Our wedding day was hot and bright, much like the day I first saw the Princess so long ago. I tucked my new Ember into my sash as I dressed, knowing that she would place the little wooden rose in her hair. I smiled at that thought, nervous and thrilled in equal measure at the thought of being Cora's wife. I marveled at the sheer layers of silk that made up my wedding garments: long, poppy-red skirt; blue and black striped sash, fringed with bells; white blouse cut even lower in the shoulder than my normal dancing costume; belled anklets and, from Dafíd, a new bracelet that came all the way from India (where, Dafíd said, huge beasts like houses lived, with two horns in the front and noses as long as their bodies. I did not believe him). It was like a piece of metal cloth, all bells, covering my entire hand. I smiled to think of the flashing jingle it would produce when I danced for Cora-then, blushing furiously, braided tiny rows in my unruly hair. At last, with a few touches of kohl and rouge and lapis lazuli powder, I was ready.
The sun splintered into a rainbow of colours, pouring into the castle chapel. My entire caravan of people fit in a small corner, Lía and Dafíd staying with me to present me to Cora. The rest of the room was full of nobles and the representatives of other kingdoms, members of the court, and the elected representatives of the largest towns in the kingdom. Cora stood at the alter, taking on the role usually played by the male in a wedding. Her height was accentuated with the clinging, draping silk gown. A dream of white and pink, it hugged her curves and fell away from her neck and arms in a way that caused my heart to catch in my throat. Her shining wheat-and-honey hair was bound up in a coronet of pearls and wild roses, gathered by the Rom children and the children of her maids that morning.
Gazing at her, dazzled, I barely knew to make the appropriate responses as her father read out the vows, binding us into one. When at last my sister and brother released me to take her arm, I fairly flew to her side. At last, the King said the final words, and Cora, with one arm around my waist and one hand cupping my cheek, bent her head to kiss me. Our kiss held the promise of wonderful things to come, as I felt her arm tighten around me and I wrapped my own arms securely around her neck. As dusk began to fall, Cora took my hand and led me, through throngs of cheering people, throwing silk slippers and rose petals and rice, to a lavender pavilion on the river, under the weeping willows. Guards held back the crowds and all servants fell away as we entered the cool shadows, lit with sweet smelling candles, and Cora spoke.
"Dance for me, my sweet Fury. Dance for me."

The beginning.