“And I wish only to be yours.”
Elowen’s whisper filled the space, and Theo’s heart ached with a joy so fierce it was almost painful as their lips met once again. Whatever challenges lay ahead, together they were strong in a way that went beyond any borders or alliances. For the first time since childhood, he was excited for the future, eager toembrace the joy it would bring. With Elowen by his side, nothing was out of reach.
And he would protect not only her, but her heart, until his dying breath.
Epilogue
Nerves fluttered over Elowen as she viewed herself in the looking glass, her familiar form swathed in layers of finery. The white silk dress had a high neck and long sleeves that hugged her upper arms before billowing so wide that they flowed out from her elbows like water. The fabric was smooth and unadorned, but the purple brocade overdress was embroidered with intricate patterns and adorned with jewels.
Her wedding gown was perfection. And the nerves that filled her were the pleasant kind. It was really happening. In one week, she was really going to marry Theo.
“Is Princess Elowen here?”
Elowen started at the well-known voice sounding in the next room as if her thoughts had summoned him.
“Your Highness.” The head seamstress sounded scandalized. “The princess is in the middle of a fitting for her wedding gown. You mustn’t see the garment before the wedding day.”
“She is?” Theo sounded surprised. “My apologies. I asked where she could be found and was directed here. I didn’t know it was the seamstresses’ workplace.”
“They’re just finishing up, Theo,” Elowen called. “Wait in the receiving room, I’ll be free in a minute.”
As soon as the gown was off, she hurried back into her regular dress, aided by a tutting assistant seamstress. Elowen ignored the girl. She was glad Theo had sought her out. He’d told her at breakfast that morning that there was a matter he wanted to discuss with her, but it was astonishingly difficult to find a moment alone together. Elowen had thought the tournament a big deal. The bustle the castle was in over the impending wedding put it to shame.
She emerged from the dressing room, smiling sunnily at her almost-husband. Theo’s answering smile didn’t hide how his eyes darted to the doorway behind her.
“No peeking!” she scolded him. “You’ll have to wait until the wedding to see the gown. Another of our traditions that’s important to us, however silly it might seem.”
He took her hand, raising it to his lips in a comfortable gesture that Elowen would never have believed him capable of when they first met.
“It’s not silly at all. Even my stiff self is looking forward to all the fuss of the big day.”
Elowen laughed, not sure whether to believe him. “You came looking for me?” she prompted.
“Yes.” He was still holding her hand in his, and he drew it through his arm. “Walk in the gardens with me?”
“I’d love to,” Elowen said delightedly. “My wardens are expecting me to be in this fitting for another half an hour, so your timing couldn’t be better.”
The head seamstress shook her head at the princess’s joking words, but her smile was indulgent. Theo led her out of the room, making to turn left.
“There’s a closer garden if we go this way,” Elowen informed him, pointing right. “It’s smaller, but still nice.”
“Let’s go to the one with the willow pond,” Theo said. He tugged her gently along, and she surrendered readily.
The garden he’d chosen was a little further away, but they were fortunate to encounter no one but servants between the seamstresses’ workspace and the garden’s entrance.
“If you wanted to talk to me about Father’s decision regarding Bertrand, he’s already told me,” Elowen started, before Theo had a chance to speak. “I know Bertrand probably deserves execution, but I’m glad Father decided on imprisonment instead. It’s already so awful for Sophia and her family.” She snuck a look up at him. “Father said you told him that your family won’t push for execution in spite of the attempt on your life?”
“Yes,” said Theo. “I made a very compelling argument in my letter, and they accepted it, although reluctantly. I confess I was less motivated by any feeling of mercy for Bertrand or his family than I was by the mood of the court here. I’m grateful your family believes our account, but there’s still insufficient evidence to prove to the skeptical that Bertrand really made an attempt on my life. Your Father doesn’t need the court’s approval to order an execution, of course, but we would never get true support for the alliance if people felt that I’d had a highly influential nobleman executed on a flimsy accusation in order to remove him as a romantic rival.”
Elowen wrinkled her nose, hating that interpretation of events, but knowing Theo was wise.
“I just wish I could be sure the conditions of his imprisonment won’t become comfortable over time,” Theo added.
“I don’t think they will,” Elowen said earnestly. “You know how seriously Father and the Council of Lords took our testimony. Whatever they think about the poisoning enchantment, they know he threatened our lives out on the road, even if many of them likely don’t believe he was actually going to go through with it. It helps his case that miraculously no oneactually died in any of the disasters he caused. But he’s still guilty of crimes against Torrens.”
“I’m just glad your father accepted that he was behind the disasters,” Theo said. “Last I heard, Bertrand is still denying it.”
“Well, then he shouldn’t have slipped up and failed to burn one of the letters from the ones who were paying him,” Elowen said scornfully. “Not to mention the gold they found in his rooms that wasn’t Peninsula standard. Once they accepted Sophia’s testimony that she found the vials in his room, I knew it was over.”
