Final Interlude: A White Wedding

The day of the wedding of Mirana of Marmoreal to Sir Gavin Castling was one that no Underlander would ever forget. The sky was a brilliant blue, and a warm breeze smelling of jasmine and honeysuckle wafted across the large main Garden, where it seemed that all of Underland had gathered to witness their Queen become a bride.

Inside the palace, the usually unflappable Mirana was in a state of panicked excitement. She paced back and forth in her chambers, worriedly muttering under her breath. "Oh, what if he changes his mind and decides he doesn't want to be king? What if there's an attack during the ceremony? What if the minister forgets the words? What if Gavin forgets to kiss me? What if..."

"What if the Vorpal Sword began to sing?"

Mirana looked up, glaring at Chessur. "That's ridiculous!"

The Cat grinned, turning in the air. "So are all your silly 'what if's', Mirana. Gavin loves you, is quite eager to be your king and husband, Lydia and Teresa are here so if there is an attack, they'll take care of it, and I'm sure Gavin will remember to kiss you. He does that quite a lot, after all."

Mirana growled. "Away with you, you mischievous feline! Send Alice, Meggie and Alannah in here!"

Chessur bowed before evaporating. Moments later, the three women came into the room. Alice spoke for them"Chess said you wanted to see us?"

Mirana nodded, then suddenly beamed and hugged Alice tightly. "Oh, Alice I can't believe this is finally happening! After all these years, thinking I'd never find someone, and now...I'm so very happy! And..a little bit scared. You, Alannah and Meggie have been married and happy for many years now. What is your secret?"

Alannah grinned. "Having fantastic sex doesn't hurt." The others giggled wickedly. "Well, it is true. Passion keeps things fresh. But in all truth, there's times when Ilosovic and I have blistering rows. There's been plenty of slammed doors, yelling, and times when I've been sorely tempted to force feed him something vile. But then I remember all the good times, and there's been plenty of those. The first time he held Katarina in his arms. His bumbling yet sweet attempt at changing her nappy. The way he bonded with Victoria, and his quiet way of talking with Michael when he was a lad. All the times he's helped me clean after I've had a rough time at work. The letters he sends me while on Patrol. Things like that."

"Tarrant will still have moments when he gives in to his Madness, and I won't lie and say it doesn't scare me. He's hurt me a few times, purely by accident, and is always remorseful after. But I love him for the way he treats Fiona, and for the brilliant father and husband he has proven to be. I would not trade my Mad Hatter for anyone."

"I was lucky in my second husband. Thomas and I have our rows, as Alannah put it, but I quite frankly love getting into debates with him, since he is willing to listen to my side and will also concede when he is wrong. Lowell never once asked my opinion on anything, and treated me rather like an idiot child. Thomas is also much more romantic than Lowell ever was. Handsomer, too." The others laughed in agreement, then Alannah addressed Mirana.

"Mirana, you will not have the perfect marriage. You will have fights, and there will be times you and Gavin will be quite furious with each other. You will most likely call him a blithering imbecile at some point-all wives do. However," she took hold of Mirana's shoulders and stared into her eyes, "what you will also have is love. You will have the love of a wife for her husband, a Queen for her King, and most important of all, a woman for her man. You will have trust, and friendship, and long rambling conversations about everything and nothing. You will have someone to press tightly against in the dark and someone who will see you for who you truly are. Not the High Queen, not the Ruler of Underland, but Mirana. You will have someone that saw through the facade to the true beauty underneath. You will have a husband and king."

Mirana wiped her eyes with the back of her hand. "Thank you, Alannah."

"You're welcome. Now, let's get you married!"

Gavin fiddled nervously with his tie as he glanced down the aisle for the hundredth time. Tarrant, who was the Best Man, grinned at him. "You look a tad nervous, mate."

"Why ever would I be nervous, Tarrant? I'm only about to marry the Queen."

"No, you aren't. You're about to marry Mirana. Queen is just a title. It's not who she is."

Gavin smiled at his friend. "You're right. So, how do I look?"

"Brilliant, mate. Of course, you are wearing something made by Josiah."

Gavin was about to answer when the doors leading to the palace opened, and a vision in white stepped onto the threshold. He watched, awestruck, as she marched up the aisle, a radiant smile on her face and her long train trailing behind her. He waited until she stood before him. "Mirana, you look absolutely gorgeous."

Mirana blushed. "Thank you, my love. You look most handsome as well. Now, I am ready to be married!"

The minister took the cue. "Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to join this man and woman in the bonds of matrimony., bonds which once forged, cannot be easily broken. I must say, if there are any here who object to this union, let them speak now or forever hold their peace." A dead silence, and the minister continued. "Mirana, will you take this man to be your lawful wedded husband, to have and to hold, to love and to honor, from this day until death part you?"

"I do."

"Gavin Castling, will you take this woman to be your lawful wedded wife, to have and to hold, to love and honor, from this day until death part you?"

"I do."

"Then by the power invested in me by Underland herself, I pronounce that you are man and wife, Lord and Lady, King and Queen. Kiss your bride."

And Gavin pulled Mirana into his arms and kissed her to the sound of thunderous cheers and applause.

Teresa smiled. No doubt, she and Lydia would have a ton of cases backlogged when they came home, and would have to work double time to catch up.

But right now, it was time to have a bit of fun.

'I love this Mad world.'

FIN.