| "Wow, Lina! You look great! I can't believe its you!' "Knock it off, Gourry! You look good too." Gourry wore a midnight blue doublet over a white linen shirt and black pants. He wore black polished boots, and his sword in its scabbard was polished as well. His hair was pulled back and braided. "Since when do you braid your hair?" Gourry shrugged. "Orin's valet said that the men of Atenveldt do it. It's kinda nice, keeps it off my neck and out of the way." "Well, if you wanted that, why don't you just cut it off?" "NO WAY! Gabriev swordsmen ALWAYS have long hair. It's tradition." Lina blinked. Gourry seemed to surprise her more and more often these days. Then, the double doors to Amelia's suite swung open, and she appeared. A collective gasp passed over all the maids, the guards, Gourry, and Lina. Amelia was a vision in white and gold. Golden threads were embroidered all over the white dress, and a golden coronet gleamed from atop her shining black coiffure. She'd let her hair grow out of its travelling crop, and now it was an artfully styled mane. A teal sash provided a splash of color, covered in the crests of Saillune and it's leige states. Amelia looked every bit the princess and bride. Breaking the magic moment, Amelia exclaimed, "WOW, Lina! You look great! I know that Clarise could do the trick!" "Uh, thanks. You look unbelievable." Lina gaped. "When the hell did you grow up?!?" Kind laughter rang from the assembled mass. "Lina, please! Don't embarass me," Amelia said, but she smiled as she did. Stepping out to lead the pack, she announced, "Lets go! I wanna get the ceremony over and on to the presents and party!" More laughter followed this comment as the maids hurried off to grab good seats, and the guards formed up the procession. Seated on one side of the dias in the Great Hall, Lina watched the hordes of nobles, courtiers, and common people come up and bow to the newly married couple. A herald announced the gifts of each person, couple, or group, in a booming but droning voice. The ceremony in the courtyard had been perfect, a late afternoon sky shading to sunset, and not a twitch of magic in the air beyond Sylphiel's blessing, though Lina still kept her senses on full alert. Most interesting to Lina ewre the young men of noble blood who tried to catch her eye as they walked by the dias. Lina enjoyed being an object of admiration, but she found herself scanning the crowd, as if to find one particular face. Gourry, seated next to her, noticed her agitation. "Why are you looking for, Lina?" he whispered. "Actually, Zelgadis." "Really?" "Yeah! I mean, I sure didn't expect him to be here yesterday, or be obvious about it, but I figured it would be like him to make a quiet appearance, then split. I'd like to say hello, you know?" "Huh," Gourry said. "I didn't expect him at all." "Why not? He's our friend, and Amelia's important to him." "Is she?" Gourry let it drop at that, and turned back to listening to Amelia and Orin greet the various well-wishers. What did that mean? Lina womdered. Of COURSE Zel's our friend, and Amelia's like his little sister! How could he not show up? Lina began to fume a little at the absent shamanist. I'll find him and give him a good beating for blowing this off, she thought. Just then there was a scuffle at the door. Gourry stood immediately, but Orin held up his hand. "What is it?" Orin called. Affronted, the herald said, "There's a common messenger here with a gift for her Highness. He will not say from whom, nor will he surrender the note attached." "Well, let him do his job, then," Amelia called. "Send him here." A small, plain, brown man stepped up to the dais and bowed. In his hand was a pot, and in the pot, a vibrant green plant with tightly shut flowerbuds. The very tops of the petals showed in pinkish-purple. The messenger set the pot on the dais and held out a note. "I was instructed to give this plant and this letter into the hands of Her Highness herself." "Very interesting," Amelia said. Lina rose and stepped forward. She recognized the plant, and gasped, "Night-Blooms!" "What?" asked Orin. Smiling, Lina looked at Amelia. "They're Night-Blooms. They're from Zefelia. The flowers only open at night, and they're a traditional gift to newlyweds because they last for a month--the honeymoon-- and the smell is supposed to be, uh, is supposed to inspire, um...." Lina trailed off and blushed. Amelia, catching her drift, giggled, and Orin grinned at her. As Lina's explanation spread, more and more people smiled. "Quite a blessing," Orin commented. "Are these from you, Miss Lina?" Lina shook her head, and took the letter from the messenger and passed it to Amelia. Amelia opened it, read it quickly and gasped. She handed it to Orin, who read it and smiled, and then gave it to Lina to read. To her Royal Highness, Princess Amelia Wil Tesla Saillune, heir to the Throne of Saillune, and Star of Justice, May your wedding be beautiful, your happiness assured by Ceipheed, blessed by the elements, and full of love. Your Servant, Zelgadis Graywords. Lina's jaw dropped. Courtiers and nobles began to clamor for an explanation, but Amelia just raised her hand for silence and said, "It is a gift of good wishes from a dear absent friend. No more is necessary for you to know." The gift-giving continued, despite the whispers and speculations from the court. Lina sat in her chair and fumed. That smarmy, stone-headed jerk! Had to send a gift, had to be all mysterious, but couldn't be bothered to show up! I'll get him, somehow. Finally, she scurried behind Amelia's chair and whispered, "Lemme go and find him! I'll pump that messenger for information, and track down that smug jerk and..." "Hush, Lina!" Amelia whispered back. "I want to see him too, but it's not his way to just show up. He sent the flowers, and I'm glad, and that's all there is to it!" Lina gave Amelia a shocked stare. When did everyone grow up and away? Amelia NOT wanting to hunt down Zel? AMELIA being calm and regal? Lina returned to her seat and stared at everyone. Prince Phil was being calm, QUIET, and regal. Gourry, now standing by Sylphiel, being cryptic? Sylphiel acting NEITHER dense, NOR fluttery. Lina started to half-heartedly wish for something to go wrong, Xelloss to show up, ANYTHING to get the world back to normal. But no. Everything went along perfectly, and as the stream of courtiers ended, the music began. Lina sat by a table, a few forlorn empty plates in front of her, a half-full glass of wine at her elbow. Her feet hurt from the damned punps. Out on the dance floor, Gourry whirled Sylphiel around, Orin and Amelia swept across the floor, and everyone else seemed happy. Lina was NOT happy. Lina was half-way to being ripping drunk. A memory of her old partner Naga came to her. Wouldn't Naga laugh now! Lina Inverse, sorceress extraordinary, sitting alone at the party of a lifetime. Maid of Honor at a royal wedding, all alone. Of course, she'd told every one of those wimpy noble scions to buzz off. She'd danced once with Gourry, once with Orin, and once with, gulp, Prince Phil. Now she sat, a wallflower, by herself. That is, until a well-dressed man sat beside her. Go to Page 5 |