Kapitel 593: The Heart Wants What the Heart Wants
Despite the Empress's blessing, the ceremony still commenced as planned. The groom was elated to consider himself twice married to the same woman.
"Who could ask for more?" Ender beamed, his face glowing with pride.
All three clans gathered for the blessed event even though those in the back never had any hope of seeing. They did not seem to care. The joy of what they knew was happening was enough for them.
Aurora and her diplomatic envoys, on the other hand, had front row seats. When the Empress tried to make sure the family could see, they all assured her that they had a perfect view.
Satisfied, Aurora had watched the ceremony with rapt attention. Her blue-flecked eyes sparkled with all the romance that was happening before her eyes. Some of the parts of the ceremony were quite familiar, like the binding of the hands of the bride and groom.
Other things were similar but not the same. While Aurora and Devrim had lit a candle to express their unity, Lydia and Ender sprinkled sand which had been colored across the front of the marriage altar so that it intermixed.
And there were somethings which befuddled Aurora because they were so completely foreign. The bride and groom jumped over a rope three times as it spun around them. It looked like a child's game and the Empress was very impressed that Lydia could hop so agilely in the long garment she was wearing.
'Do they practice for that?' Aurora wondered.
The ceremony was over when the sun had passed its peak. In the traditional fashion, it ended with the bride and groom kissing for all the world to see. The cheering was accompanied by slapping on the knees and thighs of the wedding guests, which sounded like a rolling thunder. In the desert, rain was very good luck indeed.
It was time for the celebration. And what a celebration it was!
The sun made things quite warm, but the refreshments kept the guests cool and well-hydrated.
Aurora, Devrim, Brinn and Alvar were pulled into a dance of couples. The Empress remembered the group dances she had done with the elves many years ago.
These were different, but no less intricate. The women lined up across from their partners and the group wove in and out like two strands of a braid.
Devrim had his usual trouble with the dance, but managed by giving it an admirable effort. To his wife, the Emperor was flawless, but Brinn saw about a hundred things to tease him about later.
As for the elven prince and princess, the golden skinned pair seemed like they had been doing this all their lives. Perhaps this was one of the human dances that Ithel had studied and made them learn. Or they were just quick students.
Either way they glided in and out of the other pairs like two beacons of light. When the dance was complete, the Emperor and Empress decided to find a place on the cushions, but the prince and princess remained in the multitude of dancers.
Aurora was greeted by Metehan, who was chatting with his wife and Chief Zan. "Quite the friends you keep, Your Majesty! If I did not know better I would think those elves were Dunesmen!"
"You never complimented my dancing that way, Councilman," Devrim pretended to be hurt.
Hearing the jib, Chieftain Orhan turned from his own conversation and addressed the Emperor. "I have never gotten kind words from Metehan either. What do you have against your superiors, Metehan?"
"My compliments are given when earned. I haven't seen you dance since I was in my youth. Please grace us with your talent so I may assess it!" Metehan was well versed in his political speech after his time in Valiant.
Orhan cleared his throat. "Perhaps after a little more strong drink. But you did see our honored guests dance, what is your assessment?" The Chieftain motioned toward Devrim.
Zan hid his grin behind a severe scowl. "This is a most serious question indeed."
But the grey-eyed man knew his own limitations. The Emperor shook his head sadly. "I know I have two left feet, and no sweetly worded lie by my dear Councilman will convince me otherwise." He plopped down on the cushion next to the father of the bride. "I only hope my wife can find a better dance partner for the next round."
"I only want to dance with you," Aurora argued as she curled up on the cushion by her husband.
"Look at that! Your insult has deprived the lady of her dance partner, Metehan! How dare you!" Orhan clicked his tongue.
"I said nothing!" The Councilman objected. The two men began to banter.
"I think those two must have missed each other," Aurora whispered to her husband.
Devrim gave a lopsided grin as he leaned onto one elbow. "Reminds me of you and Brinn after you have been apart for a long time. Teasing to show just how much you care."
The couple whispered quietly for a while about anything and everything they saw. Suddenly Metehan stood and hurried off followed closely by his wife.
'What happened?' Aurora furrowed her brow. 'Was he upset by something that Orhan said?'
Watching the end of the dance, the Empress noticed a change in the ladies around her. They sat straighter and their muscles tensed. Aurora soon found out why.
The conversation grew quiet, and the crowd parted to reveal the bride and groom along with both sets of parents. Both Lydia and Ender's arms held two baskets full of the silk flowers which had adorned the marriage tent. Their arms looked like they might give way at any moment from the two enormous bundles.
But their faces radiated only joy.
Next to her son, Hadya spotted the Empress among the crowd and smiled warmly at her as things settled. Finally it was quiet enough for the father of the bride to speak.
"The beginning of marriage is a spring of sorts," Metehan said as he looked at Lydia and Ender. "And what does spring bring?"
"Flowers!" The crowd said in unison.
"That is right. And since the desert has no flowers it can spare, we have made a spring of our own. A spring which the bride and groom share with each of you. You all know the prophecy of old. Only the most blessed of unions can bring about the spring again in our land. May this marriage be that one."
"May it be!" the crowd responded.
To punctuate this ritual, which was performed at every Dunesman's wedding, the bride and groom began to toss their flowers high into the air. The silk creations flew far and long, casting a wide net over the crowd.
Aurora was suddenly excited. She had wanted a flower very badly earlier. Her heart had practically ached for one. And now they were flying through the air straight towards her.
One was caught by Orhan's wife. Another by the woman on her left. The Empress noted that no lady took more than one. That was fine. She only needed one. More and more flowers were thrown and more and more Duneswomen were blessed with one of the blooms. Even Brinn managed to catch one which flew almost directly at her golden face.
When the baskets were half-empty, Devrim could see the growing desperation on his wife's face. She was now standing and trying to peek over the crowd. But her small stature did not let her peer to the front.
More and more women claimed their prize. It was both wonderful to see the joy spread through the crowd and difficult not to be sharing in the happiness.
'Don't be so selfish!' Aurora chastised herself. It was just a thing and a silly one at that. But the heart and mind do not always agree. The Empress persisted until the last flower remained.
It flew through the air right towards Aurora. 'Finally!' Her arms reached up instinctively.
She felt the excitement well up within her. It was insane to want something so much, and the Empress knew it, but she felt compelled to have the bloom for herself. And here it was, ripe for the taking.
In slow motion the flower toppled end over end as it sailed on the desert breeze. A smile spread across Aurora's face.
This was her moment!
Or so she thought.
The stem of the silk flower brushed up against Aurora's fingertips…
Before being yanked away even more quickly than it came.
The tall Duneswoman in front of her pulled the flower to her chest and whooped enthusiastically. She had gotten the last bloom.
"What a honor!" Someone nearby cheered.
Aurora clapped, but her heart was heavy.
No flower would be hers.
Wöchentlicher Energiestatus
-- Power-
Rangliste 
-- Power-
Stein