Rifiuto: Non Miriena
A/N: Written: 2015, Found: 2018- Licia
"I get that weddings are supposed to be like, a huge deal, but what's with all the..." Cerise couldn't even think of an appropriate word to describe the flurry of activity taking place in the kitchens. That morning, everyone had gathered in the grand dining hall for breakfast; it had been a lively affair- every form of pastry, omelet, warm drink, meat and non-meat dish available for the taking. The royals from the six other kingdoms were also staying at Redarnia, having been put up in the North wing, unlike Raven's friends who had been put up in the West, near her, though Raven and the girls had spent the night before catching up and gossiping, as teenage girls often did.
Mira smiled softly with a roll of her eyes and sipped her orange juice. "You've never attended a royal wedding, have you?"
"I've never attended a wedding. Period." Cerise clarified, taking a bite of her steak.
"It does seem... excessive, even for a royal wedding." Ashlynn added, sipping her tea.
The Good King chuckled from his place at the head of the table, gaze darting to his daughter, who had reluctantly taken the seat at the other end. She was engrossed in soft conversation with his soon-to-be-son-in-law; he reached over, taking her hand and playing with the pendant around her wrist as he spoke. Raven's gaze lit up and a soft laugh escaped her, before he leaned close, kissing her softly. A steward softly cleared his throat, and the pair pulled apart. The young man leaned down, whispering softly in Raven's ear, and her eyes widened in surprise briefly before she met Mika's gaze. He nodded, standing and helping her out of her chair. Raven caught Mira's gaze, and without a word, the adviser stood, excusing herself softly. She joined the pair, and the three quickly and quietly conversed in a mixture of Palmarneaen and Marberlian- for all three were fluid in several languages, as was to be expected from the children of nobility. Raven then softly uttered an apology, saying something about the High Priestess arriving and wishing to speak with her and Mika, and that Mira was to be there to make sure everything was set and to offer advice. Once excused, the three hurried from the dining room, leaving everyone else with the Good King.
"Palmarneae and Marberly are the two strongest kingdoms in the south, Miss Hood. Mikalos and Raven's marriage will unite the countries- not necessarily into one through land, but in other ways." Cleon replied, setting his mug down. "Political alliances are perhaps more important than any other alliance."
"Ever After doesn't have any political alliances." Briar stated, poking at her scrambled eggs. "She sits alone, one gigantic country in a sea of-" She stopped, and the young man met her gaze.
"For all her land, Ever After is pretty secluded to herself, isn't she?" He asked, and Briar nodded.
"You have no idea, Your Highness." Hunter scoffed with a shake of his head.
"Cleo, please. Any friends of Raven's are friends of mine." The young man gave the prince a wiry grin. "This marriage- this wedding, I should say- is a long time coming. It's what the Six Kingdoms have been dreaming of, from the moment Raven was born and the King and Queen of Palmarneae came to meet the newborn princess." The Good King lowered his head; he knew that he was partially to blame for the long wait in regards to this marriage.
"And all the... chaos?" Nicola asked, taking a bite of her toast.
"What is chaos to the fly is normal for the spider. I believe that's the saying." Laia replied, picking up her mug. "Both countries have their own customs, but because Raven is Queen of Marberly, it's her traditions that are followed. The country in which one partner holds the crown is who's traditions are followed."
"What... traditions?" Aada asked, glancing around the table, and it was now that the Good King spoke up.
"Every Marberly witch has married her groom at the midnight hour; magic is at its strongest. And on Friday, a full moon will be out, which means the magic of the ceremony will be made even stronger."
"Magic ceremony?" Cedar asked, furrowing a brow. Aada glanced around the table, before it clicked.
"Raven said something about a High Priestess. The ceremony... I've studied it before; my parents partook in it when they were married. It's a... witching knot, isn't it? All the pomp and circumstance and tradition, it's part of a witching knot."
"What's a witching knot?" Cerise raised an eyebrow, and Aada took a deep breath.
"It's... it's a ceremony that binds a witch and a mortal together- for all eternity."
"So... a wedding?" Hunter replied.
"Kind of." Aada thought a moment. "It has aspects of a wedding ceremony, but a lot of the traditions are almost reminiscent of how a coven practices. Taking place during a full moon is one of them-"
"Because spells are stronger when practiced under a full moon." Cerise finished, remembering what Raven had told her when she first discovered the young monarch sneaking out of the dorms at night. Aada nodded.
"Right. And often, traditions from the witch's coven or religion will be incorporated-"
"The four cornhusk dolls that will be tossed into the bonfire," The Good King replied, impressed that this young witch recognized the ceremony his daughter was going to partake in. The offerings after the ceremony and the handfastening as well. There are a couple others, but you'll have to ask Raven about those." He glanced around at all of them before finally standing; everyone climbed to their feet, but he waved them to return to their seats. "If you'll excuse me, I have a couple things to attend to." And with that, he was gone.
Slowly, the table began to empty, the others had correspondences they needed to get out or things they needed to get done until it was just the students from Ever After High. Silence settled around them; each head turned when Cook entered, with a couple maids to get the plates. "You all look a little lost." The students shared sheepish glances and the she chuckled. "Come into the kitchens. I've got hot chocolate and if there is anything you wish to know at all about Marberly or Ravenna, feel free to ask."
Given the cold conditions outside- for today was colder than the day before had been- and the prospect of hot chocolate and stories from Raven's childhood, the offer was too good to pass up.