THE GREAT LADY OF ALKION

CHAPTER 27

"Where is Astrid, Luciana ?" Therese asked.
"I don't know my lady. I left her sleeping here last night and when I came in, she was not here," she said nervously. Her mistress had left just before her wedding to Prince Seti and this was bad news.
" I've sent some of my men to look for her," Fabian said.
" If she has really run away then that will count as deceiving the Egyptian king. Doing this is punishable by death," Aretha said with fear in her voice. She did not want to lose Astrid. For the wedding, she was dressed in a wide, short sleeved, red gown fastened with a black belt. Her hair was held back in a tight bun.
" We haven't found her," Charles said as he entered Astrid's chambers joining the others. Anthony came in next looking very annoyed.
" Where could she have gone ?" he roared at Luciana." It is your job to follow and  wait on her."
" I'm sorry sire but I left her sleeping last night but I couldn't find her today when I came to wake her up," she said after quickly kneeling before the furious king.
"How dare she !" Anthony said as his fist connected to the hardwood table beside him.
"Calm down father. We will find her," Therese said. She did not believe her own words as well. Could Astrid have run away so as to escape marriage ?
"My lord, the Egyptians and the guests have already settled and have been waiting for a while now. The bridal procession needs to begin soon," the royal butler reported.
"I swear that if she has run off,I will skin her alive once I see her," Anthony said." Maybe she eloped with Julian."
"I doubt that," Fabian began. I have seen Julian sitting with the other guests. Besides, she told us that she had broken her relations with him."
" It better be true because she could have hidden somewhere and sent him here so as not to arouse suspicion."
" Will you just have some trust in her ?" Charles said out of annoyance. " I believe that my daughter is honourable and she would not shame her family."
" She'd better," Anthony muttered.
Just then Astrid walked in and all eyes were on her with the numerous questions asking about where she was as Charles let out a sigh of relief.
"I fell asleep in the painting room. I didn't mean to be late," she replied calmly.
" But.." Anthony began.
"I am safe and that is what matters. I need to prepare immediately," interrupted.
Everybody left leaving Astrid, Therese and Luciana. The wedding gown had been neatly laid out on Astrid's bed. She took a bath in her tub scented with rose oils, a gift from the Egyptians so that the bride would have a pleasing scent and for her skin to be soft. It worked.
Luciana rubbed some oil on Astrid's body and afterwards her mother combed her hair and styled it into a low lovely bun leaving some loose curly strands on her temples. She smiled at the sight as her daughter was looking as beautiful as ever. Within minutes, her make up was done. It was a minimalistic touch. Her lips looked more rosy pink and her eyes lined with a hint of kohl that darkened her eyes a little. On her ears sat golden dangling earrings that brought out the spark in her eyes.
The cream dress looked heavenly on her and showed off her shoulders. The sleeves were puffy but tight at her wrists. The bodice was tight from her chest to her waist and flowed widely to the ground. The tailors had really put in their best effort to make her look like a goddess on her big day.
Luciana tied a small purple bow just beneath her bun and placed a gold tiara at the front. The tiara glistened adding more beauty to her.
"My baby looks beautiful," Therese said as she admired her daughter.
"Oh come on mother. I am a big girl right now."
"Well I don't care about that. You are still my baby and you're about to be married. I wish you all the best my child. May happiness and joy follow you into Egypt and may you prosper there."
"Thank you mother," she replied with a smile.
"Let's go. Everybody is waiting in the throne room."
"Here is your bouquet my lady," Luciana said as she handed Astrid her bouquet. It was made of thymes and lilies. The thyme was to ward off evil as the Egyptians had said.
In the throne room, everyone was becoming restless since the bride had taken too long and the Pharaoh could not deny that he thought that Anthony had duped him. He sat at the front next to Seti who sat silently and lost in thought. He was dressed in a black and gold outfit. His cape was gold in colour and it went well with his gold belt, gold neckpiece, gold band on his side lock and nemes head cloth. On the head cloth were two cobras made of gold jutting from it. His shirt and knee length skirt were all black and he wore silver rings on his index fingers.
"Khafirin!" he called.
"Yes my king."
"Go find out where the bride and her family are. Everyone is growing restless."
" Yes my king," he replied and when he turned back, the doors were opened and Anthony walked in followed by  Therese, Fabian and  Aretha who took the front seats as well. Soft music from the harps and violins was played. A royal tune for Alkion royal weddings to signify the entry of the bride into the room.
All stood up and in walked Charles hand in hand with Astrid. She was the embodiment of purity and innocence as she walked in slowly taking her time. The guests were very much impressed at the sight of the bride. Seti could not resist staring at her and she looked at him too as she walked down the aisle. He knew that he was a very lucky man to have her as his wife.
Smenkhhare looked at her cursing at himself for marrying Meritaten. He always felt ashamed of her and never did he love her. She was indeed the lasting symbol of his past mistake. He hated every minute of the wedding that had just began and he felt jealous when he saw his younger brother lock eyes with Astrid as she walked towards him.