The Black Rose (21 page)

“I loved you
too
” Edmund buried his faced in Wilhelmina’s chest. He had wanted to prevent this. How did this happen?

Milly could feel Yolande’s
magic
wearing off, but she couldn’t move. She stood in tears knowing that her best friend was dead. The only friend she had was gone, but then her eyes widened. Edmund and Wilhelmina’s bodies began to
glow and beneath them appeared a giant image of the
sun.

“The sign of the sun,” Jerome gasped as Yolande let him go.

Edmund felt a strange power surround him and he looked down to see
that
Wilhelmina’s wound had healed. He stared in shock and w
hen her eyes opened, he hugged her.
His surprise was quickly replaced with relief, s
he was alive. Wilhelmina
smiled and allowed him to help her to her feet
.

Edmund’s plain white shirt and black slacks and been replaced with a green and bronze uniform, on top
of
his head sat a
gold
crown. Wilhelmina’s plain, black dress had transformed into a green and bronze gown. On her head sat a gold tiara. She looked at Edmund and he too gave her a puzzled look. The
y both then looked down to see the
giant sun symbol
beneath their feet.

“The sign of the sun,” Wilhelmina said, “Does that mean…”

“You have been chosen to be king and q
ueen of Celewyn,” Yolande said and curtsied as was the custom for any new king and queen. Milly
, Jerome
an
d the rest of the army followed
suit.

The sun continued to expand
until it occupied all of Celewyn and then a voice spoke within Wilhelmina and Edmund’s mind. “Wilhelmina Diamante, Edmund Melanthius, do you accept your new titles
as Queen and King of Celewyn
?”

Wilhelmina and Edmund exchanged a glance and said in unison, “Yes.”

“Then swear on it.”

Edmund was confused for a moment and so was Wilhelmina, but then she understood. In order for them to be king and queen they had to be married. She smiled and leaned in closer to Edmund. He got the hint and they kissed. The sun beneath them emitted a bright light and then it was gone.

Yolande gasped and the others turned to see what she was seeing. Fantasme Forest was beginning to recede. Celewyn was being reborn.

“So…”
Wilhelmina began.

“We start over,” Edmund smiled.

She returned the smile, “We start over.”

Chapter 15

1 year later

“Mina, this was delivered to you,” Magnolia said handing Wilhelmina an envelope.
She along with
Milly and Edmund were sitting together in the family room
having afternoon tea
.

“What is it?” Milly asked. She had chosen to stay with Wilhelmina and Edmund in Celewyn. She wanted to get to know her brother and she also didn’t want to leave her best friend.
Things were awkward at first between Milly and Edmund. It’s not every day you find out you have a sibling you never knew about. Wilhelmina
had
worked as a median between the two
in the beginning, but
now they all got along well.

“An invitation to Edolie and Jerome’s wedding,” Wilhelmina said
.

“Not another one,” Milly joked.

“Well let’s just hope this one ends better than the last one,” Wilhelmina
teased
as she read the
invitation
,

Princess Edolie Marcelle of Aridale

&

Prince Jerome Alexander of Vanica

request
your presence at their marriage

at
noon
tomorrow

Queen Wilhelmina Diamante

King Edmund Melanthius

Lady Millicent Lucia

She read over the names a few times before finally speaking, “They’ve invited you.” She looked at Edmund.

King Wilhelm had refused to allow Edmund into the Kingdom of Aridale. He was still sentenced to exile. The fact he was invited to the wedding was quite a shock.

“Let me see,” Milly said taking the invitation from Wilhelmina. “Yes, your name is indeed on the list.”

“What do you think it means?” Edmund asked looking at Wilhelmina.

“I’m not sure…” said Wilhelmina, “But I think we should go.”

“At least you won’t be a bridesmaid this time,” Milly teased remembering the awful pink dress and Wilhelmina giggled.

“Oh!”

“What’s wrong?” Edmund asked nervously
as he hurried over to his wife
.

“It’s nothing,” Wilhelmina smiled
. She hadn’t known Edmund to be such a worrier until the past few months
, “The baby kicked.”

The next day

“Wilhelmina!” Queen Henrietta exclaimed as her daughter exited the
white
carriage
that had brought her, Edmund and Milly to the church
.
Queen Henrietta
hugged her daughter and it was then she realized Wilhelmina wasn’t as thin as she used to be.
“My dear!
You’re
…”

“Yes, I know,” Wilhelmina laughed.
She hadn’t been back to the castle since a few days after she became queen of Celewyn. She came back in hopes that Edmund would be allowed to enter as well so they could both properly announce their marriage, but her father had not allowed it.
Since then Wilhelmina had been too busy to come home. Rebuilding a kingdom was a lot harder than taking over one.

“Have you decided on names?” Her mother asked excitedly.

“If it’s a boy, Endymion Henrik and if it’s a girl, Freya Minette,” Wilhelmina smiled as she looked down at her belly, “Edmund’s pretty sure it’s a girl though.”

“Well then it probably is,” Yolande said as she joined the party, “In fact, I can assure you it’s a girl.
She’ll be quite beautiful.”

Wilhelmina smiled, “Thank you.”

“Well we better head inside,” said Queen Henrietta.

“Before we go in, I wanted to
as
k
you a question mother,” Wilhelmina began.

“It’s about the invitation isn’t it?”

“Yes, well…”

“It’s just for today, though your sister and I have been trying hard to convince your father to change his mind…”

“King Wilhelm can be stubborn,” Yolande said, “But he does have good reasons.”

“Yes, but one should be able to find forgiveness, especially since Ed
mund is part of the council now,
”
spoke
Queen Henrietta.

“But even the council hasn’t been very friendly…” Wilhelmina said solemnly.

“Its fine,” Edmund said resting a hand on his wife’s shoulder, “I told you not to worry about it. It’ll take time for everyone to adjust. If it weren’t for you, I probably wouldn’t have been able to forgive myself.”

“This is supposed to be a joyous occasion, not a pity party,” Milly complained and the
other
s
laughed.

“You
know she’s
right,” Queen Henrietta smiled, “Let’s go inside and take our seats.” Wilhelmina nodded and
she
,
along
with her
mother, her
husband, her best friend, and Yolande headed inside the church to await the bride who would one day rule the kingdom of Aridale.

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