The ritual outside the manor does not only drain Kelly's strength. The anxious looks, the crushing nervousness, and the forced submissiveness she feels are like blood flowing rapidly in her body, dominating her every sense. The cold night wind that carries an unnatural, heavy weight presses hard against her skin. It makes her tremble in deep fear of the unknown path she will take from this night forward, and the volatile family she will have to care for.
In her eyes can be seen the raw, unmasked fear. Standing before the silent crescent of elders, she feels like a defenseless sheep trapped in a wolves' territory, entirely at their mercy. She can't even look straight at their eyes, terrified of what she might see. The glowing, dark blue color of an ocean shows pure dominance, a genetic royalty that demands total surrender from an outsider. Her hand has been shaking violently, and her palm has been sweating for over an hour. The physical toll of the night is finally breaking her body down; her head is starting to hurt from the stress, and so do her knees, which ache fiercely against the cold, unforgiving cobblestones.
Aiden notices her distress and gently looks down at her with a soft, reassuring smile. The pure silver light of the moon reflects beautifully in his pitch-black eyes, breaking through the darkness that surrounds them. He then wraps his strong hand securely around her waist to calm her down and to lessen her body weight so she can relax while seated on the ground. Aiden shows his trademark calm demeanor, standing as an unyielding wall between his bride and the ancient, judging eyes of his lineage, doing everything in his power to put her at ease.
It lasted for several more agonizing minutes until the fifteen elders were finally done with their long blessings. The heavy chanting ceased, and the striking of the canes died away into the night air. His mother then carries another flickering golden light and walks gracefully towards the two of them, her dark blue eyes softening just a fraction. She then gives a silent sign for the two of them to rise, follow her, and walk inside the house.
Finally, after a very long and tiring day, they have completed all the families' grueling ceremonies for the wedding.
Inside the house, the grand corridors are completely quiet, isolated from the rest of the bustling estate. Aiden's mother guides them towards a long, winding path in the house towards the wedding chamber, her robes sweeping softly against the polished floorboards. In the long corridors, the golden lights she carries are the only source of illumination, casting massive shadows against the tapestries. Outside the glass windowpanes, the inner courtyard garden is in full bloom under the brilliant moonlight, white petals glowing like fallen stars. Thousands of fireflies are all around the manor, dancing on their behalf in silent, glowing loops.
As they move deeper into the wing, their footsteps echo softly against the high ceilings. The distant, rhythmic splashing of the courtyard fountain, the individual water drops hitting the basin, their own shallow breath, and their racing heartbeats can be heard clearly in the absolute stillness.
The two of them follow her patiently until they reach a large, heavy wooden door situated in the farthest, most private part of the manor. Aiden's mother stops and turns to face them, the golden light illuminating the sharp lines of her aristocratic face.
She looks at them both and said, "Inside are the bed and the food you will share tonight. There are no artificial lights inside the room. Let the moon witness the night you share. Savor the taste of the food and water. Let two hearts become one from this night forward; trust and raw instinct will run in your veins. The future you will take together is full of unknowns. In times that no one will provide you light, let the world be with you, because the two of you will be more than enough for each other. Find happiness even in the deepest dark, and see for yourself what it truly looks like. Step inside, and wake up at dawn with each of your hearts written permanently in your soul. Let this ceremony and moment last forever in your memories. Good night."
After they enter the room, the heavy door clicks shut behind them, and Aiden's mother returns down the corridor, taking the golden light with her. Inside the darkness of the room, the two of them see the warm light slowly disappearing from a distance under the crack of the door until the absolute, brilliant light of the moon floods through the open terrace windows, showing them a grand banquet of fresh food and wine set neatly on the table in the balcony.
The heavy tension of the day finally evaporates from Aiden's shoulders. He then reached out his hand, his black eyes shining with warmth in the moonlight, and said, "Shall we fill our stomachs, my dear?"
She then smiled up at him, the fear completely melting away from her face, and said, "Of course, my love."
The view on the balcony is absolutely breathtaking, a panoramic vista of the sleeping valley. The night wind blowing up from the fields is warm and cozy, rustling the silk of her dress. The vast, dark land of Bial can be seen stretching out into the distance, peaceful and quiet under the stars. While she's standing at the stone railing, admiring the beauty of the night and the distant horizon, he was only looking at her, his gaze peaceful, contented, and deeply in love. For quite some time, the two of them just stood there, letting the silence wrap around them as they felt the gravity of the moment and enjoyed the first quiet night of their marriage.
They quit worrying about the future, leaving the shadows of the Laurdy clan inside, and have a beautiful feast on the balcony, celebrating the long, tiring, yet happiest moments of their lives.