In Times of Trouble
Chapter Ten
Wedding and Planning
Xerxes Academy
Mid- Morning
Guests had begun arriving nearly a week ago, starting with Ed, Winry, and the children. Ling and Lan Fan, Naoko, Erity and Jia,Kenja and Akira, and the children arrived later the same day. The next day had brought Roy and Riza along with Tad, and Izumi, Sig, and Mason. Prince Cludio and Tsar Viktor arrived with their wives yesterday. Countless people from all four countries had arrived, primarily Amestris and Xing.
It was a huge event, larger than the weddings of Roy, Edward, or Ling. This was to be expected in a way, because Mei and Alphonse had decided to indulge the press, and her brother's advisors. They themselves had very little to do with the planning, with their busy schedules which was part of the reason they agreed.
Al was dressed in a dark blue suit that closely matched the ones worn by his father and brother. His two medals, both earned on Promised Day, adorned his suit to better match them as well, though he was far less decorated than either other man. Edward helped him to braid his hair in a neat plait, and was standing beside him as he awaited his bride, Yuery and William standing beside them holding little pillows with the rings attached by a small ribbon. Huan and Ping were there as well, smiling brightly, and dressed in the matching red robes of the Emperor.
Mei was wearing a long golden robe with her familiar sash and red trim. Her hair had been taken down from its usual braids and instead a silver crown had been woven to her head with a single thick braid. She had chosen Chen to walk with her down the aisle, and Elisha, Ana, Emiyo, and Miyo walked in front of them spreading petals of pink and gold. Elisha and Ana wore matching blue dresses, Emiyo and Miyo wore pink robes. All four girls had red and yellow flowers woven into their hair.
A long red carpet had been spread down the aisle, traditional of Amerstrian weddings, in Xinese Imperial colors. The archway the couple was to stand under was Xinese in style, with silk sheets hanging in gold instead of red to honor Alphonse's Xerxian history.
Emperor Ling and Fuhrer Mustang stood side by side facing the crowd, as Naoko walked with Mei down the aisle. A raised dais had been constructed the day before in front of the fountain which featured one of Xerxes former Kings. It was to acknowledge the boys' history without speaking of it, since it made them both uncomfortable. Surprising, to some, but not the family, the Ishbalan had agreed to officiate the wedding, along with Elder Sham.
The crowd watched mostly silent with occasional murmurs as the bride's procession made their way to the dais. Flowers of red or gold lined the area thanks to the Trigham brothers, who only asked that the guests be careful not to trample them. The music was a combination of Amestrian and Xingese, the instruments traditional of Xing, and the melody of Amestris. Like the chosen clothing and decorations, it was to signify the union of the countries as much as the couple.
The boys' chimera friends had come as well and were standing off to the side, not wanting to draw attention to themselves. They were acting as guards to the bridal couple for the day, though no one was pointing it out. They would stay discreetly in the background as much as possible, though Al and Mei both agreed beforehand that they intended to drag them into the festivities.
The ceremony itself didn't last as long as some feared, but longer than Edward's. The newly married princess and her husband turned at last to greet the crowd to thundering applause before the crowd followed the Family to the reception area further away.
Early Evening
The party lasted well into the evening, with Mei and Alphonse sitting at the head table surrounded by their now combined family. At some point in the late afternoon, the mothers had excused themselves to settle the children down for naps, but had long since returned.
Edward was currently sitting next to his brother, as Alphonse listened to yet another speech on the joy of their union. After the slightly tipsy prince of Xing, who forgot to list his name, stepped down, Al turned to his brother. "Now for my gift to you, Brother."
"That's not how it works Al, you receive gifts today, not give them." Ed said with a slight frown. This was unexpected, and confusing. Al continued to smile brightly at his brother.
"Mei and I are taking our honeymoon now. Traditionally, we would not be expected back in the royal court for the remainder of the year. Realistically, we were able to move some things around, and can leave the Academy for roughly four months. We decided to take our honeymoon in Europe." Al said.
"I don't-"
"We're going to go looking for her Brother. You are staying here with your children. That is my gift to you." Al said calmly. "For too long you have been the one to take the brunt of our burdens. This time, it is my turn."
"We'll talk about this later." Ed said. He was touched by Al's offer, but he couldn't let his brother wander off to Europe without help.
"Oh no you don't Edward Elric." Mei said, leaning over Alphonse. "We already worked everything out. We even have a wizard agreeing to accompany us, so you have nothing to worry about. You are the Eldest Son and you are a Father. It is your duty to stay here, we are the younger. We will take this challenge."
"As you can see, further discussion is pointless." Al said with a shrug.
Ed turned to their Dad in hopes of support, but it was clear both Roy and Ling were already aware of this plan and had approved it. Ed still frowned before turning back to his brother. "Which wizard are you taking? And how long have you been planning this?"
"Remus Lupin has offered to come with us." Al said. "As far as planning goes, since the subject came up, Mei and I began trying to think of a way to make this work. Russell Trigham has offered to take up my post until my return, Chen is taking Mei's, and after a few conversations, Severus Snape is taking over for Remus Lupin. It's all been arranged. Think about it Brother. Would it really be fair to ask me to travel without Mei just after our wedding?"
"How big of a party are you taking?" Ed said with a sigh. Clearly he'd lost the argument.
"My bodyguards, three of Ling's guards, two of Lupin's graduating students, and Lupin." Al said, relaxing now that Ed stopped trying to talk him out of it. "Apparently from what Lupin has said, it isn't unusual for small countries' royal families to honeymoon in Europe, and he can arrange things so we don't stand out."
"Dad, how much of this were you in on? Ling?" Ed asked the other men at the table.
"It was your brother's idea. However, I did approve it. We all know how conflicted you felt about traveling without the children Edward. I was already trying to find a way to handle this without having to send you when Alphonse came to me with the solution. It will be for the best for everyone involved." Roy said, stress of the last few months still pulling at the edges.
"I agreed right away. It is an important mission and hidden under the guise of travel it will go smoothly for them." Ling said from the other side of Mei. " They are not ruling either of our countries, and they have no children to care for. They are as well trained as you can hope for and have a guide. It is the best solution anyone had come up with. Now, enough politics. Celebrate!"
Edward wanted to protest more, but they were right. He didn't want to leave the children and Winry. He and their father had a good balance of responsibility leaving them both time to parent, but if Ed were to disappear for months, it would fall on their Dad to take care of everything, including helping with extra children.
Trisha was only three months old. If he were gone for more than a couple of weeks, would she remember who he was when he got back? Then there was all the work that needed to be overseen in the south thanks to a recent rain season. Ed nodded reluctantly, but made Al promise to send for him if they needed help.
Izumi and Sig, who had remained quiet during the conversation, then came up to offer their congratulations to the newlyweds, and ask if they could borrow their grandsons for awhile. It was getting late, and the boys were starting to get cranky. Lan Fan, Erity, and Jia had already sent their children back to the rooms with their nannies. Gracia handed her girls off along with the Mustang-Elric children as Izumi led them away with authority.
Darius came up to Edward, just as the children were led away, to tell him quietly that the four of them would also be traveling with Alphonse and Mei. They'd talked it over and agreed they belonged with the group. This shouldn't have made Edward feel so much better about the agreement, but it did. He remembered still how well they looked after the brothers when they were separated before Promised Day. The only thing that could have made him feel better about it, aside from going himself or no one having to go, would have been if Greeling had joined them. That wasn't possible though, since he was gone now.
Not that Edward wished possession on Ling. Often while it was happening, Ed would yell at Greed to leave his friend. Now though, sometimes he missed the guy. Which was weird, so he never really said anything about it. He must have been frowning too deeply though because Winry elbowed him in the ribs. "Cheer up. It's a wedding. It's AL'S wedding. You should be happy."
"Owe. I am happy! I just have a lot on my mind." Edward replied, ignoring the muffled laughs around him at his wife's lecture.
"Well, act like it then." Winry said with a sniff. "You don't want anyone thinking you don't approve of the marriage. Think of the scandal that could cause."
"Of course I approve. She makes my brother happy, and she isn't terrible once you get to know her." Ed said grumpily.
"Oh Edward, that's high praise coming from you!" Ling said dramatically as he pulled his friend into a hug.
"Oye. Get off me you idiot prince." Ed fumed.
"Not a prince anymore, guess I can hug you then." Ling sing-songed. "Come on Ed, you know you love me."
"Dad, help." Ed said.
Roy shook his head with a smile. They never changed, and he hoped they never would. Riza smirked as well before saying to Roy. "It reminds me of you and Maes. It's good Edward has such a wonderful friend."
"It is. I am glad he has friends his own age." Roy said with a smile.
Prince Cludio and his wife came over then, to offer their congratulations for the second time. The prince was a bit tipsy, which was true of most of the crowd now. Al thanked him before Cludio turned to Roy and Ling. "I will be coronated before winter's end. It's not been released to the public yet, of course, so don't tell anyone, but I wanted to invite the two of you officially, before the official announcements and invitations arrive."
"Cludio, I think you meant unofficially." His wife said with a smile.
"That's what I said?" he replied as he blinked at her.
"Don't let the waiters serve him anymore wine." Roy told one of the waiters before smiling at the other man and thanking him.
Tsar Viktor and his wife then came up to offer their congratulations as well, though he refrained from the antics displayed by Ling and Cludio. Ed shrugged the behavior off, after all most of the guests still here were drunk or at least on the way to being drunk. He himself was sober as was the rest of the wedding party, including Ling though you wouldn't know based on his behavior. Things seemed to finally be winding down though, which was a relief to everyone at the head table.
All around them, the children were being led away, as the day grew late. Some of the adults started to disperse as well. The bridal party was expected to stay where they were until the last of the guests left however, and they saw no way around it as political figures as well. They all were tired and ready to head to their beds.
Hogwarts
Headmaster's Office
Dumbledore had once again received a letter from that woman. Like all the ones before it, he read it quickly, then burned it. He had no desire to work with her, even if she was promising to help him get the boy back where he belonged. He didn't trust her or her motives.
The best news to come from it, according to those who knew him best, was that he was now completely sober. He needed to keep his wits about him around her. He didn't trust the woman at all, and not just because she was Nick's widow. There was something about her that concerned him.
She refused to just go away though, and he was stuck trying to find a solution that wouldn't strip him of all his secrets. There had to be some way to be rid of her. He knew she knew more about Amestris than he could ever hope to learn, and she had offered her help with the situation out there, but she had an air about her not unlike Riddle while he was still young.
He didn't think she's gone so far as to rip apart her soul, but he felt she was capable of such things. She had also approached the Death Eaters, and freely admitted it to him, despite being deliberately vague about anything regarding her homeland. Amestris. The mystery was great. He had only been there a handful of times, and the reports from Snape, Lupin, and Figg did not seem reliable. Figg, remarkably seemed to have the most complete reports.
She had mentioned, in her most recent report, that the Family had all left the mansion to attend a wedding in Xerxes. This part confused him somewhat as far as he knew Xerxes was a ruin. He knew from previous reports that they had built a school on top of the ruins, and he had even sent Lupin there to teach, but it still seemed an odd place to hold a wedding. Lupin and Snape had made no mention of this event in their reports.
Lupin's reports tended to run along what lessons he had planned for his students, and how things were coming along in the school, with no mentions of the Child or the Family, though Dumbledore suspected he had taken a vow long ago that prevented him from mentioning anything too detailed.
Snape's reports would mention the Family, though it was again vague enough that he suspected it was nothing more than could be found in the local papers should he bother to pick one up. Snape also had been sending reports less often, though that could be attributed to his current houseguests.
With the return of sobriety had come the realization that he had been neglecting his duties to both the Order and the School. He had allowed himself to wallow in his loss far too long, Snape had been right to be angry with him over it. How was he to stop the return of Riddle if he wasn't paying attention to the warning signs?
Perenelle had requested an audience with him this afternoon, and to avoid losing the upper hand he had agreed to the meeting here at the school. She should arrive any moment now. Just as he thought this, there was a knock at his door, followed by the woman in question letting herself in.
"Good Afternoon Madame. How can I help you?" Dumbledore asked.
"If you truly wanted to help me, you would not have helped my husband cheat. That's neither here nor there however. Have you taken my advice and backed off of those idiots?" she demanded as she sat.
"I had already decided the best course of action without your influence." Dumbledore said. He knew he should remain diplomatic but he found remaining distant to this woman difficult.
"That is the level of arrogance and foolishness that led you into the bed of a married man." She said snidely. "I can see how you end up in these situations."
"I hardly see how the two are in anyway connected." Albus said with a sniff. "He came to me. Over and over. For years."
"But who did he come home to? You were nothing more than a distraction. A plaything." She said as she flipped her hair. "Oh. Did you think he actually cared for you? Ha. He cared only for what he could get from you, he never cared for his side projects. They were all simply tools to him."
Dumbledore said nothing in reply. What was there to be said? He already knew that he loved Nick far more than Nick loved him. He knew she was probably right in that he likely didn't care about Albus at all.
"Now. Be the good little tool he trained you to be and do as you're told. You were his, now you are mine." With that she swept out of the room, as she threw " I'll be back." Over her shoulder.
Albus stared at the door after her, before calling for a house elf, when a thin older one arrived, he gathered all of his hidden bottles and handed them to her. "Take these away, make sure to dump them and safely dispose of the bottles. It is time I choose sobriety. For the sake of my school and the future of my people. Thank you."
The house elf agreed in her high squeaky voice bowing a couple of times before gathering the bottle to her and disappearing. With that done, Albus sat down to think about what to do next. He needed a plan, and to speak to Snape and Lupin.
How was he going to get out from under this woman? She clearly intended to control the rest of his life, which was not an option. He had far too many important things to do. He needed to do just as Severus had been saying and return his attention to the goals ahead. The time for mourning had ended, though he would never truly be over it, he could honor Nick's memory by defeating his wife.