This is my first fanfiction story, so be nice (or give constructive criticism). I've redone this chapter, as when I first posted it there were quite a few mistakes. A short chapter to begin with, to see if I like the flow of the story.
Disclaimer: All characters (so far) belong to the great Tamora Pierce –Lets all bow down to her now.
May add a few of my own later on, but will specify when I do.
Chapter One: The Wedding Day
All of the realm was in uproar, celebrating the union of two of Tortall's most established names- Raoul of Goldenlake or 'The Giant Killer', a name his reputation had earned him, to the love of his life, Buri. The wedding was to be held at the Palace; the gardens had been specially re-designed to suit the happy couple's wishes..
The sun began to set, giving the wedding a faint orange aura. Everyone took their seats, in the front was The Baron of Pirate's Swoop and his quick-tempered wife, Alanna of Trebond (better known as George Cooper and the Lioness), and next to them sat Daine with her black robed lover, Numair.
Raoul shifted uneasily on the spot, and gazed up the aisle longingly. Noticing this, his best man Dom tried to calm his rocketing nerves, but even his wit couldn't help soothe his good friend this time.
"What if she's suddenly backed out, or she doesn't love me like I love her? What will I do?" His shifting seemed to appear more and more like frantic pacing as the minutes slowly slipped by.
After a brief awkward moment of silence, Dom blurted out the words that now seemed like a second nature to him -"Don't be such a Meathead, sir." The sir was added as an obvious afterthought, just so he didn't offend too much.
Raoul gave him a puzzling, yet stern look as he went over his best man's last comment to him. "And what sort of meat would that be Dom? Venison or Pork?" He knew it was a pathetic attempt at a joke, but it startled a chuckle out of the guests around him. "If that's the best advice you could have given me to calm my nerves, I think I would have been better off picking Owen to stand up here with me."
Dom's eyes crinkled with delight, "Ah, but if you had chosen him, we wouldn't be having such a jolly time now would we?" Raoul's body relaxed, as did his mind. She wasn't late yet, he was just early. Anyway, if he did try to confront her about it, she would just say she wasn't late, and that she arrived exactly when she meant to.
Buri may have been stubborn at times, but they were perfect for each other, as everyone seemed to think. He may have been a head taller than her, but what she lacked in height she made up for in sheer bossiness. They were a match made in heaven.
The ripple of whispers brought Raoul out of his tranquillity; it was Kel, Buri's chosen Maid of Honour. He was glad she chose Kel, she was was his squire, and to this day remained a loyal friend to him. She used to live in the Yamani Isles, so she was skilfully able to keep from showing her emotions, but even she was unable to stop the distress seeping from her face. Something must have been wrong.
