Dew held her breath in her lungs as the double doors opened wide to the throne room. To her surprise, Rhyddid waited only a few feet from the entrance, his back to her. He turned as the doors opened to greet her. 

Her ladies behind her curtsied low at his presence. 

Rhyddid’s pupils blew wide until Dew could not find a trace of green. They trailed slowly over her outfit, eyes catching on how it fitted her breasts. His eyes snapped up suddenly to steal her breath with its intensity. 

In more delightful circumstances, Dew might have appreciated the ferocity of his desire for her. Her stomach hollowed under his gaze because as it stood, these circumstances were anything but delightful. She wanted the sweet courtships. A tolerable arrangement, at minimum. 

Being the gift meant to spare her father’s life left a bitter taste in her mouth. 

Dew tried to steady her breathing. She knew everyone in the room could hear her short gasps for breath under the intense pressure of every eye on her. Her leather corset squeezed her uncomfortably and she sucked in a deep breath to hold. 

“Come,” he held out his hand to her. 

Releasing the air she trapped, Dew forced her feet forward. She couldn’t feel her arm as it raised and accepted his hand. 

The nobles that watched blurred in the corner of her eyes. 

The large throne at the end of the golden carpet stole all her attention. It loomed despite the fact Dew knew it wasn’t large enough to create such a shadow. 

Rhyddid kept her hand even as they reached the steps. He did not offer any guidance or assurances when he finally released her. 

She waited patiently at the bottom of the steps and watched as he spoke to the witnesses present. She understood little to nothing of his speech. 

“Kneel,” Rhyddid helped her lower herself to the first step. Her dress utterly unforgiving in flexibility. 

The cold stone bit into her knees through the fabric. 

Dew kept a steady gaze on him as he spoke once more in his language. She tried to crane her neck up to watch his face but settled for his chest instead. 

Rhyddid bent low towards the end, both of his hands devoid of his usual gloves. Bare palms cupped her cheeks. His gaze softened on her to that sweet green she preferred. 

“Rise, Blodeuwedd.” She did as he commanded, holding onto his hands to steady herself. “Swear your loyalty and love to me and me alone. Become my wife. Swear to serve this foreign realm as your own from this day forward. Become their queen.” 

“I, Blodeuwedd, daughter of Baron Cymmer, swear my loyalty and love to you Rhyddid, and only to you, from this day until my last.” Dew blinked in surprise as a smile began to overtake Rhyddid’s face. 

Dew paused for a breath. Her head spun and her skin prickled under the tightness of her dress. Rhyddid offered a template for her oath, she only needed to put the words to her tongue. 

Rhyddid frowned as she stopped, worry beginning to crinkle his brow the longer she held off. 

She swallowed hard and continued, “I vow that every breath of my body will serve this realm, foreign transubstantiated to endemic. From this day forward, my life will be to your court.” 

Because she would not serve in any other court ruled by just any king. A Fae usurper would see her dead upon revolting. 

Again, she paused but this time, he smiled down at her and his thumbs rubbed circles onto the backs of her hands. No need to rush her oath. Words mattered most here, remembered by the creatures that held them in high esteem. 

“I welcome this oath with all of my being; my flesh, my sentiment, my mortality. Let it be adamantine like the limestone of my homeland, ever defiant of the changing tides.” 

Dew bowed her head, unsure of what else she should do to show she finished. Her words must have pleased the court for they whispered behind her in astonishment. 

“I, Rhyddid Rhag y Gorchygwr Tywyll, accept your oath to my people, my lands, and myself.” Rhyddid tugged on her hands until she stepped up beside him. 

With one hand, he tilted her chin and kissed her softly. A deal sealed. 

“You are radiant,” he whispered as they broke apart. 

Dew averted her gaze at the compliment and bit back a smile.

Rhyddid stepped back and held their joined hands up for the court to see. The nobles cheered loudly, a chant taking over their voices. 

A rough translation of ‘prosperity to the king’ followed by ‘blessings to the queen’. Neidr explained it customary after her ascension and joining to Rhyddid.

“Come,” again, he pulled her along until he was sitting on his throne with her propped up on his thigh. 

Dew trembled as nobles began to line up to offer gifts and words of loyalty. Like this, she felt like a won prize. The head of buck slammed down onto the dinner table after a joyous day of her father’s hunting. 

Rhyddid’s warm hand on her hip only worsened her condition. His thumb’s circles tried to soothe her but it did nothing. For the thought of them alone, her thin dress a laughable defense against his wanting hands. 

“Relax, my gem.” Rhyddid shifted forward to hold her better. He nodded politely as one of the noble lords bowed and scurried off the dais. “They are in awe of your words.” 

“They are just words,” Dew swallowed her tears as a noble couple approached with bolts of silk. 

“No, they weren’t. They were as close to a blood oath as any I ever heard.” He kissed her cheek. “We will wait here for their words and gifts and then we shall eat and dance.” 

And then, return to the suite for the consummation. He left that unsaid, but Dew heard it anyway. 

“Okay…” She gifted him a watery smile. 

“Look,” he gestured to the noble lady that laid down a large box. “She is gifting plentiful gems. You should give one to your sister later.”

The lady opened the box and turned it for their inspection. Dew gasped at the large diamonds inside, two the size of her fist. 

“Diolch yn fawr iawn,” Dew nodded to the lady, noting the surprise followed by awe in her slitted gaze. 

“You are getting better,” Rhyddid complimented with another kiss to her cheek. 

“I have a long way to go,” she dismissed and settled herself firmly into his grasp. 

No need to look so stiff in her husband’s arms. She doesn’t want the court to get any ideas this early into their marriage. 

“You will get there,” he replied with absolute certainty. 

His unwavering confidence shocked her heart enough to skip a beat. She bit back a smile and turned her attention to the next noble offering.