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Epilogue

Gwendolyn

“ W hy do you keep moving away from our destination?” Peter laughed as he captured me around the waist and pulled me against his chest. He leaned down to whisper in my ear.

“We have to go to this ball, and it will be the first time seeing my mother–since our marriage. I do not want to go.”

“Ah, I can talk to her, if you wish,” he offered.

“No. Although I do not wish to, I have to do this–I cannot just hide in the castle,” I said softly, turning in his arms to look into Peter’s eyes. He brushed a strand of hair from my cheek.

“You are the bravest woman I know.”

“That is a lie. Meria went into the sea and rescued the children. ”

“Maybe, that would be a challenge for you, but it was easy for her. Speaking with her mother may be easy for her, while speaking with your mother I know will be difficult for you. You told me not to compare my curse to Dominick’s.

Don’t compare your struggles to Meria. We all have our levels of difficulty; do not compare yourself to any other. You are strong and capable.”

Am I, though? I wondered. My entire life I had done just as Mother had asked.

Other than, of course, marrying the prince on a pirate ship in the Misted Seas, which I knew made my mother rather upset.

Michael had assured me that when we arrived home, mother would not bother me until the ball.

It had been an entire week of bliss—Peter and I doing whatever we wished, whenever we wished it.

Most of that time consisted of us reading together, because we both loved it.

Who would have known I could have such a life as that?

I was filled with such peace–until having to face my mother, of course.

“Peter, are you sure that we can’t just go back upstairs and read a story?” I huffed.

“We can do that right after, and I may have possibly read ahead last night after you fell asleep.” He was already moving away from me, heading across the room to the other end of the hall.

Rightfully so, because how dare he do such a horrid thing!

All thoughts of my mother flew from my mind like a bird soaring on the breeze .

“Peter! That is awful, and you know it!” I called to him as he walked away.

“Sorry Gwen, I am impatient. It is a horrible thing, yet an endearing thing–about me?”

“I swear–you–you–how could you! I hate it when you read ahead! How can you enjoy the story when you know how it will turn out?” I placed my hands on my hips. Peter slowly made his way back over to me.

“I will tell you,” Peter said, tugging on my hand and kissing each finger.

“Knowing the ending is a good one makes the enjoyment of the story more fulfilling, I do not have to stress out because no matter what the author throws into it and at them, I know that the characters will overcome. That is what I think about us, by the way.”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean, I know our ending, we will be happy, and we will be together, forever. Even when hard times press upon us, I know how we end–together.”

“I love you, Peter,” I said, my heart full to bursting. How lucky I was to have him in my life, let alone as my husband.

“I love you, Gwen. Now, take my hand and let us enter the ball.” He paused. “Wait!” He moved down the hall, opened a door that was not an entrance into the ballroom, walked inside, and came out with a satchel.

“What is that? ”

“This is for you–” He handed me the beautiful pearl crown, along with the matching pearl strand he had been saving for me.

“Peter! It is beautiful.” I did not tell him I had seen it before. I was thrilled to receive the gift.

He went around me and fastened the string of pearls around my neck, and then placed the crown upon my head.

“You are a princess,” he said.

“What else is in there?”

“Just my crown.” He pulled out a silver crown, inlaid with beach stones.

I laughed. “You are ridiculous, Peter.”

He set it atop his head with a boyish grin. After a few moments of laughing with each other, I took in a large breath and smiled. “Thank you for distracting me for a moment.”

“Anytime, darling.” He winked at me. It would never get old hearing that endearing play on words.

“Now, I am ready,” I said.

He took my hand.

“And I shall never leave your side,” he confirmed.

Together, we walked into the ballroom.

I approached my mother.

“The room is passable, I suppose, and yet I have to wonder why there are so few floral arrangements. This is a royal ball, afterall, is it not?” My mother, of course, was already complaining.

I expected nothing less. She was standing beside my rather bored father.

Her blond hair was perfectly styled, gleaming under the candlelight.

I used to see her and think that she was the most beautiful woman I had ever beheld, and I craved to be like and to look just like her–and of course, she was beautiful .

But I had come to realize that there was so much more to being beautiful than outward appearances. Beauty, true beauty, really comes from the lives we live and who we are on the inside; those things make us beautiful.

“Hello mother, welcome to my wedding ball,” I said.

I waited, silently, as several contradictory expressions fought to show up on her face. I knew she would never truly let them manifest. She taught me how to do that.

“Dearest Gwendolyn!” she said with a soft smile.

“Please bow for the newest Princess of Walden, Lady Darling,” Peter said to my mother, surprising me a bit. I was not expecting that .

Mother turned to Peter and gave him a curtsy; then she turned and gave one to me.

“Of course, Your Highness.”

I turned to look at my father, who followed suit and bowed, first to Peter, then to me.

“You look beautiful, daughter,” my father said with a nod. As much as I had always wanted his and my mother’s approval, when I finally saw it in my father’s stance and eyes, as well as in my mother’s, I felt nothing. Emptiness only–truly nothing, and it was surprising at first.

“Thank you,” I said with a nod to my father.

“Well, we were very sad that we were unable to attend your wedding–” Mother began, but I held up a hand.

Something I had not realized until that moment when Peter stopped my mother was that I out-ranked her.

She could not control me, and she would have to do as I said.

It was ingrained inside of her to do so.

“The Prince and I loved our very intimate wedding. Being married by the crown prince was such a remarkable honor.”

“Yes, it was hands down the best day of my life. Gwen is the most incredible woman in all the kingdoms. What an honor it is to be her husband,” Peter said, squeezing my hand. I was still locked in his embrace.

“Oh–indeed, it is wonderful that you can see past her oddities and flaws,” my mother said. Peter moved away from me–until I put a hand upon his chest. I knew he could, and would, defend me–but could I allow that?

This is my moment.

With my hand on his chest, he stepped back. I locked eyes with him, and although I could see the anger toward my mother he held inside of them, at that moment, he loved me enough to give me a chance to stand up for myself.

“Father, Mother, I am indeed very grateful for the roof over my head, clothes on my back, and the food you and father provided for me. Father, your silence in my life to your wife's actions toward me and your other children did us all a disservice. We needed you, and you were silent.”

Father frowned as if he did not understand.

I moved to look at my mother. “And mother, I have always looked up to you, and I did what you asked of me, and I tried so hard to be who you wanted me to be. However, while I appreciate some of the life I had with you, I will no longer let you make me feel less than . Your words have stung deep. Your manipulations and abuses will no longer stand. If you do not change your harsh language, insults, and assaults toward me, I am afraid that Peter and I cannot allow you to spend time at the castle.” My heart felt as if it were about to explode from my chest. The quick rise and fall of my chest must have been noticeable, even from across the ballroom.

Peter placed a hand on my back .

“That was magnificent,” he whispered.

My mother’s mouth was opening and closing as if she did not know what to say. When she finally spoke, it was not as composed as she prided herself on being in the presence of company.

“Manipulated–abused!” she nearly shouted.

“I do not say this to hurt you, Mother–only to inform you and set new boundaries for our relationship. I will be the one setting those boundaries from this point on.”

“Well, I never–”

“Excuse us, we will give you some time to process what the princess has said, but I have this next dance with her,” Peter said with a smile, and somehow, I was then away from my parents and in his arms, spinning around.

“You did it, Gwen.”

“I cannot believe it,” I said. Saying I was shocked with my candor was an understatement.

“I can. Now, you can free your mind from her, and we can enjoy this ball. My, you are an incredibly fine dancer,” he leaned in, whispering in my ear “No wonder you are a marvelous kisser.”

“Am I?”

“Yes, it's intoxicating,” Peter said with a wicked grin.

I giggled as he spun me. For the first time, I took a look around the ballroom. Although it had been put together with short notice, there were some royals from other kingdoms in attendance .

“King Wesley and Queen Gabriella of Solalune just arrived,” Peter said as I watched a stunning nearly white haired beauty on the arm of a dark-haired man enter the ballroom. “Oh, and King Liam and Queen Elisianna,” he went on.

I saw a blond haired woman in the arms of a darker haired man, dressed in the golden red of Embra. “I heard she is with child,” Peter added.

“That is the princess who won the Princess Tourney at Embra?” I asked.

“Yes, she used to be the frail Princess of Arcadia.”

I had heard of her, her curse was, perhaps, the one best known.

“Who are they ?” I asked, looking toward a black-haired man with scruff on his chin and next to him, a woman with a fair complexion and black-blue hair, wearing red.

“I think they are Torren royals.”

“Far more royals than I thought there would be,” I said looking back at Peter.

“Yes, and yet truly you are the only royalty here that matters.”

“I will never be queen. I am far less important,” I said, touching the silver embroidery on Peter's coat.

“Who said that?” Peter answered, feigning surprise.

“Stop it, Peter–”

“You are my queen–” he added .

“You two are dazzling,” Meria said, suddenly, from beside us while in the arms of Prince Dominick.

“Thank you,” I said with a broad smile.

“Welcome everyone!” I turned to see Peter’s mother, making some sort of announcement. The music stopped. Meria and Dominick became still, there beside us.

“Thank you all for being here, as you know, my youngest son has recently wed. We are so happy with the union he has made with Lady Gwendolyn Darling, now Princess Gwendolyn. When Ancient Ora came to me and told me that there was hope for Peter’s curse to be broken and when she told me a storyteller would help him, I sent for one right away.

Through the years he has had a few, but I never realized that following Ancient Ora’s advice would not only help my son's curse–but it would bring him the love he deserves. I am so happy for you both.”

Peter wrapped an arm around my waist and kissed my cheek. I felt my eyes water.

“Welcome, daughter. May you know that you are wanted here. This is your home.”

I tried to stop the tears from pooling in my eyes, but for the first time, it was like I knew the true love of a mother–the queen's love was true and genuine. The music quickly started up again.

“I love you, too, Gwendolyn,” a familiar voice said from behind us. I turned to see Martha there with her twinkling eyes and beautiful smile .

“I have been working on this for you for all this time. Three years of stories sewn into this quilt.” She held out a beautiful hand embroidered quilt. It was magnificent with ships, sword fights, flowers, dragons, castles, and princes. She had been listening to our stories all along.

“Thank you, auntie!” Peter said, engulfing her in a hug.

“Thank you,” I said softly, hoping she knew just how much her and the queen’s acceptance of me meant.

“You are most welcome, dear. Welcome to our family.”

Peter and I danced and swayed and said hello to as many nobles and royals as we could. And before the hour grew too late, we snuck out of the ballroom, and made our way to our rooms. Once inside, we dressed for bed, cuddled under the blankets, and fell asleep in each other's arms.

Being loved for who I was, imperfect and flawed , was truly the most beautiful thing I had ever experienced before. And I could feel it deep inside that Peter and I would, indeed, live happily ever after.