Chapter 5
The day of the wedding was a bright and sunny day in New Russville, the first bright and sunny day there in many years. It seemed the weather was always cloudy, but today the sky was a deep cobalt blue and the sun shined golden, something only the adults remembered. The peasants who were coming to a state wedding for the first time, and were superstitious as it was, considered it a good omen. Natonito, who knew the mages more than the superstitious masses did, understood and agreed with the sentiment. Truly those who do well are blessed, though not often enough in this life.
The people were happy and cheerful, and men, women, and children yelled their congradulations at the couple. The entire side room of the cathedral was filled with gifts from the people for the couple, who arrived in separate coaches, according to tradition. It was hard to tell who was happier about the wedding, fathers of beautiful young ladies, or the beautiful young ladies themselves, over the fact that Natonito Bravia et Albright, Royal Duke of the House of Bravia, Directrix of the Empire, ravisher of girls, was no longer on the prowl for girls. There were cheers and toasts all around for the honor of the ladies and their chances for love and a happy, moral life.
First came the elite guests, General Van Larken and his family, members of a subbranch of that Duchy, the Longberts, and the other assorted lesser nobles, the barons and margraves and counts and lords and knights. After that the guards, all 250 of them, came into the cathedral and stood along the pews, made of good solid mahogany with soft red cushions. The middle class, those fickle and materialistic bourgeious, came in next, and sat behind the nobles. After them came the noble in spirit but poor in money, those sturdy peasants that Natonito cared so much for, understanding that in a strong peasantry and farming community a conservative regime is secured. They were dressed in their best clothing, and were given approving looks from the nobles, who understood these peasants were generally a loyal lot when appreciated and respected. Finally, the urban dregs, those unruly proletariat, sat in the back under heavy guard. Normally known to cry for bread and circus, they had become too accustomed to handouts, though some were able to rise above these ranks due to their intelligence, a quality greatly appreciated by the Directrix. As for the rest, they lived a life of such insecurity that the Directrix shivered for the fate of the empire if they became too numerous.
First, the groom walked down the very long aisle (for the Cathedral held 20,000 people and had stained glass paintings at a height of 250 feet in the gothic style) and stood at the front with the archbishop, who was dressed in the finest retinue. Natonito was dressed in a dark blue silk with a dark blue hat to match and a long cape tied around his neck, the standard wear for high noblility in the favorite color of the Directrix. Duke Longbert stood at stage right, on the opposite side of the lecturn from the Directrix. Then the flower girl, Cherie, and the ring bearer, a young member of the Bravia family, a nephew of Natonito, both young teenagers and beautiful together (both had developed a crush on each other), walked together dressed in gold. The guests threw rice on the aisles, seeking to grant the couple fertility. Finally, dressed in fine dark blue herself, the most ornate and beautiful dress any of the people had ever seen, with gold and lace trim and a train eight feet long and a opaque veil (for she was not a virgin, so she could not wear white) was the beautiful Bathsheba Longbert et Bravia Albright. The entire crowd cheered in unison while she smiled beneath her veil and Natonito beamed in full sight of the crowd. She was the most exquisite beauty they had ever seen, and dressed in such fine clothes the entire crowd could see the beauty of her personality and body, and knew why Natonito was so complimentary of her, not being the most flattering judge of people. She walked in her beautiful gait and stood beside her love, the energy between the two filling the crowd with great joy.
The archbishop gave the lines for the wedding with true feeling, knowing that in a wedding like this one pulled out all the stops, and told the crowd about the couple and of their love for each other and of their lives and triumphs over difficulties. Finally, the couple put the rings on each other, paid their vows, and Natonito gently removed the veil and placed a passionate kiss on Bathsheba's lips, making all her wedding kiss dreams come true. The crowd cheered and everyone walked out of the huge doors in the front of the cathedral with the pictures of the seven mages above in large stained glass. Outside, in the large city park, the reception had been prepared, and everyone enjoyed the food, dancing, and celebration for many hours to come. Cherie and the young Henry Bravia kissed each other in the dark and promised to keep in touch with each other. Natonito and Bathsheba, holding each other close nearby, smiled at them and wondered about the timeless nature of love and affection.
There was something, even in the darkest of worlds, to take as a light, cherish as a butterfly, and hold it to your heart for warmth in the coldest of times. This love was the only thing that made life worth living. It was not fame or glory or money or conquest that filled the spirit and kept out the blackness of evil that was all-encompassing in this world, but love, that seemingly weak bond that was stronger than steel, more eternal than stone, and richer by far than any gold or gems. It was this love that bound Natonito and Bathsheba, them and their dear younger sister Cherie, and Cherie and the charming young Henry Bravia.
The two newlyweds were going to go to the New Fullerium towns that a certain Admiral of the Imperial Fleet had just taken over, and they talked to him at the wedding. Cherie and Henry were invited along as well to have their own room together, and both were pleased, and their parents let them go together. Natonito understood young love, and wanted them to know each other well so that hopefully they could have a good love that would last forever. After that the two couples got into the ship that had carried them to New Russville and took it to the resort town of Zue, where they would spend a three week honeymoon before returning to New Russville to dedicate the city and then return to the capital for future business. Just before leaving, Natonito said something to General Van Larken.
"When you catch the rebels, handle them and whoever helped them however you please," said Natointo.
"Yes, sir!" replied General Van Larken.
With this Natointo left as the night wore on, the people partying still. A tear of joy for his people went down Natonito's eye and he and his wife, sister-in-law, and nephew went off to Zue for a beautiful honeymoon. The people partying could not hear the sound of fighting down in the city below, which might have ruined the celebratory mood that they were filled with.
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