Chapter Text
Coronation Day Has Arrived: Where You Can Watch The Ceremony
American Contingent Arrive For Coronation, President Claremont Making A Surprise Appearance
Click Here To See Percy Okonjo’s Pre-Coronation Pics!
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Amber sun glowed through the fluttering curtains, falling softly onto the silk sheets. Birds twittered in the nearby trees, heralding the morning. A gentle breeze floated through the room, a blanket of cool easing the early summer heat.
Henry stirred as the birds continued to call to one another, each of his senses waking up in turn. The smell of the morning dew on the freshly cut grass. The taste of last night’s dessert still lingering ever so slightly on his tongue. The feeling of Alex’s arm laying heavy on his stomach. The sight of his twitching eyelids as he came to.
“Good morning, handsome,” he murmured in a gravelly voice, eyes still half-shut.
“Good morning,” Henry replied, smiling fondly as Alex stretched, bones popping with each movement. He flopped back onto the plush pillows, glancing at the clock on his bedside table.
“God, its so early. It’s actually a miracle I woke up at this time naturally,” Alex moaned, burying his face in Henry’s chest.
“It’s only 5 o’clock, you’ve woken up far earlier,” Henry chuckled, beginning to extract the two of them from the comfort of their bed.
“Correction,” Alex retorted, pointing at his husband as he walked across the room, “I have been awake earlier. There’s a difference, especially when you were awake because you didn’t sleep in the first place.”
Henry laughed softly, pulling Alex into a warm kiss after he carried the breakfast left outside their door into the room.
They never normally had breakfast in bed, not enjoying the feeling of being so waited on. But they allowed it, just this once. It was a special day, after all.
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“Sirs, you have some visitors. Would you like me to bring them through?” Shaan cut through the near silence of the dressing room, the only sound heard being the rustling of fabric. Without waiting for an answer, the door flung open, four familiar faces tumbling through it. Bea, June, Nora and Pez all ran towards the two men, dressers swiftly moving the nearby mannequins in fear. Henry and Alex burst out laughing, trying to keep them all upright as they clung to one another.
“What are you doing here?” Alex exclaimed, pulling June into his side.
“We knew we weren’t gonna see you guys until after, so we wanted to wish you good luck,” she replied, briefly holding Henry’s hand. He looked to her in thanks, eyes betraying his inner feelings.
The others began chatting while Bea stared at a silent Henry. Taking it in. The sight of her big brother all grown up. The little boy who used to play tea parties with her, always eager to dress up as a princess because it made her laugh. The boy who called her everyday while he was at school, cheering her up no matter how much he needed cheering himself. The teenager who held her as their father faded away from them, forced to grow up far too soon. The young man who visited her in rehab as often as they’d let him, never wanting her to feel alone. The man who now held the weight of his country, legacy and grief upon his shoulders and refused to crumble under the pressure. Her eyes welled with tears as she admired that man. The one who fought through every piece of adversity and hatred thrown his way, only to be made stronger by it. The one who carved his own path to happiness as thousands tried to cave it in.
He noticed her staring, looking in confusion and concern at the tears welling in her eyes. She pulled him into a tight, feeling his arms grip her shoulders.
“I’m so proud of you, Hen. So, so proud,” she whispered into his ear, feeling him sniff heavily in an attempt to draw his tears back in.
“I just wish they were still here,” he strained out, voice thick with emotion.
“They are here. They’re with you. And they’re with me. And they’re with every single person at there looking at you with so much love. You’ve made us all so proud, Hen. So proud,” her voiced cracked at the last word, pulling him in tighter. The others slowly became more aware of the siblings beside them, chatter dying off. Alex came and rested his hand on Henry’s shoulder, not wanting to encroach to much on the moment. Pez had no such reservations, immediately wrapping himself around the two of them. The others followed, all holding onto one another securely. After a while, sensing the dressers and officials fuming outside the door, Henry gently broke the hug.
“Thank you, all of you. I don’t know what I’d do without you,” he professed, hand wiping tears away from the corner of his eyes.
“You don’t have to know. We’ll always be here, no matter what,” Nora stated sincerely, “I know you’re scared, I don’t blame you,” her attention turned more towards Alex as she spoke, “But you’re gonna do great. Don’t think of this as the end of what was before, but as the start of all the amazing things that are gonna come next.”
“Wow, who knew Nora could be so philosophical?” Alex tittered, earning a laugh from the rest of the group and a punch in the arm from Nora.
“We should probably get going, Mom’s security are going nuts,” June said after a beat, making her way towards the door, the others following after her.
“I still can’t believe she actually came. I’m not convinced she’s not trying to steal my thunder. I can’t have one thing without her stealing the show. Why can’t she just copy all the other presidents and not come to the coronation? Unbelievable,” Alex ranted light-heartedly as they left the room.
“Alex, you’re wearing velvet and gold, I think you’ll be drawing enough attention anyway,” Nora teased back, waving as they left, leaving Henry and Alex to be fussed over by the dressers that flooded the room.
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Light gleamed on the solid gold of the carriage, reflecting into Henry’s eyes. The ornate design of the walls mesmerised him. He’d already seen the carriage before, what felt like a lifetime of planning ago, but its beauty still struck him so significantly. It had been one of the few traditional things he had let them keep, rationalising it with the fact that it already existed so no money would be put towards it. He had quickly dismissed concerns that its age made it unsafe to travel in, not wanting them to have an excuse to spend millions on something inconsequential. However, as he watched Alex attempt to clamber into the creaky wood interior, he began to see what they were talking about. He slowly followed him onto the unyielding seat, his hefty cloak being carried by a group of people behind him. He settled into the carriage, taking in his surroundings. The variety of people rushing around outside the carriage. The rhythmic thump of the procession that had already begun. Alex looped his fingers through Henry’s, sensing both the other man’s anxiety and his own.
“You ready, baby?” he asked in a gentle voice, thumb caressing the back of Henry’s hand.
Henry allowed himself to take Alex in. The thick fur resting on his broad shoulders, covering the sharp lines of the suit underneath. The definition of regal.
He smiled, detangling their hands to lightly hold Alex’s chin. He pulled his face closer, capturing his lips in a sweet kiss. They broke apart to rest their foreheads together, making the most of the short moment before the chaos began.
“Now I’m ready,” Henry near-whispered in a low voice. He looked out of the window, seeing a general ushering soldiers forward.
The clopping of his horse’s hooves began. The carriage started moving.
He clutched Alex’s hand again, feeling the rush of anxiety as they breached into the outside world. Alex squeezed back in full force. The roar of the crowd hit them with full force as they travelled out of the palace gates. Thousands of people, young and old, cheering and clapping for them .
“Henry, look,” Alex pointed towards the crowd to their left. A group of people holding pride flags and signs were stood at the barrier. Even from a distance, Henry could read what they said.
History, huh?
Henry waved at them, causing further cheers at his recognition of them. He grinned broadly, body filling with warmth. Warmth that didn’t leave him for the entirety of the procession. An all-encompassing, almost overwhelming warmth from the love of strangers he always assumed would hate him. The people who has spent hours lining the streets just to see him as he rode past. The people watching at home, clinging onto every movement as they relished in the fact that they were witnessing history. That was still something Henry couldn’t wrap his head around. That he was becoming the history he had spent his entire life reading. And he was doing it all with the man he loved by his side.
Creating the history they had always said they would.
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They arrived outside Westminster Abbey in what felt like minutes, the time having rushed by. Henry was hit with the memories of only a few months before. The weeks he had spent burying his family. How the stone face of the church had loomed over him as he paraded behind their coffins. How oppressive the cold walls felt as he spoke to the congregation.
But it felt different this time. Less daunting and terrifying. Instead, it welcomed him. The calling from the organ and the smiles of the guests carried him towards the doors. Alex climbed out of the carriage after him, finding his place at his side. He fought to maintain his posture against the weight of the material of his back. He felt the presence of Bea and Pez behind them, Henry having insisted they followed them into the church. He watched as the rows of guests stood to face them as they walked past. Felt thousands of eyes watching each step. He had been in front of crowds before. Had people dissect his speeches word by word so they could capture his flaws. But none of compared to this. To the feeling of having the whole world watch him walk towards his future. It was something that should feel so completely terrifying. So why did he feel more ready for it than he had felt about anything in his life?
So ready to see what this insane life has in store for him.
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The beginnings of the service passed by in a rush, Henry becoming too wrapped up in the minute details of traditional weaved into every moment. Before he knew it, the moment came.
The crowning.
He walked towards the throne, taking in the shape of the dark wood. The scratches carved into its surface from mischievous teenagers years ago. He couldn’t help but think of all the people who had sat there before him as he sank into the chair.
Looking out towards the crowd.
Catching Ellen’s eye as he touched the bracelets. Reminded of how quickly she had embraced him and treated him as her own, loving him for who he was. Every conversation they had together where she gave him the wisdom he wished his own mother had a chance to give him.
He looked towards Nora as he was handed the robe. Seeing the determination in her eyes as she watched their lives change. Knowing wholeheartedly that they have what it takes to show the world that they will never abandon who they are. Show them what righteous means for all of them.
He saw June grin at him as he was handed the orb. Hoping he would be able to rule with the same kindness she showed to everyone. How she treated those from every kingdom and country with such incredible understanding. Wanting to know all there is to know about them because she cares so much.
He quickly found Pez sat towards the side of the abbey as he was handed the ring. Memories running through his mind of the years they had spent together. Dedicated to one another in a covenant only akin to that of brothers. Pez handling every situation with such dignity and strength that it has begun to ooze into Henry as well.
His eyes moved immediately to Bea as the glove was slipped onto his hand. The pure grace she emanated, only by sitting. Grace she had fought to maintain no matter how often the tried to strip her of it. And the gentleness she gave back to them when they wanted rage, proving to them that she was not who they said she was. Henry had always known she was something far more spectacular.
As the sceptre was placed in his fist, he thought only of his family. Wishing he could see them sat amongst the crowd, but knowing deep within his soul that, no matter where death may have taken them, they were still watching. Granny seeing him embrace the kingly power she had spent his entire life enforcing onto him, not knowing that the only thing needed to help him embrace it was compassion. Compassion she had never been taught how to give. Philip no doubt offering advice to continue to help Henry in the only way he knew how. Always teaching him that the best king is he who is equitable, and that no matter how they treat him he should always show them the same kindness he would show anyone else. How to rise above all that is destined to strike him down. Dad smiling down on him, knowing Henry was doing exactly what he wanted to do. That he would lead with the authority and intelligence that had been nurtured since birth. Mum by his side. Guiding each of his actions to ensure he would always chase justice. That he would fight until his dying breath to give mercy to all people as she had wanted to.
Finally, he locked eyes with Alex as the crown was lifted. The rest of the world faded away as they stared into each other’s souls. Recognising that no matter what, no matter how this all ended, they had each other. They always would. Henry had never felt such an abundance of virtue and strength than when he was with Alex. He made him a better man with every second that passed, imparting every incredible thing about him through the wholeness of his love.
There is no universe in which Henry’s story has a negative conclusion. No chance in heaven or hell that he would not die with a smile, knowing he had done what he was put on this earth to do. Because he was crafted by those around him. The complexly beautiful people who changed his life so much it made his heart hurt.
The crown was placed onto his golden hair. Finding its new home onto a head so incredibly worthy. Worthy because it was shaped by people who were the definition of the word. Its partner sat only to the side, awaiting its placement onto the crafter himself. The man responsible for the creation of a King. He who had made him realise the future he could have if he only believed in himself. The future they would have together.
The crowd stilled, awaiting the call of the choir.
Henry allowed himself to breathe.
His eyes closed, yet he still saw Alex. Forever there.
He took a deep breath.
In.
Out.
God Save The King.