The big day had finally arrived. The wedding started with a procession into the Great Hall of Aydindril. Richard was in the lead accompanied by his "best man" Cara. Richard was smiling and waving to the crowd. Though it had been suggested to Cara that she should also smile and wave, she instead marched stony-faced as if in a military parade. Behind Richard came the Council of Aydindril and behind them came a group of soldiers from the force that now guarded the city. The next group were the Mord-Sith led by Dahlia. Behind them were Kahlan's bridesmaids, Jennsen and Dennee. Finally came the bride herself accompanied by Zedd who was acting as the father of the bride. Kahlan's real father was attending the wedding but she still had too many hard feeling from her childhood to give him a larger role in the wedding and Kahlan had much more affection for Zedd than she had for him.
Everyone was dressed in finery excepting Zedd for whom his wizard's robes were always sufficient and the Mord-Sith including Cara who continued to wear their red leather. The sight of these Mord-Sith marching in the procession attracted as much attention as the bride and groom. Dahlia continued to wear men's clothes but her current outfit was by far the finest she had ever worn. The hardest person to dress had been the bride herself. Kahlan had been undecided about which of several outfits to wear. Surprisingly Zedd had provided the solution by suggesting an outfit that was not even one of the choices that Kahlan had been considering. It was a lovely beaded dress that left her shoulders bare and was completed with a jeweled circlet in her hair. Zedd kept to himself that the reason he knew she would like this dress was that he had already seen her get married in it in a previous reality.
At least this time, Darken Rahl would not be performing the ceremony. It was performed instead by the head of the Council of Aydindril. Cara was pleased to stand beside Richard as he and Kahlan exchanged their vows. Cara had always found Richard handsome and Kahlan beautiful but never more so than today. Cara gave Richard the ring which he put onto Kahlan's finger and they were pronounced husband and wife. Richard and Kahlan had a long passionate kiss. Such public displays of emotion made Cara uneasy and in the past she had looked away when Richard and Kahlan had kissed but this time, at Zedd's suggestion, she continued to watch and even tried to smile. The only blight on this otherwise joyous scene was Dennee. Though having been returned to life many months ago and raising Lucinda's child as her own had mellowed her somewhat, she could not help giving the woman who killed her a dirty look. This in turn reminded Cara that there were many things that she had done in the past that could never be forgiven.
After the wedding, the entire party moved into an adjoining hall for the reception. Cara was seated at the main table at its left end. Kahlan had thought it best to keep some distance between Cara and Dennee and had selected this arrangement so that Zedd, Richard and Kahlan herself were seated between the two. After a bounteous banquet it was time for the speeches. Dennee spoke first. She told of several amusing stories from her and Kahlan's childhood. She was followed by Jennsen who more seriously talked of Richard's and her mother.
Then it was time for the speech by the "best man." Trying to figure out what to say had been a very hard task for Cara. Traditionally such a speech should be somewhat humorous but Cara had never given a humorous speech in her life. Dahlia had been the one to suggest that perhaps Cara should speak from her heart and say what Richard and Kahlan mean to her. A public display of her feelings was so alien to Cara that she had tried seriously to come up with a humorous speech instead. But Dahlia had kept after Cara and slowly had gotten her to admit what she felt about Richard and Kahlan and eventually this formed the basis for her speech. As Cara stood up she looked out into the crowd and got an encouraging look from Dahlia who was seated at the table with the Mord-Sith.
"It is still early enough in the evening that you all should still be sober enough to be able to figure out that I am a Mord-Sith." Cara gestured to her red leather outfit and a few people chuckled. "In some ways it is quite remarkable that I am here tonight since by all rights I should be dead. When I first met Richard I tried to kill him. In the ensuing fight I was knocked unconscious. You all know what should have happened next. Richard should have finished me off. But Richard is too noble to kill a helpless opponent and merely disarmed me and went on his way. When I regain consciousness and found that I was still alive, I thought that Richard was foolish and weak. But it turned out that not only was he merciful but wise since we were in a predicament that could only be resolved by our working together. Afterwards when I had pledged myself to his service there were many who questioned whether it was wise for him to trust me but Richard always loyally defended me."
"As bad as my start with Richard was, with Kahlan it was even worse. There has never been any love lost between Mord-Sith and Confessors and it is hardly surprising that Kahlan's first thought was that I should be killed. This view was reinforced when she discovered that I had inflicted a great personal harm on her. Yet when she had the opportunity to execute me, a fate that I would have truly deserved, she also showed me mercy and allowed me to continue in Richard's service."
"Nor is that all. As a Mord-Sith I was taught that love was a weakness, and I would still believe that today if it were not for Richard and Kahlan. Traveling with and serving them for the past year I have gotten to see their love up close. It has not always been easy for them as there were many obstacles that tried to separate them. Yet even at times when it appeared that they could never be together, their love never wavered."
"So it is today that the couple that should have killed me instead invited me to their wedding. They have taught me the true meaning of love. So raise your glasses with me and toast-To the finest couple I know." Cara heart-felt speech greatly affected the crowd and they all loudly seconded Cara's toast.
Richard then rose to give his speech in response to the speeches that had been made. When he referred to Cara he said, "What Cara left out of her speech was the important fact that without her there would be no wedding today for the simple reason that both Kahlan and I would be dead. Over the past year, Cara saved my life at least twice and Kahlan's at least twice as well. Her deeds and loyal service have more than repaid any acts of mercy that we may have shown her."
After Richard's speech, the musicians started to play and Richard led Kahlan out onto the dance floor for their first dance as husband and wife. After the first dance others joined them on the dance floor. Cara was quite content to stay sitting where she was. After some minutes Cara was surprised to be approached by Dennee.
"I want to say that I was affected by your speech tonight. I don't think that I can ever forgive you for what you did on Valeria."
"There is no reason that you should. What is worse is that that is hardly the most terrible thing I ever did in the service of Darken Rahl."
"Having seen you in action, I have no doubt that is true. Still Kahlan had told me that you have changed and tonight's speech showed that you have. Furthermore Kahlan says that not only have you saved her life, there was a time when you wanted to sacrifice your life for hers."
"Yes, but she foolishly wouldn't let me."
"Well since you're both still alive, maybe it wasn't so foolish. At any rate, I don't think that we will ever be friends but it pleases me that you are protecting my sister and her husband. I am happy that you are in their service." Dennee then turned and went back to her seat. Dennee's statements affected Cara though she tried hard not to show it.
As Cara continue to sit there it was becoming obvious that Dahlia hands were full trying to look after the Mord-Sith, who were unaccustomed to the relative freedom afforded by their service to Richard and to the easy access to wine provided at the wedding. Dahlia had to get two Mord-Sith away from some soldiers that they were flirting with. A few minutes later, Dahlia found two other Mord-Sith making out in a corner of the room. Finally Cara had had enough. As Cara strode across the room she encountered a Mord-Sith named Marcy staggering along. Cara stood in her way and Marcy crashed into her.
Marcy drunkenly looked up at Cara and said, "You're beautiful." She then tried to kiss Cara.
Cara pushed her away from her and said, "You're drunk. Stand at attention!"
In the face of Cara's glare, Marcy sobered up quickly. It wasn't long before Cara had all of the Mord-Sith standing at attention. Cara ordered Dahlia to take the Mord-Sith back to their barracks. Dahlia was disappointed to have to leave the festivities so early but she did as Cara wished.
Cara went back to her seat and continued to watch the dancing. She wondered how long this whole affair might continue. She had pledge to herself that she would not leave until after Richard and Kahlan. From the way they were enjoying themselves it didn't seem that they would be leaving anytime soon.
About fifteen minutes later Cara was surprised when she was approached by an out-of-breath Dahlia.
"Is everything OK?"
"Everything is fine. I just had the girls march at the double quick so I could get back here while the dancing was still going on. I'm not ready for the evening to be over yet. I haven't had a dance with you yet."
"I don't know how to dance."
"Funny that's not what Zedd said. He said that he gave you dancing lessons."
"And did he say I was an apt student?"
"Well—no. But there is a big difference between not knowing how to dance and not wanting to dance."
"I would rather fight Gar."
"Zedd said you might say that. Unfortunately for you, someone failed to invite any Gar to the wedding so I think your only option is to dance with me."
Dahlia then pulled Cara out on to the dance floor. The sight of these two women dancing together attracted much attention since for many it was the first time that they had ever seen two women dance together and it was certainly the first time that anyone had ever seen a Mord-Sith dance. Cara was not that good a dancer but surprisingly Dahlia was.
As they danced Cara asked, "How did you learn to dance so well? I didn't think that it was part of a soldier's training."
"It isn't. It was when I was living with my aunt and uncle. As I got older they began to suspect that I was not growing up to be a "proper" girl and they thought that dancing lessons might help resolve my "tendencies". As you well know their plan didn't work though I did learn to dance."
After a little while Dahlia said, "I was proud of your speech tonight."
"I couldn't have done it without your help."
As this dance ended, Zedd decided that Richard had monopolized Kahlan long enough and he took her hand for the next dance. Richard now without a partner looked around the room and saw Cara and Dahlia standing together. He hadn't had the chance to get to know Dahlia as well as he would like and went over and asked her for the next dance. Cara went and stood at the edge of the dance floor a little annoyed. She had just begun to enjoy dancing or at least to enjoy dancing with Dahlia and then Richard had butted in.
As they started dancing Dahlia said, "It was a lovely wedding."
"Thank you." After a few moments Richard went on, "I also want to thank you for your help with the Mord-Sith. I think they will be a valuable asset. And thank you for what you have done for Cara. I am quite fond of her and it pleases me to see her so happy."
"It is I that should thank you. As Cara said tonight, without your mercy, Cara should be dead several times over. And even if somehow Cara hadn't been killed, without your influence to change her for the better, she wouldn't be a person I would want to meet, let alone get to know."
Richard smiled and nodded.
"I also want to thank you for my life as well." Dahlia had been thinking about what would have happened if Richard hadn't had Zedd perform the Spell of Undoing. At this point she would be dead, her corpse unburied, rotted in the sun. She would be unmourned by all except Cara and given all of the evil she must have done for Darken Rahl, it would only be proper. She owed it to Richard and Zedd that not only was she alive but also able to lead a much better life.
Richard looked puzzled, "I don't remember saving your live as well."
Dahlia had forgotten that Richard wasn't supposed to know about the Spell of Undoing and covered by saying, "I just mean for my life with Cara."
"Well if there is anything I can do to help you and Cara, just let me know."
"There may be something you can help us with but it is too early to know. In any case, I don't want to bother you on tonight of all nights."
"Well, let me know when you think it is appropriate."
As this dance ended Kahlan noticed Cara standing there and suggested to Zedd that he ask her to dance. However, Zedd said he had been unsuccessful in the past and had no intention of trying again. Kahlan said that if that were the case she would go and ask her herself. Cara was rather surprised to be asked to dance by Kahlan since she didn't think Kahlan would do something that was so non-traditional but at the same time Cara was pleased as well.
As they started dancing Cara said, "You look very lovely tonight."
"Thank you, Cara. I'm not sure I've gotten the chance to say how happy I am that you have found Dahlia. It gives me pleasure to see you so happy."
Cara nodded her head.
"I do have to say that I was a little surprised that you are with a woman. I only saw you with Leo."
"In these matters I don't concern myself with gender. Before I started serving Richard there were several Mord-Sith that I had had relationships with. They are all dead now."
"Yes, being a Mord-Sith does seem to be a hazardous occupation. Your interest in women got me thinking. You know there were times when we traveled together, especially when we were alone, and you would look at me and I couldn't quite figure out your expression but now…"
At this point Cara began to blush a little.
"Are you blushing?"
"Not at all," Cara said, turning redder by the minute.
Kahlan couldn't help laughing a little, "This is quite a day. Marrying Richard and making a Mord-Sith blush. I don't know what is the greater accomplishment," she teased.
"Kahlan, I'm sorry if I looked at you in any inappropriate way."
Kahlan laughed again, "Oh, Cara, there is no need to apologize. I'm a little flattered." Kahlan kissed Cara on the cheek. "At any rate, as I said I'm glad you found Dahlia. I hope she can make you as happy as Richard makes me."
"I'm not sure anyone can be as happy as you and Richard but we will do our best."
After this dance, Richard and Kahlan got back together and announced that there would be one final dance. Dahlia and Cara paired back up for this dance.
"You seem to have made Kahlan laugh," Dahlia said.
"Well she figured out that you are not the first woman I was attracted to."
"You've got good taste," Dahlia said. After a moment she went on, "She didn't seem offended."
"No, she said she was a little flattered."
"Well she should be."
After a little pause, Dahlia said, "Zedd told me that you were embarrassed when Richard and Kahlan kissed in front of you."
"Yes, I'm not that comfortable with public displays of affection."
"That's something we will have to work on."
"Let me know when you want to schedule a lesson."
"I was thinking right about now," Dahlia pulled Cara close and kissed her deeply.
After Dahlia had released her, Cara said, "That was nice but was it really necessary."
"I think so, after all what are you going to do on our wedding day?"
"Wedding?" Cara said a little uneasily. "The law would never allow two women to get married."
"The law is what the Mother Confessor says it is."
"And you think she will be inclined to let us get married."
"I'm not sure. I was thinking of approaching Richard first. I think it will be easier to make him see the inequity of the situation and he is less tied to tradition. He is the right person to make our case to Kahlan." After a moment Dahlia went on, "Don't worry, I'm not going to ask you to marry me tonight. But don't be surprised when I do."
The dance ended. Richard and Kahlan thanked all of their guests and said good night. They left the hall to go off on their honeymoon. Dahlia and Cara were standing next to each other.
"We have one advantage," Dahlia said. "We don't have to wait until our wedding to have our wedding night."
"As I recall, it was more like a wedding afternoon and it was over a month ago."
"That was good practice," Dahlia said with a grin, "but I think we can do better."
"Well, let me know when you want to schedule a lesson."
"You should know by now that I always think that there is no time like the present."
"In this case, I agree with you." Cara leaned in and kissed Dahlia. "How was that for a public display of affection?"
"Not bad but as they say, practice, practice, practice."
Cara took Dahlia's hand and they walked out of the hall and headed back to their quarters.
7