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It happened on a Wednesday night while they were visiting family in Maine. Cardan had an idea.
Oak had gone to bed a few hours ago, and the 'adults' were staying up to watch a movie. They decided on a rom-com since Cardan has never seen one before.
Vivi and Heather were hogging one side of the couch, while Taryn and her ever-swelling stomach took up the other side. She almost didn't come for fear the trip would be too much. Even Ghost tried to persuade her not to come, but she was determined to go. She wanted to see her family before she would be stuck in Elfhame awaiting the scheduled due date.
Cardan and Jude took the floor. They were used to it by now, being shunned onto the ground. It's almost like they weren't the King and Queen.
He was propped up on one arm and had his other draped over Jude's waist as they watched the movie. His fingers drew lazy circles on her stomach.
He wasn't sure if he was enjoying the movie or not. It had its entertaining moments, although it could have been a lot shorter if the two main characters would talk things out instead of creating unnecessary misunderstandings.
Not that he had a right to criticize them, his way of flirting was almost drowning someone in a lake. Now look at them, husband and wife, King and Queen.
Jude started leaning into him as the movie dragged on. This didn't seem like her type of movie. Jude liked action and historical war films, and she hated horror. No, it was more he hated watching horror movies with her. She kept critiquing the escape plans they used and called all the main characters stupid. While she wasn't wrong, it could get quite repetitive hearing her complain over and over again. He could practically recite what she was going to say before she said it now.
He tightened his grip on her to pull her close and buried his face in her hair when she was close enough.
"Jude," he whispers. She hums to let him know she's listening, "What is this event they're attending?" The best way to describe it was the color white. The chairs, the decorations, the arc at the end of the aisle splitting the seating into two, all white. The only splashes of color were the guests and the man standing at the very end of the long carpet.
"It's a wedding ceremony," she whispers back, "Or rather a traditional American wedding ceremony," She explains, "it looks different depending on your culture."
It was very different from the way weddings were conducted in Elfhame, where vows were exchanged behind closed doors and weren't shared with anyone but the people involved. That is exactly how they had done it, a heat-of-the-moment promise made moments before she was banished (but not really) (it was still a touchy subject) to the mortal world. No one but them knew the words they spoke to each other, nor did they know the bond they shared.
That night felt like heaven, having her in his arms and sharing lazy kisses. The moments after felt like hell, especially when he realized she wasn't coming back.
Now here they were.
"Did you dream of something like this when you were young? Have a big ceremony?" He's found her ear and has started to press kisses against it. Round and soft, just how he likes it.
"I'm not sure, it feels like so long ago." There's a soft shiver that goes down her spine. He can feel it against his chest. "I think I dreamed of getting married and having all my friends and family there to celebrate, “she recalls, “that was long before I came to Elfhame, long before I met you."
He nibbles on her ear, "If we met here, would we have been married like that?"
"Assuming we were both human, yes. This is probably what it would have looked like. We'd have our own special touches though," her hand finds the one he has on her waist and intertwines their fingers, "Why are you asking?"
"I'm curious. I skipped a lot of classes, there's a lot I don't know about humans."
"And the classes you did attend you were drunk during or fooled around in," she reminds him.
"Yes, thank you for that helpful addition."
In truth, he felt bad she never got a proper wedding. They got married in such a hurry, they did it in one night when it felt like the whole world was going to crumble around them. He wanted to devote himself to her while they still had a chance, and before Madoc came bursting through the door with half the royal army on his heels. He was scared, and hopelessly in love.
Danger was still prevalent, it always was, but it was less so when they could face it together.
Cardan lays down completely on his side and rests his face against her back. The movie looks like it will have a happy ending so there's no point in watching.
When it finally ends they all return to their respective sleeping quarters. Taryn, being pregnant, is the only one who gets a proper bed. Vivi and Heather are forced to share an air mattress while Cardan and Jude get a pullout couch. Nothing but the finest accompaniments for royalty.
Aside from their lavish sleeping arrangement, Cardan is forced to sleep in boxers and a t-shirt instead of his usual stark naked. Most people here have seen him nude, however, Heather is still not accustomed to the ways of the Fae. It's a small price to pay and he's happy to do so seeing they let them into their apartment.
He holds her tightly against him as they lay there on the spring mattress. His fingers work through her hair and untangle any knots he finds. His tail finds her thigh, "I love you," he whispers.
"I love you too," she kisses the bottom of his chin, "Are you enjoying our break?"
"I enjoy every moment I have with you."
-
Cardan always had a hard time adjusting when it came to sleeping in the mortal realm. Like many of the Fae, he came alive as soon as the sun set and paraded throughout the night. It was hard for him to sleep in the presence of the moon.
When Jude was awoken by him it was of little surprise.
"Cardan?" She whispered into the darkened living room.
He had made his way under her nightshirt and was pressing gentle kisses against her stomach. Soft lips grazed against the fat of her belly.
"Cardan, you should be sleeping." She gives him a soft pat on the head through her shirt. He doesn't stop kissing her, if anything he starts to move upward. " Cardan," she hisses, "Talk to me. "
He tries to push his head through the hole of her shirt, but it isn't quite big enough. After a few failed attempts and stifled laughs from Jude he settles with just poking his face through. "Let's get married."
The amusement on Jude's face shifts into confusion. Then she lets out a breathy laugh, the kind that ends as soon as it starts. "We're already married."
"Not properly. We never even celebrated."
"That's because you banished me." Her smile is back, and so is her amusement.
" Unintentionally. I thought you would come back after a day. It's not my fault you weren't as clever as you pretend to be."
She taps his forehead and he chuckles. His lips reconnect with her skin, gently sucking at her collarbone, "Marry me, Jude. Marry me a million times over, and say you'll be mine forever and always." He moves down her chest.
His cold hands worm their way under her shirt. Jude wiggles and shivers under his touch as she tries to push him off. He holds on tightly. The pads of his fingers indent her skin.
"Marry me again." His breath, in contrast, is hot against her.
"When?"
"Tomorrow, in the backyard." There was a small plot of land right behind the apartment building that borders the forest. It was the perfect place to hold a small ceremony.
He rubs his nose against the underside of her breast. His mouth latches on to it before Jude can respond, nursing at the swollen skin.
She hums at the sensation. "That's very last minute."
"So was our first union," he reminds her. It was mere minutes at most. He mouths at her skin, desperate for her to comply. " Jude. "
"Alright. Alright." She sighs, "Let's get married."
He tries again to pop his head through the head hole of her shirt to no avail. She can't hold back her laugh this time. "Do you mean it? You'll marry me?" His tail has begun to wag.
" Yes, I'll marry you, you spoiled king." She runs her finger along the bridge of his nose. "Now get out of my shirt and kiss me properly."
He is more than willing to listen to her order. Once he pulls himself out of her shirt he repositions himself on top of her. She's laughing, he's smiling.
Her lips are as soft as the first time he tasted her, but they have their malice through every kiss they've shared since. Now they pull up into a smile as he kisses her, and their teeth click together. She is so incredibly beautiful, and he tells her so.
"My wife, my queen, I tie myself to you eternally." He pulls on her bottom lip.
"Don't get too ahead of yourself we still need to have the ceremony," she reminds him, "I need to get a dress, and you need some formal clothes."
"I would marry you naked if you allowed."
"That is completely off the table and you know it."
His lips leave hers and make their way to the underside of her jaw. She's soft here like she's still holding onto her baby fat. "Then I shall wait until after the ceremony, and I will marry you again in nothing but my own skin."
She takes hold of his chin and tilts his head up to meet her eyes. "You shall wait until we return to Elfhame and are in the privacy of our own room."
The fur of his tail tickles her leg as he wraps it around her thigh once more. "I cannot wait that long to make love to you."
"You can."
"No, I can't. As soon as you are mine again I will be completely overcome by you and think of nothing else but your skin on mine."
She holds his face between her hands and squishes his cheeks together, pushing his lips forward and blocking his view with his cheeks, "I understand, however, I refuse to put us in a situation where any member of our family could walk in on us."
Our family. His tail twitches.
"They have all seen me naked." His words are muffled from the way she is pressing his face together.
"But they have not seen me naked. Let alone naked with you inside of me. I will not allow it."
"We'll be secretive about it," he promises, "it'll be fun."
" Cardan, " she warns, "We will wait until we return to Elfhame."
He lays on top of her. A grunt escapes her throat from the added weight. "Alright," he gives in. His head fits perfectly into the crook of her neck, while her hands rest upon the small of his back.
It's quiet between them for a moment as Jude plays with his hair. It’s a soothing gesture and one he is not used to receiving. She is the first person to touch him like this, like he’s worth protecting. When he’s with her, he’s special.
He’s never been special before.
He presses his mouth against the skin of her neck. “I cannot wait to marry you.”
-
Vivienne laughs when they tell her their idea.
It was early morning now, and there were still bowls of cereal yet to be poured and faces yet to be washed. Cardan announced his plan for a wedding the second everyone was together.
Oak looked half asleep and couldn't register what was being said, but everyone else was brought to full attention after his proposal.
" Married! " Heather clapped her hands together, "How wonderful!"
Taryn rubbed her hand against the swell of her stomach. Cardan wasn't expecting her to react, she had every reason to be skeptical and hateful toward him after everything he's done to them. Granted he was still letting her off free from killing his friend, if he had to hold it over her head to get her to comply he would. Jude wouldn't be too fond of that though.
"Well?" Cardan asks the rest of the group. Nobody else has given him a coherent answer.
Vivienne keeps laughing, "We'll have to invite Madoc!" She howls.
"Of course we do, he's you're father," Cardan says.
She laughs even harder.
"You'll need a dress," Taryn speaks up, "Cardan will need a suit."
Jude was sitting at the table with Cardan standing behind her. His fingers combed through her hair, trying to help ease the burden of her bedhead.
"Will you help us get them?" Jude asks her.
Now Taryn's face lights up. "Of course! I'd love to!"
"What about decorations?" Heather pipes up in a panic.
"We have some fold-up chairs you can use, and a speaker for music. None of us are ordained but that doesn't really matter for Fae. You guys can just do your vows and be one with it," Vivienne says.
"What about the arch? And the aisle?"
"We can use leaves for the aisle," Cardan explains, "And I can use my connection with the land to build an arch."
Vivienne clicks her tongue, "That'll work" she admits. "Fine, okay, I'll help out too."
Jude smiles. "Thank you Vivi-"
Vivienne cuts her sister off with the raising of her hand. "On one condition," she adds as she points her finger toward Jude, "You have to be the one to tell Madoc."
-
The whole morning and most of the afternoon was spent putting together the small ceremony. Taryn stole Jude to buy a dress, and she took Cardan's measurements with them before heading off to whatever a 'Thrift shop' was.
Viviene and Heather set up the chairs, and Cardan built the arch from roots and stray branches.
Oak only said he'd help if they could have pizza for dinner, which was an easy enough compromise. Now he was collecting fallen leaves and making an aisle down the center.
It was going according to plan, the ever-changing and still developing plan.
When Taryn and Jude returned from their shopping, Jude was immediately ushered into the bathroom to get changed and have her makeup done. Cardan wanted to go see her, but Taryn refused saying it was 'bad luck' to see her before the ceremony. He didn't take kindly to that rule, yet he complied nonetheless.
Viviene let him use their room to get changed. Oak was sent with him to help with his suit. It was similar to some of the garments he's worn in Elfhame but different enough that he wanted someone there to assist him.
The pants were baggier than those he usually wore, but they gave his tail plenty of space to hang loose. His button-up shirt was swapped for a white shirt after numerous complaints about the stiffness of the material and fumbling with the buttons, and overtop of it all was a jacket that was split down the middle to show off his chest. A 'suit jacket' as Oak called it.
It was washed before being put in his possession, yet somehow it still held its previous stink. It wafted up Cardan's nose when he least expected it.
"It smells like someone died in these," he commented as he fixed his hair in the mirror.
"Someone probably did," Oak responded.
Cardan finished getting ready before Jude and, under Vivienne's instruction, made his way to the front of the aisle, right in front of the arch.
How he convinced Madoc to come was still a mystery. The redcap sat in the front row (the only row really) right next to his wife Oriana. He was staring daggers at Cardan. Their relationship was one that would never be on good terms - they had both come to accept that - but it was a relationship that had to be maintained regardless. After all, they were family.
The ceremony commenced minutes after the music started. Cardan still wasn't familiar with mortal music, nonetheless, he enjoyed the soothing sounds coming from the speaker.
Vivienne and Heather had tried to explain to everyone how weddings work before it all started. All the sitting and standing and pairs walking down the aisle, it seemed like too much. Instead, Jude would walk down the aisle by herself and meet Cardan at the end. Then Viviene would say a few words that they were supposed to say 'I do' to before they went off into the woods to exchange their private vows.
At this point in their relationship, Cardan’s seen Jude in many different outfits, elegant dresses, armor, his own clothes, and in nothing at all. He knew her form like the back of his hand, he could see an outfit and know exactly how it would fall over her, what parts of her it would highlight, and what would be cast to shadow.
But there was something about her as she walked down the aisle in a dress he'd never seen, that truly took his breath away.
Her hair was done in her usual beaded crown, however her dress ? May whatever greater force was out there save him.
Surely, this dress could not have come from the same place his suit did.
There was a cut down the center that exposed her sternum, and her breasts were pushed together to fill the space. It held onto her torso like they were one and the same, then it started to pool out by her waist and dragged along the floor behind her as she walked. It was littered with lace flowers that seemed to come alive as she walked ever closer. Her footsteps were heavy, unlike the gentle steps of the Fae. The crunching of leaves beneath her feet was all he could hear.
Cardan had forgotten how to breathe. He had to remind himself. Inhale exhale, inhale exhale.
All too soon she was standing in front of him and taking his hands. He wasn't sure what expression he was making, but it made her laugh. She was beautiful, stunning even. It was enough to make his beaten-down heart spring to life.
He would conquer the world if she asked.
Vivienne starts to talk. He can't hear her. His eyes are transfixed, and there's nothing in his heart and his head except her. She was smiling at him, the curl of her lips enchanted him.
She squeezes his hand and the bubble of his thoughts pops.
"Sorry, what?" He whispers dumbly.
Jude chuckles and Vivinene rolls her eyes. "Do you, Cardan Greenbriar, take Jude Duatre to be your wedded wife?"
"Yes, I do," he replies as soon as she finishes the question. He'd say yes a million times, and then a million times more if she asked him to. He'd do it all.
"Alright." She turns to Jude. Cardan hadn't even noticed Vivienne was dressed too. She wore some fancy human outfit he couldn't quite determine was a dress or not. The top part mimicked that of a dress, but it is split into pants at the waist.
He cast a glance at the small audience they had, everyone there was dressed up nicely as well. He hadn't even noticed.
"Do you, Jude Duatre, take Cardan Greenbriar to be your wedded husband?"
"I do," she smiles at Cardan as she replies. His heart might just jump out and smother her at this rate.
"Then, by the nonexistent power that no one vested in me, I now re-pronounce you husband and wife."
Jude takes him by the back of the neck in front of everyone. He grabs her waist and pulls her against him. The sound of cheers and clapping is lost to them. At this moment, in this world, there is just the two of them.
-
Everyone goes inside to decide on pizza flavors while Cardan and Jude venture into the woods to make their private vows.
The setting sun casts a golden haze over the world, making the leaves and trees burn gold. Once Cardan decides they are far enough away he stops in his tracks and turns to Jude. His hands find her waist and pull her close as if they're about to dance. Her hands take hold of his neck. She, in turn, wraps her arms around his neck.
"You're making it very hard to keep my promise of waiting until we return to Elfhame." He rests his forehead against hers.
"That was part of the plan, it wouldn't be our wedding if there wasn't any suffering or longing involved."
He chuckles breathlessly. "You're the most amazing woman I've met." His lips touch her nose ever so gently. "I, Cardan Greenbriar, King of Elfhame swear my heart and my love to you, Jude Dautre, of mortal birth. I vow to stay by your side as long as you'll have me, to run our kingdom side by side, and to make you happy. I vow to give you my life, my soul, and whatever otherworldly forces tie me to this Earth. Even after the crown has left my head I will stay by your side."
He rubs his nose against hers, "I did not know I could love, let alone love someone as incredible as you. I will not let you go so easily now that you are mine."
It takes Jude a moment to catch her breath. Cardan gives her all the time she needs.
"I, Jude Dautre, Queen of Elfhame, swear my heart, my mind, and my body to you, Cardan Greenbriar of immortal birth. I promise to stay by your side and protect you from all harm that may cross our paths. I will tie myself to you for the rest of time, and I will gladly stand by your side as your queen and your wife. Even after the crown has left my head, my love for you will remain." She pushes her forehead against his, he pushes back. "I love you, do you know that?"
"I do." He catches her lips briefly. "Do you know I love you too?"
He's never cried in front of Jude before, nor has she cried in front of him. They had both survived harsh upbringings and torment many could not imagine. Tears were not easily wept anymore.
Until now.
Cardan is overcome with emotion. It's not every day they get to be together like this, alone and in love. Jude is a shielded woman with her heart barricaded by more walls than he could count, yet she let him in. She trusted him, she loved him.
His heart, in contrast, was worn and shabby from abuse. It was swarmed by moths and filled with holes by the time she got to it. Yet she sewed him up and loved him regardless.
His tears fall into her cheeks and intermingled with her own. Their lips interlock.
Unquestionably, there is nothing better than this.
-
The pizza was delivered and half eaten by the time the couple returned to the apartment. Congratulations were given and a bottle of sparkling cider was poured. Carbonated beverages were something Cardan had not yet grown accustomed to, and probably never will. The bubbles of the drink made his mouth feel funny, his expressions as he drank made Jude laugh.
Everyone was chatting and reminiscing. Even Madoc was telling some of his stories from his youth. It felt right, there was truly no other word for it.
He stood by her side the whole night, and his arm never strayed from her waist. The world in which they lived was filled with so much chaos and doubt. There was no telling what tomorrow would bring, or the day after tomorrow. The one thing that they could be certain about in this life was each other, and that's all they needed.