A Royal Marriage

Page 12

"Here and there. Visiting, shopping, things like that. There's a very beautiful market I would love to show you some time." I'd make sure to make the time to spend with him. Perhaps I'd pick a day. Sunday his mother invited us to tea. Perhaps we'd make Sunday the day to spend with his family and I'd take Saturday to spend just him and I. during the week we'd be busy and with mother in the evenings. It would work out well I think. As time for supper came I took him down and freshened up then headed for the court. The room went quiet as we were announced and then sat to eat. We chatted about the court and he had several idea's on afternoon visits and such to get to know the court before the wedding. Afterward he'd have tons of invites as well. He was serious about being my ears and eyes among the nobility. I was glad. He'd be a good king I was sure. That night I let him sleep, just kept his body close to mine as we slept.

The four weeks till the wedding seemed to fly by. As I prepared and dressed I hoped that he wasn't too nervous. Mother had insisted that we sleep separate last night. I didn't have any idea how he was doing this morning. I pushed the worry from my mind and lifted my formal robes. They were full length to my ankles, down to my wrist. A beautiful emerald green had been made for me with my signature yellow as trim. I knew that Efren would be in robes that would match but his, in keeping with tradition, would be double layered. The formal embroidered robe would be over a second robe that would be a complimenting color. Mother had chosen my yellow. They would be actually sewn closed over him. It was meant as a showing that he was pure untouched and mine solely. He was definitely touched, but he'd been pure for me so I wasn't worried about it. I'd told him to wear no undergarments today. He'd been unsure of doing it but I knew he'd do it for me. I wore none either. I wanted nothing to hamper my if I chose to be intimate with him if I could.

My bedroom door opened and I turned to see my mother enter.

"Mother you should be resting till the ceremony."

"Posh. I feel fine. I've come to see if you were ready yet and then I was going to sit in the hall. I can rest just fine in there." I nodded. Efren had been right she was declining faster than she wanted to acknowledge or me to realize. He spent all day every day with her. I was thankful for that. I knew he would mourn her deeply when she died. I pushed the thought away and smiled at my mother.

"If I fall asleep during the ceremony it's not my fault. I slept horribly without his wonderfully slim body next to mine. But I do have a bit of news that will brighten this day even further for you." she raised an eyebrow.

"Oh?" I smiled and went to take her hands.

"Well it seems my soon to be husband, is a rather potent man. I saw the healer yesterday. I'm going to have a baby."

"Oh my girl." my mother exclaimed and hugged me as tight as she could.

"That's wonderful. Yes indeed that is bright news indeed. I knew that young man had to be something if you were so entranced with him. I hear that you took over a guard tower the other day." I smiled.

"Efren is a man who might blush easy but he's got a passion that is very satisfying. did you know he's got the court already loving him. He spends his days with you but he corresponds with many of the courts, well their husbands at least. He's universally appreciated by all I hear."

"He'll be seen in a new light when they find you got pregnant right away. That has just made this day perfect. Does he know then?"

"No. I was going to wait for a good moment today. I know he'll be happy. He's spoken of children many times."

"Well you finish getting ready. His mother is here and already sniffling. She loves her son dearly and while she wants him to marry and have a good life, giving him up is making her hold tight today."

"She's a fine woman. A little soft for all her children but a good woman. She'll be a fine grandmother. So will you. I think you've already started stock piling things for a baby." mother laughed.

"That I have. None of it you get till the baby is born, or if I die before they get here."

"Mother."

"I know you don't like to speak of it but it's going to happen whether you like it or not. Just promise me if I don't get to see my grandchild that you don't make my life into some grandiose tail. I am a plain woman and no saint. I want them to see me as I am, or was, not as a fairy tale creature. Alright?"

"Alright. But don't give up on me. I want you to see the daughter I'm going to have."

"Sure that it's a daughter are you?"

"Oh yes. Mark my words it'll be a girl."

"We'll see. Get ready. I'll see you down there girl." she turned and left a little wobbly. She was pushing herself today. I'd have to make sure she rested as much as I could get her too.

When I was ready I headed to the main hall. It was decorated with the emerald and yellow to match our robes. On the dias behind the priestess who stood ready were two circlets. Mother had insisted that with my wedding my crowning would take place. I would be wife and queen both today. It was in cases like this simply added onto the vows and second prayer was given to bless my ruling of the nation. I had insisted that mine and Efren's circlets denoting our rise to queen and King were identical but for type of metal. Mine by tradition was gold, his was silver. But I had insisted they be identical in carvings and jewels. The carving was of an ivy design with diamonds of yellow and green emeralds spaced evenly around them. I quite liked them. I knew that Efren would consider them to be too much. We only need wear them on formal occasions, day to day we'd have simple thin gold and silver circlets to wear. I was sure he'd only wear it because he had to. If he was given a choice I was sure he'd not want too. Efren was waiting, again as tradition dictated, in an anti chamber nearby. When it was time I would wait mid way up a center aisle for him. His mother would walk him out and give me his hand. The first half of the walk denoted his life till he met me. The second half with me was our meeting and our moving into the future together. i knew when it was time mother signaled to the trumpeters. A call went through the large hall. Everyone silenced and moved into nice neat rows to each side of the room. I moved to my position on a carpet laid out denoting the path of life. A second trumpet sounded this one more melodic.