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“But do you love him, Elias?”
Elias took time to process the question, as he wasn’t too sure on why it was being asked. As far as what was known to the prince, it was clear he and the ‘him’ mentioned were only friends. Staring into the teacup in front of him, fresh mint and rosemary it was, looking to his own face as to apply judgement to his answer. “Honestly,” he started, “We’re more platonic than anything, but I suppose it would benefit both of our kingdoms well. We’re fairly close, afterall, so I have no objection to the marriage. Besides, I’ve known Finn for as long as my memory stays golden,” he chuckled to himself, “So, it truly can’t be that bad.”
Elias took his glance back up to meet the eyes before him, emerald green and bright like a witch’s curse- pleasant and pleasing to look at- and awaited a response.
“But it’s not fair to you, my dear,” came the dispute, “You deserve someone who loves you- someone who worships and adores you like the beautiful rose you are.”
The shine of green almost looked desperate in that moment, as if it were pleading unspoken proposals and vows. Promises to scream and dig into one’s mind. The facial expression remained the same, however, and kept up with its actor in the moment and ready to drop at notice.
“I don’t have much choice in this, Daniel,” Elias informed, “As much as he and I wish to remain friendly and so, it’s the demand needed and so we must comply.”. Elias paused his words and stood from his seat, almost knocking over the cup he placed down in the process. The fair prince knew he had to hurry, as time in Wonderland went by as whatever the master pleased. “I have to get going now, I truly wish for you to attend the wedding,” he stated sadly, knowing the next to comes weren’t to sit well with Daniel, “This may be my last time visiting Wonderland. I won’t have much time to cross the realms as I will be busy with the later conjoined kingdoms, I will miss you.”
Without looking to see the reaction of his friend, only hearing the sound of a teacup shaking against a small plate in his leaving.
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Opening the tall, sapphire decorated doors he entered the room of the one he was soon to wed. Nervously taking silent steps, he made his way to Finn, thinking and rehearsing how he was going to ask the fair-haired man of the possibility of inviting a stranger. “Finn, is it alright of me to ask a favor?” he questioned.
Finn turned to face Elias, smiling ever so softly at the sight of his soon-to-be husband. “What is it?” he queried, “If you are worried about preparations, my prince, I made sure everything was to our tastes. After-party games and treats to your liking, especially.``. Finn waited until Elias responded.
“It’s more about the guest list..” Elias began, “I want to know if I may add a special guest, someone I won’t be able to see as much once we are officially wed.”
Finn cocked an eyebrow, a special guest wasn’t what he was expecting. He was sure that he had everyone down. “What happens to be their name? I’ll be sure to try and add them!”
“Daniel King.”
The gaze of curiosity and love narrowed to that of suspicion and hostility at the name. “Daniel King? There is no one of existence by that name, nor is there anyone by that family surname.”. Finn hadn’t an idea of what Elias was trying to pull, but he wasn’t going to let this Daniel King enter the wedding at any cost.
“Maybe I overlooked some people then,” Finn’s smile appeared once more, this time forced and strained, “I will do my best to get in contact with him, Elias. I will inform you of his answer as soon as I’m able to.”
Elias beamed with a joy one would want to ruin, and Finn wasn’t about to let an odd character who doesn’t exist to do such a thing. Elias hugged his friend tightly, thanking him in every way and language he could for considering the thought of inviting another.
Finn motioned over two guards and whispered to them, “Make sure no one, and I mean no one under the light and her rays by the name of ‘Daniel King’ enters the kingdom territory by a mile or else he is to be executed.”. He wasn’t going to let the stranger interfere with him and Elias, this ‘Daniel's intentions unknown. For all that was able to be accessed, Daniel had plans to hurt and scar Elias.
The two guards nodded in silence, their prince’s demand was not to be ignored nor disobeyed. They set off to alert others as well of the threat sent.
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The prince of the kingdom of Aren, a child of light to be protected from the dark and its plans for him. In a dress white as an angel’s light, with rubies and gems of blue scattered beautifully on every item worn; viel, dress, gloves and shoes. A choker black in colour with an emerald glowing sweetly in the middle front.
The cape of the lovely dress flowed as if it were being crafted by Mother Nature’s hands and into a river of gold, gentle steps being taken down the aisle as royals and citizens awed. Elias glanced around anxiously, hoping to see a familiar feathered hat in the crowd. Alas, none of the manner was spotted. He wouldn’t let that despair his lively mood. How hard it was for him to keep slow pace in the light cathedral, he wished to just run into Finn’s arms and hug him tightly. When the two were children, they had always promised and joked that they would rule together one day; as friends, and nothing more. Funny how childhood promises can predict an odd future.
As he met Finn at the altar, under the flow-field arch placed so lovingly at the spot, he whispered to Finn, “You don’t know how happy I am right now, I have been spending my day to process and not cry over how our dreams are a reality,” he choked back a sob and continued, “I love you, Finn.”
The people of the crowd knew the Aren and Marigold princes to be private with vocal affection, so they weren’t bothered by vows being shared softly. They stayed quiet, however, so they could maybe catch a few words from either of their lips.
A kiss by a rose, sweet and pure, to be treasured by rosy tint. Placed upon was mid-winter ice and stardust, connecting two realms meant to be.
Such a blissful moment had to be broken by the melting of ice, a fire bursting from the ground of frozen water.
Daniel had kicked down the door, cracking the dark wood that protected the lives inside. “HALT!” screamed the man, voice shattering like glass every letter, “Stop the wedding at this instance!”
Elias turned to face the source of the voice, one Daniel King. Shocked and honestly happy, he exclaimed, “Daniel- But Finn said you hadn’t cared to come! I-”
“And who do you think you might be?” demanded Finn, cutting Elias off from furthering the crazed man’s startling actions.
“The Master of Cards, so called,” he flicked the brim of his hat so it sat lopsided on his head, “Or otherwise Daniel King, I am of assumption you have something of mine.”. The ‘something’ in question being the now concerned, confused Elias.
“You must be that famed Mad Hatter character from that one story I care not the name of. How adorable.” Finn let a laugh ring and echo through the cathedral, “Get out.”
Daniel smirked and stated; “Why, I believe I was invited to this-” he rolled his wrist, thinking, “-event. Wasn’t I? So I have no means of leaving, nor do I plan to!”. Daniel smiled more widely than any person above should have the ability to.
“Why I should’ve… Guards! Seize this lunatic!” Finn commanded.
Daniel smirked and tipped his hat, letting out a laugh only belonging to minds far gone than the hellish yards.
“Let the games begin!”
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Blood spilled, undeserving, as populations from both kingdoms died down at rapid speeds at the master- as he’s called- swept through with cards, using the people as toys in his own personal hell. Why were they to be sacrificed when there was only one person being targeted? Had he truly gone mad? Nonetheless, person by person the one of emerald green sight came closer to the protective closings of the altar. Humanity leaving his empty soul at every moment. Elias begged and pleaded for Daniel to stop his madness, that everything could be settled in a more peaceful manner. Daniel ignored the cries of his love, for his selfish goals were more important and victory on the line.
Daniel quickly snapped Finn away from Elias, possessive hands gripping the one he labeled to be punished. The fair prince committing the oh so heinous crime of distrusting someone he never heard of. He let his lips part to speak silent words, words only the one with white hair would hear. Taking a sword so lovely and bright, rose-coloured like his love, and stole another- more precious life by a swipe of the blade. Letting the man fall down to the dirtied floor, he turned to Elias.
Elias held up his own sword, the one of justice and judgement alike, shaking and sobbing in his stance. His origins, a child of light he was, forbade him from committing an act as taking a life. In the seconds, he had let those rules to rot and perish. He truly didn’t want to let someone he once thought of as a friend survive. However, he was weak and soft-hearted. Killing someone thought of as home would be greater in effect than letting him live.
Daniel placed his fingertips upon the blade and lowered it, seeing the ease of such making him feel more victorious than he already had.
The Master of Cards, as he’s called, has always gotten what he wants. He has the entirety of Wonderland under his rule, he has amazing friends who supported him from the beginning- he has everything. But he always wants more. And that he got, Elias his love. Taking the man into his unloving arms, he kindly said, “Come now, darling, let us go home.”