Chapter 1: Waiting

Rain drummed incessantly on the cold walls of the Uchiha Castle, flooding the flagstones in the courtyard and beating relentlessly over the hushed, strained murmurs of the wedding guests in the dining hall. Not to be outdone, the wind whipped fiercely about the battlements, shaking the closed shutters and competing with the sound of pelting raindrops. Heavy clouds attempted to block the moon, casting long shadows across the grounds.

Inside the guests glanced uneasily at their lord's equally dark and brooding countenance. He drummed his lean, tapered fingers against the tabletop, a sure sign of displeasure. Everyone else remained standing, attempting to warm themselves by the fire roaring in the newly enlarged hearth and anxiously awaiting the meal to be served. Bright banners of the visiting nobility from all across the Land of Fire hung on the walls; fine beeswax candles lent their added light to banish gloom from the hall; even the rushes had been sprinkled with fresh herbs in honor of the festive occasion. But where was the bride?

Sir Hatake Kakashi chanced a sharp glance at the young lord. Sasuke Uchiha looked bored to the untrained observer, but Kakashi knew that beneath the calm facade his insides would be roiling with impatience. The tightness around his dark eyes betrayed his annoyance to those who knew him best- not that there were many of those. Suddenly Sasuke looked up, his voice cutting across the hushed chattering of the waiting maidservants and whispered speculation passing between the idle gentry. "Enough," he announced, and the hall fell silent at his command. "Everyone sit down."

The guests glanced uneasily at each other but took their seats nonetheless. On the one hand, they had been waiting for some time and were very hungry; on the other, this turn of events did not bode well for the future alliance between the Uchihas and the other great families of Konohagakure. As they sat they revealed the presence of the priest behind them. In the long wait he had fallen asleep on a bench, slouched back against the wall.

"Father Eiji, give us your blessing," Sasuke called across the hall. When the large priest did not respond, Sasuke roared his name.

Kakashi glided over to the priest and gently shook him awake. "The blessing, Father," he said respectfully. He shot a warning glance over his shoulder for Sasuke, which the young lord chose to blatantly ignore. "It's time for the blessing."

Faither Eiji woke with a start and peered about myopically. "What's that? Is she here at last? I don't see anybody."

"We will wait no longer," Sasuke said in a tone that brooked no denial.

"Ah, my son," Father Eiji started in a calm, placating voice, "wouldn't it be better to-"

"No!"

Even the most experienced of courtiers flinched and Father Eiji hastily mumbled a blessing. Duties finished, he took his seat with alacrity. "You sit here, Kakashi," Sasuke said as the maids set to work bringing forth the elaborate feast, indicating the seat which was to have been his bride's. Kakashi took the place with obvious reluctance.

Sasuke noticed his steward's sigh of relief as the meal was served and obviously none the worse for the wait. Scowling, he added the man's anxiety to the list of growing annoyances with his bride. He was also all too aware of Kakashi's silent disapproval at his side. "I suppose you think I should have waited, and let us all starve to death?" he snapped.

"They could be delayed by the storm-"

"Then they should have sent word on ahead."

Kakashi sighed inwardly at his young friend's single track of mind. "I understand your impatience, Sasuke. I too would be far from happy if delayed from meeting my future bride. Let us hope that they have taken shelter at an inn to wait out the storm."

Sasuke's scowl deepened. He was tempted to tell the man that he could care less about meeting Sakura Haruno, his arranged wife-to-be. Instead, he ground out, "That would the sensible thing to do. Unfortunately, Naruto Uzumaki is anything but sensible." A buxom, blonde-haired serving maid placed a plate of roasted capon with tomatoes in front of him, her inviting smile slipping into a sulk as he blatantly ignored her.

"He had the sense to seek an alliance with you," Kakashi said, a slight smile tugging at the corners of his lips.

Sasuke snorted. "Save your flattery for someone else, Kakashi. The Queen would have made no end of trouble had I not agreed to this match."

"And Queen Tsunade's hopes for more?"

Sasuke's face became, if it was at all possible, even more stony. "If she thinks to influence me through my wife, then she is a fool indeed."

"And the Baron Orochimaru?"

"Pleased enough. He knows I won't be swayed by a woman from the Leaf."

"As if you had a heart to sway," Kakashi muttered under his breath, pulling a wing from the roasted capon that it appeared Sasuke had no intention of eating.

Sasuke chose to ignore the other man's chunter and focus his attention instead on his steward, who was anxiously hurrying towards him from the direction of the great doors. For a moment he felt a brief twinge of pity. Norio was far from a young man. The death of nearly Sasuke's entire family as the plague swept through their clan's ancestral stronghold in Konoha, the death of his parents after they fled to their farthest estate, and then the mysterious disappearance of his elder brother had aged him even more. He was a good man who had served the Uchiha family faithfully, preserving the family inheritance as the youngest heir was fostered out and then planning the wedding with as much care as if his lord were the King himself. Sasuke's irritation with Uzumaki grew. It was an insult to him and his steward that the fool didn't have the courtesy to arrive on time.

"My lord!" Norio exclaimed, bustling forward as fast as his plump legs could carry him and looking near to tears, "My lord, they are here! In the inner word! The Lady Haruno and her escort Lord Uzumaki and all their retinue!"

Kakashi gave Sasuke a half-amused, half-censorious look that only deepened as the dark young lord made no move to get up, let alone leave the hall. "Have the servants show them to their quarters," Sasuke ordered brusquely. "They can be served wine and cheese there."

Far from bustling off to do his bidding, Norio chewed his lower lip and anxiously rubbed his hands. "Forgive me, my lord, but should you not greet them? Or at least invite them into the hall to dine? They have traveled a long way-"

"And arrived too late," Sasuke interrupted. Norio exchanged one dismal glance with Kakashi before retreating from the hall, hasty apologies tumbling from his lips.

"Just what do you hope to gain from this discourtesy?" Kakashi asked quietly.

"Are you accusing me of ill manners?"

"Yes. There could be any reason for their delay. Your mother-"

"I don't care to hear their excuses," Sasuke cut him short with a look that would have quelled a lesser man.

"Aren't you curious to see her at all?" Kakashi pressed, impatience creeping into his tone at last. "She is your bride, after all."

Sasuke looked at him with the merest hint of surprise. "Not in the least," he said coldly. "I dare say I will see enough of her for a long time to come." He held up a hand, effectively halting any further remonstrances. Kakashi repressed a sigh and wondered, not for the first time, if this wedding would be a terrible mistake.