The Royal Wedding

By Donna and Abs

The residents of Camelot were in a festive mood. King Arthur had returned safely, accompanied, not only by a priest, but also with several newcomers. As they rode into the main courtyard, a loud squeal could be heard as Amanda recognized the lady riding behind Sir Lancelot. 

Rebecca Horne had once been Amanda's teacher.   And although she might have thought her student's manner of dress when she arrived odd, to say the least, Amanda was now wearing the same as any other Lady in Camelot. 

Rebecca dismounted and went, at once, to embrace her friend.  "I have missed you," she said. 

"And I you!" Amanda said fiercely, hugging her teacher tight. "I am so glad to have you here." She led Rebecca away, whispering in her ear about the resemblance between the good looking knight that had shared his horse with Rebecca and a certain Highlander they both knew.  

The other newcomers were all welcomed as well, and arrangements were made for their quarters. During all this, Lady Guinevere had hung back, her eyes sparkling as she watched the man who would soon be her husband. 

Melissa and Giles, linked arm in arm, came down to welcome the new arrivals.  Seeing the man in the cowl, Giles teased, "I'll have to grab him before he leaves, won't I?" Melissa just giggled, blushing.  Giving her a kiss, he extracted himself from her grasp and went to see if everyone was healthy.  No use bringing any sickness into the settlement. 

All but two of them turned out to be immortals, so that made his job a lot easier. While Giles distracted Sarak, King Arthur took the opportunity to greet his future queen and to introduce her to Darius, who was looking around like a kid in a candy store. Camelot! He was actually in Camelot!  

Any hesitation he might have had about staying there permanently faded when he saw the walls of the wonderful settlement.  He'd never got a chance to see Camelot in his other lifetime, and now he was not going to give up a chance to live there permanently! 

The King would have liked for the wedding to have been preformed right then and there, but he decided to let the newcomers get settled in and have a good night’s sleep first. The wedding was then set to take place the next day.  

Fortunately, Guinevere and her ladies - including Lady Melissa and, strangely enough, Amanda! - had been busy getting the place readyy.  That night there was celebration, but nothing compared to what they had planned for the following evening.  The men who had stayed behind had gone hunting, so there would be fresh meat, and they had plenty of drinkables, though of course, they realized they had to replace what was used. 

Luckily, the cook had an excellent recipe for mead, and had already started a batch, and planned on serving it for the wedding feast the next day. After the evening meal, in the cool of the evening, Arthur took his bride-to-be by the hand and led her into the castle gardens. His self-appointed bodyguard, Sarak, followed at a discreet distance. He was one to take his pledge seriously.  

There, under the moonlight, Arthur turned his beloved to face him and then very slowly, leaned down and kissed her.  

*** 

The next day dawned fair and fine.  Melissa sighed as her girls did her hair.  One day soon it would be her turn.  But today she had to attend to her Queen, as these maidens attended to her.  It was a pleasure and an honor to do so; Guinevere was a wonderful Queen, and an even better person. 

The bride was wearing a lovely white and gold gown, a flower crown on her long, elaborately braided hair. She sat calmly as all the girls fussed over her, even though inside, her stomach was tied into what felt like a thousand knots. When it was time, she rose to her feet, trying to control the trembling in her legs. She hugged her maidens and friends and then together they all made their way to the chapel, which had been adorned with floral drapes and scented candles.  

The men were decked out, as well; Melissa was surprised to see that Giles was dressed, not in his usual modern clothing, but something more along the lines of what the others in the party were wearing.  The men were all dressed similarly, in the Camelot colors.  They all looked like the Knights of the Round Table they were standing there! 

Even Darius was wearing something other than his usual brown monk's garb. He was wearing white clerical robes, a beautifully embroidered stole over his shoulders. He had found it in the priest's quarters behind the chapel, along with a whole library of ancient scrolls and books!  

In short the entire wedding party looked breath taking.  Melissa hoped hers would be only marginally as beautiful.  After all, no one should outshine a Queen!  But she could dream. 

The wedding was beautiful. All the residents of Camelot had crowded into the little chapel to see the joining of their liege to the lady who would now be their queen. There was enough pomp and circumstance to make it special and well forth remembering. Sitting beside Rebecca, Amanda wept happily. She wasn't the only one. There were many happy tears dripping down the faces of the women there. A wedding such as this was the perfect way of beginning their lives on this new world!

Before anyone knew it, the words had all been said, and Darius, with a kindly smile told the King he could now kiss his bride.  

It was all very romantic, though Melissa thought it went too quickly.  Looking over at Giles, she caught her betrothed's eye, and he smiled proudly at her.  She wondered if it had gone too quickly for him!  She doubted it.  He'd probably want a quick wedding - the sooner the better to make her his own.  And she was glad he felt that way. 

As the happy couple went down the aisle, she met up with her loved one, and they followed.  Now to the party! 

The feast that followed was anything but quick. It lasted all afternoon and well into the evening. It had begun by the King formally presenting his Queen to the residents of Camelot, and the Knights all coming by, one by one, pledging their service to her. Sarak and Giles, who were not Knights, also came and pledged their service.  That was almost as important, everyone thought.  After all, Sarak was to be a bodyguard for both Arthur and his Queen, and Giles would have to attend on the births of any future princes and princesses! 

Once the formalities had been observed, the feasting began. The cooks had outdone themselves! No one was going to be hungry for days after this party, that was for sure. As the afternoon passed though, a rider came to the gate from Edan. He was admitted when he told the guard that he had an urgent message for Doctor Davies.  

It was Cody.  "They said it was okay for you to go back to Edan," he said, eyeing the goodies hungrily.  And thirstily!  Giles, who by now was in no condition to rush off on horseback, said he would return to Edan tomorrow - if he was sober!  Then, seeing the young man's tongue nearly dragging at the sight of all that food and drink, he cast an amused eye at the king, silently asking permission for the rider to stay. 

Of course, it was given, and the young man dug into the food like a starving man. Hearing the news, the new men, Rob Roy and Warren Cochrane put their heads together, and then approached the king, who approved their idea immediately. The two Scots then walked up to Giles and cleared their throats. "Wa' ye be needing an escort then to this place called Edan? We wa' be wantin' to gang with ye to see the lay of the land and to ken this new world," Cochrane asked.  

Giles said, "I don't know about needing an escort, but you're welcome to come along.  I'll be lonely riding back alone anyway." 

"No, you won't," said Melissa.  "I'm coming with you!" 

Giles looked at her, then said, "Now I need an escort!" 

The men grinned at Giles, and arrangements were made for them to leave in the morning, if they were all able to get up onto a horse!