North vs. South

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He patted her on the shoulder and offered her a sincere smile. "Give it time. Old disputes are difficult to kill, but they will manage. And I am sure the wedding will be wonderful once they see how happy the bride and groom are."

It did not take long for the trek to begin after that. The rain was not heavy, but Willem would have preferred to not have mud splashing up at his ankles every few seconds. After about midday, however, it began to clear up. It was a sign of happier days to come, or so he hoped. The journey to Golding was uneventful for the most part, and he could feel Amira beginning to grow tired in front of him again. But they reached the capital before dusk, which was good time considering how long their line was. The welcome was as grand as the one he received when returning from the "dead". Wedding decorations were already being set up, and the city was in joyous celebration. Perhaps the kings had yet to come around to their new alliance, but clearly the commoners were overjoyed to see the war come to an end.
 
The road was not easy, but she was glad when the sun came out. When they finally reached Willem's city she quickly forgot how tired she was. The city was full of people that wanted the same thing she and Willem wanted. Peace. It was a refreshing site. She smiled as some of the people handed her flowers and other lovely gifts. It wasn't long before she had to deny them, but it didn't stop others from trying. The way through the city took longer then she had thought it would, but she didn't mind.
 
Willem was surprised to see so many citizens greeting them on their way to the palace. It was no surprise, however, that they took such a liking to their future queen. There were so many of them crowding the streets that city guards had to force a path between them so the procession could get through. It took some time to get up to the palace with all of the people in the way, but once there they were greeted by the queen. After dismounting, Willem led Amira up the steps. His mother kissed him on both cheeks then did the dame for Amira. "It is good to have a peaceful procession for a change. I trust you will enjoy it here."
 
Amira immediately liked his mother. She wasn't like her husband and actually talked to her. "I agree. I would much rather have peace then war and I can only hope that our alliance will bring even more peace." She yawned loudly as she walked into the palace. Even though the settings and colors were different then her home she could see that it was just a normal palace. "And I already love it here," she smiled warmly. Even though she wasn't afraid she didn't let go of Willem. Mostly because she was afraid of losing him in the crown then from anything else.
 
The queen took Amira by the arm with a warm smile. "Come with me. We must begin your preparations for the wedding. And Willem has important matters to attend to. Don't worry. After the wedding you will have plenty of time to spend with each other." Willem nodded in agreement and released her hand. "If you need me I will not be far." He watched the two of them wander off with handmaidens already bustling around them and servants running here and there. He turned to see his father enter with five guards accompanying him. "King Hadrian has elected to stay in the Farzet Inn."
 
She didn't want to let his hand go. But she did at his mother's instance. "I asked Willem about your customs," she said, "I have to say that I'm not quite used to everything, but I'm willing to do it." She smiled at the woman before her. "I was wondering. Do you know where my father might be staying and if he's ok?"
 
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She laughed lightly as she took Amira up to the chambers she would be staying in until the wedding. "In time you will grow accustomed to it. Aside from religious and betrothal ceremonies, I don't think customs in the north are very different from your southern ones." She seemed puzzled by the question presented to her. "I can't say I know where your father will be staying. I believe that's up to him. I am sure my husband will know of such matters. But he will be fine wherever he is, I assure you."
 
Amira nodded "You're right. He is a grown man after all," she laughed. The room was lavish as expected. Colors of red and white with touches of gold were laid out in the room and with swirling designs. "The room is beautiful," she said to Willem's mother. She turned back to the woman next her, "Thank you for welcoming me so warmly. I wasn't sure if you would be thrilled to see your son marry a woman of the Southern kingdom." From when Amira first arrived in Willem's kingdom she was unsure about how everyone would take it, but after seeing the people greet her and this wonderful woman she felt better about staying apart from Willem. Now if only his father would except her as his soon to be daughter-in-law. She laughed to herself and if only her father would except Willem as his future son-in-law.
 
The queen laid a hand on Amira's cheek and smiled warmly. "My son is to marry you, and he loves you. I would accept you no matter where you came from." The queen had also witnessed the death of Faliya when Willem had wished to wed her many years ago, and since then she had sympathized with her son for his loss and desperately hoped he would love another one day. Her prayers had finally been answered, and she was going to make sure that this time there was no death.

The next few days passed with far too much to do. There were wedding plans to be made with servants and maids running everywhere at once. Then there were the war plans to be made with the approaching threat of Losoria. Willem had far too much to think about, but on morning of the wedding he could only thing of one thing: how cold the holy water was.
 
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The next few days flew by as Amira's mother-in-law showed her around the palace and even took her around the city once. But the day of the wedding she was nervous and had Willem's mother not been there she would have been a mess. She also glad that she was there with her when she had to have her ritual prewedding bath in the holy water. Not only was it cold, but the priest was there. She hated that any other man beside Willem had seen her naked. Not that Willem had seen her naked yet, but he would that night. And the thought of today's ceremony and that night excited her to no ends.
 
Willem had not enjoyed the bath all too much. He was not used to having an old priest wash him from head to toe. But he knew that after tonight, when it was not the servants washing him, it would likely be his beloved wife as they shared their baths. He was more than ready to marry Amira, and he anticipated tonight's events greatly. Even if neither of their fathers were very happy with the arrangement, just about everyone else seemed to be. Excitement was running through the city, and he had even been given an honorary statue, albeit a fairly small one, as a gift from a local merchant depicting himself and Amira standing on a carriage. It had been a token to the royal couple for their insistence in ending the bloodshed.
 
She only had to wait one more hour before the ceremony was to start and she was pacing her room. At least it was large enough for her to walk and let off some steam. The poor servants had a hard time getting her in her dress and putting her hair up as she continued to pace back and forth. Finally she was forced to sit down so they could apply black markings that her father insisted they do to continue her side of the wedding traditions. Each mark meant something and Amira used to know what they meant, but right now she couldn't focus on the markings to tell what mark meant what. Her wedding dress was made especially for this occasion. The dress had a long train made of intricate lace that trailed behind her. It depicted roses and lilies in the weaving. The actual dress was fairly plain as it hung down her body. She liked that it wasn't poofy like many wedding dresses she had seen. It had long bell sleeves and it left her shoulders bare. She wore a pair of dangling diamond and ruby earrings and a simple silver rose pendant that hung low on her chest. The chain was more intricate with gold, rubies, and diamonds woven into it. Her father was able to visit her before the wedding. He could tell that she was nervous and he just smiled as he told her that she looked just like her mother on her wedding day. Of course Amira blushed. But now she was standing reading to begin the wedding ceremony.
 
Willem did not take long to get ready for the ceremony. He was dressed in a royal maroon doublet speckled with golden jewels that ran down the sleeves. He also wore a green and black sash that hung from his right shoulder and traveled down to his left hip. The blending of the colors was meant to signify the joining of the royal families and their respective kingdoms. It was a brilliant display of weaving skills, and Willem made a mental note to personally thank the artisan who had designed it just for the occasion.

His sister, Loxly, and his mother sat in the room with him. Willem was rather surprised that Loxly was not already flirting with the southern men. She had grown a reputation for being a rather cunning individual, and men had chased after her hand since the day she had come of age. But she enjoyed teasing them with her beauty, almost too much sometimes. She stood and examined her brother from head to toe and smiled with satisfaction. "We will have to make sure we hire the man who made this to assist me with my own wedding dress when the time comes."
 
When the time came for her to go down the aisle her father was there to escort her. He was dressed similarly to Willem except he wore a black jacket with a maroon sash. She took his arm and held on tight as they began the procession down the long aisle. From a young age Amira was taught how to act and react while in a crowd. She was used to people starring at her including large crowds. But this was different. She didn't care about the vast amount of people in the large cathedral. All she cared about was the man that would soon take her hand and call her his. Red and pink rose petals littered the red carpet as she and her father continued on. When they reached the priest her father turned her to face and gave her a tender kiss on the cheek before leaving her behind.
 
He could see the sadness in Hadrian's eyes. The king was clearly distraught beyond anything to be losing the last family member he had, and Willem only found his respect for him grow immensely because of it. It takes a true man to give up his own wants and needs in order to protect the needs of everyone else. He would accept his blessing as the greatest honor he could have bestowed upon him.

Amira looked lavish in her wedding garb, and Willem found his face turning a deep shade of red as he watched her approach them with all the grace in the world. To say that she looked beautiful was an understatement at best. Upon reaching them, the king gave his daughter a kiss before leaving her side. Willem took her hand and the two sat down in their seats while the priest began to read a few sermons on their behalf. He clenched her hand tightly as they sat, and he gave her a quick nod and smile as the priest announced it was time for the blessing. The queen stood and approached them. She beamed brightly at them both, clearly on the verge of tears. Though she was doing quite well in terms of holding herself together.
 
Amira had stared at Willem the whole time she had walked down the aisle. She saw him blush and she smiled almost blushing herself. When he took her hand she held on to him as if she would never let go. It was the most wonderful feeling she had had today. Well so far that is. She couldn't wait till everything was over. When the priest called them for the blessing she watched as Willem's mother approached them. Her heart swelled in love knowing that she was welcoming Amira to the family and she couldn't help but start to tear up herself. It was a good thing the marking on her face and the rest of her body were waterproof or they would have begun to smudge at her tears.
 
The queen began to recite a few prayers before dipping her fingers into a bowl of some dark green concoction that Willem could not remember the name of. She drew two horizontal lines on Amira's forehead and two vertical lines on each cheek. Again, Willem could not recall the meaning of the markings. He had never cared much for the spiritual parts of wedding ceremonies. When the queen was done, she recited another prayer before taking each of their hands. "Let them be blessed with the power of God, and let them have many children." She gave them each a quick smile and then returned to her seat next to King Barkwer. Then King Hadrian stood and made his way to them. Willem suddenly felt nervous. He had no indication that the southern king had grown to like him at all. But he hoped for the best.
 
King Hadrian walked over to Willem and recited the prayers that he had been instructed to pray. Some of it was his own words and some it wasn't. But he stuck his fingers in the same green concoction and made the same markings on his face that Amira had. At first his face was expressionless like he was giving a speech to his people. He began to say the next prayer which was similar to the first. Then he took his daughter's hand smiled at her, but when he took Willem's hand the smile faded. "Let them be blessed with long life and many nights together," he then looked at Willem and with a small smile he winked. He was opening up to the fact that his daughter loved this man and he trusted her to know what kind of man he was. Then as he turned his smile was gone and he went to sit back down. Amira blushed and smiled knowing that her father was beginning to except her relationship to Willem. After he sat down Amira turned back to Willem and smiled up at him.
 
Willem was relieved to see the smile on the king's face, regardless of how small it was. It might take some time before he completely accepted the situation, but it was good to know that he was at least going to try. He returned Amira's smile and was more than happy to see the spiritual segment finally come to a close. The priest stood up and delivered his final statement. "May the God above bless the new couple and the new kingdom that shall hold together as one." A roar of cheers went up from everyone present, and King Barkwer stood up wearing a large grin on his face. "Let the feast begin," he shouted heartily. The musicians immediately began playing their rhythmic melodies as casks of wine were rolled out to the tables. Willem and Amira were promptly escorted to their seats at the head table with their parents as well as Loxly. There was an eloquent banquet already prepared for them before they even took their seats, and the dancing had already begun. It was almost as if the war had been a distant memory to everyone. Southerners and northerners alike were happier than he had ever seen them.
 
When the priest said to let the feast begin she turned to Willem and boldly gave him the longest kiss she had ever given him. She wrapped her arms around him and pulled him in close. She could hear the cheers and whistles as he kissed back. When they pulled away she let him guide her to the table that they were sitting. His family was sitting next him and her father was sitting next to her. He gave her another kiss on the check and told her that he was proud of her. When the wine came out Amira laughed at all the men who ran to help to get it set up. They were helping more so they could get to the wine then actually trying to help. Everything seemed like a dream to her. She felt that if she hadn't been holding onto Willem's hand everything might fade away.
 
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