And the smell of it, the rich, earthy odor mixing with the fragrant scent of spring flowers.
It’s magical.
Quinn finally abandons her quest to will the weather into behaving and comes to help me dress. Octavia has worked miracles on my hair. A pair of perfect braids cascades from my face like a waterfall, leaving most of my dark waves free. It’s nicely done, but the incredible part is the flowers, delicate white and blue buds which she has woven into the braid in a way that looks completely organic, like they grew there on their own. My makeup has been simply done: a sweep of kohl around my eyes, a light peachy blush, and a brush of a pink balm on my lips.
It’s not unlike the look Hilaria helped me with the night that Ronan crowned me the Champion of the Bow. My heart aches as I wonder what has happened to her. Is she still in the palace? Could she be serving my sister, taming her blonde hair?
Or has the worst happened to her and all the others?
So many were lost in the fall of Faros. And with the city under Adria’s control, we’ve had little opportunity to find out who remains, relying on rumors and information gleaned from refugees who have made it to Pyka.
“You look far too sad for a bride on her wedding day,” says Octavia as she and Quinn help me into my dress. It’sa gown Quinn found from a trader in cream-colored silk that sweeps off my shoulders and drapes around my waist, with sleeves and an underskirt of hand-crafted lace gifted by Karis in congratulations.
“I was just thinking of someone in the palace. And all the people who can’t be here today.”
I catch myself in the looking glass as Quinn ties the laces. It’s impossible not to see my mother in my appearance. And I know I’ll see my father in Seth as he leads me from the cottage. The thought of them fills me with a mixture of longing and guilt. A wish that they could be here followed by relief that they can’t, knowing they wouldn’t approve.
Octavia pulls me into a hug. “You carry them with you.”
I’m not the only one who will be missing their parents today. Ronan will stand up at the altar alone, with only Quinn and Taran beside him. At least I have Seth and Larus to give me away. Ronan has no one.
No one but the family we have made.
“Don’t worry,” says Quinn, handing me the veil made from matching lace. It has been dyed a golden hue, the traditional color to honor Kerensa. “We’ll do this all again in a couple of months with everyone from the palace.”
I wish I shared her certainty. But as difficult as it is to put it from my mind, I know I must. Our families are gone, and though they may not have approved, our lives are ours to live. I have no doubt about my choice.
And as for the people in the palace, there’s nothing we can do for them right now. Wewillhelp them, and soon. Our plans are sound. It has taken longer than anyone wanted, but we’re nearly ready.
Today can be what I want it to be. A moment to delight in the love we share with each other in private. In secret. In the shadows of the woods, the shadows of the place where I grew up.
And then we’ll step back into the light, taking our place in the world once more.
Seth and Larus arrive then. Larus smiles widely when he sees me, looking away and coughing to hide his tears. He’s dressed in Enezian finery but Nithyrian colors: a tailcoat in deep blue with golden buttons. A gift from his mother for keeping Octavia safe. Octavia fusses over him, admiring the golden trim of the fabric as Quinn eyes Seth in shameless appreciation.
Seth is wearing a formal doublet in silver-lined green velvet, an outfit of his own that he retrieved from Kalla on one of his and Taran’s trips. Risking capture to retrieve clothing had been a sore subject between them, but I’m certain Seth considers it worth it.
He does look nice, I must admit. He doesn’t favor Father as much as I expected. There’s too much of Mother in his wry expression, especially now that he’s clean-shaven.
“Sister,” he says, his expression carefully neutral. “You look lovely for someone who has lost her mind.”
“Seth,” hisses Larus.
“Oh, here we go,” says Quinn.
Octavia just shakes her head.
I hold up my hand to stop them. “I’m sure what Seth means to say is that though he may not approve of my choice of partner, he can see that I’m happy, and his very being here is proof that he does caresomethingabout my happiness, or he wouldn’t have shown up at all. Is that about right? Does that spare us the argument?”
“I would have had more digs in there about Ronan—”
“Weknow,” says Quinn. “Gods, give it a rest already.”
Seth glares at her, continuing. “And I would have said that although Mother and Father will probably haunt you for the rest of their endless days in the underworld for this choice—”
Larus reaches for him, preparing to shove him out the door.
“—Mother and Father were wrong about a lot of things.”
