Princess Shinkokami of the Yamani Isles twirled in front of the mirror. Her dress was Tortall style, ivory with a full skirt. A veil that would soon cover her face was drawn back. Her peach complexion was unblemished and untouched by face paint, and her ebony hair hung in ringlets past her shoulders. It was her wedding day.
Shinkokami heard a sigh and turned around. Lady Yukimi of Queenscove was clad in a soft pink kimono, with a teal shunsken in her blue obi. Her eyes were bright as she looked at her friend.
"Shinko, you look so beautiful. Soon you will be princess of Tortall. Someday you'll be queen. And somewhere in between, you'll have a million children that will be swamping me and Kel," Yuki sighed happily. Keladry of Mindelan raised an eyebrow. She was wearing a forest green kimono with a silver obi. Her short-cropped hair had a ribbon threaded through it.
"I hope not. Tobe and Neal are all the children I can handle," said Kel, referring to her servant and best friend, Yuki's husband. Princess Kalasin, Prince Roald's sister, shook her head. She had grown used to this good-natured bickering throughout the wedding planning process.
Shinkokami suddenly smiled widely, showing white pearly teeth. "I'm getting married to a man that's the love of my life. How many of us are that lucky? I really don't know how I lived without him!"
The door opened and King Jonathan was standing there. He would be taking the role of Shinko's father in the wedding.
"Are you ready?" he asked. Shinko nodded and Jon stepped inside the room. First Yuki, the maid of honor, then Kel, Kalasin, and Lady Haname, emerged from the room and walked down the royal blue carpet to stand on the bride's side of the alter. Inside the room, Jon lifted the veil over Shinko's face and walked her down the aisle where Roald was standing. He was wearing Conte colors, a shirt, breeches and tunic. Faleron of King's Reach stood beside him as best man.
The organ played the wedding march as they walked. Shinko wanted to break away from Jonathan and run towards Roald, but years of hiding emotions made her stay at this crawl. When they finally reached him, Shinko lost herself in his blue eyes. She assumed Jon had given the official permission because the priest started the vows.
"Do you, Princess Shinkokami of the Yamani Isles, pledge in the name of the Great Mother Goddess to love this man above all others?" said the priest. Shinko looked into the face of the man she loved and said with all her heart,
"I do solemnly swear in the name of the Great Mother Goddess to love you above all others for the rest of my life." Tradition dictated her words, but they now held special meaning. No matter that Thayet, Lianne and Rebecca before her had said these words in exactly this place. No matter that millions of women would say these words until the end of time. No matter what the rest of the world did. She could die now and be happy, for she was completely and utterly in love.
Thank the Gods for arranged marriages.
AN: Major plot bunny attack there! This may get me out of my anti-TP funk. It was fluffy and cute, if I do say so myself. I had to make up the wedding vows, do you like? Please review, flame away.