Chapter Text
The media had been flooded with rumours and speculation for weeks leading up to the wedding; would the royals be wearing dresses or their military dress uniforms? Was it true that Lena had ordered ten thousand doves to be released out over the city after the ceremony? (She had assured Kara that it wasn’t true – it was only a thousand, which was perfectly reasonable.) And who was invited, and who wasn’t. By the time the week of the wedding rolled around, Lena had almost decided to call it quits and secretly fly them to Vegas and elope, because a month of endless news about the event was almost enough to turn her off weddings for life. Both of them were willing to admit that the endless planning had been tedious, even if they tried to make it fun, but they were making a statement. It was going to potentially be the biggest wedding of the century, with it live broadcast to the whole world, and the most lavish decorations for it. No one would doubt their love and commitment to each other. Kara had been surprised when Lena had argued for bigger and better for everything, having assumed that Lena would want a small, intimate wedding, but when she realized that Lena wanted it as big and expensive as possible, she didn’t have to ask to know why. It didn’t matter how their relationship had started – it didn’t matter why – they fell in love on their own, and the whole occasion was going to be a giant fuck you to everyone involved in the contract, because they had done this on their own. Kara was all too willing to oblige.
They’d spent months going over cake decorations, and debating whether ten tiers were too many, and whether vanilla was too boring. There were endless meetings with designers, until they found the perfect one to help them individually design their dresses, while making sure they complemented each others. Almost every day for a month they’d have the most prominent chefs in the world come to the palace to make them food, in the hopes that they’d be the one to have the honour of catering for the wedding. It had been good practice for the both of them, with the constant media attention, and they had come out on top of it, despite everyone’s initial reservations. No matter if people said they would crack under the pressure, or they hadn’t been together long enough, they had ignored them, and carried on together, and eventually the day of the wedding rolled around.
Kara wouldn’t pretend she wasn’t nervous – she knew Lena would pretend she wasn’t, even though she was – and she couldn’t help but fidget with her engagement ring as she sat before the vanity, having her hair perfectly curled and pinned into place. The thought of cameras on her was nervewracking, and although it had been the same at her coronation, this time she not only had to make sure she didn’t fall, but she had to pretend that she wasn’t nervous that Lena wasn’t going to show up. It was a foolish thought, and she knew it, but it was that tiny nagging voice in the back of her mind that wouldn’t go away, even though she knew that Lena was going to be there, maybe dressed in white, but possibly in something outrageously black and gothic, just to piss off the church. Kara would think it was funny though, even if it made her groan, and she would marry her in rags and still think Lena was the most beautiful person she’d ever seen. No matter what, they were getting married today, and Kara silently prayed that it all went off without a hitch.
“Stop fidgeting!” Alex scolded her as she walked in, her hair in rollers and a silk, ivory dressing gown tied at the waist, “you’re going to pass out if you hyperventilate like that down the aisle.”
“Let’s see if you’re so blasé when you’re walking down the aisle yourself,” Kara said, giving her an exasperated look.
Alex laughed as she walked over to her, standing just out of the way of the woman doing her hair, so she wouldn’t interefere, “I won’t be on national television – wait, worldwide television.”
“Thanks, that’s helping so much,” Kara grumbled, pressing her lips together in a grim line. “Did you get in touch with Jess?”
“I did one better,” Alex smiled, “Lena spared me a moment.”
Kara whipped her head around, apologizing to the stylist, who let out a small sound of complaint at the abrupt movement, “what’d she say?”
Letting out a quick laugh, Alex gave her a slow smile, “your fiancé made it very clear that if you don’t walk down the aisle today, she’ll most likely be in prison after funding the next assassination attempt on your life … so I think you can worry less about her doing a runner. She also told me to tell you to take a deep breath and calm down, because she doesn’t want to marry you if you have wrinkles at twenty-seven. Personally, I think she has a point – I’m surprised you haven’t turned grey with all the worrying about the planning.”
“You’re both hilarious,” Kara dryly replied, smiling slightly, “did she say anything else?”
“She loves you,” Alex said, “and she looks hot. Well, she didn’t say that – I added it – but as if she’s not going to look great, right? Just some motivation for you, in case your feet are getting a little bit cold.”
Scoffing, Kara rolled her eyes, “please, as if I’ve ever wanted anything more. If I had to wait a day longer, I think I’d end up taking her up on the elopement offer.”
“Okay Miss ‘we have to get married in the cathedral because only God is above me’, as if you would ever elope,” Alex snorted with laughter.
“It’s tradition!” Kara protested, “and what’s expected of me.”
“Yeah, yeah, we know you’re the model Queen. I’m still surprised Lena agreed though – she’s never been traditional or done what was expected of her - but then again, she picked you,” Alex said, rolling her eyes.
Kara smiled at the words; Lena had picked her. Despite their bickering and arguing, and their differences of opinions, they had been perfect for each other, and they’d been lucky enough to realize that before it was too late. It had been over two years since they’d first started pretending to be in love, and it was laughable at how they’d been around each other at the beginning, compared to where they were now, and sometimes they wondered how no one had realized it was fake. Everything they’d done together before was so different to how things had been since they’d gotten together – now their love was for themselves, rather than the public. Even though they still had their royal duties – which Lena begrudgingly agreed to, for Kara’s sake – they spent less time in front of the cameras, and more time enjoying themselves with their friends and family. Everything else had come naturally, and they’d settled down so easily, that sometimes it felt like they’d known each other their entire lives – loved each other their whole lives. If anything, they were able to appreciate the fact that they’d been thrown off the deep end at the beginning, because without that, they would never have willingly spent enough time together to learn all of the little things about them that they’d grown to love over the course of the insufferable situations they’d been forced into. They wouldn’t be getting married right now.
“Hey, stop daydreaming or you’re going to late,” Alex said, gently nudging Kara, “and by the sounds of things, your bride has a sniper waiting in the wings.”
Laughing, Kara looked at herself in the mirror, gently touching the golden curls and watching as a few more diamond hairpins secured it all into place. Her makeup was already finished, which just left getting dressed, and Kara climbed to her feet and walked over to the white dress, which was hanging up in a bag on a rack. Undoing the zip, she took in the white, and an excited smile spread across her face as she looked at it. It was plain in the front, because the ceremony was doubling as Lena’s coronation too, which meant that there was going to be other official regalia worn, and Kara didn’t want to be too over the top. She was helping into it by Alex and Lyra, and Kara admired it in the mirror, while her sister did up a row of pearl buttons on the back. It was plain white satin, beautifully cut so that it fell down the floor, giving her a little bit of a skirt, without looking puffy, and long sleeves – their shoulders had to be covered in the cathedral. The back was mostly a fine lace, decorated with floral patterns, and the row of pearls down the back. It was expensively understated, but there was no doubting that it would’ve cost a fortune, and looked beautiful on Kara.
“Does this count as old, borrowed and blue?” Alex asked as she helped Kara put on a deep blue sash, cutting the plain white in half as it fell from shoulder to hip, before turning to take one of the family orders out of the slim wooden box that Lyra held open nearby. They were neatly pinned onto the sash, alongside Kara’s military medals and other awards, and she ran a hand over the sash as she looked down at the silver and diamonds.
“Not borrowed – this is my sash. It’s new too,” Kara shrugged.
“Perfect!” Alex said, smiling as she turned to accept the small velvet box that Eliza carried over with a smile. She opened the box and Kara’s face split into a wide smile as she looked down at the pair of earrings nestled inside.
Eliza gave her a warm smile as Kara looked at her, “they were given to me by my father on my own wedding day. I know you have your family’s ring, but you’re also my family, and I’d like you to wear them too.”
Kara blinked back tears as she wrapped her in a hug, giving her a grateful squeeze, “thank you, Eliza. You’ve been the best mother I could’ve asked for, and I’m so grateful to you for everything you’ve done for me.”
“I only wish your parents were here for this,” Eliza said, giving Kara’s cheek an affectionate pat when they pulled back, “I think they’d be very proud of you. I am too.”
Nodding as she swallowed the lump in her throat, she took one of the earrings off Alex and put it on, and then the other. After that, she was guided to a chair, where the diamond encrusted tiara was carefully placed on the top of her head, before the veil was attached behind it.
“And lastly, this is off Lena,” Alex said, procuring another velvet jewelry box, which she opened to reveal a small card that partially covered the necklace inside. Plucking the card out of the box, Kara quickly read over the elegant writing and let out a quiet laugh.
Just a small gift for you to wear today. I already know it’ll look beautiful on you
-L x
Looking down at the thin row of diamonds, Kara let out another laugh, because just one look at it let her know it was worth millions, and of course Lena would call it a small gift. Taking it out of the box, Kara held it up to her throat and turned around, and Alex brushed her veil aside to fasten the choker for her. All the while, Kara couldn’t help but wonder if Lena liked the one she’d sent her just as much as she loved this one.
“Okay,” Alex said, resting her hands on Kara’s shoulders and spinning her around, “are you ready?”
Taking a deep breath, Kara nodded, “I think so. Dress. Tiara. Shoes. Oo, the bouquet-“
“On the table,” Alex interjected.
“Right. Jess remembered the rings?”
“Lyra double checked with her already,” Alex said, spritzing Kara with some expensive perfume from the vanity, before doing the same for herself. “Do you want me to sneak you a mint before we go? You know, for the big kiss.” Laughing, Kara opened her mouth, and Alex tossed two in and tapped her chin for her to close her mouth. “Mom, do you have everything?”
Eliza nodded, and picked up Kara’s bouquet for her, smiling brightly as she looked at her two daughters. “God, you’ve both grown up so fast. Coronations and weddings – soon there’ll be christenings too.”
“Okay, we’re trying to get her down the aisle, mom,” Alex laughed, “not frighten her away from her bride with the thought of motherhood before thirty. She’s still got a few more years to have fun.”
Kara gave Alex a gentle nudge, wrinkling her nose at her sister, before her face split into a wide smile. “Well, it looks like you need to get a move on then,” Kara murmured, jerking her head towards Maggie.
Blushing slightly, Alex leant in close, “I’m working on it. No announcements while there’s already a royal things going on in the family and all of that. I didn’t want to steal your spotlight.” She gave Kara a quick wink, and Kara’s eyes widened in surprise. Things with Maggie had been going great for Alex, and, if anything, hearing that Alex was planning on proposing only made Kara feel even more impossibly happy. She gave her sister’s hand a squeeze, and a warm smile, before she looked up at Lyra, who was holding out a bouquet of flowers. They were pale shades of blush, nude and white, and Kara tightly held it in her hand, almost unable to believe that she was actually getting married. It felt like she’d been waiting forever for this moment, and the slow lead up to it had been torturously sweet, and Kara had cherished every moment, but she could hardly contain her excitement at the fact that the day was finally here.
With a few last minute touch ups, they were ready to go, and Kara threw her shoulders back as she made for the door, which was opened by the bodyguards who bowed slightly. Everyone fell into step behind her as she swept down the hallway, the skirts of her dress trailing slightly behind her, and her pulse racing as her nerves and excitement grew. There were a few photographers at different points throughout the palace, and there were dozens of photos before Kara descended the grand staircase and made it onto the stretch of red carpet leading towards the towering front doors. As her maid of honour, Alex left first, with Eliza, to make their entrance before Kara and Lena did. Neither of them had fathers to walk them down the aisle, and while Kara had Eliza, she’d decided that they should both walk down the aisle by themselves, to avoid questions about why Lillian or Lex wasn’t doing the same for Lena – she wouldn’t want either of them to walk her down the aisle. It had taken a lot of convincing on Kara’s part to even get Lena to invite them, and there had been many compromises throughout the whole planning; that was just another one.
With some more wishes of good luck, Kara watched as her sister and adoptive mother disappeared through the front doors to the sound of excited shouts, before walking into a side room to wait for her turn. Lena would be leaving before Kara, having stayed in a different wing in the palace last night, to make sure they didn’t bump into each other this morning. A detailed schedule had been drawn up to ensure that there was plenty of time in between the comings and goings of each other, so that they wouldn’t tempt fate with the breaking of traditions – they didn’t need anymore bad luck. Nervously pacing and back and forth, Kara could barely hold back the urge to open the door and peek out into the hallway, because she knew that any moment now, Lena would be waking down it in her own dress, and it was almost unbearable to have to wait a little while longer to see her. Restraining herself, Kara fiddled with the bouquet in her hands and thought about Lena, smiling to herself as her heart fluttered in her chest. Nothing in the world would keep her from that cathedral – from walking towards the woman she loved more than anyone else in the world.
It was another five minutes, before a man dressed in the household guard uniform opened the door, and bowed slightly, standing aside for Kara to pass by him. She could still hear the crowd screaming from Lena’s departure, and she brushed a hand against the skirts of her dress, drawing in a shaky breath as she walked towards the towering doors. At a nod to the guards standing at the doors, they parted to reveal the steps leading down to the courtyard, lined by soldiers in red uniforms, who all saluted as Kara slowly walked down the steps to the thunderous applause and cheers from the enormous crowd pressing up and gathered around the palace walls. The flag of Krypton, and the royal crest of the House of El was everywhere – on banners, flags and merchandise – and helicopters flew around overhead, televising the whole thing, while cameras flashed in the crowd as photographers took photos, and reporters filmed the whole thing live. The military and police were crawling around the place, making sure that the day went off without a hitch, and Kara didn’t pause as she made her way down the the lavish horse-drawn carriage waiting for her, knowing that she didn’t have the best track record with being out in the open for public celebrations. It would be just her luck to get shot on her wedding day – apparently by Lena, if she didn’t hurry up and meet her at the altar. A footman opened the carriage door for her, holding a hand out to help Kara up the couple of steps, and Kara settled herself down on the plush bench, peering out of the window as the door was shut and the footman took his place on the back of the carriage. With a command, the horses were urged into motion, and the carriage was pulled along behind them, with Kara’s excitement growing as they made their way towards the gates. They parted, and the military kept the crowd back as the carriage passed between them.
The straight line from the palace gates to the doors of the cathedral was clear, except for the household guard escort, and a few police on motorbikes. Lena would already be inside by now, waiting for her at the altat, feeling just as excited as Kara was, and maybe a little nervous too, even though she wouldn’t admit it. Kara couldn’t help but smile to herself in the back of the carriage at the thought, occasionally leaning forward to tentatively wave to the crowds of people lining the road. She was blinded by the camera flashes whenever she poked her head forward, and knew that there were already hundreds of photos of her online – and Lena too. If she had a phone, she could’ve checked to see what she was wearing, to see how beautiful she looked and see what everyone was saying about her. Instead, she was left fidgeting in her seat, anxiously awaiting the moment that she would see her.
It was fifteen minutes before the carriage drew up in front of the cathedral doors, and the footman hopped down off the back, opening the door and offering Kara a hand as she ducked her head and stepped out of the carriage. The shouts were almost deafening, and she felt her nerves grow as she smiled, reaching the red carpet rolled out to meet her and watching as some military personnel saluted, while other important people bowed and curtsied. Without hesitation, Kara made her way into the interior of the cathedral, staring at the closed doors that separated her from Lena, her family, and hundreds of people. Alex had already walked down the aisle, along with Sam, as the two maids of honour, followed by Lena, which just left her. Taking a deep breath, Kara held the bouquet in front of her, and threw her shoulders back, giving the soldiers at the doors a quick nod.
They parted, and Kara took a step forward, before faltering slightly. She wasn’t wearing her glasses, but she had her contacts in, and in the sea of faces, all she could see was Lena – or rather, the back of her – and it was enough to make Kara stop in her tracks, as a smile spread across her face. The inside of the cathedral was decorated with thousands of flowers, and a choir was singing, accompanied by an old church organ, and every pair of eyes, except one, was on her, but it all faded to nothing, and Kara had to tell herself to go slow and steady, before she tripped over her dress in her haste. Walking over the carpet of petals that Ruby must’ve left on her way down, before her mom, Kara couldn’t keep the smile off her face, and not just because she knew she was being filmed, with millions of eyes around the world on her right now. She couldn’t help but wonder how Lena was feeling about the whole ordeal – she knew Lena would’ve preferred a private ceremony, but it seemed a bit redundant with the fact that they were trying to be as over the top as possible. Lena had willingly agreed to it though, when it had been suggested, if only so the whole world could see the lengths they had gone to to showcase their love. Still, it was unnerving to know that every moment was being documented and criticized, for the whole world to see, yet Kara didn’t care at all. All she could think about was how she was about to marry the love of her life - against all odds, and despite everything - and with each step closer, Kara felt her happiness grow, until she was on the verge of tears by the time she reached the altar, handing her bouquet off to Alex, who was looking a little emotional.
As she took her place beside Lena, they both turned towards each other, and she saw an identical tearful smile on Lena’s face, even though she’d sternly made Kara promise that neither of them would cry. They couldn’t help it though, and Kara slowly reached out to lift the veil covering Lena’s face, before Lena did the same for her, her fingers tracing the side of her face as she drew her hands back. Then she held her hand out, waiting for Lena to place her own in it, as they gazed at each other. Kara couldn’t say what Lena’s dress looked like, or where the cameras were, or even hear what was being said – she couldn’t focus on anything except Lena’s face, and how beautiful she looked, and she had to blink back tears as she gave her a helpless smile. “You look so beautiful,” Kara quietly choked out, unsure whether she was allowed to talk during this part of the ceremony, but unable to stop herself.
“So do you,” Lena murmured, giving Kara’s hand a quick squeeze as she smiled widely, blinking back some tears of her own.
Realising that the Minister was starting a call to worship, she bit back the urge to say anything else, or duck her head and steal a quick kiss, and turned her eyes forward. Holding tightly onto Lena’s hand, she snuck glances at her, smiling when she caught Lena doing the same, and they both ducked their heads and closed their eyes, behaving themselves in front of the crowd of cameras and the congregation. As soon as the prayer was finished, the Minister asked the congregation to be seated, and Kara was aware of Alex standing to her left, while the room was filled with the quiet sounds of people sitting down. Typically, their father’s would’ve given them away at that point, but as both of them were avoiding that, they went straight to the rings. Kara pressed her lips together to suppress a laugh as she watched Ruby untie the wedding rings from the bow tied around Aoife’s neck, as the very large Irish Wolfhound patiently sat beside her, tongue lolling as she happily wagged her tail. Lena had insisted that she be the ring bearer, if only to do something completely disapproving to almost everyone present, yet not entirely too outlandish to be seen as too unconventional. Kara had thought it would be cute, and was glad that having her dog run the rings down the aisle was as rebellious as Lena got these days – she silently prayed that there were no unsuspecting surprises – and had been all too willing to agree. Handing a ring to Alex and Sam, Ruby walked over to the empty chair at the front, whispering for Aoife to sit beside her, having finished her own part in the ceremony.
The charge was quick, with the Minister briefly covering the duties and roles that both women would undertake in their marriage, before making Kara and Lena both declare to the guests and witnesses that they were there of their own free will. By the slight smirk on Lena’s lips as she peeked at Kara, they were both thinking about what they would’ve said here if their circumstances had been different, but much to their luck, they were there of their own free will. Upon finishing their declarations, both girls turned to face each other, and they both joined their other hands, unable to keep the smiles off their faces as they stared at each other, with Kara just a few inches taller. Then came the vows, which were traditional and completely unchanged, except to remove the line about obeying each other – Kara was a queen, and it wasn’t like Lena would listen to her anyway, so it made the line redundant – and they both repeated them after the Minister, choking slightly on their words as their eyes burned with tears. As Kara finished off her own vows, she gave Lena a wide smile, her blue eyes crinkling at the corners as she rubbed soothing circles into the back of Lena’s hands.
“The rings,” the Minister said, gesturing to Alex and Sam, who placed the rings they held into each bride’s hand. Kara smiled down at the small silver band nestled in the middle of her palm, before she looked up at Lena, taking her left hand in her own and slowly sliding the ring onto her wedding finger, until it found its home above the engagement ring already there. A tear slid down Lena’s cheek as she watched Kara put the ring on her finger, and Kara let out a quiet, tearful laugh as she quickly reached out to wipe it away, before letting Lena take her left hand in her own, gently cradling it, before slipping a ring onto Kara’s finger. She laughed then too, wiping away one of Kara’s stray tears with an almost smug smile on her face that was so typically Lena that it made Kara want to roll her eyes.
A quick communion service followed the exchanging of their rings, as their first official act as a married couple, and as Kara crossed her chest, watching Lena mimic the accent off to her right, she couldn’t help but smile. Any second now, the Minister was going to pronounce them wed, and her heart was already pounding at the thought of it – at the thought of her kissing Lena in front of everyone gathered. Out of all of their public kisses, this one meant the most, and was more intimate than anything else, yet Kara couldn’t wait. Sneaking another peek at Lena out of the corner of her eyes, Kara smiled, listening to the Minister’s last words ring out loud and clear for everyone to hear.
“I pronounce them to be wife and wife, in the name of the Father and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.” Kara could almost feel Lena resisting the urge to roll her eyes at all the religious stuff, and she knew that they both would’ve opted to skip it if they’d had the chance, but they couldn’t deviate too much from doing what was proper, and it didn’t matter now anyway. They’d just been declared married, and neither of them cared which religion they’d just bound themselves to each other under, because they were married. “You may now kiss your bride.”
They came together in unison, hands cupping cheeks and lips urgently seeking each other’s, and if it wasn’t for the crowd of guests watching, the kiss would’ve been a lot more inappropriate for the setting. Still, the feeling of Lena’s warm lips softly pressed against her own was enough to make Kara melt where she stood, and she smiled at the feeling of Lena smiling into the kiss as well. They pulled back to the sound of applause, and they both laughed as Kara ducked down to quickly steal another kiss.
Unable to stop smiling, they turned around, hand in hand, taking in the sight of their close friends and family crying, and other important people and acquaintances, who also seemed to be overcome with emotions, and they both took their bouquets back of their respective maids of honour, before they walked down the aisle. If it wasn’t for the fact that they had a straight clear path to the doors, they probably would’ve bumped into someone or tripped, because they couldn’t take their eyes off each other. The only thing that was enough to break them out of their enraptured staring was the sound of the crowd outside, which couldn’t even be swallowed by the sound of the bells, which had been tolling at the top of the cathedral since the moment they’d kissed. A different carriage was waiting for them this time – one with a soft-top roof, which was folded down, and decorated with flowers and ribbon – and they were both helped into it, taking their seats side by side and leaning into each other as they laughed. Aoife had obediently padded along behind them, and jumped up into the carriage too, happily sitting on the floor as she looked around at the people packed into the courtyard outside the cathedral.
“I love you,” Kara said, her lips brushing Lena’s ear as she made herself heard over the loud cheers.
Lena drew back slightly, her eyes shining with happiness as the white horses were whipped into motion, “I love you too.”
They both fell into laughter again, smiling brightly and waving to the gathered crowds, while they held their bouquets in their laps and had their other hands entwined. It was a slightly slower chariot ride back to the palace, but they were both elated and somewhat smug as they each paraded their new wife before the world, their matching rings shining on their ring fingers. They were giddy with excitement as they made it back through the palace gates, and up the front steps, taking a few moments to pose on the top of the red carpet before the doors, sneaking in a quick kiss for the public, before they were whisked away inside.
Next came Lena’s coronation, and they were led straight to the throne room, being saluted by guards as they passed by, cameras following close behind. Upon arrival at the throne room, Kara was seated on the small throne waiting for her at the top of the steps, while Lena hovered to her right, both of them gazing at each other while they waited for their distinguished guests to arrive. “So, you’re my wife now,” Kara conversationally said, trying unsuccessfully to bite back a smile, “and here I thought you said you’d never marry me.”
Lena shrugged slightly, bending down a little, “you said the same thing, if you remember correctly. Also, I’ve been known to be wrong upon occasion. Only on occasion though – don’t get used to it.”
“I, for one, am glad that you’re wrong … upon occasion,” Kara said, wrinkling her nose as she smiled up at Lena. “Quick, kiss me, before we have to behave ourselves.”
Laughing, Lena ducked her head, her fingers warm as she tilted Kara’s head up, placing a quick kiss on her lips. “Behave? Well that sounds utterly boring.”
“Welcome to marriage,” Kara laughed, stealing another kiss.
“Now that sounds like it’s going to be very exciting,” Lena smirked, suggestively arching an eyebrow at Kara, “any trouble you’d like to get into first?”
“You’ve given me enough trouble for a lifetime,” Kara sighed, kissing the back of Lena’s hand, “and I can’t wait for enough for an eternity. Just try not to do anything scandalous within the next five minutes, or the next state event I’ll be going to will be your funeral.”
Holding a hand to her heart with a look of mock offence on her face, Lena gasped, “you’re going to widow yourself after less than an hour of marriage? Am I that insufferable?”
“Definitely,” Kara murmured, “it’s one of the things I love about you.”
With a heavy sigh, Lena reached out to brush a stray piece of hair out of Kara’s face, “maybe now that we’re married, you’ll finally tell me about all of these things you love about me. I’m terribly vain, so please don’t wait too long.”
“Darling,” Kara sighed, “I couldn’t even begin to tell you about them all. There’s way too many, and it would make your head too big for your crown, which would be sad, because it looks like we’re about to start your coronation.”
Upon the last few people invited to this part of the ceremony squeezing into the room, Kara climbed to her feet, and Lena followed along beside her, until she stood before Kara, with a small smile on her face. Camera flashes from various points in the room alerted them to the presence of photographers and reporters, and Kara had to stop herself from laughing when she saw the nervous look on Lena’s face – she’d told her she didn’t have to go through with a coronation to be a princess again, knowing how much Lena hated monarchies, but she’d scoffed at Kara’s words, and insisted that she have the same title that she’d held since birth. She was a princess through and through.
A few members of Kara’s cabinet came forward, dressed in their official cloaks, with one of them carrying a red cloak trimmed in white spotted fur, careful not to let it drag on the floor, while another came forward with a gaudy crown, encrusted with jewels. Others held ceremonial swords upright, while others held pillows with more official objects, and Kara couldn’t help but think back to her own coronation. If she was being honest, this one was a thousand times better. A week ago, Lena had renounced her claim to the throne in Thorul, along with her title, with Kara bestowing upon her a duchy for the land and titles that her own parents had laid claim to, and would’ve been Kara’s, if not for the change in circumstances, making Lena the Duchess of Kandor, and soon to be princess of a different country. Lena slowly sank to one knee on a small plush stool placed before Kara, and a blue sash, identical to the one Kara was wearing, was brought forward and draped around her, already bearing an assortment of medals. Next a man brought forth a ring held on a velvet pillow, and Kara slipped it onto the ring finger of Lena’s right hand, a mirror to the ones on her left, and they both smiled as she did so. Then came a sword, slung across her shoulder to waist, forming an x with the sash, before Kara handed her a golden scepter. as the cloak was draped around her shoulders, she tilted her head up, smiling up at Kara as she carefully did the ribbon up to secure it in place.
“As Her Royal Majesty, Queen Kara, I am pleased to give and to grant unto her Royal Highness, the Duchess of Kandor, the style and titular dignity of a princess of Krypton. The Duchess of Kandor shall henceforth be known as Her Royal Highness, the Princess Lena, Duchess of Kandor,” Kara proclaimed to the hall, her voice loud and clear as she spoke for all of the titled and important guests gathered to hear. She’d started speaking as she picked up the crown, and as she finished, she gently set it down upon Lena’s dark hair, a smile on her lips as a pair of green eyes met her own.
Standing, Lena took Kara’s outstretched hand, and together they ascended the few steps leading up to two small thrones, wrought in red velvet and gold, with their initials embossed in the back of them, and sat in their own respectively. Turning to look at Lena, she met her eyes, and gave her hand a squeeze as she smiled lovingly at her. They didn’t have to say anything – their love for each other was all there in their eyes, so clear for everyone to see. As people politely applauded and the cameras flashed, they only had eyes for each other. Lena’s lips quirked up into an almost mocking smile as she stared back at Kara, one eyebrow sarcastically cocked, “Your Majesty.”
Suppressing an exasperated sigh, Kara shook her head slightly, a small smile playing on her lips, “Your Highness.”