A figure clad in sheer white linen sat stiffly on a small bench as myriad servants swirled around it applying a touch of kohl here or smoothing a wrinkle in the gown there. Tea was the calm eye of the storm of dressers and stylists that had descended upon her. She had never been so supremely confident, felt so sure that what she was doing was right. "Today I'm marrying the man I love." was the only thought that entered Tea's mind, and thus a sharp tug at her hair, courtesy of a particularly zealous hairdresser, was barely noticed. The princess smiled slightly at the memory of a day, three months before, after she and Yami had returned to the palace deliriously happy and finally aware of their betrothal.
~~~~~~~Flashback~~~~~~~~
Tea and her fiancée sat across from one another on the large bed, their hands joined between them. The night had slipped away as they talked, and now the morning sun tinted the limestone walls pink. "I wondered why the pharaoh never came to see me." Tea remarked, curling her lips in a half smile. "I just chalked it up to his overall atrocious-ness." She shook her head ruefully now, "And I never thought to ask who you were." Yami leaned across the bed and trailed a finger across her cheek and down her neck. "But you know now." Then he lay down, pulling Tea into his arms as he did so. A soft knock reverberated throughout the chamber, and one of the pharaoh's advisors peered contritely around the door. "I'm sorry to disturb you, my lord, but your counsel is required." From the bed, Yami nodded once and said, "I'll be there in a moment." He groaned softly and turned back to Tea, saying, "Love, I'll—" He broke off abruptly, realizing she had fallen asleep. Yami rose, gently disentangling himself from Tea, and kissed her lightly on the forehead. He walked out of the room as quietly as he could, his face revealing true happiness.
~~~~~~~~End Flashback~~~~~~~
The soon-to-be bride reached up to touch the spot where Yami had kissed her, earning her a reproving look from the servant who had spent the past fifteen minutes painstakingly powdering her face. At last, the crowd of attendants withdrew, congratulating each other on a job well done. Tea stood up and crossed the room to a full-length mirror of highly polished silver. She looked, in a word, stunning. The gown hugged her curves appealingly, but was not overly suggestive, and the elaborate hair, jewelry, and makeup only served to enhance her natural beauty. Tea, however, was only dimly aware of her breathtaking appearance, lost as she was in the memories of her beloved. Bobbing her head absentmindedly in approval, she walked out to the palanquin that was to carry her to the temple where Yami waited.