Glinda sat in their suite putting the final touches on an entry in her visual journal. She had brought along a new, large sketchbook specifically dedicated to Nessa's wedding and there were many, many entries in it already. One section was dedicated to wedding attire. She turned to those pages and smiled. The final fitting for the women and girls was that morning. The men and boys were this afternoon. She loved the bridesmaids dresses, the style was simple and formal but fun and flattering with three quarter sleeves, lace on the bodice and sleeves and a flowing ankle length skirt, in pastel, muted colors with a subtle design in lace. Elphie's was a sort of pale peach/champagne color that complimented her skin tone well. Hers was a wonderful shade of pastel pink and the others were in pastel shades of mint, yellow and blue. All of the girls acting as pages, taper lighters, train bearers and other such roles, including Lyel as the lone flower girl, were in similar style dresses and colors. Lyel was thrilled that hers was blue because that was her favorite color.
The men and boys were in morning suits. A black, single-breasted curved cut away coat with tails that fell behind the knee, black striped dark gray trousers with no cuffs and a single pleat down the center of the leg. The waistcoats were light gray, Brac's was double breasted with lapels, the groomsmen's were single breasted with lapels. Their shirts were white with turn down collars and Evian cuffs. Brac had gifted his groomsmen with cufflinks specially designed for the matched the small necklaces that Nessa had gifted her attendants. The neckwear is what tied everything together, the groomsmen had wedding ties in pastel colors that matched the bridesmaid dresses and Brac had a silver dress ascot.
Glinda smiled as she looked over her sketches especially of the children, of which there were many due to Brac and Kat having many nieces and nephews. Children in formal wear were simply adorable. Lyel was having trouble with the fact that she would soon have more cousins because according to her, she didn't have time to play with them all. But she seemed to be taking tall in stride, mainly because of all the wedding activity.
"Lyndie?" Glinda heard in her head.
"Hi sweetheart."
"We just got a wire that your parents just boarded the train in the Emerald City and are on their way."
"Yay! They will be here in time for…"
"Mommy, I didn't mean to it was an accent." Lyel said both angry and upset as she ran into the room.
"Elphie, I'll get back to you. Bug just ran in and I think mischief might be afoot."
"Need help?"
"I'll let you know. Bye sweetheart." Glinda said while Lyel chattered on about it being an accident and they didn't need to take Horsey away while Nusee pranced around.
"Bug, what happened?" Glinda said calmly. Since Nanny Tilly was not at all alarmed Glinda knew it was a four year old crisis more than an actual one but she figured magic had something to do with it because of Nusee's distress.
"I poured juice and it fell over and Horsey got juiced and then moved and Nutee got mad and that mean lady took him away. But I didn't do magic cause I not possed to it was accent but the mean lady took Horsey away and Nanny Tilly let her." Lyel said in an angry string of words as she glared at her nanny.
"Can you fill in some blanks please, Nanny Tilly?" Glinda said bring to suppress a chuckle at the look on her daughter's face.
"We mad with Nanny Tilly." Lyel said as Glinda picked her up.
"Be that as it may. I'm sure she has a reasonable explanation for letting Horsey be taken away." Glinda said.
"No esplasion. That lady was mean." Lyel said seriously as she settled on Glinda's lap.
"That mean lady is Mrs. Hiytu, the Head of Housekeeping for the non-residential areas." Nanny Tilly said.
"Lyel and I were doing some exploring after her dance class and we went into one of the sitting rooms. Mrs. Hiytu and several other housekeepers were tidying up after a meeting of some sort. To make a long story short, There was a half carafe of juice and Lyel wanted to have some. She asked politely…" She continued.
"I did. I was plite. She was mean." Lyel said.
"And insisted she could pour her own. She did an admirable job until the carafe hit the glass, knocking it over then she knocked over the carafe trying to pick up the glass." Nanny Tilly said.
"Oh dear." Glinda said with a small chuckle.
"And I take it Horsey was in the way."
"He was, briefly. One minute he was in a puddle of juice the next he was on the floor out of the way and Nusee was sounding the alarm." Nanny Tilly smiled. She had been present on several occasions when Lyel did magic, intentionally and not. Glinda had starting referring to Nusee's warning mewls and dancing around as sounding the alarm to let them know something magical had happened…or was about to.
"I didn't magic him. I promise." Lyel said.
"I know Bug. These things happen when you are young. It's okay."
"Mrs. Hiytu did not see Horsey disappear and reappear. She only saw him on the floor covered in munchkin berry juice and took him to the laundry to get him cleaned up. I attempted to explain this to Lyel but she wasn't really understanding." Nanny Tilly said.
"Mommy, I miss Horsey and I didn't do magic so she didn't need to take him away." Lyel said, her anger turning to dismay.
"Bug." Glinda said gently.
"Mrs. Hiytu did not take Horsey away because you accidentally did magic. She isn't even aware that you can do magic. She took Horsey to clean the juice off of him so he won't be stained and sticky."
"Really?"
"Yep. Really. Just like Sargy did with your dress when you spilled chocolate ice cream on it, remember?" Glinda said.
"That was messy." Lyel said.
"It was." Glinda agreed then kissed her daughter's cheek.
"Bug, I'm sure that we can go to the laundry and check on Horsey."
"We can?" Lyel said excitedly.
"Let's go." She said jumping off of Glinda's lap and running out the door. Glinda chuckled and looked at Nanny Tilly, who was also chuckling. About five-seconds later Lyel ran back in.
"Where we going?"
They sought out Devi to find out where exactly the laundry was located and discovered there was more than one. Devi escorted them to the smaller one, where the family laundry was done, and they found Mrs. Hiytu there with a young laundress carefully working on Horsey. Lyel was very unhappy with the entire situation but luckily the young laundress had a little boy in the Colwen Grounds daycare where Lyel sometimes spent time and Lyel recognized her. She was able to explain to the very concerned little girl what was going on in a way that made sense to her. Glinda was very impressed with the care and understanding that were being given both her daughter and her favorite toy. When Nanny Tilly and Lyel were settled where they could keep an eye on Horsey, Glinda personally thanked both women before leaving. On her way out she asked Devi to see to it both women received an appropriate, official acknowledgement of their gratitude.
X
Devi sat in the common area of the Visitor's Wing, adding a few more things to her to do list. She had just finished up a meeting with the people in charge of the army of housekeepers, valets, cooks and security personnel that had been brought on to handle the influx of visiting dignitaries and family that would be arriving for the wedding. All the dignitaries as well as Braclin and his groomsmen would be on the first floor and Braclin's extended family would be on the second. Kat and Ali had a room on the second floor of the visitors wing as well but were actually staying with Nessa in her suite. Satisfied that things in the Visitor's wing were well in hand Devi closed her binder and made her way to the small parlor where the entrance to the now not so secret passageway between the Visitor's and Residential Wings was located. Creating an actual entrance to replace the one in the oversized fireplace had been broached many times but never panned out. She was certain that Shell had something to do with that but had no actual proof.
"Hey Devi" Kat smiled as she and Ali saw Devi coming out of the passageway.
"Hello girls." Devi smiled.
"May I assume since you two are here that Braclin is as well?" She said.
"He is downstairs." Ali said.
"Devi, the cabin in the Hills is fantastic." She said excitedly, referring to the Kat and Brac's family lodge in Madilinshire Hills. She and Kat had accompanied Brac on a final quick trip to make sure everything was in order before the wedding.
"Absolutely wonderful." Kat agreed.
"There is a ramp, the new master suite that was added downstairs is completely Nessa ready. As is everything else. She will be able to function perfectly there. And on most of the grounds as well."
"Well that is wonderful. She deserves a stress free honeymoon." Devi smiled.
"And it is still a surprise, as far as I know."
"It is. We were actually looking for her. Do you know where she is?"
"She and Elphaba are down in her office going over some last minute things." Devi said.
"Working?" Ali said aghast.
"I can't believe Glinda allowed that. Work was supposed to end yesterday." Kat said.
"Fear not girls. Froua is with them and Glinda issued dire warnings and a few threats." Devi chuckled.
"And if I understood correctly, they aren't working per se, just going over some last minute things involving their father. Shell was supposed to be there as well but whether or not he made it, I don't know." Devi smiled and Kat and Ali chuckled sheepishly.
"Sorry Devi, I guess we over reacted." Kat said.
"No apologies. It is not like you didn't have reason. Leaving a workaholic bride with her workaholic Matron of Honor is a bit risky." Devi laughed and so did the girls.
"Now I am off to make sure things are ready for Mr. and Mrs. Upland's arrival." She said.
"And we are off to save the bride and MOH from themselves." Ali chuckled.
"Good luck." Devi smiled.
X
Glinda was on her way to Nessa's office to make sure Froua was keeping Elphie and Nessa from actually working when she heard her name. She turned and saw Kat and Ali coming down the stairs from the family wing.
"Hi Glinda." Kat smiled.
"I'm glad we ran into you."
"Hello girls. When did you get back?" Glinda asked. She knew that they went with Brac to give the honeymoon cabin the once over.
"Not long ago. Do you have a minute?" Kat said.
"I do." Glinda replied and Ali took her hand and pulled her into a small sitting room. They told Glinda all about the cabin and grounds and how they had been renovated for Nessa.
"Oh that is wonderful. Elphie will be pleased." Glinda smiled.
"Brac hopes it can become a nice getaway place for them." Kat smiled.
"Getaway places are very important." Glinda said.
"Girls, since I have you here away from the general hubbub, I'd like to broach a subject with you."
"Sure Glinda." Kat said.
"It's a bit delicate and if you do not wish to discuss it, I understand." Glinda said.
"Elphie is concerned that Nessa didn't receive… well, appropriate wedding night information. I told her that between you both, Nanny, Devi and Fruoa, Nessa was probably well informed but she worries. She wants to offer my mother's services to make sure." Glinda said and Ali and Kat exchanged glances.
"Nessa has received more information about sex than she needs, I think." Ali laughed lightly.
"We, and some of her other friends have been offering up our limited knowledge of the subject, in colorful detail for a while." Kat said.
"Nanny, Devi and Froua have provided far more accurate, useful and less colorful information." Ali chuckled.
"That has actually benefited us all." She added.
"But it was Fruoa that suggested that she talk to her physical therapist about her specific situation." Kat said.
"What a good idea." Glinda said, impressed. She knew that Nessa had been working with a physical therapist, utilizing the pool and other things to help with upper body strength and general flexibility. She also knew that Brac often helped with her sessions.
"It was. And very enlightening. Did you know that there are actually manuals and papers on sexual activity for paraplegics?" Kat said.
"Really? How interesting." Glinda mused.
"More than you think." Ali chuckled.
"After her first talk with her therapist, Nessa got Brac involved."
"You're kidding." Glinda said surprised.
"My brother is a true gentleman where these things are concerned. Respectful and rather conservative." Kat said.
"Nessa is well… somewhat less so."
"I don't think I'll be mentioning that part to Elphie." Glinda chuckled.
"Oh don't get me wrong. Propriety is still front and center, they have never even considered engaging in anything of that nature. But Nessa is the one who first brought up sex, mainly because Brac is older and she assumed he had experience, which he has. Although if my intel is correct, not much. She decided to tell Brac about talking to her therapist and he saw the wisdom in that and admitted to her that he was a little concerned." Kat said.
"Well this conversation took a very unexpected turn." Glinda smiled.
"It took us a bit to digest it as well but it makes sense." Ali said.
"Nessa is nothing if not thorough. She is exceptional at seeing the big picture and planning for contingencies."
"And Brac would rather die than cause Nessa any hurt or distress." Kat said.
"Which is why, to that end, he put aside his own discomfort about discussing such a personal and delicate subject and met, several times with Nessa's physical therapist."
"Girls, I truly appreciate you telling me all this. It has actually eased my mind and I know it will ease Elphie's." Glinda said.
"She truly cares about Nessa. And wants her to have everything she desires. She just doesn't always know what her role is in ensuring that she does."
"Nessa knows that Elphaba loves her, she has said as much. She didn't always, but she does now. And when she finds out that Elphaba was willing to stay here for a month so that she could go on a proper honeymoon, she will be overwhelmed." Ali said.
"And Braclin wants to make sure that you both know that he appreciates not only Elphaba doing this, but you as well. We do too. Putting your life on hold to stay here is a very kind and generous act." Kat said.
"It's what families do." Glinda smiled.
"They also prevent one another from working themselves to death. Which is why I was on my way to extract Her Eminence and Her Excellency, aka the bride and her Matron of Honor, from that very situation." She added with a chuckle.
"That's exactly what we were on our way to do." Kat laughed.
"Great minds and all that." Ali chuckled.
"Well then my fellow bridesmaids, let us be off on our noble quest." Glinda smiled.
X
"It was very nice of Shell and Bri to give up their suite for us, but it really wasn't necessary." Gwenot said after Devi instructed the porters to take their luggage up to Bri and Shells suite.
"Oh Shell insisted and Bri was in full agreement. They have an acceptable room in the Residence but from here on in Shell will be spending most of his time with the groom and groomsmen in the Visitors wing and Bri will be with the bridesmaids." Devi smiled.
"But now you both need t get freshened up. I've sent word that you have arrived so your family should be joining you in the family parlor shortly." Devi smiled as they headed toward the family wing. As they walked she filled them in on some of the wedding activities that were to come but were interrupted as soon as they entered the hall that led to family suites and rooms.
"Gammy, Gampy!" They heard Lyel yell as she peddled furiously toward them on her tricycle with Horsey in a basket on the front. Lyel had tried to put Nusee in there once but he had none of it so now it was Horsey's seat.
"Gammy, Gampy you finally here." She said seriously as she stopped grabbed Horsey and ran to them with a little scowl on her face. Nanny Tilly was following behind her at an unhurried pace with Nusee bringing up the rear.
"Hello Lyel." They said as Samion picked her up for a hug.
"Gammy, Gampy you need to tell Nanny Tilly and Mommy Mama and Debi and eberybody to not let that mean last take Horsey again it was awful and he is tomatized and eberything cause that mean lady gives him a bath and he no likes baths but Nanny Tilly let her and it was awful…" Lyel said in a fast, serious string of words.
"Bug." Nanny Tilly interrupted gently.
"Let's let your grandparents get settled and freshen up from their trip and then you can tell them all about Horsey's bad day. And hello Mr. and Mrs. Upland." She smiled.
"It was a bery bad day." Lyel agreed.
"Hello Nanny Tilly."Gwenot said.
"Bug can come with us while we freshen up. We've missed this." She smiled and Nanny Tilly nodded.
"Come on little Bug. Now tell me again why Horsey had a bad day." Samion said as he carried her in in one arm and picked up her tricycle with his other and headed down the hall.
"And Nanny Tilly, would you be so kind as to tell me why Horsey had a bad day." Gwenot chuckled as they followed behind.