Take me to Church // Kay // The Non-Red Wedding

And love, we need it now, let's hope for some
Cause oh, we're bleeding out,
I belong with you you belong with me you're my sweetheart

This was it, the day he'd intentionally been preparing for since he'd met Jeyne. It wasn't like the Reapings; those he prepared for because other people expected him to, because up until af ew years ago, they had been just another ceremony. Now, they were an annual eulogy to all that their family had sacrificed. They had only recently marched through another garish event a few weeks prior, and it was still fresh in his thoughts. He still, in his mind's eyes, saw Jeyne standing across from him, and behind her, Aria's sweet face peeking out and Bran sitting just to his left, so that if Rajas turned only slightly, his brother would be there.

He looked back now, even as he clasped his cufflink, and found the living room chair empty.

He shook out his sleeves, checking the length one final time, and then scooped up his jacket. He turned to the only other person in the room and offered up a tight smile. "I think we'd better be off. Can't be late to my own wedding, can I?" Rajas winked at Rickon, who was to be the only other man at this side, a dangerous position these days.

At the end of the aisle, Rajas waited. He couldn't help fidgeting even though he was not especially nervous. He believed more in the love he shared with Jeyne than anything else in all of Panem. But it would be a relief to see her walk through the doors, to join him at the podium. His mother entered first, her usually severe face softened by the occasion. Rickon next and Sarita last, looking radiant. He gave her a tiny wave before focusing his attention on the double doors. He held his breath.

And she was everything he never dared hope for.