The Wedding Day (1): Morning Preparations
Dragonsfall Weyr
Amber Hills Hold
Vintner Hall
Healer Hall
Hidden Meadows
Dolphin Cove Weyr
Dolphin Hall
Emerald Falls Hold
Harper Hall
Printer Hall
Green Valley Hold
Leeward Lagoon Hold
Barrier Lake Weyr
Sunstone Seahold
Citrus Bay Hold
Writers: Vix, Paula, Eimi, Clancey, Chelle
Date Posted: 30th April 2009
Characters: Vanea, Sarban, Erassa, Felyna, Corowal
Description: The Hold prepares for the Corowal's and Felyna's wedding.
Location: Emerald Falls Hold
Date: month 2, day 7 of Turn 5
Corowal watched his image from the mirror. He have to admit he looked good. He was wearing Emerald Falls' colours and the green went well with his brown-green eyes and hair that was the peculiar shade of almost-auburn. There was more silver mixed with it than before. He gave his hair a one more brush.
Erassa watched him in the mirror, her stomach a ball of knots. What would her future hold now that he was to wed? Would the new Lady Holder accept her? Would she cast her and her bastard child out of the quarters? Her future and that of her son was uncertain and if she gave it much thought her head would spin, like standing looking off the edge of a great precipice. And so she resolved to steel herself to whatever fate might come. They had survived this long. They would go on. "My Lord, your knots are tangled in the back," she said, breaking the silence.
"They are? Can you straighten them up? I can't reach it," he asked.
"Yes, sir." As she crossed the floor, the fabric of her dress swished around her ankles. She reached up to turn the knots the correct way and then smoothed her hands across his shoulders and down the side of his jacket, brushing away imaginary wrinkles. Surprisingly, it did not churn her stomach to touch him as it might have once done. Instead it filled her with a sense of hope, as if she were stroking a good luck charm, for after all, her future lay in him now. It was almost calming. "There."
"Thank you. Are the children dressed up and ready?"
~ ~ ~
With one of the understewards deceased, Sarban was working overtime. Vanea was handling alot of it with her staff, but he had had to work out messages, the contract, and other details like feed for the visiting guests' livestock. There was also the matter of his family being in for the wedding. After speaking to an usher who was making sure everyone found their places, Sarban headed to the chamber where Corowal was dressing. Knocking on the door twice and announcing himself, he stepped inside to make sure everything was in order. "Well don't you look grand.."
In truth, he was apprehensive about the day's events. He'd done his best with the contract to make sure Corowal was well protected, but he still had his misgivings about Felyna. She was so much younger. Did she really want his cousin for himself? Then again, arranged marriages were a common enough occurrence. As long as she produced children, behaved herself, and made a fine Lady Holder, it would be fine. Vowing to trust Corowal's decision, he pushed his worries back. Sarban nodded to Erassa before stepping forward. "Everything on my end is ready. You have a quarter candlemark before we have to start walking that way."
"Thanks, Sarban," Corowal said.
~ ~ ~
Vanea adjusted a plate on the long table, glaring at a few young boys lurking nearby before taking a last critical look at the display of food. Aside from the meats and a few hot dishes, all was ready for the celebration. "I think that when my daughters find husbands, I'll suggest that they elope," the Headwoman muttered.
~ ~ ~
Felyna was enjoying the amount of attention she was receiving. A few of the Hold's women were helping her dress her hair, and finish with the fastenings on her perfectly tailored dress.
Laced through her hair were ribbons in the Hold's colors, and it was swept up on top of her head revealing the fine line of her neck and shoulders. The neckline of the dress was just a few fingerlengths from being too low, and the tailored waist emphasized the lovely shape of her hips before flowing out and down to brush the floor. The sleeves were tight, and long, reaching down to her wrists.
The women finished fussing about her, and she smiled her thanks to them before dismissing them to their places. Her own mother was smiling at her from the couch in her dressing room. Her mother was very proud of her. And to tell the truth, Felyna was proud of herself.
She _was_ going to be Lady Holder at Emerald Falls. It was all she'd been trained for as she grew, and all of her hopes for the future rested on the coming ceremony and keeping her future husband happy. She had worked very hard to make this day reality and now it was truth... All the days, months, weeks of waiting on him, making him realize she was _perfect_ for him. It was all worth it now.
And while "love" was a foreign idea to her, she did at least enjoy the man's company. And she believed he enjoyed hers. And who wouldn't? She was the very epitome of Lady.
She smiled. It was almost time.
~ ~ ~
Corowal watched the first guests arriving. He glanced his children, dressed in their best, they looked unusually serious, (except the younger ones, who didn't understand what was going and were just restless.) He returned his attention to the courtyards and to the flurry of dragon wings. Hallmasters, weyrleaders, Lord Holders and their Ladies were dismounting and re-arringing their clothes and hairs after the dragon trip. Drudges and young boys collected the coats and jackets from them.
Corowal made a mental note thank his staff later, it was a logistic nightmare, but everything went smoothly like well oiled clockwork.
Last updated on the May 5th 2009