Perfect Union #mfrwauthor

Welcome to the monthly topic from the MFRW challenge. The topic is "Describe the Perfect Wedding."

The first issue is whether to answer this as myself or someone else. I had a small, informal wedding during war years. As to a fantasy wedding? Mega weddings where the gown costs a decade worth of income and the wedding and reception costs more than many people make in their lifetime may set the bar for comparison purposes. Would I want that? First I have too much Scotch blood for that. And, after almost five decades I think it is a little late to go the fancy expansive route. A number of the people I'd want to be there would have to be watching from beyond the veil.

After reviewing the Windmaster Novels and the Dragshi Chronicles, I decided to showcase a wedding that was the dream wedding of one of my characters. Although this is a duplicate topic from 2019, I didn't quite take the easy way out and duplicate it. That wedding came from the Readers Bonus included with the Dragshi Chronicle, Hatchling's Vengeance.

From Windmaster Legacy, snippits from the wedding of Lady Ellspeth, captain of Sea Falcon and Lord Dal, archmage. Now, keep in mind, that the event is being put on by the head of a trading guild, one of the leaders of their world and not without funds. This first snippit is the walk to the ceremony. The event is being held outdoors in the king's gardens.

Excerpt:

With a deep breath, Ellspeth stood and followed her mother, and soon-to-be mother-in-law, out the door to her future … and Dal. One corridor led to another, each one brightly lit by scores of servants holding candles or colorful lanterns. The path of light ended at the fern-covered arch of the garden entrance. Ellspeth halted in surprise. Old sailors had told her about passageways of honor, but she’d never seen one. Yet, before her stood a double rank of men standing at attention. Her first glance identified everyone in the left-hand column. They were the crew of Sea Falcon with its new captain at their head. On the opposite side of the path, the crew of Windmaster stood at attention behind Ailean. Each held a sword whose polished blade caught the light and reflected it back as a golden beam.

Now that Ellspeth has been honored and her professional life recognized, another item is needed to make it the perfect wedding. Someone to walk her down the aisle. The problem is that Ellspeth's father, Owain, was lost at sea many seasons ago.

Excerpt:

“Lady Ellspeth,” Vika said as he stepped out from behind the arch and offered her his arm. “Since your father Owain was lost at sea on Dragon Wave and there are no other male relatives, I asked Mirrim for the honor of being your escort.” He gave a wry smile as he added, “Your father and I shared a deck once upon a time. I don’t think he’d mind me standing in for him.”
“Thank you, Vika,” Ellspeth murmured. “I thought I would have to break tradition and walk in alone. However, I would be most pleased to have you accompany me.” Although her voice was light, she darted a glare at her mother’s back for not being informed of the arrangement. She thought she felt a feather-light touch on her cheek as if an invisible person laid a chaste kiss on it. Thank you, water gods, for letting my father share this moment. The sensation of unseen forces surrounding her grew, and when she placed her hand on Vika’s arm, their gold bracelets seemed to sing.

The final, and perhaps most important item at a wedding is the groom. Here Ellspeth sees Dal at the ceremony.

Excerpt:

As long as the walk to the garden seemed to be, the journey to its center flashed by in mere heartbeats. Time halted between breaths at the sight of Dal within the fern-covered gazebo. The silk collar of his black tunic matched the green of his mother’s gown. Embroidered symbols of his clan on the hem caught the light to glow against the dark cloth.

Timmel and Fraunces stood on each side of the wizard. Two leather strings dangled from the king’s fist in such a way only the tops of the wooden promise tokens could be seen. The similarity in stance between the king and Dal struck Ellspeth. Dal looks like a chieftain’s son. The old style suits him well. Her gaze took in the open throat of his shirt which revealed the leather neckband she had noticed upon their first meeting; the meeting when she mistook him for a common dockworker. A smile twitched at her lips at the remembrance.

Two floral wreaths of purple trumpet flowers interwoven with orange blossom12pt from the southern isle hung around the bard’s neck. “Those flowers must have been hothouse raised,” Vika whispered as he guided Ellspeth the final few steps to the waiting trio. “The trumpet flowers are only found in the highest mountain meadow and should just now be breaking through the ground. They are almost as difficult to grow as the island blossoms. It is a tribute to you and Dal that Fraunces had them produced for this day.”

The hidden musicians stopped at some unseen signal just as Ellspeth and Vika reached the gazebo. Timmel’s trained voice carried to everyone and broke the spell that held Ellspeth in its thrall. “On behalf of the Ladies Eilidh and Mirrim, I welcome everyone to witness the handfasting between Lady Ellspeth of the House of Cszabo and Lord Dal of Clan Daimh of the Mtwan Mountains.”

Now that sounds like the description of a dream wedding. To read the actual ceremony and the adventures that follow, read Windmaster Legacy. Click on the cover in the banner for a complete list of buy links and more excerpts.

~till next time, Helen 

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