Even though I lived in Ankh-Morpork for more than one and a half year by now, there was one characteristic on Archchancellor Mustrum Ridcully that still surprised me. If he happened to be wrong in one case, he was never at a loss for a sudden change of direction. Mostly this was coming with a long-breathed excuse. He did so when he realized that the marriage of me and Rincewind couldn't be managed in a summary process.

There was the banquet to plan. If Mustrum Ridcully would grant such an exception, he didn't want to be stingy with that. He wanted this banquet to be different from Unseen University's usual meals, of course. Yet it shouldn't be more vast than Hogswatch Dinner.

There was the Great Hall to be fixed up according to the event to give room to enough guests. William de Worde had put my advert in the paper, and in addition, I had searched for another way to spread the news as far as possible. I was given an unexpected hand by the patrician when he offered me to use a Pointless Albatross to deliver the message everywhere, like a carrier pigeon. After all, I wanted to have as many people as possible attending to my great day.

Of course, all of Ankh-Morpork was all excited because of the first wedding ever between a wizard and a non-wizard in town. And "Roundworld-Miss" being involved in this case made it unbelievably exciting.

Corporal Nobby Nobbs told me about Captain Carrot's offer to take care of our wedding rings. I was delighted when I saw the result.

The broad rings were made of gold. Four thin silver strings were sitting on top like small battlements.

There was suitable clothing for Rincewind and me to be made. After all, it was unthinkable of him getting wed in a tattered wizard's robe and hat. I myself did have dresses for special occasions but none of it was suitable for my own wedding.

There were our witnesses to be named. This was a thing Rincewind didn't have any problems with. Choosing two members of the faculty at random, he settled for Ponder Stibbons and the Senior Wrangler. Given the fact that I had more than one qualified acquaintance to chose, I had a harder decision to make. Finally, I chose the Patrician, to thank him for the hint with the Pointless Albatross, and Death.

In short, there were still lots of preparations to make.

The first months of these preparations flew smoothly, just like the second one. Mrs Whitlow and two other seamstresses, two girls who were really keen of needlework, were making my wedding dress. Standing before the mirror in the room of Unseen University's housekeeper, I was at loss for words for a moment. I couldn't believe that this dressed-up woman really should be me. It was a very beautiful sight.

The white dress made of damask fabric was narrow cut and fell down to my ankles. The cloth showed a pattern of roses which looking like tracery on a frozen window. The sleeves were tight up the elbows and baggy up to the shoulders. A piece of embroidered silk covered the breast up to the high collar and the back all the same. A row of fine pearly buttons closed the dress from the collar down to the back. The chain with the little ball of denatured Octiron was around my neck.

Mrs Whitlow looked at me and wiped off a tear of proud.

"Miss is looking wonderful," she said quietly. I took her meaty hands and caressed them gently.

"Thank you, Mrs Whitlow," I said, "I was told that you're an unpayable woman. And now I see it's true." Unseen University's housekeeper blinked in a slightly embarrassed way.

"You're very, very welcome," she appeased, "It is the least Ai can do for Miss."

On Discworld, September, the third month of my wedding preparation, was called Spune. When it started, the heat of late summer came to town as well as a very subtle change.

Wherever I went, I felt watched out of a sudden. When I looked around, there were people looking at my direction, of course. There were the members of the city watch, e.g., there was Cut-My-Own-Throat Dibbler or Lord Downey, and there were the Patrician's guard and other citizens of Anhk-Morpork I knew. But they were giving me just short sort of glances. They looked or nodded at me, talked to me and walked by. Everything was as usual. Yet I felt watched.

At one evening I went home just as usually and felt watched again. But I couldn't see anyone nearby. A shiver ran down my spine when I heard steps coming from an alley. I searched for my small crossbow and ammunition.

"Who are you?" I exclaimed and tried to work up some courage, "Show yourself!" The only respond was silence. I drew the bowstring and put in one of the small arrows.

"Show yourself!" I demanded again. The steps were coming closer. I could see a deeply afflicted figure.

"Forgive me... Miss," a voice said, "I didn't... want to... scare you. Don't worry... I don't want... to harm you." The voice was nothing but a whisper.

"If you don't mean any harm, come into the light then," I demanded, "I want to see who I talk to."

Then, out of a sudden, the figure was standing right in front me. It was an old woman. I could see two droughty hands, looking like a couple of twigs covered with skin. There were connected to two stick-thin arms hanging on the deeply afflicted body. I could see a weazen face with two blue eyes. They looked slightly familiar to me. Long red hair was showing in thick bunches from underneath a dirty headscarf.

The very aged woman was clad in rags. It scared me how a bit long in the tooth and frail she looked to me. She looked like a corpse which had gone for a last stroll before the visit of Death. Instinctively, I looked around for a tall figure in black. But I couldn't see the Grim Reaper.

When it came to me that I was still holding the crossbow, I tucked it away.

"Who are you?" I asked. The old woman smiled at me with a toothless mouth.

"My name... isn't important... Miss," she whispered, "Just... just wanted to see... famous Roundworld-Miss... with my own two eyes... before the end... is near." She fell silent to draw a deep and stertorous breath before she said, "And I... wanted to wish... well to your husband... and you."

Absent-minded, I nodded. I couldn't take my eyes from hers. I knew I had seen those eyes before. Yet I couldn't place them.

"Thank you," I said. The old woman touched my hand and smiled at me again before she wanted to walk away.

"Please wait!" I exclaimed, "I'd like to know whom I have the pleasure with. Do you have a name?"

"My name... isn't important," the old woman repeated, turning around and smiling at me again, "It's never good... to know the name... of somebody... you can't... bid a welcome... anymore." Now awareness dawned to me.

"You are Rincewind's mother, aren't you?" I exclaimed. The old woman hesitated for a moment before she gave me a nod.

"I heard such a great deal about you," I said, grabbing her hands, "Can I do you something good?" My future mother-in-law shook her head.

"I... don't have... much time left... Miss," she whispered, "Please... promise to take care... of my son."

"I will," I said and almost cried when she started to cough hard and couldn't stop for a few minutes.

"Please... don't tell him... you met me," she continued when the seizure was over, "I made... a big mistake... when I was young. I don't dare... to ask for... his forgiveness. But I... don't want... him to be angry... with me... either."

She seemed to be exhausted after saying so much. I took her hands again and kissed them tenderly. Rincewind's mother smiled again before she was gone.

As far as I knew, Rincewind had never actually met his mother. She had left when he had been born. He hadn't talked much about his parents so far. So, until now, I hadn't known whether his mother might be still alive or who his father might be.

I arrived home in a thoughtful mood. Rincewind was already waiting. When I entered, he sighed in relief.

"I was worried you might be in trouble," he said. I put down my bag and my cloak and put my arms around his thin waist. The wizard frowned.

"Have you been in trouble?" he asked. A hint of concern crept into his voice.

"No," I said quietly, nestling up against his lanky chest, "I'm just very glad to have you."

"Thank you, Dear," the wizard replied. He hugged me and caressed my hair.

"Well, me too," he added after a few minutes. I raised my head and gave him a smile.

"I thought I'd mention it," I said and kissed him, "What do you want for dinner?"

After having a meat-and-potato-pie and doing the dishes we laid down. We spent almost an hour caressing and kissing each other before Rincewind snuggled up close to me, drew a deep breath and fell asleep.

It took me a few minutes more to find some rest. I was thinking about Rincewind's mother, and I was hoping that her life might have come to a good end.

Finally, the great day was looking around the next corner. Rincewind and I were about to be wed on the last day of Spune which would be in about two weeks.

By now, the banquet was arranged, and everybody knew about our wedding, due to the Times and the Pointless Albatross. And even people from far places, like the Lancre Witches, Rincewind's cousin Bill from Fourecks and his old friend Twoflower from the Agatean Empire, had confirmed their attendance.

Of course, I had read a lot about Bill Rincewind, the Archchancellor of the Buggerup University of Fourecks and the first tourist of Discworld named Twoflower. So I was keen on meeting them.

During the last week before the marriage, Rincewind moved from Unseen University to my house. He would keep his office, but Mustrum Ridcully had decided that husband and wife should live together.

The wizard showed up in a kind of grumpy mood. The Luggage followed him in slow, hesitatingly steps and stayed close to the door this time. Rincewind turned around and stood with his hands on his hips.

"Will you stop making such a fuss about it!" he complained. The Luggage uttered a small and somehow angry creaking.

"What's wrong with it?" I asked. Rincewind kissed me tenderly.

"It's been sulking all day," he said, giving a disfavouring look to the chest which hadn't moved away from the door, "It doesn't like the idea of moving."

I hunkered down in front of the Luggage which gave me a miserable glance. Of course, this wasn't the first time it had been here. Yet it was a different story to visit a place or to move in completely.

I tried to touch the lid carefully. The Luggage backed away quickly.

"I think we ought to leave it alone for now," I said, "I think it has to cope with the situation."

"Wait a minute." Rincewind stepped up to the Luggage and gave it a long look.

"Give me my clothes!" he demanded. The Luggage didn't move. The wizard rolled his eyes.

"Come on now," he said, "We'll leave you alone after this." The lid rose slowly and held its position until Rincewind had taken out a big sack. Then it snapped shut. We put the wizard's clothes away and decided to have chips and some pork pie for dinner.

While eating, we ignored the Luggage. I looked at the chest when we went to bed. It was still sitting next to the door. Finally I had an idea.

I put some of the chips on a small plate and put the plate on a blanket underneath the table. I didn't know if the Luggage had to eat at all but I remembered that it was fond of chips. Rincewind had told me so. Maybe the chips would make the Luggage feel a bit better.

Some time later, I had to use the privy. I arose carefully and went into the bathroom. On the way back I looked towards the front door.

The Luggage was gone. First, I thought it might have run away. But then I reconsidered. There was no sign for the Luggage running away, like a hole in the wall or the door.

The chest was sitting next to the table and seemed to be asleep. The plate underneath the table was empty. Carefully I walked towards it and knelt down in front of it.

"I can imagine this must be difficult for you," I whispered, "And I hope we will get along, you and Rincewind and me."

Of course, there was no reply. Yet I could have sworn the chest was giving me a thoughtful glance. I dared to put my hand onto its lid. There was a creaking but no move from the Luggage. It reminded me of some pet, like a kitten which is new someplace.

"Good night. Make yourself at home, if you like," I said, "And if you can, I hope you have a nice dream." I took my hand off the lid and went back to bed.

"Did it calm down again?" Rincewind asked when we were having breakfast. I looked at the Luggage sitting underneath the table and pretending as if nothing would happen.

"Seems to," I replied. The wizard sighed, "I hope it will behave."

"We'll have to wait and see, I guess," I said.

The day of the wedding came in no time. It was very early when I woke up and couldn't find any sleep. The wizard had woken up already. He stood at the window in the kitchen and watched the sunrise. When I came closer, he turned around to smile at me.

"You can't stay in bed as well, can you?"

"I'm way to excited to sleep, you know," I said.

"I don't blame you," he said, smiling a little, "It's going to be a really important day for us after all."

"It is." I put my arms around his waist and put my head against his chest. Beneath his scars, his skin was quite soft. The wizard uttered a soft little sound I had heard once or twice before. A sound like this indicated that he was feeling very good.

After the breakfast, we got dressed in the bathroom. Rincewind was first.

"Well? What do you think?" He was dressed in a red robe, cloak and hat. Black trousers and boots went with it. The wide-brimmed hat was embroidered with golden sequins, forming the word "wizzard". Rincewind had sewed them on himself.

"I think you're looking very good," I said and went to dress myself. When I came back into the kitchen, Rincewind stood saucer-eyed for a moment.

"What do you think about me?" I asked nervously. The wizard cleared his throat and hugged me.

"You're the most beautiful bride I have seen in my life," he said and kissed me.

The ceremony in the Great Hall in Unseen University, with Mustrum Ridcully being the master, was about to begin before noon. So Rincewind and I wanted to be there in time. The wizard adjusted his hat and smoothed his coat while I sat down on the Luggage to keep my dress as clean as possible.

When we entered the Great Hall, a lot of people were there already. We were given a big hello.

Mustrum Ridcully was standing next to the huge fireplace. Esmeralda Weatherwax and Nanny Ogg were flanking the Archchancellor who opened his arms to greet us.

"There you are!" He smiled broadly. I arose from the Luggage and smoothed my dress. Rincewind adjusted his clothes once again. I bent down and touched the chest's lid.

"Thank you, Luggage," I said, "Go have some fun, okay?"

"I hope it won't get too used to so much kindness," Rincewind said, smiling a bit forbearing, "But it seems to like you."

"Do you think?"

"Well, it never bit you. That's saying a lot about this damned thing." He offered his arm to me and led me towards the Archchancellor.

Mustrum Ridcully looked me up and down and gave me a broad, benevolent smile.

"Miss Barbara, I do declare," he said, grabbing my shoulders, "You look like..." When he realized he was at loss for words, he looked at the other faculty members.

"What's the word I'm looking for?" he asked.

"Impressive?" suggested the Senior Wrangler.

"Exciting?" said the Dean helpfully.

"Indescribable?" contributed Ponder Stibbons.

"Ook?" said the Librarian. Frowning, I looked at Rincewind who translated, "He says you're looking like a very nice female creature to him."

"All in this one syllable?" I wondered.

"The Librarian is a very conceive thinker, Dear," Rincewind explained, smiling a little, "You know, he can express more in one sound and one gesture than a politician in a whole speech."

"Thank you, Gentlemen," I smiled.

Nanny Ogg and Esmeralda Weatherwax came near, dressed suitable as well. Nanny Ogg wore a new-looking black dress. Esmeralda Weatherwax had chosen a long dark blue skirt and a dark red blouse. If she wouldn't have worn her hat, she would have looked like a common elder lady. While Nanny Ogg marvelled at my dress, the taller witch just smiled at me.

"Thank you so very much, Ladies," I said, "You're looking very nice today."

"You're making a nice couple, both of you," said Nanny Ogg and eyed Rincewind who blushed slightly.

YOU ARE RIGHT ABOUT THAT, MRS OGG," another voice piped in, "THEY'RE REALLY MAKING A NICE COUPLE." Death had joined us being unnoticed. He looked at us with his empty sockets. I looked at Rincewind and was surprised. Just like me, he was giving Death a friendly smile.

"I'm glad you made it," I said.

"I AM GLAD TO BE RESPONSIVE TO YOUR PLEAS," the Grim Reaper said, giving us a polite nod.

Somebody tucked Rincewind's sleeve. It was a short man with a couple of metal-rimmed glasses and short coal-black hair.

"Rincewind!" he exclaimed and shook the wizard's hand warmly, "It's so nice to see you again!"

"I'm happy, too," the wizard said and took my hand, "Barbara, meet Twoflower. Twoflower, meet my fiancée Barbara."

"I'm very pleased to meet you." Twoflower shook my hand right smart before he introduced me to two very pretty and very young women by his side. The two girls were dressed in long silk dresses.

"Meet my daughters Pretty Butterfly and Lotus Blossom," he said. Lotus Blossom seemed to be about twenty years old. She had a rather delicate figure and looked very similar to her father. Her long black hair fell down to her waist. Pretty Butterfly, the elder and quite more serious sister, seemed to be at least three years her senior. She stood a bit taller than Lotus Blossom and had her hair put in a big topknot.

The next one I met was Bill Rincewind. The cousin of my husband to-be was tall as well but a bit heavier. He wore a short, grey beard and some wrinkles in his face. The only commonness between the two cousins was the same bright blue colour of the eyes.

Bill turned out to be polite and communicative. He told me about being the Archchancellor of Buggerup University and asked about similarities and differences between Roundworld and Discworld.

"Very well, then!" Mustrum Ridcully bellowed, "Ladies and Gentlemen, I think it's time to begin." The hubbub died away, and Rincewind and I took our places in front of the Archchancellor. The Senior Wrangler and a quite aflutter Ponder Stibbons were standing on the right side of Rincewind. Next to me, Lord Havelock Vetinari and Death were standing, looking all calm and serene.

Archchancellor Mustrum Ridcully took a deep breath and started his speech. First he talked about many things which were not about marriage and stuff, and then he asked the questions.

"Rincewind, do you take Miss Barbara to be your lawful wedded wife?" Will you love, respect and honour her throughout your years together?" asked the Archchancellor.

"I do," Rincewind said, his voice higher than usually with excitement. He cleared his throat and repeated, "I do and I will."

"Miss Barbara, do you take Rincewind to be your lawful wedded husband? Will you love, respect and honour him throughout your years together?" The Archchancellor looked at me.

"I do and I will," I said.

The Senior Wrangler handed the rings to Rincewind. After we had exchanged the wedding rings and had kissed each other, the wizard and I were legally married.

Old Tom was striking 3 o'clock in the morning when I hitched up my skirt and sat down onto the Luggage again. I put my arms around my husband and rested his head on my shoulder. The wizard's face showed a kind of woozy smile. He had been into the wine very deeply. In other words, he was as drunk as a newt.

I was glad myself to sit again. My feet ached from dancing. The wine made my head spin.

"Could you take us home, please?" I felt the chest getting up and marching ahead unsteadily. It seemed to have caught several mugs of wine and beer, too. The Luggage walked slowly and unsteady and had great trouble with going in a straight line.

The steps of the Luggage reminded me of an elephant's walk. When I had been 10 or 11 years old, I had ridden an elephant's back once and was remembering it as an unpleasant event.

"Don't be hasty, okay?" I murmured, touching the lid, "There's no need to hurry at all. So do take your time, okay?"

When we reached home, I tucked my husband in while the Luggage staggered into a corner and hit the floor.

Rincewind opened his eyes when I took off his boots and socks, his robe and his hat. He looked around in the room before his unsteady gaze fell upon me.

"Barbra?" he mumbled.

"Yes, Dear?"

"I... Ilovyu..." the wizard murmured, giving me a scatterbrained smile. A second later, he started snoring.

"I love you, too," I whispered, kissed his cheeks and lied down as well. I could hear an equal sawing sound from the place where the Luggage sat. The sound mixed up with the snoring of my husband.

I was lying awake for a couple of moments, thinking about the people I had met on my wedding and the short moment I had talked with Death. He had told me that Rincewind's mother indeed had passed shortly after I had met her.

It had been a wonderful party. I was a bit sorry that my friends and family had missed it. But I could write them and tell them everything about it.

Finally, I fell asleep myself, and a blessed peace spread within our little house.

When I awoke again, noon had risen. Rincewind was still fast asleep. He was lying on his belly and had rested his head on his left arm. The other hand was lying on my shoulder.

Carefully, I pushed him aside and arose. My head was throbbing slightly.

So I have been easy on the drinking, I thought. And whether I might not, who cares? It's my wedding day after all!

I looked at Rincewind turning around again, drawing a deep breath and sleeping on before I went into the bathroom to brush my hair up. Being wide awake, I lit a fire in the kitchen oven to make some tea and food as well as in the cellar stove to heat up the house. I poured me a cup of tea and took some of our clothes from the wardrobe to do some needlework.

After I had finished the laundry I went through my supplies. Most of the food I had put into the Luggage. So I woke it up carefully.

"Excuse me, but I need the food from the party, if you don't mind," I said. The Luggage gave me an annoyed look before it yawned heartily, showing its big white teeth. It opened its lid to let me pick up a few baskets.

"Thank you, Luggage." I touched the lid and was glad that the Luggage had decided to respect me by now. Yet the thought that there was another person than Rincewind now seemed to be hard to cope for the chest.

I put the rest of the wedding cake into the refrigerator, some chicken and steak, a bowl of milknuts, a bowl of pudding and many other things. The mattress of our bed creaked once followed by a moaning and a very unsteady "Whg d'hl der...". There was another creaking of the mattress as Rincewind straightened up.

I came towards the bed and sat down on the edge. The wizard blinked and touched his head very carefully.

"Hello, Dear," I whispered. Rincewind yawned and rubbed his eyes.

"Hello, Dear," he replied before he moaned again and put his head into his hands.

"Is it very bad?" I asked.

"I had much worse hangovers before," Rincewind said, shaking his head with caution, "I just wish I could remember any of them."

"Would you like a cup of tea?"

"Love to." My husband laid back onto the pillow. I poured him a cup of tea with lots of sugar and watched him pulling himself upright to drink. After a few sips, his gaze cleared up. He sighed and started to smooth his ruffled hair a bit.

I put the steaks into a pan and started mashing the potatoes. Every now and then, I added butter and herbs to the mash.

When I glanced up, I saw Rincewind watching me. He was smiling. I couldn't help smiling back. Rincewind put the cup next to the bed.

"Could you come to me for a moment?" he asked. I put the pot aside and went towards the bed.

"What is it?"

"I remember I forgot something," the wizard said quietly, "I didn't kiss you yet." His hand crept up my arm when he pulled me closer and kissed my mouth and the tip of my nose. I hugged him and returned the kisses.

"And I didn't tell you how much I love you," Rincewind continued. Technically, that wasn't true. He had said so when I had tucked him in. But I didn't mind. After all, he hadn't heard my reply, too.

"I love you, too," I said, "I love you with all of my heart." I kissed him back before I went back into the kitchen. Rincewind took his cup, emptied it and followed me. He put his cup into the sink and sat down at the kitchen table.

While we were having dinner, the Luggage awoke. I put a small plate underneath the table for the chest which came closer to eat. I heard it chewing before it uttered a long belch.

"Will you behave yourself!" Rincewind ordered. The Luggage creaked. When I looked I noticed the lid had opened. There was a big bag inside of the chest.

"What's that?" I pointed. Rincewind looked and gave me a grin.

"Twoflower gave me this," he explained, "He said it would be hard to settle down. So he wanted to help us." He took out the bag and opened it.

I hardly believed my eyes. The bag contained golden coins of different sizes. The smallest ones had a nominal diameter of about 1 inch. The biggest one was as big as my palm.

"Gosh! Is this all real gold?" I wondered. Rincewind nodded and explained that gold meant a lot less in the Agatean Empire than here in Ankh-Morpork; over there, gold was as cheap as lead was here.

"What shall we do with so much money?" I wondered, surprised by my own words. On Roundworld, I would run to buy things as soon I would have more money than usual. I was amazed how things could change.

"I don't know," the wizard said and shrugged, "We can hide it somewhere here in the house for now. Maybe we can find a better solution."

"That's a good idea. But where to hide it?" I asked when the Luggage uttered a creaking and opened its lid again.

"I think the Luggage could look after it," I said, "I can't think of a better safe." Rincewind gave this a thought and nodded.

Due to the fact that we were still tired from the party, this first day as a married couple was a calm one. When we were lying in bed again and eating milknuts, I felt good.

I was married now. And I was married to a man who loved me the way I was. To be honest, I hadn't been positive about finding both.

"Are you happy, Dear?" whispered Rincewind. I snuggled close to him, caressed his belly and nodded.

My life hadn't been always nice to me. Some moments I would call even "cruel" and "unfair" in some times. And a very few moments had been "pleasant" to me.

But here and now, lying in Rincewind's arm and looking at the golden and silver ring on my right hand, this was a moment to call nothing but "divine".