The sun had reached its highest point hours ago and in their private chambers, Lochlan sat on the edge of the bed, nervously clasping and unclasping the gold buttons on their dress-shirt sleeve.
Where is Julian? It had already been a long lonely morning with a delicious but lonely breakfast followed by a flurry of servants, seamstresses, and excited visitors rehashing plans for the evening.
They forwent lunch, having felt too nervous to eat, and now the time was drudging on far too slowly.
A knock at the door startled them, and with a sharp leap to their feet, they raced over to open it.
Portia stood before them, hand still raised awkwardly with her fist clenched about to knock again, and she smiled.
“Lochlan,” She said. “May I come in?”
Without a word, they scramble to the side, gesturing with a wide sweep of their hand for her to enter and she grins.
“So dramatic, just like Ilya…”
“Please,” they replied. “Take a seat, I was actually about to call for you.”
“Really?” She asked.
“Yes. I...I just wanted to talk with you.”
“Oh!” Portia looked around for a moment, unsure of what to do or where to sit before she settled onto the ottoman where Lochlan had been having their hair cleaned and styled.
They returned to the edge of the bed, smiling as they thought of where to start.
“I-”
“I-”
A pause.
“I just-”
“You-”
Portia snapped her mouth closed and covered it with her hand, winking at Lochlan to speak first
“I feel like I should have a whole speech prepared or something,” They said. “I’ve sat and talked with you plenty since we’ve met, even after Julian and I were engaged, yet it feels so strange now…”
“We’re about to become family,” she replied. “Though if I’m honest, you’ve been one of us long before my brother proposed.” With a hot blush, they looked down at their garb. Long flowing pants settling over their legs like a long lush skirt of satin and gauzy lace. Sandals with long strips snaked up their ankles to their calves beneath the fabric. Despite the ease of appearance, it had taken a team to dress them during the day.
“Lochlan,” Portia murmured. She waited until they looked up again, a shaky smile gracing their lips. “Are you nervous?” She asked.
“I shouldn’t be…” They replied. “But...yes.”
“That’s fine!” She replied. “I think everyone is nervous on a day like this...“ She stood up and Lochlan rose as well, watching as she closed the distance between them, forgoing all etiquette and throwing her arms around them in a crushing hug, lifting them off the ground.
“Portia!” They shrieked with a laugh.
“I just came here from Ilya’s room where I did the same to him,” She replied. With barely any hint of effort, she set them down gently, brushing out the wrinkles in their outfit. “Both of you look amazing, by the way,” She added. “I can’t wait until you get to see each other for the first time this evening.”
“I can’t wait to see him either…” Lochlan replied dreamily.
“So do you have everything you need, then?” She asked. “You have the four essentials? You know, old, new, borrowed, and blue?”
Lochlan took a moment to think.
“Well, the outfit is new…” They replied. “I’ve had these sandals forever,” They added with a kick of one foot. “So there’s the old…”
“Here!” Portia said, hopping up to her tiptoes and giving them one last firm squeeze of a hug. “Borrow some of my good vibes.” She beamed.
“Thank you, Portia.” they laughed.
“As for something blue…”
Friend!
Lochlan jumped at the sudden echo in their mind, looking over to the open window, they saw Faust’s little head poke up from the window sill.
“Faust?” Lochlan asked. They walked over, holding a hand out for her to slither up, coiling around their arm, and booped her snoot on their cheek.
Suddenly a knock resonated from the door, and when Portia hurried to open it, Asra stepped inside, followed closely by Muriel.
“Are you ready, Lochlan?” Asra asked. “Everything is all set up and everyone is waiting.”
“It’s time?” They asked.
“Yes,” Asra replied. “And I see Faust found you with no problems.”
“Just in time too,” Portia said. “We couldn’t find anything blue for them.”
“Well, I can certainly let you borrow Faust for the ceremony.”
“But I already borrowed Portia’s good vibes.” Lochlan replied.
“Whose to say you can’t double borrow?” She asked. “Looks like you’re all set now, sibling-in-law.”
The first herald bell tolled, a sound that echoed throughout the palace grounds, probably heard even to the old neighborhood. Anyone who wanted to bear witness to a wedding in the palace was waiting in the main garden now. A massive celebration was about to unfold.
“It’s time for you to go!” Asra added, taking their free hand and dragging them from the room. Ilya is already down there waiting.”
Not another second to be afraid. No time to run away, not that they’d ever want to. Asra pulled them by the hand down the palace steps with Muriel and Portia bringing up the rear and the music getting louder.
This is it.
The setting sun blazed just beyond the trees, and the ambient fountain sounds mixed with the strings of the band Nadia had hired. She stood in line behind Julian now, nodding to Muriel who silently took his place behind her. Asra looped his arm around Lochlan’s waiting for the shift in music, from one of attention to one of peace and beauty. Heads turned to face the end of the long flower petal laden ground. Portia took her place, standing in a very particular spot which would serve as the in-between for Lochlan before her and Asra behind her.
“It’s your time to shine, my friend.” Asra whispered.
Lochlan only nodded as they began the descent, one hundred paced or so, and they’d be there. People from all over Vesuvia, those who cared for local gossip and could afford the trip, had gathered from every district, now they waved, blew kisses, tossed flowers and shiny gems toward the betrothed and the one giving them away, decorating their path and leaving beauty in their wake.
The first thing Lochlan noticed were the tears welling up in Julian’s eye and soaking through the decorative patch over his red eye. A blush spilled over his cheeks and up to his ears, a stark contrast to his own crisp white outfit with cool teal and fine gold. The smile on his face was almost as bright as the sun.
He looks incredible…
Lochlan drowned out the music once they’d passed the first row of seating. The people who had earned priority seating, the nobles, and the family friends were more composed than the guests who arrived from other towns, no longer speaking and wishing good graces or throwing flowers and jewels, but fond expressions and bowed heads met them at each glance.
Just thirteen more rows…
Lochlan counted them down as they walked by, trying to keep their heart from racing right out of their chest. Asra’s grip grew tighter on their fingers, a gentle affirming squeeze.
“Calm down…” He whispered.
Lochlan blushed, knowing that Asra felt it whenever their pulse picked up, a blessing and a curse from their shared heart. They took a deep breath, smiling as Julian’s face became clearer. His mouth silently formed an “I love you” which Lochlan responded too as well.
In the center of the arranged altar was a stone table holding a quill, the marriage certificate, a glass of red wine they would drink from together, as well as a bowl of salt that Asra would sprinkle on them once they’d said their vows. An effort of purification and protection over their matrimonial binds.
Praetor Vlastomil stood with a thick book, muttering about proceeding quickly so he could return to the vital worm business he had been working on before his summons. One glare from Nadia and he shut up quickly, plastering on a large smile and beginning his speech as Asra placed a hand on Lochlan’s shoulder, bowing his head and then standing behind Portia.
“Beloved citizens...We are gathered here today at the palace of Vesuvia to honor the promise of two individuals in a legally binding marriage. Julian Devorak, the esteemed palace physician, and Lochlan of Zadith, the...esteemed...Magician... Have made the decision to devote themselves and the rest of their lives to each other, and it is with great honor that I lead these two souls into a partnership of prosperity. To begin the vows, I ask you, Doctor Julian Devorak, do you take Lochlan of Zadith to be your lawfully wedded spouse, to honor their glory through hell or high water, to cherish and to support them as long as you both shall live?”
Without any hesitation, Julian grinned widely as the next fifty to a hundred years flashed before his eyes
“I do.” He said.
And do you, Lochlan of Zadith, take Julian Devorak to be your lawfully wedded husband, to honor his glory through hell or high water, to cherish and to support him as long as you both shall live?”
“I do.” They replied immediately.
“Please take turns signing the official declaration of marriage, he said, fluttering boney hands down onto the certificate and handing Julian the quill first. His swooping hand guided the ink, scrawling out his name before the nerves could cause him to shake, but once the quill lifted, Lochlan couldn’t help the smirk when they realized how badly Julian trembled. They took it from him, dipping it into the inkwell and signing their name in the next space.
Once the paper was signed, Vlastomil raised the goblet of red wine.
“May your life together be as sweet as the berries that crafted this wine, may this full goblet serve as a symbol for full life and a fruitful partnership.” As he bowed his head, and placed the cup into Julian’s hands, he took a drink, and Lochlan watched the very slight recoil as he lower the cup, licking his lips and trying to conceal the scowl of disgust. Lochlan took the cup from him, taking a sip and crinkling his nose at the sour tannins and the oaky finish of this particularly bitter glass of wine.
“May the magician Asra Alnazar step forward…” Vlastomil continued. Asra bowed his head respectfully stepping up beside Vlastomil and lifted the bowl of salt.
“With the power bestowed to me by mages and missionaries, I bless your union, offering protection and purity to your lives.” He said.
“If there are no objections to this union, I, Praetor of Vesuvia, a royal expert on worms and law, now pronounce you husband and spouse, may you now finish out the binding ritual with a kiss.”
Before Lochlan could even respond, Julian riushed them, arms tightly wrapped around their own and lips crashing down on theirs with tenacity. The noise building up in the base of his throat serving as a promise for later once they were alone.
The music began again, and Julian beamed, slowly dragging his thumb across their cheek and took their hand, leading them in a much quicker pace from the altar all the way down the fourteen rows of seating, and then the crowds beyond that, leading them right into the next chapter of their lives.
