Page 68 of Lost Starlight
“Peter! It is beautiful.” I did not tell him I had seen it before. I was thrilled to receive the gift.
He went around me and fastened the string of pearls around my neck, and then placed the crown upon my head.
“You are a princess,” he said.
“What else is in there?”
“Just my crown.” He pulled out a silver crown, inlaid with beach stones.
I laughed. “You are ridiculous, Peter.”
He set it atop his head with a boyish grin. After a few moments of laughing with each other, I took in a large breath and smiled. “Thank you for distracting me for a moment.”
“Anytime, darling.” He winked at me. It would never get old hearing that endearing play on words.
“Now, I am ready,” I said.
He took my hand.
“And I shall never leave your side,” he confirmed.
Together, we walked into the ballroom.
I approached my mother.
“The room is passable, I suppose, and yet I have to wonder why there are so few floral arrangements. This is a royal ball, afterall, is it not?” My mother, of course, was already complaining. I expected nothing less. She was standing beside my rather bored father. Her blond hair was perfectly styled, gleaming under the candlelight. I used to see her and think that she was the most beautiful woman I had ever beheld, and I craved to be like and to look just like her–and of course, she wasbeautiful.
But I had come to realize that there was so much more to being beautiful than outward appearances. Beauty, true beauty, really comes from the lives we live and who we are on the inside; those things make us beautiful.
“Hello mother, welcome to my wedding ball,” I said.
I waited, silently, as several contradictory expressions fought to show up on her face. I knew she would never truly let them manifest. She taught me how to do that.
“Dearest Gwendolyn!” she said with a soft smile.
“Please bow for the newest Princess of Walden, Lady Darling,” Peter said to my mother, surprising me a bit. I was not expecting that.
Mother turned to Peter and gave him a curtsy; then she turned and gave one to me.
“Of course, Your Highness.”
I turned to look at my father, who followed suit and bowed, first to Peter, then to me.
“You look beautiful, daughter,” my father said with a nod. As much as I had always wanted his and my mother’s approval, when I finally saw it in my father’s stance and eyes, as well as in my mother’s, I felt nothing. Emptiness only–truly nothing, and it was surprising at first.
“Thank you,” I said with a nod to my father.
“Well, we were very sad that we were unable to attend your wedding–” Mother began, but I held up a hand. Something I had not realized until that moment when Peter stopped my mother was that I out-ranked her. She could not control me, and she would have to do asIsaid. It was ingrained inside of her to do so.
“The Prince and I loved our very intimate wedding. Being married by the crown prince was such a remarkable honor.”
“Yes, it was hands down the best day of my life. Gwen is the most incredible woman in all the kingdoms. What an honor it is to be her husband,” Peter said, squeezing my hand. I was still locked in his embrace.
“Oh–indeed, it is wonderful that you can see past her oddities and flaws,” my mother said. Peter moved awayfrom me–until I put a hand upon his chest. I knew he could, and would, defend me–but could I allow that?
This is my moment.
With my hand on his chest, he stepped back. I locked eyes with him, and although I could see the anger toward my mother he held inside of them, at that moment, he loved me enough to give me a chance to stand up for myself.
