Candi’s Fairy Tale

By Donna and Abs

The day after the storm, the residents of Camelot were all tasked to help clean up and to repair any damage. It meant that the wedding that had been planned for that morning would have to be put off till that evening, but Grayson and Candi both said they understood. In fact, they along with the other two visitors from Esperanza all pitched in to help.

Luis Montoya was only pleased with this because it meant he had an excuse to prolong his visit.  Needless to say, he was NOT pleased having to get his hands dirty, cleaning up! 

The bride to be was only allowed to help for a few hours, and then she was whisked away by the other women who were not allowed to help, namely the ones with child! Melissa was getting quite big - her husband had a lot of experience with pregnant ladies but he had never seen anything like this! But still she did not seem at all hampered, and pitched in like a trooper when it came to helping the new bride! 

The Queen, after hearing that Darius was going to perform the marriage of Grayson and Candi, had insisted that the bride have a proper wedding dress. Candi hadn't even seen it yet. The actual dress was going to be a surprise. The finished product was waiting for the bride in the Queen's private rooms, to which Melissa was taking Candi. She couldn't wait to see the reaction the young bride would have to the dress, and had to tell herself not to rush in her excitement! 

As they were allowed in, the first thing Candi saw was the dress. A fitted red velvet vest that laced up the back had an intricate Celtic design embroidered with gold and silver ribbons on its front. The underdress was made out of an ivory colored silk chiffon. A cape made out of matching red velvet completed the outfit. It was absolutely beautiful.  

Melissa beamed.  "Do you like it?" she enthused, wondering where Guinevere was.  It was not like her to miss this! 

"It's the most beautiful thing I have ever seen in my whole life," Candi gasped. 

"A beautiful dress for a beautiful bride," came a pleasant sounding voice. They turned and saw the Queen, who was holding a tiara in her hands. "Would you like to wear this?" she asked. "I think it would look lovely on you."  

Melissa grinned as she watched Candi's face light up.  Looked like there were tears in her eyes too! 

"I..., I don't know what to say," Candi said, her chin quivering. "You guys are treating me like I was a princess or something, not a wh..."  The tears started falling as she spoke.  

"Hey," said Melissa.  "We won't have any of THAT here!  Every woman is a princess on her wedding day!" 

Guinevere had her sit down, and gave her a cup of hot herbal tea to calm her nerves. "This will help," she assured her. "I was nervous and a little weepy on my wedding day too!"  

Melissa thought about her wedding - weddings!  Had she felt nervous?  It had happened too fast, actually! 

A servant came in a few minutes later. "The bath is ready for the Lady, Your Highness."   

Guinevere rose gracefully and smiled. "A nice hot bath, and then we will get you dressed and ready for your wedding, my dear."  

Meanwhile, the men were finishing the clean up.  No one wanted to leave it till later, but they still needed time to clean themselves too.  Not to mention wanting a few celebratory drinks before the nuptials! 

With everyone pitching in, the work was finally done. When the King himself came out to help, Montoya had no choice but to participate as well. Finally, Arthur called it a day, saying they would finish up the next day. "Come, let us get cleaned up. We have a wedding to attend!" He clapped Grayson on the back, and the Immortal smiled back at him.  

"The sooner I get cleaned up the better!" said Montoya sourly.  He wanted the wedding to begin, so he could court the lovely Jewel, but mostly he hated being sweaty and dirty. It helped his mood tremendously when his new suit of clothing was presented to him. The tailors and seamstresses of the castle had been working round the clock preparing new clothing for any that wished it for the wedding.  

He was thrilled!  Now a nice cup of wine to wet his whistle, Jewel on his arm, and all would be right with the world! 

Grayson was also presented with a new suit. His was in a dark midnight blue that would compliment his bride's dress quite nicely. A smart looking velvet cape went with it. 

Everyone was getting into new clothes, or at the very least, the best they owned; the Scots were all wearing their kilts, brushed up to look smart! 

As Grayson stepped into the chapel, he was genuinely surprised to see so many there! But inwardly, he was glad, at least for Candi's sake. With the recent storm, not to mention Camelot being an intimate community, of course everyone turned out!  They didn't have a wedding everyday - only every so often. 

Darius nodded as he Grayson entered. "Well, Claudanius, are you ready for this?" he asked, using the name he had first known him as.  

Grayson winced.  "Please," he said.  "I do not use that name any longer.  Not even shortened to Claude." 

Darius chuckled. "Surely you are not going to have your wife call you Mr. Grayson, are you?"  

"No.  I've been using the name Dan.  Not Daniel, but Dan." 

"Good name," the priest nodded. "It means *Judge*. Fits you."  

"Doesn't it though," said Grayson with an evil gleam in his eye. 

Any further comments were curtailed by the sound of a trumpet. Everyone stood and bowed as the royal couple entered the chapel, followed by the royal physician and his wife and the knights of his round table. They all marched up front, and took the seats that had been reserved for them. Everyone remained standing as a flute sounded next, and it and several other instruments played *Greensleeves*, Candi entered the door and began her way down the aisle.  

Everyone turned to look.  It was a charming change of pace, that song, and it put most of the crowd in a receptive mood.  Then, seeing how lovely the bride looked in her gown, it was all they could do to keep from applauding.  Melissa thought it sad no one was giving her away, and gave Giles a nudge.  In a minute the Royal Physician was getting up to escort her down the aisle! 

He offered his arm, and she smiled at him shyly. "Thanks," she whispered. He could feel her hand trembling on his arm. It was funny. She could face a room full of guys intent on gang banging her, but walking down the aisle to be married? It scared her. She wanted it, but it still scared her.  

"Don't be worried," said Giles softly.  "You look lovely.  They've got eyes for only you today!" 

He escorted Candi to her groom's side, and placed her trembling hand in his. Grayson could not get over how beautiful she was! He took her hand and smiled in such a way that her heart just melted. 

Darius cleared his throat and they turned their attention to him. "Dearly beloved, we are gathered here together to celebrate the union of two rather unique people, Candi Thomas and Dan Grayson."  Candi shot a quick glance at her soon to be husband, a surprised look on her face under the veil she was wearing. She hadn't even known he had another name other than Grayson!  

He just grinned back.  It was something they would not mention to their guests!  He could only imagine what they would say if they knew she had never asked his first name! 

The rest of the ceremony went by in a blur. It seemed almost too good to be true. It may not have been the complete fairy tale, and as far as she knew, Grayson was no prince, anyway. For Candi, the girl who had known nothing but life on the streets before coming to Edan, it was awful close. When it was her turn to say *I do*, she did so in a surprisingly firm voice, with no hesitation at all.  

She was still surprised, even at this late date, that Grayson answered the same question with the same answer, and with the same lack of hesitation! 

But when they were pronounced man and wife, and his mouth closed down upon hers, every doubt in her mind vanished!