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Ben Medinets / story2w

Chapter 23: Wembly’s Hasty Weddings

Despite being a hastily planned, spur-of-the-moment wedding, the main hall of Wembly Castle was very nicely decorated. It helped immensely that there had been engagement parties here at the castle previously, as the preparation time was greatly reduced, and those who had helped with the prior festivities still had those experiences fresh in their minds.

Servants of the castle and other local townspeople came and helped with the festivity preparations. Several of the women in town prepared the food in their own kitchens to help make the preparations go even faster. They delivered them to the hall.

The upcoming war was creating a sombre mood in the back of everyone’s mind. The wedding of the King’s two remaining daughters did, however, make the last remaining days before the deployment of Wembly’s troops that much more bitter sweet.

The war preparations were drawing to completion. The king would not go off to war until a day after the wedding of his daughters. That meant that all the troops in the king’s army would be given 3 days to say goodbye to their friends and families before they would be leaving for the battleground.

The beginning part of the day was spent as the last-minute details of the wedding were finally being done. Everything was now nearly ready for the nupuals to take place. While the castle was getting prepared for the festivities, a few select maidens were helping the princesses get their hair done, make-up and perfume, and to help them get dressed in their royal wedding gowns.

Meanwhile, at Benny’s house, Soren woke up the still slumbering Benny. Benny didn’t like that, but Soren insisted that Benny didn’t have any spare time and that he must get dressed and prepared for the wedding. Not long after Benny got out of bed, Vic arrived with Cletus.

Soren helped lay out the wedding garments for Benny and Vic. Vic didn’t really like the initial concept of that, and felt that he was too old to have the old wizard help with the laying of the clothing. Soren made no apologies, except to say that he was only trying to help out.

Benny appreciated the help. And eventually so did Vic. Soren noted their appreciation, and told Benny after he got dressed, he needed another dose of Holy Water to keep him from getting ill during the wedding festivities.

Soren went downstairs and Cletus went with him. Benny and Vic then got dressed, and joined Soren and Cletus in the quaint kitchen. They all proceeded to have a small bite to eat, despite the meager morcels of food in Benny’s pantry. So they all broke fast together, before leaving for the castle.

After eating, the four of them then left the house, and walked to the castle. They arrived an hour before noon. The wedding would start at 1 hour past noon. Sharp. They were greeted by the King’s Chamberlain at the castle door, who then brought them before the King.

The four of them gave the king a low bow, and he told them to quickly rise. After that, the king took them in to the hall. Despite the relatively quick decorating, the hall looked magnificent. The king went over a few of the events of the day with his future son-in-laws, and then excused himself to finish getting prepared himself.

So Benny, Vic, Soren, and Cletus were left in the hall to chat amongst themselves until shortly after noon, at which time the invited guests started to arrive. As the guests arrived, they started filling up the seats. Soren took his seat at the front. Cletus would be the best man for both Benny and Vic.

As the ceremony got closer and closer, both grooms-to-be started to get very nervous and sweaty. Fortunately, they had each other and Cletus to help them stay calm and collected. Meanwhile, as they stood at the front of the hall, approximately where they would stand during the ceremony, their wives-to-be were upstairs in the castle in their own chambers getting some last minute touch ups on their make-up.

Both of the brides had wanted their sister, Princess Sara to be their matron of honor, since she was already married to Prince William, the Emperor’s son. However, Princess Sara was already left for the war with her troops. So, instead, Queen Beth, the Princesses’ step-mother graciously accepted the responsibility of being their matron of honor.

It took several minutes to convince the two princesses that they were ready to go down to the hall. Despite this, both were absolutely gorgeous and were both more than ready to get married. Before going downstairs to the hall, the Chamberlain summoned Soren.

“King Leon humbly requests your assistance to escort her royal highness, Princess Lisa into the hall,” the Chamberlain said.

“I, Soren, humbly accept this request.” Soren replied.

So Soren followed the Chambelain up the stairs and bowed again to the King. The King just chuckled for a moment, told him to rise, and then gave the wizard a hug. Then Soren bowed slightly to Princess Lisa and took her hand after she gave him a quick curtsy back to him. He then kissed the back of her hand, and then escorted her to the stairs that led to the hall.

Before descending the stairs, the Chamberlain was sent down first to strike up the band. They began to play a suitable wedding anthem and all the invited guests rose out of their seats, and the grooms and their best man lined up and tried to look as stoic as ever, as the Chief Druid took up his spot as the performer of the wedding ceremony.

Not long after the band began to play, than the matron of honor, Queen Beth descended the stairs. After she entered the hall, Soren and Princess descended the stairs and entered the hall. After they entered the hall, King Leon entered the hall escorting Her Royal Highness, Princess Stephanie.

When the two exquisit brides made it up front, they joined their future husbands, while Soren returned to his seat at the front right beside the King, who “gave away” his two daughters. The Chief Druid then gave a brief talk on marriage and gave some sage advice to the two royal couples. After the talk, the Chief Druid had Benny and Princess Lisa exchange their vows. And then after they had done so, he had Vic and Princess Stephanie exchange theirs.

After exchanging vows, the Chief Druid said, “by the authority of the King Leon of Wembly, I now pronounce the two happy couples, to be married.” He then had both couples kiss. After Benny and vic had planted kisses on their respective brides, the hall gave a very loud and boisterous cheer.

“Let the merriment begin,” the King said very loud voice as the cheering began to die down. Then everyone in the hall returned to their seats as the wedding feast was beginning to be served.

After everyone had been given a chance to eat, King Leon was the first to stand up and toast newly married couples. “My dearest daughters and their new husbands, I wish prosperity, long life, and good health, especially to Benny... (at which time, Benny grew quite flush in the face from the slight embarassment) ... and to my first born daughter, Princess Stephanie, I make you my heir and I do terribly hope that I do not perish in the upcoming war. As I mobilize the army and depart for battle, I appoint you to rule in my stead.”

King Leon continued after a slight pause, “May you be granted stength and patience to rule the kingdom effectively and graciously. Lastly, to Benny and Vic, by my authority as the King of Wembly, I grant thee royal titles. No longer shall you be just Benny and Vic, but Prince Benny and Prince Vic.”

At which time, the crowd began to cheer with celebration. And those in attendance drank their wine. After drinking their wine, Queen Beth rose up next to give her toast to the bridal couples. “I may not have given birth to you my daughters, but I have loved you both closer than a mother loves her dear own children. I, too, wish for your prosperity and that you both have many children as you begin your married lives.”

“Here. Here.” the crowd responded and drank some more wine.

Next to rise up was the best man, Sir Cletus, “As I also leave for the coming battle, and may not be coming back. I, too, wish for good fortune on our new princes, and their lovely brides. May Prince Vic and Princess Stephanie govern effectively as King Leon has done, and now as the King leads his Royal Army into battle. May Prince Benny, and Princess Lisa be granted grace and strength as they lead their own battle contingent to war. To his magisty’s officers and soldiers, may you find the courage in your hearts, and the true loyalty to be able to vanquish this evil afflicting us all. To all who are staying behind, may you be granted love, patience, and loyalty as you must endure the uncertainty of having your loved ones in the field of battle. Finally, may our Kingdom be granted stength to endure the coming hardships, and success on the field of battle.”

There was now a mix of emotion from the crowd. There were tears on most people’s faces but a firm resolve from everyone that this upcoming tribulation would soon pass. They all drank some more wine, in response to this third toast. Before they continued with the celebrations, a strange man, dressed like a foreign soldier (Avonian), entered the hall escorted by the Chamberlain.

The crowd stopped what they were doing and were quite shocked to see the foreign intruder. The Chamberlain then said, “this man insists he has something to say...”

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