The Royal Wedding II

The largest of the ballrooms was filled with aisles and aisles of seemingly endless seats. The large windows were overlaid with panes of colored glass, giving the room the feel of a hallowed cathedral. The room was filled with shades of purple and white.

Although it was a royal wedding, no blue beyond the Imperial crest of Valiant which adorned the tapestry above the altar was present in the room. Aurora had allowed the princess and scientist to choose whatever they wanted within reason, and they had.

The marriage arch on the raised stage resembled a suspended icicle and the front of the platform was lined with small SnowBalls of each of the couple's favorite places. White and purple flowers dripped on vines from the three-story ceiling like delicate raindrops—or snowflakes—hovering above the visitors' heads.

Advisor Junayd sat on the third row with Luna and Phonca. Because the Selkies were honored guests and Junayd was a close friend of the Emperor, they were seated toward the front of the congregation.

"Looks like it will be a good showing," Junayd nodded approvingly.

"I have never been to a human wedding. I am most anxious to see how everything is done." Luna looked at the proceedings with stars in her eyes. The hug of Luna's lightweight dress as she shifted her body to gaze around the room drew the advisor's attention. He smiled flirtatiously.

"Why? Are you thinking of having a wedding of your own?"

Used to the man's antics, Luna gave a coy smile of her own. "Should I be? I will need plenty of time to look for just the right dress. Selkies aren't the most experienced with wearing human clothes, you know."

Junayd blushed and scratched his ear. "Well I, uh, wouldn't object, but…"

"Enough, you two, others around you can hear you," Phoca scolded them.

"Do I need to remove this ruffian, ladies?" A voice asked sternly at the end of the row. Three sets of eyes shifted to see a grisly general in shining armor.

"If it isn't my favorite gentleman," Phoca nodded at him graciously. "I think I can handle the advisor, but I appreciate your concern."

Junayd scowled, "What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be guarding Her Majesty?"

"Empress Aurora sent me to check out the situation before the ceremony. She trusts Captain Caleb, but another set of eyes could not hurt." Nurlan's lips curled up slightly. Seeing Aurora so nervous about all the festivities made her that much more endearing to her personal guard. He would do anything to make her proud.

"I will watch too," Junayd assured him with a determined nod. He scanned the audience to see if he could spot any trouble.

"Good. Even a fool like you is better than nothing." Nurlan responded. He kissed Phoca's hand and walked away.

"Are you going to let him talk to you like that?" Luna was offended on the man's behalf.

Junayd smirked and shrugged. "What? He has called me far worse."

Their attention was pulled to the back of the aisle as a servant argued with a plump creature. "What do you mean I do not have a seat?! I am a close personal friend of Her Majesty. How dare you disrespect me in this manner!"

Junayd sighed, stole a kiss from Luna and made his way to the back of the room. He quieted the nervous servant. "What seems to be the trouble?"

"This…creature… is not on the guest list." The young servant said helplessly as he held out an official scroll.

"This is a great slight! I will go find Aurora and she shall fix this immediately," Reyan began to fuss all over again. His use of the Empress's first name without her title garnered a few gasps and nervous looks from those nearby.

"Surely you have your invitation," Junayd tried to calm the situation.

Reyan pulled the paper from his pocket. "As if I would come without an invitation! Hmph! I'm not a loose-moraled pixie!"

The advisor nodded thoughtfully. "Of course not. When did you send your response to the invitation?"

"Response?" Reyan's eyes opened wide.

"Yes, when did you accept the invitation and tell Her Majesty that you were coming?"

"I…they should just know my attendance is a given!" The fairy said indignantly. "I helped save the world, after all. Without my Fate's chain and intervention, there would be no wedding today! I am practically it's benefactor."

"I told him he needed to respond." With his family, Bolemir came up behind the angry Reyan. "But he insisted he knew better."

The servant checked in Bolemir's family, scribbling on his scroll to mark them present. "Right this way," the servant said. Gede, Prem and Bolemir each hugged Junayd as they passed while Niko gave the stalwart hero a slap on his hand. The family left behind the curmudgeon to deal with his problem.

"I thought fairies were supposed to stick together," Reyan mumbled. He opened his mouth to argue with the strict, scroll-wielding servant when Junayd intervened.

"I will take responsibility for this one," he said to the servant. "I know Her Majesty will be pleased to add such an esteemed guest to our company. Please add Reyan the fairy to the guest list."

"But, sir!" The servant objected. "There are protocols that must be adhered to…"

"Is he part elf?" Reyan asked sarcastically, rolling his eyes.

"Consider it a personal favor to my boss, the Emperor. Surely there must be a little extra room." Junayd winked.

Defeated, the servant scribbled down on the scroll. "Welcome to the blessed union of Princess Mairwen and the Scientist Renat. We are honored by your attendance," he said mechanically.

Junayd jerked his head toward the front of the room. "Come, Reyan. You can sit with me and the selkies."

"Selkies? In human form? Count me in!" Reyan rushed past the advisor, making the crowd part by his forceful forward movement.

"There's a fairy who knows what he wants…"

The audience filled as did the balcony. Like Chieftain Orhan and his son, most guests quietly found their seats, but the most auspicious attendees were announced by a herald at the front of the room.

Some of those introduced included King Ithel, his parents King Father Zoltan and Queen Mother Lanassa as well as Lady Bukuri and Gandr. The elven processional took their place among the most prominent seats on the opposite row of the same aisle. Vahan, and Zan were also introduced. While the rest of the attending Guardians relegated themselves to balcony or other shadowy places, these two, along with a third unnamed member of the cloaked fellowship, took their seats on the front row. Vahan and Zan wore their cloaks with their hoods down, but the last of the group kept his face hidden beneath the inscrutable cowl.

This caused more than a little speculation, but only a few knew the truth. The truth was that if he was not hiding his identity, this figure would have been the man of honor. As it was, he would have to be it in memory only. Alaron was simply glad he as able to be there at all.

The Council was likewise welcomed with flurried of conversations, but a new wave of interest arose as the families of the bride and groom were introduced. Renat's family was first announced. Some of the children waved and Emese gave a small curtsy, but Abod hurried them to their seats to avoid too much attention. Next were a few members of Aurora's father's family. Aurora had only recently sought them out, and the few stories they had to tell about Elias were invaluable.

At last, the remaining members of Zephyra's kin--those who survived or were born after the purge-- were presented to the auditorium of onlookers. Lord Fedelmid and Duchess Ashleigh entered arm in arm, happy to be a part of the celebration. Lord Androlius (elder brother of Lord Turpilius) came in with his family while sporting a white hat with a small brim and tasseled, shortened cape that would soon become the standard of noble society for the next season.

At last the room went silent as a woman with periwinkle hair piled high atop her head paraded past the herald. "And Her Majesty's Aunt Ravenna..."

With no title and no place on the Council, Ravenna at least had her life. Having been sentenced by Cafer to be wyvern food, the punishment never actually came to pass. When Aurora retook the castle, Ravenna was sure that at last her fate had been sealed. However, an honest conversation and a good word put in by Brinn made the Empress have compassion on one of her last living relatives.

Having lost her own son (or so she thought at the time), Aurora could understand what drove Ravenna to such lengths. So Ravenna was allowed to live a quiet life in a small town with an allowance for necessities and her colorful wigs. She was, in the end, family and there had been enough suffering on all sides.

Once the eldest member of the Empress's family was seated, only the wedding party, Emperor and Empress remained absent in order for the ceremony to begin. "I really thought the Fates would be here," Junayd whispered to Luna.

"Who says we aren't?" a voice whispered from behind him.

Junayd turned and saw an old wrinkled woman that he did not recognize. Well, that wasn't exactly true. One look at the old woman's colorless eyes let him know exactly who he was looking at. "Hanna?" he tilted his head curiously. Scanning the room, he could see a few others with similar eyes. The Fates were disguised in human form. "Why..."

"We did not want to upstage the bride," Hanna answered with a smile that sent a spiderweb of wrinkles across her worn face. "Now hush, the music is starting!"

A second later, the first chord of a wedding march filled the hall. It was time.