This is, of course, assuming Joren is alive. It would be kind of disturbing to marry a dead person…ick…
Keladry of Mindelan stood in front of the mirror, gazing at herself with rapt fascination. She had never thought she would be going to the alter at all, nevertheless at twenty. Nevertheless to Joren of Stone Mountain.
But here she was, dressed in a stunning white silk gown Lalasa had spent three painstaking weeks working on. She had white flowers in her hair. There was a colorful bouquet in her hands. There were tears in her elegant mother's eyes.
"Oh, baby," Ilane whispered, kissing the top of her white-clad daughter's hair. "I never thought…never dreamed…"
"It's okay, Mama," Kel said, smiling shyly at her. "And stop crying—it'll be bad for my reputation to have a puffy-eyed mother at my wedding."
Ilane choked, smiling wetly at her. How beautiful her youngest daughter looked…her youngest, her baby. She hoped that Joren would treat her well. She suspected he would—he was mean, even cruel, to other people…but not to Kel. Never with Kel.
Music was suddenly heard from the other room, and Kel gasped. It was time…Oh, gods, it was time!
Piers appeared at the door, blinking back tears at the beautiful woman standing before him. He offered her his arm.
"Are you ready?" he asked.
Mutely Kel nodded and took the offered arm. He could feel her trembling.
Piers led her down the corridor, and waited for Ilane to enter before them. When they heard their cue, he and his youngest daughter entered.
Kel quirked her lips at Neal, who winked at her. To think, she had once had a crush on him! It seemed eons ago. And now, he had his wife, Yukimi, pregnant with their first child.
She caught Cleon's eye and smiled at him. He was here. He looked sad. She didn't blame him. Just recently he had lost his wife Ermelian, in a freak accident that also took his only son's life. And now his old flame was getting married. It made her feel almost guilty.
All her friends were there: Daine and Numair, with their daughter Sarra…Alanna and George, with their children Thom and Alan and Aly, and her husband, Nawat…Dom was there, looking pleased for her…Merric, and Esmond, and Roald, and Seaver were there…She wished Owen was there, but he had been killed a couple weeks ago.
How things change so quickly, Kel thought, looking everywhere but where her future husband stood.
She reached the alter, and Piers left her. The priest smiled kindly at her and flipped open his little prayer book. He said the vows, then asked Joren to repeat them.
Joren did.
She still had not looked at him, but was staring at his chest. She was so scared…what if he suddenly took a good look at her and decided he hated her?
The priest asked her to repeat the vows.
Kel did.
"…you may kiss the bride."
Finally Kel met his eyes…his ice blue eyes…eyes that were suddenly so warm and full of love that it brought tears to her own eyes…
Oh, how I love you, Joren, my love, my soul mate, her thoughts whispered as their lips met to seal their sacred oath. My ice prince.
