The Courtship and Nuptials of Dawn – Part 3

The Courtship and Nuptials of Dawn

by

Lesley Renee Charles

Chapter 3

Dawn was just putting the finishing touches to the meal when her guests began to arrive.

She led them into the sitting area and told them to get comfortable, while Christian got them their drinks. They were all there, except the queen who was just finishing up getting ready. She was running late because her court sessions today ran over time. She was wondering what the meeting was about. She was hoping that her plans and schemes worked out. She felt justified in ruining Eric's life if her son was happy. She thought he had looked a lot happier in the last few weeks. She felt that the ends justified the means and she was disciplined enough to plan and carry out her schemes. Besides she thought Dawn was a better person than Eric and that she was better off as a woman. She only wished that Christian was more like her and less the gentle man that he was.

She got dressed in her finest golden gown, put on her grandest tiara and headed down to the gathering.

The queen was rushed into the sitting room, and joined her husband who was already there. The king was a kindly man, who let his wife pretty much run things. He wanted his son to be happy and thought that Dawn was doing this. He didn't know for sure, but thought it highly likely that his wife planned out the whole thing. He did feel sorry for Eric, because the king liked him and thought him a great fellow. He studied Dawn, and wondered if she was truly happy as Dawn or would he go back to being Eric if he could. But knowing his wife he thought the last scenario was very unlikely. He figured his wife and Eric totally locked into being Dawn.

Dawn looked splendid in the gown she chose to wear for the dinner. She got up and walked over to her fiance. She gazed lovingly into his eyes.

Prince Christian got up.

“I have a wonderful announcement. I have asked Dawn to be my wife.”

“That's wonderful but what did she say?” The queen asked.

“She said no.”

The queen was shocked at this. She felt her plans for the kingdom and her son going awry. She was ready to go and punish Dawn. She felt maybe a few days in the dungeon would set her right. She was ready to call her guards in and carry that out when she noticed the gleam in her son's eyes.

“Got you”

“Did I have you going mother? I hope so, because this is the last time I am going to deal with your schemes and machinations. You set up a poor guy, so that you can make the perfect bride whether he wanted to be a bride or not. It is not right for you to play with other lives. Please let Alexandra be the last, or I will renounce my ascendancy to the throne. Dawn did accept because she loves me and wants to be with me and not as a result of your schemes. I really do hope that you learn not to manipulate others into your bidding.”

The queen was aghast at these words.

“What do you mean give up the throne. I did this, so that your ascendancy to the throne would be guaranteed. If you turn it down, I will have ruined another man's life for naught.”

“That's the point I am trying to make mother. It was very wrong of you to take Eric, set him up and transform him into a woman. Luckily for you she likes what was done to her, but if she wasn't you would have forced her into being someone she is not. You do not have the right to do that to others on your whim. I will only renounce the throne if you ever try to manipulate others again.”

The queen decided to let that matter drop for the time being, but thought to herself that she would revisit it when she could control her son a little bit better. She did not want to stop using her control to manipulate others.

Dawn was congratulated by her family who felt that this would be a good move for her. She would be protected and taken care of by a man who loved her.