The Giant Wedding
This was originally written on Feb 22, 2012.
AN: Thank you for the reviews everyone! They truly make my day to read them!
Disclaimer: I don't own much, especially not KND or Ella Enchanted
Numbah1999's Disclaimer: If I owned KND I would sacrifice Ace to a VOLCANO!
Oh, there will be some Aytorthian in this chapter and the translation will be next to it in bold writing.
Daquon is the name of Numbuh Infinity in my universe, some of you (most or all of you) guessed Maurice, lol.
The How I Met Your Mother Reference was the long handshake that was talked about in the pilot episode, hehe, the blue French Horn….hahahahha, that was some pretty funny shiznit.
I forgot to mention it last chapter, but did anyone catch the reference to Avatar? The Crazy Cabbage Chap, (I've changed his name, The Crazy Cabbage Chap's Cabbage Cart (Trying say that five times fast) lol.
Okay, enough of my babbling, let's get on the chapter, sorry for mistakes, my glasses had a defect in them so I'm practically blind for five to seven business days, which is good since I am on spring break.
Words: 3,682
When we arrived at NoahElla and Dolostone's new home, Eric said his goodbyes.
"Oh please stay! We wouldn't want you to leave when you have just arrived." NoahElla said to Sir Eric.
"No, no ma'am." Sir Eric said in a kind voice, "My only job was to make sure Kuki arrived here unharmed, I must return with my party, we have captured a tribe of ogres and they need all the available people around as possible to make sure nothing goes astray." Sir Eric explained to the giant.
"Ooh ogres!" she exclaimed with a shudder, "They're so very messy. They never wash. They are always trying to take over our lands and steal our babies. Their nails are always caked with…" she trailed off. "It's my wedding day; we shouldn't talk about such unpleasant things."
NoahElla insisted on giving him food for his journey, and when he left, his horse was weighed down by a chicken wing the size of my torso and an enormous slice of potato.
"I will tell the prince I've left you in large, caring hands," Eric said to me as he departed, grasping my hand and bowed, after giving a farewell nod at a beaming NoahElla, he mounted his horse and set off the way we came.
NoahElla introduced me to her husband to be, Dolostone, who smiled down at me and welcomed me with enthusiasm.
"The young lady is here to find her mother." NoahElla informed him.
"Lady Josephine of Frell," I clarified. I noticed that Dolostone's pulled a face at Mother's name but his friendly smile slipped quickly back in place, though it seemed a little strained.
"So this is Lady Joy's daughter," he stated pointlessly, and then sighed. "I'll go find her and tell her you are here."
"Please don't," I requested quickly, "I…want to surprise her."
Dolostone seemed ready to accept whatever explanation I could give him if it meant he did not need to seek out Mother. I was not surprised that she had failed to make friends with the giant, but I did wonder at what she had done specifically to antagonize him.
"Of course! I love surprises. Well, Kuki, please join us in the barn, where the ceremony will be taking place." The couple showed me out to the barn and urged me to go inside, informing me that they needed to wait until the marriage ceremony began to enter the building. I slipped in, hoping to go unnoticed, and surveyed the room. It was full of all kinds of folk; many giants were, of course, in attendance, towering over everyone else, their knees generally level with my face. However, there were also gnomes, humans, and a few elves. Kami had told me that most faeries looked just as humans did, but Henrietta would stand out in a crowd because she chose to. I hoped that she was actually in attendance and that I would be able to tell somehow who she was. I passed underneath a bench that held three giants and found a smaller seat next to a young gnome.
As a quartet of singers began to hum a sweet little melody, the audience turned en masse to face the back of the room. Dolostone and NoahElla stood hand in hand, beaming at their guests. Dolostone was dressed in a wool long sleeve turtleneck (it seemed to me an odd choice, but I knew little of giant fashion trends) and had applied a liberal amount of oils to tame the curls on his head. NoahElla looked radiant, covered in hundreds of yards of white lace that flowed to her feet and skimmed the ground. Around her neck was a golden medallion charm. She ducked her head demurely under the gauze of her veil and I wondered how a woman who stood as tall as a house could look like a baby deer. (Inside joke! Hahahaha)
The bride held a burlap sack in her hands, and the groom a hoe. As they made their way down the aisle, Dolostone dug a trench in the ground, and NoahElla sprinkled seeds into it from her sack. Then they retraced their steps and knelt in the dirt, working together to cover the seeds with the loose earth. I cringed for NoahElla's dress, but when she stood, it was miraculously spotless, it must have obviously been faerie made, like the green dress Father had given me for my birthday all those years ago. They went to the start of the aisle once more, this time holding a watering can between them and sprinkling the ground as they proceeded to the front of the room. When they reached the front, the crowd burst into cheers and joyful tears. They exclaimed how beautiful the bride was, and how charming the groom, and how happy they would be always, and how they would have many healthy children. NoahElla and Dolostone merely grinned at the assembled group and waited for the noise to die down before continuing the ceremony.
As I watched the rest of the ceremony, a pantomime of their anticipated lives together from the wedding day to their deaths, I marveled at the sweetness and simplicity of it. I slumped a little in my seat as NoahElla and Dolostone clasped hands and circled the room slowly. I wondered if I were to ever marry. Wally's face flashed in my mind's eye, and I shook my head slightly to ward off unhelpful thoughts. It would do no good to think of such things.
Dolostone and NoahElla lay down beside each other on the ground and closed their eyes, signifying their deaths. Then they sprang to their feet, and the guests erupted into whistles and screeches. Everyone descended upon them, and in the midst of the chaos, I spotted Mother just yards away from me. I ducked my head and scrambled out of the barn, jogging to a hole in the wall a ways from the entrance and reentering there.
Giants were quickly moving the furniture about and setting up tables and tables of food. I helped myself to three corn kernels the size of apples and a big piece of cheese puff as big as my head from one of the lower tables and teetered my way over to a section of the room designated for smaller guests, such as I.
I peered through the sea of legs and people, trying to keep an eye on Mother and hoping to somehow find Henrietta, though I did not know what she looked like and could not even be sure if she was present. I noted with bemusement that Dolostone and NoahElla seemed to have disappeared from the festivity.
I was just finishing my first bite of the cheese puff when an amused, bell like voice reached my ears.
"Henrietta, you are absolutely ridiculous." I froze, my spine stiffening and my heart suddenly jumped into my throat. The voice was right behind me. I waited for what seemed like an eternity for a response.
"Oh, April," an accented voiced tsked in reply, "Have you vad too much Elfin vine again?"
"I don't know…" I turned slowly as a doubtful male voice joined in their conversation, gripping the sides of my seat as though I would fly away if I let go, "they didn't look very happy…"
The light, wispy voice turned sharp. "Vell, no one asked you, Melton, as usual." I glanced a look at the feet, thankful that the person whom the accented voice belonged to wore an ankle length dress. Her feet were small like mine. She must be a faerie! Which meant she was Henrietta the faerie! The faerie that gave me my curse. What was the chance of their being more than one faerie by the name of Henrietta? Which could mean that her two companions too, were faeries.
"Be nice," the first voice lectured to Henrietta. "What did you do to them, anyways?"
"She-"
As Henrietta interrupted her male companion, I finally laid eyes on her. She was beautiful, of course, perfectly willing to use magic to lend a dewy softness to her skin, a honeyed glow to her golden hair, a sparkle to her luminous, sky-blue eyes. I was struck by her alarming ability to look both soft and sweet and absolutely vicious at the same time. I sat there gaping at her, struck immobile and speechless by this chance encounter. The little skunk stirred within the pocket inside my coat.
"I didn't do anyzing to zem," Henrietta told her friends innocently, eyes wide and blinking rapidly, "It is zeir vedding day. I gave zem a vedding present. You know, I give, and I give, and I give, and nobody seems to appreciate the zings I do for zem!"
Henrietta's companions, undoubtedly faeries as well, considering the nonchalant way they addressed her, held none of her splendor. April was petite and pretty, with buttery, curly hair that hung in soft curls and bright, Tiffany box blue eyes framed by dark eyelashes. Her teeth were as white as freshly fallen snow. She was very thin in her red dress with a sweetheart neckline. Around her waist was a beautiful black belt. She struck me as one that was not to be crossed.
Melt was a strange looking man with a small nose and thin lips. He had the same skin texture as mine, a somewhat tinted olive colour. I looked at his eyes only to see the same shade of amethyst as mine. April snorted at Henrietta's whining and took a small sip out of her goblet.
"Of course, of course. Well then, what present did you give them, then?" April asked in a superior voice.
"Vell," Henrietta sniffed, wiping a stray tear away from her rosy cheek, "ze groom, Dolostone, actually reminded me of someone I used to know."
"Ahhh, here we go, again." April mused and nodded in understandmeant and offered her goblet to Henrietta, who accepted it and took a dainty sip before continuing.
"Ja, he veminded me of a past lover of mine." Her face darkened, but it did not take away from her beauty. I heard Melt whisper something under his breath about there being too many to count. Henrietta either did not hear him, or blandly ignored his comment. "My lover left me quite suddenly and I vas heartbroken. So," she paused significantly. April leaned forward, reaching for her goblet again and spilling some wine as she took it back from her.
At the silence, Melt tried again. "So, she-"
"So!" Henrietta's voice rose slightly and she fixed Melt with a deadly look. "So," she continued on, her voice once again deceptively airy and sweet, "I gave ze bride and groom a vonderful gift. Zey will never leave one another. For zeir vole lives, zey shall never part." She clasped her hands to her chest, her eyes now dewy with emotion.
I dropped the corn in my hands in shock.
Melt looked down and shook his head silently. April stared at Henrietta and then downed the rest of her drink in one gulp. "That is a terrible gift!" she bellowed, slapping the table with her free hand, "No wonder the bride was sobbing!" I gathered that she needed the last bit of wine just so she could stand up to Henrietta and her giving of another terrible gift.
"She vas just overcome vith gratitude and joy!" Henrietta insisted, still smiling like an idiot. "Zey vill never be vithout one another! Vhat could be more romantic?"
April rolled her eyes. "Romantic. Henrietta, you need to think before you do these kinds of things! They will hate each other within the next fortnight! What will happen when they argue? They won't even be able to go to separate rooms to calm themselves and think things through."
"Zey von't argue! Zey're so in love…" She said, trailing off and taking another sip of wine from her golden goblet.
"What if he's rapping (That's rap not rape!) with his friends whenever she's trying to concentrate on something and she doesn't like it? What if she likes to hum all the time and it annoys him, Henrietta, they will never get a break from one another! They'll drive each other mad." April made an excellent point, which she punctuated with a forceful jab into Henrietta's arm.
"But my gift has nozing to do vith humming or rapping," Henrietta answered with a dismissive wave of her hand, "My gift is about love. It is all zey need, and zey have so much of it, and vill always share it, because zey vill never part."
"You come visit them in a year," April insisted belligerently, "and then you'll see what love is!"
"All the giants are going to elope, from now on." Melt mumbled. Henrietta ignored him.
"Fine! I vill! I'll return in a year and zen you'll see – vhat are you gawking at? I mean you, girl!" Henrietta whirled around to glare right at me.
My breath caught in my throat. I gawked stupidly at the faerie who had cursed me, unable to say a word. I noticed vaguely that Bradley was shaking within the confines of my coat; perhaps Henrietta's suddenly loud voice had scared him, I know if our processions were reversed, I would be scared as well.
"She is probably another receiver of one of your 'gifts,'" Melt said morosely, eying me with pity, "Please don't turn this one into some sort of animal like you did with the last one, Henrietta. You can't know that they lead peaceful, contented lives."
"Shut up, Melton!" Henrietta snapped, her eyes still fixed on me as I stood there, willing my mouth to start working.
"Vhy don't you answer me, little girl?" She hissed at me impatiently. "Answer me!"
The order prompted me to speak, but I wanted to be cautious. I spoke to her in Ayorthian, the language of Abba's people. Hours spent learning from both Abba and Language Mistress had made me quite fluent.
"Abensa iffi, anja. Abensa eke ubassu inouxi Akyrria." I told her. Which meant that I am sorry, Lady. I do not understand Kyrrian.
Henrietta expression softened and her voice became simpering and sweet once more. "Ette, ette, ascisia. Abensa akisa ubenssiu uteru abesna." She said, which translated to There, there, precious. I asked you why you were staring at me.
I opted for the easiest explanation, and the one most likely to curry her favour. "Ubensu este oso apulchra." Which meant You are so beautiful.
"Ishi idarai! Osho ubenu enamae?" She asked, which meant How darling! What is your name?
"K-Ecatherine." I replied, catching myself, I told her my name was Catherine.
"Awala, emele Ecatherine, apulchria unpuntu. Ete erae atamara ere amonta. Efe ubensu " She told me in a sweet voice, translating to Well, sweet Catherine, beauty is not important. The only thing that matters is love. Do you understand me? Henrietta's eyes grew misty at her proclamation. I fought not to roll mine.
"Asa anja. Abensa iffi oforo uteru." Which meant Yes, Lady. I apologize for staring.
"Etase awa iffimi, awa awana. Ubensu ocodomo axulia ubenesumu." She told me, which meant There's no need to be sorry, Catherine. You did nothing wrong. You couldn't help yourself. Henrietta preened, effectively contradicting her previous words, "Ada ubensu avoca abena Ahenrietta. Abensa amikiana acodoma ubesnsu akowa este, ubu abensia efaerie." She told me, which meant And you may call me Henrietta. My friends don't wish for you to know this, but I am a faerie.
"Itruli? Ubenssiu oso apalchria." Which meant, Truly? That is why you are so stunning. I told her, hoping to flatter her, which I am sure is easily accomplishable.
"Asa." Yes, Henrietta confirmed, not bothering at this point to hide her arrogance, "Ada abensia amikiana-" and my friends -
"Este oshopo akipa!" Are shop keepers! April cut in loudly, suddenly, stumbling in a little circle as she came forward and smiled at me. "Uju oshopo akipa, imini unju: otomio omo, otomio esse. Ewe amera…" Just shopkeepers, little girl; nothing more, nothing less! We sell… she paused, a leering grin spreading across her face, and tried to focus her gaze on my face.
"Isaili Equipme." Sailing equipment. Melt said, covering up for his friend.
"Iwai!" Wait! April screeched out, now staring at my chest, "Osho amta urou ini abensa ekacte?" What's moving around in your jacket?
The skunk was now trembling violently. "Oho, iti uju abensa usku, ihi enamae isi Ebradlee. Abensa ofundo ihi iduri abensia etrave. Ubu absensa awana oto-" Oh, it's just my skunk, his name is Bradley. I found him during my travels. But I wanted to- But I was interrupted by April.
"A usku, ehe?" A skunk, eh? April fixed me with a beady stare before sliding her eyes over to Henrietta, who looked mildly intrigued as well. "Elete esee iti! Let's see it!
"oho awa," Oh no, I heard Melt mutter.
Filled with inexplicable foreboding, I heeded April's order and pulled poor Bradley out from my pocket. He scrambled desperately in my hands, squeaking in pain and fear. Henrietta moved April out of the way and bent to peer closely at it.
"Oh my!" She let out a tinkling laugh. "I recognize you! Has it been five years already?" She paused, looking down as Bradley shook some more, she continued. "Six years! Vell, I suppose it's time."
I looked at her in bewilderment as she slid a delicate wand from her sleeves and pointed it at Bradley.
"Osho este ubensu-" What are you-? I said, but was cut off.
But, suddenly, there was a large mass in my hands, and it startled me so much that I dropped it, though its weight would have prevented me from holding it much longer in any case.
I stared down at the sight before me. In place of the little skunk, Bradley, that Wally and I had rescued, laid a boy with messy vermillion hair, his face contorted with pain and covered with sweat, and his leg bent at an awkward angle. I quickly recovered from my shock and averted my eyes from his naked form, shrugging out of my coat and laying it over him to preserve his modesty.
Henrietta smiled down at the terrified boy. "Hello again, Benjamin."
A cliffy of sorts! So we have finally met Henrietta…what do you think of her? Does everybody recognize April and Melt? In addition, who do you think Benjamin is? If you read my stories, you should know.
Next Chapter: Kuki presents her request to Henrietta and is very quite pleased with the result. She also learns more about Benjamin, returns home, and there are wedding bells to be heard for little Miss Kuki...
Oh, can anyone guess the golden medallion that was around Noah's neck? I'll give you a hint, it has to do with Roman Wedding cultures. I have my version of it on my wiki page. If you get it correct you get a preview of chapter 14!
Oh, how is everyone feeling about the Ayorthian language? Do you want me to continue to use it, or just have everything translated into English?
I believe that is it...please review, for reviews keep me alive!