At last the troupe arrived. Duva was overjoyed to see her family. They of course missed her terribly and wished she hadn't left. Her absence was felt strongly in their little community and on the stage. To her surprise and delight most had a change of heart about the union.
Some harbored certainty the marriage wouldn't last a year but they were the minority and kept quiet. Her carnival family, especially her parents reasoned if their Duva had found true love with a male who could take care of and adore her the way she deserved they could get over the fact he was a beetle.
While catching up with everyone, it was mentioned to Duva how it was largely Marissa who opened their eyes and changed their minds. She strongly advocated on Duva's behalf during the time they were away. Duva had no idea and sought out her cousin immediately.
"All this-this outpouring of support because you never stopped speaking up for me?"
"What can I say? I couldn't let them feel like fools when this day came could I? Imagine how silly they'd feel that they'd missed all the signs of true love?"
Tears and hugs of gratitude were shed for and given to Marissa. Duva, a wordsmith, had no words to say 'thank you' the way she felt her beloved cousin deserved.
Lucan and Duva had made tentative plans for things like food vendors and decorations as they were not sure exactly when her family would be arriving. However, the moment the couple made it known they would begin setting things in motion, the troupe stepped up in a big way. Not one minstrel, actor, musician, costumer or field medic could be dissuaded from picking up where they'd left off. Lucan and Duva had done so much all on their own. The refusal to allow the lovebugs to bother with any more grunt work made everything progress rapidly. But to ask either Lucan or Duva, the whirlwind was so much fun.
The troupe's official band stood at attention before Duva, awaiting orders for which songs to practice. The head cook prepared his kitchen cart while the food was collected from the city. Once they knew the location and color preferences many hands set to work to make everything perfect. Just outside the city was a lovely garden square where the ceremony would take place. The troupe prepared their own stage to serve as the alter and set up chairs, flowers and lights in about the span of a day.
The only thing Lucan and Duva insisted to do personally was to tell Clarence they were ready. The delighted old worm had been prepared to go at a moments notice for days. He was so proud to show them he had gotten his glasses polished so they sparkled and a brand new bowtie for the occasion.
Tents and umbrellas had beeen pitched not far from the ceremony site for the reception. When Lucan and Duva came by to see the progress they were astonished to see Lucan's parents, Dyn and Cole along with his siblings Ynast and Olypha sharing a meal and talking merrily with Duva's parents, Phali and Rossol, Marissa, her parents and troupemaster Scaraba. Her parents had asked his over for dinner to get to know them as family since they would very soon be connected through the unity of their children.
The dinner went incredibly well. Many hours passed filled with talk, stories and laughter. Lucan and Duva thanked everyone there for all the help they'd given. They tried to thank their parents but the gratitude was turned back on them. Prejudice existed in their hearts until Lucan and Duva illustrated beautifully how pointless it was.
The following day was the wedding.
That morning, before he'd even fully woken up, Lucan found himself nearly dragged out of his bed by his two best friends from the academy, beetle Agon and grasshopper Riodes.
"What in the name of the ancients are you doing? How did you even get in?"
"Time to get up."
"Yep, the others are probably there already."
"Others? Already where?
"Nik, Beor and Kula."
"Fine, where-?"
"Where do you keep that sketch you made of that etching you wanted?"
Soon before graduating Lucan and his closest friends discussed at great length and agreed to get carapace etchings. Everyone liked the idea of the images on their shells to symbolize their devotion to duty and getting it done together felt special before their paths likely split.
"Olypha already let it slip you were going to have your shell polished for your big day."
"She's also the one who told us how to get your door unlocked,"
"She what-!"
"Now we can spend the day together as we planned while you're looking your best for Duva."
And they did. For hours the friends talked as artisan ants buffed, polished, etched and waxed their shells. They were excited about their new assignments, stations and where these new paths may lead. And of course there was a fair amount of lovable teasing toward Lucan about entering domestic life.
At last the etchings were finished. Lucan chose an elegantly stylized image meant to resemble the horned crown of the pale king. The crown sat just above and slightly overlapped, outspread wings for his Duva. Spruced up and spiffed up it was time to finish getting ready.
Though once at the garden the 'finished getting ready' list looked to be very short. The families had worked hard making sure the only things that had to be done was seat the guests and give the twinkle flies their cue.
The moment came.
Clarence the worm stood (figuratively) behind the pulpit with Lucan to his left. As promised he sported polished glasses, well-groomed mustache and new bow tie. Off to the left side of the alter were eagerly waiting musicians and to the right a small choir. Family and friends were seated, wings and antennae all a-twitch. Behind the assembled was a decorated cart. Tiny luminescent bugs were released above the crowd. A gentle light was directed at the cart. Music began. Two young bugs came out from the parted silks. Each of them carried a basket of tiny flower petals and scattered them down the aisle.
The cart silks parted again. Out stepped Marissa. She carried a single flower and wore a simple gray dress. She held her wings down had done her hair plainly. The choir at the alter began to sing. Marissa sang the first verse. She timed her steps down the aisle to put her to the right of the alter when her verse was over. The choir began their chorus again. Fireflies atop the pillars lining the aisle put colored glass in front of their lights and aimed them at the cart. From the outside two bugs pulled back the silks.
Out stepped Duva.
The sight of his soon-to-be bride made Lucan forget how to breathe.
Dressed in pure white accented with powder blue flowers and a bouquet of pink roses she looked as beautiful as any higher being. Her hair was pulled up and held the same flowers as her dress. On her face and antennae she wore a shimmery silver makeup. The different colored lights from the fireflies made her twinkles shine and glitter like magic with every slight movement she made. She looked up. Duva slowly spread her wings. Her wingtips had the same silver glimmer. Some of the tiny luminescent bugs came down and lifted the ends of her lacy veil. Daintily she took a corner of her dress and fluttered her wings. The movement created a beautiful haze of glittering magic around her as she glided down the aisle.
Lucan had never seen anyone or anything to enchanting. How real it all became. In just a few short moments, with just a few promises of love and devotion, this exquisite creature would be his wife. He was barely aware Marissa had been singing until she finished. For a few quiet seconds all that existed was the world between them. Then Clarence sniffled,
"D-d-dearly * sniff* beloved,"
The reception was abuzz with music, dancing, colored lights and laughter. Duva's parents rested in confidence their girl would forever be loved and protected by a strong and noble bug. Lucan's parents were warm and accepting of their new daughter. And just when they thought the night couldn't get anymore wonderful, the closest friends of both Lucan and Duva said they had a surprise once the party died down. How strange it must have looked for newlyweds and a group of well-dressed bugs to be excitedly weaving through the city so late. So when they stopped,
"No more secrets!" Duva exclaimed excitedly. "Why have you brought us here?"
"Does it have to do with who lives here?" Lucan asked, referring to the dwelling behind them.
"You bet it does!"
From inside the dwelling stepped out Ynast, Olypha and Marissa. Everyone of them had pitched in to get their friends a little home as a wedding gift. While Lucan was with his friends getting their shells polished and Duva was with Marissa getting done up, his siblings got to work. They packed up and move ever everything Lucan owned to the new house. Duva's guild friends had done the same. The house was simple in design but bigger than Duva's. Newlyweds needed nothing more. The next day began the wonders of married life.
Duva happily settled in as a housewife. Their little dwelling wasn't much but she coaxed a warmth and welcoming aura out of it. While she missed living the transient life her heart never felt fuller. The guild kept her connected to the arts and she loved her position as a music teacher.
At the academy Lucan's first year was an adjustment but teaching turned out to be his calling. He inspired a sense of loyalty to king and kingdom. A soldier had to be their best for Hallownest, not to prove something to the bug next to them. His combat lessons included a lot of footwork taught to him by Duva and brute strength from his time as a student. He would frequently seek Duva's help to utilize any dance step into a new exercise then implement it into a new lesson. Of course, pebble-dodge became and remained a favorite.
On days of assessment, the units that were under Lucan's instruction consistently scored higher, especially in mock combat against other units. They could hit hard and skillfully while at the same time bob and weave like a blade of grass in the breeze. The elders were impressed. Their gamble on Lucan's ability and the promise of his method were showing positive results. Now they wanted Lucan's method to be implemented as part of the overall curriculum for the following year. That meant Lucan teaching the other instructors his method so they could apply it to their courses. The readjustment was welcomed by some but met resistance from others. For some, the problem was being taught new things from such a young bug. Did all their methods and experience mean nothing? Many of them taught Lucan. Now he was the one teaching them? His old commanding officer was very unhappy to have to learn and implement new course from a former student who had proved him wrong.
No matter how tired or exasperated his work days, he always devoted one-hundred percent of his evenings to Duva. Lucan felt particular pride coming home to his new home every day, not to his sweetheart, but to his wife. They always took turns sharing about their days. Duva told him sternly that under no circumstances was he to withhold a bad day so she wouldn't worry. Sharing the less-than-ideal lightens some of the burden. And she never wanted him to feel he had to be so strong with his problems to the point of shutting her out. He countered that she do the same, always. Never play down problems. Never hold in anything that weighed heavy. He would rather be burdened to know her troubles as well as his own than have her bear them alone.
Their period of newlywed bliss was wonderful. In no time they found their stride. As the dust began to settle on their new lives Duva and Lucan turned their thoughts to starting a family. What would a child between a beetle and a butterfly look like? Grub or caterpillar? Were their species even compatible to produce offspring? Only one way to find out. Despite her calm and gentle personality, Duva, much to Lucan's surprise and delight was quite a spitfire in the marriage bed. It wasn't until after many, many attempts did Duva lay her first egg. Although right away it was clear something wasn't right. The egg was a dud. There was never any life inside. Though disappointed, they did not sorrow. An attempt just failed. Probably all the activity stimulated her into laying.
By the end of the second academy year Lucan was assigned to another base just outside Fog Canyon. Prior to their own courses starting, Lucan would begin teaching his method to the other officers. Council members had already coordinated plans for housing and travel. Their house was closed up. What they could take with them they did. Everything else would be sent after them by Lucan's parents. Leaving friends was hard for Duva. The people she loved the most were always with her when she traveled. The places changed, not the people. Yet at the same time it felt good to be on the move again. For Lucan on the other hand, moving away felt very strange. He had only ever been away from his home city on missions and exercises. That was hardly the same since he wouldn't be returning in a few days with an objective accomplished. The elders did tell him if his training method gained traction he could be taking the lead at military bases across Hallownest. As exciting an honor was it was, big change was still unsettling. But through it all he had his beautiful Duva. What more could a bug need?