How I Met Hena Chakelithp

Chapter 17. Before the Wedding

It started out as a typical June. Kaliana celebrated her ninth birthday with streamers and cake. Hena and I swam in the pond on my island a lot. The inn was taking a lot more customers, as summer was nearly upon us and more people were taking vacations.
Then, one hot, sunny day while Hena and I were resting on my front steps, drinking lemonade and talking, I suddenly heard the sound of footsteps.
"What's that?" I said.
"Someone's coming," Hena stated the obvious.
"Who?" I said.
"Dunno," Hena said.
A few moments later, someone appeared on the path that led from my house to the coast. The person was running very fast and had short, light brown hair which covered his face. He ran up to us and shook the hair away.
It was Arvern.
"Srarori!" he panted.
"What?" I was rather alarmed by his sudden arrival, but nonetheless happy to see him.
"Varnith's--getting--married!" he forced out. Though he looked tired and was clearly out of breath, there was an unmistakable wide smile on his red, sweaty face.
"That's so great!" Hena grinned. "A June wedding! I'm so happy for her!"
"Come in and have some lemonade," I said. "It's warm, but it's good."
Arvern nodded weakly, trudged in, and plopped down on a chair.
"Why did you need to tell us?" I asked.
"Varnith wants you to be a bridesmaid," said Arvern when he had regained his breath.
There was a rush of exhilaration inside me.
"Oh my Valiara!" I said. "Really?"
"That's what she asked me to tell you!" Arvern beamed.
"I'm so excited!" I burst out. "I've never done something like this before!"
"I'm one of the groomsmen!" said Arvern.
Hena suddenly ran over and hugged me around the neck. "This is so wonderful!"
"Who is the groom?" I asked. I didn't know Varnith very well, so I didn't know about her romantic life.
"A man named Pemlon Baomi!" he said. "He's from Hariba!" At this point, Arvern started prancing around. It looked rather silly.
"What do I wear?" I said.
"A dress. Whatever you got, I dunno," Arvern sang, still jumping around like a six-year-old girl. "Or care," he added. "I bet you'll both look pretty." Hena gave me a smile which I thought I understood: She was congratulating me because Arvern had said I would look pretty, which I was indeed very happy about.
"So I'm invited too?" she said.
"Yeah!" Arvern said. "Aranee also!"
"Who are the other bridesmaids?" I said enthusiastically.
"You, Kudika, Pemlon's two sisters, and another girl named Sedalhil Helmar. She's the daughter of one of our family friends!"
"Who's marrying them?" I said.
"Lania Kiln!" Arvern said. "She's a priestess, and also a member of Hariba's Parliament!"
"Awesome!" I shouted. "When does this wedding happen?"
"Next Saturday!" Arvern responded merrily.
"Woo-hoo!" Hena cheered. "We're going to a wedding!"
"Yeah!" I sang. She and I joined hands and danced in circles.
"I gotta go," said Arvern. "I need to help prepare."
"Good luck!" I yelled as he ran off.
Hena and I continued to dance and sing.

***

I had only two dresses in my entire wardrobe. I didn't wear dresses very often, so I never had felt the urge to buy dozens of them, the way some other girls did. But fortunately, I preferred the one that Hena did not, and she preferred the one that I did not, so we didn't need to argue.
Mine was a light blue cotton one which came down just below the knees and had a flouncy petticoat. Hena's was a lacy lavender one which was ankle-length and had a tight waist. I combed my hair and washed it so that it would be sleek and glossy come Saturday. Hena decided to put her hair into two braids and tuck a flower into each one. We rubbed clay on our faces to minimize the chance of any pimples. And when the wedding day finally came, we were in perfect shape.

I mounted Staliku. It felt strange with the dress, but it was fine. We rode to Arvern's house, but when we got there at eight o'clock, all we saw was...
The normal stone building. No decorations, no people, no nothing. I knocked on the door. An old woman answered. She looked tired and uncomfortable, like she had the flu.
"Hello," I said. "Isn't there a wedding happening here?"
"No," said the old woman. "I'm Varnith's grandmother. I'm not coming. I'm very sick. The wedding is at Pemlon's house."
"Where's that?" I asked politely.
"In Hariba Hin." she said.
"Hariba Hin?" I said. Hariba Hin was all the way over on the Hariba Peninsula, the farthest possible place from Asluncia.
"Yes," the woman said.
"Hena! We need to go!" I said. "Fast! I don't want to be late!" I was terrified.
Hena and I rushed onto our dragons and flew as fast as we could to Hariba Peninsula.
It took forty-five minutes.

When we finally arrived at Hariba Hin, we had a heck of a time finding the place. We had to ask around all over for where the wedding was happening, and when we finally found it, it took another fifteen minutes to GET THERE.
So we were an hour late to the wedding.

When we arrived at Pemlon's house, it was beautifully decorated with garlands and streamers. About thirty dragons were gathered outside. Hena and I walked up to the stoop and I knocked on the door.
A tall girl with long brown hair down to her waist who looked about fourteen answered it. She was very pretty, in a dress of pale orange.
"Are you Srarori? You're late! Varnith and Pemlon are about to exchange vows! I was just about to get in my place as a bridesmaid!" She didn't say this kindly.
"I'm very sorry, I thought the wedding was at Varnith's house," I said, slightly ashamed.
"You must have been wrong," said the girl. "By the way, I'm Sedalhil Helmar," she said out of politeness. She looked at us as though she would rather be doing anything else than talking to us.
Sedalhil led us to the back yard of the house, where music was playing. A wooden arch adorned with flowers, berries, and vines was set up in front of a stone aisle. Everyone was sitting in chairs in the backyard, chatting. Hena whispered in my ear as we went our separate ways (me next to the bridesmaids, Hena into the crowd as a guest).
"She's not very nice."
"I agree," I whispered back.
I took my place next to Kudika, Sedalhil, and two girls who didn't look like siblings in the least, even though I knew they were sisters. I gave Arvern a wave, which he returned with a smile.
"You, uh, look nice," he said.
My heart swelled. "You too!" I replied.

Suddenly a woman wearing a long red robe walked into the scene. I assumed she was Lania Kiln, the priestess who Arvern had mentioned. She clapped her hands and the whole yard instantly fell silent. She spoke, needing no amplification, as the whole crowd made not a sound except the soft music from the band behind the crowd.
"Today we are here to celebrate the union of two loving hearts: Varnith Hish and Pemlon Baomi. Their love has endured for three years, seven months, and nineteen days, over the long distance between Varnith's home in Asluncia Hin and Pemlon's home here on Hariba Peninsula. Today is the day they shall promise to be together for all eternity.
Before they wed, their families and friends would like to say a few words."
A middle-aged woman in a lavish gray gown and hat sauntered up to where the priestess was standing. She gave a speech about how her son, Pemlon, had grown up, and it gave her sadness to know he was no longer a child, but also overwhelming joy.
Next was Kudika. She told the crowd about how she and Varnith had met in their job and since become best friends. She told them that she couldn't express her happiness that Varnth had found someone she truly loved, and that she hoped they would find happiness together.
A few more relatives made speeches, and when it was all over, the priestess took over again.
"Now that the speeches have concluded, we come together in the hope that Varnith Hish and Pemlon Baomi shall find as much true happiness with each other as can be."
She bowed her head and spread her hands.
"Let the ceremony begin."