Sam watched in what could have been awe. “She’s knighting him, Father,” he said. “Brilliant. Bloody brilliant.” It was genuine. “Very well-deserved, Svana.”
I locked in. “Willem Ólason of King’s Land, you have served me with honor and heart. You have shed blood for your crown and country. You have protected the realm not by birthright, but by choice, and have saved my life more times than I could say,” I said.
“Svana,”Cyrus said, warning me.
I didn’t falter. “Iknowwe spoke of this—Iknowyou declined before, but once again, and for as many times as I must ask you until you accept, I give you this choice. If you are willing—before your queen, your empire, and before God—kneel so that I may knight you.”
Willem and I met eyes. The church was silent. A glimmer of color flickered over us as sunlight shifted outside. He ran his hand through his hair, moved to Sameer’s eyes, and Sam nodded. Then, after another moment, he took his knee.
My breath caught at the sight. Immediately, I reached for Eli’s sword as he gave it to me. I wielded it, to touch the blade to Willem’s left shoulder. “In the name of Oreia and in my own, Queen Svana Eisson, I dub the Willem Ólason, knight. With courage…” I moved to touch the right side. “Honor...” And finally, I touched his head. “And wisdom.” A pause. “Rise now, not a commoner, not a swordsman, not even an ostler’s boy, but as a Blade. Rise as Ser Ólason of the Queensguard, whom you have always been meant to be, and may no man say you did not earn your place by my side.”
“...You humble me,” he said, near a whisper. Then he stood.
There was a rumble of applause but all I could see was my Knight. I smiled as Elías took back his sword and sheathed it.
“What happens now?” he asked.
“Well obviously you remain here in Oreia,” His Majesty said. “This has been lovely, really, but if there’s not to be a wedding–”
“I’ll marry,” Sam said, offering.
I laughed, giving him a look. My posture eased and I smiled, meeting Ser Willem’s gaze one more time. Then it hit–full force, like a runaway carriage. It wasn’t enough. It wasn’t enough and I finally knew why.
“W-Wait,” I said. “Wait.”
All eyes came to me. I shut my mouth, moving toward Ser Willem. I took his hands, and then I was scared, like a little girl, facing her first ball. I squeezed gently, then I knelt before him. There were gasps.
“Whoa,what are you–?”
“Willem,” I murmured. I cleared my throat. “We once promised each other this very life. I would be your Queen, you would be my knight. My bravest knight.”
“Yes,” he said, cheeks flushing red with the audience. “What of it?”
“It’s not enough,” I told him.
“It’s not enough?” he asked.
“No. It’s not enough for you. Youaremy knight, just like you vowed, and I am your Queen by rite, but I should be your Queen by more than words. …This is my declaration.”
“Your…Yourdeclaration?”
“Yes. And yes, I’m well-aware that women do not declare themselves in Oreia, but maybe theyshould.Maybe their Queen should. Maybe I should set the pace. Maybe that’s what I’ve been working for my whole life? Choice. Equality. Love,” I said. I breathed deeper. “A woman should be allowed to pick her husband.”
“Husband.” He checked around us, then me again. “Svana…You don’t have to do this.”
“No, I don’t. That’s what makes it so beautiful. Iwantto do this. I want everyone in this church to hear me. I want them to know that in all the world, I’ve never met a man like you, and I love you, and Ichooseyou. Every time. Every name. Every life.”
“Are you sure?”he asked.
“I’m certain. I love you, Ser Willem. I have loved you since the very moment we met and I had to scheme to be everywhere you were until you noticed me. You have eluded me for years. I’ve thought of nothing else but your light every single day. I’ve searched my whole life for even a slither of what I felt when we were kids, and in all the lands, in all the houses, I have felt nothing else but you. I don’t wish to be apart from you again. Ever. So this is my declaration. I declare myself to you. I want you, Ser Willem. I want to marry you. I want to make you my king. I want you to stay with me as more than my bravest knight, as my everything. …Do you accept?”
He swallowed. He knelt next and let go of my hands to take my face, then pressed his forehead to mine. “Of course I accept, you absolute loon,” he said. “I’ll be your Knight. I’ll be your King. I’ll be your everything.”
I was crying. I sucked in a burst of air, then kissed him. There were cheers as we wove together. The room was alive with warmth and fire, and even the sun that peered at us between the colored panes could not hold a torch to our love. When we parted, Willem stood and pulled me with him. Sameer leaped for him, playfully, his hands latching to his arm in pure glee. They embraced, and everything felt perfect somehow. Perfectly balanced. Perfect shielded. Perfectly strong. I closed my eyes and for the time in my life, I felt hope.
Elías touched my back. His voice was steady among the celebrations that had begun around us. He said,“You should be very proud of yourself, Svana. You did not shatter.”
Epilogue
