As you wish!

Chapter 30: Haste to the Wedding!

Enid, daughter of Sir Lord James Douglas, was sitting mournfully in front of her mirror, with her own maids, in her own room, and in her own castle. But she wished she did not own any of this. Nor did she wish to wear the jeweled silk wedding dress she was trying on. She hated it. It was pulled her tummy in so tight she could hardly breathe. The neck was too low and the lace itched. The diamond necklace against her throat was heavy, and she felt choked. But it was the ring with the ruby on it that she distained the most. Florian had promised her a ring of pure gold, one simple band that meant his eternal love for her. She feared she would never see it or him again.

She looked at her reflection again in the mirror and a look of disappointment came over her. Her honey-colored tresses were off her back and piled up into a strange fancy hairdo with hard cold jewels. Her face had been powdered and drawn on, she didn't look like herself with pink eyelids, black eyelashes, red lips, and fake rosy cheeks.

"Milady," said one of the maids, she was the only one there who was not own of Enid's old servants. "We are finished."

"Indeed?" said Enid turning away from the mirror. "I thought the torture would never end. When does the wedding start?"

"They expect you in an hour, milady."

"An hour! Must I really stay in this horrid dress for over three hours!"

"Milady! It is the prettiest one in the land."

"Aye and the best one to get yourself killed in." She frowned for a moment then said brightly and with a determined tone, "I am going to change it."

"But milady!" cried the distraught maid.

"Ah, let the girl have her way," said an older maid. She began tearing open the back of the dress with pleasure. She hated it as much as Enid.

"Thank-you, Lucy," said the bride. "I have another dress in mind. One that will allow me to breathe."

"Is it white?" asked the new maid timidly.

"Of course! It is the one that I was planning to marry Florian in before that wicked brother of mine ruined my life!"

"Sir Mark is an excellent choice for a husband," said the maid lying the fancy dress aside.

"He was the one who persuaded Henry to mistreat the people. That is most certainly not an excellent choice. The people won't stand it. Neither will Florian. No matter what he does, Henry and my future disgusting husband will be overthrown; hopefully even killed."

She muttered this last part to herself. She had promised herself that if her new husband were not killed within a week, she would do the job herself. She shuddered at the idea, but also shuddered at the thought of having to live with him.

"Take these jewels off, undo my hair, and get me water and a sponge. I have in mind my own style."

"As you wish," muttered the reluctant maid.

When she was finished she turned to her maids with a smile. "This is how I wish to be married. And that only took twenty minutes, not three hours."

Lucy curtsied respectfully. "You are beautiful, Lady Enid."

The new maid said quietly, "And I thought I was good beautician."

The tight jeweled dress was replaced by a white, flowing gown without a single piece of embroidery on it. The dress was made simply, but elegantly, and made Enid look very pure. A silver sash wrapped around her tiny waist and the only jewelry was a thin silver chain around her neck. She had even discarded the ring. Her hair hung loose around her face and a silver band twined her head. There was no make-up, and she had kicked off the high heels to wear slippers instead.

She turned back to the mirror and her eyes lined with tears.

"I only wish Florian could see me."

"Don't fret, little one," said Lucy firmly. "It will do you no good. You must be strong."

Enid lifted her head and smiled briefly. "Of course."

She did not voice her hope of the chance that her true love would somehow rescue her from her sad fate. Oh, the thoughts of one in love!

They're insane.

Insane! I cried to myself. Absolutely insane. Florian was getting too excited and actually getting a little blinded by his love. Ugh. Didn't he see that we couldn't just storm there and break up the wedding?...yet. He wanted to go now, even though we weren't supposed to. I couldn't believe it. This was Florian! He was supposed to be flawless!

Just an hour ago he had been so calm and sure. He had acted like he was going to see his grandma, instead of storming a wedding. Now he thought he was going to be late for his own wedding and if he was his true love would hate him for the rest of his life.

I shuddered. If Florian could get sidetracked when in love, I wondered how I would be if I fell in love.

Notice I said if.

Insane.

Hans had donned his minstrel's garments. All the men were dressed as minstrels. I don't know where we found enough colorful clothes for costumes, but we did. Sixty- seven men were wearing silly jester's costumes and were armed to the teeth. They looked viciously funny.

Except for Florian and I. He was armed, but he was...well, he was dressed differently. I don't think he'd be caught dead in a fool's caps and bells. Neither would I. The men were in their places and were simply waiting for a signal. Hans and I were ready go. We were waiting for a shout. Madam Jellineck's shout. At the moment she was supposed to be distracting the guards with ten other men, including Conrad.

"Is she ready yet?" asked Rose for the third time. I was closest to the gate and she was very impatient. I don't even know why she was there.

I just glared at her and she shut up...for a while.

"Have you ever done this?"

"Done what?"

"Stormed a castle?"

"Rose, I live in a castle and my mom doesn't even let me go my grandma's house without an army of men to protect me. I've been protected, I've never done the attacking."

"You must be learning a lot then, huh?"

Her question was serious.

I thought about it. I remembered all the fights I had gotten into as a boy and the sword duels I'd done as a teen. But the past few weeks had been awesome. I had actually fought things to kill or injure them. I had never done that before. It was strange doing so now and all of a sudden. I wasn't in a game or a practice. This was real life, and if I didn't keep my head I would be killed. Not whacked in the head, and given a scolding more lecturing, and a hand, but actually killed. I was amazed I had actually lived so long.

"Yeah. I've learned a lot."

"What is the most important thing, do you think?"

I opened my mouth to reply but then we heard the shout. The female shout.

It was time.

"It is important!" stormed the excited clergyman. "That we be married to each other. It is an essential part of life!"

Enid stifled a yawn. She was expecting a droning white haired man, who could hardly be heard or understand, to be reading from a book. But this wild young man was worse. It wasn't even a ceremony. It was a loud horrible sermon. The man was one of Henry's newest friends. He had been kicked out of his home town because the community was tired of him and didn't like his ideas.

Oh, how she wished he'd hurry up. At the same time she wished they'd give her a seat so she could listen to him drone on and on, just as long as he took a long while to get them actually married.

"Hurry men!"

Enid jerked from her drifting thoughts as a commotion filled the air. She looked at the windows as the man continued on as if it was only a fly. Sir Mark twitched nervously and Henry frowned.

Something was going on.

Enid couldn't stop the hope from bouncing around inside her. It had to be Florian who else would...

"Hellooo...Ha!"

Down the aisle came a young man she had never seen before. He was tall and very handsome with a long sword at his side. He looked very displeased but his eyes sparked with rapture and determination. Behind him came a man playing the wedding march at a fast pace and dancing along. This man she recognized. It was Hans! But what was he doing? Behind him came a crowd of minstrels. But they didn't have lutes and flutes. They had bows and swords.

"Who are you?" asked Henry, stepping in front of the stranger.

The young man simply walked around him and said, "Someone not to mess with."

He walked right passed the startled couple and up to the stammering clergyman.

"Man," he said. "I hate to break it to you, but you are one horrible clergyman.

The man's mouth dropped open.

He turned to the crowd and said, "You came to see a wedding. You shall see it, but it will not be what you expected. For one thing I'll be conducting it." He smiled for the first time and Enid couldn't help thinking what a nice smile it was; not nearly as nice as Florian's but still nice. Who was this rash young man?

"Go, Rashling!" shouted a new voice. It came from the floor.

The man called Rashling rolled his eyes and said, "Will Lady Enid and Sir Mark please step forward?"

Enid's heart sank. She walked reluctantly up the two steps and stood before the strange man. Then she tilted her head and glared at him. To her alarm he just winked.

Winked! How dare he!

"Now will Captain Florian please come up?"

Florian!

In an instant, Enid forgot all about the arrogant young man and turned to see if it was really true.

It was.

Florian strode idly down the aisle, letting his stern grey eyes sweep everything. Especially the sight of the bride, and for the briefest of instances, Enid was sure he smiled. He may not be the handsomest, thought Enid, but oh is he noble. He took his place on the other side of Enid and looked to the man to continue.

"Lady Enid, daughter of Sir Lord James Douglas, do you want Sir Mark as a husband? Now remember Enidy girl, Sir Mark here is an fine fellow. He's rich and a friend of your brother who is lord of this castle. He can take good care of you. Lots of girls are simply swooning at the chance to marry him. You can have him if you want. Do you want him?"

"No!" she said. She made sure her answer was loud and clear.

Sir Mark and Henry were grinding their teeth.

"Good!" cried the Rashling, "Because if you had said yes I would have known you were missing a couple of screws in that pretty head of yours." He glanced at Florian's warning eyes and went quickly on, "If you do not want to marry the blockhead will you want Captain Florian to be your husband?"

"Oh, yes! A thousand times yes!"

Rashling smiled and looked at the astonished crowd. "You heard the maid, guys. She wants the 'outlaw.' She had a choice and might I say it was the best choice." He looked back at the couple and said, "By golly, you two are man and wife! Congrats!"

Florian slipped the gold band on and Enid collapsed happily into his arms.