<html><head></head><body><div class="yahoo-style-wrap" style="font-family:arial;font-size:16px;"><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false"><div><h1>Chapter 12: The Wedding</h1> Late Morning: June 21, 708 Pastor James was rehearsing with Father Hough, Misha and Caroline. The wedding, officially, was only an hour away. His wife, Anne, was helping a bear-woman named Mirriam set up the food for the bride and groom, though there were plenty of servants for the other parts. Thanks to a mix of magic and practical planning, some foods would be kept warm and others would be kept cool. No thanks to some of Misha’s relatives, the same couldn’t be said for tempers. His brother Brian was, somehow, the one best able to diffuse things and also the biggest source of annoyance with his grand magical acts. Luckily, not one person was contesting the seating arrangements at the center table. Will Harding, Ruben and Muriel Brightleaf, Caroline, Misha, Duke Thomas, Alberta, Princess Clover, Prince Phil, and Kelrag were to be seated there in that order. Everyone except Thomas and Alberta were already there. The automata fox, Madog, was sitting patiently. Next to him was a basket with two rings in it. James liked the fox; he was friendly, playful, and helpful. From time to time he would get up and do crowd control. Fortunately, the Bremen Town Musicians were among the many groups keeping people entertained. Baldwin must have trained for being a jester given the acrobatics he was performing–which looked even stranger coming from a donkey! “Will you be staying here Pastor James?” asked Father Hough. “Yes. Anne likes it here and we’re both curious to see Geoffs Oak. It’d be interesting to hear their stories.” Father Hough nodded. “I’ve been there a couple times. It’s a nice place; I think you’ll like it.” It seemed like forever, but suddenly Madog opened his muzzle and a series of chimes came out! At the end he made a sound like bells: twelve of them. “Time for Daddy to get married!” Misha and Caroline took their places: he stood near the alter while she was near the back. Her father stood on her side, taking her up. There was music playing as she went forward. Next to Misha, Madog still had the rings in a basket, but he was also singing a different song. "Here comes the bride, all dressed in white..." Misha was not going to comment that Caroline was, in fact, in a cerulean blue trimmed with silver. He'd learned long ago not to question when Madog made some weird comment! “What is he singing?” whispered Pastor John to Misha. “I don’t know but its nice." A gentle breeze played with Caroline's dress as she came closer. They were finally together at the alter and Madog held up the ring basket. Each of them took one and Madog sat again at Misha's side. He was looking studiously out at where Misha's family sat. Father Hough began. " “All days are blessed by Eli, but this is an especially joyous one. For what greater thing can there be than for a man and woman to marry and become one? And what more joy could there be than to have a fellow follower of Eli here to do the ceremony? Pastor John and his wife Ann arrived not long ago, but they will be staying. As they and Misha are Latharians, it is only appropriate that Pastor John officiate. Our gracious Duke has already given his blessing." He motioned to where Duke Thomas and his wife were sitting nearby. Duke Thomas waved. Pastor John looked out solemnly. "Dearly beloved, we are gathered here on this day to celebrate the union of Misha Brightleaf and Caroline Harding. Please, exchange your rings and vows." "You complete me Caroline. I want to go thru life with you." Misha said as he slipped the ring onto her finger. “I love you," Caroline said softly. "I love you with all my heart and soul." She slipped the ring onto his finger. "Let any who object to this union speak now or forever hold your peace!" Misha had worried, but no one on his side stirred. In fact, the ones who might have objected seemed to have their eyes focused on Madog! He was absolutely certain he did not want to know why! After the breath-taking moment passed, Pastor John smiled. "Then with the power vested in me by Eli, I now pronounce you husband and wife! You may now kiss to seal your union." As they kissed everyone cheered and clapped. Madog gave several leaps of joy as they went from the alter to where their friends and family were waiting, and from the congratulations to the tables where food was ready to be served. Trotting along side Misha and Caroline, Madog said, “Don't worry Daddy. I will be the world's best babysitter!” "I see chaos in the future! " Someone joked. Madog giggled before backflipping! "The kiddies will be very entertained. I will tell them all about Captain Safety!" Misha smiled and patted Madog between the ears. “That’s very kind of you.” It was a sumptuous wedding feast that started with the lightest of fares: a variety of cheeses, fruits, and fritters followed by soups and pottages. Then came the main course of spiced wine (drunk with a toast to the bride and groom), roasted pigs, ducks, and chickens (with sauteed vegetables for guest who could not or would not eat meat), and after that came pies, tarts, and other pastries. Rickkter stood up and held up his hands! The buzz of noise from the guests died down and the room went silent. “With the rest of the meal out of the way, it’s now time for the cake!” He pointed to the doorway. The doors opened wide and a two people came in pushing a small cart. Resting on the cart was a large towering cake. The cake was carefully rolled into the center of the room where all could see it. The mass towered some three feet up. The cake had several layers, each with its own design. The bottom-most one was largest and had red and pink roses. The next up had orange and peach blossoms. Above that was a layer of yellow and cream dandelions. The center one had green ivy leaves gracing it. Above it was a layer with bluebell designs. The final, top layer looked like a castle on a hill. Miniatures of the bride and groom stood before the castle and the base was surrounded by lilac blooms that were a riot of countless colors. Countless oh’s and ah’s escaped the lips of the guests and there was a round of applause from others. They started on the upper part of the cake. Caroline cut a slice and served it to Misha. Then he cut a slice and served it to Caroline. All the guests cheered as that happened. Then they took to cutting slices for the guests. They cut out the slices carefully, applying them to plates provided by the servants. Each guest was to have one, and no one could claim the bride and groom had favored any. Misha and Caroline cut the slices for those at their table: their parents, their friends and allies, their lord and lady. Each cut was made as even as they could and laid on a platter like a solemn promise. The cake slowly diminished in size as slices were passed out to the guests. It was almost like watching someone pick petals off a flower: one by one the tiers diminished, and Misha thought he occasionally heard Madog mutter something like 'loves me' 'loves me not'." A plate with a slice of cake was placed in front of Madog who proceeded to eat it; plate and all. The band had stopped playing as its members enjoyed their own meal. “A final toast!” said Duke Thomas. “To Misha and Caroline! May you have many happy years together!” “Here, here!” said everyone else as they saluted. The band got its instruments ready. “Will the groom and his mother step forward.” The voice echoed across the room. Misha and his mother came onto the dance floor. Soft music started the play and the two danced together. Moving slowly and gently in time to the music. “May the bride and the father of the bride come to the dance floor.” Caroline and Will made there to the dance floor. They danced together as well slowly and gently. For a long moment the rest of the world disappeared and it was only the four of them. Each pair lost in the memories of childhood and growth. “I love you baby,” Will said in soft tones. Caroline hugs her father tightly. “I love you.” Muriel stopped dancing a moment and looked at her son. “I still the little boy who went charging around the house with a wooden sword. Talking of adventure and all the places you’d see.” Then she hugged him tightly. Misha hugged his mother tenderly. “You both were always there for me.” The music came to an end and the dancers stopped. “Now as they move together as a couple, they share their first dance as Husband and wife.” Caroline and Misha came together as a lively toon played. They danced together enjoying the moment as their parents watched. Once it ended and everyone was seated once more, Brian stood up. "Ladies and gentlemen, to honor my brother's wedding, I and my fellow mages will perform some feats of prestidigitation!" Brian raised his hands and flames of different colors poured out from them. Each color flew off one at a time, turning first into birds, then into bats, and then into dragons. They circled around the crowd. When they were birds, they sang sweet melodies, each in a different scale. When they were bats, they performed aerial maneuvers, leaving trails of their colors in their wake. When they finally turned into dragons, they began mock battles, fighting one another until they finally became nothing more than colorful motes of lights that slowly sparkled out of existence. Brian went over to the band and talked with them a minute. They picked up their instruments and began playing a romantic waltz. As people watched dancers suddenly appeared in beautiful clothing. The life-sized figures moved to the music, but as it went on new features appeared: stairs leading into the air with fantastic architecture. The illusionary figures, unbound by physics, danced in the air, moving from one scene to another, before slowly returning to Earth and vanishing when the song finally ended. Several other mages went next, each producing illusions of various sorts combining music and light for fantastic shows. The last was just after nightfall: a spectacular show of fireworks taking on shapes of all sorts of different forms and colors, including a great dragon that swooped over the audience, and the last of all: Misha and Caroline in profile hugging and kissing. The sparks from their kiss lit up an area below where a mysterious box had appeared. Sometime during the show, Brian had it brought out. "My gift to you, brother. I found it and restored it as best I could, but I could not get it to work." This last made Misha's jaw drop: his brother never admitted not being able to do something! Brian opened the box and it revealed what looked to be a small dragon. It couldn't have been three feet from snout to tail. But more it was still in a way no living thing could be. "It's an automata..." said Misha in a whisper, approaching it almost like a sleep walker. "Where did you find this?" “In an ancient Suielman temple. I assume it was once its guardian before it broke down.” Misha gave his brother a hug. “Thank you Brian!” *** Under the bright stars, Misha and Caroline made their way back to Metamor Keep hand in hand. They were in no rush, but took in the scents of the summer night wafting on the breeze. “Sometimes I wish life could just stay like this. Peaceful evenings and cool summer breezes under the stars,” said Caroline. “That’d be nice,” agreed Misha, nuzzling her. “No wars, no mad mages.” He sighed. “But while it might not be permanent, we can enjoy it while it lasts.” Caroline nodded. “Only the peace of death can last forever, but we seem to be moving forward to a new era. It’s both exciting and terrifying.” “We’ll make it through, as we always have.”</div> </div></div></body></html>