The neckline sits just off my shoulders, showing a hint of collarbone, while long, flowing sleeves end in pointed cuffs that brush my wrists. My hair is styled in beautiful braids. A train trails behind me, edged with the deep forest green of Uzrirgard, a subtle nod to the kingdom I’m joining. Lady Frax’mo and my mother added a few small orcish charms.
When I look down at myself, I don’t see the dusty, scrawny second-born girl from the salted fields anymore. I see someone who chose this life, this king, and this future.
Our wedding is a mixture of human and orc customs. My parents are pleased with the familiarity. The orcs are happy their soon-to-be human queen hasn’t stomped all over every custom they have. I’m not sure how things will go once I’m actually on the throne beside King Lix’tuk and making decisions, but the orcs are a lot more receptive than I expected.
We’re having the wedding outside, so once I’m dressed, I hide in a tent to wait for the ceremony to begin.
“If you’re all set, I’m going to go sit with my family,” Lady Frax’mo says, plucking a few strands of hair from my dress.
“Yes, I think I’m ready,” I reply. “Thank you so much for all your help. I mean that. I know you hoped it would be your daughter standing here today.”
“I just wanted to make sure King Lix’tuk’s bloodline survives,” she says warmly, putting a hand on my stomach. “And you’ve done that, so you’re the only one who should stand by his side today.”
Orcs don’t give hugs very often, but Lady Frax’mo pulls me into a tight embrace before she leaves the tent. My mom walks closer and examines me one last time, making sure there’s nothing that needs her motherly touch.
“Abigail is obsessed with everythingorcright now,” my mom says absently, like she’s just trying to fill the silence. “If she doesn’t grow out of it, I may end up with two orc sons-in-law.”
“I think you’ve got a long time before you have to worry about that,” I laugh. “You’ll have a human one soon enough, I’m sure. Beverly and her boyfriend seem very close.”
“A littletooclose,” she complains, clicking her tongue.
My father walks into the tent with a smile on his face and a tear in his eye. I’m surprised to see the emotion on his face, but I guess it’s an emotional moment. He’s about to walk his daughter down the aisle. He never thought he’d get to do this for me.
“Clover, you’re so beautiful,” he sniffs, wiping his eyes. “One of the wedding attendants said the Bridal Chorus is about to start.”
“Oh Dad,” I have my own sniffles to contend with now. “Okay, I’m ready,” I hurry to his side.
The music begins and my mother slips past us to go to her seat. My father leads me out of the tent, and I have to laugh when I see all the flowers. Abigail practically carpeted the entire way from the tent to the altar with them.
But then I see King Lix’tuk and everything else just fades into the background. His armor is similar to what he wore during the revolution, but this set is layered with so much gold and so many gemstones it would never survive a battlefield.
Then a loud noise distracts me, and I’m not the only one. Orcs and humans alike cover their ears and look up at the sky.
“What was that?” I cry, glancing at my father.
“I’m not sure,” he answers me with a touch of fear in his voice.
It sounds like a ship is approaching, which makes most of the orcs move to protect their king. A few stand near me, hands on weapons, in case they need them. I feel a twinge of worry,especially when something begins to shimmer into view above us. I’ve seen something similar before, when orc ships drop their cloaking system.
“Is that a… spaceship!?” Abigail squeals, a mixture of fascination and terror in her voice.
That’s definitely what it looks like. It’s grey and silver with black accents. It appears to be a lot more advanced than the ships in Uzrirgard, and those are already far beyond anything humans had before the revolution.
“Protect the king!” Lord Frax’mo yells.
“And the future queen!” Lady Frax’mo adds.
I should have known my wedding day wouldn’t go smoothly. My father keeps me behind him, and we’ve got several armed orcs in front of us. Everyone’s tense. I’m not sure what to expect.
The spaceship hovers for a moment, then touches down in a nearby field. Not far from where the orc ships are parked, but it’s bigger than three of them put together. Orcs converge on it, weapons drawn, and even King Lix’tuk looks concerned. He says something to me from across the distance, but I can’t make it out.
The doors on the ship hiss open and a ramp lowers. I hold my breath, unsure if we’re about to meet aliens or something a lot scarier.
Until I see blonde hair and blue eyes, then I’m pulling away from my father and trying to push through the orcs in front of us. I feel King Lix’tuk’s attention snap toward me from across the aisle, but he doesn’t stop me.
“Rose! It’s Rose!” I scream.
“Hold your fire!” King Lix’tuk shouts. “Apparently, it’s our missing Maid of Honor.”
