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Chapter 17: King and Queen
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A third time Sylvanas was feeling the nervousness - not the familiar fear of war, of death and agony, but one of a different kind that had almost no redemy to - the fear of wedding: embarrassing as well because she had absolutely no experience in wearing a gown, customs of a wedding or being in one. She had almost never worn anything formal, only a couple of times in her very youth - but mostly she wore only her ranger leather attire, was she trecking through unknown woods now.
So being stuck wearing nothing but a white silk-gown made her a bit...uncomfortable. A knock on the door breaking her concentration from the mirror.
"Busy..." replied Sylvanas.
"Not even for your sister?" piped in the youngest, silver-haired Windrunner sister.
"Veressa!" exclaimed Sylvanas, hugging her sister happily, who came inside. "Good to see you again! You've grown."
"And you've decided on a new outfit," teased back Veressa, touching the white-fabric of Sylvanas' gown. "Your getting married, and you didn't even inform your lil' sister?"
"I was going to!" replied Sylvanas, giving Veressa a last hug before returning to the mirror. "You had gone into wilderness and I had zero clues on where you were."
"Been out warning the various kingdoms of the dangers of this world," said Veressa. "And dealing with a few."
"What kind of dangers?"
"You know, those you don't remember anymore - dark warlocks, ancient artifacts, hostile dragons, old warring orcs."
"Undead?" asked Sylvanas, causing Veressa' face to sadden at that word - the one time her homeland and sister was in danger, and she wasn't there to help when both needed her.
"How bad was it?"
"Worse than the Second War - rumours are that the people are calling this the Third War now. Short, yet bloody," said Sylvanas, before she told it. "...the Sunwell was damaged."
"...so that's why I've been feeling more tired than usual," spoke Veressa, her head down. "...I should've been there..."
"Hey, hey! Don't look so gloomy," replied Sylvanas, infront of her younger sister and drying up her tears. "It's okay - we won, it's over. Trust me, this was a war where I didn't want you there - too dangerous, betrayal, I'm scared that I could've lost you there. All right, now cheer up, today is supposed to be a joyful day - now tell me of your adventure."
"Okay," said Veressa, cheering up, then looking like a devious child. "It was...interestin. I heard you went on one yourself?"
"It was...interesting," replied Sylvanas - interesting or in their little code, a journey you wanted to get over with as fast as possible, due to unnamable dangers and hazards, and never speak of it much again.
"So who's the lucky one?" asked Veressa, giggling at the point of finding her sister in Lordaeron, in a white gown and about to marry a high-ranking human.
"Only, if you tell yours first. I know Veressa and she doesn't disappear, unless she has a very good reason to," replied Sylvanas.
"Fine - he's a mage, a bit goofy but a good-hearted fellow. Rhonin Redhair," exclaimed Veressa.
"That red-haired, human mage I had seen one time ages ago? Didn't he almost get kicked out of Dalaran?" chuckled Sylvanas at the thought.
"Laugh it up - he's a sweet-heart," replied Veressa. "Okay, spill it! Who is he?"
"Well - did you happen to come across a blond-haired man, with a beard? Wore heavy-plated golden/blue decorated holy/armor and carried a rather exotic sword on his hip? Looked like a paladin?"
"Oh yeah! Came across him just now - he let me inside, once he heard I was Windrunner. Looked quite charming," replied Veressa.
"Then back-off sister - that's the man I plan to spend my life with. He is the one who saved our homeland. And he's the King of Lordaeron - Arthas Menethil," spoke Sylvanas, smirking at the result as Veressa' mouth was wide-open enough to catch a jar-full of flies.
"Wow!" exclaimed Veressa suprised, to say the least. "Always had to be the best?"
"You know how Alleria was," replied Sylvanas, grazing the sapphire necklace around her neck. Veressa touching her own ruby one. "She was always so great at everything, and I wanted to be as great as her."
"...I miss her," said Veressa, a tearful smile on her face.
"I do too," replied Sylvanas, hugging her sister. "So? Good enough?"
"You'll do..." giggled Veressa, looking over her soon-to-be-married sister - Sylvanas wore a simple white-silk that reached to her feet, white slippers and kept her hair in a bun. "Except this."
"Vere!" exclaimed Sylvanas, as her tight made hair was set loose. "I worked hours on that."
"Doesn't suit you," replied Veressa, quickly combing her hair straight - keeping it simple and flowing. "You look so much cuter this way - even in white."
"It's a human tradition, I'know - old, new, borrowed and blue."
"Missing anything?" asked Veressa.
"Old - this gown was worn by Arthas' mother, suprisingly fit me like a glove and still appears freshly tailor made. New - well...me."
"You can say that again," giggled Veressa. "I remember you at a time being as uptight and strung up like a bow-string."
"Blue - this necklace," exclaimed Sylvanas. "I just need something borrowed."
"I got it!" replied Veressa, taking off her belt with a dagger on, then she went over to Sylvanas and attatched it under her gown.
"Oh! Not so tightly!"
"Perfect," said Veressa. "I know you hate going anywhere un-armed."
"Thanks, I guess..."
"Anytime," replied Veressa, then they heard the knock. "It's time! Go out there and make me an auntie one day!"
"Oh you," replied Sylvanas at her sister' antics.
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'Oh dear. Oh dear,' thought Sylvanas, as she walked towards the door, sweating a bit. 'Well no turning back.'
"Afraid?"
"A little. I don't have armor or a sword or the Light to hide behind," replied Sylvanas to Arthas, hand looped over his.
"Falric and Marwyn will be between us," said Arthas at the two fully-armored guards awaiting at the doors. "And don't worry, I let a few tales spread."
"What kind of tales?" asked Sylvanas, as the doors of the Imperial Chambers were pushed open - both of them being greeted by the cheering crowds, beautiful sunshine and showered in white flower-pedals.
"Of our journey and your part in them," whispered Arthas, as they walked between the cheering masses. "With a few extra tales for drama."
"Well they seemed to have accepted it," whispered Sylvanas back, as she straightened up and tried to walk with more confidence - they were his people and would soon be her's as well. Walking through the pathway - until they reached the Church of Lordaeron. 'Do you humans build everything large.'
The church itself was as large as Lordaeron' Palace, with people higher up in the rafters and between the aisley. Sylvanas easily spotting her sister in the mass, along with a red-haired human as well - he did look goofy. Even Kael'thas was among them, Jaina standing next to him in a formal dress as well looking happy at the sight. Among the crowd were many famous people - King Varian, Muradin Bronzebeard, Admiral Proudmoore, Highlord Mograine, Lord Commander Dathoran, Archmage Antonidas and even the now-restored Lord Tirion Fordring with his family to name a few.
The last couple of steps were their own, as Falric and Marwyn took their royal positions between them as they both stopped infront of Terenas, who would do the ceremony - then the church went silent, under his gesture.
"By the Light - we are gathered here today in a time of rememberance. We have been through much this year, having experienced much sorrows and been through much tragedy, some of us still feeling them, but that doesn't we can't go forward. For in time, happines and love can heal even the gravest wounds - and through the Light we can look to the future, and see the glimpse of hope beyond the horizon. Thank you."
Terenas' short speech was followed by a wave of applause and a few sniffles from the gathered, Sylvanas included.
"Join hands," said Terenas, as the couple turned to face eachother and held their hands - Arthas looking himself, Sylvanas trying to hold back her blush.
"Arthas Menethil, with the Light as your witness, will you, accept the vows: to remain caring and just, honorable and protective, calm and understanding of your love now, and to the day you leave this world?" spoke Terenas the verses to Arthas.
"Yes!" replied Arthas confidently.
"And will you, Sylvanas Windrunner, accept the vows: to be kind and wise, loving and helpful, supportive and strong for your love, now and to the day you leave this world?" repeated Terenas to Sylvanas.
"...I do!" replied Sylvanas in kind.
"Kneel..." spoke Terenas, closing the holy book, as both Arthas and Sylvanas kneeled infront of him, their hands intertwined. Two crowns were brought before Terenas, one he had beared for seventy years and the other that had been vacant for almost twenty years. Arthas was presented with the crown of his father and Sylvanas was presented with a lighter-one that had been worn by the late-queen Lianne Menethil. "...and rise. I bind you two in holy matrony, husband and wife. You may kiss."
Arthas wasted no time, as he pulled Sylvanas closer by her waist and kissed her - with more excitment than usual.
"People of Lordaeron! Your new King and Queen!" spoke Falric and Marwyn, to the cheering crowd.
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A/N: A little OOC-ness, yet that's Lordaeron spirituality for you - wed-locked and together forever, :').
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