I wore a traditional cream colored Genii dress with a front and back laced light brown bodice. Chains of dainty white flowers adorned my hair, along with a circlet of colored autumn leaves, as it was customary for the bride to pay homage to the season when she was to marry.

She adjusted a flower in my hair and stepped back, wringing her hands as if the world were ending. "Oh, Talin, you're so beautiful."

I smiled.

"Are you quite sure this is what will make you happy? Is this what you want?"

"Yes, mother. I've thought long and hard about this, believe me. It's not a matter I take lightly." I took her hands. "I am sure."

Idos stepped into the doorway. "Ready, Tal?"

I turned to face him. "Yes."

"Take it easy on the poor man." He chuckled. "I've watched him face up to six trainees at a time without breaking a sweat, but here, at his own wedding, he's tenser than a new recruit."

I gave him a chiding glance.

He came over to kiss my forehead. "You look beautiful, Tal. He's a lucky man."

I was known for my dancing. Talin Saul, the dancing sprite. I had danced in festivals as a child. Now I moved with the same lightness, slender limbs bending and waving as I pranced among the other dancing Genii girls. It was a traditional wedding dance, to symbolize the girl's path from girlhood to womanhood, her leaving her parents to go to her husband. The girls slowly left to make way for the older women, and the dance slowed from a frolic to a sterner waltz.

Finally they moved as one to come behind me, pushing me forward, and bowed to present me to my spouse. Acastus held out his hand. It was large, and his skin was rough on my willowy fingers.

We spoke our vows for all to hear.

My father presented us with the oldest bottle of liquor in his stores, as was Genii custom, to make the first night as a couple more comfortable. My mother brought candles, to light the way for our future together.

And then, my heart pounding in my chest and throat, I turned to face my betrothed. He raised my hand to his lips and kissed it, then he laid his hands on either side of my face. My childhood flashed before my eyes, the many times I had seen that face as 'uncle'. But that was no longer the case. He dipped his head forward, tilting it to the side.

Such large, rough hands, I thought again as they slipped behind my neck. I put my own hands on his shoulders. It wasn't a hard kiss, nor a hesitant one. It was soft and respectful, enjoyable, but it didn't last.

Then came the celebration, the drink and the dancing. Idos snatched me away for a moment to dance me through a lively reel. Even my father ignored his bad knee long enough to join me in the steps of a slower dance.

Ema and Alar sat with me as we shared a final drink together.

Alar laughed. "Oh Talin, dear, you look so happy!" She giggled. "When you first told me the news I thought you downright crazy!"

"But look at you! First to be married, and to Acastus Kolya, of all people! I knew you were confident, Tal, but…why, you're fearless!"

"I wouldn't go so far as to say that. But I'll admit, I've never seen mama look so disgruntled."

They followed my gaze to where my mother sat with my father, trying to look happy but winding up looking confused instead. She was glad I was happy, but agitated with my choice of spouse. My father at least had been more than supportive of my betrothal. He and Idos both. My father noticed me looking and raised his glass to me. I did the same and we drank together in a private toast.