Ronan came slowly awake the next day and wondered what had awoken him. He sat up, went to the window, and flung it open, allowing the breeze to come inside. With the breeze came the sound of bells ringing, and he knew that they were being rung in honor of the wedding.

:Kira? Are you awake: he asked, reaching out for his Companion's mind.

:I've been awake since dawn: she grumbled. :There's been all this hullabaloo in the garden while they were setting up for the reception. People coming and going, people getting lost and poking their noses in here, people shouting orders to one another, and any amount of nonsense. The party's supposed to take place in the ballroom, but with all the noise out there, you'd never believe it.:

Ronan made a little sound of sympathy in the back of his throat--he knew what it was like to be kept up all night. Radiating sympathy to Kira, he felt her cheer up, and then he chatted with her a bit before wandering into the bathroom. When he came back out, intending to clamber back into bed, he was brought up short when he saw his watchdogs in the doorway.

"Good morning," he said, wishing they hadn't come. "What do you two want this early?"

"Well, it is your wedding day, Ambassador," the shorter one said. "We've come to help you prepare."

Ronan glared at him. "There isn't going to be a wedding, so you would really be wasting your time, wouldn't you? Put it to better use and go find something to amuse you. I'm going back to bed. This is a positively unholy hour."

He saw the two of them exchange looks as he dropped back into the embrace of pillows and blankets and pulled one of the latter up over his head. He shifted about, trying to get comfortable and actually felt himself begin to relax when he heard someone else enter.

"What's everyone lurking in the doorway for?" Father Kendar's voice wanted to know. "Is Ambassador Ronan up yet?"

"He was, but now he's back in bed," he heard the taller one say.

Ronan heard Father Kendar say something like "piffle!" and felt someone shake his shoulder a moment later. "Time to get up, lad! It's your wedding day, and you have to get ready!" He sounded far too cheerful for Ronan's liking. He ignored the old man until the covers were yanked off of him, allowing the cooler air to wake him up. "Up and at 'em! Her Majesty has sent you a letter."

Into the middle of all this chaos strode Nerys, who had been sent up with Ronan's breakfast. Ronan, painfully aware that he had only a pair of short sleeping pants on, turned a brilliant scarlet and all but snatched the letter from Father Kendar and murmured his thanks to a very pink Nerys. She left quickly, and Ronan sipped at tea while he read the letter. He felt himself choke and turned even redder. The letter read,

My Dearest Ronan,

Last night was an eternity for me, but now our wedding day is here! Oh, be glad, my love. By this evening we shall be husband and wife. Allow your valets to dress you as soon as your outfit arrives, and a horse will be waiting to take you to the temple where the ceremony is to take place. Father Kendar is bringing this letter to you since he said he needs to talk to you. Listen to him, love. I shall see you at the ceremony. You need have no concern as to tonight, since I'm certain I can help you enjoy it rather than suffer through it.

All my love,

Storena.

Help me enjoy it! Ronan thought, rereading that last line. She'd better not think we're going to make love! If she does, then she'll be sadly disappointed. Nothing could make me sleep with her!

He put the letter aside and took another sip of tea, trying to calm his nerves. His stomach was in knots, and he felt his shields slip the slightest bit. Stubbornly, he clamped them down and gained control of himself. It would not do to lose control when he needed it the most. "You said you needed to talk to me, Father Kendar?"

The priest smiled and nodded. "If we could speak privately?" he asked, looking pointedly at Ronan's two bodyguards.

Ronan nodded and the two of them left, leaving only the Herald and the priest in the room. Father Kendar perched on the side of the bed and looked affably at Ronan, who was still trying to get some of the tea down. "Lad, what do you know about the ways of men and women?"

Ronan choked and gave up trying to drink tea. "Wh-what?" he spluttered, too surprised to even think.

"Do you know what to do on your wedding night?" Father Kendar asked more pointedly. "The union between you and Her Majesty will be consummated tonight, and if you don't know what to do, you could have a good deal of confusion and embarrassment. Have you ever had a lover?"

Ronan had heard enough. "That's no one's business but mine!" he snapped, feeling angry enough to strike out at the priest sitting across from him. "Suffice it to say that I know what happens between a man and a woman, and that it will never happen between Storena and I. Nothing could induce me to even share a room with her, let alone a bed."

Father Kendar looked shocked enough for Herald Ronan to have actually hit him. "Lad, despite what you may think, that's not really your choice. Storena will decide if you and she make love tonight or not."

Ronan glared at him. "I think this discussion is over," he said, pushing his breakfast away and heading towards the bathroom for a bath. "Have a pleasant day, Father Kendar."

The priest didn't insist on coming into the bathroom after him, and Ronan slipped thankfully into the hot water. He scrubbed, washed his hair, and was just getting ready to rinse off when his two 'valets' came in.

Ronan dove for the cover of the water. "What are you doing!" he demanded. "Get out!"

"That's not possible, Ambassador," the taller one said. "You should have told us you were going to bathe. There's a routine we have to follow."

Ronan found himself spluttering for the second time that morning as they hurriedly rinsed him off and ran a second bath. Apparently, the routine they had to follow was the traditional preparation for all god-halves of a Pair. It began with a bath using special scented bath oils and salts, and then, he was wrapped up in a robe while his hands and feet were taken care of. His nails were trimmed and buffed, and every bit of callus on his feet and hands was rubbed away using a piece of pumice stone. His hair was washed again with three different types of mixtures, and he found himself placed in a chair while his hair was a given a trim and he was given a shave. Then, his hair was combed with a comb coated in something that would presumably hold the final hairstyle in place and in the meantime nearly pulled his scalp from his skull. By this point, he was thoroughly miserable.

He was even more miserable when he saw the outfit he was expected to put on. All of it was white, but then he'd expected that. White silk, brocade, velvet, silver trim, and white leather. There were the special underthings that Master Laurens had made, and he was put into those first. Following that were the stockings, breeches, shirt, tunic, and gloves. Each piece was heavy with silver embroidery and when he looked closely, he saw that very small white opals, pearls, and diamonds had been sewn onto the fabric. On top of all of that was a coat that swept the floor and was even more heavy with embroidery, trim, and jewels. Every bit of clothing was wildly expensive, and he felt his eyes bulge a little as he calculated the cost. Five large Valdemaran families could eat for years with the amount of money the whole rig was worth!

"Now, about your gift for the queen," the taller one said, approaching him with a small box. "We've prepared it for you, and one of us will carry it during the ceremony, so all you have to do is walk up to the altar. Father Kendar will be the one presenting you, and he'll be waiting for us at the door."

"I'm not marrying her," Ronan insisted, glaring at them both.

"Of course you're not," the shorter one said. "She's marrying you."

That did not make him feel better. He tugged at the high collar of the coat, uncomfortable with its tightness. All of the clothes fit very well, but for some reason he felt as if he had a collar around his neck.

Space

He insisted on stopping by the stables to see Kira before they had to leave. He assured her that he would be fine, and that he wished she could come to at least see everything that was going to go on.

:Don't worry, Chosen. I'm sure that Stardancer is waiting to the very last moment to effect a daring rescue. He always does things that make such good legends later: she said, giving his cheek a nuzzle.

:I just hope that if he's going to rescue us, he does it soon, and that his plan includes getting you away as well: he answered, scratching under her forelock.

:Oh, he probably has a nice, padded Companion-sized carriage all ready for me: she chuckled.

That was when his two watchdogs arrived, insisting that it was time to go. With a sigh, Ronan went with them, praying that Stardancer would come.