Starstruck II: Saruman's Curse

Till Death Do Us Part (Sultan AU)

   On the first of July, everyone throughout the land rejoiced, for it was a very special day. It was the Sultans birthday. Everyone celebrated the loved (and feared) Sultans birthday. She lived at the top of the hill, overlooking the city, in her white and gold palace. This birthday was a special one because the sultan was also getting married. She was adding another member to her harem and this was definitely a reason to celebrate. A wedding and a birthday. Quite the celebration.

Cas had seen the sultan's kind of parties before, every one of them since he was a servant of the palace, but he had never known the likes of this one. This one was going to be a night to remember. Or weekend. Or week, depending on when the sultan decided she wanted the party to end. At that moment, Cas was helping some of the other servants collect glassware for the banquet room. The banquet room was almost the size of the palace ballroom. The banquet hall was an oval shaped room. There were several, ornate doors around the sides. Decorative pillars lined the perimeter with braziers in between. There was a shallow pit in the center of the room where performances were often held. Around the pit were all the tables. The tables, like everything else, were hand carved, ornately decorative. They were low to the ground, as were the chairs. Some tables had plush cushions instead of chairs. At one end of the oval room, the floor was raised and on that was a long table. In the center was a high backed chair and around that were other shorter, but no less fancy, chairs. This was where the sultan and her harem sat.

Cas set up stacks of plates on a long table that would later hold all the different dishes that the guests would bring. The table was draped in a gold silk. Another servant handed Cas another stack of plates and he set them with the other plates. Any minute now, guests would be arriving. The preparations were almost done.

"We need to go get dressed," said someone behind Cas. He turned around and saw Steve, another servant of the palace. Cas and Steve got along fine, but Cas found Steve a bit annoying. Cas looked around. Many of the servants were leaving, no doubt going to their quarters to get dressed for the party. Cas and Steve left the banquet room and went to the servant's quarters. The quarters were located in the back of the palace. It was no less decorated than the rest of the palace, but the rooms were definitely smaller. Cas's room was shared with two other people: Harry and Kevin. Harry and Kevin were younger than Cas, but not by much. Cas was certain that those two were secretly lovers. He didn't want to bring it up though.

Harry and Kevin were already in their room when Cas got there. They were changing.

"Hey Cas!" said Harry. "Are you ready for the partaaaay?"

"I'm so stoked for this rager!" said Kevin.

Cas shrugged. Parties weren't really his thing. He dug his silk uniform out of his chest and started changing.

When Cas left the servants headquarters, guests had already began arriving. Everyone was in a tizzy about who the sultan was marrying. Only the sultan's personal servants were allowed to see them. Cas knew he was sure curious. He couldn't wait for the wedding. Cas looked into the banquet room. There were guests from all over the world. There was the young king of Spain, a handsome young man in over the top clothes. His regal, serious six year old brother stood behind him. The Spanish dignitary, who was laughing with some of the other guests, was a huge, obese man who wore a bib over his royal clothing. He was ready for dinner.

The Japanese representative was there with his wife and daughter. This man was in his sixties. He was short, had a thin mustache and long sideburns hat were shaved into separate cubes. He wore full samurai armor that still had bullets stuck in it. His armor went to his feet, and on his left leg, all the way around, was his war medals. His armor was so shiny and polished, one could see their own reflection in the shimmering bronze. He held his four year old daughter aloft on his shoulders. His wife was the picture of elegance. She held her head high, her elaborate hairstyle immaculate.