Activity in the receiving hall was nearly nonexistent. I had hoped to introduce Harad to the bustle of my world, yet only a few low family maintenance staff were present. There was a striped puffball rolled in the corners, collecting dust. Another servant was polishing the floor with extended arms; his muscles bulged in the lamplight. A second glance showed the black clad guards concealed in the shadows. Seeing Harad's blanched face made me glad for the silence. I squeezed his hand reassuringly.
Marak was through at our heels followed by Sagrah and the remaining goblins. He began addressing me as he led us down twisting corridors. They were all empty. "I'm afraid that you were later in arriving than I expected. Lieda is being prepared formally for the occasion, but you'll have to go as is. Fortunately your elvish garb is very beautiful." I beamed at his compliment.
An iron door swung open on its own accord and Marak ushered us into a tiny room. He held out a familiar golden goblet with a shunt on one side. "Why?"
"It's just a precaution. I wouldn't want you and the elf man to attempt an escape together." He turned to Harad. "That contains a potion that will take away Anna's words temporarily. Its purpose is defensive so that she cannot access her spells. Anna does not perform magic anyway, yet it is still a necessary part of ritual marriages in the kingdom."
"How barbaric." Harad condemned the practice with a wave of his hand. "Will Lieda be silenced as well?"
"Of course," his violet eyes narrowed at the elf. "And you are the barbarian. Traipsing around in the woods, living a constant dance, it's a wonder that you haven't had a second harrowing."
Harad clenched his fists, I couldn't tell whether it was in anger or if he had been stricken by another wave of claustrophobia. Either way, I didn't want to drag this out. Confidently I took the goblet from Marak, and drank the liquid down. "Ahh." I said. It was the only possible response.
"Very good Anna," The King said. "Now let me take the opportunity to explain what will transpire. This room has three doors. One leads to the corridor, one leads to a preparatory bathing chamber where Lieda is being transformed, and the third is a direct entrance to the marriage room. We will pass through the third door. In the large chamber, guards will shackle Anna. Lieda was shackled while being dressed for her own safety." He interrupted Harad's question.
"We will walk down the aisle with the women. I will be aside Lieda, you will be aside Anna. This represents the current state of possession. An alter is located at the end of the aisle, that is where the ceremony will actually take place. There will be myriad magical rituals, and we will exit the room as men and wives. After leaving, there will be a small chamber from which I will escort you to the water mirror. That will be the device which will take you home."
"Will Lieda be returned to her previous state?" Harad asked. I wanted to shake him. What had initially been endearing love for his fiancée now seemed obsessive.
"Of course. The women will drink the potion to give them back their voices in the far chamber. Their manacles will also be removed. Now, an important, and never before seen part, of this ceremony is the exchanging of elvish vows. I've done some preliminary research on the subject. Aside from bread, are there any other supplies used?"
"Normally the women carry flowers. But our vow renewal is very simple. I will dance with my bride under her marriage moon when we return to the camp."
"Excellent," Marak said. "Do you hear the roar of the crowd? They are waiting for us."
Lieda met us as promised at the beginning of the aisle. Harad broke away from me to embrace her, handing him the lapis lazuli. Speechless by magic, she could only gaze at him in gratitude. Her smoky eyes turned from glazed to focus as she stared. The woman had dressed her in red silks, and she looked exotically beautiful. The golden manacles only added to allure, as did the black and gold lettering running down her wrists. I tugged at my skirts in envy and pity. Soon I would be the woman the kingdom looked to and Lieda would be another elf girl frolicking through the forest.
"Enough." Marak said, and he separated the elvish couple. "We must walk now." Cheers rose up from the goblin throng surrounding the path to the altar. There was a greater turn out this morning than there had been at my wedding. They stamped their feet and shouted in celebration. Mother's lifted their children to see the attraction, aside from me; most of them had never seen a wild elf.
Harad, cowed, returned to my side and stared at his feet. "I can barely recognize Lieda in all of her finery." He said bitterly. "This is entirely garish."
I couldn't say anything to comfort him. I was transfixed by watching my husband's lettered cloak swirl around his invisible legs. When he reached the sands before the altar, I watched his feet stir the symbols as he crossed with Lieda. They shifted back once he crossed. He bolted Lieda to the table, and then signaled for me to cross the sands.
With the first step, a burning sensation rose up in me. The next brought chills. The third and final step brought panic. As I approached the altar I was suppressing horror and intense fear. I writhed and screeched, looking for the man that had brought me here. An empty cloak stood behind the table, and it offered me a goblet. I was about to drink but paused, expecting poison. The items surrounding me were strange enough, some herbs, some golden saucers, and a long golden sword that occupied the place of honor.
