Ch 5 Wedding

"Your brother was causing you trouble even then" Gerril asked quietly.

"He was in pain, I don't think he was thinking straight" Rannel said, taking another sip from his mug before setting it aside.

"Do you think he still resented her after eight years" Gerril asked.

"Maybe" he said, thinking about how his brother had treated Graella until he had left on what they thought was a trading mission.

A wedding now

My love to own

I've found my love

My other soul..........

Rannel was impatient for his brother's party to be over, he sat to the side sipping wine and watching the dancing. Graella had wanted to honor her contract with his father, so she was playing with the other musicians and Rannel didn't want to dance with anyone but her.

"Thanks brother" Joran's arm came around from the side and he gave his brother a hug.

"For what" Rannel asked.

"Taking the heat off of me" his brother said laughing. "They're so busy planning for your wedding that they don't have time to chase me around the keep". He pointed to the group of ladies whispering and laughing in a group.

Rannel laughed "The reprieve isn't forever you know, after my wedding, their appetites for romance will be whetted and their eyes will be turning in your direction" He laughed at the look on his brother's face.

Joran shook his head "There's always Gedrun" he said hopefully.

Rannel pointed at their brother where he had his head together with a couple of stone mason's their father had hired to work on Rannel's new house on the Farm "They'd get tired quick, he wouldn't notice a romance unless it was a rock dropped on his head".

Joran laughed, but he had a wary look on his face after that, Rannel felt bad that he had ruined the rest of his brother's party for him, but not that bad. He sighed waiting for the next break so he would have Graella to himself again for awhile.

One of his brother's had been absent from the festivities, his youngest brother Merrol, Rannel hoped that he would eventually stop sulking and accept that Graella wasn't leaving. But he had the feeling it would be a long time before that happened, Merrol could be stubborn about things when he didn't get his way.

Graella looked over at her love, he was talking to his oldest brother. All of his family had made her welcome even her Father in law to be after he had accepted that she would be marrying his son. He had admitted to her that things had turned out better than he had hoped, Rannel would be happy now staying close to his family. Only Merrol didn't share his families welcome. When they were in the same room it was a s if she didn't exist and she didn't know what to do about that. She hurt when she felt Rannel's quiet despair about his brother's attitude and she hoped it would change in time.

"Want to take a break" Jess asked quietly between songs, she nodded and walked to her soon to be husband. He watched her go a slight hint of sorrow in his eyes.

"You couldn't fight a lifebond Jess" Donna said softly.

"I know" he said, starting to play the next song in his set, one that didn't need a flute.

The day of the wedding dawned bright and clear. It was to be an outdoor wedding, set in the south gardens. The women had worked for three days to get it ready and the cook had worked hard to make the feast in time, it wasn't easy to have two large celebrations in a few days, especially when the second one hadn't been planned.

Rannel stood in his court finery waiting for his bride, he stiffened slightly as Merrol approached him "I don't want to lose you Rannel" he said looking down at his feet, he looked up at his brother a hint of tears in his eyes. "Could you forgive me" he asked.

Rannel nodded and hugged his brother "I already have, I just wish you could like Gray" he said.

"I can't it hurts too much right now, she reminds me...." he broke off.

"I know, just be polite at least, she's a part of me too" he said to his brother.

"I'll try" Merrol said.

"That's all I can ask for now, I love you brother" he said hugging him again.

"I love you too Rannel" But when Graella walked up he turned and walked away after a slight nod to her.

She stared after him "He acknowledged me" she said, surprised .

"He's trying" Rannel said staring at her in the pale blue gown that his mother and cousins had altered for her wedding. Beautiful he thought to himself.

The rest of the wedding was a blur to him, he only saw his wife, she was his now. And he was hers he added hastily to the thought as he saw the glance she gave him. Her friends the bards had stayed for the wedding, playing at the wedding party afterwards only as they wished.

His Father had wished to pay them but they wouldn't accept saying that this was their wedding gift to the couple. As the day wound down he sighed happier than he had remembered ever being. He had his whole life ahead of him now and he would never be alone again.

"That was a beautiful story" Gerril said softly.

"You don't plan on turning it into another song are you" Rannel asked, dismayed.

"I might, it has everything a good song needs, lifebonds, angry father's, an interfering brother. What more could you ask for" he asked, looking over at Rannel. He laughed at the look on his face "Don't worry, I won't mention your name".

"That's what you said last time" Rannel complained.

Gerril laughed as he went to bed, he couldn't wait to get started on this one.

I decided to add this note, one of my reviewers wanted to know how she dies, years later his brother Merrol had joined up with some outlaws and Graella and her son were killed as they tried to rob the farm when Rannel was gone on a trip. The story Dark Rider tells what happens next.