Chapter 22:

The Throne Room was in its finest regalia. The white marble pillars were decorated with navy velvet, and the line of carpet leading up to the thrones was royal blue. The stained glass windows cast a glow over the entire room, every color, glistening a rainbow into the celebration.

On every table, there were flowers, in the blue and purple and gold of Spades. The emblem was everywhere. Today, the stage was set for celebration.

Of course, Arthur wasn't inside. Not yet. They had been keeping him apart from Alfred, apart from anyone, really. The only person he had seen in hours was Yao, whose stress wasn't making him any less nervous.

He was getting married. It was his coronation. He was getting married.

Oh gods.

Yao was freaking out for a good reason. There had to be more than a hundred people in the throne room, and more would arrive later. The Jack usually organized things like this with the Queen's help. Luckily, Alfred's mother wanted to help, and Arthur was free to daydream and worry and panic.

Deep breathes.

Yao returned to where Arthur was, at the back of the hall, in a separate room.

"The prince is making his way in now. It's almost time, Arthur."

He must have paled, because Yao replied. "You can do this, Arthur."

He pushed Arthur forward, and when he heard the trumpet sound, he began walking down the long, blue carpet, towards Alfred, the throne, and the rest of his life. He couldn't bear to look at anyone, anyone except for Alfred.

He was wearing a new, royal blue longcoat, emblazoned with the Spades' emblem. Underneath, he wore the navy blue military vest, with all of his awards on it. His brown pants were creased and cuffed nicely, and his black shoes shined like the sun. He wore his crown, and for once didn't look uncomfortable in it. Perhaps it was fitting then, that he would be getting a new one.

As he walked down the aisle, the events of the past couple of years played back through his head. He silently remarked how lucky they had been, how easily things could have went astray. He was hit with an onslaught of emotion, and by the time he reached Alfred, the prince reached out and brushed the tears off of his face.

"I love you." He whispered. Arthur didn't have time to reply before Yao began the ceremony.

There were a lot of words that Arthur had to repeat, actions he had to do, and just before the final proceedings took place, the traditional moment of silence for the gods began.

The last time I was in this situation, I asked to be happy. And I am, so happy. But that's not what I want from you. I want him to be happy. That will make me happy until my dying day.

"And with our gods and men as witness, do you, Alfred Frederick Jones, First of Your Name, Decorated War Hero of Spades, take this man to be your husband, acting as your Queen Consort?"

"I do."

"And do you, Arthur Kirkland, Mage of Storms, Third of Your Name, take this man to be your husband, yourself acting as his Queen Consort?"

"I do."

Then, by the powers invested in me by the Kingdom of Spades, and by the gods, I declare you, Prince and Mage, married, one, from now until your dying day."

Alfred slid a new ring on his finger to join the engagement ring. Another perfect fit. Arthur put Alfred's ring on, a simple gold band, encrusted with sapphires, matching his own.

They leaned in to kiss then, sealing the deal for the world and for the gods.

They were married. Oh gods, they were married.

But they weren't done.

Alfred and Yao ascended the cobalt-carpeted stairs to the two golden thrones, and the prince kneeled on the ground.

"Do you, Prince Alfred of Spades have a legal and just claim to the throne?"

"I do."

"Do you swear to protect the people, honor their wishes, and act on behalf of the people?"

"I solemnly swear so to do."

Yao removed his crown. He placed it on a pillow, and then picked up a new crown. The King's crown. He placed it on his head.

"Then, rise, not only as a man, but as Alfred Jones, King of Spades."

Slowly, he stood tall. He turned to face the crowd of people watching him. His expression was very serious.

"King Alfred, have you named a Queen Consort?"

"Jack Yao, I have chosen Arthur Kirkland, Mage of Storms, as my Queen Consort."

Oh gods oh gods oh gods

"Very well. The crown calls Arthur Kirkland, Mage of Storms, to the Altar of Thrones."

He took his steps slowly, until he was kneeled before Yao and Alfred. The Jack and the King.

"Do you swear to protect the people, honor their wishes, and act on behalf of the people?"

"I solemnly swear so to do."

"Do you swear to support your King, as he supports you as his royal consort and Queen?"

"I solemnly swear so to do."

Yao turned to receive Arthur's crown from Alfred's mother, who now wore a simple circlet of gold, with a hanging black Spade.

Arthur shut his eyes, but he still felt it as Yao placed the golden crown, more delicate than Alfred's heavy crown, on his head.

"Then rise, not as only a man, but as Arthur Kirkland, Queen of Spades."

He slowly rose, and turned around. As Alfred stood next to him, he finally looked out into the audience of people. There was his mother, and his father, who was…smiling? Impossible. And his brothers, all three of them, wives in tow, and his two nephews. They all looked so proud.

And there were the Mages, Antonio and Marcus, Toris… Not too far away was Jack Feliciano, and his new friend Queen Kiku, and of course King Ludwig.

He saw the Diamonds as well, that pervert Francis babbling about amour and such, while Queen Lily looked embarrassed and shy, and Jack Vash just looked angry.

There were new additions to the crowd as well, King Ivan of Clubs, followed by his newly appointed Queen and Jack, Elizabeta and Roderick. They had met the night before. Alfred and Ivan didn't exactly get along, but they did agree to peace. And Queen Elizabeta had won Alfred over in her sword fighting tales, which was a plus for them.

And before Arthur could get a better look at anything, Alfred was smiling, and then he was kissed again.

Yao caught the attention of the crowd before they could begin to shout.

"May I officially present to you, Alfred and Arthur, King and Queen of Spades."

The crowd erupted into a series of shouts, claps and yells of their approval.

"LONG LIVE THE KING"

"LONG LIVE THE QUEEN"

"LONG LIVE SPADES!"

And then they were walking down to join the crowd and enjoy their wedding. Arthur was so emotionally overwhelmed that he could hear the claps of thunder outside, and he didn't even care.

It was perfect. Everything was going as it should.

Like clockwork.

…

And that is the story, set in the time

Where the shaky peace had broken, between cobalt and lime.

When one king was poisoned, the other gone mad,

Leaving princes to rebuild, to make all things glad.

I won't keep you waiting, my curious friends,

You wish to know now how this famed story ends,

I am destined to tell you, yes, this is my fate,

That this is the story of King Alfred the Great,

Spades most famous king, for goodness he fought,

But without his queen, it would all be for naught,

For their love was the hope, the future it seems,

Their ruling was fair, true- the stuff of dreams

Uniting Four Kingdoms, Spades, Clubs, Diamonds, Hearts,

They shared innovations, magic and the arts,

And finally Four Kingdoms were practically one,

The Land of Cards' golden age had begun.

King Alfred was credited with its success,

He was praised for his great strength, his courage, duress.

So when time took its toll, and Peter was king,

Alfred was remembered in the songs the bards sing,

And in the cosmos, the heavens, the skies,

Now it is said that the late great king flies,

Queen Arthur is with him, right by his side,

New lovers of the gods, along for the ride,

It's good luck to see their stars pass on their walks

Moving right along, in the ticks and the tocks,

For the gods are clock makers, and hope is the sun,

Like clockwork, the stars return when the days done.

I hope you've learned something, my curious friend,

And I regret to say it, but this is the end.

FIN.

A/N:

Oh holy god, I'm so emotional about this. :(

I don't want it to enddddddddd.

But it needs to. So it shall.

I don't think that I will write a full sequel, just a series of one-shots about life as K&Q in Spades. Peter, arguments, etc.

Yes, I alluded to the fact that Peter is their kid. Cause he is.

So now that this adventure is at a close, I just wanted to say:

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL YOUR REVIEWS FOLLOWS AND FAVS. I LOVE EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU AND YOU MOTIVATED ME TO KEEP WRITING.

3 Amanda

~The Psycho Soprano known as SonataAllegro