Keith was right. Flora was in a mad scramble trying to get the estate ready for the wedding. She had been talking with Trace, and they decided that they would want to have the wedding outside, in the garden, which had begun to bloom with life. Buds covered many of the bushes, and flowers were poking up through the dirt. Evals had taken charge of cooking all the food, putting it in stasis so it would stay fresh until the reception, which was planned to be held within the estate. When they weren't straightening up the outside, most people were working inside. Kathrine was over the moon, getting to design and make outfits for almost everyone, taking measurements and working from dawn til dusk on suits and dresses. Natani insisted that she would not be wearing a dress, though she almost did when Zen jokingly said that he would if she did. The thought of Zen in a frilly dress made everyone laugh, but it was eventually forgotten as Friday came closer. King Jade Adelaide came up to ask a few questions on Tuesday. "So this ceremony would be only a small number of individuals? Who all will be present?"
"Obviously Flora and myself. Keith, Zen, and Natani makes five. Kathrine, Eric, Mike, and Evals for nine. Richard, Sythe, Maren, and Karen for thirteen. Maeve and Keiren for fifteen, and you for sixteen. We'd like to avoid making it a big spectacle, especially with so many influential people being in such tight proximity, it could be quite hazardous if anyone decides to attack."
"Understandable. I will have Lynn and Madelyn join us as well. Lynn will have all the paperwork you will need to fill out, and Madelyn will observe from the shadows, as she usually does… right?" Jade asked glancing over her shoulder. From behind a curtain, Maddie's head appeared with a wry smile.
"Sorry." Trace looked over at her as she slipped back out the door, not even surprised that she was there.
"If you are truly concerned about safety, I could have a small number of soldiers act as escorts for the ceremony, and then leave once it is done."
"That would be acceptable, but what about Edinmire?"
"Telk will hold the line if anything goes wrong. It is just one day, after all."
"Forgive me, but you forget who all will be there. You are the leader of the Basidian Empire, Keiren is Duke of Edinmire, and I am the former Grand Templar, a position that I technically still hold, though I doubt they would care much for my return to power. In the last few months, I have been hounded by assassins, Edinmire has been besieged twice, and you are still recovering from your wounds. There's a lot of important people that will be there, and it will leave Edinmire largely without it's leaders. Telk does a fine job, but he cannot fill everyone's roles."
"I trust him though. If there is a problem, he will hold the line. He is our greatest commander, and could easily become a General if he wished."
"Trace?" Flora's voice came from the other side of the door. "When you're done, Kathrine want's to start working on your suit, but she needs some measurements."
"I'll be there in a few minutes." The two stood in silence for a moment. When it became clear that there was nothing left to discuss, Trace stood up. "Thank you again."
"It makes me uncomfortable, but I will endure this task. The world will be better for it."
…
The skies were clear and blue, hardly a cloud in them. The world was quiet, save the soft sounds of nature. But the air hung still and stiff, as though waiting in anticipation for what was to come. "You'll do fine." Kathrine said, straightening Flora's dress one last time.
"I'm just so nervous! I don't know why, but I am!"
"It's a big change in your life." Natani told her. "Getting married is one of the biggest things that you can do in your life, outside of being a mother, and you were ready for that a few months ago. This should be a walk in the park compared to parenthood. All you have to do is say a few things, and then you can go back to normal, but with a plus one!"
"I bet Trace is over there, going through the same thing you are." Maren said. She hadn't been very happy the last few days, or at least tried not to show it if she was. "Everyone gets anxious before big changes like this. It's natural, I promise."
"You really think so?" Flora tried to get a glance at Trace, who was across the hall, but there were too many people between them.
"I know so. Sure, he's not the same Trace I knew a few years ago, but he's a better version now. And the way he talks, the way he looks, the way he does everything with you… he really is devoted to you." Maren couldn't help but smile. "Today will be the best day of your life."
"Don't worry about a thing." Madelyn said, appearing on the balcony behind them. "I'll keep an eye out from up here. You go make the most of today."
Natani's hand flew to a dagger as she jumped. "Gah! I forgot you were here still!"
…
"Just remember: this is all for her." Keith said. "Flora is the greatest thing to ever happen in your life. Don't waste today."
"I know, I know." Trace straightened his necktie, and looked in the mirror while Sythe tugged at his suitcoat. "Well? How do I look?"
"Like quite the dashing young bachelor." Zen smiled. Trace and Zen had been talking late into the night, and had come up with a few… plans. "I can barely even tell that it's fake. How does it feel on your neck?"
"Not bad. Wish it was a bit lighter though." He said, arcing his back. The tie stood straight out, as though there was a stick inside of it. "Next time, you get to wear a gladius around your neck, and I get to carry the dagger."
"Deal." Zen chuckled. "Though maybe we should let Nat carry something more next time, eh? Crystals are nice and all, but nothing beats a good old fashioned blade."
"Actually, she's packing quite a bit more than you realize." Keith said as he pulled Trace's coat back into position. "She loaded up her bindings with mana crystals yesterday morning. She's got them wrapped around her arm, so she has quick access to them."
"Not a bad idea." Richard said. He was shockingly well dressed, and had even combed his hair, but carried his sword at his side anyways. "Hidden weapons are always fun."
Trace smiled, but then his stomach dropped. "Oh, boy. Why does this make me so nervous? Am I really ready to do this?"
Zen put his arm on Trace's shoulder while Keith did the same on the other side. "You are ready. I've been with you from the very beginning. There is no one that she would rather be with. Not me, not Zen, not Sythe, not anybody. You."
"I didn't even witness it firsthand for the first few months, but as I've gotten to know you both, I can tell you that you are ready for this."
"Yeah, but it still makes me feel anxious."
"That's because your life is about to change. It's natural for you to feel like this. I'll go see if they're ready." Sythe said, closing the door behind him as he left.
…
Trace stood in the center of the garden next to King Adelaide, who still wore her golden armor, though it had been polished to a gleam the night before, and a sword hung by her side, the same blade that had struck fear into the hearts of men barely a week ago. Behind him was Keith, who was dressed in like manner to the king, sword and all, Zen, who had brushed, tied his hair back, and sported a tight black suit, and Richard, in full three piece suit, who waited with him. Keiren stood next to Maeve nearby, his blue cloak washed and mended, draped over him and held together with a gold clasp that had a diamond inlaid into it. Maeve wore a royal blue dress with a white edge, and on the back it had the emblem of Edinmire embroidered into it. Sythe stood behind them, his hair tied back, a fine brown and silver coat over his fur, with Mrs. Nibbly sitting on his shoulder, a clean gold bow on her neck. On the other side, Karen was next to Lynn, her orange and yellow dress wrinkled, but no one seemed to care. Lynn held a black case, and unlike the other Basitins, he wore no armor, instead donning a fine purple silk overcoat like a judge would wear. Mike, Evals and Eric stood back a bit. Mike and Evals wore nearly identical outfits Kathrine had made them: green shirts with purple coats, and black cloaks draped over their shoulders. Eric's attire was the most eccentric of all, with a red shirt, blue coat, green pants, and a floppy yellow hat, like someone had poured a rainbow over him. He also held a pencil and paper, at the request of Trace, who wanted him to make a painting so he would always remember this day. Lining the edges of the garden, going back toward the estate's door, three dozen Basidian soldiers stood, with pikes held high, and white and gold pendants tied to the ends, their steel armor glistening in the sun.
The soldiers turned as one, their footsteps pounding twice as they faced the path, and the doors of the estate opened. Flora stepped out, her pearly white dress trailing behind her. Kathrine wore an outfit almost as strange as Eric, a dress that was green on top, but the bottom seemed to be made of scraps from everyone else's outfits that she had collected while working. Natani was beside Kathrine, right behind Flora, her black suit and pants looking almost as sharp as Trace's, though her right arm had clean white cloth wrapped around it as though her wrist was injured. Maren wore a simple, navy blue dress. It was solid in color and rather plain, but that made it look all the better, as it contrasted with her purple hair and the white stripe that never grew back properly. As Flora walked past each soldier, in turn they shifted, facing the altar where Trace and King Adelaide waited. Smiling wider than ever, Flora walked up toward him, and he smiled back just as widely.
As she stood on the other side of the wooden altar, they turned to King Adelaide, who stood over them. "Men, women, Humans, Keidrans, Basitins. Today we are here to witness the joining of two lives, to forever be bound in Fate, in life, and in love. Who here speaks on behalf of the family of Trace Legacy?"
"I do." Keith said, stepping forward. "Trace has no living relatives, and no blood family. He has only those he chose to become his family, those who he would die for. I, General Keith Keiser of the Basidian Empire, speak on behalf of the family of Trace Legacy." Stepping back, Trace smiled to him.
"Who here speaks on behalf of the family of Flora of the Rainforest Tigers?"
Natani stepped forward. "I do. Flora has no living relatives or blood family. Her family has become the friends around her, those who would lay their lives down for her, and she would do the same for them. I, Natani of the Forest Wolves, speak on behalf of the family of Flora." Like Keith, she stepped back, and Flora smiled to her.
"Then let us begin. Trace Legacy. Do you swear to protect Flora with your life? Do you swear to bring her joy? Do you swear to honor her as family? Do you swear to love her, protect her, and even die for her if you must?"
"Without question. I do." Trace said, turning to at Flora.
"Flora of the Rainforest Tigers. Do you swear to devote yourself to Trace? Do you swear to bring him peace? Do you swear to honor him as family? Do you swear to love him, protect him, and even die for him if you must?"
"Without question. I do." She repeated, turning to look Trace in the eyes.
"Then let all who are here bear witness to the union of these two souls. Let all who are here know of your devotion to one another. As King of the Basidian Empire, I hereby pronounce you husband and wife!" Trace could bear it no longer. Pulling Flora close, he kissed her passionately, the world falling away as their hearts soared together. They did not hear the cheering of their chosen family. They did not hear the wild applause. They did not hear the cracking of wood. They did not hear the rejoicing. They didn't hear the shifting of armor. They did not hear the heavy footsteps approaching them.
But they did hear the scream of terror.