Their reception as they entered the castle was gratefully received. All was anxious for their future king and queen's safe return. As their carriages pulled through the gates, they could all hear the trumpets and cheers of everyone there. The king and queen themselves were more then pleased when they saw their daughter climb out of the carriage, holding her mate's hand.
Keira stepped out of the coach with the help of Conor's hand. She thanked him politely before following Sylvia's quick steps into the castle.
After all the formalities were said and done, they were escorted to their rooms. They were told that a feast was in preparation for them was to be ready when the maids came to get them. Keira sat in her room pondering about nothing in particular when Sylvia burst through her door with an uncomfortable air. She looked as her sister quickly shut the door and locked it. "Is something wrong, Sylvia?"
Sylvia glanced around the room before running to her sister's bed and face-planting on it. She fleetingly looked around the room again before sitting up and staring at the pillow in her hands. She tried to speak but each time she did her face would flush a deep red and she'd remain quiet.
"Speak up already!" Keira threw the pillow at Sylvia's face.
Sylvia bit her lip. "Do you know how marriage works around here?!" Sylvia's face went a scarlet red and she held the pillow tightly to her chest.
"Yes," Keira scrunched her brows in mild confusion, "what about it?"
"What about it?! Sis! Their marriages aren't like back home! They have to have," Sylvia paused and spoke in a harsh whisper, "intercourse!" Sylvia waited for her sister to say something to help console her but all she got was Keira's slow smile and a burst of laughter.
"Sis, it's not funny!" Sylvia yelled in distraught. She began hitting Keira with the pillow in an attempt to make her stop laughing; Keira laughed even more. She huffed and pushed Keira off the bed.
"Omph!" Keira sat up and tried to refrain from laughing. She wiped the tears from her eyes that had spilled onto her face from laughing so much. She tried to put on a composed look but she couldn't help the huge smile that slipped onto her face. She took a deep breath before she spoke, "Okay, so your problem is what exactly?"
Slyvia glared momentarily at her sister before blushing a deep red. "I-I don't want to get married like- uh, you know, in that way." Sylvia turned her head away in embarrassment.
Keira fell back off the bed in laughter and continued laughing until Sylvia jumped on her. "Syl! Get off!"
"Not until you stop laughing! This is serious!" Keira laughed again and was elbowed in the stomach. "Sis!"
"Okay, okay!" Keira shoved Sylvia off of her and sat up. "I really don't see what the problem is! You love the boy, don't you?"
"Yes, but-"
"There's no but. If you love him then you'd want to be with him for eternity. So this shouldn't be awkward for you at all."
"I know that." Sylvia glanced down at her hands and twined her fingers. "But I've always wanted that big wedding, you know? Flower girls throwing petals on the ground, the ring bearer holding the wedding rings on a small white cushion, the bride walking down the aisle in a gorgeous silk dress, and the groom as charming as ever; waiting for his Beloved to make his towards him.
"Then after they say there vows, they'd run out the church and into a white pearl carriage that rode off into the sunset. Everyone would be cheering and wishing them a happy marriage as they waved to them." Sylvia paused for a moment, "And out of all that, I really wanted you there. I wanted to see you wearing a beautiful dress standing off to the side as my maid of honor."
Keira's eyes were filled with sympathy and warmth. She always knew that Sylvia had her whole wedding planned out.
~*~
Alexander examined the strands of silk and fabric that splayed across the room. "You called for me?"
"Yes," Keira spoke as she pinned a needle to the side of the manikin. "You have priests here, do you not?"
"Yes, they live down by the church. Why?"
"I would like to speak to one." Keira made her way to the sewing kit that laid on her desk and sewed two pieces of an opal colored fabric together.
"Why, may I ask, is the reason for that?"
"You ask too many questions. We are going to be holding a wedding." Keira held up the pieces of fabric too examine and made alterations to them.
Alexander was completely bewildered. "Are you getting married? With whom? You do know that marriages work differently here, right?"
Keira glared at Alexander. "I am not getting married; you are, you idiot! Now will you please send someone to help me with this dress! I've got a wedding to plan!"
"I'll send our best tailors to help you," Alexander gave her a bazaar look before attempting to edge his way out the door.
"Don't you dare leave this room! I'm not done speaking to you!" Keira yelled.
Alexander ascertained himself and cautiously closed the door. He sat a fair distance away from where Keira was and did his best to seem composed.
Keira strode over to a table where she rummaged over papers until she found the one she wanted. She shoved it at him and said, "I want the largest garden you have here decorated with everything on that list! Do you understand me?!" She didn't wait for a reply. "Make sure you put everything exactly how it shows on that design," she jabbed her finger at the blueprint. "I don't want anything out of place, do you understand?!" Again, she didn't wait for an answer and shoved him out the door, reminding him to bring someone to help her.
~*~
"What on earth is going on here?" Ambrose stared across the vast garden with bewilderment. There were round, marble tables set up everywhere with orchid petals beautifully arranged on them. There was a fountain that sparkled in the sunlight with even more orchids placed decoratively around them.
"My Lord, it's for Prince Alxander's and Princess Sylvia's wedding," a servant murmured with their head bowed.
Ambrose raised a brow. "Wedding?"
"Yes, sir. What I've heard from Lady Keira, it is a matrimonial ceremony that they have in the other world when two people are to be bound to one another."
Ambrose's temper grew to a raging level. "Where is Lady Keira?," he asked with disdain.
"She is in the west wing on the third level, My Lord," the servant spoke uncomfortably.
"I see," he muttered. He waved the servant off and made his way into the castle with purpose.
