"What! Why didn't you tell me?!" Bog roars, towering over his short mother and ignoring the startled looks.
"Because it's all under control," Griselda comments. "Besides, you would have left before the ceremony to deal with it and that would be such a pity to miss your own wedding."
"Marianne and I are already married. This was just repeating our acceptance vows to abide by the Light Field custom and to allow the Light Field denizens to express their approval," Bog reminds with strained patience before turning to Stuff and Thang. "Why didn't you two tell me earlier?"
"Griselda told us not to tell you until after the ceremony finished," Thang whimpers.
Griselda chuckles as her son turns the glare back to her. This brought back such fond memories of the temper tantrums he had as a young one. The scowling pout, the rattling shoulder spurs, the flared wings, and his impressive attempt at appearing terrifying, her youngest was born to be king.
"Bog, what's the problem?" Marianne asks after hurrying over with Puck in her arms.
"Nothing, little thistle," Griselda reassures. "Bog is just overreacting."
"Overreacting?" Bog repeats with a growl. "How am I overreacting when there's a Placid Swamp envoy at the castle and you chose not to tell me when you arrived before the ceremonies started?!"
"What! Griselda!" Marianne yells, joining Bog in glaring at the elder female.
"Now don't you start too," Griselda huffs. "Everything is fine. The elders are keeping the envoy occupied and everyone else is keeping their guard up. They've already been told that the King and Queen of the Dark Forest had duties to attend to and that it's their own fault for having to wait since they didn't inform of their arrival. We figured to treat them hospitably so they can't say we broke the treaty but that doesn't mean they can't be made to wait longer than an official visit would permit."
"You're being very calm about this," Marianne mutters.
"Everyone is on the lookout in case they try anything but since no messenger came to retrieve us then everything is fine. Also, before I left, I took the liberty to inform them that the Dark Forest is now joined to the Light Field by mateship, with the included implication of the combined armies," Griselda mentions with a smirk. "If they were planning something, they've probably changed their minds by now."
"Just as we were leaving, Grandfather Onyx was happily telling them all about the both of you fighting Cu-Sith six months ago," Kyanite comments.
"They looked absolutely terrified," Romulus chuckles.
"Did they even say why they came?" Bog questions.
"Apparently their patrolling guards heard some interesting things from our side of the border and they wanted to know if there were any changes that would affect the meeting in three days," Stuff answers.
"The ceremony is over, so we can go ahead and leave now. I'll go tell Dad and get our weapons," Marianne murmurs, handing the clinging Puck over to Bog.
"But didn't you say that the first part of today's festival was to celebrate those who've been mated since last Lammas?" Thang asks.
"Yes, but we don't have to attend, especially if it will interfere with our Dark Forest duties," Marianne answers.
"Don't worry, those Placid Swamp pests can wait a little longer," Griselda comments. "It's just a little past midday, so go and enjoy yourselves. I'll handle things back home."
"Mom..." "Griselda..."
"I mean it!" Griselda insists, cutting off Bog and Marianne's protests. "Besides, just like you said for your reason to have a Light Field wedding, you should go to the Lammas party to allow the Light Field denizens the opportunity to show you their approval of your union. You spend almost all your time in the Dark Forest but you both are also Light Field royalty. I know it's a lot of responsibility on your shoulders but that's no excuse to push aside your obligations to your other subjects."
Griselda smothers the sly smirk wanting to rise as Bog and Marianne's faces reflect their indecision and guilt. It may have been a dirty trick to make them think they are failing their duties in some way but it's for their own good. She'll just reassure them later after everything is settled.
"By the way, where is Plum? I wanted to speak to her but I didn't see her anywhere," Griselda remarks.
"Plum disappeared this morning. Don't worry, she does this," Marianne quickly reassures. "Despite her appearance yesterday, Plum never shows up to any event the Light Field has. It's not that we forbid her, it's just that...well, Plum isn't exactly accepted by every Light Field denizen and it tends to cause some...problems if she hangs around too much."
Furrowing her brows, Griselda tries not to curse her bad luck out loud. As strange as it was for Plum not to come to the wedding when yesterday she told her that she was so excited for today and wouldn't miss it for the world, the crazy female's disappearance made Griselda's present task much harder.
Maybe she should tell Dagda?
No, that would take too much time. Plan B it is.