#top 10 most liked royal wedding gowns

[omg-im-such-a-masochist]

Sleepwalking

Pairings: Jon Moxley x Reader

Warnings: +18

Tag: @theworldofotps , @writtingrose , @aerynscrichton , @daddyhausen , @melissahausen , @unoficialy-married-to-ace-austin , @sophiewolfheart-blog , @sultryfandoms , @new-zealand-chic , @crowleysqueenofhell , @thealliasylum , @legit9thlunaticwarrior , @baysexuality , @josiewrites , @seeingstarks , @irish-newzealand-idian-dutch , @whenimakeitshine1234 , @moxkindagirl , @sunshinevirus , @im-just-a-mississippi-girl

🎶You’re the one that I want…

Across the large hall, amid evening gowns and tuxedos, he stood. Those intense blue eyes could not be mistaken by anyone other than himself, and even after two years they still held the same amount of power over her as they once did.

He always had the worst timing. Every time, without fail, he decided to reappear from the ashes like a Fenix after she somehow managed to get a hold of her life once again. A part of her thinks he does this on purpose, he has a silent pleasure in watching her suffer whenever he decides to show up in her life again. Whenever he decides to reclaim her body, her heart pays the price, but not this time.

She crossed the hall towards the dark corner of the room, confident steps guided her to him once more, to what she hoped to be the last time.

“Who let you come in? I don’t recall sending you an invitation” She stated. Her posture was impeccable, back and knees straightened, shoulders back, head never once looking down, hands confidently and delicately placed on top of each other in front of her stomach.

School me to what makes you shake shake it off…

She certainly changed, and that was the first thing Mox noticed when he instantly found her being the center of attention in a crowd of rich people. The confidence that once lacked in her was now abundant enough to be categorized as arrogance, and even from afar, Mox could tell that she had learned how to be one of them. She was incredibly smart and had a certain ease to adapt to the environment she was in, it was one of the qualities he most admired in her. She knew people from different social statuses, attended diverse gatherings and knew how to properly behave in all of them. But that wasn’t what surprised him the most, what did catch him off guard though was the wedding announcement in the gossip column of The New York Times.

“The public announcement was enough of an invitation for me. I didn’t know I would need a formal card asking me to come, although I have a feeling you wouldn’t want someone like me attending your high society party”

“Follow me” She demanded quickly, before turning around and taking the stairs up to the terrace.

Mox cackled as he followed her, his eyes roamed through her figure, drowning in the sight of the only woman who was able to keep him in check. The fancy clothes added to her natural royalty appeal, and that was the first thing that drew his attention to her in that indie wrestling show over 10 years ago: her royal aura. She was the princess that his bad boy self couldn’t wait to get a hold of, the proof that he could achieve something solid, good, and worthy in life even though he barely had money to keep himself alive.

Her heels stopped clicking once they reached the terrace, “Well” She turned around to face him, “What is it that you want this time, Jonathan?”

Though I'm degenerate he's the fool who's going to bore you to death…

“Jonathan?” Mox chuckled “Are nicknames not allowed in your world anymore, kitty? Are they too poor for your upper-class vocabulary?” He continued to stare at her and kept drowning in her beauty. She was still drop-dead gorgeous, only now her doll-like beauty had been covered by heavy amounts of makeup to make her lose her innocent appearance and gain more of a womanly look.

“Nicknames are reserved for friends” She shrugged lightly

“Am I not your friend?”

“You’re an acquaintance, Jonathan. Nothing more, nothing less. Just an acquaintance”

“Hmmm,” Mox hummed, his heavy boots now stomping on the hardwood floor as he took three more steps toward her until he was close enough to feel the warmth radiating from her skin.

“I don’t think acquaintances would do half the things we did, kitty cat”

“That’s in the past now, Jonathan. Things have changed”

“Did they though? Because I’m pretty sure I still have the same effect on you as you do on me” Mox’s fingers traced her exposed collarbone, and the electricity of his touch on her skin continued to be as alive as it ever was. The sparkle was still present, the desire, the attraction, the primal need, and the urge to get intoxicated in each other until nothing else existed survived the years and was as strong as ever.

“You’re wrong” She lied effortlessly as she did so many times before in front of the mirror whenever he abandoned her.

“Am I?” Mox wrapped his fingers at the base of her neck, subtly pulling her closer to his lips. “So you won’t mind if I put your statement to the test?”

He's super rich and privileged

Sleepwalking for so many years

He looks good stock, he seems well bred

Sleepwalking for so many years…

“I don’t have to prove you shit!” She hissed, fists balling beside her in an attempt to keep her anger under control.

A sly smirk plastered on Moxley’s lips upon hearing her small curse. “So there’s still some realness in you even after you sat on the money throne, huh? I knew you wouldn’t let me down”.

“What the hell do you want, Jonathan?”

“You’re not going to do that, are you?” Mox’s lips brushed against hers, his rough voice was low, almost a whisper as his warm peppermint breath caressed her skin. “You’re not going to destroy your life like that, I won’t let you do it”.

“Of course, because only you are allowed to destroy my heart and make my life miserable, no?”

“He’s the one who’ll make you miserable, kitten. I’ve seen his pictures, he doesn’t have what it takes to be with you”

“Says the lying asshole who never kept his promises and abandoned me whenever he had the chance”

“I’ve never done any of that and you know it” Moxley’s fingers teased the pulse point of her neck, he drew small circles on the sensitive flesh until they eventually traveled to her nape. “I never lied to you”.

“You said you loved me”

“I did” Mox tilted her neck back until her eyes could stare up at him.

You're the one that I need…

He laid a tempting peck on her lips before whispering “And I still do”. The intense baby blue eyes stared into her soul, and she could feel herself getting overwhelmed by his presence. Whenever she was with him, Moxley turned her into a shy young girl again, the one who was more than prepared to discover the world with the blonde bad boy.

“I kept all of my promises, even when I didn’t want to. I promised to stay away and I did, I promised to never get in touch with you again, and I kept my word. You didn’t want me anywhere near you again, so I did what you asked me to, even though my instincts told me not to”

“I thought you were going to come after me, Jonathan. But you left!”

“You told me to-“

“I was 21 for fuck’s sake! Do you think I meant any of the shit I said to you? I was just a dumb kid trying to get her boyfriend’s attention! I wanted you to come after me at least once, Jon. For the first time in our relationship, I wanted to feel like you cared enough to ask me to stay, I wanted you to fight for us-” She felt her words being swallowed by Mox’s lips.

His hands cupped her cheeks, fingers traced the hairline in her nape before pulling the metal side comb away from her hair. Moxley’s hands buried into the cascade of locks, reveling in the feeling of having her soft mane in his palms once again.

I'm a degenerate but no fool who's going to bore you to death…

“You always talked too much” He whispered in a teasing tone against her wet lips once they broke the kiss.

“You can’t do this, Jon” Her tongue darted out to taste the remaining flavor of his gum on her lips, “You can’t just show up whenever you feel like it and expect me to drop everything-“

“Come with me, kitty cat” His arms closed around her waist, pulling her closer to his body enough for her to feel his erection pressing against her stomach. “I want you to come with me, you know you want to come with me. You don’t belong here”.

“Jon, please. I can’t do this”

Mox intertwined their fingers and began to pull her towards the fire exit, “Come with me, kitten. I promise you won’t regret it”, was the last thing he whispered before the darkness of the stairs engulfed his figure.

[royalrumormonger]

RoyalRumormonger’s 10 Most Liked Wedding Gowns

Let me preface this by saying this is based on my own personal style and taste.

10)  Mette Marit Tjessem Høiby, Crown Princess of Norway: Ove Harder Finseth

The clean lines and unusual visual texture create such a dreamy cloud-like gown. I like the homage to Queen Maud. This kind of square neckline and silhouette is so flattering on Mette Marit. I oddly like the quirky bouquet that echos the vertical folds of the skirt. The only thing I would change is to add a simple pair of earrings to round out the look.

9) Alessandra de Osmo, Princess of Hanover: Jorge Vázquez

This gown checks all the boxes for a perfect “Royal wedding gown”. Its got lace, its got a high neckline, its got 3/4 length sleeves. What more could you want? The tiara is stunning too. The only thing that keeps it from being placed higher on my list is the mini sweetheart neckline under the lace. It looks like it’s too tight and is a slightly awkward shape.

8) Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex: Clare Waight Keller for Givenchy

This gown is simple, but elegant, and is the kind of look I had hoped she would wear. I love the clean lines of the neckline and silhouette. Is the tailoring kind of messed up? Yes, but it doesn’t bother me that much. The floral veil embroidery and stunning tiara are the main reasons why it is one of my favorite wedding looks. 

Catherine Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge: Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen

The construction of this gown is hard to beat. I mean lining underneath the train with heavy canvas to prevent it from bunching while the bride is walking? So genius! That’s why I question the need for someone to carry the train while entering the church. Other than that (and the fit around the bust), it is perfect. I love the lace, I love the design of the skirt, I love the bustle. The veil and tiara are beautifully understated. Looking back, I would definitely soften up the look of her makeup, but that’s me being picky.

7) Katharine Worsley, the Duchess of Kent: John Cavanagh

This is such a classic gown, but with a little twist. The fabric has an unusual pearlescent pattern to it. There is something about the combination of her hair, the veil, and this bandeau tiara that I absolutely adore.

6) Queen Margrethe of Denmark: Jørgen Bender

I know some people don’t like this gown, but it’s not as hated as my next pick. The simplicity of this gown is what makes it work. I love the square neckline and the pleated skirt. The heirloom lace panel in the middle adds interest without taking attention away from the rest of the look. I love the daisy brooch pinned to the middle as a tribute to her mother and grandmother. (Once again I must mention my love of the Danish royal family tradition of wearing this tiara and lace veil!)

5) Letizia Ortiz Rocasolano, the Queen of Spain: Manuel Pertegaz

I really don’t understand why so many people dislike the collar of this gown. To me it adds such a regal air to the look. The silhouette is also very flattering. The gown was made of silk fabric that was woven with silver thread to give it a special sheen which is beautiful. I think the silver and gold embroidery is done sparingly, so it doesn’t overwhelm the rest of the look. The veil, tiara, and the matching fan are just the icing on the cake.

4) Beatrice Borromeo: Armani Privé

I would include all of her wedding looks, but that would make this already long list even longer. The ones that stand out in my mind are her religious ceremony gown shown above, and her reception gown shown below. The lace gown for the ceremony is just perfect. There is nothing bad I can say about this gown. I love the delicate lace and simple shape. The long train and veil are stunning. Her whole look is one that I would wear for my own wedding.

The reception gown look is what dreams are made of.  The angel wing brooches pinned to the back is such a wonderful detail. The long train just tops off the perfection that is this look.

3) Claire Lademacher, Princess of Luxembourg: Elie Saab

It’s Elie Saab, what else needs to be said? Claire looked stunning. I adore this kind of scroll motif pattern and the silhouette is so flattering. The slight difference in color between the fabric and the embroidery/applique makes the details photograph well. The veil is gorgeous and I especially love her choice of tiara.

Stephanie de Lannoy, Hereditary Grand Duchess of Luxembourg: Elie Saab

Once again, it’s Elie Saab. The silver leaf appliques and dreamy lace are to die for. Stephanie looked ethereal! The way the train draped down the stairs inside the cathedral made my heart stop. Just stunning! The only thing I can be picky about is the placement of the tiara, but that’s no big deal.

2) Princess Sofia of Greece and Denmark, Queen of Spain: Jean Dessès

This gown is how you do over the top without looking like a cake topper. I really wish there were better photographs of this gown because it is a work of art. Using silver lamé to back that antique lace is genius! I love the gentle shimmer peaking through. The cape/train adds some interest to the back and the veil with the tiara is stunning.

1) Jane McNeill, Duchess of Buccleuch: ???

I love lace, what can I say? This is my ultimate wedding gown and I would wear this look in a heartbeat. That silhouette is breathtaking! I adore the way the lace mimics the Mayflower tiara and how the simple veil doesn’t distract from the gown. I also like the thin belt that highlights her waist. 10/10!

***Honorable Mention: 

Mary of Teck, Queen of the United Kingdom: Arthur Silk

I have a soft spot for wedding gowns from this era and a soft spot for Queen Mary (the literal icon of this blog!). The materials are to die for! The silk used was patterned with the emblems of shamrock, thistles, and roses. The trimmings were silver thread, Honiton lace, and orange blossoms. Swoon! She also wore her mother’s veil and wore the wedding gift tiara from Queen Victoria tucked behind a spray of orange blossom.

[royalpain16]

Princess Margaret's 1954 Rolls-Royce Phantom Is on the Auction Block

Princess Margaret rode in the classic car to meetings with dignitaries including Prime Minister Winston Churchill.

Some crown jewels come with V8 engines!

A rare Rolls-Royce Phantom IV limousine built for Princess Margaret is going up for auction at Sotheby's.

Preserved in nearly pristine original condition, the vintage car is one of only 18 Phantom IVs produced between 1950 and 1958 for world leaders and heads of state, and it remains the most difficult Rolls-Royce model to acquire, according to the prestigious auction house.

"It was an automobile built for official use by the Princess in carrying out her duties, and it looked the part," says the Sotheby's release.

Outfitted for the needs of a modern royal, the sleek black limo features power-operated windows and division, a glass roof panel with an electrically operated fabric blind, window shades. During the years when Margaret made use of it, it also featured a blue police light and mounts for the Royal heraldry and flagstaff above the windshield header that has since been removed.

Work began on the ultra-exclusive automobile in February 1954, and it was delivered to Margaret that July with a few especially personal touches: a bespoke PM6450 license plate and her personal mascot, a Pegasus, atop the radiator.

And while Margaret's sister Queen Elizabeth has long been known for her adoration of all things equine, it was horse power that excited the younger princess known to many as the "Rebel Royal."

According to Sotheby's, Margaret was "had decided that she would prefer to occasionally drive the Phantom IV herself. Thus, it was fitted with automatic transmission and with a special driver's seat finished in soft cloth, rather than the usual leather, with the ability to adjust the seat for both height and reach."

Sotheby's notes that the regal Rolls "remained in her use for 13 years and in that time was driven 27,000 miles" - a few of which she racked up from a 1955 dinner with with Prime Minister Churchill at 10 Downing Street.

In more recent years, it has been stationed in nearby Essex, where its owner has supplied it for special occasions, including weddings, and cameo appearances in films.

It's a peak time for followers of Princess Margaret. Fans can also visit Kensington Palace and see a over-the-top ball gown she donned for an 18th century-themed charity ball in 1964 - likely escorted there in the Rolls-Royce Phantom IV.

That fanciful frock and Princess Diana's lavish 1981 wedding gown (25-foot train and all!) are just a few of the pieces included in the Royal Style in the Making exhibit on display in London through January 2, 2022.

[shreddedparchment]

Pseudo Princess Pt.05

A Consummate Marriage

10/06/2019

Pairing: Steve x Reader          Word Count: 6,878

Warnings: language, dub-con, semi-graphic, teeny bit of violence, angst

A/N: This is the first time I’ve ever written a scene like the one I write towards the end. Please be kind as it is important for the story and it’s not meant to be sexy at all, at least not after a certain point. If you do not like dub-con, please consider not reading this chapter. Or if you do, please remember you were warned. I’m super nervous about this chapter but also excited to share it because it is SO important for the future of the relationship in this story. If you happen to reblog, thanks so much for helping me spread my work!

Your world is a flurry of planning. Measuring. Nervous questions muttered into Nat's ear as she shakes her head to the woman measuring you to alter your wedding dress.

“Isn’t tomorrow too soon?” You worry, watching the gray-haired seamstress as she stoops down low to pin the lower hem of your dress.

She’s sweating, her white cap—really just a glorified headband—slipping sideways to expose her flushed cheeks.

“Steve wants it tomorrow.” Mother says, moving to hold your sleeves back while she also points at your side. “Bring it in here as well.”

“Yes, but everyone’s having to rush.” You fret.

“My sweet girl, this is not rushing. It’s excitement. Right?” She asks, checking on the women moving around you and pinning your dress, fussing with fixing your bath which Nat suddenly notices.

She rushes towards them and takes the basket of soaps and oils away to look through.

The large copper tub—similar to the one you’d had back at Stark castle but longer—is placed before the large dark stone fireplace. The walls of the room are lined with dark, golden wallpaper that almost seem to glow with the warm light of the fire and candles lit around the space.

The high ceiling is made of similar dark chocolate wood as the hallways in the rest of the castle. The bed, four post with soft pink curtains and beige lace, is made of the same. Soft black sheets and golden pillows fill the plush bed. You’re so exhausted it takes all of your willpower to keep from jumping in.

Frowning at the selection of scents in the basket, Natasha hands it back and then chases the maids off.

“Yes, your Majesty.” The seamstress grunts, sighing in exhaustion.

She doesn’t seem excited.

Your heart aches with fear as she suddenly smiles up at you and you do see the sparkle of join at a wedding. A royal wedding. A reason to celebrate.

But not for you…

“Mother…” You say breathlessly, terror in your eyes.

When her blue eyes meet yours, her smile vanishes.

“Leave us.” She suddenly orders and the women who had been preparing your bath hurry to leave. “Are you done, Moira?”

“Yes, your Majesty. I will go prepare my station.” The seamstress says.

“Thank you. I’ll have Natasha bring you the dress shortly.” Mother tells her, dismissing her too.

The woman leaves and with a nod to Natasha, Natasha moves to make sure that the door is closed, no one around to listen.

“Are we alone, Nat?” She asks, and Natasha nods.

“Yes.”

“Come.” She pulls you towards the large pale blue armchair by the fire behind your tub, sitting you down first before she sits beside you in the other. “What’s the matter? Have you changed your mind?”

She probably doesn’t mean to sound disappointed, you know that. But she does. And you can’t blame her. If you jilt King Rogers, you’ll possibly tarnish relations between the two kingdoms permanently.

“No.” You shake your head, “No. Of course not. I just…”

“Did something happen when you met with Steve earlier?” Nat asks suspiciously.

Steve? Why do they all use first names? They don’t seem to regard titles at all.

Turning shocked eyes on her, she frowns.

“I told you, Pepper. I told you that his rushing meant something was off.” Nat places her hands on her hips, fuming she moves to your bath and begins to prepare it, grumbling underneath her breath.

Mother sighs. “I had hoped that maybe he was just eager to come back to us. That it meant that he’s ready to move on.”

“No one gets stuck in the past like Steve.” Nat gripes.

“What happened?” Mother asks, reaching out to take your hand in her own.

“Nothing.” You smile at her, but it’s forced, and she sees that.

“Y/N, please. If you can’t do this, tell me. The King and I will not force you to do this.” She promises.

You do believe her. Even though you know that she’d rather do this to you than to Morgana, you know that she at least cares.

“I can do this. I know I can. I just wasn’t expecting him to be so-” You take a deep breath and then smile at her. “He told me that I could never make him happy. But there was also something in his eyes…I want to try. Even if he says that I can’t. However, I’m so scared that he’s right and that I will never be able to make him happy. I don’t know if I could live with that type of disappointment. Knowing that I failed as his wife?”

“He actually told you that you could never make him happy?” Nat asks, sounding upset again. Scoffing.

You can only look down at your hands, wondering if maybe seeing you in person is what prompted him to know you won’t make him happy. Maybe he thought he’d like you from your portrait but now that he’s seen you in person, he knows that you won’t?

“There’s something I think you need to understand, darling.” Pepper begins, scooting to the edge of her seat, making her royal red gown to rustle. She takes a firmer hold on your hand, caressing it with comfort as her blue eyes bore into yours. “Steven Rogers was a very happy man. There is a large portion of his life that you will have to discover on your own because no one can tell Steve’s story like he can. It’s his to tell. But the last bit. The bit that’s stuck with him the strongest, is the one that matters right now.

“Steve married the love of his life.”

Strange how that hurts to hear.

“He met her when his Kingdom had just gone to war and their love was very passionate. It was one of those loves that embeds itself into your bones and changes you forever. Margaret was strong. She knew herself and she had firm opinions that Steve admired. She was happy. She laughed and laughed the most with him. Together they were two halves of one whole and when he asked her to marry him, the Kingdom rejoiced. The War was won, and they got married and I’d never seen him so happy.

“His life was everything that he’d hoped it would be and then she died. He lost everything. Not just Margaret but his love of life. Any hope for his future. Any sort of happiness. She took it with her, and Steve hasn’t been the same since.

“We were all very close at one time and the treaty didn’t help but when Margaret died, he completely cut us off. Tony has been reaching out since and Steve only just responded.”

“Why?” You ask, feeling sick to your stomach.

You’re marrying a man who has already had his happy ending. He was as happy as life could possibly make him and then it was taken from him. You can never make him that happy again.

“We think that maybe he was receiving some pressure from his council members. He’s young and he should have a wife. He also needs an heir to the throne.” Nat provides, standing up after spreading more wine-colored peonies over top the water steaming from your tub.

“So, it’s out of a sense of duty that he’s marrying me?” You’d thought that might be a possibility, but you’d begun to hope with the quick way he’d responded to your portrait that maybe he actually likes you.

“Love can grow from duty.” Mother offers. “We’ve said this over and over, but you need to know that this will be hard. For a while, you will probably have more bad days than good.”

“And things might also never get better, right?” You sigh.

“Yes.” Mother nods. “They might not. You don’t have to do this, Y/N.”

You smile at her weakly, then get up and move to Nat. She moves around you and begins to unlace the back of your dress and carefully slides it off your form.

“Yes, I do.” You tell mother, “I will serve my father. And my Kingdom. I’ll marry him and make the best of it. I can do this.”

“That’s the spirit.” Nat praises before offering her hand so that you can step into the tub.

Naked, you settle into the hot water, gasping lightly at the burn.

“Darling,” Mother says, getting up and moving around to squat down beside the tub in front of your fire. “If things don’t get better. You always have a home with us. Just say the word and Tony and I will come and get you. He meant it when he said that you’re family.”

Her words make you happy, but there is no question of you ever leaving. You will make this work or die trying. You will serve your kingdom and even if he think you can’t, you will find a way to make Steve happy.

The bells of the city ring continuously as you and Steve ride through the city. The procession is large, with carriages in front carrying your family, Bucky and another Knight you’d met just before the ceremony named Samuel—or Sam, as he insisted—ride on horses on either side of your carriage.

The rabble cheer. Rose petals of every color rain down on you and Steve from the windows of tall buildings where the citizens of Steve’s capital city celebrate.

You can’t help but smile as his people celebrate their new Queen. Your dress is beautiful, off the shoulder with sheer white voile sleeves that hang off your arms with golden hems and intricately embroidered white roses that run along the entirety of the gown.

Your hair had been picked up, carefully piled atop your head in messy waves that somehow still look majestically disheveled. The large golden crown atop your head, perfectly round with an even bottom and a tapered top, several silver stars adorning the center all the way around definitely helps with the regality of your outfit.

Nervous beyond reason, you turn your bashful smile on your new husband. Steve is a vision in white silks, silver and golden embroidery along his top, his trousers are black, a line of golden vine along the sides.

His own crows sits atop his own head.

He’s beautiful and kingly, and he’d taken your breath away when you’d walked into the large church to get married.

His own gaze has remained the same. Save for a small uncertainty when you’d first met his eyes across the church, he’s looked just as stoic as he does now. The only difference is that in the church he’d had his jaw clenched the entire time.

Now, there’s a defeat in his expression that makes your smile fade.

“Your Majesty?” You check, reaching over to take his left hand but just as your fingertips touch his hand, he lifts it and waves at his people.

“Wave at our people, your Majesty.” He orders and avoids looking at you.

You do as he asks, chewing on your lower lip as you remind yourself that you signed up for this. You could have told father—King Tony—no when he’d first asked you to do this. You could have gone back to your sewing hut and gone on starving and being free to come and go as you please, but you accepted this path.

Patience. You urge yourself. Knowing that getting through to Steve will not be easy. It’ll be a long time probably before he’ll even feel comfortable enough to speak around you without that hint of animosity in his tone.

You want to tell him that you’re sorry. That you wish he could have his Margaret back, but you think if you said that, he’d probably hate you more. Plus, you really want him to tell you about his pain in his own time.

“Your Majesty…” You begin again, not looking at him as you wave and force a smile. “…Steve.”

Your heart stops and you wait for him to get angry, but there’s only silence from your right.

“Please, call me by my name when we’re together. I-I’m your wife now. I want to know you.” And those last words are heavy. You mean that in every sense.

“You must do as you wish, your Majesty.” He says pointedly.

With a pit in your stomach, you try not to let your shoulders slump but you’re realizing that this is going to be harder to deal with than you thought.

“Never mind, your Majesty. I will follow your lead.” You continue to wave as Steve sighs heavily beside you.

~~~~~~~~~~

“Steve,” Bucky begins as he dismounts and watches as Steve steps off the carriage then turns to offer you his hand.

“Not now.” Steve tells him, not a care in the world that you’re standing there with him while he clearly argues with Bucky.

“Yes. Now.” Bucky stops beside him, scowling at him as you step down.

“I won’t have this discussion again.” Steve insists.

Once he’s sure that you’re safe on the ground he turns and walks away with Bucky trailing behind him.

By the time you lift your dress a bit to follow, his long legs have already taken him away from you a bit.

Bucky looks back at you, shooting you an apologetic look before he turns back to Steve with a frown. “Steve, you need to think about what sort of precedent you’re setting. It’s your wedding days. The servants are watching you and the new Queen. How do you think they’ll treat her if you don’t-”

He must have seen the two of you talking on the way back to the castle.

“Your Majesty?” Nat says, and you turn to look at her as Steve and Bucky fall out of earshot.

This time you force yourself to look happy. To look fine even though you feel like there’s an anvil in your chest, weighing you down.

“Nat…” You begin as she curtsies deep. “Stop that.”

“I can’t.” She chuckles. “You are Queen now and you are the highest women in the Kingdom. You deserve respect and admiration and I am more than happy to give it.”

If only Steve felt the same way.

“Thank you.” You keep your smile, intent on making sure that no one sees what Bucky did in the carriage. “Let’s go catch up with the King.”

You can see Steve and Bucky bickering by the large pale doors settled against the dark wooden wall. Beyond it you know there’ll be a wedding feast with more food than you’ve seen in your entire life. There’ll be music and merry making and dancing and everything that doubles and triples joy when there is a wedding to be celebrated.

They stop as you get closer and Steve turns towards the doorway and holds out his left arm for you.

“Shall we…” Steve looks at Bucky then clears his throat. “…my darling?”

Hearing Steve’s deep tone say those words, call you by something so sweet, nearly makes you faint. But the excitement is momentary as you realize that Bucky’s scolding is what’s prompted him to say it. He’s doing it for show and stupid girl that you are, you want it to be real.

You nod.

Steve leads you through and the cheers that greet you are deafening, quickly followed by lively music.

~~~~~~~~~~

The timbrel is too loud. The clack, clack, clack, of the jingles keeps pulling your eyes to the band on the second floor of the large ballroom. It’s not obscenely large. Enough for the gentry, all of Steve’s council, and friends.

But it’s full and the dancing has been going on for a while. The lute plays its melodies and the harp makes you happy. The recorder sounds pretty, and you enjoy the slow dances as well as the fast ones.

It’s when the fast ones play that you edge to your seat and clap along. You look to your side and Steve sits still, elbows on the arms of his chair. Storm blue eyes intent on the crowd, endless in their daze.

He’s no here. You can see that.

He’s somewhere else and you wonder what heartbreak he must have endured to withdraw from his friends. How lonely must he have been these past two years? How much must he have loved Queen Margaret to still be this sad?

Not that you expect he’ll ever think of her without feeling sad. Losing someone, you know there’s no forgetting them.

Your parents are always with you and you miss them and sometimes it kills you to think of them because you can never have them again. But it’s always a few moments taken to feel it and then you move on, because that’s all you can do.

Steve must be struggling with that. How can you help him?

You follow his gaze and this time notice that he’s watching Nat and Bucky. They’re twirling around each other, laughing as the music picks up in beat.

Slowly, Steve’s expression softens, and his lips curve up slightly on the corners. It’s subtle but so beautiful and your heart pounds in your chest at the sight.

“They make a beautiful couple.” You lean over slightly to say to him.

There’s no need to whisper as no one is paying attention to you or Steve. Everyone is celebrating. Occasionally someone will look towards the two of you and raise their sparkling crystal goblets and both you and Steve will nod slowly, but they go back to their fun and leave the two of you to sit at the head of the table, observing the party with piles of more food than you can eat in front of you.

“Yes.” Steve agrees, still smiling.

Then, like he’s just realized that it’s you speaking, his smile vanishes and he looks at you with a small scowl that furrows his brow.

He’s like sculpted marble, hard and gorgeous, blonde hair looking soft enough to run your fingers through.

You want to do it, but you know that he’d hate it.

You’re in too deep, Y/N. You chastise yourself, recognizing the affection you have for him already even though he’s been cold towards you.

“Why aren’t they married yet? From what I saw of them together, it seems like Bucky would like very much to-”

“Bucky?” Steve suddenly asks, voice tight with tension as he eyes you, his scowl deeper. “Bucky?”

You realize your mistake a little too late. Referring to him so casually… “I mean, Sir James. I-When I saw him last, he asked me to call him-”

“If he asked you to then do as you wish.” Steve settles and looks away from you, angling his body towards the opposite side from where you’re sitting.

Internally you cringe. Hating yourself for letting Bucky’s name slip. He’s already apprehensive of your being here, and you call his closest friend by his first name? He must think you’ve gotten too comfortable too quickly.

Three more dances pass, another quick and two slow. As the fourth begins, more upbeat, you angle yourself towards Steve again and this time reach out for his hand.

It settles hesitantly over his, fingers light as feathers as you bask in the surprisingly rough texture. Not abhorrently rough. Rough like yours. Like he’s had to work with his hands.

He has been to war. That makes sense. He must also have scars.

“Your Majesty?” You check, speaking slowly. It’s like you’re afraid to startle him. As if he were a deer listening for the twang of a bow.

He stares at your hand, eyes intent as he observes it?

“We haven’t danced yet.” You tell him, as if he doesn’t already know. “Isn’t it customary for a King and his Queen to-”

Suddenly he rises, his chair crying out as it scrapes against the stone floor beneath your feet. He turns his hand over and takes yours, pulling you up to stand.

Everyone stops what they are doing, turning to face you and Steve, waiting with bated breath while your heart flips and your stomach tumbles.

Finally, a dance!

“We will retire to the marriage bed.” He says, and your heart falls.

However, you have no time to look disappointed because he’s pulling you around the chairs as everyone bows and curtsies. You search for your adoptive parents, yearning to see Tony’s and Pepper’s faces before your life changes forever, but they are nowhere in sight. You catch Nat’s eye and she’s frowning, staring at you as you plead with her silently for help.

This moment you hadn’t thought at all about. The one thing that would make this marriage irreversible. Another duty. One that you would have been eager to perform if you weren’t completely sure that Steve hates you.

You see Nat jab Bucky’s side and together they move around the crowd and take a back door as Steve leads you down hallway after hallway in silence towards your room.

Every echoing step takes you closer to uncharted territory. You’ve never been with a man. Of course, that’s what people expect.

You’re a princess after all. One from an esteemed house and a virgin is what a King deserves.

Steve finally stops before your door, drops your hand and looks you straight in the eyes.

“I’ll return in ten minutes.” He promises, then turns and moves down to the end of the hall where he disappears through another door.

A second later, Nat turns the far corner of the hallway and she hastens her steps, Bucky behind her.

“Come along, your Majesty.” Nat says and she scoops you into the circle of her arms to nudge you into your room.

Bucky walks past you two and heads to the end of the hallway where Steve had disappeared.

The room is stifling.

“It’s hot.” You tell Nat and she hurries to douse the fire with a pitcher of water. It sizzles and weakens but doesn’t die completely.

She throws the windows open but then she’s on you, peeling your dress away. Carefully she pulls your arms from their lace sleeves.

“Nat, what am I supposed to do?” You wonder, fear slowly taking hold.

“Do?” She laughs. “Nothing. He’ll do most of the work. I think that’s usually best for nights like this. When you two know each other better then maybe you can explore your strengths but for now, just lay back and try-”

“Will it hurt?” You ask her, and she stops unlacing your back to turn you around.

“Are you really a virgin?” She wonders, searching your face for a lie.

You nod.

“I thought that maybe-” She begins.

“That maybe because I was born a peasant that I’d lain with someone already? Just because I’m poor, that doesn’t make me-”

“No!” Nat gasps, shocked by your train of thought. “No. Sweet Y/N. That’s not what I mean. I just thought that—rather I hoped that maybe you’d been in love before. That this wouldn’t be the first time you felt something for someone and that maybe you wouldn’t be unprepared for tonight.”

You understand her hope and her worry.

“And you’re not poor anymore.” She gives your arms a squeeze then turns you around again to finish undressing you. She removes your under garments and you stand there, naked until she sets your wedding dress aside and helps pull over your head a sheer white lace chemise. It runs all the way down to the floor, flowing outwards like a lily but loose and clings only to your bust and the first bit of your torso. She ties it at your neck, a loose bow then pulls over that a second sheer robe that does little more to hide your body than the nightgown itself.

It feels divine against your skin though, and you grab a bit of the robe to examine the lace pattern.

“Peonies?” You ask her and she smiles.

“You remind me of a peony.” She admits. “Shy and honorable. I also hope that you have a happy marriage and I may have suggested to Pepper that if we got you a nightdress with them laced in, that maybe it would bring you luck.”

You smile at her softly, touched by her forethought. “Thank you.”

“Of course. Let’s just get your hair down, and you’re ready.” She reaches up to unpin your hair and it falls down across your shoulders in those carefully ironed waves.

She moves it, adjusting it until it’s just right when the door behind her opens.

Your heart drops into the pit of your stomach and all previous worries vanish as Steve walks in wearing the exact same trousers he’d been wearing for the wedding, but his regal white jacket is gone, replaced by a plain white shirt, untucked. The neck open exposing the hard edges of his chest muscles, a soft patch of dusty blonde hair peeking out.

He’s watching you, eyes trained on you with a relentless stoicism that you can’t decipher. Is he as excited as you are? As nervous?

Your hands feel weak. Like the fuzz when a limb falls asleep. Detached, like they might float away. Legs too. Your entire body is floating and clearly, no longer yours.

It’s his.

Nat backs away from you, moving to the door before she gives a deep curtsy and with one last encouraging smile, she backs out and shuts the door.

Your mouth is parched from nerves and no words can form in such a desert. So, you simply look up at Steve’s face then back down to his hands as they hang limply at his sides. Then back up to his face, at his staring storm blue eyes, then back down.

He steps closer and you guide your gaze back up, searching his face for a hint of what he might be thinking.

Those storm blues are taking you in, running down along your legs to your feet then back up slowly along your hips, waist, stomach, chest, shoulders, and finally your face.

Is he disappointed?

You open your mouth as if to ask him, but nothing comes out but a soft rush of anxious air. The anticipation is unbearable.

As he moves towards you slowly, causing you to back up until your legs hit the end of your bed, he reaches back behind his neck to pull at his shirt. He takes it off, then throws it onto your pale blue armchair.

The sculpt of his body is stunning. Just as you’d imagined, he’s chiseled with the labor of his training and…more than that. He’s without flaw. Like he was made to be so. Carved from clay and cooked until he’d hardened into solid mass.

Maybe he’s part God? Maybe his father was Asgardian or his mother? How can he be so ethereally beautiful and not be?

He reaches for the drawstring at the front of his pants and your eyes follow the movement.

You swallow hard, terrified to be a disappointment for him but when he drops his pants, you can see that you are not. At least in this way, you’ve pleased him.

You sigh, relieved, eager, scared.

He stands erect, long and sufficiently thick peach cock, soft pink swollen head, throbbing visibly in a patch of more blonde hair, and you wonder if it hurts him to be so stiff.

You want to touch it. Having never touched one…but more importantly, you want to touch Steve. Your mouth is very nearly back to normal as it begins to water with surprising desire.

When he steps out of his pants, your attention is drawn back to his face and away from the array of fantasies that have overtaken your mind.

He’s only a foot away from you now and you can’t back away anymore so when his hands find your hips—a scorching touch that burns through your thin nightdress—you nearly fall back against your mattress but reach up to take hold on his shoulders.

For one long moment he stares into your eyes and you stare into his. His arms wrap themselves around you, tracing the curves of your woman’s body. The way they linger and caress, it feels like he’s been needing this type of touch.

The skin of his shoulders is so soft, you trace the shape up to the nape of his neck where your fingers tickle the small hairs for only a moment before a strange hiss from his lips draws your eyes to them.

You want to kiss him, those pink lips, but then his hands are hard on your waist. Too tight.

He lifts you and pushes you back onto the bed, moving a bit more quickly now and his previously intense expression is altered, pained. As if something is hurting him.

“Steve?” You wonder as you lay on your back and he begins to crawl over you.

He frowns.

Gripping the bottom of your nightdress he yanks it up. The sound of a tear startles you.

“Steve, wait.” You whisper, breathless as his weight pushes you down into the mattress.

“Stop saying my name.” He grumbles.

He forces your nightgown up until it’s wrapped around your waist and he nudges your legs apart with his knee.

You try to resist for only a second, but his strength is too much and you remember that it must happen. In one split second, you remember that this is your duty.

Trying to relax you put your hands on his shoulders again, but this makes him move faster and he’s up, kneeling between your legs as he takes firm grip of your thighs and spreads them wider.

Your neck and ears burn in embarrassment as he opens and exposes you for him to see. Your hands fumble down to cover yourself but Steve shoves them away as he settles between your legs again and without warning he nudges at your entrance.

You gasp, shocked by the stretch of just his tip. “Oh…” You cry, suddenly terrified by the large girth and length you’d seen earlier.

He stops for a moment, staring down at you as you meet his gaze and you see confusion flash across his face.

“Ste-?” You begin but then his confusion is gone, and he pushes into you in one hard thrust.

You make to scream, to cry out in agony as he pierces you and rips you apart inside. All that comes out is a high-pitched wheeze.

The feeling of something being where it doesn’t belong, uncomfortable. The burn of his stretch, painful.

Your body stiffens and you fist the black sheets of your bed as he stills for only a second then he’s pulling back and you shake your head.

“Please…” You beg, wishing he’d go slower. Wishing he’d stop for just a moment so that you can wrap your body and your mind around this new sensation.

It’s too painful and you need time to adjust. If he’d just go slow…

But he doesn’t listen. He doesn’t stop. He thrusts into you again. And again. And again, and again and again.

He burns you and scars you as he pushes himself up off of your torso to gain more traction and pump himself into you faster. Harder. The sound of his skin slapping against yours is loud and you shake your head some more protesting the lurid sound.

A trail of tears stain your cheeks and drip into your hair as your legs bounce and your body is jerked upwards with every thrust. With a sudden bloom of heat from between your legs, you quickly look down and shudder at the sight of blood.

“Wait…” You plead. “Please...I beg you…”

But Steve doesn’t stop. He moves faster, huffing with the effort of thrusting into you. His hands wrap around underneath you, to hook up into your shoulders.

“Please…” You cry, a sob. “Steve…”

He growls, frustrated. “Stop saying my name!”

He reaches down to hold your hip down into the bed with one hand while he pistons into your bleeding and torn cunt.

“Steve…” You plead, one final time as he groans and buries himself deep within you, a splash of heat warming you from the inside again, but this time you know it isn’t blood.

He thrusts two more times, emptying himself into you as it is his duty to do so and you wait while he does, as you’re supposed to.

Your duty. Produce an heir. This is your job.

But you’re crying, and your body is trembling. There’s fear in your eyes and sorrow in your heart.

He pulls away from you. As he slips out of you, the discomfort renews and you cry out, tears rushing down your cheeks.

Steve stops.

He stares at you, storm blue eyes narrowed in disbelief as you sob.

You turn away from him, trying to hide the shame of the red between your legs. You pull your nightdress down, legs pulled up as you curl in and try to relax your body from the savage consummation of your marriage.

Steve slides to the end of your bed and he sits at the edge for what feels like an age. Hands at his sides, gripping tightly to the bed as he stares at the floor of your room while you continue to sob quietly.

At last, without a word, he rises. He pulls on his pants and his shirt and without another look back at you, he leaves you alone in your room to fall apart in peace.

~~~~~~~~~~

Nat turns towards the doorway as she hears the inner doors open. She wasn’t expecting it to be over so quickly. It hasn’t even been half an hour.

The second set of doors open and Steve marches out looking sweaty and pale.

He stops, staring at Natasha for a moment before he looks at Bucky.

For two minutes he merely stands there. Mute. Thinking. When they can no longer take the silence, Bucky opens his mouth first.

“You’re not staying with her?” Bucky asks, startled it seems by Steve’s reappearance. “I thought-?”

But Steve doesn’t wait. He moves between them and heads back to his own room.

Nat meets Bucky’s equally concerned gaze.

“I’ll go see what happened.” Bucky tells her.

“I’ll do the same.” She nods.

Bucky moves past her and hastens after his King. When he’s out of sight, Nat turns towards the doors to your room and heads inside.

She’s not sure what she was expecting to find. From the way Steve stormed out, she was thinking that maybe he hadn’t been able to do it.

It’s been so long since he’d been with anyone that she could see him being nervous or anxious about sleeping with you. She also knows how much he misses Margaret and she would have understood if he hadn’t been able to sleep with you because of that reason but the room wreaks of sex and what she finds is not what she expects.

“What are you doing?” She asks you, watching you stoop down to lay your black sheets in the basket she’d designated for your dirty laundry.

You stand up, smiling at her sweetly before shrugging and fixing your new nightdress, the plain white one with the small bow at the neck that you’ve been wearing since you moved in with Tony.

“I bled.” You admit to her and Nat narrows her eyes.

“Where’s your other nightgown? Are you alright?” She asks you, suspicious by your calm demeanor.

“Yes. A little sore.” You turn away from her as she gets closer and move to your remade bed. “But I’m okay. I’m tired.”

She can clearly see you avoiding the first of her questions but watches you sit on the edge, and the careful way that you settle onto it.

You’re more than just sore…why are you lying?

“Consummation was a success.” You declare and turn to smile at her. “But, really, Nat. I’m very tired. I’d like to just go to bed, if that’s alright?”

“Of course, it is.” How can you still not understand that what you say goes? She’ll drill that into you until you accept it. “Sleep well, your Majesty.”

And the fact that you lay down and don’t fight her on the title gives her worry. Certain that something has gone wrong, she turns on her heel and follows Bucky to investigate herself.

~~~~~~~~~~

The small table hits the wall and shatters into pieces. Legs and knobs fly around the room. Bucky ducks to avoid one.

Steve moves to the large desk in his office and he slams his hands against the sturdy oak, making it creak under the strength of his weight.

“Are you going to trash your office now? Oh, yeah. That’s an excellent plan your Majesty, by all means, break everything in sight.” Bucky snarks annoyed with him more than anything.

Steve knows that he’s being unreasonable, but he needs to relieve this stress somehow and it’s too late to go hunting.

Shoulders heaving, he hears the door open and the quiet step of his other best friend.

“What happened?” Nat asks, disapproval in her voice probably for the mess that Steve’s made of his office.

He looks up behind his desk, staring at the source of his woes.

Margaret—her portrait—sitting there in her bright red dress, red lips, carefully curled brown hair, that twinkle skillfully painted into her eyes just as she’d had in real life…she’s watching him. Smirking at the way he’s struggling.

“Steve’s throwing a fit.” Bucky sighs.

“No. What happened?” She asks pointedly and Steve’s heart drops.

“Oh.” Bucky breathes in deeply, then releases the breath slowly. “He didn’t exactly make the best first impression on her in bed.”

“That tells me nothing, James. Did you or did you not sleep with her?” Nat asks, glaring at Steve’s back.

“I slept with her.” Steve relents. “I…”

He looks down at his hands again and it all flashes back like a bad dream. His hands gripping her flesh too hard, fingers buried in against her skin as she struggles—he’s sure she didn’t even realize she was struggling as much as she was—and the sobs that tear through her throat.

And all he could do was push into her.

“I hurt her.” Steve grieves, looking up at Margaret again.

“Did she ask you to stop?” Nat asks through clenched teeth.

Steve shakes his head. “No. But she asked me to slow down. She asked me to…I should have been gentler. I just…”

“You just let your stupid ideas about Margaret get in the way.” Bucky supplies. “She’s dead Steve.”

“I know that.” Steve says sternly.

“You are allowed to be married again. You are allowed to sleep with your wife.” Bucky insists.

Steve says nothing, but his back tenses and Bucky pounces.

“Yes, Steve. You heard me. Wife. She is your wife now, Steve. You married her today. You had a week to change your mind. You saw her picture. You chose her. You accepted her. So, you’re going to have to put her first from now on. Margaret is no longer your wife.”

“It doesn’t feel like that to me!” Steve shouts, turning to look at Bucky with raging blue eyes. “Maggie still feels like my Queen. She is my queen. My wife. I married her. I chose her. I…I wasn’t ready for...for Y/N.”

Both of his friends stare at him with disapproving scowls and he knows that he’s wrong, but he can only be honest. If not with them, then with who?

“I’m not ready for her.” He admits.

Nat sighs, shutting her eyes as she covers her mouth with her hand. Steve can see her regretting her part in this marriage even if she holds no guilt for what he just did or for what he’s still doing.

Bucky moves towards him, shaking his head.

“You had a choice in this, Steve. The council gave you a year to find someone to marry before they would begin proceedings to move your cousin onto the throne. You decided to reach out to Tony. You had the chance to reject her when he sent her portrait. You have set your course and now you can’t undo it.

“Whether you’re ready for her or not, you have a wife and she’s your responsibility now. She doesn’t deserve what you did to her tonight.”

“I know.” Steve laments. “I know…I just…she wouldn’t stop saying my name and all I could hear was Margaret and I-”

“It felt like infidelity?” Nat offers.

“Yes!” Steve nods, grateful for the understanding. “Yes, I felt as if…like I was being unfaithful to Maggie.”

“You’re an idiot.” She counters. “However, you are my king now. And I will serve you and your Queen until the day I die. I will do so with unwavering loyalty. But you will fix this, Steve. I don’t know how, but you better make this up to her.”

Steve knows that she’s right but as he turns to look at Margaret’s portrait, he feels his heart waver, wishing that she’d come back to him and make this all go away.

[tiaramania]

Favorite Royal Wedding Tiaras

This was so much more difficult than my least favorite royal wedding tiaras list.  I love bridal tiara traditions so most of these have been worn by multiple brides and are at least partially on here because I’m a sentimental fool.  I’m going to cheat a little bit by narrowing it down to ten tiaras not ten brides and I’m not putting any colorful bridal tiaras on the list since I did a top ten of those yesterday.

10. Queen Maria Christina of Spain’s Diamond Floral Tiara - I love floral tiaras on brides.  Some royals choose flowers instead of a tiara for their wedding day and I always think that they should have just chosen diamond flowers instead.

9. Princess Dina of Jordan’s Diamond Lily Tiara - I’m a bit surprised that this tiara made the list but as I was narrowing them down I kept being drawn to it.  It’s beautiful and balanced, big enough for someone marrying a king but still delicate enough for a bride.  I hope this one is still in the Jordanian vault somewhere and it worn again because it’s better than most of their current tiaras.

8. Queen Elisabeth of Belgium’s Diamond Bandeau Tiara - Only two brides have worn this tiara so far but I’d love to see it continuing to be used for weddings in the future.  It strikes that balance of not being overwhelming but still obviously there and I like the simple art deco design.

7. Grand Duchess Josephine Charlotte of Luxembourg’s Congo Diamond Tiara - Similar to the diamond bandeau above I think this tiara is a nice unobtrusive choice for brides and I like the mix of diamond cuts used in it.  This tiara had a run as Luxembourg’s go to wedding tiara for a while but hasn’t been used lately and is my second favorite of their bridal tiara traditions.

6. Hesse Ears of Wheat Tiara - I love ears of wheat jewelry on brides because of the symbolism but when used in a tiara there usually ends up being this weird negative space in the middle.  This is the best of the wheat tiaras because it overlaps the ears so that the middle isn’t empty.

5. Princess Irina Yusupov’s Rock Crystal Tiara - This tiara was confiscated by the Bolsheviks and hasn’t been seen since so I’m just hurting myself by putting it on here but doesn’t it make the perfect bridal tiara?!

4. Queen Mary of the Untied Kingdom’s Fringe Tiara - I know not everyone likes fringe tiaras but I love them enough for all of us.  I think fringe tiaras are a good choice because the design is very simple so it won’t clash with whatever else the bride has going on.  This one almost became a bridal tiara tradition but it wasn’t continued into the current generation by either the Duchess of Cambridge as the future queen or by Zara Tindall as the oldest granddaughter and next in the mother/daughter line which I’m still upset about.

3. Queen Mary of the United Kingdom’s Iveagh Tiara - I love everything about this tiara.  Like I said about other tiaras on this list it’s light and delicate but not too small and I love kokoshniks.  I wish that they would figure out a way to have this go back to the mainline of the family but at the same time if I were the Gloucesters this is the tiara I would try the hardest to keep hold of even if I had to sell the other tiaras.

2. Luxembourg Vine Leaves Tiara - I think naturalistic designs are a particularly good choice for weddings and this one is very beautiful.  After skipping a generation was brought back as a wedding tiara recently and HGD Stephanie also wore it to her pre-wedding ball since she wore a tiara from her own family on her wedding day which I though was a nice touch.

1. Crown Princess Margaret of Sweden’s Khedive of Egypt Tiara - This is the perfect wedding tiara.  It’s light and delicate but still substantial enough to not get lost in a veil.  The laurel and scroll design is wedding appropriate and not likely to clash with any elements in a gown.  Cartier at it’s best.

[thefutureduchessmarie]

Top 10 favourite royal wedding dresses

*slides back into the Royal Fandom* I saw these posts going around and couldn’t help but do one myself. Surprisingly it was harder than I thought to find 10 Royal Brides whose dresses I absolutely loved, but here they are:

10. Queen Sonja of Norway

I included Sonja mostly because I felt like I should feature multiple generations, and this style, while not being my personal favorite, was definitely a popular one among Royal brides at that time. And Sonja had by far the best take on the trend. There was something very dainty about it, which balanced the heavy silhouette and fabric quite well, resulting in an overall lovely look. 

9. Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge 

I wondered wether or not I should include Kate on my list. Personally, I don’t think this dress really speaks to me. But objectively speaking it’s so well done, fits her so perfectly (which is rare when it comes to Catherine sorry-not-sorry) and it’s such an instant classic, I had to include it. This dress is fit for the future Queen of England, which is probably the best compliment I can bestow upon it. Plus I loved the little detail at the back. 8. Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon

If there was one thing Margaret knew how to do, it was how to bring in the glam and the drama. This is the quintessential Princess Look. Big pouffy skirt, huge veil and even bigger tiara. But it was still tastefully done, well balanced and survived the test of time. The only thing I would ditch is the lining on the veil. 

7. Tatiana Casiraghi

The fact that we don’t have proper pictures of this Dress & Cape combo is something I will never get over. But the fact that a few blurry pictures and a sketch are enough to land it on my list, tells you just how much I love it. Absolutely magical winter look 

6. Princess Grace of Monaco

Ah, the classic of the classics! One of the most famous wedding dresses of all time, it served as inspiration to brides all over the world - including other Royal Brides. And it’s not hard to see why. The lace work is stunning, the shape is timeless and the fitting perfect. Grace Kelly was always going to be a beautiful bride, even if she showed up in a towel, but this dress made her an absolute vision.

5. Princess Caroline of Hanover 

Three monegasque brides in a row? Don’t mind if I do. Caroline’s choice was a bit unusual, but such a beautiful one. An absolute boho dream! Every element - dress, embroideries, lace, flowers, headpiece - came together effortlessly, to create one of the most unique Royal Bridal looks I’ve ever seen. It also ended up influencing her daughter’s beautiful wedding dress years laters, which made it even more special

4. Princess Madeleine of Sweden

I have one problem with Made’s dress and that is the fact that the bust didn’t fit perfectly, especially when she moved (big disappointment coming from Valentino). Everything else was absolutely perfect. Like Margaret, Madeleine knows how to look like a Princess! The lace was absolutely stunning, the feminine hemline helped bring the dress and train together and made it lighter, and the combination of the neckline with slightly open back made her look radiant. Pair it with jewelry and tiara hair only accessible to the swedes, and you have a bride to remember.

3. Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden

And we reach the podium! If Madeleine was every bit the Princess bride, then her sister was Regal. Im not always the biggest fan of Victoria’s style, but everything about her wedding look worked. Her simple yet imposing dress. The way she pulled off the Cameo tiara (a beautiful piece, but by no means an easy one to wear, especially not on your wedding day). The combination of modernity and tradition. Make no mistake - this was the wedding of a Queen. Oh, and her huge smile all through the day didn’t hurt either. 

2. Meghan, Duchess of Sussex

Ah, Meghan, where do I even begin? If this was our only change to ever see her in a tiara, then boy, did she make it a memorable one. I feel like the pictures don’t do this dress justice (hence why I used gifs), but she was simply glowing! It fitted her modern, sleek and minimalist style, just as well as the Royal world that she was entering. The simple silhouette looked perfect against the intricate veil and heavier tiara, without ever overwhelming the bride. It was truly Meghan wearing the dress and not the other way around. This is one for the history books 

1. Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway

The only “bad” thing about this dress is that it’s 19 years old and therefore we don’t have HQ pictures of every single detail. The gown and the veil were so simple, light and ethereal, it feels like they were magically conjured or assembled by birds, like in Cinderella. Everything just flows beautifully down her body and down the aisle. MM has always done things her way - we’re talking about the Future Queen who didn’t wear makeup on her wedding day! - and that’s why her fairytale look is my ultimate winner

Im sure this post comes as a total shock to my football followers, but I had so much fun reminiscing while putting it together. Im happy to realize that my favorite brides were also the happiest, the ones that were truly themselves, the ones who had to fight for their marriages and who seem just as in love today and they did when they wore their dresses. Maybe i have to try and do these things a bit more often 

[foreverfangirlalways]

The Astronomer and The Florist (Chapter 13)

Chapter 13 Title: Michael’s Return (and ohhh, whose this?)

Summery: Patton and Roman ask Virgil and Logan something, Patton and Virgil start working on wedding planning, and some well hated people show up!

Ships: Analogical & Royality

Warning: author is not entirely sure How brunch works, mentions of strippers, teasing, MICHAEL, threats, unwanted flirting+advances, assault, weaponized tennis racket, flame thrower, cursing

-let me know if I need to add more warnings-

(Thank you to @kawaiikat54 for letting me borrow an idea or two!

And thank you to @kuroyurishion for the idea that is stared in the last few paragraphs! )

—-

It’s been two weeks since the Disney trip and proposal. Everyone loved the trip, and had so much fun, but they had to go back to work.

Roman called up both Logan and Virgil. He invited them to brunch.

After they accepted, and headed over to Roman and Patton’s house.

Logan and Virgil immediately knew something was up the moment they smelt cinnamon rolls and fries. Patton only makes cinnamon rolls when he’s nervous. And he only makes French fries to soften a blow.

Everyone sat down at the table, and grabbed their plates. After about 10 minutes of a tense, chewing filled silence, Logan spoke up.

“So, what is this about?”

“Wha- what do you mean?” Patton stuttered nervously. “Pat, you made comfort food. It’s ok, just tell us where the body is, and we’ll frame it on Roman.”

Roman made some offended princey noises at Virgil’s words. “Umm, excuse me!”

“You’re excused.” Logan replied, hiding a smirk at Romans enraged face. Patton, sensing his fiancé’s frustration, started giggling.

Soon everyone was laughing, and Roman playfully hit Logan. “And Virgil, for your information, we are not here about Patton. It’s about y’all.”

Virgil instantly stopped laughing, and looked terrified. Logan reaches over and squeezed Virgil’s hand. Patton whacked Roman.

“Common my love, you know you can’t just say things like that!”

Roman looked sheepishly at Virgil. “Sorry V, Let me rephrase, Patton and I have a question to ask y’all two.”

Patton nodded enthusiastically, and bounced over to the cabinet in the corner, and grabbed two envelopes out of the top drawer. He handed the red one to Roman, and sat back down, still holding the light blue one.

The fiancé’s smiled at eachother, then Roman handed Logan the red envelope and Patton handed Virgil the blue one.

Logan opened his and scowled at the amount of glitter that fell out of the envelope. Virgil opened his, took out the card, and started choking.

Logan looked worriedly at his shocked boyfriend. He then took his card completely out of the envelope and gasped.

It was a card that had a black bow tie on it, and said “TIME TO SUIT UP! Your service as bestman is requested.”

Logan looked up questionably, and Roman nodded. Logan smiled, looked over at Virgil’s card, and made an indescribable noise.

Virgil was staring down at a card that said “GET ME A STRIPPER”. Logan was stunned, and Virgil finally got the courage to open the card. The card unfolded, and instead of “GET ME A STRIPPER” it now said “GET out there and plan ME A bachelor party! STRIve for refined and uPPER class, fun but tame. (Will You Be My Bestman?)”

Virgil was silent for a minute before busting out laughing. He threw his arms around Patton and said, “Of course you weirdo! I would love to be your bestman, I’m honored!”

Patton smiled so very gleefully, and then Virgil continued talking. “As for the other thing, I’m sure Remy knows a place.”

Patton buried his head in his hands, and Roman wrapped Pat up in his arms. “Don’t worry dearheart, Virgil will do no such thing!”

“No, I am, the card asked me too.” Virgil said, knowing full and well that he was going to get Patton one of those singing striper bass’s and paint a blue ‘p’ on it.

Patton laughed, knowing his best friend wouldn’t do anything too drastic. Probably. Most likely. Hopefully.

Roman looked at Logan for support, and just saw a smirk. “I don’t do bow ties, but I would be honored to be your bestman.” Roman hugged Logan, and Patton hugged Virgil. Then they all merged together into one big group hug, mainly because Patton dragged Virgil over yelling “group hug!”

After everyone sat back down, Patton started talking. “We would also like y’all to help with the wedding planning!”

Upon the silence that followed, Roman started speaking. “You obviously don’t have to if you don’t want to, but we just thought that it would be fun and exciting to have y’all be the co-wedding planners.”

Logan nodded. “I think that is a reasonable conclusion. Plus, it would be smart to include us, as we can make sure that you don’t burn your entire lifesavings or be too... what’s the word?” Logan said, looking at Virgil.

“Extra.” Virgil said smiling. “And Yeah, I would love to help with the wedding. Lo is great at expenses and Ro is great at shopping, so power couples right there.” Everyone laughed, and then Roman grew serious. “Speaking of shopping, I was thinking about... going dress shopping.” Roman looked up at his friends faces. “For a wedding dress. For me.”

“Cool, are you gonna wear heels or flats?” Virgil asked. “Uhh, wedges?” Roman said and Virgil nodded. “Good idea, both.”

Logan was studying Roman, and kind of freaking him out. “I always saw you in a full skirt, but I think a ball gown type would fit you over all aesthetic better.” Romans’ mouth dropped open. Then he started crying.

Patton immediately pulled Roman into his arms, and Logan looked very alarmed. “I’m sorry, you don’t have to do the aesthetic look, it was jus-“ Roman started laughing.

“It’s not about that nerd, I’m just so glad that y’all are so accepting.” Logan and Virgil looked at eachother then at Roman. “Of course we accepted you.” Logan said. “Yeah, besides, I always knew that you would wear something dramatic, might as well take Logan with you to make sure it’s not dramatically overpriced.” Virgil joked, and they all laughed.

-_-_-_-

A few days later, Patton and Virgil were making plans for the wedding bouquet. They were discussing how the Romans favorite flowers are red roses and red carnations, but Patton still wanted to tie a bit of the secondary blue theme into the bouquet.

*DING DING DING*

The bell over the door chimed, alerting them to a new customer. They both looked up from the planning book, and Virgil swore. Patton, recognizing the guy from the video Virgil showed him, narrowed his eyes.

“What the actual FUCK are you doing here?” Virgil growled.

“Oh come now,” Michael said, smirking. “Is that any way to treat a potential costumer?”

“You,” Patton seethed, “are not a costumer. Get out now.” Michael looked Patton up and down, then rolled his eyes. “Or what? You have no grounds to kick me or my boyfriend out.”

Virgil raised an eyebrow at that last statement, and then another guy walked in. He was wearing an orange and black hoodie and an orange beanie. He smirked at Virgil then gave Patton a once over.

“The fuck?” Virgil said, not believing that the asshole was able to get someone to date him. The guy glanced at Virgil but seemed to be focusing mostly on Patton. He even leaned close to Pat over the counter.

Michael was watching Virgil observe the orange clad person. He smirked, very obviously delighted.

“Oh, what’s that look for hot stuff? Are you jealous?” Virgil looked at Michael like he was the biggest dumbass in the world.

“Of what? Your so called boyfriend is checking out my best friend! Are you honestly telling me that you are fine with that?” Virgil asked, in both shock and disgust.

“Ethan and I have an... understanding.”

As if to prove a point, Ethan leaned closer to Patton and smiled. “Hi shortie.”

Patton, who was contemplating attacking Michael, looked shocked that Ethan was so close. Pat tilted his head. “Do I know you?”

Ethan looked proud. “Nah cutie, I think I would definitely remember someone who looks like you.”

Virgil and Patton looked at eachother, then at the guys who were flirting with them. ‘Where oh where is my protective, freakishly good looking boyfriend when I need him?’ They both thought.

Michael walked closer to Virgil, and tried to reach for him before Virgil smacked his hand away. Virgil immediately regretted doing that when Michael’s face lit up.

“Oh come on baby, it’s not like Logan’s around to stop us, so why not have some fun? You can’t actually tell me that you honestly like that robot, can you?”

As Michael hoped, Virgil got pissed.

“Yes, I can honestly tell you with 100% sincerity that I like Logan. More than like, he is expressive and playful and serious and calm. He is literally almost prefect in my eyes, so you can go FUCK OFF!” Virgil shouted, and shoved Michael back.

Well, at least he attempted to. It turns out that Virgil’s outburst is what Michael was hoping for. As soon as Virgil had but his hands on Michael’s chest to shove, Michael grabbed his wrists and pinned him again a shelf.

Patton is livid and tries to go and help Virgil, but it turns out that when he was silently cheering Virgil on, Ethan made it around the counter.

So when Patton moved to help Virgil, he ended up getting shoved and pinned against said counter. Patton looked at Ethan with fury in his eyes, and Ethan just looked amused.

“So...” Ethan starts, rubbing his hands up and down Patton’s arms. “Are you single?”

Patton looks at the engagement ring that was on his left hand. Ethan was holding his wrists, so Patton wiggles his fingers to bring attention to the ring. Ethan looked at it and shrugged. “So?”

Patton was dumbfounded. “Are you serious? No, I’m obliviously engaged! Plus, aren’t y’all two,” Patton nods toward where Michael and Virgil are watching them, “a thing?”

Ethan shrugs again. “Ehh,” he said, leaning into Patton’s personal bubble.

“We have an understanding. He can play with his boy toy,” Ethan gestures to Virgil. “And I,” Ethan states while placing his hand on Patton’s cheek, despite Patton’s efforts to bite him. “And I can play with mine.”

Michael forces Virgil’s gaze to lock onto his, and rubs circles onto Virgil cheek with his thumb. “While we let them get better aquatinted, how about we finish what we started at my Party?” Michael runs his hands down Virgil and leans in closer. He Virgil tried to move away in vain. Virgil could see the twisted joy in Michael’s expression and could feel Michael’s breath on his lips, when-

*BOOM DING DING DING POP*

Michael and Ethan both whipped their heads around, allowing the Virgil and Patton to see there heroes.

Logan looks like he just finished eating some of the glass window he broke, and Roman looked like he was about to light Ethan up with the flamethrower he was holding.

Wait-

“Roman, why the HELL are caring around a FLAMETHROWER?!” Patton yelled.

“To protect my fiancé with. Also, it matches the rage and fire in my eyes and soul.” Roman says while making it very obvious that he was pointing the gun at Ethan.

Logan looked at the ground and silently picked up the baseball bat that had been left by the door earlier in the week. He didn’t say a word, but if looks could kill, Michael would less then dissolved ash.

Logan gripped the bat, and stepped closer. “May I ask just what in the ever living FUCK you doing to my boyfriend?”

Michael looked a little afraid, but tried to keep of the facade.

“Well, before you so rudely interrupted us, we were having a moment.” Then Michael caressed Virgil and ghosted his lips over Virgil’s, touching but not quite kissing.

Logan’s eyes flashed.

Virgil shook his head. “We were not having a moment! I assure, I don’t want to be here!”

Logan’s look softened when he looked at Virgil. “Don’t worry starlight, I know.”

While Logan was confronting Michael, Roman started towards Ethan.

“And just who the hell are you?” Ethan smirked and said “I’m Patty’s new boyfriend.” Then he grabbed Patton around the waist and he kissed him. “Also, Patton told me that he doesn’t want to get married to you anymore. Just thought you should know.”

Roman gripped the flamethrower, planning a murder. He stepped closer to Ethan. “Is that so? Hmmm, Pat?” If Patton said yes, then Roman would walk away. But if he said no...

Patton viciously shook his head, looking like he was about to throw up. “No! My prince, you know I only want you.”

Roman smiled softly at Patton. “I know darling.”

He looked at Ethan. “You, however, need to get the fuck away from MY fiancé, so I can beat your ass!”

Logan told Virgil to duck and swung at the same moment that Roman slapped Ethan with the butt of the  flamethrower. Logan missed, mainly because he was trying not to hurt Virgil, but Ethan let go of Patton.

Patton dropped to the floor, but came back up 5 seconds later, holding something. He then started trying to hit Ethan with a barbed wire wrapped tennis racket. Ethan was so busy running from Patton that he ran straight into the punch Roman threw.

With Ethan now down for the count, Roman embraced and checked on Patton.

Logan swung and Michael ducked, resulting in Virgil being able to get free. He only made it about two steps before Michael grabbed his wrist and pulled him to where Virgil’s back was flush with Michael’s chest.

Michael yanked Virgil’s face, then kissed him hard and forcefully. He then forced Virgil to look at Logan. “How are you gonna get me without hurting your precious ‘starlight’?” Michael asked tauntingly.

Instead of answering Logan threw the bat at Michael’s head and hit him squared in the nose.

Michael released Virgil and Virgil ran into Logan’s arms. Logan wrapped Virgil tightly in his arms. He spat on a bleeding Michael.

“I hope it broke that time, bitch.”

Logan the picks up Virgil bridal style, and took him outside to where Roman was on the phone with 9-1-1. The cops arrested Michael and Ethan for three different types of assault. Roman and Logan explained how they had planned to surprise Patton and Virgil with a late lunch, and Romans flamethrower was actually a prop he was needing to repaint.

The paramedics checked everyone out, and everyone was deemed ok.

As soon as the paramedics left, Roman took Patton to their house for cuddling and affirmations of love. (Roman repeatedly told Patton that he was very brave, but Patton just wanted to know that Roman loves and still wants him after today’s events. Ethan made Patton worry that Roman would think that Patton didn’t care for Roman. But Roman knows how much Patton cares, and Roman would never not want Patton.  And that night, Roman made sure that Patton knew it.)

Logan took Virgil to his house. Logan’s house was closer to Virgil’s work, Thomas’s house, and Patton and Roman’s place, so Virgil had been staying over there a lot and already had nightclothes there.

They had cuddled and watched The Black Cauldron. Virgil was still a shaken, so Logan spent the entire movie whispering sweet nothing to Virgil while kissing him on the cheek, forehead, nose, everywhere but the lips.

Virgil started to think that it was for a reason.

“Hey Logan?” Virgil asked, his voice very soft. “Yes starlight?” Virgil smiled at the nickname, but became serious once more.

“Do you think I’m disgusting because of what Michael did?”

Logan was stunned. “Of course not Virgil! If you feel nasty you can take another bath, but I don’t think that you are disgusting. If anything, Michael is disgusting because he doesn’t know how to take no for an answer.”

Virgil started crying. “When he said that we were... you just looked so mad... and then when he... I thought you hated me..”

Logan scooped his boyfriend into his lap and squeezed him tight.

“Ohhh starlight, I am so sorry that I ever made you think that! I could never hate you, you are one of the most wonderful things in my life!”

Virgil stopped crying as much, as stared at Logan. “Really?”

Logan was determined to make Virgil believe him.

“Yes. I was planning to ask after the wedding, but Virgil, will you move in with me? You are already here all the time, you already have your own drawer, and every morning when I wake up without you in my arms or night where your face is not the last I see is just a waste. So, will you formally move in with me?”

Virgil wrapped his arms around Logan’s neck and kissed him deeply. “Of course I will! I love you!” Virgil said, then slapped his hand over his mouth.

That was the first time ‘I love you’ had been said between them.

Logan smiled and kissed Virgil. “I love you too.”

They spent the rest of the night cuddling, comforting, kissing, and saying ‘I love you.’

-----

Taglist-

@dragonwithproblems

@five-falseh00ds-ph0nated

@kawaiikat54

@thefingergunsgirl

@rainbowemonightmare

@kuroyurishion

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[princesscatherinemiddleton]

My top 15 best royal (and royal adjacent!) wedding dresses

@lizisbackbackagain​ @claireofluxembourg​ @duchessofostergotlands​ @anna8910​ @queensonjas​

15. Alessandra de Osma (Reception Gown) (Unknown)

It doesn’t fit brilliantly and it’s a bit creased but I LOVE IT. The back. The way the straps go into that bow. It’s simple and sleek and the perfect tonic after her equally wonderful (but busier) ceremony dress.

14. Princess Charlene of Monaco (Giorgio Armani)

There are a lot of parts of this gown that I don’t like but Charlene is glowing. I actually love the off-shoulder look here and the simplicity of the veil complements the architecture of the dress. The only thing I would change would be the lace overlay.

13. Lady Kimberly Spencer-Churchill (Galvan)

This is a proper princess dress. The lace is stunning and it goes so well with the whimsical nature of the flowers in her hair. I really love the neckline and how it works with the lace, not in spite of it.

12. Lady Gabriella Windsor, Mrs Kingston (Reception Gown) (Luisa Beccaria)

This was such a good look. The neckline really flattered Ella and the silhouette was simple but perfect. I adore the caped-style back and the lace makes me so happy. It might be more suited to a casual beach wedding than a Windsor reception but I’ll take it. Also, her hair is gorgeous.

11. Princess Viktoria of Bourbon-Parma, Countess of Bardi (Claes Iverson)

THIS IS WHAT A SIMPLE WEDDING DRESS SHOULD BE LIKE. It’s simple. The structure of the dress is basic but allows for the beauty of the bride to shine through. There’s some detailing around the base which adds character. I’d like it to be slightly more fitted around the bust but beggars can’t be choosers.

10. Beatrice Borromeo (Reception Gown) (Giorgio Armani)

THE BEST MONACO SISTER/SISTER-IN-LAW WEDDING DRESS. If we rank the Casiraghi girl wedding dresses, all of Bea’s come out on top but this is the best of the best. The dress is so simply and manages to make Bea look like a Grecian goddess. Bea’s hair being pulled off her neck allows the top line of the dress to shine and the skirt and cape-like aspects are phenomenal.

9. The Duchess of Cambridge (Alexander McQueen)

THIS DRESS CHANGED MY LIFE. Before this wedding, if I’d even considered my wedding I’d planned a super simple affair, probably after eloping. Now, if I’m not getting married in Westminster Abbey, I’ll consider it a failure. This dress was the perfect princess dress. I love the lace and it kickstarted my love affair with lace sleeved wedding dress. The train wasn’t too long. The veil was simple but that lace trim made it special. But the crowning glory, along with those buttons, was that bustle. It was an art form.

8. Queen Sofia of Spain (Jean Dessès)

This whole look is gorgeous. I love the lace so much. I adore the shape of the dress and the lace takes it from good to great. The veil is even better. It completely elevates the dress from a good wedding dress to a truly phenomenal royal wedding dress.

7. Queen Jetsun Pema (Unknown prominent Bhutanese weavers)

Look! Colour! It’s a purely traditional Bhutanese kira and it’s stunning. I know Jetsun Pema is possibly the most beautiful person of all time but this dress would be stunning on a bin bag. I fully appreciate the fact she’s essentially wearing a giant regal tiara, providing proof she’s the new Queen of the Himalayas.

6. Hereditary Grand Duchess Stephanie of Luxembourg (Elie Saab)

Stephanie had so much potential. SO MUCH. She looked like a genuine princess. The amount of effort that went into this dress makes it worthy of a space by itself but I can’t get over how good it is. The train is the perfect length for a cathedral wedding. The lace embedded into the dress is beyond perfect. I really love the flow of the dress from bodice to train but the only reason it’s not higher up is the skirt. I just want it to start slightly higher. Please.

5. The Duchess of Sussex (Reception Gown) (Stella McCartney)

This is everything Meghan’s real wedding dress should have been. The halterneck was a phenomenal choice and it shows off Meg’s shoulders which, it turns out, are great. The simplicity of her hair just highlights the simple perfection of the dress. Everyone say “thank you Stella”.

4. Princess Grace of Monaco (Helen Rose)

I refuse to hear people saying this is Kate’s dress but better. It’s not better. It’s different. It’s mostly this high because it’s iconic and it changed wedding dresses across the board so massively. I love the lace, I love the veil, I love the tiara. Grace looks phenomenal and has the best wedding make up I’ve ever seen. I adore the neckline - the only collar on a wedding dress I will accept. I’m not a massive fan of the waist but if I had Grace’s waistline, I’d show it off too.

3. Ekaterina Malysheva (ALL) (Sandra Mansour)

EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THESE DRESSES IS PHENOMENAL. A TRUE WORK OF ART. I LOVE THEM ALL. Sandra interred with Elie Saab and you can tell, these are Elie Saab dresses if I’ve ever seen one. The pre-reception dress is a floral delight. The slight rose colouring, the flowers, Ekaterina’s hair... faultless. The actual wedding dress itself unmatchable. The detail in the lace. The buttons on the back. The shaping of the skirt. The tiara choice. Ekaterina deserved a televised wedding for this dress alone. And the final choice, the reception dress, strikes me as the wedding dress Ekaterina would have worn if she was going to become Mrs Hanover, not Princess of Hanover. It’s simple. It’s cute. I would wear it to Wimbledon.

2. Princess Claire of Luxembourg (Elie Saab)

I shocked myself when this wasn’t first. This is Elie Saab at his best. The amount of detail on this dress is indescribable. I literally can’t get over how stunning it is. The fact it photographs this well is a testament to Saab’s talent. Like Stephanie’s, this has a cathedral train if I’ve ever seen one. The veil was simple and a great choice against the detailed dress and she wore a floral tiara, which just set the whole thing off for me.

1. Princess Eugenie, Mrs Brooksbank (Peter Pilotto)

Is it because I have a scoliosis scar? Is it because it was so unexpected? Is it because the Greville Emerald Tiara looks like it was made for Eugenie of York? No one knows. This dress is art. The structuring of the dress s l a y s me and the open back is my favourite thing of all time. There’s a small bustle, a stunning train... this was a train made for those Windsor steps. The simplicity of the dress against the emerald tiara was an inspired choice. I love it.

[countessdelannoy]

Morgan’s 10 Least Favorite Royal(ish) Wedding Gowns

So @claireofluxembourg​, @queensonjas​, and @wonderfullyroyal​ already did this and I realized that I also have opinions about royal/noble wedding gowns, so here we go.

A couple of things things before we start: this is called “least favorite” and not “worst” because I recognize that some of this is incredibly petty and just me nitpicking things I don’t like.

Second - every gown on this list is from the 2000′s, because one look at my mom’s wedding dress from the 90′s reminds me that anything from more than 20 years ago needs to be judged in its own category, and I have no desire to go down that rabbit hole today.

Also, we’re skipping Mabel because I feel like that’s a given. 

10. Princess Madeleine of Sweden

I know, I know, it’s Valentino and it’s Madeleine and while she looks gorgeous and happy and I love her hair her veil her tiara everything else, I have to be picky on the dress and it’s just lacking. First of all, there’s some weird fit issues going on with the bodice that are just...not flattering, and I’m not a huge fan of the straight-across cut of the bodice under the lace overlay. Also, it looks like she’s got a dust ruffle on the bottom of her skirt that I can’t unsee. Still, she’s at the far end of the “least favorite” list because I love the lace and she looks fabulous.

9. Princess Sofia of Sweden

Ah, Sofia. Once again, I think she looks beautiful and happy and that’s the most important part (also we stan a colorful bridal tiara). But while I loved the lace on Madeleine’s gown, I’m not a fan of this. From the chest up it looks fine - not fantastic but nice enough - but the lace bodice cuts off at a weird place and the lines of lace going down the skirt are kind of...off. Not to mention, the lace on the skirt is barely visible outside of close-up shots, which is a shame because it’s very pretty lace. Honestly, the emerald tiara saves this one from going quite a bit lower on the list.

8. Crown Princess Mary of Denmark

Some people love it, some people hate it, but for me it’s just kind of meh. There are a lot of things I don’t like about it, but I think it’s being saved by my knowledge that Mary’s style game has skyrocketed since her wedding (and also some of the gowns yet to come). I don’t like the fabric or the weird cut and pleating of the front panels. I don’t like that there’s nothing marking the waist except for some seams. The off-the-shoulder top is great in theory, but was cut in a weird place and doesn’t look great in a lot of pictures. Overall not a favorite of mine.

7. Princess Charlene of Monaco

Charlene carries this well, I’ll give her that - she’s got the height to pull this off and it definitely fits with the style we’ve come to expect from her - but it’s not for me. I love the off the shoulder neckline (much better than Mary’s!) but I’m not a fan of the lace down the front and the way it’s tapered at the top. Also not a fan of the extra train added on to the back - especially from angles where you can see the big gap between the extra fabric and the gown itself. Also the veil looks super thin and kind of cheap, but I do like that she added some jeweled clips to her hair to compensate for the lack of tiara. Charlene looks great, but the dress is just not doing it for me.

6. Autumn Phillips 

Autumn, I love you, but this dress is just...not my favorite. I am in general not a fan of strapless gowns, and this is no exception; the lace bolero is cute but is very obviously not part of the gown, and I’m not a huge fan of the cut. Also not a fan of the very wide, cummerbund-esque waistband, or the bows going down the back of the train. I know she didn’t get a title from this marriage and wasn’t technically marrying a prince, but come on - when you’re marrying the oldest grandson of the Queen of England you can do it up a little. From the front, this just looked too similar to wedding dresses that I’ve seen cousins and friends wear - and none of them were marrying royalty.

5. Princess Marie of Denmark

Now we get to the part of the list that is less “meh not for me but not awful” and more “what were you thinking?” First up, Marie. Aside from the veil, there is very little that I like about this - the dropped waist, the low cut bodice, the hairdo, the groom. The lace is pretty, but the edges of the sleeves look weirdly doubled up - almost like straps - and I don’t like the way the lace comes down below the hem and just looks messy. The dropped waist looks good on almost no one, and it isn’t a good look here. Like I said, very little I like here. 

4. Princess Nathalie of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg

Nathalie gets a partial pass because she’s more royal-ish than royal - she’s the daughter of Princess Benedikte of Denmark (Queen Margrethe’s younger sister). What doesn’t get a pass? The weird, flowery star pattern on the bodice that cuts off at an awkward place. Is that lace? Is it crocheted? I don’t know, but it looks like something my grandma would have made in the 70′s. The same flowery star things going down the front of the skirt are equally weird. Definitely not a fan, but she looks super happy and the Khedive of Egypt tiara and heirloom veil are looking fabulous as always.

3. Princess Martha-Louise of Norway

I almost feel like Martha-Louise should get a pass here just because it’s Martha-Louise, but then I look at those pointy shoulders and change my mind. We can’t even really ask “what were you thinking?” because that’s not really helpful, when it comes to Martha-Louise’s style, is it? The dress underneath is pretty plain, but nice enough. The coat over it makes it look more royal, but also like she’s trying out to be an extra in some sort of medieval period drama. Honestly, I’m not even sure what else to say here, except that I almost cried going through these pictures because of how happy they look in every single one.

2. Princess Sophie of Prussia

As far as not-great royal(ish) wedding gowns go, I feel like you all are sleeping on this one. It’s not even that it’s awful, it’s just very...confusing? I’m not sure what’s going on with the weird, off-center ruffly-cut of the skirt, and it looks like she’s wearing some sort of sheer blazer over the top? The tiara is lovely and she’s wearing an heirloom veil which is always nice, but the rest of this is just a whole lot of question marks.

1. Zara Tindall

Eesh. I don’t like the border at the hem, I don’t like the weird seams on the bodice, and I don’t like the sheer, bunched-up straps. The waistline is at a weird place, and somehow almost worse than Marie’s dropped waist gown. The veil looked crunchy and very messy (although some of that was the wind). I do like that Zara looked radiant and very happy, but the dress is just a really big “no” from me.

[gaveherhearttotheliontattoo]

Title: Once Upon A December - Chapter 12

Pairing: Swanfire

Word Count: 2665

Warnings: None that I know of

Prompt: Emma doesn’t remember anything except that she comes from the Enchanted Forest. The first 8 years of her life are a blur but she does have a necklace to help her find her way… And apparently a man who thinks she could be the missing princess. Emma doesn’t know what to think except that it’s her only way to get back to the Enchanted Forest so if this Neal guy thinks she could be this princess she will go along with it. Love and family will find their way.

Notes: Okay, from here on it's just me and my imagination because while I love Anastasia I always wanted more. So, here is my version of more. Sorry not sorry for the length :)

Series: Prologue, Chapter 1, Chapter 2, Chapter 3, Chapter 4, Chapter 5, Chapter 6, Chapter 7, Chapter 8, Chapter 9, Chapter 10, Chapter 11

Taglist: @sassyandclassy94, @swanfireheart, @notalwaysthevillian

--

Emma stared at herself in the mirror. The strapless dress hugged her curves and she wasn’t sure how she felt about it. It was smooth across the bodice with just a hint of lace around the waist. The simple top did not match the ballgown skirt, but apparently as the princess her fancy dresses would always be as such. She turned, watching her dress shine in the sunlight. She never thought this many sparkles could be on one skirt.

“Emma?”

Emma spun towards the door, nearly tripping over the gown. “Oh, Ruby, I was just…” Emma looked back at the mirror.

“You were just what?”

Emma stared at her reflection. “Am I doing the right thing?”

Ruby sat on the edge of the bed. “Why would you ask that?”

“I know it’s been a year since Zelena but if she was out there…then there have to be others. Others who want to destroy the royal line. Am I don’t the right thing by saddling Neal to this? Doesn’t he deserve better than having to constantly look over his shoulder?”

Ruby rolled her eyes. “He fought for you, literally. When you wanted to return to the castle he went with it, he encouraged it.” Ruby stood up and turned Emma towards her. “He loves you. He’s here for you. Now, straighten yourself out because there’s a whole ballroom full of people waiting for you.”

Emma pressed her hands to her stomach, these nerves were taking a huge toll on her.

“Ready?”

Emma looked up and found her dad standing there. “Ruby, can you give us a minute?”

David shut the door after Ruby and looked at his daughter. He wasn’t a crier but looking at his daughter, all grown up and taking the next step in her life, he couldn’t help himself. “You look beautiful. Your mother would be so proud of the woman you’ve become.” David stepped closer, clearing his throat. “I’m so proud of the woman you’ve become.”

Emma smoother her hands over her stomach. She hadn’t felt good all morning, and the twinkle in her father’s eye made her cringe. “Is this the right thing to do?”

David stepped behind her, placing his hands on her shoulders. “The only person who can answer that question is you.”

Emma stared at her father and thought about how he’d lost the love of his life so early on in their marriage. Her parents had been together, fighting together for years, when her mother was cursed. This time, however, true love didn’t work to heal her. If that had been Neal, Emma shook her head, unable to even think of the worst. They’d nearly encountered it with Zelena, anything more and she wasn’t sure what she would do.

“I can’t do this,” Emma gasped, ripping at the back of the dress, searching for some way to get it undone. “Please get Ruby.”

David’s heart lurched as he watched his daughter fall into a heap on the tile. He wanted to be the one to help her but he knew this wasn’t his place. He stepped out of the room and found Ruby dragging Neal down the hall.

Neal glanced up at the clicking of heels on the floor. “David.”

David waited until Neal was in front of him to speak. “Emma would like to see you. Ruby, why don’t you and I go for a walk and see if we can’t find the best man and ring bearer.”

Neal stared after David. He wasn’t supposed to see the bride before the wedding, in her wedding dress, it was bad luck but damn, he wanted to see her. He started to Emma’s room and slowly pushed the door open. The scene inside brought him to his knees. As he kneeled, only a few feet from Emma, he listened to her sniffle. Was this the end?

“Ruby, I need you to help me get this off,” Emma said into her hands.

Neal shook his head and moved closer, inching her hands from her face, grasping them within his.

“Neal!” Emma tried to pull away but the comfort of Neal’s hands, the warmth, helped her regain control. “You’re not supposed to see me, especially in my dress, before the wedding.”

Neal used one hand to tuck a few stray tendrils of hair behind her ear. “Something is wrong and that’s more important than some stupid supersition. Besides, until you tell me what’s going on, there will not be a wedding.”

Emma stared into his eyes, finding stability. She’d always been so strong. It had only been her fighting for herself for so long, but now she had a family she could rely on. It wasn’t something she’d ever grasped how to handle. “I started thinking about my mom and how if that was you I didn’t know if I would be able to go on. I didn’t want to saddle you to my life trials.”

Neal couldn’t stop the laugh that passed through his lips, and he only laughed harder when he saw the glare from Emma. “You can’t be serious? We fought the evil witch and won, we can handle anything life throws our way.” When Emma looked down and didn’t respond, Neal sobered. “Emma, I love you. I’ve loved you most of my life. You were my first real friend and without your family I would have had no one. So, please, do not make me go stand in front of all these people without you by my side.”

Emma looked up into those shining eyes and wrapped her arms around him, burying her face in his neck. “I love you too.” She pulled back, still holding onto him. “Send in Ruby when you go.” Emma stood, pulling Neal up with her. She wanted so badly to kiss him, but knew it would be that much sweeter when she was finally able to call him hers.

------

Neal pulled on the bottom of his jacket before straightening his spine. His nerves kicked his perspiration into high gear and he was worried it would show through his jacket if the ceremony didn’t start soon. This was happening, he was marrying the lost princess. He’d loved her since they were children, he’d fallen in love with her when he didn’t know who she was, and he continued to be in love with her when he found out who she was and though he could never have her.

It was a pipe dream for the servant boy to marry the princess but here he stood, more terrified than when he faced Zelena, more terrified than when he thought he was going to lose Emma. Now he would never lose her, not until they were both old and gray. They were going to take on the world together and even though she wanted to return to the castle, he believed they would find more adventures. They would travel, but in the end they would always return to the castle.

Emma stared at the closed doors, her stomach churning.

“Ready?”

Emma shifted, looked up at her father. “I think so.”

David kissed the side of her head. “I’ve always been a fan of neal, and he returned you to me so I will always owe him; however, if you are uncertain, if you want to cancel, just say the word.”

Emma laid a shaking hand over her stomach. “No, let’s do this.”

David signaled the guards and they opened the doors.

Neal jolted at the abrupt change in music and creak of the opening doors, but immediately settled when he saw Emma. He’d seen her earlier but he’d been so worried about making sure she was okay that he never took a chance to appreciate her appearance. Her hair was up, a few tendrils framed her face. There was only enough makeup on her face to highlight her features but it was the dress that really caught his attention.

The sun beamed through the stained glass, the colors reflecting off the sparkling white ball gown. Her skirt flowed around her with a sheer veil trailing behind her. The skirt looked scattered with diamonds, and it probably was. The simple bodice hugged her and he caught the glimpse of lace around her waist when the sunlight glinted off the sparkles. It was strapless and her clear, pale skin glittered with the makeup that was dusted over her. Simply put, she was stunning.

Emma locked eyes with Neal and felt her pulse jump but her nerves settle. He was her rock, as she was his. Together they were going to conquer whatever life threw at them. When her father shook Neal’s hand and then turned to her she saw a smile holding back the tears. He kissed her cheeks before placing her hands in Neal’s and stepping off to the side. Emma let the warmth of Neal’s hands wash over her, calming her.

------

“You may kiss the bride.”

Neal crushed his lips to Emma’s, pulling her snugly against him. “I love you.”

Emma curled her fingers in his hair. “I love you.” Emma pressed her lips to his one last time. “We should move to the dining hall for the banquet and dancing.” She pulled away and tugged at his hand running down the makeshift aisle with him in tow. She ran down the hall passing the dining hall.

“Uh, Emma?”

Emma held a finger to her lips before pulling Neal under the stairs. “They’ll just assume we’ve gone to change, since that’s a thing royals do.”

“Or they’ll assume exactly this.”

“Who cares? We’re married now.” Emma put her arms around his neck, dragging him closer. “I’m thinking we should go back to Arendelle first.”

Neal pulled back, staring into her bright eyes, wishing he knew what was going on in that head of hers. “Em, I thought we were going to go somewhere we’d never been?”

“I want to go to where this all started,” Emma whispered, nipping at Neal’s bottom lip.

“After Arendelle we shall leave it up to the map, right?”

Emma let her lips trail down Neal’s neck. “Yes, the map.”

Neal’s arms tightened their grip around Emma. “Em, can we go to the party now? I’m starting to lose my self control.”

Emma pulled back, humor lighting her eyes. “You go. I really do need to go change into my other dress.”

Neal watched her go before heading into the party himself. He was surrounded the minute he stepped into the dining hall, being congratulated and hugged. He made his way through the crowd, the tightness in his shoulders increasing the more he was hugged or fawned over. He spotted Ruby and August with David next to one of the buffet tables and pushed to get through to them.

“You look a little tense,” Ruby said, the laughter shone in her eyes. “Did your lovely wife leave you to take the brunt of everything?”

Taking a deep breath Neal turned to look at the dancing, laughing, and eating guests. “She mentioned something about needing to change, because apparently that’s a thing royals do.”

Ruby couldn’t stop the laugh this time. “She didn’t have another dress.”

Neal turned his stare on Ruby. “Then why did she tell me she had to change?”

Emma brushed her teeth, hoping the smell of her getting sick would go away. She’d kept up her spirits until she was far enough away from Neal to run to her room. She didn’t know what it was, the nerves from before had vanished as soon as she saw Neal, but she was still feeling sick. If it wasn’t the nerves what could it be? Maybe she hadn’t gotten enough sleep and between that and the lack of food and drink she had taken in, she got ill. With no other explanation coming to her easily she reapplied her makeup and went to join the party.

She found Neal with her father. They were a pair of strikingly handsome and powerful men. While Neal wasn’t prepared to be king any time soon, he stood tall and looked like he could battle an army. Her dad, despite his age, still looked strong and ready to take on the world. The gray hair reflected his long and tiring life. Emma’s heart swelled with love as she stared at the two most important men in her life.

Neal caught her gaze and his smile faltered. Her skin was paler than before and she seemed smaller now. He strode to her and took her in his arms. “Are you okay?”

Emma grinned. “Never better. I was just thinking how strong you and my father look standing together. You’ll make a good king one day.”

“We’ve got time before we have to think about ruling.”

Emma kissed Neal’s cheek and took his hand in hers. They walked to her father and when they stood there David cleared his throat.

“Ladies and Gentleman, thank you for taking the time out of your day to come and celebrate the union of these two. If we could clear the floor I would like to ask the band to strike up some music for the first dance of the night.”

Neal twirled Emma into his arms and swayed to the music. They spun in circles, staring into each others eyes, and soon the world around them became a dull hum. It was just the two of them now and they were going to own every moment of it.

David tapped Neal’s should, “Mind if I cut in?”

Neal backed up, the noise booming in his ears again. He watched father and daughter move around the dance floor. Maybe one day he would do the same with his own daughter or Emma with their son. They hadn’t exactly talked about children so Neal wasn’t sure where Emma stood on them. He wanted one at least, but wouldn’t mind more.

The spinning around the dance floor was causing Emma’s stomach to turn again. “Dad, let’s move off and let the others all dance.”

It had been a year but David would never get used to hearing Emma calling him dad. He followed Emma to their table. “Are you alright?”

“Good, just a little dizzy is all.”

Neal came over and placed a glass of water in front of Emma. “After all that dancing I thought you might be thirsty.”

Emma gulped the water down. “I didn’t realize how thirsty I was. I’m feeling a little hungry too.”

“I’ll go put a plate together for you.” Neal leaned down, brushing his lips over her brow.

------

The party lasted for hours before Neal had had enough. He pulled Emma away and they said their goodbyes. With bags packed they climbed into their waiting ride. Tonight they would stay at a hotel just outside of town and then they would catch their ride to Arendelle in the morning. Neal glanced at Emma, her complexion yet paler and her eyelids heavy. The party had taken a lot out of both of them, hell the nerves from the whole day had taken a lot out of them. Neal was looking forward to laying with Emma wrapped in his arms for the night.

Emma was too tired to fight with Neal about carrying her bags into the hotel herself. She followed him in and collapsed on the bed. “We should sleep first.”

Neal dropped on the mattress next to her, pulling her against him. “Sleep sounds marvelous.”

So they slept, until the moon was high in the sky and Emma’s stomach threatened to empty onto the mattress. She bolted to the bathroom.

After flushing the toilet she washed her hands and rinsed her mouth. After avoiding the possibility all day Emma sat down on the edge of the tub and considered what could be making her sick. The nerves were long gone, she had eaten and hydrated herself so that couldn’t have been it, plus she’d just slept enough so that left either illness or...

[vikkates]

Amanda’s Take on the 10 Worst Royal Wedding Dresses

10. Meghan Markle marries Prince Henry of Wales: Givenchy

The dress itself isn’t bad. The veil certainly helps. The problem with this for me is the fit. It’s just awful. It’s so bad that I spent most of the ceremony distracted by it. Maybe my expectations are too high, but if I’m going to order a custom gown from the seamstress down the street, I expect it to fit nicely. If I’m going to pay heaven only knows how much for a custom gown from a French haute couture house, I expect it to fit like a freaking glove. You know, like it was made for me.

9. Mary Donaldson marries Crown Prince Frederick of Denmark: Uffe Frank

I really like the idea of this dress, but I hate the execution. The wrinkles are quite distracting. I feel like maybe a different fabric would have helped. The main thing for me though are the seams down the front and the way they are puckered. While Meghan’s dress wasn’t fitted enough, Mary’s seems too tight. She looks like she can’t breathe which is not a good look on your wedding day.

8. Zara Phillips marries Mike Tindall: Stewart Parvin

This is a fine generic wedding dress mostly. The cap sleeves are weird though, and the whole thing is just not very flattering. Also, it’s just so forgettable. 

7. Mabel Wisse Smit marries Prince Friso of Orange-Nassau: Viktor & Rolf

This dress is different. From the front, it looks like a somewhat unconventional but not horrendous wedding dress. Then you see the back, and it’s like what in the heck was she thinking. The bow thing is just so weird. I maybe could’ve gotten onboard if it had one large bow in the back? Maybe. But this is just...no.

6. Silvia Sommerlath marries King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden: Dior

You can’t really see it in this photo, but Silvia wore a beautiful, intricate lace veil, so I can see going for a simple dress. In some ways though, she has the same problem as Meghan only worse. The gown doesn’t fit. Like at all. Somehow, she also manages to have the same problem as Mary regarding the strange seams with the puckering. 

5. Kelly Rondestvedt  marries Prince Hubertus, The Hereditary Prince of Saxe-Coburg und Gotha: Unidentified Designer

When I first saw this dress, Kelly was holding her bouquet in front of her, and I really liked it. On further inspection, however, I realized that the lace just covers her chest. The rest of her bodice looks like she’s wearing her girdle/corset on the outside, and not in a good way. This one is a real bummer for me because the pattern of the lace is beautiful, and this had a real chance to be stunning.

4. Rania Al-Yassin marries Prince Abdullah bin Al-Hussein

I’m not a fan of Rania, but her sartorial choices are usually spot on. I just don’t get the idea of this dress. It’s like a business suit on top and a ballgown on the bottom. I’m also not a fan of the gold and silver embroidery. I think it could have been nice, but it’s overdone.

3. Marie-Chantal Miller marries Pavlos, Crown Prince of Greece

I mean, I don’t even know where to start. The shape is really blah. The embroidery on the bottom looks incomplete to me. The bodice is extremely unflattering. The turtleneck seems odd for a late spring wedding. My biggest problem with this dress though is the sheer part. It looks like children got ahold of the dress and glued those little arts and crafts pom poms all over the neckline and sleeves. This is just not what I would expect from an American-Brisith heiress who’s marrying a European prince.

2. Countess Olympia von und zu Arco-Zinnerberg marries  Jean-Christophe, Prince Napoléon

 I don’t even have words for this. It is just weird and not in a good way.

1. Lady Diana Spencer marries the Prince of Wales

So I tried to avoid including dresses that were bad because of the era in which they were created, but I had to include this one. It’s bad, even for the 1980′s. This dress is wearing Diana. She is not wearing it. The fabric choice is bad. The sleeves look like they’ve been inflated. The ruffle around the neckline looks like a clown collar. It’s just soooo bad.

[anna8910]

Anna’s Quarantine Top Ten Royal Wedding Tiaras

Tags of all the usual fashion subject

@claireofluxembourg​ @lizisbackbackagain​ @queensonjas​

10.

Queen Beatrice-

I LOVE this tiara, there’s a strong change it ends up on an upcoming Top Ten Tiara list. It’s perfect for this wedding and this dress

9.

Alessandra de Osma-

I loved this one on both her and  Ekaterina but I just chose Alessandra for this list... sue me

8.

Soraya of Iran

I’m not a big fan of colored wedding tiaras, as the list shows, but I love it so much. I love the tiara, the necklace, the earrings. I even like the dress unlike most.

7.

Sophia/Letizia of Spain

I this this is a VERY underrated tiara and I don’t know why it doesn’t get more love

6.

Katherine of Kent

I love this dress and this wedding so much it’s no surprise this tiara makes the top 10 list. But as the rest of the list shows I have a fondness for this type and style of tiara.

5.

Sophie of Prussia

The dress is trash and tiara number one is equally trash. But girlfriend pulls through with a reception tiara change. I LOVE this tiara and need her to wear it to the grocery store in quarantine.

4.

Alexandra of Kent

I MIGHT love this fringe more than Liz’s which is saying something. This outfit is A+ to me and the tiara is what gives it the +

3.

Meg!!!!

I’m a sucker for a diamond engagement ring and I’m a sucker for a diamond tiara. It’s SUCH a good tiara and while I’m so happy Meg got it... REALLY LIZ?!?! THIS SHIT STAYED IN THE FUCKING FAULT AND YOU LET SOPHIE WEAR ALL OF HERS?!?!??! WHAT DID SHE DO TO YOU LIZ?

2.

Farah of Iran

Is it a lot? Yes, is it perfect for THIS wedding? Yes. Would anyone else be able to pull it off? FUCK NO

1.

QUEEN FABIOLA OF BELGIUM COMING THROUGH WITH A WEDDING TIARA FIT FOR A QUEEN. Also full disclosure this is one of my favorite tiaras of ALL FUCKING TIME AND WILL BE ON THE NEXT LIST. I actually don’t even mind the gown since my eyes are drawn to the tiara.

[yaachtynoboat711]

The Plus One

A/N: Allow me to break once more from Fonder to give you all this Oscar fic mini-series (literally two, maybe three chapters). Here’s all the fluff your hearts can handle before I resume with Chapter 7 and 8.1 I know it’s late, but this is for @sonofnjobu ’s WIP FF. I had wisdom teeth taken out last week so I was out of action. This fic is very descriptive and interactive, so please, enjoy!

Word Count: 2.7k

Warning(s): FLUFF, possibly some errors/typos

Sunday mornings— the days of rest and recreation for you and your fiancée Winston. Lately, the two of you would spend half the day planning the wedding with you all’s planner. Sometimes, you and Winston would maybe get up before 10, no later than 11 to lounge around. Yet, this Sunday morning wasn’t like any other Sunday. No ma’am: this Sunday was filled with the preparation and the attendance of the 91st Academy Awards in Los Angeles! You’d been in LA since the week of your Jimmy Kimmel interview for further wedding planning, final Oscar-related consultations, and just a well-needed breather.

Within the past few months, you’d been working on Maryland’s suit lawsuit against the Trump administration. While in California, you’d met with the lawyers responsible for the state’s lawsuit. You and your partners hit the ground running after Christmas break and basically moved into the firm during the government shutdown and the weeks following. Around this time last year, you were face-first in your cases. You’d be damned if you would once again miss the opportunity to be Winston’s plus one for the awards ceremony due to work.

Your phone’s alarm began sounding off at 9:45 a.m. You decided to turn in the night before while Winston attended Common’s pre-Oscar party. It must’ve been Opposite Day. It would be you going out and Winston stayed in. Usually, you’d be snuggled up in your man’s arms sleeping. Instead, you were on your stomach, head to the side and resting on top of your hands. Dead to the world. You did,however, match Wins’ fly and slept in a new gold megabonnet to match his velvet durag (you’d bought him 10-15 new durags for Valentine’s Day). By the time your eyes reluctantly opened, you noticed that he was gone. Before you could curl your lip and whimper, you picked up your phone to find Wins’ text to start you off for the day.

You sat up on your elbows and smiled at the sight of the two white waffle bathrobes staring at you. The longer robe read “Duke” in crimson stitching, while the other read “Abdullah-Duke” in blue stitching. When you got out of bed, you caressed and carefully observed your robe. Baby boy ain’t skimpin’ on the quality of these robes. Ol’ extra ass. You quickly went into the shower, waterproof speaker in hand. From City Girls to Megan Thee Stallion to Kurt Carr and to Broadway soundtracks, your 25-minute shower performance was one for the books. Once you’d finished showering and doing your Oscars skincare routine, you went back into the bedroom to find Winston stretched out on the bed, his gapped grin stretching from ear to ear.

“Well, good morning, Mama Bear. That was one helluva performance you put on in there.” He looked you up and down like you were the last oxtail, slowly licking his top lip. “I see somebody likes their new robe.”, Winston complimented as he watched you walk towards him. He re-adjusted his stance so you could straddle his lap.

“Good morning to you,too, Daddy Bear. I don’t like it at all—I love it.”, you said in the crook of his neck as you kissed it repeatedly.

“You ready for today?”

You paused, going through the day’s mental Rolodex of events. “Of course—we’ll be together. You’ve been on an Oscars red carpet, I haven’t. Guide me. Show me your ways, Master Duke.”, you said dramatically. Winston’s deep, almost maniacal laughter sounded in your ear. He stared into your light brown eyes and smiled. Kissing your fivehead, he said, “You’re so dramatic. Of course. I’m excited for tonight...like very excited.” He kissed your ring and then your lips. You cheesed like the spoiled princess you knew you were. The two of you continued to cuddle, which eventually led to your lips finding their way onto his. Just as his curious hand ventured underneath your robe, there was a knock on the hotel suite door. Your head fell back in frustration and you reluctantly got out of Winston’s lap and smoothed your robe out as you walked to the door.

Winston whistled. “I hate to see you go, but I love watching you leave.” He tucked his lip under his top row of teeth.

“Shut yo corny ass up...Gabe.” Your face twisted and you placed an emphatic but playful tone on “Gabe” before sticking your tongue out. You looked through the peephole and opened the door for your assistant Jacqui, your wig stylist Maya Elise, and your makeup artist Alicia (your usual glam artist Justin was out of the country. It was time.

Not long after your glam squad arrived, Winston’s team came trickling in. The last-minute decision to get a two-bedroom suite instead of one was paying off. You and Winston broke off into different rooms and began your transformations.

Two hours and a whole Gillette advertisement later, you were reunited with your big head for lunch. When you emerged from the room, you were taken aback to see your fiance sporting an immaculate low fade. His beard was trimmed just right, enough to know it’d been flourishing in its growth. Ahh, my favorite seat looks like a meal for real. He stood feet from you in his white robe, giving you one of those looks.

As if on cue, your twin sister Farrah knocked on the door.

“Li, I’m so sorry. The one time I try to work on something last-minute, I’m almost an hour late. Where’s your room?”, Farrah said as she tried to catch her breath. She was holding your dress in her signature purple garment bag across her arms.

“ Rah! It’s okay, Boop. First off, slow down. Secondly, I’m over here.”, you pointed your fan behind you indicating where to put the dress. You excused yourself and returned to your room.

Farrah was an up and coming size-inclusive fashion designer and most importantly, your fraternal twin sister. You and Farrah were on completely different ends of the same spectrum. Growing up, you were often fighting her bullies on her behalf because she was a pacifist to the core; a terribly sensitive and somewhat reserved Cancer. She graduated from the same high school as you at 16, two years after you did. She graduated with her BFA in Fashion from North Carolina A&T, where she’d met her would-be husband and star Defensive Lineman for the Philadelphia Eagles, Braxton King. Professionally, She went by Issa Jenae, her two middle names. Though she and her family had just moved to Philadelphia from Boston, she spent most of her time in LA and New York. Nearly 85% of your dresses were designed by your sister. So, naturally, she was elated to design your Oscars dress.

Your sister was hanging the garment bag up on the closet door when you got back in. You were anxious to see the dress, as you had no idea what it was going to look like. When she asked you what you had in mind, you replied that you wanted something that was “subtly Wakandan”. With the help of Black Panther’s costume designer and Oscar nominee Ruth E. Carter, Farrah was able to make your wish shake. One of the advantages of having your twin sister design your dresses was that she’d knew you better than any other designer could. Your off-shoulder gown was fittingly inspired by the Jabari tribe with the purple and gold-threaded triangular pattern on the exterior and the gorgeous interior satin royal purple lining. The slit on the right side showed just enough of your thigh tat. Like the other dresses she’d made for you, it was customary for Farrah to hand-sew an insult of some sorts somewhere into the dress. Today’s insult: whore, sewn into the left side of the slit’s opening.

Being that it was one of the many inside jokes you two shared, you searched tirelessly for the insult. When you finally discovered it, you let out the ugliest sound as began laughing. “Bitch, you play too fuckin’ much. Whore? Really?”, you commented as you began unzipping the dress.

“Why not? I wasn’t the one sleepin’ with half of Black Hollywood, now was I?” You stared at her in pure disbelief. That raggedy bitch just airing your dirty laundry out there, but if the roles were reversed, she’d call your umi with the quickness. She was the true Cancer. “Exactly. I rest my case. Now go change, whore.”

You muttered some dirty words and passive aggressive wishes under your breath as you carefully slipped into your dress. Farrah zipped you up and spun you around to get a better look at her masterpiece of a dress. With your wig on and your shoes and accessories still needing to be put on, your transformation was almost complete.

You toyed with the idea of what kind of accessories you’d wear for tonight’s activities. Simplicity won you over for your picks. You wore three necklaces: a choker-like gold bar with “Khalida” written in Arabic, your everyday rose gold “K”, and your gold zodiac pendant. In addition to your 2nd engagement ring, a local Black jeweler allowed you to wear their oversized black fleur-de-lis cocktail ring (it was Mardi Gras season, after all) for the awards ceremony. In an unusual twist, you decided to wear a bracelet. This bracelet wasn’t just any other bracelet—it was a gold bracelet shaped as scissors (a shameless Us plug for your fiancé).To finish the look, you wore your cowrie shell and gold link anklets. You were ready to fuck that carpet up.

Once Maya-Elise finally laid the baby hairs on your half-up half-down Yaki blowout wig, you walked out of the pits of hair hell one last time. For the first time in history, you were ready before Winston. This never happened. Like...ever. Instead of seeing Winston, you were, however, greeted by your bonus family sitting in the living area of the suite.

“My daughter! Has Winston seen you yet?!”, Mama Cora remarked as you twirled for her.

“No, Coco, because for the first time ever, I’m the first one ready. You know this never happens. Wait—he didn’t dip, did he?”, you asked as you tried to peak at his door.

“Of course not! He wouldn’t ditch the most beautiful woman in Hollywood—not in his right mind,at least. I’d actually have to rough him up.”, Cindy joked.

You and Jacqui walked out to the suite’s main balcony take pictures for the ‘Gram. Six Vogue-worthy pictures later, Jacqui uploaded the photo set with “Dark-haired YAAncé” as the caption. You walked back into the suite to see a handsome thick figure with his back towards you. Winston was so wrapped up in his conversation with his barber Red that he didn’t realize that you’d been outside, yet alone beat him getting ready.

“I wonder what Yaa’s wearing tonight. She mentioned something about there being purple somewhere in the equation? I don’t know...I never know with that gyal of mine.”, he chuckled as he shrugged.

Red’s shoulders bounced in laughter. “I mean...why don’t you ask her? She’s right there.” Red looked around his solid physique to acknowledge your presence.

“How am I going to ask her if she’s not rea—”. Winston turned his head in the direction Red had pointed to. Noticing something different, he whipped around once more, this time, turning his whole body around towards you. The two of you stood maybe two feet apart, taking in each other’s ensembles and beauty.

You were in love with his low fade, especially after the Sisqo phase for the New Years Trip (there could be only one platinum blonde in this relationship). Red got him right for tonight. Then there was the tux. THAT. FUCKING. TUX. It didn’t help that he was already thicker than three-day-old oatmeal. His suit was just fitted enough. In true Winston C. Duke fashion, he couldn’t just wear a basic tux. Nope. Hell nawl. The jacket had white piping on the lapel and the pockets, along with two white bands on either arm. The pants had the white stripe going down either side. Surely, the ancestors wanted to see you cut up over your man and how delicious he was looking. As you undressed him with your eyes, you’d caught his little intentional lip bite and lick. It was subtle enough for only you to catch it.

You fanned yourself harder the closer you got up to him. Shit, that nigga was looking delicious. Winston and everyone else laughed at your speechlessness. Your mouth was totally agape and your head shook. You finally pointed your white coffin-shaped nail at Winston and looked around the room to make sure everyone else was seeing the same meal you were looking at.

“Are you gonna say something, K.D.?”, Winston asked as he closed your mouth and lifted your chin in one smooth motion with one finger.

“Baby...sweetheart...honey bunches...Chris baby…answer me this one question...”, you stammered.

“Yes?”

“Who the fuck told you...TO LOOK THIS FUCKIN’ GOOD?! LIKE, WHO GAVE YOU THE RIGHT AND THE PRIVILEGE?! THE NERVE OF YOU! THE ABSOLUTE UNMITIGATED GALL, THE NEGROSITY OF YOU, ON THIS 24TH DAY OF BLACK HISTORY MONTH AND 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF MY NATIONAL ANTHEM!”,you gassed, punching your hand and pointing your acrylic nails and clacking them against each other every which way for dramatic emphasis.

Winston doubled over in hysterical laughter, to the point of tears, at your response. “Wow, I must say, it does feel good to be on the receiving end of your gassing. I knew I had to come with it if I was going to be your date tonight. If I haven’t learned anything else about you in all these years of knowing you, it’s that no matter where you’re going, you’re gonna bring it. You’ve kinda forced me to step out of my usual tux zone and further into the world of high fashion...all without knowing what your dress looked like. I think I did pretty good, dontcha think?” He finally closed the gap between the two of you and held your small hands into his big hands.You rolled your eyes to keep from laughing. You weren’t going to give into that Gabe Wilson-level corniness.

“Ehhh...you did aight. Ion know who you tryna dress up for, but you cute or whateva.”, you said nonchalantly.

He lowered his voice to where only you could hear, “I must say that you, my dearest Khalida, the love of my life, are looking sublime right now. I don’t even care what you have in store for the after party look, I just know that in this very moment, I’d have you on this table if everyone weren't here.” You smirked.

“You know, I had the same thought about you when were eating lunch. I’m happy our freakiness is in tandem.”, you paused to look around the room, “Now let’s go and flex for the ‘gram, shall we?”

Everyone crowded both elevators to the lobby to get a full glimpse at the soon-to-be Duke’s. The lighting in the hotel’s courtyard was perfect—a studio could never.

“Alrighty...the lighting’s good here, love birds.”, Jacqui reported as she searched for the perfect late afternoon light. The two of you walked to the exact spot Jacqui deemed appropriate. He insisted that you walk before him, just so he could check you out from the back. He gazed in amazement as he noticed the highlight on your shoulders when the sun kissed them. The purple and gold in your dress both complemented your caramel skin. Winston bit his lip as all the thoughts of sin and lust bombarded his mind. God, you outdid yourself when you created her. He finally caught up to you and promptly rested his arm around your full waist, pulling you into him. The two of you stared into each other’s eyes, cameras or people be damned. As Jacqui caught the candid shots, the two of you whispered nasty sweet nothings into each other’s ear. After spending 20 minutes in the courtyard, Jacqui escorted you and Winston to the hotel’s service entrance, where their SUV was waited patiently for you all. As the two of you looked at the SUV, Winston squeezed your hand. “You ready, Dr. Abdullah?”, he asked as he looked down to you.

“When you are, Mr. Duke.”

The two of you shared three deep breaths before loading into the car, eager to show up and out for the Oscars.

I GOT THE TAGLIST IN THE BACK! @muse-of-mbaku @kumkaniudaku @eriknutinthispoosy-deactivated2 @whoramilaje @mbakusthrone @mbakuwife @crushed-pink-petals @supersizemeplz @inlovewithmakeupcomicsanimelove @jackburtonsays @randomwordprompts @bartierbakarimobisson @wakandan-flowerz @blackpantherreblogs @babygirlofwakanda @eerythingisshaka @washyourlinens @turn-thy-paige @doublesidedscoobysnacks @wakandas-vibranium @oceanscorazon @oshasimone @destinio1 @sonofnjobu @teheeboo @sarahboseman @iamrheaspeaks @chaneajoyyy @lovelynervouschaos @cay-cah @coonflix @katasstrophey @mareethequeen @jozigrrl @great-neckpectations @jellybean531 @yofavcocoa @storibambino @maya-leche @blackgirloneshots @royallyprincesslilly @texasbama @ljstraightnochaser @certifiednatural @abeautifulmindexposed

[flowerwreaththings]

My Top 8 favourite royal wedding looks

I enjoyed seeing the top 10 best and worst royal wedding dresses lists of those who did it in the past few days and they made me want to do one even tho no one asked for it lol but I love to talk about my fashion opinions so here we go... I planned to do a top 10 but there weren’t enough looks that I could say I wholeheartedly liked so it’s only going to be 8. Also I can decide if I like it generally or not but it’s hard to put the ones I like in order. After a lot of debating with myself I put them in order but it could change any time, there isn’t a big difference in my love for them. I'm very tired and English is not my first language so if I don't make sense please excuse me

8. Princess Sofia

I love lace very much, but it can be overdone, however the ladies on this list found the perfect balance. The lace details are very delicate both on her dress and the veil and they are absolutely gorgeous. Again not too much lace but the right amount. I love that the dress is a simple A line and not a huge puffy skirt. My only problem is that I feel like something is missing or something is amiss with the tailoring of the gown. I adore her shoes with the heart shape and her bouqet is my faviourite. I’m not a fan of the tiara but it was a nice touch.

7. Crown Princess Mette Marit

Her dress is a dream. I love simple things and her dress is very much that, yet absolutely unique too at the same time. When I look at it I just want to be burried in it. It looks like the softest thing and her veil too. I adore her tiara choice and the lack of heavy makeup. My only problem is with the top part, I don't like how it's done, it looks striped. Also we should never forget her weird ass bouquet.

6. Princess Madeleine

When I first laid eyes on this dress I fell in love with it. It has always been in my top 3, however in the past years I think my taste has evolved. As the time goes on I prefer more simple things, so I still  find her dress absolutely gorgeous ,but I think it's a bit too much. It's a joy to look at it from the back as the dress and veil floated down the aisle together. The lace detail is beautiful and the way it's woven into the dress is very unique. The end of the gown is beautiful in itself if you look at the details but with the rest of the dress it was too much IMO. I also love that the train wasn't a separate thing bc I hate that and sadly the royals tend to attach it separately. It's one magnificent piece. Madde looked absolutely stunning that day (as she always does) but her happiness shined like no other time and to me she looked different than she usually does. I love her Modern Fringe Tiara it was perfect for the occasion and I loved her dark brown hair along with her beautiful bouquet.

5. Tessy Antony

Probably this is an unpopular opinion but I love this dress. This is the dress that I can picture myself wearing the most. There's nothing grand or royal about it, It could be anyone's wedding dress, but I adore it. I'm not crazy about the top part but it's ok, however the skirt looks like the most delicious thing and I’m obsessed with it . Seriously just look at it, the way it falls down, its’s made of the perfect fabric and it looks so soft. I’m just in love with it. I dont’t like the veil and the gloves but the skirt is everything, my favourite  part of all the dresses on this list.

4. Autumn Kelly

It's another good example of a bit of lace and pattern without making it too much.Very classy. I love how full the skirt part looks and I usually don't like these kind of details but the little bows on the back of the dress really make it fun. Her veil was beautiful, the lace detail on it was on point and the Festoon Tiara is gorgeous. Everything is the perfect length, the train isn't too long. There's not a thing to not love about this look.

3. Princess Claire of Belgium

This is the perfect combination of a lace dress and a petterned veil. I think most of the time only one of the two can be patterned, but Claire made it work with both. This is the perfect amount of lace on a dress. As I have said before I adore lace but it can be definitely too much, but not here. The skirt is the perfect size, it's tailored so well and it's a joy to look at from the back. Although I find the Belgian heirloom veil ugly and I'm not fond of the tiara, they don't bother me in the whole look. The cut of the neckline is beautiful, the lace detail is gorgeous and it has the perfect sleeve length. This is a classical look. An A+++. I'm deceased.

2. Princess Charlene

Her look was another unusual choice for a royal bride and I adore it. This is the most elegant of all. The straight line of the gown and the beautiful crystals on it, I can't. The detail is so stunning. I'm not that happy about the added train. As I've said before I hate when it's separate from the dress but it had a gorgeous detail too. I love that her veil was the simplest and it fell on her so beautifully. Also she had the best of royal bridal hairstyles ever with those dropdead gorgeous pieces of hair jewellery.

1. Princess Margaret

I'm just absolutely in love with this and I would wear it in a heartbeat. 60 years have passed but it still stands it's place IMO. It's so classy. It's simple, yet no one else had worn something like this. It's perfect. The dress looks amazing, everything is the right size: the skirt, the train. A lot of the royal wedding dresses had IMO too long trains or veils but not this one, everything is the perfect lenght. I love that it's longsleeved and they are sheer. I'm in love with everything both separately and with the whole look together. The veil frames the look, it has an unusual placing and shaping. Another things lots of royal brides did wrong is a hug ass bun on their head and it didn't work for any of them, except for Margaret. The gorgeous Poltimore Tiara really finished off this look.

[shes-got-the-best-stories]

Hey Morgan I was wondering what are your top 10 or 15 best royal wedding dresses?

I know I made a post over a year ago I think, but I’m not gonna go back and look so I can pick my current top 10, it’s always changing tbh. especially since with other posts, I’ve seen new gowns that I love!

Not sure I’m necessarily doing this in a order of my top 10, they’re all just my favorite. Also it’s royals and royal adjacent. 

1. Princess Eugenie

This is a true number one for me. If I had to pick one royal gown to wear, it’d be this. And the styling with no veil and that perfect tiara? It’s my fav look top to bottom.

2. Kate Middleton-Duchess of Cambridge

I don’t necessarily like the neckline but it’s always the first gown I think of because it’s when I originally started watching royals.

3. Meghan Markle-Duchess of Sussex

The gown that got me back into the royal fandom. Again, this is more of a sentimental pick, because I have fit issues with it, but I love how it’s true Meghan style with the neckline.

4. Lady Elle- Reception

I LOVE the reception gown. With the styling of it, something just feels like old hollywood glam vibes

5. Crown Princess Victoria

First of all, she’s literally the most smitten person in the world on her wedding day and I swear to god the look on her face is the look we all hope to have on our day. I love that neckline and details of the gown, that’s the main reason I’m picking it.

6. Princess Ekaterina of Hanover

 thanks to @claireofluxembourg post, i was introduced to this beauty! the. detailing.

7.  Lady Charlotte Wellesley 

again, another gown introduced to me thanks to @claireofluxembourg

8. Grace Kelly

9.  Princess Stephanie of Luxembourg

10. Camilla Parker Bowles

I just love this because it feels perfect for her and the situation.

[blankdblank]

Ridikulus Pt 16

Pt 1 - Pt 2 - Pt 3 - Pt 4 - Pt 5 - Pt 6 - Pt 7 - Pt 8 - Pt 9 - Pt 10 - Pt 11 - Pt 12 -  Pt 13 -  Pt 14 - Pt 15 - 

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Tags –

@himoverflowers, @theincaprincess, @aspiringtranslator, @sweeticedtea, @ggbbhehe4455, @thegreyberet, @patanghill17, @jesgisborne, @curvestrology, @alishlieb, @jogregor, @armitageadoration, @fizzyxcustard, @here2have-fun, @lilith15000, @marvels-ghost, @catthefearless, @imjusthereforthereads, @abiwim, @jotink78, @c-s-stars, @evyiione, @sweetlytenacious25, @tigereyesf,, @menewyn

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Ginny in a floor length long sleeve forest green dress with a fake gem coated belt around her hips matching the stones around the high neck, “Jaqi? Could you-.” Her words paused as she spotted Legolas in the room flashing her a weak smile.

He pointed to the closet door, “In the closet.”

Ginny nodded leading Luna, in a high necked sleeveless pink silk gown, and Hermione in a thickly embroidered blue gown you could only assume was made for her by the Dwarves. With her arms out she asked the Prince, “Is my dress ok?”

Legolas nodded, “It is very lovely, I am certain Haldir will admire it and compliment it.” His eyes shifted to Luna as she spun then stopped to face him again, “As is yours. It is quite similar to the styles our Ladies prefer for our celebrations, stylish and comfortable for dancing.”

Hermione sighed eyeing her dress again, “Princess Dis designed mine.”

Legolas nodded, “It is a flattering color and shape while fitting for your rank.”

With grins the three of them walked to the bathroom and walked inside through to the closet as Ginny continued, “Do you mind lending me your green heels? Haldir insists I wear flats ‘for my comfort’, but I insist on not making him slouch the entire evening so I can reach his hands and shoulders properly.”

You giggled and nodded your head to the wall of shoes, “All yours.” You smiled at Hermione as she helped you finish securing the zipper up your side while Luna helped you secure the hidden support inside.

Luna grinned eyeing your dress choices and asked, “You didn’t want to wear your yellow one again?”

After a giggle you led them through to the bathroom to stand before the makeup bag you’d pulled out previously, “It is a wedding gown apparently.”

Hermione giggled as Ginny hunched in the doorway adding your heels saying, “Better not show the pictures of the Yule Ball then.”

You giggled again, “Exactly.” Shifting your eyes you watched her eyeing you affectionately, “I have to ask, what did you say to the Elves earlier? They gave me that I’ve seen you die look.”

Ginny moved to lean against the counter beside you watching as you finished your eye makeup through Luna pulling back the top half of your hair into a bow secured with a jeweled clip similar to hers. “They were wandering through Godric’s Hollow, started shifting the tokens through the memorial.”

You nodded and caught her glance into your makeup bag you made to hover in front of her making her smirk as she reached in sneaking out the deep maroon lipstick she turned to add eagerly making you giggle. “Oh, Dudley asked for a spot in the shop, I was wondering if you’d mind showing him the ropes? We could up your hours.”

She nodded and grinned at you, “Sounds good. Had a thought to try and take Haldir to the diner on my lunches possibly, or after my shifts, if I can convince him to.”

Hermione chose your eye shadow stating, “I’m certain he’d love to.”

Your eyes turned to Hermione, comfortably in her flats in the group of heeled women to eye her dress and gifted circlet saying, “One thing for certain, the Dwarves know their way with a needle.”

Hermione nodded, “Managed to whip it up in a couple days too.” Her eyes lowered for a moment, “Just a bit strange, going from staying at your place to talking with Dis about moving into the Palace.”

Ginny turned your head with her fingertips on your chin, helping to add the shade of lipstick she chose for you in a bright red saying, “Well when you do we have to help you decorate it.”

Hermione giggled, “No doubt that would make my apartment a bit too undwarfly for the Royal Family’s liking.”

You rolled your eyes when Ginny was done and turned your head to her saying as your hand landed on your hip, “Are you telling me Hermione Jean Granger can’t manage a simple Illusion enchantment?”

She rolled her eyes, “I would rather not start our relationship with Illusion enchantments. I can tolerate their couches.” She glanced at Ginny while Luna asked, “Real question is, has Ginny gotten a peak into Haldir’s apartment, or would he be moving in here?”

You giggled and joined the pair in looking at Ginny when she rolled her eyes brushing her hair behind her ear, “We’ve barely spoken five times. Nowhere near marriage. I thought he’d pass out just from the dancing the other night kept blushing when he walked me home. Wasn’t till he asked to escort me tonight I understood why.”

Through the closet into the room you led the trio and spotted Legolas’ grin eyeing the full look on you in his rise to his feet. “I cannot wait to see Ada’s face when he sees you, Naneth.”

You chuckled then glanced to Luna as she asked him, “Do you not have a date?”

Legolas shook his head, “Lord Elrond prefers me to escort Lady Arwen, she loves to dance and the Men from Gondor keep trying to win her affections.”

Ginny, “That’s good you have a date. Thought I might not this time around.” She drew in a pausing breath, “Are all Elves as shy as Haldir?”

Legolas, “Our courtships can take decades to solidify, we wait for our Ones. Haldir especially wishes to ensure you are comfortable as well as your family.”

Ginny drew in a breath then asked, “Is it strange, he told me I was his One, but I don’t know.” Her voice dropped lowly, “It sounds so terrible aloud.”

Hermione answered for him, “It took me months to feel the bond with Fili. More than just dating or a crush. It’s hard to explain, but it’s like, magnets and quicksand.”

You giggled as she replied, “Comforting.” She paused then added, “He is really sweet. Focused on what I need and want. A bit jumpy though when I’ve tried to take him up on his offer for archery lessons.”

Legolas, “Most likely he is wanting to arrange for a chaperone.”

Ginny, “Chaperone?”

Hermione, “Fili insisted on meeting my Parents before he would sit on watch with me alone.”

Ginny, “But he has met Dad, and Mum has talked to him too.”

Luna, “Well he does know about Harry, maybe he is trying not to rush things.”

Legolas nodded, “I did hear Haldir had referred to Lord Celeborn on how to proceed since you were wed before.”

Ginny’s brows furrowed, “I wasn’t-..”

Legolas, “Marriage has a wide number of qualifications in our world. Most times even if there is an implication of a union and one partner passes they are considered wed. I am certain he wishes to respect that union as well as your feelings for the end of it.”

Ginny sighed, “I don’t need another person worrying about how I take the end of my relationship.”

Legolas nodded then glanced to her hair saying, “Ada has a selection of circlets he wished to offer you and your relatives here.”

You grinned and said, “How thoughtful. Please lead the way, still helpless out there.”

Hermione, “Maybe Sirius and Remus could make you a map.”

You nodded, “Considering it. Definitely need one.” Legolas grinned guiding you through your enchanted doorway back to the Royal Wing where he walked to his Father’s apartment and walked right in missing your mumbling in Latin, “Could be naked but let’s go right in.”

Hermione giggled as Ginny leaned in to whisper to you, “So far from a problem.”

.

Around the first corner you heard the Elven bickering back and forth on the final agreed lineup before Legolas entered the room to catch the pair with their mouths still open, slowly they closed as the trio of your friends entered the room spotting the pair finishing the last of the buttons below their necks and wrists. A couple seconds they stood there curiously until you were spotted at the end of the line instantly making the pair of them swallow dryly, a reaction Ginny grinned at her capturing by calling your enchanted camera that was now determined to capture countless images through the night. The flash was enough to snap them from their memorizing stare while Legolas stated, “Ada, you wished to share your gifts.”

The King grinned and led your group through to the dining room where the full line of circlets were set out. Around the table you all walked peering at each as Hermione asked, “Is there any rank attached to each?”

Thranduil shook his head, “As relatives to Jaqi you may pick whichever you please.” He smirked at Hermione catching her eye adding, “Even you Miss Granger, should your beloved’s gift not sit comfortably. Our metals are lighter.”

She gave a challenging smirk back, “No thank you. I would prefer to remain how Princess Dis and Queen Niro dressed me.” She glanced at you, “Oh, they keep asking me how the potion is?”

Your eyes met hers as you raised a rose gold circlet and turned to Luna helping her add her choice, “The layer of fur is breaking to bright turquoise, so noon most likely. I will check it in the morning. Oh, please remind them, should they ask, not to bring the family. It won’t be pleasant.”

Hermione nodded, “I have tried, believe me. But ‘Dwarves can withstand a great deal of suffering’ is all I hear back. Even the polyjuice potion is excruciating at best, so if they all pass out from watching it it’s on them. At least Thorin is preparing, plans on getting plastered tonight and hopes it’ll tide him over.”

You giggled easing the circlet on Luna’s head then glanced at Thranduil for approval of your placement. With a flash of a grin he moved in and quickly corrected it a fraction of a turn while Glorfindel helped Ginny with hers. “Not likely, sober in an instant, and the hangover won’t help.”

Gingerly your hand was cradled by the King as K popped in saying, “My Mistress, a Haldir is here for Miss Ginny.”

Ginny nipped at her lip then eyed Dobby popping up beside K with his hand on poor frazzled Haldir’s leg. Instantly Ginny moved to help adjust his hair back again stirring a grin onto his lips as he lowly complimented her dress and circlet. Through the door you were led to the King’s closet where he led you to the island there and opened the first box and grinned at your open mouthed response to the full crown in bright shimmering white stones forming slanted leaves filled with purple sapphires around one upright in the center. Softly you whispered, “You cannot give me this.”

Widely his grin spread as he raised it whispering back, “Watch me.”

“Thranduil.” Your hair shifting to sea foam green instantly.

He settled it securely around the top of your head centering the upright leaf while stating, “You, are Queen now.” Taking full advantage of your shock he leaned in to kiss your lips and on his lean back upright again he added, “Perfect.”

Glorfindel behind you chuckled with his gift in hand he eased around your neck. Instantly the cold metal around the base of your neck with a giant diamond like shimmering white stone resting just above your cleavage. The entire band a cluster of leaf shaped diamonds holding the weight of the single large stone. Softly you mumbled, “You are trying to kill me.” In a turn you spotted the dazzling gift in the mirror before he’d claimed a kiss of his own after you thanked him. Before you could lean into it your head turned at the gasp from the doorway.

Ginny stood open mouthed, “Wow, we thought your circlet might be bigger, but that, is a crown.” She led the girls in, who circled you praising the items while Thranduil claimed your wrist to add a bracelet matching your necklace and kiss your knuckles after before passing your hand to the women when the door opened again and the trio of boys came rushing in.

Instantly they froze in the doorway looking you up and down while Taule paused after them with a gentle smile in her simple heavily beaded silver gown under the shimmering necklace Thranduil was pleased to have gained back from Thorin, to return to her for the occasion, with a crown matching yours in champagne diamonds around deep emeralds. A few rapid steps later the boys were at your sides as you crouched down drawing the men’s eyes to the color changing effect of your gown parting their lips.

The boys took in all the details of your gown and jewels while your hair shifted back to silvery blue again, then glanced up at Glorfindel stating, “Time to get you lot dressed.”

They nodded and headed for their room down the hall while the girls followed bringing Haldir with them. In his move to join them Thranduil froze at your arms circling his chest, with a grin Legolas slipped out to fetch his outer robe, hearing you mumble, “Thank you.” He peered down at you and you added, “I will try not to disappoint you.”

His smile deepened in his lean in lowly stating, “You will never disappoint me.” Stretching just a bit higher your lips met his for a tender kiss before you joined the others at another soft gasp and squeak to follow.

Entering the door you spotted Hermione holding up a little robe identical to Glorfindel’s saying in latin, “They’re dressing the boys to match them.”

You giggled and joined the women on the bed beside Taule, who smiled resting her chin on your shoulder as you giggled and stated to Glorfindel at his glance over to you while aiding Estel into his dress robe, “This is priceless. What cute little ducklings.”

In the doorway again Legolas eased his own robe on and started to settle it around his torso while Thranduil helped him ease his hair out from under it, “We prefer swans or cygnets.”

You nodded through your giggled, “Of course you do.” Turning your head you caught Elurin and his serious expression pulling on his second boot. The path of your finger along the edge of his ear his head turned to face you with a curious expression, “What is going on in that head of yours?”

“I am remembering the rules.”

You nodded, “So you aren’t going to have any fun at all at the party?”

Elured, “Fun?”

You nodded, “Fun.”

Elurin, “There are rules.”

“You do realize you’re seven and that you have an entire lifetime to follow the rules?”

He blinked at you while Elured said, “Princes have to remain focused, always flawless.”

“Perhaps, but you are still children and clothes can be mended and washed.”

Elurin, “We would never damage our clothes.”

Reaching out you said, “If you say so. You have something on your face.” He moved closer only to be wrapped into your arms and giggle helplessly as you blew a raspberry on his cheek and ask between pecks on his cheeks, “Are you really going to be serious my entire birthday party?”

He shook his head through a giggled, “No.”

Meeting you wrapped your arm around Elured in his approach, peppered kisses on his cheeks as well and glanced between them, “You are seven, so you will play, and smile, and laugh. I don’t care how dirty you get or what the other Elves say, enjoy your youth while it lasts, there is so much time for being prim and stoic later, alright?” They nodded, “Past a few introductions to other nobles you are free to be children, alright?” They nodded again and you asked, “Is this all you’re wearing?”

Elurin, “We have wraps.”

You grinned, “Go get your wraps then.” You stole a grin up at the enamored Elf King then looked back to Estel and his sheepish gaze at you when Glorfindel finished buttoning his robe. A wag of your finger later he was in your arms on your lap leaning his head into the kiss you planted on his cheek. Meeting his eyes you said, “You are mine now, alright,” to which he nodded and leaned his forehead against your lips as you said, “And never doubt that I love you, and will always be here for you. No one is going to hurt you.”

You kissed his cheek again when he leaned his forehead against your chest saying softly, “I love you too Naneth.”

He drew back as you asked, “What boots are you wearing?”

He pointed across the room and you let him down and grinned at the other girls who smiled at the boys small clothes and shoes. On your feet you walked to Legolas, whose grin tripled in your approach and he melted into your tight hug and didn’t let go of you for a few moments as you softly said, “You might not need a Mother but if you need me, trust me, no one is harming you.”

He nodded and you kissed his cheek in his release deepening his grin before you turned at the Twins’ calling out, “Naneth!”

They turned and showed off their wraps and boots and soon split allowing Estel in the middle to do the same, “Very dashing.”

Thranduil chuckled and said, “Darling, I do believe we should go greet the Men to accept your gifts before the others start arriving.”

You nodded and offered your hands signaling the boys to approach, only for them to follow the King, making you struggle not to laugh at their steady pace behind the King when he grabbed his wrap off the chair in the hall and added it completing his look. A smile settled onto Taule’s face while Legolas wrapped her arm around his to guide her while the girls circled you with Haldir beside Ginny, trying to calmly enjoy her hand fixed in his after she had woven her fingers through it.

….

In Rohan earlier

Thengel, “What sort of horse does your Queen prefer? A racer, a dazzler, or would demeanor win out over beauty and speed?”

Thranduil, “Feathered hooves and speckled are the breed’s main attributes. I have never witnessed one myself, but if I could find one close enough I am certain she would adore it all the same.”

Thengel grinned peering at the King, “Speckled and feathered? Is she aware feathered breeds are known for their strength, not speed?”

Thranduil glanced at him, “I do not believe so, but either way she shares our Elven weightless qualities. That should ease a difference, though we will not be racing our steeds, merely easing her into caring for a steed, a work horse should aid that greatly.”

Thengel nodded, “Yes. It should.” He motioned his had guiding Thranduil over towards the smaller pasture with the taller stockier breeds. “You are in luck, our fences broke year before last breeding season, nearly doubled our herd for carriages, wagons and tilling. A few unique coats have appeared in our herds again from it.”

Instantly Thranduil’s eyes shifted from the dark brown and black horses shifting to allow the pair past on to the tan and grey horses before a trio caught his eye with the younger being nudged away from the larger of the three, “Those three, would one be available?”

Thengel grinned stating, “The elders are our plow pullers. Are not overly friendly in how the easterners treated them. Even to their Granddaughter. We just started socializing her with the bridle and back straps last month, should adjust fairly easily to a saddle.” He grinned as Halmar moved to guide her away from the herd into the stables to be washed and primped for being handed over later. “Now, those boys, we have some nice sturdy speckled ponies, should remain a decent size for them to handle even if they are Elven boys.” Thranduil glanced over catching his amused smirk, “Also speckled, though in white and brown.”

Thranduil turned his head watching the pen of ponies trotting around and eyed the trio he was referring to, “They should do nicely.”

Thengel nodded and patted him on the back, “I am glad. And should you ever find yourself in need of another steed, or if your Queen has trouble rearing her Mare or ever wishes to breed her let us know.”

Thranduil nodded then turned watching the trio also be taken to be bathed while over hearing the conversation of the Men in the stables.

.

Halmar sighed brushing the Mare’s mane free of any debris, “I just cannot manage it.”

Hamma his Brother gripped his shoulder gaining his attention, “You can do it, you just have not found the right woman.”

Halmar, “Each woman so far has struck me or left cursing me.”

Hamma’s brow twitched up in an idea, “You always treat the horses better than the women you converse with.”

Halmar, “Hamma, that-..”

Hamma raised his hand, “Hear me out. Simply try imagining the woman you are speaking to is a horse and see if it goes better. You just need to get past that first interaction and I am certain you will manage a courtship.”

Halmar sighed again, “I will try.”

…

In Greenwood back before the Party

Through the halls you folded your arm through Glorfindel’s after inching up to kiss his cheek again, leaning against his arm you missed his smile growing while you passed through the Elves bowing their heads to your group in their motions to finish the final tasks they held. In a small tea room overlooking the same gardens on the path to the stables you had stumbled into earlier with the group of golden haired Men straightened up with widening grins looking over you especially.

In the golden light of the setting sun you felt their eyes taking in the details of your hair, dress and jewels as King Thengel nodded his head and greeted you, “Your Majesty, it is a pleasure to see you again.” before you could reply he stated, “To welcome you into the start of another year and into the start of our friendship we brought you a gift.” His hand rose at his side motioning to the double doors, through which you spotted the tall broad mare being led into view making your lips part.

Quietly he led you to the doors that he opened for you while you said softly in a daze seeing the horse of your dreams, “If I knew you better I would hug you.”

He chuckled deeply at your side lowering his gaze to the glimpse of your heels revealing the reasoning for your growth spurt, “That is quite a response, I am pleased you find her suitable.” Nearing the mare you eyed her in her seven foot stance eyeing you carefully herself, “Normally this breed is used for pulling our wagons and plowing. Nice and powerful yet incredibly kind hearted when treated properly.”

Lowly you asked, “How big are your wagons? You’re what, six foot something, I suppose your herds must all be massive.”

He chuckled again, “You are welcome to visit our lands for a full tour and inspection of our herds whenever you wish Your Majesty.”

His eyes followed your hand rising to press to the ridge of her nose when she lowered her head at your clearly awed expression, gently you pet her face smoothing your hand over the side of her face brushing her mane out of her eyes whispering, “Aren’t you stunning.” Instantly sparking something in her eyes making her inch closer to you pressing against your hands.

While your other hand smoothed over the side of her lower jaw Thengel grinned, “There is another part of our gift.” You glanced at him with a raised brow catching his eyes noticing the scars on your face as the soft breeze shifted your bangs near your ear, his hand motioned again and three white ponies with brown spots and patches across them parting your lips as he stated through another chuckle, “For your Sons.”

A glance from you brought the trio out into the garden after a nudge from Glorfindel, with eager giggles the boys peered up at the ponies who nudged their chests with their snouts while you watched their gentle pets. In a curious step to the side you smoothed your fingers through her mane down her neck dangling over a foot while you eyed her back wondering how you were going to manage climbing on her back without help. The next group entering the room drew your attention as Thranduil greeted them, stepping back to her face you softly stated, “I’m going to take really good care of you.”

Her head bobbed and nudged against your cheek before she followed Halmar back to the stables with the ponies behind her as King Thengel stated, “In the morning we can help your attendants with measuring them for proper saddles for you. I am certain we can manage some longer stirrups to aid your climb up.”

With a weak chuckle you turned guiding the boys back to the room you walked back inside after thanking the King again spotting his widening smile. Inside you eyed the tall group of Men, each bowing their heads to you as introduced, Ecthellion II, Denethor, Boromir and Faramir. All their eyes scanned over you and the group of ladies behind you before Ecthellion stated with a grin, “Your Majesty, for all the uses of a steed it certainly will not keep you warm.” Behind him an attendant stepped forward with a box he opened revealing the deep grey fur lined robe.

Softly through your parted lips you thanked him then turned your eyes to Denethor in his intense gaze at Estel making him step behind your leg. Near a growl he stated, “Aragorn!”

His step closer to you ended as he watched you return a glare, “You will not touch my Son.”

Furrowing his brow he pointed to Estel behind your legs, “That is our Prince! He was taken by his Mother, he belongs in Gondor!”

Again as he stepped closer you repeated, “You will not touch him.” His steps halted as you added through shifting to mirror his appearance fully stepping closer to him in return parting the lips of the Men while Thranduil and Glorfindel withheld their reactions, “He is my Son and he is not leaving my custody. When he is old enough he will return to stay in Gondor.” Denethor’s lips parted then closed as you added inches from his face, “You step one toe out of line or plot steal him from me I will see to it your city will be nothing but ash when you return.” Wordlessly he stood watching you shift back with a challenging glimmer in your eyes through your smirk at him while turning your focus back to their gift.

Echtellion grinned stating, “It is comforting to find our Prince in such safe lands with a great set of rulers to learn from. I do apologize for my Son’s outburst, surely we would never wish to claim him from you after his Mother had left him to your care. Might we inquire as to where she has gone?”

Thranduil stated firmly as Estel inched out to your side peering up at the young Men behind Denethor, in his silent stewing thoughts, who smiled at him kindly. “Queen Gilrean sailed West unable to bear the loss of King Arathorn.” His eyes shifted to Denethor, “I assure you he will be taught to uphold his station.”

Denethor, “And who will teach him our culture?”

You raised a brow at him before Thranduil stated, “By all means, stay for a time, aid us in his lessons.”

He curtly nodded then rolled his eyes at the Elleth entering the room stating, “My King, the Dwarves have arrived.”

Tilting your head you locked eyes with Denethor stating, “Hermione is practically my Sister and happens to be marrying King Thorin’s Nephew Prince Fili, during your stay you will be seeing them often.” You turned guiding the boys through the door with your group behind you to meet Thorin in the Throne Room for their gifts as King Thengel patted Denethor’s back teasing him about your temper and how he’d already caught a glimpse of it. Reminding him to behave or Rohan just might take over their lands when you brought their kingdom to the ground if he threatened Estel again.

…

Through the Throne room the Princes joined the Children the Dwarves had brought with them to the main gardens with growing smiles at the company soon added on by the children the Elves from Rivendell had brought. Grins spread on the Durins’ faces as you entered, each complimenting your appearance before presenting their own gifts. The sheepish glance on Thorin’s face brought you to say, “I was going to check on your potion in the morning.”

Anxiously he asked, “It is nearly ready?”

You nodded, “If not tomorrow the day after.”

His smile grew while Bilbo’s hand fixed in his gripped it a bit tighter in a silent comforting squeeze as Thengel asked, “Potion?”

You locked eyes on him as Thorin turned to state, “Queen Jaqi has fashioned a potion to aid in turning me to a Dam.”

Thengel raised a brow while Ecthellion asked, “You are abandoning your throne?”

Dain answered for Thorin, “Our kin would never abandon him in his path to having bairns of his own.”

Thengel grinned at you stating, “Impressive feat discovering such a potion.” He turned his eyes back to Thorin, “Whenever you find the change successful we would be grateful to show our respects to your future heirs.”

Thorin grinned and nodded before turning to you saying, “We do hope your celebration is enjoyable for you, and please do not feel rushed to planning on my shift if it disturbs your night.”

You smiled at him replying, “Trust me, it won’t.”

Another set of nods later they moved to join the Men in one of the sitting rooms for an early drink as you slipped out with the girls and boys to sneak a glimpse of the massive ballroom stretching into a string of outer garden ballrooms all lit up and decorated with crystals and various decorations making you gasp. A few steps inside you giggled when Glorfindel hugged you from behind and stole a kiss on your cheek asking, “Is it up to your standards?”

Letting out a weak chuckle you said, “It is incredible, I’ve never had anything like this for a party before.”

Around you the Weasley Twins popped up turning in awed circles then folded around you in a tight hug making you giggle returning them before turning to see Thranduil enter the doorway with a smile stating, “Your guests are arriving.” You joined him to the main hall as the Witches and Wizards arrived, each handing over gifts set aside in a sitting room before mingling with the Elves and Dwarves filling the ballrooms as music softly started playing for the first of the dances.

Lingering back on the side Thengel and his Men watched your guests mingling with the others awed at the vast difference of people you had under your watch after they had realized just how young you all appeared to be. An upwards glance later Thranduil grinned at your peck on his cheek, a far from usual public sight for Elves in the Men’s minds before they caught the following peck for Glorfindel on your turn for the pair to guide you inside the celebration.

Pt 17