Ch 41. Wedding III
As the sounding of the horn ended, an ethereal voice began to sing. It was crisp and pure, speaking in a language even his translation enchantment seemed unable to decipher. In spite of that though, the tone, the raw emotion of the singing spoke of only one thing. Love.
As the voice sang, it was gradually joined by more voices, then by instruments, until it was as if a grand orchestra was playing. John looked around, trying to locate where they actually were, and as if on cue with him looking, the entirety of the band was suddenly revealed on the stage with an explosion of pure-white butterflies, the singer was a tall female creature of some kind, with skin that seemed to be made of crystal that shone like a diamond as multicolored orbs of light danced around her.
Shortly after the music settled into a steady rhythm three beacons of light became concentrated at separate points around the ballroom. In one stood Zak. He was wearing a suit of armor that shone like pure silver as the light hit him. His messy hair was combed back and straight and he had a wide smile. In another stood Carol. Her red hair, in sharp contrast to all the noble ladies around them, had been brushed out perfectly straight and hung all the way down her back, shining like red-gold in the light. She wore an intricate gown of soft blue with designs of birds that actually seemed to be flying and singing on the dress, chasing one another across it. Finally Grailia was in the third spot of light. She, in sharp contrast to the other two, was wearing an incredibly elaborate gown in white that was covered in fine jewels. Her hair was up in an elaborate style that made John reconsider what was even possible when it came to hair styling. She, unlike the others, had an austere expression, but the second her eyes touched those of Carol and Zak, the expression broke and a wide smile broke out across her face instead.
They all began to walk toward the stage, their steps perfectly lined up with the beat of the music. Zak seemed to be taking half-steps, and Carol was keeping a very delicate pace, but Grailia was walking with perfect grace. It took John a moment to realize it was so that they would all arrive at the stage at the same time. Equality, a foundation for their agreement to wed.
They reached one another just as the music reached its crescendo, and all three of them joined hands in a circle. Suddenly, the band exploded back into a cloud of butterflies and a moment later they were replaced by the king. He was an older man, but he wore it well, with perfect posture and a fine salt and pepper beard. He was wearing an outfit similar to his daughter’s, but with fewer jewels, and a crown of gold sat on his head so naturally he may have been born with it.
He did not speak, instead he produced a rope of pure white from thin air, and began to tie Zak and Carol’s arms together. When he was done with theirs he tied Carol and Grailia’s arms together, then Grailia’s and Zak’s. Once the knots were completed he stepped backward.
“The physical binding is complete. I leave the binding of oaths to the princesses and the prince.”
Zak coughed, clearing his throat a bit. “I didn’t begin my adventure seeking love. I just wanted to fight to protect those I care about, and the place that I live. Love found me anyway, more than I expected, and more than I’m sure I deserve.”
“You do,” mouthed both Carol and Grailia wordlessly.
He smiled wider. “With this binding I accept that I am equal to you both, and my love is as well.”
As close as he was, John could see all of them squeeze one another’s hands as he spoke.
“I never thought I’d leave my village,” started Carol. “I would’ve been happy to just watch the sheep and have dinner with my family every night. When I chose to follow Zak, it was because I thought I loved him, but I didn’t know what love was until I saw him help others. Saw him protect the weak, and show compassion. When I met Grailia, love was the furthest thing from my mind. Over time through her grace, her beauty, her strength… I found that I had more love to give than I’d ever believed possible.” Carol blushed a bit as she spoke and Grailia went red as well, her rosy cheeks standing out in the white dress.
“They definitely resolved the tension they had before,” whispered Andressa in John’s ear.
He smiled, but resisted a laugh, not wanting to draw any attention away from the stage.
Grailia smiled at them both, and stood for a few moments looking at them in silence. John expected a long and elaborate speech from her, and noticed others in the crowd bracing for the same.
“I love you both. Enough to make you my equals. Enough to realize that I’m not lowering myself to your level, but raising you to where you should’ve been all along.” Her grip on their hands tightened. “There is no greater honor than being loved and bound to you both.”
With that she was done.
The king smiled and disappeared in a cloud of butterflies, replaced by the band which was somehow still in the middle of the crescendo as they returned. They must’ve been wearing some poor mages hidden somewhere absolutely ragged.
The three newlyweds stepped toward one another and leaned their foreheads against one another, somehow managing to do so in a way that didn’t look awkward in spite of their height differences and Grailia’s intense hairstyle.
After they had their moment they turned to face the crowd, and bowed to them.
The entire audience stood up in their seats, clapping and John was one of the most enthusiastic of them. They had come so far to get to this point, and seemed to genuinely love and care for one another. Knowing that he’d had a part of that filled him with fierce pride.
He felt a warm grasp around his waist from Andressa who also had a wide sharp toothed smile on her face as she looked at the happy throuple.
After they, or more likely Grailia, had absorbed enough of the crowd's admiration, they disappeared in a cloud of rainbow butterflies, sharply contrasting the white ones, and the king returned.
“The Prince and Princesses have gone to complete the final stage of the binding in private. If you would all please remain standing."
They all did, and he snapped his fingers.
There was a blinding flash of kaleidoscopic color and all of the chairs disappeared, clearing the ballroom floor. On the far side, a magnificent buffet of hundreds of dishes appeared, and on the other side, tables and chairs had manifested along with a tremendously long bar manned by a hundred bartenders, and the band on the stage returned, their white outfits replaced by a cavalcade of colours as they struck up a fast beat and the singer tore away the bottom of her long dress to reveal handsome crystalline legs that she began to kick as she danced around the stage and sang.
Within moments everyone was either getting food, getting a drink, or dancing. John and Andressa made their way to one of the bartenders, winding up in a short line in spite of the large number of them just due to the sheer number of guests.
“That was beautiful,” said Andressa.
“It was.”
“Should we take full credit for it? Or only partial?”
“Let’s say fifty percent. And then we split that so that we each get a quarter.”
“Well, I’m the one who found the book of laws.”
“You can have thirty. I can handle a fifth of credit…It’ll go well with the fifth of vodka I’m about to drink.”
She laughed as they stepped closer to the bar.
“Is the last step what I think it is?” he asked her.
“Comsummation, yes. Traditionally it’s done with an audience, but I don’t think anyone follows tradition in this case.”
“Probably for the best.”
“Oh, you’re not just the least bit curious about how the three of them get along together?”
He shrugged, no blush coming to his cheeks in this case. “They’re kids, and patients. I don’t really see them that way.”
She paused for a moment then her eyes widened. “They already talked to you about it didn’t they?” she asked.
“That’s confidential. You know that,” he said with a smile, resisting a wink at her.
They took another step toward the bar, they were just one demon man and his dwarven girlfriend away.
“You know, you never answered my question about Katrina.”
He sighed. “How about we get our drinks first and go from there?”