Page 67 of Lost Starlight
She took in a deep breath and locked her eyes on mine.
“You can go on,” Peter said to Dominick, never taking his eyes off of mine.
“You are now husband and wife!” he said.
“Gwen, you just married me,” I said with my lips barely brushing against hers.
“I know; I cannot believe it!” she said, out of breath.
“You may kiss now,” Dominick said.
“You ready? You kiss me, and you are mine for all of time.”
“Are you? You kiss me and you are stuck with me,” she said, and I knew she was trying to be playful, but she was also a little unsure that I would want to be “stuck with her,” as she put it. Ridiculous question, but I knew it would take time for her to unlearn all the lies her mother had taught her to believe about herself. So, without saying a word, I kissed her soundly because there was nothing I wanted in all of the kingdoms other than to be stuck with Gwen as mine and I as hers.
Epilogue
Gwendolyn
“Why do you keep moving away from our destination?” Peter laughed as he captured me around the waist and pulled me against his chest. He leaned down to whisper in my ear.
“We have to go to this ball, and it will be the first time seeing my mother–since our marriage. I do not want to go.”
“Ah, I can talk to her, if you wish,” he offered.
“No. Although I do not wish to, I have to do this–I cannot just hide in the castle,” I said softly, turning in his arms to look into Peter’s eyes. He brushed a strand of hair from my cheek.
“You are the bravest woman I know.”
“That is a lie. Meria went into the sea and rescued the children.”
“Maybe, that would be a challenge for you, but it was easy for her. Speaking with her mother may be easy for her, while speaking with your mother I know will be difficult for you. You told me not to compare my curse to Dominick’s. Don’t compare your struggles to Meria. We all have our levels of difficulty; do not compare yourself to any other. You are strong and capable.”
Am I, though?I wondered.My entire life I had done just as Mother had asked. Other than, of course, marrying the prince on a pirate ship in the Misted Seas, which I knew made my mother rather upset. Michael had assured me that when we arrived home, mother would not bother me until the ball. It had been an entire week of bliss—Peter and I doing whatever we wished, whenever we wished it. Most of that time consisted of us reading together, because we both loved it. Who would have known I could have such a life as that? I was filled with such peace–until having to face my mother, of course.
“Peter, are you sure that we can’t just go back upstairs and read a story?” I huffed.
“We can do that right after, and I may have possibly read ahead last night after you fell asleep.” He was already moving away from me, heading across the room to the other end of the hall. Rightfully so, because how dare he do such a horrid thing! All thoughts of my mother flew from my mind like a bird soaring on the breeze.
“Peter! That is awful, and you know it!” I called to him as he walked away.
“Sorry Gwen, I am impatient. It is a horrible thing, yet an endearing thing–about me?”
“I swear–you–you–how could you! I hate it when you read ahead! How can you enjoy the story when you know how it will turn out?” I placed my hands on my hips. Peter slowly made his way back over to me.
“I will tell you,” Peter said, tugging on my hand and kissing each finger. “Knowing the ending is a good one makes the enjoyment of the story more fulfilling, I do not have to stress out because no matter what the author throws into it and at them, I know that the characters will overcome. That is what I think about us, by the way.”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean, I know our ending, we will be happy, and we will be together, forever. Even when hard times press upon us, I know how we end–together.”
“I love you, Peter,” I said, my heart full to bursting. How lucky I was to have him in my life, let alone as my husband.
“I love you, Gwen. Now, take my hand and let us enter the ball.” He paused. “Wait!” He moved down the hall, opened a door that was not an entrance into the ballroom, walked inside, and came out with a satchel.
“What is that?”
“This is for you–” He handed me the beautiful pearl crown, along with the matching pearl strand he had been saving for me.
