Freyja's Fire - Chapter 43 - A'mara Books

43

(Majanday, cont.)

Castel Velantia

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Aurelia sat proudly astride Obsidian at the end of the village near Stella’s hut. Her dress was a radiant blue, covered in tiny gemstones and shiny sequins which Deby had insisted she use despite the complaints from her husband about violating the Prime Directive again.

Deby had plaited her hair into an intricate net that she had seen somewhere “on the web” she had explained. It was secured with blue ribbons that matched her dress. Her betrothal hair garland sat on her hair as well, protected by a spell Stella had performed to keep it perfectly fresh until the wedding day.

Obsidian wore a saddle pad of a matching blue and just as expensively and extravagantly decorated as Aurelia’s dress.

She looked at her cousin Gemina, similarly astride Jerem. Their garments were similar, but of a very deep blue, which seemed to complement Gemina’s golden hair perfectly as well as the radiant white of Jerem’s coat and wings.

“I guess we know how Katja and Rachel felt now!” Aurelia supposed.

“At least we aren’t new to Velantia.”

“But we’ve known our men about as long as our sisters-in-law knew our brothers!”

“Stella said something about how empathy works – making us fall in love quickly because somewhere, deep in our souls, we recognize our true partners,” Gemina explained.

“But I don’t feel on the same level you do,” Aurelia protested. Surely, she wasn’t weak like that!

“When you humbled yourself to care for Garrick – and the others – you developed some of the empathy. It was your act of service which broke through your own barriers as well as his. You’re two peas in a pod, you and Garrick. I pray that you will always resolve your arguments with love.”

Aurelia smiled. She knew her cousin was right, even though she hated to admit it. “And I pray that you two will have a dozen children to love, because that’s how much love you have to give! I also pray that Kolt will always be gorgeous enough to make all the women envy you.”

“Thank you,” Gemina said, blushing.

“Whenever they see the Naked Prince, they will wish they had just one night with him, but the moment he sees you, they will all know they have no chance!” Aurelia said, referring to the several times she had seen Kolt spring to full arousal upon catching a glimpse of Gemina. Even her reserved mother had commented that it was cute.

A horn blew from the other end of the village telling them it was time to begin the procession, accompanied by a band of pipes, whistles and strings.

The two of them walked together, on their nuwa, into the village where the townsfolk lined the street on both sides of the road cheering the young women on to their destinies. Each of these villagers followed the entourage up the street towards the castle.

Aurelia waved to all the well-wishers, as did Gemina. She barely noticed the guards who walked with them on smaller horses or even donkeys, dressed in the burgundy and gold of the House of Velantia.

The walk seemed very long as it was in slow-motion. Normally, Aurelia would gallop through the town, causing some villagers to curse her recklessness as she did. She giggled thinking of how Garrick had joined her the most recent time.

“He’s supposed to make you a better person!” her father had scolded severely even while she and Garrick both laughed hysterically like two mischievous teenagers.

“What are you thinking about?” Gemina asked next to her.

“Oh, just how Garrick and I love to race through the village.”

“You really should stop that, you know… before you hurt someone.”

“Oh, live a little, Gemina!”

“You will think differently when you’re a mother.”

“Maybe I won’t. Maybe my child will badly influence your twins!”

“Of that, I have no doubt, Aurelia!”

Both of them giggled at that.

Aurelia hadn’t imagined being so in love with a man before. Neither had she imagined Gemina finding someone who made her behave… normally… taking risks like the one that had caused her to conceive twins well before their wedding day. It was nice knowing that even Gemina had a weakness – Kolt.

“So, we are to be siblings as well as cousins, Gemina.”

“They are brothers in name only, not blood,” Gemina corrected.

“I have heard it said that families chosen are often stronger than families by blood.”

“Then we shall be all the stronger for it – having chosen brothers who have chosen each other, Aurelia.”

Aurelia grinned as they turned up into the castle grounds. She waved at Stella and her apprentice, Astra. Then she looked at her father, standing with the man she was about to marry – the man who had already created life with her – the man who she would willingly give her life to save. Garrick was the only man she had felt so strongly about, other than her birth family.

Garrick smiled at her and she smiled back, only barely noticing Adrick and Katja standing behind him.

She barely noticed Kolt, dressed in his loincloth, in a dark blue that matched Gemina’s dress, also adorned with gemstones and gold threads.

Obsidian reached the dais where Aurelia’s father, mother and aunt stood waiting. Garrick stepped forward and lifted her down from the nuwa, just as Kolt did the same for Gemina.

“Please join hands with your intended,” her father instructed.