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Gasps were heard.
I imagined what they saw, two kings in their suits, their golden crowns, their sashes across their chests showing their medals.
I told myself I was ready when a tap came on my shoulder.
The man was small, he had a white beard and thick matching hair. His smile was kind. He bowed and simply said, “Do you mind if I join?”
Join?
Who was this man?
A woman stood beside him along with a girl around twenty, they smiled and went to take their seats.
I tilted my head. “Who are you?”
People were watching not only from all over the country, but in that church with every dignitary in presence.
He smiled. “Oh, I just own a restaurant in New York.”
Tears streamed down my cheeks. “What?” I was ready to call security, both Arthur and Frederick moved in front of me.
“Apologies.” He bowed his head. “Highness. I raised the wonderful man you’re about to marry. I made mistakes. I wasn’t always gentle. I wanted to teach him our ways here in the country. At times, I got frustrated. At times, I was tired. But there were so many beautiful moments. I loved him. I do love him. He’s mine even if he’s not. The last thing the late king gave me was a gift to my wife and myself. We couldn’t have children. I was part of the royal guard and was sent away during the coup. I’m General Hedayat, and I’m here to ask you for one small gift, on this day, may I simply ask to walk behind you? Just a few small steps.”
A tear streamed down my cheek. “Why behind me?”
He held up his wrinkled hands, he was wearing a black and white tuxedo but his grey hair was a slight mess as he rubbed one hand nervously through it. His smile was wide, open, happy, his blue eyes twinkled with joy. “Highness, I would never ask to walk in front of you, I just want to finish it.”
“Finish it?” I asked, completely confused while people watched, most likely filmed and wondered. The press would be all over this today. “Finish what?”
Slowly, he knelt down on knobby knees and bowed, he held his hands upright toward me. “I promised the late King I would finish my duty to his son, that I would take him in as my own that I would bring him up in the best way possible and I swore that when it came time, I would walk with his bride down the aisle. I would finish my promise, it was his last, his last entry in the journal he sent me. To finish, so please highness, let me finish my duty to the crown. It is, after all, Christmas. Miracles do happen and I know this isn’t protocol.”
“What a gift,” I said, leaning down to the ground in my wedding dress and putting my hands on his shoulders. “What an incredible Christmas gift, to see face to face, the man who rose one of the greatest Kings of the three Kingdoms, not only is it an honor to marry him, but to meet you.”
I brought him to his feet and looked at the other two kings.
They didn’t even need to be told.
They took a step back behind me while I pulled Zautland’s father forward, grabbed his arm and said, “No father of the King walks behind me.”
I could see tears streaming down Zautland’s cheeks as we approached. It was silent in my head despite the music. The walk was slow.
It was perfect.
I smiled with each step.
And realized it was never only three kings, Arthur, Frederick, Zautland, there was another man in this scenario, his adopted father. There were four of them who carried out his father’s orders.
Maybe the fourth king was Hedayat, holding my arm and walking me toward my future. The man who raised him.
Yes. A Christmas miracle indeed.
When we got to the end of the aisle, Zautland had no words he just looked away from us and took a minute.
“Well done.” His adopted father patted him on the shoulder. “I hope it’s all right, but I have a few words.”
I nodded and spoke for Zautland. “Go ahead.”
He turned toward the guests. “I’m sorry to intervene, I used to be a general here many, many years ago. I missed my country, but I’d like to think I served it well in bringing up its king.” The air was thick with silence. “I now finish my final secret task given by the late King Donald the third.”
