I awoke cocooned in the comforter, the warmth spreading across my body as my eyes fluttered open. I did not hear any breathing beside me or feel an arm drape protectively around me like always. Confused, I turned around, craning my neck to look behind me, only realizing in an instant that Delmare was no longer asleep beside me or in bed. Suddenly, my door flew open, banging up against the wall as whoever was intruding made their way inside. Whipping my head back around, I stared at the intruder, as I quickly stood, ready to take action if I was in trouble. Thankfully, it was just Ondina and Consuela. One of them holding a tray of food and the other a dress bag.
“Good morning.” They greeted, curtsying deeply before laying out their items.
“Good morning,” I replied, “Where is Delmare?”
“He left earlier this morning, I’m not sure where he went my lady, I mean, Anna.” Ondina said, setting my tray down at the bedside table.
“Oh,” I said, picking up the plate off of the table, “I wonder where he went.”
“He probably just went to check on the preparations for this afternoon.” Consuela suggested as she placed the dress bag into the wardrobe.
“What’s that Consuela?” I asked after taking a few bites of my breakfast, watching as she turned around before smiling sweetly at me.
“It’s your dress for this afternoon. After you eat, we’ll get you ready for the day.”
“Oh.” I replied as the room was filled with silence again, “Have you both eaten yet?”
“Yes, Anna we have.” Ondina said with a smile.
After I finished eating, I set my plate back down on its tray as Consuela handed me the gown she had placed in the wardrobe. The fabric was black, and the dress was simple yet modest. The dress was an empire waist, concealing my baby bump under a layer of flowing fabric. Slipping the ballet flats on my feet, I looked at myself in the floor length mirror as Ondina pinned my hair up and out of my face, using a seashell to hold it in place.
“I don’t think it will be a good idea to put make up on me, my hormones are everywhere and if everyone starts crying, I might start too.” I said, waving Consuela’s hand away as she came towards me with something that looked like powder.
“You’re probably right.” She said, setting it down on the vanity, just as someone knocked on the door that led into the hallway.
Swiftly, I watched as Consuela turned and cracked the door open, letting whoever knocked inside, “Good morning, Your Highness.”
“Good morning Consuela, Ondina,” Delmare said, “I hope you don’t mind, but I would like to borrow Anna.”
I watched as they giggled, a knowing look spreading across their features, “No, we don’t mind at all.”
“What?” I asked as Delmare held both of my hands, “What’s going on?”
“Well, I realized that you had asked me to marry you and I know this probably isn’t the best time to do this. My father’s funeral is in just a few hours and our citizens will wonder who you are and where you came from but I want there to be no mistake on who you are with, so, I got you something.” He said, his eyes shining their familiar mix of gold and purple, as he reached behind him, pulling out a box wrapped in wrapping paper, not the frilly kind you find at a jewelry store, but the kid kind that you use when you’re wrapping your kids Christmas presents, filled with cartoon characters you only know the name of because you’ve watched the movie five billion times. If you’re really feeling stubborn, you wrap the present twice, “Go on, open it.”
“Is that what I think it is?”
He only nodded, reaching out his hand, as I took the box, the colorful wrapping paper gleaming against the shine of the tape. I stared at it for a moment, realizing that he was trying to distract himself once again. Trying to make this day less of a mournful one. I knew why he did it, but I knew that this wasn’t how I wanted to do this.
I shook my head, taking a seat as I looked over at Consuela and Ondina who were nearly bursting at the seams, “Consuela, Ondina, could you give us a moment alone please?”
Once they were gone and the door was securely shut, I looked over at Delmare, still holding the unopened box that I knew was filled with an engagement ring. “What’s wrong? Why aren’t you opening it?”
Sighing, I set the box on the side table, reaching for Delmare as he sat beside me, confusion etched across his face. “Delmare, you can’t keep jumping from one thing to the next. Today is a day to celebrate your father’s life, to remember him. I will not open that box and take that away from him. You deserve to mourn properly for his death. I know everyone mourns different but I know that this isn’t healthy.” I paused, placing my hand on his knee, “I will be here for you always, you know that. I don’t think now is the best time for us to announce our engagement. The country and your family are in mourning. Let’s wait a few days and take it one day at a time.”
He didn’t say anything then but looked away, deep in thought until he looked back at me, “I want to see your face when you open it. We don’t have to announce anything and you don’t have to wear it, but I’d like to see the woman I love wearing the ring I made for her.”
I sighed, “You’re stubborn you know that?” I sighed before snatching the box up in my hands and carefully and quietly unraveling the wrapping paper, letting the pieces fall to the floor as I stared at the little black box. Popping the lid off, I reached inside as I grasped a clam. Smiling to myself, it opened up to reveal a silver band with tiny diamonds around the pink pearl that was set straight in the center. It was absolutely beautiful. “Did you get me a pearl because that’s my birthstone?” I asked, completely in awe at the beauty of the ring.
“I picked the pearl for a lot of things, not just your birthstone.” He said as I handed him the ring and he slid it on my finger, his eyes entirely violet now, “The pearl symbolizes integrity and loyalty and protection. While the diamond symbolizes faithfulness and love. I want you to know that by asking you to marry you properly as I am right now, I want our marriage and the rest of our lives to be filled with integrity, faithfulness, love, and loyalty. But I also want us to trust one another and protect one another. I want to grow old together and raise our children together. I want to show you all of the secrets the ocean has kept hidden for centuries and grow together into the individuals we are meant to be. I know this has been a very stressful summer, but—“
I couldn’t help it as I pulled him close, throwing my arms around him kissing him hard, completely overjoyed but also knew that in just a few hours this feeling of happiness would falter when I see everyone around me crying. Delmare broke away, resting his head on my forehead, the clam I had just moments before had held was on the floor somewhere near my feet. “Don’t think about the funeral, just let’s enjoy this moment while it lasts.”
“You’re Highness, I don’t mean to impose, but the funeral is about to start in thirty minutes and you and Anna are needed.” Ondina said, bursting through the door as we turned towards her.
“Alright, we’ll be right down.” He said turning back to me as a hint of sadness played along his features.
I knew that this would be a difficult time for him, and I hoped he would let me help him in his time of need. I followed Delmare into the hallway, our hands intwined as I suddenly realized I was still wearing Delmare’s engagement ring. So much for keeping it a secret for a few days. Letting go of his hand I went to take it off but Delmare grabbed my hand, stopping me, “No-one will even notice.”
“How much do you want to bet that’s the first thing your mother mentions when she sees us?” I said, giving him a pointed look as we walk together down the hallway and towards the large group of people gathered in one of the great rooms.
I felt my heartbeat quicken as we walked towards the group, hoping I wouldn’t make a fool of myself as we came closer. I watched as they all turned to us, their rainbow of features staring at Delmare with familiarity and then to me with confused and wondering glances. I bit my cheek, hoping they wouldn’t notice the engagement ring or the fact that I wasn’t their species. I hoped that his cousins liked me.
I watched as a woman who looked to be in her early thirties came towards us, her teal-colored hair in several loose braids that billowed around her face. She greeted Delmare, hugging him quickly before turning to me, “This must be Emilia. My name is Avisa Stowryn. I’m his second cousin.”
“Actually, my name’s Anna.” I said, tucking a fallen strand of hair out of my eyes with my left hand, suddenly realizing that she could see my ring as she gasped, taking my hand in her hands.
“Oh, look at this ring! You’re engaged!? How wonderful! Where did you two meet?” She asked amongst several other questions that I wasn’t sure I should answer until Theodosia arrived, announcing we would begin the ceremony now.
The fireplaces were set ablaze, the blue fire dancing in the hearth as I sat beside Delmare. He clenched and unclenched his jaw as I held his hand. Occasionally he would squeeze it as the speaker began to speak about the late king’s life and his legacy. I could feel the emotions of everyone around me and it hurt to feel their pain.
After an hour, the service was over and we followed the group of guards out into the open sea where the same blue fire that filled the fireplaces was set to the coffin as the King’s body turned into sea foam, filling the ocean and swirling around us. Sticking close to Delmare, I felt his body shake uncontrollably as I looked up, tears flowing down his face. Instantly, I wrapped my arms around him as he clutched me tight, crying into my shoulder as I felt my own tears escape. I hated to see him hurt but I knew that this is what needs to be done in order for him to heal.
After twenty minutes of holding each other, his family decided to retire, their emotions swirling around them: anger, sadness, despair. Some hid their emotions while others clutched to their partners, their emotions consuming them as tears streamed down their faces. I felt for them, I knew what it was like to lose a loved one. Wiping my face, I was secretly glad I decided to opt out of wearing makeup today, not that I usually wore it anyways. I knew that if I had, I would be a horrid mess by now.
Turning to Delmare, I rested my head on his shoulder, my mind wondering once again as Delmare mumbled something in my ear. I couldn’t hear him as he stood, guiding me out of the room and back towards my bedroom. But, before I could say what was wrong, my world went black as I fell to the castle floor, suddenly fainting with no idea what was the cause.