chapter 9

She was terribly tired because she had to wake up ridiculously early thanks to Mirana.

The dragon princess insisted she would help her get ready and because of that she woke her up before dawn.

Keila was so nervous that the few hours she was awake felt like days. Mia had their breakfast made early and talked to her about all the traditions of the Eastern empire.

Apparently, the ceremony should take place at noon, but as a royal wedding, it was more complicated.

After today, she would officially be a princess of the Eastern empire and she had to know it's traditions so she tried her best to pay attention to Mia's talking despite her exhaustion. 

Unfortunately, her head just kept falling. Mia was so caught up in her lecture she didn't even notice and kept rambling. It went like that for the last two hours.

According to Mirana, the royal wedding consisted of four parts.

First was the ceremony which took place in the sanctum. In the second part, they would go through the city streets and show off to the citizens.

The third part was a banquet where she would be introduced as a princess and Kronos' wife and finally the fourth, the bedding.

When Mia felt like she told her everything she helped her get dressed, more like terrorised the maids while they helped her. Mia was so considerate to give her a bit of food for early lunch but Keila felt nauseous and couldn't even think about eating right now.

They made their way to the outside where they parted ways because Mia couldn't stay with her. She would go to the sanctum with the rest of the royal family. Keila was supposed to come by herself because technically, before the ceremony she wasn't a part of the family.

Her carriage came to a stop in front of the sanctum and Keila got out. People of the Eastern Empire believed in Arlean gods. 

There were several gods who lived in Arlean gardens. Almost every kingdom on the continent believed in them but they usually preferred different gods. 

The elves believed in Moon God Lupos. Witches worshipped Lupos or the goddess of darkness Shebba, depending on what kind of magic they used. Orgs had their War god Mars and goblins were too pagan to have a god as far as she knew.

Shifters adored goddess Amoeba who had a thousand forms and as far as humans were concerned, they worshipped the Sun god, Helion, Lupos' brother or they didn't believe in Arlean gods and believed in the death god, Godeth.

There were a few other Arlean gods apart from Lupos, Helion, Shebba, Mars and Amoeba but their followers were more like cults.

This sanctum was sacred to Helion. She was hoping to get married before Shebba but she could live with this. As she made her way inside, she was mesmerized.

Because Helion was the god of the Sun and light, the sanctum had huge windows made of glass by both sides. It was huge and could fit hundreds of people. 

There was a little stage in the middle of the room and a few strange mirrors were placed around it. What were they for, she had no idea.

The hall was crowded and a priest stood on the stage. She saw members of the royal family sitting near the stage but she couldn't see Kronos anywhere. As she passed the guards by the door she looked around the room trying to find him.

"Looking for me?" Said a voice from behind the door. Her head snapped to the side and she realized the prince was standing just behind the door the whole time. She nodded shyly. 

He looked so good in these clothes. His chest was covered with black leather mail and his legs with black pants. He had a magnificent gold cloak and his face was shaved. He looked younger and noble. He lacked his sword but that was understandable.

"Come on." He put his hand on her lower back and started leading her to the stage. The people let them through and she tried her best to smile at them politely.

They stopped in the middle of the stage right in front of the priest. She was expecting him to start the ceremony but he didn't. Nobody moved or made a sound. What were they waiting for?

 Just then there was a ray of sunshine coming from the sealing. She didn't notice the small window right above their heads before, but now that she looked up she could see the sun shining through. 

The light from the window fell on the strange mirrors and a bright colourful aura shone around them. The colours diffused into one another and the glow was hurting her eyes a bit but it was absolutely beautiful.

"We are all here to witness Helion  make two lives one, the wedding of prince Kronos and princess Keila." So he really was waiting for the sun to show up. "Helion gives us life so we can be, he gives us light so we can see the truth and he brings us together to feel his love."

This was getting too real. She wanted to cry. This is where her freedom would die for good.

"Are you here willingly prince Kronos?" She looked in his eyes but there was no emotion in there. "Yes" his voice strong and firm.

"Are you here willingly princess Keila?" Was she? Hell no! Could she say it? Also no. "Yes" Her voice was soft but still firm. 

"You are standing in front of us and Helion and asking him to unite your fates for every day you live and the sun shines. Do you, your highness prince Kronos, promise to protect and take care of your wife and your future children? Do you promise to honour her for the rest of your life?"

"I do." There was a glimpse of emotion in his eyes but it was gone the second it came.

"Do you, your highness princess Keila, promise to take care of your husband and your future children? Do you promise to honour him and be faithful and support him for the rest of your life?" 

Oh, this was sexist. She had to be faithful but he didn't? She was also sure he said supportive but meant obedient. Could she protest? There was the no again. "I do." This time, her voice was shaking but she said it.

The priest pulled a golden dagger from his waistband and gave it to Kronos. All right, she didn't know there would be blood drawn. Kronos took her hand and cut her palm. 

It stung like hell and she couldn't watch so she closed her eyes. He stopped and started to cut his own hand. While he was doing so she studied her palm. There were two joined infinity symbols. It was a symbol of connection. 

He finished his and they joined hands. The rays from the ceiling were slowly fading, the colours disappearing and people around them started clapping hands.