WOUNDS HEAL. SCARS DON’T.S
ally and Chad married in the local church, and many people attended. It shocked Danika that almost all of Salem came to witness their legal union. Mombana came, too, and for the first time in a long time, she saw the familiar faces of most of her people.
Tears sprang to Danika’s eyes when her people walked past her and bowed to her. Even when dressed in rags, they still recognize her as their princess.
And the king was there too. He was seated at the front with his guards behind him, and Chad’s joy about his presence was written on his face. He knew how busy the king’s schedule was, so he knew the sacrifice the king had made to be present on his special day.
Princess Kamara sat on the king’s left side with a kind smile, and Vetta was seated on his right side, glaring at the church’s door. That was where the bride and her handler stood.
Apparently, the mistress did not like weddings. But the way she was glaring at the door, you’d give it a second thought. Was it truly the wedding she didn’t like or the bride’s handler?
Danika stood beside Sally at the door of the church. Sally had no other family, so Danika acted as her handler, who would give Sally away.
Sally wore a beautiful white extravagant ball gown and Danika a red, less-extravagant gown. Both looked beautiful.
Sally wore a bright smile that made her face radiant, but she was nervous. Danika took her hand and smiled at her in reassurance. She walked her down the aisle, and the wedding rituals began.
A lot of time passed before the old priest finally pronounced Sally and Chad man and wife. The couple’s joy was so apparent it brought tears to Danika’s eyes. So many things brought tears to her eyes. Her Sally was getting married, and after today, Sally would no longer be here for her because she was a married woman, and her husband would come first. She would miss Sally so much.
And then, the love in their eyes. Chad loved Sally so much; the always-brooding guard wore a warm smile. If only the king would love her this way.
Her eyes darted towards the king at the opposite side of the church and widened when their gazes collided. He’d been watching her. His eyes pinned hers, and she didn’t know why he looked at her that way. She quickly averted her eyes, her heart racing. If only wishes were horses. She sighed dreamily.
But wishes weren’t. The only man she loved was the one man she could not have.
“We call on the bride’s handler to give a little speech about the bride.” The priest’s voice jerked her back to the present.
All eyes turned to her.
Danika got up from her seat and took a step forward. Suddenly, her eyes blurred.
Oh, no! Creator, please not here! Not now! She took another step, and another wave of dizziness slammed into her. The world blurred around her.
Baski was sitting beside her and noticed when Danika almost lost her balance. The older woman stood immediately and went to Danika to hold and steady her. “You can’t, Danika. Not here!” she whispered heatedly into Danika’s ear.
“I feel so dizzy, Baski. I don’t think I can make it to that altar,” Danika replied, her fear apparent in her trembling voice.
“Holy Creator,” Baski whispered under her breath.
Danika blinked hard and looked up. Everyone was watching her. They looked worried and confused about how she staggered to a stop in the middle of the aisle, and Baski held her. Danika’s eyes darted towards the king. He was still watching her, but this time, his brows furrowed.
Baski raised her voice. “I apologize on behalf of the handler. As you all know, a two week ago, she was beaten badly in the market and has yet to recover fully.”
The confusion cleared from most faces, but guilt and sadness remained. Sally looked relieved by Baski’s intervention and watched as Baski led her back to her seat.
The king’s expression didn’t change.
Danika sat down again and tried to level her breathing. The old priest continued other activities, skipping the parts that involved the handler. The wedding progressed from there until it was finally done. Danika felt guilty for almost ruining things for Sally. Her face reflected her guilt when they came out of the church afterwards. She was hugging Sally and apologizing for almost ruining her day.
“No! Don’t ever say a thing like that. My day is not ruined. I’m thrilled that Madam Baski could cover it up. I can’t begin to imagine how disastrous it would have been if they had found your condition out so publicly. It would mean hell for you, my princess.”
Danika sighed as she pulled back. “Those were my thoughts exactly, Sally.”
“I’m so nervous about tonight, my princess,” Sally confided nervously, her beautiful face with light makeup filled with uncertainty.
Danika took her hand in reassurance. “You don’t have to be, Sally. You’re going to be with a man you love. That basically means that everything will be fine.”
“You’re right; you’re right.” She took a deep breath and smiled anxiously.
“Oh, Sally, I’m going to miss you so much!” Danika hugged her again, emotion closing her throat.
Sally closed her eyes, holding her tight. “I’ll miss you too, my princess. I’m glad that you have Madam Baski and Remeta. If not, I don’t know how I would have coped with leaving you all alone here! I’ll still be working here, so I’ll see you almost every day!”
They stayed that way for a while before they had to pull away.
Danika watched the king as he strode to his carriage. She picked up his stiff shoulders and the tension that radiated from his body, even from afar. What changed? He had been so relaxed during the wedding. What happened to make him look that way?
Sally followed her eyes to see the king entering his carriage, ready to go back to the palace. Sally bit her lips at the hunger and longing on Danika’s face. Her princess wore her deep love for the king on her face whenever she looked at him. Sally wondered how no one else had noticed. She was glad they hadn’t. It would only mean more problems for her princess.
Sally bit her lips. “When will you tell him?”
Danika knew she meant the pregnancy. “I don’t know, Sally,” she answered truthfully. Just the thought of the king finding out had her belly tied in knots.
“You can’t hide it forever, my princess.”
“I know, Sally, I know. But…” she waved her hands uncertainly, trying to explain her thoughts. In the end, she let her hands fall to her sides. “I’m too scared. I don’t know how to go about it.”