Chapter 55: Last Visitor
Raindrops fell lazily along the large window, the morning rain had lifted some fog, the light filtered along the grey clouds. The temperature was getting colder, the line that separated summer and fall was the setting for the wedding. He had worried about heavy rain, but it would not be the case, the sky would be clear by noon.
The nervousness had him head to the barracks for stretching, unsurprisingly he found a curious group of like-minded individuals. Sir Belmont, Sir Larouse, Sir Lois, Siv and Percy. Since the castle and the city were filled with the guests for the wedding, most of the armsman had duties, so there were almost no spectators. Percy had been the first to arrive, he was tired of missing the 'action' as he put it.
Their training became a couple of sparring matches, while everyone had two, he ended with one more. Percy was adamant in facing Siv and himself. He proved a decent match for Siv, exchanging a couple of hits, he preferred the lance and mace, and chose the mace to spar with Siv. When it was their turn he tried with the lance, he was a fierce attacker, but he had a poor defense, once he managed to break through the spar was done.
Larouse and Belmont had a truly intense fight, they knew each other well, Belmont had an advantage, he controlled the battle, but it was an amazing thing to watch. His fight with Siv was more one sided, after witnessing his duel with Belmont, Siv exploited every one of his openings, but the bearded bear like man enjoyed the challenge.
His spar with Belmont was too physical, they chose sword and shield, they thought it was a good idea, but the following onslaught proved otherwise, still it serve the initial purpose of getting rid of his nervousness. Lastly, he squared off with Sir Larouse, the man had more power than Belmont but much less technique, but the man was fierce, he pushed despite the risk, making him a dangerous opponent. By the time they had finished, the rain had stopped, and the clouds had stopped gathering.
This was the last day before the wedding, after their bout, they all prepared for the day. Despite the many guests, breakfast was kept a little more familiar, with only house Lunebleau and Beaumont as well as his sisters. The royal duke had gone to entertain the nobles staying outside the castle.
The wedding arrangements were the things for the day, his sisters were aiding Frey and so was Pan, he on the other hand had gone to receive his nephew, the duke of Lach. He was standing near the teleportation incantation, the number of guards had increased exponentially as the castle was filled with guests, and some of them would be coming the same way, most notably princess Loraine and a couple of ladies assisting her, among them Sir Larouse betrothed, lady Velden.
It had not been more than then minutes since he had arrived when the incantations lit up, he could see the traces of magic flooding the marks of the incantation as the spell traced the location, after a moment the room was filled with light as the exchange of magic was finished. At the center of the room was the earl of Lach, he was a couple of years older than him and a little smaller. He had the distinct wavy hair of the Lachdanan family, the color however was inherited from his mother a dusky blonde contrasting the common dark hues of their family.
Sebastian Lachdanan portrayed an imposing personality, after a quick glance around the room, he greeted him with his distinct nod
"Well, if it isn't the man of the moment, you are looking good for an uncle"
"Glad to see you got the hang of teleportation, I feared you might still get sick, so I have everyone skip meeting you here"
"I was six, and I held my vomit until we left the room" after a moment they traded a familiar hug.
"Glad to have you hear, this is the château Lunebleau, come the preparations are in full swing, I'll take you to the rest of the family" they left heading for the courtyard.
"I need to meet this lady Frey; she has changed you"
"Why you say that?"
"Have you not agreed to watch over the north?" he stopped for a moment "I was called by your father yesterday; I bring an edict from him" Sebastian touched at a leather case he had on his belt.
"Right, then after you greeted everyone, we'll had a chance to speak privately"
"Sounds good to me, your sisters and Pan need to be present, as well as lord Finean"
"Certainly" his father had told him there would be and edict, he had not expected Sebastian to bring it, nor for it to be a priority "Come, I think you'll like the place, weather is a little like Danan"
"Looks like it, the walls are not as sturdy as ours, but they seem well thought of" Danan was a land made by strife, their castles were a reflection o that. After the empire had been founded, the capital Vanyr, had been founded at the edge of Danan and the Londen Forest, as the Empire grew, Danan had been left in charge of uncle Reman, from there the home of the Lachdanan family ended in the hands of Sebastian, the earl of Lach.
"They are, the castle at Loire's capital on the other hand is more a palace"
"To each its own I say" as the passed the courtyard, it was clear the castle was in an uproar, the castle staff was moving about in frenzy, the wedding would be in the outside courtyard facing the north wall, people were moving all over as they finished the last arrangements for the wedding.
"I heard your fiancée has a lovely sister, and that the princess of Loire is not half bad, is there any chance you could give me a hand there?"
"I thought you were engaged with lady Lewes, what happened?" last he heard Sebastian was engaged with another noble family from Danan.
"It seems lord Lewes considered it would be better to expand his influence and found another suitor for lady Lewes and Emir from Ran Crete" Sebastian was more annoyed than upset.
"I'm sorry to hear about it"
"Don't be, lady Lewes is certainly not happy with her father's decision" Sebastian had always been a supporter of keeping Danan from mixing with the rest of the Empire, sure it worked and made use of the imperial trade routes and benefits, but he liked to keep things as they were for as much as possible.
"Right…"
"I always wondered what kind of woman you fancied; lady Frey certainly has a particular charm" Sebastian said happily
"Thank you…"
"There's work to do, come on, let's see father's edict" Lucy interrupted, she and Sebastian had never had a good relationship.
"Lucy's right, there's work to be done" Sebastian was about to argue but sopped once Vania agreed with her sister.
"Understood, is addressed for you Aedrik, so here take it" they were in a small solar at the second floor the main wing of the castle. He had told Frey about the edict, after he had introduced Sebastian to her, and she suggested they used the space.
He took the edict from the leather case, it was sealed with the seal of house Lachdanan le Fay, with the stamp of the emperor. He broke the seal and unfolded the parchment for everyone to read it. The edict addressed his appointment as the highest authority in the north, it also defined the limits of what would be the limits of the territorial division of what would be his domain, he was being appointed the Archon of Neuven, as his domain would be called.
Nueven was made up as he had told Frey about it, what used to be the Leven territories, a small part of Strauss, the northern edge of the Londen Forest and the first men pass to Danan and Ashran, not only was he the Archon, the edict made him high Judge, granted him the right to a piece of land once he had married, it would also formally give his wife the charge of high advisor within his domain. Finally, it asked for a formal response regarding what would be considered the capital of the new domain, but it was expected to be delivered in a few months.
There was not much surprise in his sisters or Pan face, but Sebastian surely had not been properly explained what was about to happen. Levi had sent him a message confirming that the edicts regarding the new land distribution were on their way, the Empire was about to face one of it's the biggest changes since it had been founded.
"The emperor explanation was a little shorter than this, I never expected you would accept the charge of the north" Sebastian was the first to talk, his initial surprise passed, he gave him a little pat on the back.
"High Judge, I'm glad, I think that will solve a lot of problems ahead" Pan added after a moment, he had spent too much time with him in the north, he understood the importance of that appointment.
"That's nice and all, but you are going to get married tomorrow, and there's too many things pending, come with us Sebastian, even you could be of use, you wait here Aedrik, you should have a word with Frey" Lucy left no doubt on her words, and her sisters started pushing Pan and Sebastian out of the room.
He was left alone in the room not for long, Frey came a few minutes after the rest had left. He felt a rush after she smiled at him when she entered the solar, 'easy, she is just happy to see you', he had to remind himself.
"How is it going?"
"I don't remember mother being so nervous with Luka's wedding, but Aunt Liliane said she is doing better, I guess I didn't pay so much attention back then" he went to where she was, he felt an impulse to hold her hands.
"I am no expert, but I think we are almost ready, but if you are also nervous, we could stop, there's nothing I ever wanted more, but for you, I'll wait" she had been biting her lower lip, her mother often called on her about it, but he loved it. She looked at him straight in the eyes, something worried her.
"Are you so nervous, you want to move the date?" her eyes were daring, how could someone so small exert so much pression.
"I am terrified Frey" she blinked slowly "I have seen how much you love your home and family, I'm scared to death you will miss them too much, I worry you won't have enough time for reading, I… offered you myself, I admit I am nervous it won't be enough, and then I see you, and I smile, I love you, as long as I place my heart and mind there's nothing else to do, I'm yours, but the thing that sets everything apart, is that when I reach for you hand, you take mine. Two hearts beating together, that's the most wondrous thing, I look at you and I feel calm and at the same time restless, you smile, and everything goes away, am I making sense? I thought I was" he stopped as she was looking at him and got closer to him.
"Mmm, I am not sure, but it's good to hear I am not the only one who's nervous"
"You were upset when you got back to the east hall, before you were taken by the rest of the ladies, can I do anything about it?" he had been meaning to ask about it, but then he didn't want her to think he was so possessive, she nodded slowly.
"I was approached by lord Monet, the second son of duke Monet" she took a step from him, but her hands were still on his "He asked me to marry him…" she looked straight into his eyes, he felt something building inside him and yet he was calm, he nodded for her to continue "He was worried our engagement was purely political, that the empire might had forced the issue on the kingdom… I corrected him, on both accounts" the uneasiness he felt stopped, she was worried… a smile escaped him "Why? are you smiling?" her eyebrows went up.
"I feel fortunate for having you Frey, a chance meeting, I'll never complain about it, but I could not understand why you had no other suitors. I feel at ease knowing you already set things straight, thank you for telling me about it, I want your ideas and attention, your words, and desires, I want your everything Frey, I place the same on the line. It matters because we both want the other" they both stared at the other, their hands intertwined, so close to one another.
"It is not my place to act on lord Monet's words, not until you have and answer, from this point on, I will act in consequence, unless you want me not to" he was out of line in acting on her behalf, but once she had, he would not have someone else pushing her, he hoped he was being clear about it, she nodded slowly after a moment.
"I… thank you, Aedrik" she looked at him and he could not help a smile for her "Now, what is this about?" he handed her the edict.
"It is official, I did not know I would also be given the rank of high judge, it's another responsibility, It will help as the north changes though" the north was one of the territories in the empire with not a formal council, he and Frey wanted to work for it, once it was ready he could leave most of the ruling for it, judges would be needed, but until they manage to find the right people for the job, his appointment would be invaluable.
"I understand the intention, I think it would be better if we did not have to depend on it" he noticed her eyes were once more worrying, she felt his stare "We've talked about it, but it is always different once things happen"
"Like the wedding"
"I was too nervous, anxious, I still am, but there also excitement and hope" she smiled lazily, her eyes full of intent "The impending move to the north made me nostalgic and even a little scared, but I am not anymore, I am glad we talked with my father and mother yesterday" they had found a moment to speak with lord and lady Lunebleau about their plans after the weeding, he wanted to believe having not touched the issue before gave them enough time to come to terms with the idea, Frey's voice had not failed her like it had before, it seemed she was ready.
"I am sorry" part of him still felt he was taking her away from her live, she came closer to him, hugged him close to her.
"Enough, I am feeling many things, exhilarated, trembling, passionate… ebullient, I want us to be together, part of me was even upset, I was so thrilled about us, as if I was about to take a step on air, my heart is inflamed and yet it feels safe because of you" they were to close to each other, could she feel how weightless her words made him, how she was his center?
"Have I ever told you how lovely you are?" the rosy tone of her blush elated him, the gentle look in her eyes "We should get back, otherwise I don't think I could wait until tomorrow" she bit her lip and smiled nodding, he was only half joking, his hands were blazing as she parted from him.
"Indeed, we should… everything is set for our departure after the wedding, right?" he often wondered if she wanted, what he did, the response of flesh of what the heart and mind felt, her eyes had the answer.
"It is"
"Good, let's finish the preparations" they left the solar after a moment.
"Four months! Isn't it a bit to apart?" Danielle asked surprised "You set the date in less than three months for THIS wedding, what changed?" they were at the end of dinner, for all they had distinguished guests, they were having this last dinner with only their closest friends and family, the royal duke and his wife had been accepted as part of their close circle the past days, everything was ready for the wedding tomorrow, now was the talk of what would come after the event.
"We could have a closer date if we did it in Vanyr, but we want to do it in the north, we will set for the place once we have been there" Aedrik explained
"He is known as the North Star; it would be a missed opportunity otherwise" she added happily. She and Aedrik had been discussing the same subject, her mother had let the date rest as the preparations occupied her time, but they had told her their decision yesterday, when they talked with them.
"The start of winter, the north is cold, I guess we should consider extra layers of clothing" Lea said to her left.
"It it's the start of winter, the last rains and cold winds, but still manageable, a couple of more weeks and it would have been a real ordeal" Aedrik was trying to reassure them, but most of the woman did not feel relieved by his words.
"Just as long as we are far from the Boreal Glades, otherwise if would not matter if you chose summer, place is frigid, like hugging a large chunk of ice, sometimes the wind picks up and you have to protect your face" Pan said with relief to their date.
"Danan has a more manageable weather if you have some doubts about a venue" Aedrik's nephew, the earl of Lach added gladly "Aedrik's is also very well respected on our family ancient home"
"So does the Londen Forest, and the eastern border" Vanya intervened with her serious demeanor, after spending some time with her she was sure the princess was not being rude to the earl, it was the way she spoked.
"If its just by popularity, Aedrik has some followers in Ashran and Crete as well, but it would not be the same, I'll like what you want to do, Levi's wedding was on the capital, it was a good party, but I would have been better if it had been done at the Arcane Pass Spire" it was one of the most famous magic towers in the Empire, Aedrik's eldest sibling, prince Levi was in charge of it.
"But the streets were filled to the brim, much like how Lune de Neige is looking" princess Luna said from the corner of the table, she was Ide, they had wondered if the young ladies could accompany the other, and to her surprise, they had developed a genuine friendship.
"They will be married from tomorrow, whatever they are urged for, will be solved tomorrow" Percy regretted the words as they left his moth, the combined look of almost everyone reaffirmed his supposition, the murder glance his uncle gave him, was making him considering leaving the city, right at that moment.
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