Grayson woke up shortly after dawn. He was escorted to the baths by a pair of acolytes, then returned to his room to find a hot breakfast waiting. As they had walked through the corridors, the acolytes had walked ahead of him to check around corners. When he asked them about this, they told him the point was to prevent him from seeing his bride before the wedding. It was a tradition that had once been present on Earth, but had fallen out of favor millennia before Grayson was born. The acolytes escorting him ate with him as well and they discussed the upcoming ceremony.
Apparently they had been chosen by Fera to serve as Grayson's "Frontmen." Not exactly the same as groomsmen since they wouldn't have a place in the ceremony, but they would be behind the scenes helping him through the day, making sure he looked good, and generally preventing him from making a fool out of himself. For now they would help him get dressed in the formal uniform of a Crusader, which was also apparently traditional. There was apparently great historic precedent for Crusaders marrying their Heralds. For many it was seen as a way of formalizing the relationship.
Instead of the grey uniform of a multi-God Crusader, Grayson would be wearing the white with gold trim of a Crusader of Perimis. The clothes seemed to sit heavier on him than his normal wear, though they didn't feel any different while putting them on. He stretched his arms and rotated at the waist before holding still and letting the acolytes comb his hair back to normal. They were insistent on doing things for him and he eventually just shrugged and gave in.
After he was dressed, one of the acolytes ran off to get the high priest and they went through the ceremony one last time. The guests had started arriving and were apparently congregating in one of the courtyards out of the way. After running through the ceremony and assuring Grayson that being raised into the air glowing was a normal part of things, the high priest lead Grayson to the main cathedral where the ceremony would be held. He waited with Grayson at the altar as the guests started coming in and being shown to their seats by Grayson's Frontmen.
The cathedral was more than a dozen meters tall, built of white marble and accented in gold. Pennants with the icon of Perimis were placed at even distances over every second row of benches with plush cushions placed upon them. Along both walls were clear high windows that let in the morning light. Down the center of the room was an aisle with a golden carpet. Grayson himself had been taken down the carpet by the high priest. The guests were shown to the outside of the room and moved to their seats without crossing the center aisle. Apparently another tradition that only the bride, groom, and priest conducting the ceremony were allowed to set foot on it. In the corner beside the altar was a string quartet playing a pleasingly cheerful arrangement softly enough not to interfere with conversation.
"You're still nervous," stated Brettin quietly.
"Of course I am," muttered Grayson, keeping still through force of will.
"I was too," said Brettin wistfully. "My wedding was in this same cathedral, though not to another member of the clergy. I don't think you'd have met her though. She eats with me in the evenings, but otherwise runs a small stall out in the city."
"I didn't even know you were married," said Grayson, failing to hide his surprise.
"We don't make a big fuss about it. There's never been a rule against marriage for the clergy, but not many take enough time from their role to meet someone. It's something that Perimis has always found a little sad." Brettin explained. They were talking at a normal volume now to speak over the hubbub of a few dozen quiet conversations.
"But why not make it more explicit? If it's something she wants, why not tell everyone it's allowed?" Grayson asked.
"It's one of her many tests of our character. Each of the Gods test their clergies in many subtle ways. Our lady has always been in favor of us talking with the common people to see what threatens them, how we may help them. To sit and focus on her will instead of to understand her will is the hallmark of one who fails to align with her will. Then of course, the people who follow her will naturally are the most beloved of all." Brettin smiled up to the rafters where the now mid morning sun was shining through the windows to alight on the wall over the altar.
One could see when the ceremony would start by following it's progress down towards the icon of Perimis on the wall. The base of the circle of light was just above the top tip of the icon, meaning it would start in mere moments. The guests had started to settle as the final few entered and were shown to their seats. The quartet shifted their playing from the cheerful tones to something slower, lower, and more somber. It was a sign to everyone in the room that things were about to start. The conversations around the room died down.
Much of the clergy of Perimis were sitting intermingled with some of the priests, Crusaders, acolytes, and townsfolk that Grayson had talked to, trained with, and bought from over the previous two weeks. Grayson picked out Harren among the front row with one of the Crusaders who had been a semi-regular sparring partner beside her. A few more seats down was Herefor, accompanied by another priest of Oris. Further back, presumably because he'd spent less time with her was Lilamurr, who had been conversing with an acolyte of Marrati. He was able to pick out and put several other names to faces before Brettin started the ceremony.
"People of our fair city, friends and family of our beloved. I welcome you all to this ceremony to witness the joining of a young couple. We thank you all for coming. Please rise for the bride." His cadence was slow and formal, yet his tone was fatherly as he welcomed everyone. When he finished speaking, the music rose once again and the doors of the cathedral opened revealing Fera, her eyes radiating gold. Grayson's breathing stopped.
Fera's dress was in Perimis' normal colors of white with gold accents. It followed her body loosely from just below her neck line to just above the floor, subtly highlighting her waist. The entire thing was embroidered in gold with only the bust as pure white, accentuating both the icon that Fera habitually wore and the necklace with golden stones that he'd given her. The sleeves extended down to the palms where they were held in place by golden rings on her middle fingers. Her hair had been braided with golden ribbon and laid over her right shoulder, tied back to show the earrings Grayson had proposed to her with. The whole ensemble was set off incredibly charmingly by the furious blush she had, clearly unused to being so finely dressed.
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She walked down the aisle in measured steps to a sedate tune, keeping her pace and counting under her breath. She reached the altar and smiled bashfully up at Grayson. Brettin's clear amusement was lost on the pair as they looked into each other's eyes. A subtle tap against Grayson's feet reminded him that there was something else they were doing and they turned to look at the high priest, unconsciously holding hands.
"Fera of Perimis, Grayson of the Lost World, we welcome you to the altar of justice. In the eyes of Perimis, this union will be weighed, and by the hands of Perimis, it shall be forged. Lady Fera. Do you, as priestess of Perimis, hold objection?" He asked.
"I do not," She managed to say.
"Lord Grayson. As Crusader to Perimis, Marrati, and Oris, do you hold objection?" Brettin asked.
"I do not," Grayson said.
"Then under the light of the sun, do you, Lord Grayson, consent to union with Fera of Perimis? To hold high her hopes and support her dreams?" Brettin asked.
"I do," Grayson said.
"And under the light of the sun, do you, Lady Fera, consent to union with Grayson of the Lost World? To hold high his hopes and support his dreams?" Brettin asked.
"I do," Fera said. The light had crept down the wall and was now almost completely covering the icon of Perimis on the back wall.
"Then by the consent of all here, I entreat Lady Perimis to forge a union of these two souls. Let them be joined for all time." Brettin said, stepping back.
Grayson and Fera turned to each other, both holding the other's hands. They rose into the air slowly, though felt like they were still standing on solid ground. The music rose with them, pushing the world aside. Fera rose slightly higher bringing her to eye level with Grayson. She grinned sheepishly at him as they stopped before the icon, directly in the light of the sun shining through the windows at the other end of the cathedral. They cast no shadow as they radiated golden light just as brightly, though not so harshly that it hurt the eyes. They each heard a whisper of Perimis' voice in their minds and leaned in to kiss one another.
Some encouragement later, their modest peck became more lasting. The pair of them could feel their souls winding together, braided like Fera's hair with strands of gold. Strands of Perimis' power. It was a warm feeling, letting them feel a small portion of the emotions the other felt. Grayson could feel Fera's own nervousness mingled with utter joy, knowing that she was feeling the same from him. Slowly, they lowered, the beam of sunlight following them unnaturally as they descended. The feeling of Perimis' presence faded, leaving only their entwined souls bound with her power.
"The union is forged," said Brettin with a finality and surety surprising to Grayson. "Lunch will be served in the main ballroom. The Frontmen will guide you there."
Brettin stepped down from the dais around the altar and led Grayson and Fera back down the central aisle to applause from both sides. They walked with arms linked and broad smiles on their faces.
What felt like no time at all later, they were sitting together at the center of the head table, Brettin on Fera's left with the woman who was presumably his wife beside him, and Mertaba on Grayson's right. They spoke animatedly as other guests found their places in the ballroom. Like the cathedral it was built of white marble with gold accents, though this had a dancing square marked with an outer ring of black marble. The rest of the room was full of tables covered in white cloth. There were places set for each of the guests, though no assigned seating. A chandelier hung above the dance floor, casting glittering reflections around the room. Along one wall was a small orchestra which had been provided some special music by Grayson and Fera in a scheme the pair were both quietly starting to regret.
Lunch began normally, a speech from Brettin about how Fera had come to the temple, become a priestess, then spent time among the people of a small village. He casually omitted exactly how Grayson and Fera met, glossing over why they had returned and announcing her new position, which everyone already knew. Then Mertaba spoke about Grayson's unusual background. The moniker Grayson of the Lost World had come after some debate in Brettin's office between the four of them, where Mertaba had written his speech with the help of Grayson. He also glossed over Grayson's awakening as a crusader, instead focusing more on his diligence training and natural affinity with Perimis. Finally he mentioned Grayson's relationship with other Gods, and that he was one of the first Crusaders to pact with multiple Gods in a century.
Lunch was finally served, three main courses, starting with a soup from Fera's homeland, then the local invention of beef wellington. Except without beef because the closest local culinary equivalent to a cow was a type of massive domesticated lizard. That followed by Fera's favorite dessert and finally snacking plates. After an hour of pleasant conversation and food, Grayson and Fera stepped into the dancing square to perform the first dance... a tango taught to Fera over several nights by Grayson. It was the first time anyone in this world had seen such a dance, and the final crescendo was met with thunderous, if vaguely confused applause.
Local music followed and partners hesitantly took to the square, casting nervous glances at the musicians in case they were going to switch to some more otherworldly tune. They didn't, however, and the dance floor filled with people. Grayson had learned the appropriate dances in his time with Fera so he wouldn't embarrass himself, though he had thoroughly demonstrated that he did know some dances... just not ones anyone else had ever heard of. It was a silly worry, but a worry nonetheless. Grayson and Fera traded partners, dancing with other priests of Perimis, with Grayson's instructors, and with other friends they had made.
Jarid had unfortunately been forced to leave with the other knights and most of the Crusaders two days before, but Grayson still danced with Harren, Lilimurr, and several of the Crusader acolytes of Marrati. Fera danced mainly with priests and townsfolk, but also with Herefor, and Mertaba. Grayson was enjoying himself, but not half as much as Fera who was laughing as she danced and swapped partners. Grayson and Fera found themselves back together, but soon swapped with Brettin and his wife, who introduced herself to Grayson as Kel. She gave Grayson some fairly unnecessary advice about the wedding night before being passed back to Brettin in exchange for a Fera who was blushing more furiously than Grayson had ever seen.
At his knowing smile, she managed to blush even harder, nearly missing a step in the dance. Grayson escorted her back to their table where she nibbled a biscuit to keep from having to say anything. Grayson just put an arm around his thoroughly embarrassed bride and leaned his head on hers. After a while, she looked up at him and kissed his cheek. Her face was still red but closer to normal, and her eyes had softened. They simply enjoyed their company for a while before returning to the square for a final dance. They gave their thanks to the guests and made a short speech before bidding everyone farewell and returning to the room that, for the first time since they started using it, truly belonged to both of them.
There, Grayson had a great deal of fun learning exactly what had embarrassed Fera so much.
