Homecoming (My King series)
Title: Homecoming
Author: skybirdday
Series: My King
Challenge: Chocolate #11 - confusion, #12 - understanding
Summary: Lady Leto goes home to wed.
(roughly about a week or two after The Heir)
"My Lady, are you sure of this?"
"Gwynn, I am sure. I have found no man worthy of me in this kingdom. Perhaps my father has some candiadates for me. Maybe he too can find a woman for you," said Leto as she and Gwynn saddled their horses.
Gwynn shook his head. "There is one, but she is beyond my reach."
Leto's eyebrows shot up. "Oh? Is she married or engaged to another?"
"Nay! Truth to be told, she does not see me at all."
"Do I know this woman?"
"Yes."
"Is it Athena?"
"Nay! Her heart belongs to Lord Daisuke and no other. She is like a sister to me."
"Is it a another lady of this kingdom or of ours? A servant?"
"'Tis a lady of our kingdom."
"Does she love another?"
"I do not know. I cannot see into her mind."
"This intregues me, Gwynn. Your heart is smitten by a lady. Above or below?"
"She is above me in society. I am not worthy to meet her eyes much less to kiss her lips."
"I must ask Da if he may or can tell me. We are all ready to leave."
"I have told Athena and the king that we are leaving and where to reach us."
Leto frowned. "If you must," she said, mounting her horse.
Gwynn mounted his and gathered the reins in his hands before turning to Leto. "Are you still holding her secret against her? Leto, why do you hold grudges like when we were children? Princess Athena is not responsible for how she was born and the certain choices that her family made. I want you to talk to her, please."
"May we go?" asked Leto.
Gwynn nodded and they left the stable to begin their long ride.
They passed lush green valleys, high peaked mountains, and a desert before reaching the border of the Southern lands as they stopped at a river to allow themselves and their horses a drink.
Leto stood by her black horse and stared at the sky. "'Tis a beautiful blue sky as always."
"Aye, it is," said Gwynn with a smile. The air is fresher. It and the hills and mountains are what drew my anscestors to this land. Plenty of space to spread out and grow."
"Sometimes I wonder if - the four kingdoms - shall grow and prosper too much and run out of room. How would we live if we did not have lands to plant food or have to cut down some of the vast trees? We would starve if we had no food and burn if we had no shade."
Gwynn nodded. "May that never happen."
"Forgive me. Perhaps we should talk about happier things--"
"Ho, sister!" boomed a loud voice
Both Leto and Gywnn turned to see a tall and burly red haired man dressed in green riding toward them on a white steed,
"Ulric! You prat! What is the idea of startling us like that?" yelled Leto.
Ulric stopped the horse near them and laughed. "'Tis good to see you too, Leto. And you too, Gwynn. Welcome back to Christos' Keep." said Ulric with a small smile.
"You look ugly as ever, brother," said Leto as he got off his horse.
They embraced and Ulric said "That is not what my sweet wife says."
Leto thrumped him on the shoulder. "Of course she would say so. She's madly in love with you! How's the bairn?"
Ulric grinned. "Fine! She's loud as ever and beginning to walk. She'll be holding a sword if Da has his way."
"True," said Leto with nod. "Is Da waiting for me?"
"Aye, this is a grand day, one that has been a long time coming. You are back to be wed--"
"Ah, there you all are," said a voice.
The three turned and saw an older version of Ulric walking towards them. "Malcolm!" cried Leto, running towards him and huggin him before letting go as they both walked back towards Ulric and Gwynn.
"I have come to bring you two to Da."
"Does he have a man for me?" asked Leto.
Ulric stared at Leto and Malcolm. "A man? But I thought--"
"Hush, Ulric," said Malcomlm with a sigh. "Gwynn, Da wishes to speak to you alone. Ulric, you will take her to where our brothers wait. Ian wants to test his little sister's skill with a sword."
Ulric nodded. "Aye, brother," he said as he and Leto led the horses to the stable while Malcolm and Gwynn headed down a stone pathway to a faraway castle in the distance.
As Gwynn and Malcolm went past the foyer and entrance and into the great room until they got to the study where a taller and burly redheaded man as big as a giant stood dressed in blue tunic and pants with a sword strapped to his leg. He smiled and said "Malcolm! Gwynn, 'tis good to see you! Did you have a safe ride here?"
Gwynn nodded. "Aye, my lord. And how are you?"
"Fine! You have also brought to me my daughter."
"Yes, for her marriage."
"Ah! About that--"
Malcolm stared at his father and crossed his arms. "Da, my brothers seem to think that her man is already chosen."
"Is that true? You have already selected a man for her?" asked Gwynn.
Leto's father smiled and laughed.
Malcolm frowned. "Da! Take some pity on the poor man and tell him!"
Gwynn frowned and stared at both of them. "Tell me what?"
"It is about Leto--"
"What about Leto?"
Leto's father stopped laughing and turned to face Gwynn. "Lord Gwynn, may I ask? How do you feel about my daughter?"
"I love her, my lord. I have loved her since I became a man at thirteen. It is only now that I realize that I must tell her how I feel or she will choose another man."
Leto's father nodded. "I see. Let me tell you this then -- Leto loved you once."
Gwynn's eyes went wide. "When?"
"When the two of you were children. Malcolm saw that she loved you first and she would talk often of you back then. Alas, as she turned towards womanhood, she seemed to talk of you less and less. One day I asked her why she no longer talked of you so often, she said that she realized that you would never feel the way that she wanted you to feel for her. That you would never see her as a woman and a wife, only a friend. So she gave up."
"She cannot! I will have to change her mind!" said Gwynn running down the path.
Malcolm and his father watched Gwynn disappear into the distance. Then he turned to his father and said "Should we follow him, Da?"
"Aye. We should take pity on him. You should remember what it was like being in love," said his father, clasping his hand on his son's shoulders.
"Aye, I do. Leto will not like it when we catch up to him."
"True, but it is worth it to fight for a woman that you cannot live without. Come, my son, let us go to where your brothers and sister are."
Malcolm and his father soon caught up with Gwynn as Gwynn walked towards Leto and her brothers. Leto noticed him first. "Gwynn, what is it?" as Gwynn went down on one knee as he reached out to grab Leto's hands.
"My Lady. . .Leto. I have loved you since I was a lad. You wish to know what woman held my heart. It is you. Marry me, my Leto."
Leto's brothers and father turned to look at her as Malcolm said "Sister, what do you say?"
"Yes, Gwynn, yes!" said Leto with a smile, leaning down to embrace and kiss Gwynn.
Gwynn stood after a few moments with Leto still in his arms. "When do you wish to be wed?" he asked her.
"We have been foolish for years. Why not now?"
Gwynn grinned. "Anything you wish, my love."
Then Leto turned to her father. "Da, can you help?"
"Aye," her father said with a nod. "There is your mother's garden and old Father Liam is still able to stand and wed ye. Then there is your mother's dress."
One of Leto's brothers snorted. "Good luck getting our sister to wear a dress. Might as well wear her armor to be wed in."
"Hush, Dougal," said their father. "Whatever Leto wants, we shall do. You should know that weddings take a bit planning even on short notice from your own and your brothers."
"Aye, Da," said Dougal with a nod.
"Shall we do that?" asked Gwynn to Leto.
Leto smiled and nodded, looking into her beloved man's eyes.
******
A few hours later, Leto's father brought the porty old priest into the garden where Leto's brothers and Gwynn stood in their wedding finery. The brothers chose their own wedding attire and sent for their wives who were attending to Leto in her father's study. Gwynn stood dressed in whire with silver trim on the sleeves, his auburn tresses in a ponytail tied back in silver string, his beard neatly trimmed.
"Wonderful day for a wedding, is it not?" said Father Liam, clapping Gwynn on the shoulder.
"Aye, Father," said Gwynn.
Then a loud voice boomed. "The bride is here!"
"Who is that?" asked Gwynn.
"Lysa, my lady," said Dougal with a smile. "Quiet, isn't she?"
Then before Gwynn could answer, all went silent as the wives came forth in gowns of blue before Leto came out, walking towards them. She was dressed in a gown of white that seemed to be sheer but not. Her red hair loose adorned with a crown of white roses as walked forth until she stood by Gwynn's side. Gwynn stared at her until the priest began to speak. "My friends, we gather here to bless and bond these two souls in unity.
May their love shine bright and their lives be long. May the One bless them with lasting love and children to
love and raise. Now Lord Gwynn, take Leto's hand and say after me "Leto, I shall honor you as your husband. In everything, I shall love and support you as the unique creation of the One. I seek his blessing in our union. Do you take her as your bride?"
Gwynn turned to Leto and said "Aye."
Then Father Liam turned to Leto and asked her the same. Leto turned to Gwynn when the priest said "Do you take hin as your husband?"
"Aye," she said.
Then the priest took a string of silver and wrapped it around their clasped hands and said lifting his hands high. "Now with the blessing of the One, you are now bound to each other as man and wife. My friends, I present to you Lord Gwynn and Lady Leto."
Then after that, Gwynn took Leto in his arms and said "You are mine, my love."
"Aye," she said as Gwynn kissed her.
END