The Brightest Star
The noise on the other side of the waiting room was growing louder and louder. Regulus‘ head starting to buzz.
He had been lead to a room in the church and asked Remus to wait outside for him. But now, wanting to see what was expecting him, he carefully peeked through the curtains that obscured the view through the door with glass windows.
On the other side, he saw the chapel filled to the brim with nobles, dressed in the most beautiful gowns.
Right in front of the door was Remus, standing with his back to him. And next to him, a second man, dressed in all black, with dark shoulder length hair.
Remus said something to him, that Regulus couldn’t make out. But it made the other man laugh, as he turned his head to Remus.
Regulus gasped, stumbling back and pushing over a small table by the door.
„Mylord, are you alright?“, Remus called out, concerned.
„Yes, yes I’m okay“ he replied, choked up.
He looked older, but it was him, no doubt. But what was he doing here? He had not written for five years and now just appeared at his wedding?
Did their mother invite him? No, she wouldn’t.
Struggling to breathe, he opened a window, grabbing the windowsill, sinking his nails into the old wood.
Looking out into the garden, taking one look back towards the door.
He had to get away, couldn’t face this. Couldn’t face the brother who had betrayed and abandoned him. And Remus, a person he had opened up to, even a little, seemed to be in on it as well. Had they been laughing about him?
He swung both legs over the window and lept into the garden, stumbling onto the dew covered grass. Taking off running, through this beautifully kept garden, his mind too clouded to register much around him. Trough tulips and violets, underneath a rose arch, he came to a halt at a dead end, surrounded by tall hedges.
Seeing no other way around it, he started to try and find footing in the dense greenery, to climb upwards. Struggling to get away in his uncomfortable gown, Regulus did not hear the man approaching until he announced himself by clearing his throat.
„Hello, Sir. Are you in need of assistance of some kind?“
Not giving the stranger much attention, Regulus continued his attempt to climb the wall.
„I am quite fine, Thank you. You can go back inside and wait with all the other gawkers.“
„Oh, I will. But first, I am curious. What is it you are doing.“, chuckling lightly at Regulus‘ failure.
„Nothing.“
„Well, you’re doing something.“
„I am not.“
„You are.“
„I am not.“
„You are!“
Exasperated Regulus relented in his attempt as he was making no progress whatsoever and turned to face this newfound annoyance.
As he looked at the man in front of him, who couldn’t have been much older that Regulus himself, he found himself silenced, just for a moment. He was tall, with brown skin and dark curls, tighter than Regulus‘ and warmer in Color.
Everything about this man emanated warmth from his elegant dark green sari, his hazel eyes, to a wonky grin that would have made anyone’s heart beat faster.
Oh, he’s going to be annoying isn’t he?, Regulus thought to himself.
Getting back into his neutral position, he smoothed out his gown and put his hands behind his back, so they would stop fidgeting. Or at least so the man would not be able to see it.
In an irritated tone he informed the stranger, „If you must know, I am trying to ascertain the best way to climb over the garden wall.“
„Climb…“, James said, amused.
Regulus sighed.
„Whatever for?“
„I… I can not face the man waiting inside.“
„Who are we discussing?“
„Well, that is impertinent. None of your business.“
„The King?“, the man asks.
Regulus stoped for a moment, he had not been talking about the king but the thought of having to marry some strange man he knew nothing about did not help his feeling of distress. Not wanting to elaborate his situation he decided to just agree. Take the path of least resistance, that was something he was good at.
„Yes, exactly. He is likely a hideous troll, as no one will tell me much about him.“
„Understood.“ the man’s smile only getting wider.
Regulus could not stand to look at him any longer as he was feeling the corners of his mouth try to mirror the stranger’s lips. He refused to give him that and turned around, continuing to investigate the hedge.
„You know, if I grabbed on there, you could assist me by lifting me up.“ Regulus called over his shoulder, trying not to think about how it would feel if the man stepped closer, touched him.
„Uh, one question. You do not like hideous trolls? What he looks like matters to you?“
„I do not care what he looks like. I just.. can not go and face that man. Now, come here. With a lift I can make it over I believe.“
„You want me to lift you over the garden wall so you may escape?“
„That is what I said.“
„People will notice that you are missing, will they not?“
„Let me worry about that.“, Regulus answered, trying not to think about what would come after, about his mother’s rage. „Now, if you would please.. I just need a little help. Make haste.“
„I have no intention of helping you, at least not like this.“
„I am a Noble in distress. You refuse to help a noble in distress?“
„I did not say that. But I will not help you climb this wall. You know, I don’t believe in running away from problems, especially if you haven’t even tried to face it yet. If you do go in and decide not to marry the King, I vow to you, I will escort you out of the church myself an make sure no one bothers you. Just please, don’t try to climb over that hedge. I could never forgive myself if you scratched that beautiful porcelain skin of yours, just because you do not want to marry me.“
Regulus gasps sharply. He had already started to make him him consider to face his problems head on and not give his brother the easy way out by running away. He should answer for his betrayal, and what better position can there be to take revenge than King of England?
But all of his feuding thoughts where washed away with that last sentence.
„Hello Regulus. I am James.“
„I.. am deeply s..“ turning back towards him, bowing his head to hide the his cheeks turning pink. „Your Majesty“
„Not Your Majesty. James.“
„I mean, yes your Majesty“ he added hastily, rubbing the back of his head. „But to you, just James.“
„I.. please accept my apology. If I had known you where you…“
„You would have what? Not told me about your plan to escape?“
„Well yes. I mean.. I do apologise again, Your Majesty.“
„James. Just James. The „King“ situation towers over us. Accident of birth on my part I’m afraid. But I thought, maybe as my Husband you could ignore that? Well, that was my intention before I found out you did not want to be married to me. The offer does stand. I can get you out of here in a much safer fashion. I have no intention of forcing anyone to marry me who does not wish to. Even though I must admit I would be rather heartbroken if you did decide to leave.“, his face genuine, like he means it.
„I did not say I wish to leave.“, Regulus told him, near a whisper.
„Oh, you did.“
„I did not.“
„You did.“
„Well, I.. I may take your advice and try to face my problems head on.“
„I am glad to hear it. As you are terrible at climbing walls.“
„What?“, Regulus asked, offended.
Stepping closer, now only an arms length away, James‘ voice gets lower, just above a whisper. „You are incomparable. No one told me you‘d be this beautiful.“ raising his hand as to touch his cheek but pulling back before getting too close.
„You may be too beautiful to marry me. People will talk…“, his dark eyes twinkling with humor „given I’m a hideous troll.“
„Your Majesty.“
„James!“
„James.“
„What do you want to know about me? To make your decision easier. I am an open book.“
„I.. everything“ Regulus hears himself say.
Chuckling, he starts.
„I was born pre maturely as my parents first and only child. I am half Indian on my mothers side, who married my father, the former king. They are very kind people and she took over most of the Kingdom‘s affairs after the wedding as my father was never very interested in these things and my mother was always meant to be a leader.“
„I have been encouraged by them to make friends everywhere I go, which lead to finding my two best friends in my Butler and, well, your butler actually, Remus. I wanted him to be assigned to you so I knew you always had a kind face around. I’ve known him since we were children.“
„I have a scar from when we were riding horses together when we were eleven, Remus never really cared for it much but I couldn’t wait to get back on my horse. My real passion though, is astronomy. The stars in the heavens. That is actually what caught my eye first about you. Your name, Regulus.“, he says it like he’s tasting every letter in his name.
„The brightest star in the lions constellation…“ Regulus says.
„Yes. And, well, it is also latin for „little King“. I know, incredibly corny of me. But what can I say, I am a hopeless romantic.“, James says. Rubbing the back of his head again.
„And, I‘m very nervous about marrying a man I’m only meeting minutes before our wedding.“ he chuckles.
„But I can not show it and climb over the garden wall because I am the King of Great Brittain and Ireland. And even though my parents are very accepting and loving, which is why they encourage me marrying a man even though many in the Kingdom still don’t fully accept it, me running away would definitely cause a scandal. But I promise you… I am not a troll even though only you can judge the ’hideous‘ part. I am just James.“
Interrupted by hastily footsteps growing louder, they break eye contact and Regulus takes one step back.
„Regulus. There you are, I have been looking e.. James!“
„Hello, Remus“ James addresses him with a small familiar smile. „You seem to have lost my fiancé, haven’t you?“
„Well, yes it seems I have.“, Remus replies, looking rather relieved. „Pads was helping me search for him but it seems you found him yourself. We should bring both of you inside.“
„The thing is, my dear Moony, Regulus was just deciding wether or not he wanted to marry me.“
„Oh… well?“ Remus and James now both looked at him expectantly.
„I should go and look for Pads now, he will get anxious if he thinks both grooms are missing. Remus, if Regulus decides to leave, please do help him find a carriage and a discreet way out.“
„Regulus“ Stepping forward to take Regulus‘ hand in his, placing a fleeting kiss on it.
„I do hope I see you in there. And if so, I shall be the one standing next to the Archbishop Canterbury.“, he shoots one last crooked smile sowards Regulus and turns, walking towards the church.
Regulus looks after him, unsure what just happened.
„You heared the King. What will it be Regulus? Don’t tell me you’re still hesitating.“, Remus asks.
-
„There you are!“ I thought we lost you too! Did you see Remus?“ Sirius calls out the moment he spots James walking out the garden. „What we’re you doing in there? Picking flowers for your future husband?“ he said teasingly.
„Actually, I seem to have met him. Or at least I hope he will be that if he is deciding not to leave me at the altar. And yes Remus is with him now.“ James answered dreamily.
„Leave you..? What are you talking about?“
„Oh you should have seen him. He’s the most beautiful person I have ever seen in my life. Even while failing miserably to climb a wall he was so graceful.“
„Wait, wait, wait. You can explain the wall thing later, but there is one important question! He isn’t more beautiful than me is he?! You’re making me get jealous Pronks.“ wiggling his eyebrows suggestively and making kissing noises at James.
Shoving him lightly, James avoids answering the question and instead says „Ah, go make out with you’re reflection, or have you finally managed to tell Remus how you feel?“
Pouting and feigning to be affronted by James‘ remark, Sirius chooses not to answer and pulls him in the direction of the Church.
„Go on, they are all waiting for you inside.“
-
Waiting for Regulus, as he follows Remus into the Church is his Mother with a stern look and lips pressed together.
„Where have you been?! How dare you make me and the Crown wait for you! Now, come here so we can get the whole fuss behind us and I can get on my way back to Yvoire.“ she hisses at him, grabbing his arm.
As Remus gives a sign to the guards at the door to open them, the music starts to play and hundereds of eyes fixate on them.
Regulus‘ knees start to go weak at the sight, but his Mother strides forward, subtly pulling him forward with an iron grip.
The walk to the altar seems endless as he is searching the crowd for his brother. The only thing keeping him looking towards all those people is the need to find him. Find the biggest threat in the room, as there seem so many with all these people around.
Finding many people smiling, some with a neutral expression, but only one that is as white as a sheet.
With pale face and and an open mouth, he sees Sirius stand by the wall with the other servants, Remus by his side.
First confused himself, by the surprised look on his brothers face, but then shifting his face into a practiced smirk, he realises that Sirius is just as shocked to see him here as Regulus had been just minutes before.
Turning his gaze towards the altar now, as they have nearly reached it, he looks up at the man waiting for him.
James‘ eyes fixed on him, with a smile that radiates like the sun, Regulus decides to just focus on him for now, as it grounds him, making all his thoughts quiet down just a little.
For the rest of the ceremony, he goes into his state of neutrality, normally using some inanimate object to gaze on until he looses himself. For the first time, it is a person, it is James‘ eyes, that get him to leave his body, and at the same time feel it more than ever.
He just mirrors his every movement, getting through the entire ceremony without even registering it. The moment he realises it is over, is when James takes his hand in his, slipping a cold ring over his finger. He takes the other one off of the cushion to do the same.
And then, one final breath, as James leans down and Regulus feels himself move forward as well, leaning into him. The kiss is short and innocent, but soft and full of the need for more. And it is over far too quickly.