everyone - *sigh* I have no clue how a Remalnan wedding works. We can't have the white dress thing we have for Christianity or any other world religion, of course, since it's FantasyLand, but I don't know what they would do! So here's my take on it, and yes, I KNOW it sucks! AND this is an extremely short chapter due to lack of things to write about. This is a happy day for flamers- plenty of material to bash on here ^-^ I don't mind, go ahead- I know I deserve it :D On the plus side(OR minus, depends where you're standing) there is lots and lots of mush and fluff in this chapter!
There were only five days until Nee's wedding, and the place was in an uproar. Not Nee, of course- she was as calm and in command as ever. But every one else was rushing, bustling, fitting, tucking, or just worrying.
The ceremony itself was to take place underneath a giant oak tree. The day of the wedding, Midsummer, dawned with a bright blue sky. Scraps and tatters of clouds floated about, and it promised to be a hot day.
I had to look simple, not overshadowing Nee, yet being extravagant enough as suits the sister of the bridegroom. So I wore a pastel blue dress that accented my eyes yet did not draw too much attention to myself. The trim on the hem and sleeves were the color of my hair.
After dressing myself, I went to see how Nee was doing. She looked absolutely gorgeous in the customary silver dress. It was soft and flowing, with a white lace overrobe that looked like fragile cobwebs. Following with tradition, she wore no jewelry.
"Nervous?" I asked her. She seemed as serene as ever. Only when she smiled did I realize how uptight she was.
"Yes," she admitted. I squeezed her hand comfortingly, then we went to the ceremony.
It was elegant, but not extravagant. Nee and Bran were seated in chairs under the oak tree, as the rest of the guests sat away from them. The Athanarel priest came up to them.
"Two persons, bound together," he chanted. "Through rain."
He symbolically sprinkled a bit
of water from a jug he carried on them. They nodded in consent.
"And sun," he said, as another priest came up, with a candle. Bran and Nee joined hands and lifted it over the flame.
"Through stone and jewels," was the next part, as Bran and Nee were given identical diamond and emerald rings. They slipped them on, got up, and faced each other.
"Do you consent?" the priest asked.
"I, Nimiar, consent," Nee said.
"And I, Branaric, consent," my brother said.
"So mote it be," the priest ended.
Bran and Nee kissed as the guests clapped. I loved Remalna's way of doing wedding ceremonies; they were short and meaningful. I had heard that Denlieff ceremonies took an hour. I was thankful for our ancestors' way of tradition.
I stepped forward to congratulate them. As I passed on the Countess title, it was my customary duty to say the words.
"Lord Branaric, Count of Tlanth, you are now bound to Lady Nimiar, the new Countess of Tlanth," I said, grinning. "Honor the title." I hugged both of them, tradition aside. "You did it!"
There was a celebration dance afterwards that night, and Bran and Nee led the dancing. Nee was radiant, and Bran just could not stop grinning. I smiled myself. I danced with Vidanric half the night, and I didn't care who knew. He seemed that way too.
"Have you decided yet?" he asked during one of the slower
dances.
"Decided what?" I asked, confused.
"Do you want to be Queen?" he asked, evidently amused.
"Oh! Well, I want to marry you," I said, a bit muddled up at the question. "And I suppose being Queen comes in that package, doesn't it? I suppose I won't mind." And I realized that I really didn't. The social events would be a pain, but I loved the problem-solving part of the job.
"I hope you don't mind being married to a King," he said
teasingly. "We should make the announcement soon."
"Of course." I smiled, thinking of the uproar it would cause. "But right now,
let's enjoy this wedding."
"Of course," he said politely. The dance ended, and as he bowed to me traditionally, I heard him whisper, "The courtyard next to this hall looks empty."
He went off to talk to some noblemen, and I watched him go, amused. After stopping for a few snacks and smiling in an almost maternal satisfaction at Bran and Nee, I sneaked out. After a few minutes, Danric came.
"It's beautiful tonight," I remarked rather unnecessarily, looking towards the sky. He drew me towards him and kissed me quickly, then again, more lingeringly. A little shock that almost seemed electric ran down my spine at his touch.
"If someone saw us," I murmured.
"No one will," Danric interrupted. I looked up at him, smiling.
"I was going to say that we had better make it good for their sake," I joked back.
His response was just what I had hoped for.
-I give you mush and fluff, you give me reviews!
-Alqualyne