A/N: Hey guys, sorry about the HUGE delay between the last chapter and this one! I've had exams for the past few weeks, and so I had to study like mad, plus a personal crisis to attend to. Anyway, I've had a few people asking about the "Will you be my lover?" thing. I meant it purely as a medieval equivalent of "Will you go out with me?", not as "Will you have sex with me?". Sorry for that confusion!
Just as a disclaimer, the wedding vows later in the chapter were not my own creation, unfortunately, (much as I'd like to claim credit for them!) I found part of them on an internet site (for some reason, the site won't write here, but if you doubt what I've said here, pm me and I'll supply the site), and part of them from Karen Marie Moning's "Highlander" series (which is a fantastic series, btw).
I think that was all I meant to say…Anyway, enjoy!
Chapter 8
Kel jumped up and was pulling on clothes as Tobe answered the door.
"Lady Yukimi's 'ere, milady," announced Tobe, letting her in.
"Kel, come on! We need to get you ready!" Yuki was excitedly and nervously hurrying around. She handed Kel a kimono, peach coloured, with a gold obi. The kimono had white blossoms printed on it. Kel donned the kimono, and was tying her obi as Lalasa entered.
"Lady Yukimi, if you would please get dressed, I will be with you shortly to tend to your hair and makeup," said Lalasa, curtseying. Yuki hurried away. "Sit down, Lady Kel." Lalasa gestured to a chair in front of a mirror. Kel sat, and Lalasa began to work on her makeup. Kel thought back to her dream. It had been so vivid, and it scared her. The images slowly drifted through her mind again. The blood. The bodies. Her sword, dripping with the blood of her victims. Larsen and Dom, calling to her, clamoring for her attention. But…why? she thought, I have Larsen. Dom has that Yamani geisha, so he's happy…Kel was shocked as the realization hit her. She was jealous of Lady Mio! Never had she felt so torn. Mentally, she shook herself, and cast her mind to Larsen. I don't see him in the knight's quarters, and he seems to sit with the pages a lot…perhaps he's a training master for the pages, she thought. Yet she still had a sense of unease. He was always sitting with the same four pages.
"There we go, milady," Lalasa broke her out of her reverie. Kel blinked and looked in the mirror. She was wearing a touch of rice powder to lighten her complexion, and some peach lip rouge and eyeshadow.
"That looks really good, Lalasa," said Kel.
"Thank you, milady," Lalasa replied, "I need to do your hair now, then I'd better go and see to Lady Yukimi."
Lalasa set up the curling iron, and set to work on Kel's hair.
Larsen saddled up Pride and led him out of the stable, joining the other pages, who had congregated around Padraig haMinch.
"Right, pages, today we're going for a ride through the forest. You will learn and practice survival skills along the way, skills you will need to know when you are all knights," said Padraig, "Follow me at all times, and stay within sight of the group. Let's go." Padraig led the pages out of the palace gates. Larsen rode with his friends, thinking about Kel, and feeling a pang of guilt over the lies he had told her. His conscience goaded him, You should tell her the truth, PAGE Larsen. He thought at his conscience, But I can't. If I did that, she'd hate me. I couldn't face that.
"Pages, over here!" called Padraig, bringing Larsen back to reality, "Now, to light a fire…" Larsen inwardly groaned.
Kel peered in the mirror. Lalasa had piled her mousy hair on top of her head, with two curls framing her face, three white blossoms pinned to the right side of her head, in front of her coiffure.
"All done, milady. Now, if you will excuse me, I must be off to attend to Lady Yukimi," Lalasa said. She curtseyed and left.
As the guests flooded into the hall, Neal paced anxiously up and down before the altar.
"Relax, Neal," said Merric, placing a comforting hand on Neal's shoulder. Merric was the best man, "Everything will be fine."
"But what if she doesn't-" Neal was interrupted by the hall doors opening. Kel and Mio entered in their peach kimonos, as music filled the hall. Neal and Merric quickly took their positions as Yuki entered.
She was wearing a white silk kimono with a silver obi, and a white lace veil with a slight silver sheen. The veil was fastened with a wreath of white blossoms and entwined silver vines, and the veil fanned out behind her as she walked. She carried a bouquet of baby's breath and white tulips, bound with silver ribbon. As she walked down the aisle behind Kel and Mio, every eye was drawn to her, drawn by her beauty. They reached the altar, Neal took Yuki's hands, and Kel and Mio stepped to the side. The priest began his sermon.
"There was darkness for a long time, and then there was light," Neal said, looking into Yuki's eyes, "and that light was you. Your love has given me wings, and our journey begins today. Let us make our two lives one. If aught must be lost, it will be my honour for yours. If one must be forsaken, it will be my soul for yours. Should death come anon, it will be my life for yours. I am given." Neal slid the gold band onto Yuki's finger.
"I have dreamed my whole life of having someone as wonderful as you love me the way you do. I promise here to treasure for all my days the love we celebrate today. Let us bring together our lives and find ourselves anew each day. If aught must be lost, it will be my honour for yours. If one must be forsaken, it will be my soul for yours. Should death come anon, it will be my life for yours. I am given," Yuki said, and then slid a matching ring onto Neal's finger.
"Sir Nealan of Queenscove and Lady Yukimi noh Daiomoru have declared their love to each other before family and friends. I now greet them with you as husband and wife," the priest intoned, in his dry voice, "You may kiss."
Applause rang throughout the room as Yuki and Neal's lips met.
The wedding reception was loud and full of joyous celebration. The pages had arrived back from their ride in time for the reception, and so the room was even more crowded. Larsen had found Kel and they were sitting together, chatting. Sarara and Doran were quietly kissing in a corner, and Tamsin and Niralo were chatting at the same table as Sarara and Doran. Neal and Yuki received many compliments and congratulations from the many guests. When the meal was complete, Neal stood and the noise level slowly dropped off.
"Ladies and gentlemen of the court, Your Highnesses," he bowed to King Jonathon, Queen Thayet and Prince Roald, "I just wanted to express our gratitude to all of you for coming today. Our day would not have been complete with such an audience."
As the cake was brought in, Yuki stood next to Neal, and together they cut the cake. As the knife sliced into the top layer, Neal and Yuki kissed over the cake, to further applause from the watching crowds.