing.
Turning at the feeling of a hand on my shoulder I was relieved to see the queen standing there. She gave me a reassuring smile before looping her arm through mine.
"I have come to escort you. Hope that is okay?"
"Of course your majesty."
A giggle left her lips as we turned away from the still bowing man. "Please you are my daughter now, Irene is fine."
I blushed and nodded as we wandered through the crowd of people in the ball room then into a quiet hallway.
"I know this is strange to you. My son has told me what you have been through, and I know better than anyone how terrifying being with a man again can be. Especially with others watching." She patted my upper arm gently.
"I know Dorian wont hurt me, I just can't shake the memories." I frowned watching our dresses swish as we walked down the never ending hall.
"My son thankfully is nothing like his father. He is a gentle soul, the man I married however can be cruel and though I have learned to love him for other reasons I still didn't choose him, and will always remember how the first year of our marriage was very hard for me. Dorian did not come easily." she gave a dry chuckle "royal customs are not something I approve of but until the king dies they will not change he is stuck in his old ways unlike the prince."
I thought back to how the king did not seem to approve of the strange collection of women the queen and prince seemed to keep around. We entered a room that seemed just big enough to fit the bed that was in the middle. It was covered in a white sheet, no pillows or any other blankets. Looking around I spotted another door on the other side of the room. On the one wall there were windows that were covered with wood that had holes in it. They were higher up so we could not see the others on the other side but I could hear the voices of the king and other men laughing and talking. I was sure they could see us very clearly.
"I will help you get to your underdress, then Dorian can handle the rest." The queen smiled and I nodded as she started to take the pins from my hair, then unbuttoned the back of my wedding dress letting it slide easily from my shoulders and fall to the floor helping me step out.
"Just remember to breathe. Do not let them see you weak, cry when you get to bed." she whispered as she hugged me tightly and I nodded. Lastly she removed the crown from my head placing it in a box before walking to the other door opening it.
Dorian walked in and I blushed seeing he only had on a pair of loose pants. His mother whispered something to him and he nodded his eyes, never leaving mine. The other men's voices got quiet as Dorian approached me, taking my hands he pulled me closer to him standing me in front of the bed and his back to the windows. Leaning in his breath tickled my ear as he pulled me even closer to him.
"I am sorry." he whispered, sending shivers down my spine as he turned us around suddenly. I heard the fabric of his pants hit the ground and my breathing quickened as I tried to keep my eyes on him when his hands started lifting the underdress I still wore. My throat was suddenly dry and my body shaky as I struggled to keep my tears at bay. The cold air hit my skin and I suddenly realized he had turned us around so that the men would only see my back side and not my front. I was grateful, but could still hear their muttering of approval to my body once I was naked. Dorian's fingers caressed my upper thighs and up my sides before rubbing his thumbs over my nipples. He trailed his hands down my arms, grabbing my hands and raising them so that they were wrapped around his neck before he grabbed my thighs, lifting me and walking us so that we were laying on the bed. My breathing became pants as he used his body to try and hide most of mine, in the process though I felt trapped under him as I felt his member pressing against my entrance.
The voices of the king and the other lords watching seemed to get louder, I knew they assumed my breathing, as well as my shaking body was a good sign of us making love. I did everything I could to keep the vomit and tears at bay as Dorian reached between us. He pressed his face into my neck, he seemed to be making a show of struggling to slide into me.
As he finally slid into me his fingers at the same time pinched my inner thigh causing me to let out a pain yelp and jump slightly not expecting the pain, as a deep moan left his lips. It clicked in my brain that it would hurt if this was truly my first time. He was putting on a show for them. Something in my heart broke when I realized that was all this was.
"Sorry," he moaned out as he slowly started to move.
I turned my face towards the windows where I knew everyone was watching. They were getting a clear view, though my legs were blocking most of it. They were high enough I knew they could see where bodies met. Dorian leaned up on his elbows, his face coming into my view, my eyes meeting his. They couldn't see his face, which I knew was good, it was broken tears coming out of his eyes. I reached up my hand threading it through his hair and pulling him back down so that he would be hidden in my neck again.
His movements became faster, and I would never admit that the moans I let out were moans of pain. Though I wasn't a virgin it still hurt when it became too fast since my body isnt used to the feeling of being stretched without getting ready first. I knew he was just trying to end it as fast as he could. The cold room seemed to get hot as I pulled him closer to me when his movements became jerky. He let out a long groan as his movements seemed to stop and I could feel his warm seed fill me and I shuddered. We stayed still for a moment, my fingers going through his hair as he nuzzled into my neck.
"So sorry." he apologized again and I nodded. I felt his breath coming out in choked sobs as he tried to stop them from coming out too loud. We clung to each other for a few moments trying to calm each other.
Before we could move the door opened and I gasped when I saw the king standing there with a maid following behind him coming over to us holding out robes for us.
Dorian cursed under his breath grabbing one of the robes and covering me with it before standing and putting the other one on himself.
"You could wait father." he growled out as he then helped me get the robe on trying to keep his father's eyes from seeing much.
"Well I have to be sure your bride was a virgin son. You know the law."
"What?" I frowned and looked up at Dorian not knowing what he was talking about.
"The King wants to be sure you bled. The true sign of a virgin bride on her wedding night." Dorian's eyes never left his father who still stood in the doorway as my body froze and I stiffened. There wouldn't be blood, I haven't bled in a long time after the men used me, unless they were rough enough to tear and Dorian certainly was not rough with me.
"There is blood, My King." the maid said as the king came closer.
I turned suddenly to look at the once white sheet and there was in fact a small amount of blood on the sheet.
"Come, my wife let us retire." Dorian said stiffly turning me to the door he had come through leaving without another word to the king.
"How di-"
"Not here." he cut me off as we walked down the halls until we reached the stairs from the other day. When we got up to his room he closed and locked the door leaning his head against it letting out a deep breath before turning to me, his back leaning against the door.
"My mother told me my father was suspicious about you being a Virgin because he could not have his physician check you himself. Though it isn't uncommon for them to look for blood after consummation it has been a custom they do not do as often, my mother told me my father would check."
"That doesn't explain." I gasped when he pulled his robe aside slightly showing me his inner thigh. There was dried blood and fingernail marks. My mind went back to how he was taking a long to put himself inside me. He covered himself up before walking to the bed and pulling the blanket down and motioning to it.
"Sleep, tomorrow we travel to the honeymoon castle." he mumbled as he walked over to the couch sitting down on it with a long breath.
I nodded as I slowly climbed into the bed pulling the blanket all the way up under my chin. When it became quiet with just our breathing the events of the night and day hit me. My stomach churned again and tears welled in my eyes before spilling over and down my cheeks. I tried to muffle my sobs into the blanket but even then I knew Dorian would hear them and I prayed he would just stay on the couch.