The Wedding

Sharlisia barely contained her great excitement and joy. Her mind could not fully grasp the reality of her situation. It was like walking in a dream. She had strong feelings of surrealism as this day she thought would never come.

Unpon entering the venue, she saw Aeron standing on the altar with the Master of Ceremony. She noticed the guests are all looking at her with awe. The nobles sat on the right side with Sharlisia’s father and the Battalion seated on the left along with the other guests. She wore a white gown with white gloves made of silk and a pair of white shoes ornamented with pearls. Her shoulder-length hair was filled with ornaments of gold and jewels.

         “Holy mother Slava, she looks like a goddess,” Yuris commented.

Sharlisia walked down the aisle and remembered a memory long past.

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Her expressionless face reflected on the window while she stared blankly at the gray sky pouring heavy rain. As if sympathizing with her.

Somebody approached her. A kid of the same age as her. It was Aeron.

         “It's fine to cry,” he said, concerned of the girl. “I cried when my grandfather passed away.”

Her tough exterior melted and tears ran through the eyes of Sharlisia and she cried leaning on Aeron. She felt his soft embrace as she lets out her grief. At the end of the gathering, she stood by her father together with the guests to attend the final ceremony before her mother is finally laid to rest. She watched as the coffin is buried in the backyard with the past generations of House Everand.

Sharlisia is often visited by Aeron accompanied by a trusted manservant. During his free days, he managed to ask permission from his parents in order to visit her. As the days go by, she felt her grief gradually faded away by Aeron's constant visit.

One fateful day, she overheard her father talking to himself as he fled from the mansion. House Sinclair are alleged to be perpetrators of a rebellion and he is going to attend their banishment. She suddenly remembered Aeron is a son of House Sinclair. She asked a manservant so she can also see the event.

People in an uproar filled the plaza, ridiculing the family Sinclair as they step into the carriage. She saw Aeron step into the carriage wearing a blank expression. The scene irritated her for losing her only friend and she can do nothing at this point. She went home with his expression burnt into her mind.

         Suddenly, she remembered Aeron's words on one of his visits: “My father said that I should do my best for the people I cared for. You should, too.”

She now knows what she wants to do.

Growing older, she learned that the power of House Everand declined after her mother died. She trained to be a knight and studied politics and diplomacy. Her plan is to strengthen her influence in Militaria in order to bring Aeron’s family back in Militaria even as a vassal of her family. Unfortunately, her father brought a terrible revelation: the carriage of Aeron’s family was attacked by bandits and no one cared to investigate. Aeron and his family are most likely been dead for a long time. This revelation broke her to tears and frustration welled up in her. All she had been trying to build up suddenly crumbled to dust.

One time, her squad was ordered to drive out bandits in a nearby village outside of Militaria. This village was part of the trade route used by merchants. They went into the village and she was surprised. They found a trail of mutilated bodies of the villagers. By following the trail, she found a bandit who cornered a trembling villager. He is splattered in blood with a dagger in each hand and his garment is made of large patches of leather stitched together.

         She recognized the bandit immediately. “Aeron?”

The man turned to her when she called his name. Instead of the kind smile he always wore, what she saw was a smile filled with bloodlust. Without second thought, she engaged him and let the villager escape. She is determined to subdue him and bring him back. She is confident with her fighting skills but his movements were extraordinary. His unconventional fighting style. His reflexes. He is formidable.

         “What happened to him?” The thought entered her mind.

The bandit group fled before they enter a skirmish with the knights. After the encounter, her long dead dream can still come true. She trained more than ever, turning her dream into an obsession. She is determined to rehabilitate Aeron. Sparring two knights simultaneously. Then three. Then ten. As years go by, she climbed the rank of captain. She ordered her forces to gather information of bandit activity around the region to track down Aeron's whereabouts and grab an opportunity to capture him. A news is spreading in the mess hall. Aeron became the warlord of the Thirteenth District, the lawless region of Militaria. During special gatherings, she pieced together the discussions of the high-ranking officials and nobles. Aeron is growing in power and he is beginning to be a major threat to the kingdom. Her time is running out.

On a day after training, she was approached by her superior.

         “A meeting discussed the growing threat of Aeron,” he said. “The meeting concluded with his capture. Since you are most acquainted with his activities, you are appointed to be in command. Wait for the orders for a raid in the Thirteenth District.”

         “Yes, sir,” Sharlisia said gleefully. This is the moment she was waiting for her whole life. She just needs to justify and pull some strings in order to marry him and also find his parents to formally make his family a vassal. Her superior knew she wants him alive. She noticed the expression in her superior's face is a little different.

         “I hate to say this,” he said with a tired voice. “They also want him executed after capture. He is deemed too dangerous to be left alive.”

For a moment, a shock left her stunned. Her body suddenly felt heavy and tired. Despite the distress she felt, she quickly recovered her composure and affirmed her superior's order.

In her room inside the mansion, she cried her heart out. Her dream is again shattered. The friend, who helped her during her darkest moments, she cannot even help in his darkest moment. She pictured marrying him and House Sinclair a vassal of House Everand. A happy ending. But then she tried to imagine the suffering her friend had gone through in order to be like that. Imagine what broke him. A smile filled with blood lust. She steeled herself. She resolved herself to kill him. To free her friend from his suffering. She should be the one to kill Aeron to have closure. Her conviction made her focus to prepare for the upcoming confrontation. For days, she trained and prepared in order to kill him.

The order was given. The day has come. Her forces will raid the Thirteenth District at the crack of dawn. She oriented the squad leaders of the plan for the raid later that night. She never felt revolted in her life but she must fulfill her duty as a knight and as his friend. She will end his reign of terror and his suffering.

A report spread that night. Aeron was overthrown by someone called Arioch. After a few days, he became part of the Penal Battalion. An army created from criminals to be deployed in the harshest parts of a battle. She knew the high casualty of this army and collected information for a month and hatched a plan.

She has been secretly exchanging letters with Arioch, the appointed captain of the Penal Battalion. Arioch agreed to a meeting and the place is the battalion barracks in the Thirteenth District. She had to slip past the border gate towards the Thirteenth District.

On the night of the meeting, she wore a “borrowed” guard's uniform and plans to slip into the outpost while the guards change shifts. Inside the outpost, she walked casually in the hallway towards the other exit with a helmet on. The guards from the previous shift gazed at her with puzzled looks but she stared back at them and they immediately looked away. They were quite relaxed after finishing their shift. After getting through, she wore the cloak she had in hand. The streets are dark but surprisingly empty. Arioch must have prepared to welcome her.

She had never met Arioch before and she do not know if their meeting will be favorable for her. She is nervous with her heart is pounding fast. But she had to do it. For her friend. For Aeron.

She quietly walked until she found the battalion barracks described in one of the letters. Inside, she saw a brightly lit room. In there, she saw a tall man with black hood and black clothes sitting on a chair across the table. His sunset eyes peered through the hood. She lowered her head in a bow and smiled at him.

         “Good evening, Lord Arioch.” Maintaining an amicable expression. “Did my servant managed to give you the wine?”

         “Yes. Please have a seat.” Arioch offered her the seat across his. “Bribing me before the meeting. That is why Aeron is disgusted with the likes of you.”

         She sat and answered, “My Lord, please, I offered it as a gift.”

         “Would you cut out that pretentious smile?” he growled. “It irritates me.”

         Her expression became serious. “Pardon me, my Lord. For my inappropriate behavior.”

Her heart is pounding fast and she is getting more nervous. But she needs to maintain her composure. She is surprised she was not inspected for hidden weapons. She thought he is either confident or naïve. But she cannot make any mistakes. Sharlisia noticed Arioch's intent gaze at her. She knew that kind of gaze because she also uses it to observe the body language of the people. The simple twitch of the face, tone of the voice, delivery of the words, the movement and position of the body can reveal motives, intention and emotions which words alone cannot hide. She has to be careful as to what her body language conveys and also be observant of his.

         “Hidden weapons do not bother me. I expected you to bring one. Who would not, yes?” he asked.

She nodded feeling the sheathed dagger in her waist. She did not want to look naïve in front of him and be taken advantage of.

         “My Lord, I wish to ask for the hand of Aeron Sinclair for marriage.” She declared with a straight face.

         “You mentioned that in one of the letters and got me curious. What is your goal? Depending on your answer, you will leave here unscathed or an ‘accident’ will occur.” He ripped a piece of the table and slammed it between them.

         She stared at the ripped piece of wood in front of her. She must justify her marriage proposal and convince him. “Aeron was a big threat but he can be used as a trump card. But that notion is a double-edged blade. He is also dangerous to those who have him. But I can control him. I know how he thinks and can fight him toe to toe. Through marriage, I will be his leash. In addition, I will make House Everand a vassal of House Vermillion to solidify my loyalty to you. I have connections and I can pull strings much more effective than Lord Francis. If you want information and things done, I can aid you, my Lord. With House Everand and Aeron, nobody can touch you not even the bastard king and his ministers.”

         “House Everand is already declining. Being a vassal will not give you what you want. Backstabbing me will not bring you anything and do not belittle the information Francis brings. He is still a royal blood. His cunning and wisdom is outstanding.” He stated growing more suspicious.

         “My Lord, do not mistake me for the other nobles,” she reasoned. “I do not long for ultimate power or total influence. But I have to deal with them to maintain the House Everand's power. I still believe in the principles of the previous king. My father instilled it in me. Lord Francis, pulled strings to put you on your current position. He never dabbles in politics because of his royal blood with his nephew threatening the current monarch. I think you had given him hope to turn this kingdom back to its former glory. You even make up random names in your reports then strike them out as casualties even though in reality there is none. You have given people hope.”

She had done all she can to convince him. She admits that her request is out of this world and her justification is weak. She convinced herself that she tried and did her best. Whatever unthinkable worst-case scenario happens she will accept it but regret still lingers in the back of her mind that she will not be able to save Aeron. Then in only a moment, she caught a glimpse of a grin on his impassive expression. She blinked and the grin was gone. She thought she is imagining things. She suspects he saw through her real intentions. She is getting anxious.

         “I will agree with your conditions. The wedding will be in a few moon cycles’ time,” he replied. “Just do not rape him before the wedding.”

A chill crept in her spine. Deep inside, she was anxious if he saw through her or if he was just joking. But she was relieved. Her dream is coming true.

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She snapped back to reality. She is already standing by the altar. She turned to Arioch for he made her dream possible.

         “In exchange for making my dream a reality, I will make House Everand and House Sinclair serve under House Vermillion with full loyalty,” she thought.

The Master of Ceremony proceeded with the reciting of oaths. Aeron and Sharlisia recited their oaths to one another. Then, the exchange of vows.

         “You may now kiss the bride,” the Master of Ceremony announced.

Sharlisia picked up Aeron in a princess carry and kissed him.

         “Wow! She really knows how to break gender stereotypes,” Yuris commented.

Then cheers were heard for the newly wed.

The banquet was held at the mansion of House Vermillion in the Thirteenth District. She and Aeron sat near the junction of the common area and the dining area, centered for all the guest to see. Compared to the barracks, the mansion was decorated differently. Instead of Militarian Architecture, complementing designs from various kingdoms adorn the mansion. It was much smaller than a noble’s mansion. To accommodate the number of guests, the common area was used together with the dining area. Various servants were serving the guests in their tables.

         “Hey, Aeron,” Arioch called. “I hope you can last more than one minute in your honeymoon.”

The whole Battalion laughed. Sharlisia tried to hold her laughter and instinctively looked at Aeron clearly irritated by the remark.

         Aeron turned to her with a face saying, “Why are you laughing with them, you ogre-bitch? You are supposed to be my wife.”

She saw the other guests were a bit repelled by their behavior but her father was just enjoying the scene.

         “Hey, Aeron,” Siryo called. “It will need a few of more of my orbs to make it magically a tad bigger.”

Then the boisterous laughter grew wilder.

         Sharlisia, teary-eyed from holding her laughter, heard Aeron cursing under his breath, “Why you, magical midget. I am going to stuff that orbs of yours down your throat.” When her and Aeron’s eyes met again, his face read, “at least, make it less obvious.”

         “Hey Aeron,” Rick called. “You should be thankful someone married you with that horse face of yours.”

The laughter continued.

         “You’re one to talk.” She heard Aeron whisper as he looked irritated at Rick’s undead-like face. She felt her face about to explode from holding her laughter.

The jokes continued until the end of the banquet.