The cathedral was filled with warm light that trickled inside portion after portion, cut into pieces and tainted in different colours by the countless streaks of lead that held together the colourful glass pieces of the high windows. The structure seemed so massive and light at the same time, its high arches and sky-piercing towers extending endlessly. The main nave was so high, one felt dizzy when tilting the head back to behold it all. All this glass! How did these walls not crumble and collapse at once?
A faint cough interrupted her contemplation. "Miss Larentia, please. Our king will arrive any moment."
Larentia nodded and looked down again. The few people gathered had kept silent since she and Hildred had arrived. The vassal who had brought them to the castle was present as well, standing a few metres ahead, further into the cathedral's nave, while Hildred and Larentia remained in the back. All three vassals were dressed in the same ceremonial garment. The dense cloth shimmered blue in the light, but seemed black otherwise. It was adorned with golden ornaments – few in number, but all the more intricate. The head priest had already taken his position on the far end of the main nave and stood motionless like the massive stone pillars that surrounded him. Soft light fell onto his shoulders and glistened brightly.
There was another person present she had not yet been introduced to. They stood somewhat removed, on the side of the main hallway that separated the rows of wood benches. Removed indeed, but still much closer to the head priest than anyone else, which seemed to indicate status. With a content grin on their old fox face, they leaned on a roughly carved walking stick and seemed quite amused.
Larentia decided to concentrate again and carefully straightened the cloth of her new dress anew.
Then everyone's ears twitched at a solitary knock on the door. The oldest vassal whose stern face she was already familiar with gave a swift hand sign and the small society of wedding guests took up their respective positions. The door wings swung open and the vassal, now in front of the gate, bowed elegantly.
"My king", he greeted and Larentia's heart jumped violently. The king! She and Hildred bowed so deeply, they could only catch glimpses of the two men's feet striding past them, but the king's aura alone sufficed to make Larentia uneasy. His presence was so palpable, there was no need to look up to fathom how tall and massive his body was.
After the two highest ranking men present had reached the altar, the guests rose again and found their respective places. They were supposed to silently await the arrival of the bride now.
"He looks splendid", Hildred whispered as faintly as possible. Chest puffed in pride, her eyes were pinned to her former fosterling and wouldn't let go for a second.
"Indeed", Larentia joined Hildred in her praise. And just you wait for my Iris, she added inside her mind.
What would she look like now? Never had she been apart from her little girl for longer than a few hours. The reports by the other maids and Hildred, who had all had the privilege to go meet her, had only served so much as to ease her gravest worries. She knew, the girl was safer now than ever before when they had still lived in constant fear of some ill-minded rovers coming across their little hideout. But Iris had never stopped looking like a small, innocent child to her who needed protection from an overly violent world. And yet, her lovely foster-child was none anymore. She was a young woman now who would marry today.
A click and metallic scraping on the stone floor announced a new arrival. The king and his whole entourage turned to the gate. Bright light pushed the door wings apart and blinded their eyes for a moment, then the silhouette of a voluminous skirt became apparent. A few steps were made and all eyes widened. Larentia caught a glimpse of the king's usually so stern face that seemed a little baffled all of a sudden. As the echo of the soft steps drew nearer, his lips separated slightly in an amazement that was obviously impossible to disguise completely.
YOU ARE READING
Without Words, Without Sight
Fantasy"And in the distance between these eyes that did not see, and this voice that did not resound, he put the flowers and fruit he had picked to describe the scent she had to him. As he put them all into her arms, she understood with a graceful smile. P...
