Chapter 3: The Wedding
Daine slowly opened her eyes. As soon as she was fully awake, it hit her. She was getting married today. Married. She still couldn't accept it. Time had passed so fast since she was a scrawny shy girl whose life had been snatched from her by bandits, befriended only by a horse-trader and a tall mage. So much had changed. She loved that tall mage, and would spend the rest of her life with him. That horse-trader tapped politely on her door, trying not to let on that she was accompanied by three others waiting to plow into the room and get Daine ready for the wedding. She smiled out her window. The day was perfect. Clear and sunny, but not sweltering. Despite the nervousness in her stomach, she was extremely happy. She missed Numair already, and couldn't wait until the moment when she was his forever.
He had given her everything after her life had been destroyed...laughter, happiness...he had taught her to speak to and heal the animals she loved.....she smiled again, and walked to the door. Onua was knocking on it, asking Daine for admittance . "let me in! you need to get ready." Daine smiled. "Just a second! I need to get dressed. And you can tell Alanna and Thayet to stop being so quiet." There was a second of silence, and then whispers were heard through the door. "How did she know we were here?" "It must have been you. I didn't make any noise." "Both of you be quiet! She's going to let us in!" Daine chuckled, slipping on her robe, than opened the door, letting in a flood of wedding planners.
~*The dark stormwing crouched over the bowl of dark blood, his filth-covered brow furrowed in concentration. Sweat ran down his face. He was muttering under his breath, a complicated spell. At last he rose, and smiled. Turning to his two companions, he smiled. "The time has come." Looking back at the bowl, he uttered a single word, its power carrying it and making it echo against the walls of the cavern. Then he slinked back to the wall, and watched as a large figure shimmered over the bowl. It grew more and more solid, until it was completely physical, its weight shattering the table under it. The black-eyed storm-wing watched in pleasure as the mass took shape, mutating in a revolting scene, then he bowed as it regained it's being. The former Emperor Ozorne of Carthak, changed into a filth-covered storm-wing, looked around him. Seeing his loyal follower, he stared coldly at him. "You have done well. You will be rewarded. But first....Revenge...." *~
Kel looked around in awe. It was AMAZING......she had arrived at the wedding, one of the first guests to come. She stared at the beautiful scene. There were three rows of benches draped with ropes of blue and purple violets, magicked so they wouldn't wilt. At the front was a small trellis, with vines of periwinkle flowers climbing its sides. Doves and bluebirds perched everywhere, and knowing Daine, Kel didn't know if they were guests or just part of the effect. The whole affair was set at the edge of the forest, filling the area behind it with sparkling emerald green, with the occasional burst of color as birds flew out of the forest to join the wedding.
Kel also noticed a small area penned off on the side of the rows of benches, and watched in surprise as animals bounded, slithered, and scurried from the forest to sit there. There were already three wolves, a gray pony and two other horses, a small group of deer, a multitude of small rodents, and dogs and cats from the palace were everywhere, many whom she recognized. Kel smiled. 'These must be Daine's guest's' she thought.
Finished taking in the scene, she looked around for any of her human friends. Although Kel and Neal were the only pages invited personally, Kel spotted many of her friends who had accompanied their parents. Coming towards her already were Owen and Merric. "Wow Kel, you look great!" said Owen, staring at her. Merric nodded, also staring at her. This did not look the boyish Kel they were used to. But discovering the shimmering dress had not changed her tom-boy personality, they were soon talking and laughing. Kel enjoyed herself, but kept her eye out for Neal. She did not see him until soon before the ceromony, and he was talking with a group of ladies obviously from court. Kel growled on the inside, but forgot about it when the ceremony started.
She sat herself on one of the benches, saying goodbye to Merric and Owen as they went to join their parents. Next to her was a large man she didn't recognize, the other seat beside her empty. Her surprise was great when, the crowd growing quiet for the ceremony, Neal plopped himself down next to her. "Hey Kel!" He whispered, smiling at her."You look wonderful." Kel blushed deeply, extremely pleased to hear this from Neal. Instead of another sharp comment, she just smiled back at him, then turned to stare straight ahead as ceremony began.
Master Numair stood under the trellis, joined by Master Lindhall Reed. The usually confident mage looked uncommonly nervous, although his presence still had its intimidating effect. The dark mage was over six feet tall, with a powerful frame. He wore black breeches with shiny black boots, and a white shirt. He also donned his mage's robe, a billowing black garment.
His eye's suddenly lit up, and Kel turned to follow his stare. Daine stood there, looking incredible. Her young dragon Skysong walked before her, scattering flowers in her path. Kel giggled as she watched the dragonlet look around quickly then shove some of the flowers in her mouth. Daine was accompanied by Tkaa the basalisk, her own father in the immortal realms and not there to give her away. She had asked Lindhall, but he was already Numair's best man. She walked slowly towards the trellis, her dress shimmering. It was simple, made of white silk, the skirts flowing around her , and a wreath of white lilies on her head.
She reached the trellis, and smiled at Numair, her eye's sparkling. He smiled back, his whole face shining with loving adoration. Kel sighed. Would Neal ever look at her like that? But she soon forgot her troubles, caught up in the ceremony. A priest of Mithros was there, to perform the action. Kel had always wondered how her mother could cry at weddings, and now she understood, tears filling her eyes as she watched the two happy people. Neal silently slipped her a hankerchief, and she gave him a smile of gratitude. Before she new it, the priest was saying, "May the Great Mother Goddess watch over you and may your sacred bond last for eternity." and Daine and Numair were kissing. Kel smiled again, and more tears filled her eyes.
After the ceremony, she wondered around, looking for entertainment. But Neal had been swept away by the ladies again, and Merric and Owen had dissappeared, whispering about a plan involving wedding cake and Neal's face. She sighed, and then made a plan. The wedding was set in a pasture, close to the one where Peachblossom was kept. perhaps she could go visit him and then return later in the evening when the dancing and feasting started. Making up her mind, she wondered away from the crowd and through the soft grass.
Nealan of Queenscove looked around him. He was surrounded by court ladies. The giggled and smiled flirtaciously, asking him about his training as a knight. "How pointy are the swords?" "Do they hurt?" "It must not be very hard work for you, you look SO strong!" Neal answered them politely, while searching the area for Kel. With her at least he could hold an INTELLIGENT conversation. He frowned as he saw her walking silently away from the wedding area. If he could just rid himself of these ladies....he thanked Mithros when Merric and Owen attacked him with wedding cake, giving him an oppurtunity to run away without even needing an excuse. Hiding from the other pages, he waited until the coast was clear. Then he walked quickly away from the wedding, catching up with Kel.
Well...the wedding wasn't ruined...or was it? The Emperor has some pretty nasty tricks up his sleeves....
CometFern~