Chapter Two:
Getting Married
The next morning came all too soon for Sharley as he rose and splashed clean water onto his face. "Ugg," He groaned as he got a good look at himself in the mirror.
He hadn't gotten much sleep because he'd spent most of the night tossing and turning as he worried about his bride to be.
"What have you gotten yourself into, laddie?" He asked himself, mimicking one of his few friends from the Icemark. The man was a slim shouldered stable hand barely nineteen years of age.
"I honestly don't know, Edwin." Sharley answered his imagination and turned away from his reflection in order to dress in loose black pants that clinched at the ankles and a looser black shirt that opened to his sternum. The ensemble was complete with a plain sword belt. Sharley left off his shoes, as was the custom in the Desert Kingdom, he remembered from Mekhmet's wedding.
"Are you ready, milord?" His personal chamberlain called into the room, not daring to enter as Mekhmet had done only yesterday.
Only yesterday… it seemed like ages ago that Sharley had arrived back at the palace of his best friend.
Sharley merely grunted loudly in response to his chamberlain and stared at his reflection one last time before presenting himself for expecting. After gaining clearance from his chamberlain, Sharley headed for the door.
Sharley ran a hand through his red mane, the only sign betraying his nervousness. He was upset by the fact the he was getting married without his family present. He was disgusted by the fact he wasn't marrying someone he cared about. But he was even more ill at ease by the fact that the Empire had managed to place him in a position where he really had no way out.
"Really hate that place." Sharley grumbled to himself as he strode down the hallway with a slight limp.
Recently his bad leg, as he now called it, only acted up when he was under extreme stress of the emotional kind. And his upcoming wedding that was to take place in a matter of hours was definitely stressful for the young man even when he projected a calm outward appearance and a willingness to be the participant in the Empire's newest scheme.
Mekhment glanced up when his friend entered the breaking fast room, curious to see what the other man had chosen to wear to his wedding. "Sharley?" The Sultan asked in a partially warning, partially disbelieving tone.
"Yes?" Sharley asked innocently, not bothering to glance up as he took his seat.
"Please, please, please tell me that you are not wearing that to your own wedding." Mekhmet begged to no avail.
"I most certainly am! If it was good enough to wear to your wedding it is perfect to wear to my own day of torture!" Sharley declared as he slammed his mug down on the table.
"And when the bride appears in all her finery and you look like an arse?" Mekhmet asked as he bit into a purplish colored fruit.
"I," Sharley started then paused. He looked as if pondering this new problem before shaking his head and finishing. "I don't care what she will be wearing, I'm wearing this!"
"I am wearing this and I don't care what that barbarian has to say about it!" Amilei yelled for the eighth time as a third maid tried to convince her to change out of the simple blue smock and tight cream pants she was currently wearing. It was much different than the expensive coverings she'd been forced to don last night in order to dazzle herself a husband.
"But-" The newest maid protested and was silenced but an elegant wave of Amilei's slender hand.
"If my future husband doesn't like what I wear then he doesn't have to marry me!" Amilei said with an air of finality.
The other woman immediately shut her mouth because she knew very well that without the upcoming marriage war would ensue, possibly crippling her beloved kingdom and home and potentially putting her loved ones in danger.
"At least let me style your hair." The maid begged and Amilei gave in with a small sigh.
"Very well, nothing too fancy though." The girl plopped down in a chair with a low back.
Amilei's shoulders slumped to which the maid immediately responded by yanking them upright and back.
The maid nodded and began running a brush through Amilei's white blonde hair. Eventually the long, silky mop was transformed into an artfully designed hairstyle that included several braids.
"There!" The woman exclaimed as she finished and held a mirror up for Amilei to see herself in.
"I'm sure it looks wonderful." Amilei replied and turned away before she could catch a glimpse of herself in the shiny metal.
"You are surely one of the most beautiful women in all the land, second only to the Sultan's wife." The maid said dutifully, slightly shocked by the realization that she meant what she said about the Empire woman.
Amilei nodded, not believing a word of what the maid said, but not wanting to draw any complements when she denied it either.
"His highness will be here soon to escort you to wedding hall." The Desert woman called over her shoulder as she anxiously fled the room.
Amilei had to use all of her well-earned will to not burst into tears right then and there. Instead she allowed the other woman to pin a white veil over her hair and face.
"Amilei?" A voice called into her room and the young woman turned to face her future.
Sharley barely even glanced down as the tiny Empire woman as she latched onto his arm, before he rushed them towards the wedding hall. "Since you can speak the Desert language the ceremony well be performed using it. If you want we can also have it translated into the-"
Amilei cut Sharley off with a shake of her head. "The Desert language will be fine. No one from my country will be attending my wedding." She sounded almost sad; Sharley realized with a painful stab to his heart that he quickly tried to quell.
"I want you to know that we will not be remaining in the Desert Kingdom for long after we... after we're married." Sharley forced the words past his lips as his grip tightened over the arm of the young woman.
Amilei came to a dead stop in the middle of the hall, forcing him to stop or leave her behind. "Why not?" She asked and Sharley could hear the fear in her voice as clearly as he could feel her trembling.
"I wish to introduce you to my family. They will be very happy to meet you." Sharley answered honestly. "My mother has been dying for one of her children to get married and provide her with grandchildren."
"Children?" Amilei whispered and Sharley took a step closer.
"I will force you into nothing, but," He paused and started up at the ceiling for a moment before glancing back down at her. "This will be a marriage in every way." He paused again and sighed loudly. "Are you alright with that?"
"I, I have always wanted children." Amilei whispered and Sharley sensed that she was hiding something.
"But not with me? A stranger you've never met and know nothing about. A man from a barbaric land." Sharley replied as he started walking again, tugging on Amilei into moving with him.
"I know more about you than you would think, Charlemagne." Amilei said very softly as they entered the wedding hall arm in arm.
Sharley took a moment before answering, having recognized the clear threat in her statement. "I do not doubt it."
"You're a very smart man, Charlemagne."
"I inherited it."
"Are you prepared for what is to come between us?" Amilei asked, not referring to the marriage bed.
"Prepared? No." Sharley asked and answered with one breath. "Aware of the struggles that will undoubtedly take place? Possibly."
Amilei nodded slowly. "I am glad." She whispered to Sharley as they both knelt at Mekhmet's feet.
Moments later Amilei of the Polypontian Empire became wife to Charlemagne of the Icemark.
Amilei closed her eyes as Sharley reached to lift the veil that covered her face and she heard his sharp intake of air.
I'm even more hideous than he imagined! Amilei thought and slowly opened her eyes to stare for the first time into her husband's bright green orbs. Amilei was slightly shocked by the heat she found was staring back at her. She dropped her gaze and waited as Charlemagne pressed a kiss to her brow before letting the veil fall to the ground at their feet.
"May I present my wife, Amilei Lindenshield." Amilei blushed slightly as an uproar was drawn from the crowd in her name.
Charlemagne led Amilei down from the platform and into another room filled with tables and every kind of food imaginable.
It was over an hour later before Charlemagne spoke to Amilei again. "Would you like some more sherbet?" Amilei glanced up as her husband asked her the question.
"No, thank you." She replied and kept her face down over her plate before taking about bite of some sort of fruit.
Sharley examined the profile of his wife. She is the most beautiful woman I've ever seen... He thought privately and vowed to never allow Amilei the knowledge of how her beauty affected him. I have absolutely no doubt that she would use it against me.
Another hour pasted before Mekhmet caught Sharley's eye and frowned disapprovingly. Sharley turned bright red at the implications. Usually but this time the newly married couple had retired to their chambers.
Mekhmet continued to glare at Sharley until finally the young man grew uncomfortable enough to give up and rise. Silence fell over the crowded room as Sharley held out his hand and brought his wife to her feet as well.
I will have hell to pay for this in the morning. Sharley shot daggers with his eyes as he passed his friend.
"Have fun." Mekmet said softly to Sharley and Amilei.
"You are good friends with the Sultan." Amilei commented once she and Sharley were out of hearing distance.
Sharley glanced down at her, surprised to hear her speak for the first time in hours.
Amilei blushed prettily under his close scrutiny.
"Yes." Sharley finally replied, although she hadn't really asked a question.
Amilei nodded in response to his tone. "It is quite obvious."
"Is it?" Sharley asked in a bored tone, even though he was feeling anything but bored.
"Yes." Amilei resorted to Sharley's method of answering questions.
"Hmm." Sharley mumbled as he opened a solid wood door and dragged Amilei through it.
Amilei watched as her husband bolted the door behind them and she forced herself to remain calm. You knew this would happen. You'll be fine if you just stay quiet and do everything he says. She admonished herself as she watched the man turn and advance towards her.
"This morning Mekhmet scolded me for not dressing up for you... he said I'd look like an arse when you showed up wearing all you wedding finery." Amilei felt her cool resolve melting as Charlemagne's breath came out hot against her ear. "Now I realize I would indeed have looked like an arse dressed up when you yourself came wearing this."
She could feel his fingers along her waist, rubbing the soft fabric.
Amilei dropped her eyes to the floor as she remembered her exact reason for wearing the simple clothes. "I was hoping you would not want me if I came dressed as a peasant." She whispered before glancing up to meet his hot, green gaze.
"Oh, my dear wife, I do not think there is a way for me to stop wanting you." Charlemagne muttered despite the vow he'd made to himself.
"I," Amilei started and then stopped, frightened by the depth of Charlemagne's words. At that moment Sharley leaned in and tilted Amilei's chin up. "Charlemagne!"
"Sharley."
"What?"
"Sharley. Call me Sharley. Everyone else does."
"Oh," Amilei paused and fought her strict upbringing. "Sharley?" She whispered, her lower lip trembling.
"Yes?"
"Will, you, that is, will you kiss me?" Amilei stared up at her husband. When he didn't answer she dropped her gaze to the floor, ashamed.
Sharley fought the urge to do exactly as she asked for half a breath before realizing how futile it was to do so. She is my wife. Why am I fighting something that should come naturally for us? Sharley asked himself as he pressed his lips against her softer ones.
After a few moments Sharley drew back and studied Amilei's expression closely. Amilei, having sensed the scrutiny, met his gaze.
"Is that all?"
Sharley smiled slightly before leaning in again. This time the kiss was not one of chasteness but one of passion and longing.
"Sharley," Amilei moaned and pressed herself closer against him, reaching up a hand to twine her fingers in his hair.
Sharley wrapped an arm around her slender waist and crushed her even tighter against his body until she was gasping for breath beneath his lips.
"Amilei," Sharley murmured as he left her mouth to trail kisses over her jaw and down her throat.
"Stop!" Amilei's body language changed in the blink of an eye and she fought against his grip.
"What is wrong?" Sharley asked, confused by her reaction.
At eighteen Sharley was not innocent to intimacies between a man and a woman.
"Just stop!" Amilei cried again, her fear level rising. She shoved her way out of his arms and pressed her body against that wall.
"Amilei," Sharley started, stepping forward and holding out a hand to brush back a stray lock of hair from her face.
"Please, just stop!" Amilei begged and slowly slit to her knees at, hunkered at Sharley's feet.
Sharley nodded and took several steps back. Amilei sobbed in relief and crumpled into a ball.
An eerie silence filled with tension and dread fell over the room as Amilei and Sharley remained where they were on separate sides of the room, making no effort to communicate with one another.
Enough time passed that Amilei fell into an exhausted form of sleep.
Realizing his wife was no longer conscious; frowning, Sharley and scooped the small female up. He walked across the room to gently place her on the bed, tucking her under the thin fabric before allowing his thumb to brush away a few stray tears that lingered under darkened eyelids.
Sharley made his way to a chair on the other side of the room and kicked his boots off. "So much for a happy wedding night." He grumbled and fell into the small chair.
He tossed and turned, trying to make himself comfortable before finally falling asleep despite the small fact the chair was much too little for his rather large frame.