31Epilogue
Kaz's mother had died from an infection caused by childbirth after delivering Zoe. He had always grown up with the knowledge that he wouldn't receive any more siblings. And, because of her blindness, he had always felt protective and nurturing in regards to his only sibling. He had to take care of her. That was what a sibling was in his mind.
The three new sisters he received weren't anything like Zoe. He had met them briefly when they had picked up Larissa in Poseidonium, but now he finally got a chance to know them. After his deception was revealed and he apologized for the lies, anyway. They did not appreciate lies between each other. And since he was now one of them, he was expected to be honest as well.
Andromeda's skin and hair had been heavily kissed by the sun since he had last seen her. She also tended to be more self reliant than he was accustomed to seeing nobility, much less royalty, being. If there was something she could do for herself, she would do it, regardless of how it might tax her skin, body, or hair. There was a lovely vibrancy of life to her that Larissa assured him was not a gift. Of the sisters, she was the only one that did not retain any magic. She had sacrificed it for her country.
The happy, healthy baby boy that she kept at her side at all times only made her seem even more real and strong. The formerly infant boy that he had come to know on the journey to Methone had grown considerably. He had also been given a name since being presented to the goddess of war.
Damaris of the tribe Lafradio was quickly becoming a toddler. He looked even more like his father now that his eyes had darkened to a deep, rich brown. He like to grab and shake everything he could get his grabby little fists on before stuffing them into his mouth. Everyone called him Damy and he seemed to enjoy making his mother worry with his constant need to eat everything regardless of its edibility.
Reanna, on the other hand, the queen to be, was quite regal. Almost distant. She seemed to dominate whatever room she walked into, regardless of who else was in there. She stood toe to toe with Avram at their first meeting and had spoken to him as though she had already been crowned. She might not yet be a queen, but she had the attitude and bearing of one.
Nat, in direct contrast to both of them, was so mousy and unnoticeable that Kaz could honestly forget that she was in rooms at times. She had the ability to blend in with the wall at will and, if she didn't want you to notice her, she was practically invisible. She also, however, was a hard worker, and a fast study. It didn't take more than a day after her arrival for her to completely take over wedding planning from Larissa. Though Methone wasn't her country, she seemed to know it intimately after only a few days. She kept Jase, the palace steward, with her at nearly all times. The older man appeared confused at how a servant for the foreign royals had run over him so quickly. He nearly fainted the day he figured out that Nat was a princess.
The four of them were a very commanding group. Almost intimidating. When they came together, it was like seeing a meeting of goddesses.
Kaz was also lucky enough to have been gifted with two brothers. He had never grown up with a brother, he wasn't sure what to expect from them. Both men were incredibly different from each other but Kaz found himself able to identify with both of them.
Aurelius had been born into nobility and raised by one of King Linus' closest friends. He had the best education, the finest clothes, and the best opportunities. Until the day he had been cursed by Téa-Zosma and had spent five years in hiding as a lion. While Kaz certainly couldn't identify with being cursed into an animal, he could approach him as a fellow ruler. Aurelius would be king one day as he was Reanna's husband and the two of them would be close allies.
In direct contrast to him, Nero, Andromeda's husband, was from one of the barbarian tribes of the south and a manhunt had brought him up north. He was the avatar of the goddess of war and carried a special blade blessed by her hand. Nero and Kaz had already made friends on the journey over, bonding over their shared warrior training and experience.
And, while he had expected he would respect his brothers, he didn't think he would actually like them as quickly as he did. The two of them already got along well, and they were happy to bring Kaz into their family as yet another brother.
So, it wasn't like he was being attended by two strangers as they prepared him for his wedding. By request of King Linus, they had opted to have his preparations done in the east sitting room. Kaz had asked why and been told that it was a lucky room. Both Aurelius and Nero had both prepared in the east sitting room at the Posiedonian palace, Linus wanted to continue the tradition here.
Which was how Kaz found himself in one of the more ill-used sitting rooms, pulling on the Santeri uniform that Larissa had created for him. His father's opinion be damned, he was going to go to his wedding as a Santeri. This was who he was, far more than he was a prince, and until he became a king it was the most important aspect of himself, to his own way of thinking.
Aurelius and Nero also wore creations by Larissa's hand. Though theirs was in the same dull silver and black style, Kaz couldn't say it was all that similar to his uniform. They matched him, but their outfits were uniquely their own, suited to their styles.
The two of them were joking around with him, laughing and teasing him intermittently. They helped him dress, as expected of groomsmen, and the three of them shared a toast of wine. It was friendly and upbeat, hopeful and excited.
Mostly, anyway.
The singular dark cloud in the corner was King Linus. He was deep into a bottle of brandy, and alternating between joy at the coming vows and ultimate despair that he was going to be losing another one of his daughters to marriage. Unlike his first two, however, he was going to be bidding farewell to Larissa. She was going to be living far from him, and the distance meant that they would rarely get to see each other in the future.
That knowledge made him drink. Drinking made his emotions sway randomly. Though he looked quite handsome in the suit Larissa had created for him, he could barely stand up straight. He did, occasionally, give the three of them dark looks.
"They're my daughters," he grumbled. "Why am I losing them? Why do you have to take my little Larissa away from me-e-e..."
"Should we take that drink from him now?" Kaz frowned at his father-in-law in the mirror as he tidied his hair into place. "His face is all blotchy."
"Not yet. He's still guarding it." Nero grinned at the king who had the bottle of brandy held tight into his arms as though he might be holding a baby. "Mother is going to be put out that he's drunk again."
"You think she'd be used to it by now." Aurelius smirked. "He's obviously determined to be drunk at all of our weddings. And she only has to bear it once more when Nat gets married."
"I highly doubt that day will ever come."
The three of them turned to the doorway where Nat had been standing, grinning at them with her note board in her arm, one hand to her waist, and a grin on her face.
"How do you do that?" Kaz asked, annoyed. He didn't understand how this princess managed to sneak up on him so often.
"You should pay attention more." She said calmly as she walked inside, her footsteps kicking up the hem of her skirt as she moved into the room.
"Did Rissa make that?" Nero asked, beaming at the gown. "It's lovely, Nat."
The dress had obviously been created in the Methone style. The tight bodice had their classical, complicated and colorful embroidery in multiple shades of blue and orange that continued down in a sloping pattern across one part of the skirt. The rest of the skirt, white and silken, flowed around her legs with the slightest provocation. Her short cap of brown hair had small curls pressed into it and was held back from her face with a band of elaborately spun silver metal that had a cascade of sapphire and citrine gem clusters beside her right ear.
Larissa made and designed the gown. Kaz knew his betrothed's skill. It was a wonder to him then that it appeared that the dress was so ill-fitting. He had been told that elaborate gowns would appear strange and unnatural on Nat, but she had been wearing casual and unassuming dresses her entire stay. This was the first time he had seen her in something so lovely.
And they had been right. It looked as though she had dressed in someone else's clothing and they weren't fitting her quite right. The colors made her skin look sallow while the cut of the gown made her appear shapeless and unattractive.
She was the plain princess. She was not meant to wear such beautiful creations. Her gift automatically made her appear unappealing. He wouldn't call her ugly, but he would say that she was not made for that dress, even if it were made for her.
"Thank you." She nodded to Nero politely, knowing full well how she looked. "I'll be sure to pass on the compliment. I was coming to check on you. Are you nearly ready, Kaz?"
"I've been ready for years, Nat." He turned from the mirror. "Is Rissa ready?"
"She's been getting dressed for the last three hours straight." Nat smirked playfully. "Of course, she's not ready yet. She will be soon though. You should start making your way to the balcony. Bacchus is already in place there. Jase is going to be bringing our mother and King Avram shortly. And Damy is being put down for a nap because he's quite cranky. Everything is right on schedule."
"You are a wonder, Nat." Kaz smiled at her. She might not look attractive in a princess' gown, but she was the most ruthlessly efficient and hard working woman he had ever seen. "Do you want a job here? Jase is near retirement age and you would make an excellent palace steward."
"She's ours." Aurelius shoved Kaz from behind with a grin. "Get your own. Don't listen to him Nat. Have loyalty to your home."
Nat ignored them as she looked around. Her father was drunk in the corner, as she expected, and Aurelius and Nero were accounted for. That was only three groomsmen.
"Where's Indigo?" She asked.
Kaz shrugged. "Overseeing security. He'll meet us down there."
"Very well." Nat made a note on her note board before she grinned at them as she turned away. "You should start making your way down to the balcony soon though. I'm going to go make sure that Rissa is on schedule as well."
Kaz nodded and turned to shove Aurelius in return. They were all laughing together – Linus sobbing in the background – as Nat closed the door behind her.
The servants were moving quickly around the palace. There was a great deal to be done. Larissa and Kaz were moving into a room in the royal suite, larger than the one Kaz had been living in before. They were also finishing the last preparations for the wedding party itself which would be taking place in the great hall after the vows were finished.
Nat walked around everyone with calm and practiced efficiency. Some of the servants gave her odd looks as she passed. They were trying to figure out why a servant from the Poseidonian group was wearing such a formal gown.
She didn't bother to answer the question in their eyes. Often, she was perfectly content being mistaken for a commoner. It even made her job easier to perform if her rank wasn't a barrier between her and her workers. And, especially for these Methone servants, she didn't need them tripping over themselves to act properly. It would just be a waste of time.
Larissa was doing her preparation in her workrooms. It already had all of the tools she needed to dress herself and her sisters.
Normally, it would be the task of her bridesmaids to prepare her for the wedding. In Larissa's case, however, she was more focused on dressing them than herself. Andromeda was having to chase after her with a brush while Reanna fixed her dress. All the while, Zoe was trying to be still so Larissa would also be still while trying to tame her mass of blonde curls so they could attempt to dress the bride. It was a rather humorous train of bodies that Nat had been happy to leave the moment she had finished dressing so she could focus on the wedding.
Now, as she returned, she could see that they had managed to force Larissa to sit down in order to paint her own face. Though, Nat believed that more had to do with Ink who had arrived since she had left and was now nagging at Larissa from a podium.
"-bride does not dress her maids! It's the other way around!" He was saying as Nat came inside and shut the door behind her. "I promise you, Rissa, I am not flying with you if you look so unkempt. Now, fix your hair! It's a mess."
"What's he saying?" Andromeda asked curiously. As she had sacrificed her magic, she was the only princess unable to understand Ink. The others frequently had to translate for her benefit. This time, it fell to Larissa herself to relay the message.
"Well, I'm sorry." Andromeda frowned when she heard the words. "She wouldn't let me brush it properly."
"So, I take it that things are going well?" Nat grinned at them.
Larissa might only be half ready, but the others were fully dressed.
She had dressed all of them in the Methone style. Lots of bright, bold colors in wild, elaborately embroidered designs that took hundreds of hours to complete, per dress. Between the four of them, it had taken an army of seamstresses to finish on time.
Zoe was wearing a gown that was similar to the fishtail style from Poseidonium, but the skirt was layered and rippled at the bottom. Heavy embroidery in many shades of pink and gold at the bust matched the preserved flower that had pinned her bright curls back behind her right ear. The designs gradually diminished until they reached her waist where they had stopped entirely. Another, thinner ring of them wrapped her knees, just above the point where the skirt flared outward. The silk of the dress beneath the embroidery was a pale peach that made Zoe positively glow. The cane she used to walk around had been wrapped with bright alstroemeria flowers for the occasion.
She was sitting out of their way, singing for their benefit as she was unable to help dress Larissa. The sound of her voice was like a choir of song birds and it rang out with a lovely divine quality that never quite overpowered their conversation.
Andromeda, who was gathering Larissa's jewels, was wearing something far more, airy and fluttering than any of the others. Her dresses always tended to be lightweight, even now that she didn't need them to be. The fabric didn't quite cling to her, but it certainly formed to her shape. The rather simple cut with short sleeves and a sweetheart neckline had its thickest embroidery around her midriff. The slightly floral designs expanded outwards, thinning gradually as Zoe's did. However, Andromeda's never fully ceased and the hem of the skirt and the sleeves of the bodice still had traces of floral swirls. The silk base was barely tinted, a whisper of red so light that it might not even be there. The darker, richer red of the embroidery was broken occasionally by green 'leaves' that never fully formed their shape. Long, strawberry blond waves had been gathered at the back of her head into a long tail, the base of which was wrapped in a string of shimmering diamonds.
"Are they ready?" She asked Nat as she turned, Larissa's necklace, a cascade of pale gold and yellow tinted diamonds, in her hands.
"They are. Father's drunk again."
"There's a surprise." Reanna grinned from where she stood behind Larissa, braiding pieces of her long hair so she could set it into an elaborate crown on her head. "Is he still upright?"
"Slumped over in a chair. So, we've got a little time before he passes out. I've already got a room ready for him to rest in and servants to catch him should he fall. It's all prepared."
Reanna nodded, tying off the end of the last of the braids before she started gathering them up so she could wrap and entwine them together into the complicated pattern that Larissa had taught her just yesterday.
Their eldest sister wore a rather tight gown that had twin slits up each calf, revealing the deep brown petticoat beneath the creamy satin base. The embroidery of her gown traveled up the entirety of the right side of her body, from breast to hem, in a range of colors from dark blue down to dark green. It reached out slightly, like fingers, towards the midline of her body, but never quite reached the center. The thin straps on her shoulders were designed to be loose so they could fall down around her arms but still move up when she lifted her arms. Her hair, blonde like Zoe's, but not nearly half as curly, had been pulled into a bun on the back of the left side of her head that seemed to explode like a sunburst with a bright, aquamarine studded hairpin in the center.
She was wholly focused as she tried fixing Larissa's hair in place. Larissa had already assured her that it didn't need to be perfect, and that she would fix it if Reanna couldn't do it. However, Reanna was determined that she need not fix anything.
Larissa's gown was already in place. Nat came over to help Andromeda place the jewelry over her body before then assisting Reanna with putting up her hair. Fashion wasn't exactly her strongest skill, but she was a fast learner and prided herself on being and doing whatever a person needed. If today that was a beautician, then that was what she would be.
With Ink encouraging them, and giving pointers, it didn't take them long to finish. Especially now that Larissa was sitting still and actually assisting them instead of trying to dress them over her. But it was important, to herself, that all of her sisters look as beautiful as possible. Even if Nat's gift continued to frustrate her to no end.
Even Ink had been dressed, his feathers dyed to match Larissa's gown. The swirling of gold, sparkling and twinkling like a series of stars, swirled along his primary feathers matched perfectly with similar line work around the bust of Larissa's gown that followed the sloping line of her waist on one side before terminating at her hip.
The shimmer of her purple gown was embroidered as well, but the designs beneath the gold were only visible by the difference in dimension, not color. Layers of nearly fully sheer fabric, matching that of her veil, laying over her silk skirt lightened the color considerably.
Ink, who had a gold chain over his breast that swirled similarly to her embroidery, kept moving around instructing her sisters on how to fix things. He may have been a bird, but he was an expert on beauty and that included human beauty. He spent more time around his bipedal comrades than his own species anyway.
Though, now that her sisters were fully dressed, Larissa was more willing to finish dressing herself and the others were able to assist her.
"I guess that makes you the last one." Andromeda smiled at Nat. "All of us are married, or engaged to be married."
"Why is everyone saying that to me today?" Nat frowned, lowering her note board. "That's all mother would talk to me about as I was getting her ready."
"Take your time in choosing a husband." Larissa said, looking at her in the mirror as she finished setting her curls on her head. "Trying to design a wedding gown for you would give me a migraine. I can't even make you look good in normal dresses."
Nat cast her eyes down to the elegant gown that hung so unattractively on her. She shrugged, uncaring about how she looked.
"I've long given up on any hopes of being a beauty, Rissa. I look better in common clothes. They're usually more comfortable anyway."
"You're beautiful to me." Zoe chimed brightly from the corner.
Nat chuckled appreciatively. "Well, that means a lot more coming from you, Zoe. Regardless, I think I'll be content in my role as a palace steward."
"I'm sure there's someone for you." Larissa frowned, turning to face her fully. "After all, if even I can find a husband, I'm sure that you can as well."
"Yes, it must have been very difficult for the most beautiful woman in the world to find a husband. How did you do it?" Though Nat's voice dropped with sarcasm, her eyes danced playfully. She held up a hand to stop Larissa's continued assurance. "I'm telling you, I'll be fine. I would rather marry a common man than any of the lords mother has been trying to throw at me. I will just have to wait until Rae is queen and I don't have to listen to mother any longer."
"I'll find you the most noble commoner in existence." Rae promised quite seriously, a playful glint in her eye as she helped Larissa set her hair.
Nat crinkled her nose at her before turning back to Rissa. "Any idea on how much longer you're going to be? I need to know how soon to gather everyone at the balcony."
"I'm almost done." Larissa assured her, pushing away Reanna's hands so that she could finish the last curl on her own. "Might as well get it started now."
Reanna raised an eyebrow. "Now, what kind of way is that to talk about your wedding?"
"What?" Larissa looked back, confused.
"You sound like you're doing a chore."
Larissa laughed, picking up the jar of lip paint on her work bench. "It's only a ceremony, Rae. Just another boring tradition. It doesn't mean nearly so much as our feelings. As far as I'm concerned, I became Kaz's wife and partner a long time ago. This is mostly for the benefit of the gods."
"And another chance for father to get drunk." Andromeda smirked.
It was the first time that the hidden balcony had been opened to the public. Avram had been firmly opposed to Larissa's decision to move the location here. Then he had been proudly pleased when she had informed him, quite regally, that it was her and Kaz's wedding and therefore his choices were not required to be given.
Kaz's lippy little bride didn't allow him to walk over her. Though Kaz would usually give him what he wanted, Larissa seemed to be taking notes from Reanna. She met him, not as his daughter-in-law, but as his heir. He approved of the distance.
Avram stood with Melania, queen of Poseidonium, and the two of them greeted the lords and ladies that had been invited to join them in the ceremony. The private balcony wasn't very large, at least not so large as the throne room, so only those closest to the royal families attended.
Including Homer and Sirena, who had come to support their future queen. They had moved closer to the Santeri mountain after their daughter had been exiled there. However, they had opted to return for the wedding.
Melania greeted them as old friends.
Her warm smile turned decidedly cold, however, when Kaz and his groomsmen came down from where they had been preparing. Linus was still upright, however Nero and Aurelius both had hands to his shoulders and were steering as he struggled to remain that way.
"Linus, you promised!" Melania crossed her arms, glaring at her husband.
"My dove." Linus took her arm, sniffing delicately. "D-Do you remember... when she was only this big?" He started rocking his arms as though a baby was laying in them.
"He guarded the bottle very tightly, mother," Aurelius said apologetically.
"If you fall over during the ceremony, I shall never speak to you again, Linus." Melania glowered. "I mean it. This ceremony is going to be beautiful, and I shall not have you ruining it by planting your face on the stone."
"You're so lovely when you're angry." Linus smiled at her a bit giddily.
"Let's find Indigo." Nero suggested to Aurelius over Linus' head. "He can hold father up during the ceremony with one hand so it won't be so obvious."
Aurelius nodded in agreement and helped him steer the inebriated king over towards where they would be standing. Kaz remained behind for a moment, looking to his father.
"Have you heard anything from Cadmus yet?"
Avram shook his head. "I'm afraid not. I'm sure he made it home safely."
"He has had more than enough time to reach Scabrosa and send us a message regarding marrying Zoe."
"I thought you were against it."
"I am, but that doesn't give him leave to disregard common courtesy. If King Erastus doesn't want him marrying Zoe, then he should have sent word already. How dare he make her wait."
"Quite rude, I agree." Melania shook back her hair, turning her glare on Avram. "Though, I question the advisability of marrying your child into that family at all."
"She's my daughter, not yours, Melania."
"Indeed. Notice that my daughters are happy in their marriages." She turned and walked away from him, going to join Homer and Sirena where they were waiting.
Avram grinned at her back. "Quite a shame that she's married."
"Father, please." Kaz made a face.
"Speaking of marriages, where is your bride? How long does it take to put on a dress?"
"As long as she needs. The wedding starts when she's ready and not before."
"I'm hoping that it will start sometime today."
Avram left Kaz to go to his place among the nobility. The arrival of the groom meant that it was time for everyone to get into position.
Bacchus was already standing near the edge of the balcony, as close to the spray of the waterfall as he could without getting wet. His back was to the crowd, however, as he heard Kaz approaching, he turned with a small smile.
"Are you excited?" He asked, spooling a length of silver ribbon around his own arm.
"Nervous." Kaz beamed. "I feel like I've been waiting for this moment all of my life."
"Well, haven't you?' Bacchus chuckled.
Kaz turned as Indigo came to stand at his side. He was surreptitiously leading Linus about by the upper arm. The king seemed to have bounced back to his happier emotions and he was grinning eagerly to the wide, open balcony doors.
They all got into position, but there wasn't any real feeling of anticipation until, through the open door, the black eagle came flying out.
Inks gold jewelry flashed in the light as the trailing gold and sheer white ribbons trailed behind him where they had been tied to his legs. He flew over the heads of the audience before coming down and alighting onto the post that had been set up for him behind Bacchus.
The balcony went quiet as they waited in eager anticipation. Kaz's breath caught in his throat before his bride ever stepped into view.
Larissa had chosen to follow the Poseidonium tradition of wearing a veil through the bridal walk. It covered her from head to toe and reminded Kaz of the first moment he had ever seen her, walking under a very similar cloth towards him through her castle.
Walking behind her, holding the trailing end of the veil, her three sisters and Zoe were uncovered and Kaz heard titters of admiration go through the crowd. He recognized Larissa's handiwork on the designs without being told they were hers.
Larissa had chosen to come on her own two feet for her bridal walk. She moved with slow and practiced grace that was visible even beneath the veil that hid her.
Though wearing a veil wasn't a Methone tradition, Kaz had been instructed on what to do by his two new brothers. As Larissa was coming to a halt, he walked forward to meet her on the path. She waited and he could feel her eyes on him even obscured as they were.
Grinning, Kaz grabbed the end of the veil. With one hand, in a single, smooth motion, he threw the veil back over her head, letting the wind catch it and blow it back towards her sisters. There was a collective gasp as Larissa was revealed to the crowd.
She was painful to look at. Radiant, like the sun, Too bright and beautiful for a mortal man to cast his eyes upon safely. Was it the expectation of the wedding, of the beauty of the bride, that made her so, or was it the way the pale purple of her gown brightened her brown hair and eyes? Or the way her skin seemed to shimmer with whatever powder she had placed over it? Or maybe it was the way she smiled so perfectly, setting her face aglow.
"My heart." Kaz bowed to her before holding out his hand.
Larissa took it with a grin, letting him lead her to Bacchus. As they walked, she looked over his uniform with a critical eye.
"I like the new alterations a lot more than I thought I would." She admired. They were minor, just putting a few adjustments on her design so it became perfect. However, they did something to the way his shoulders held themselves high and proud, how it hugged his chest and waist. Or maybe she was just seeing him through the expectation of a bride for her groom.
Bacchus smiled at them as they stood before him, their hands held up between each other, fingers clutched tightly together. The temple keeper held out his arms towards the entire crowd.
"It is well known that balance is the greater purpose that our god serves. Bringing balance to all things, to the earth as in the heavens, is the task that our god has been given by divine right. Balance cannot be attained by one alone. It is known that everyone needs someone to help bring balance to the darkness and light inside them. That is the basis for that sacred right known as marriage. Who comes here to be joined this day? Name yourselves for all to hear."
"I am Larissa Lenore Lilika Lysandra Lilis, third in line for the throne of Poseidonium."
"I am Casimir Ignatious Konstantinos, first in line for the throne of Methone, and successor to the command of the Ale Santeri."
Bacchus closed his hands over theirs. "Daughter of Poseidonium, son of Methone, you are welcome in this place. Hold onto one another, and kneel before me now."
Keeping their hands between his, Bacchus smiled as they lowered themselves to their knees. Kaz grinned at Larissa as they used their conjoined hands to keep balance as they did so. They couldn't use anything other than each other to stay upright.
Bacchus began his prayers over them. It was a slower ceremony than the ones Larissa was accustomed to hearing from Poseidonium. Bacchus had to systematically go through their traits, comparing them to each other, and bringing them into balance.
Her innovation to his tradition. His steady reliability to her changing flexibility. Her soft endurance to his hard strength. One trait meeting another, canceling it out, and bringing with it a new completion that the other lacked.
"The god of justice sees this couple and deems them suitable," Bacchus announced when he had finished. "May his blessings be upon you and keep you stable through the years that you walk the path of life, bringing balance to each other and your kingdom.
"Forevermore are you two joined into one body, one heart, and one soul. Casimir Ignatious Konstantinos, Kaz, will you remain faithful to your bride? Honor and respect her? Take all of her worldly goods and family as your own?"
"I will."
"Will you live for her? Will you die for her?"
"I will."
"Larissa Lenore Lilika Lysandra Lilis, will you remain faithful to your groom? Honor and respect him? Take all of his worldly goods and family as your own?"
"I will."
"Will you live for him? Will you die for him?"
"I will."
Bacchus unspooled the silver ribbon he had tied around his wrist. He began tying their wrists together instead. As he worked, he spoke.
"Allow your oaths to bring you both completion and balance, mimicking the greater balance that our god brings to the world. Be with each other for the rest of your days and beyond, into the goddess of death's kingdom. Let these two be joined, and let none but the gods split them asunder!"
The gathered crowd cheered. Kaz and Larissa used their bound hands to help one another back to their feet. As they rose, they took hold of the other with their free hand. Larissa grinned as Kaz lowered his lips over hers. Their vows were sealed in that kiss, bringing to a close the agreement that their parents had made so many years ago.
When they separated, Larissa smirked.
"300."
Kaz blinked at her before crying out. "You kept count?!"
Larissa laughed, walking around him so that they could face out to the crowd with their hands still tied together as they were. Kaz was grinning as he turned to look out over his people. His queen securely at his side.
Though there were some that came forward immediately to offer their congratulations, most began making their way down to the throne room. Kaz and Larissa, surrounded by their family – mostly her family – started that way as well. Laughing, talking, smiles were spread wide across everyone's faces as they moved across the balcony.
There was no one looking as, from the rushing waterfall, a woman emerged. Covered head to toe in a veil that splashed everywhere she stepped, Oceane emerged from the falls and alighted down onto the balcony as though she had done so a hundred times before.
Oceane flipped her veil back over her head and smiled out over her children as they walked away from her. No one looked back. It made her smile.
"Yoo-ho-o-o!" She sang out loudly, waving at their backs.
She didn't know what was funnier, the surprise on their faces when they saw her, or how everyone seemed to move in the exact same way. Either way, it was funny, and Oceane began laughing delightedly as they paused to face her.
"Godmother!" Larissa beamed, taking a step her way. She wasn't able to pull away from Kaz and he was too busy staring in surprise at the demi-goddess to be able to move with her. He had never seen a divine being before.
The royal family from Poseidonium didn't seem surprised. Only excited. They were accustomed to Oceane showing up wherever and whenever she pleased.
"My darling!" Laughing, Oceane came forward and hugged Larissa warmly, dampening the front of her gown as she was still soaking wet. She released her then turned to Kaz. Before he could figure out what was going on, the goddess enveloped him in and embrace as well.
"I do love my weddings," she sniffed, wiping at her eyes. Larissa didn't think she was actually crying, but it was hard to be sure since water was running down her face from her snow white hair. The tips of which were bright, silvery blue today.
She released the newlyweds and stepped back with a large smile. She sighed at them happily. "This is good. This is a very good thing. I'm so happy."
"You actually came." Larissa beamed at her.
"Of course. What kind of godmother would I be if I missed my children's weddings? I can't give you a gift, but I can still wish you well."
Kaz and Larissa shared a smile. He turned back to her.
"Great godmother of Poseidonium-"
"Oh, dear." Oceane put a hand to her chest, reeling. "That was a mouthful. You can just call me Oceane. Or godmother. Whichever suits. Liny! You're drunk again."
She started laughing as though that fact was hilarious. The intoxicated king beamed at her before his smile melted into sadness.
"Oceane. He's taking my daughter away! Why are all my children leaving me?"
"You think you have it bad? You only have four daughters to lose. Do you know how many times I've had to say goodbye to my children?"
"Are you going to join us for the party, godmother?" Larissa asked politely.
"Naturally. Where's Auri? He owes me a dance."
"Wha-? I do?" Aurelius started before taking a few nervous steps back. "Surely, godmother, you'd like to dance with someone else for a cha-argh!"
His words were cut off when Oceane grabbed his arm and jerked him towards the exit, aiming for the ballroom. Avram watched them go with wide eyes.
"That was..." He started, unable to finish.
"Better follow her." Melania said to him, eyes dull. "She's likely to destroy the entire party if you leave her by herself."
Larissa gave Kaz a look, laughing. Quite honestly, she rather hoped that Oceane would bring her own brand of chaos and excitement to the wedding party. Events were just so much more fun when her godmother was there to ruin everyone's proper expectations.
Oceane was a hurricane of a person. She dominated most of everyone's attention. Even people that would normally be staring at Larissa found themselves watching the demi-goddess instead. Partially because she enjoyed making a spectacle of herself, and partially because they had to in order to keep out of her path.
Larissa suspected that she might have been doing a lot of it on purpose. When people weren't staring at her, she felt a great deal more comfortable.
While their godmother was spinning Aurelius around the dance floor, making him dizzy and ignoring his pleas for mercy, Larissa was able to enjoy a calmer, more private dance with her husband and no one stared and murmured about her beauty. When Zoe began playing a song she had written for them, her voice was joined in by Oceane's and the two of them harmonized like a sunset over water. The sound was almost inhumanely beautiful, and no one stared at Larissa while captured in the enchanting melody.
Oceane stayed later than she had at Reanna or Andromeda's wedding. She left a mess in her wake of confused and befuddled guests that had been unsure of how to deal with the goddess that had so easily placed herself in their midst. She had stolen half the wine when she left, leaving only a single plate of steamed fish behind to replace it. Linus had finally collapsed and it was her that carried him off. The servants informed Kaz that the king was in his bed in the guest wing, but Oceane never returned. They toasted in her honor, with what was left of the wine.
Near the end of the night, Avram came forward to congratulate them. It was a very proper and impersonal sort of congratulations. Larissa realized that it was the best that he could manage. The king wasn't a very personable man. Larissa made a note to tell Kaz later that, when it came to their own children, they would not be nearly so distant.
Before the king finished his obligatory well-wishes, a servant came forward with a letter clutched into his hand. He leaned forward and whispered something into Avram's ear.
"Father?" Kaz looked curiously as Avram opened the letter.
"It's from Cadmus." Avram said simply. "You wanted to know, didn't you?"
"I didn't want him to interrupt my wedding with it." Kaz growled.
"What does it say?" Larissa asked, frowning.
Avram didn't answer her immediately. He frowned as he read over the letter, then went back and read it over again. The expression on his face caught Kaz's attention.
"Father? What is it?"
Avram opened his mouth, then paused as he stared at the letter.
"Your majesty?" Larissa and Kaz shared a worried look.
Avram cleared his throat. "It's from Cadmus. King Erastus of Scabrosa has been assassinated."
"What?!" Larissa fell back as Kaz's jaw dropped.
Most of the guests had already begun leaving, but those that remained turned around at her shout.
Avram handed the letter to Kaz who took it with numb fingers.
"Assassinated?" Larissa repeated incredulously. "How does he... I mean, what? How?"
Kaz, who had already flipped the letter open, answered her. "He was found by his manservant when he went to wake him. He had been stabbed through the heart in the night."
"Stabbed?" Larissa grasped for her own heart.
"An investigation is ongoing. Cadmus sends his regrets that he wasn't able to send us notice before this but his father's murder, and his own rushed coronation, has taken up his time."
Larissa's hands felt so cold. "His coronation. Which means, he's now King Cadmus."
"It would appear so." Kaz shut the letter. "He barely mentioned Zoe at all."
"But he did mention her." Avram nodded. "The wedding is on. It appears that Zoe is going to be a queen before you, Larissa. I should go prepare a gift for him."
"You can't seriously give him a coronation gift after his father was murdered."
"I'll be sending it with my condolences. You should be more careful of how you speak of him now, Larissa. He's no longer a prince. He's the king. It's never wise to insult a king."
Larissa growled but waited until he had walked away before murmuring, "I can think of a few things I wouldn't mind saying to you, my king."
Kaz touched her arm. "Don't worry, Rissa. Now that he's king, he won't have nearly so much time to go gallivanting around other kingdoms. He'll have to focus on his own people."
"Yes, or trying to hurt mine."
"Poseidonium will be fine. They have your sisters, and your brothers. I wouldn't dare attack a kingdom while Rae was in charge. She's kind of scary, to be honest with you."
Larissa just stared at him for a second, as though confused. Then she started laughing. "Of course. I didn't mean Poseidonium though. I meant Methone."
"Oh." A smile stretched across Kaz's face as pleasure bloomed in his chest. "Don't you worry, my heart. There is nothing to fear when it comes to Methone. Our people have us, and the Santeri. Cadmus would be a fool to try anything against either of us."
Larissa frowned. "Yes. That never stopped him before though."
Though she tried to get herself back into the jovial mood of the wedding festivities, Larissa couldn't shake the lingering apprehension that twisted in her guts from hearing that Cadmus had suddenly taken the throne in place of his father. She had never known King Erastus, but she couldn't imagine that the son he had raised would be much better than him.
Then again, maybe Kaz was right. Cadmus hadn't been the one who devised the plan to try and steal Poseidonium. His father had put that into effect in his childhood. Maybe Cadmus would be content with ruling Scabrosa.
Somehow, she very much doubted it.
So, it was with a heavy heart that she retired to her and Kaz's new bedchamber. A room that she had spent a goodly amount of time arranging then rearranging so that it was perfect. Kaz's simplistic way of living meeting with her obsession with creating beautiful, useful things meant that their room lacked a great deal in the way of furniture or useless decorative objects. However, the things that were in there, the useful things that remained, were splendid to cast their eyes upon.
"What's wrong, Rissa?" Kaz asked, frowning as he came around to her side.
She had been pulling apart the buttons on the dress, but her own worry had stalled her fingers and left her standing there for nearly a full minute in near stillness. She jumped when Kaz touched her shoulder and quickly affixed a smile on her face.
"Nothing. Everything's wonderful."
"You're still thinking about Cadmus and Erastus, aren't you?"
She grimaced. "I'm sorry. That's hardly something newlyweds should be focusing on."
"No." He took her face with a smile. "But it is something that I would want my queen to focus on. A new king or queen is always something to worry about. You never know what kind of ruler they'll be or how they'll change the status quo."
Larissa leaned into his touch. "No. Tomorrow is soon enough to worry about that. If there is anything to worry about. We don't know what will happen until it does. Our job is to try and maintain peace and prosperity for our people, and until or unless something threatens that, we can continue acting as we have always done."
Kaz laughed, resting his forehead against hers. "Yes, my heart. But, as you said, tomorrow is soon enough. Tonight, shall be about us."
Larissa stepped forward and rested her head against his chest. She hummed when his arms came around her, enveloping her in his warmth and protection.
These arms would be the ones that would hold her for the rest of their lives.
"Kaz?"
"Mm?"
"I love you."
He looked down with a grin. "I love you too, my heart."
"Kaz?"
"Mm?"
"I trust you."
His smile widened as he pushed her hair back from her face. "Thank you."
Her love meant the world to him. It was the thing that rose him from his bed in the morning. But her trust? It empowered him. It strengthened him. He felt as though he would never be able to rule this kingdom without her.
For whatever the days ahead brought them, the good times or bad, he knew that he could face them with this woman that gave him purpose and made him worthy.
For he was her king. Her Ale Santeri. The mighty bird that flew at the command of her;
His Eagle Princess.