A Time for Celebration

The two Royals followed their guide through the camp amid all the excitement which accompanied wedding days.

Remembering his own nuptials, Devrim felt himself get caught up in the emotions. He took Aurora's hand, earning a quizzical look from the Empress.

His longing gaze told her everything she needed to know. Aurora tightened her grip around the man's hand in a miniature hug.

The Emperor was not the only one caught up in the excitement of the hour. People from all three tribes had gathered together to celebrate the happy couple's big day.

Although Aurora did not know it, this was one of the largest gatherings of Dunesmen that had occurred in a century. Except for those who answered the call which Orhan had put out during Cafer's War, most of these people had never met in person before coming to the oasis.

Yet here they were, decorating and chatting like family.

The tent that was to house the bride and groom had three sides with the forth being completely open to the elements.

While not practical for daily living, the Wedding Tent was symbolic of taking shelter together while still being open to whatever life has to offer.

It also made it easy for guests to view the ceremony. On rare occasion, tradition and practicality collided.

All over the tan canvas, flowers were being attached and then kissed both by happy matrons and hopeful maidens. The former was blessing the match, while the latter was trying to entice some equally good luck to enter their own lives soon.

Hadya had informed her of all of this ahead of time, but the sight still filled the Empress with curiosity.

'How do they get flowers in the desert?' Aurora had seen plants and even a few flowers growing in the oasis, but nothing to the extent of what graced the Wedding Tent.

Stepping away from her guide, she walked over to the closest flower and rubbed her finger across the petals.

They were silky smooth.

They were silk!

"They are fabric!" Aurora beckoned her husband forward to examine the bloom.

"Really? How can that be?" Devrim had not given the appearance of the flowers much thought, but now he marveled at the colorful array.

Each was a masterpiece in its own right.

"The Dunesmen learned long ago how to make many kinds of fabric and almost just as long ago began to make gardens where there were none. This is by far the largest display I have seen though. Such a blessing for the bride!" Their guide, Exlan, nodded his approval.

"We must get some for the palace when we return home," the Empress continued to examine another flower. "Aside from the lack of smell, they are nearly identical."

"And these flowers cannot die. They need no water. Quite a blessing in the desert."

"Indeed!" Under Devrim's gentle nudging, the Empress pulled herself away from her gawking, but not before kissing one of the blooms herself.

"Was that a blessing or a wish?" An old woman asked her while winking at the man whose hand Aurora held.

"A blessing, of course. I have every wish I could ever want in my very own husband." The Empress blushed.

"Trust me, my dear, the feeling is mutual." Devrim answered warmly.

"Then you have found your diamond in the dust. May you both find blessing too." The woman kissed two fingers and turned her palm toward them. The couple dipped their heads

Beside the wedding tent, another smaller structure had been erected with four full walls made of the whitest cloth. It stuck out against the green and yellow of the oasis, looking like a lily fluttering in the breeze.

Exlan called from outside the entrance, "Hark Fair Flower, I've brought some guests to see you."

Aurora wondered if the man was mirroring the romance in the air or if this was this was yet another unknown custom. By the response, she guessed it was the latter.

"All may enter on this most blessed of days." A sing-song voice answered, which was met with a few high pitched giggles. "Except my love, who better be staying away!"

The giggles turned to full laughter. The second part was clearly not part of the traditional greeting.

The guide smirked before he gave a low whistle. "I am not your love but his poor cousin. I am afraid I am a dime a dozen."

Another peak of feminine laughter punctuated his witty retort. A hand shot out and dragged the young man inside without warning.

Aurora and Devrim were startled by the turn of events. They listened to the conversation within, unsure of exactly what to do.

"Have you seen him?" a lady asked, her voice filled with giddy hope.

"I've seen many 'hims'. You'll have to be more specific." The guide teased.

"She means the groom, of course!" Another of the ladies squealed.

"Oh, him! Yes, I have seen him." The young man seemed quite firm in his conviction.

"How is he?" Aurora could practically hear the woman biting her lip as she awaited his answer.

"Pining terribly. The hour cannot come soon enough." Exlan spoke soothingly.

The ladies cooed in chorus. "Awwwwwwe!"

"That or he had indigestion. All his faces look just about the same." Exlan grunted, and a cushion came flying out of the tent flaps. "But you know who I have seen even more recently? Those honored guests I was asked to bring…"

The tent went deathly silent except for another grunt from the guide. A few low whispers later, and the guide pushed back the flap as he rubbed his bicep. "Please, come in," Exlan said demurely.

Quite accustomed to having to pretend they hadn't heard things, the Emperor and Empress entered the tent with neutral but pleasant faces.

Inside the tent, three of Lydia's sisters and a few of her friends were helping her get ready. Perfume permeated the air from all the beauty treatments the bride had received.

Aurora wasn't sure what to expect. Mairwen had met Metehan's daughters on a few occasions.

If the Empress recalled correctly, Lydia was one of the ones present the night that Renat professed his feelings. The princess had only nice things to say about all of the Councilman's children.

But Metehan had not allowed his girls to spend extended amounts of time at the capital of Valiant. He did not want them to fall for the wiles of a man in the sprawling city.

It seemed his plan had succeeded, for Lydia at least.

The bride was clad in a purple gown with flowing sleeves that hung off her shoulders. Her hair was knotted around her head like a coronet with one large white silk flower affixed to the very back. Other smaller flowers of various colors were tucked into the crown of her tresses like jewels.

The bride curtsied to her guests and put her hand solemnly on her heart. "I am most sorry we made you wait, honored guests."

"It is we who should be sorry for disturbing you. We can leave if we are going to be a problem." Aurora knew few things were as undesirable as an unhappy bride.

Lydia's face turned from solemn to giddy in an instant. "Fates, no! I invited you here. I cannot thank you enough for your support. It is almost like your daughter is here as well, I am so happy, I could fly!"

The girl threw her arms around Aurora in an effusive display. Devrim barely escaped a similar fate by giving her a bow of respect instead.

"Better keep your feet on the ground." The Empress patted her hand gently, "I am most glad we could be here."

"Is that..?" One of the bridesmaids began to whisper. The ladies began to recognize the Emperor and, by extension, the Empress. He had been among them before and even without speaking, his presence was familiar.

The ladies all curtsied before their rulers. Aurora felt once again embarrassed for taking attention from the bride.

"We will go now, but I look forward to the ceremony," she said to excuse herself.

Lydia bit her lip. "I had hoped you might do me one honor and bestow a Sacred Royal Blessing."

A Sacred Royal Blessing was as good as already being married. In times of war, people sometimes sought out this exception so their sweetheart could be theirs before they left.

Aurora saw no harm in the request. "I bless you, Lydia, Daughter of Metehan and your husband, Ender, Son of Haluk. May your marriage be full of joy and love and the years be long and fruitful. Please take this as a testament to my words."

She cut a piece of the hem of her garment and wrapped it around a precious stone. When Lydia looked, she saw it was a ruby. The stone, which Aurora had already intended to give her, was worth a few years' wages.

"Thank you," Lydia blinked back tears. She turned to Exlan and gave a huge smile. "Go get my groom! Or should I say, my husband! It is time to celebrate!"