NationStates Jolt Archive

Imperial News Network:

“Today the Princess Elfhame of the Scandinvan Imperial line shall marry the prince of Granate in an event that has not occurred for many long years as a member of the Imperial line marries out of the high Valgardian houses. This event surely shows of how outward our leaders are now becoming and how wise they are to be able to break tradition in such a way.

Further, though the Emperor Olaf has paid for the forging of two new crowns and thrones made from gold from had made forged by the finest of craftsmen and jewel smiths and each of crowns are valued at 200 million standard dollars and the thrones at 675 million standard dollars each.

To aide in the protection of them a full legion of the most elite and loyal of soldiers of the personal imperial household guards have been deployed and have set up barricades around the Cathedral and have set up a secure area around the city.

Further reports shall come.

Lady Catherine out. Remember that Valgard shall overcome!”

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Now at the Cathedral the Imperial household guards had surrounded it and swept the area for bombs and sealed off all sewers large enough for any creature of getting through. As well their perimeter prevented any persons from getting in and were willing to shot anyone who dared to enter the secure area and did not stop.

In the Cathedral the place was full of guards dressed in ancient silver plate mail as they lined the central isle. All in the pews were the leaders and most important nobles of the country and then they all entered into a song sung in the ancient High Vaglardian tongue known only to them basically. As well, throughout it now sounded the trumpets announcing the coming of the to be couple.

*Before the Trumpets*

Crown Prince Edward and King Andrei Kleinhea" rt we talking. Edward was dressed in a fine brown-gold Silk Suit. It had been especially made for him just for the occasion. Andrei was dressed in the finest Kings robes he had. He had them cleaned and repaired just for the occasion as well.

"Father, why do I have to marry someone?" Edward asked his father. Andrei looked at his with a slight amount of sadness in his eyes. His son wasn't as lucky as him. Andrei had the choice of who he was to marry and his son didn't.

"We marry out of need, and our need is one of an Alliance" Andrei said to his son. He noticed that it didn't seem to make him feel any better. Andrei decided on another tactic.

"Look on the brightside, she's quite beautiful. In time you'll both grow to love each other, much like the Kleinheats of old did with their marriages." Andrei said. He chuckled to himself at the sight of his son's blush.

"Well you're on soon, so I best be getting back to my seat." Andrei said to his soon. Without waiting for an answer he swept himself off and walked back to his seat, using a less visible route as not to cause a fuss.

The Patriarch then said in Latin as the prince progressed,” Come forward your highness and come forth to the mantle. May grace fill your soul and God be with you in your years ahead. Now come forward onto the first step of the alter and prepare to receive the holy rights of marriage as bestowed unto thee and your spouse by God through his tool.”

Then after doing that a large sounding of trumpets sounded and then Emperor Olaf the brother of the princess Elfhame, come forward from the great silver doors of the Cathedral. Dressed in a solid platinum plate mail he shown as he came forward and then he appeared as might lord of old standing at about 6’10”. Then he went in front of the altar and kneeled and uttered a prayer in the strange dialect of High Valgardian. Then he came to the Crown Prince and said in Latin,” You come now to marry my younger sister and I entrust her to you. Yet, there is more significance then that as we will be made brothers and you should never be afraid to come me for aide.”

After that the princess came forward dressed in fine white silk escorted by an entourage of imperial maidens who preceded her and flanked off to the sides until she came to the front. After that she and her cape holders took a position on the left of the alter opposite of the Prince. With that the Patriarch come forward and greeted both them and then said in English,” Do either of you have your own vows or objections to this ceremony before we start?” To which the princess was quite to and so all looked to the Crown Prince.

"I have one vow I would to say" Edward said. His voice was neither strong nor wavering. It was calm, and collected. His brown eyes were not giving away any emotion, as Royalty should in large events such as this. He was acting as a King would, as he would someday.

Without missing a beat, he turned towards the Princess. He looked into her eyes, trying to gauge her emotions. Trying to get her perspective on this. Then he spoke again.

"To you; I promise to make this marriage work. For our sakes, our families sake, and last of all, our Countries sake" He said, sounding every bit like a King. His father would of clapped, had it not been a wedding. Then he turned back to the Patriarch.

"You may proceed" He said.

The Emperor lowered his head and then turned his head unto the solid gold crucifix with his eyes transfixed on in it with great faith to it. To that too the Princess now set her which was vacant of all emotion as she prepared herself for the future. As well, she kept her face blank behind her thin white lace veil which hid what little expression she gave up. Further, she seemed to be muttering though a prayer in High Valgardian as the Patriarch was speaking.

The Patriarch bowed his head and then continued in Latin with the liturgy of the mass. While he was doing this all the people, save those around the altar and the guards, were seated in the marble pews. Then after a fairly long prayer and ceremonial speaking the Patriarch go to the standard vows of the wedding to when which were in Latin and then in Greek he said,” Do you now take Princess Elfhame as your wife?”

When the Patriarch said those words and turned to him Edward thought. 'Do I go through with this and live my life with a girl I hardly know?'. Then he thought 'Or do I not go along with this, thereby making enemies of my Father and the Emperor before me?'. He weighed his options. The former sounded alot better.

"I do" He said in Greek. He had learnt the words earlier. It came easy to him since he had studied Greek in College for a semester before dropping it in favor of Indian. It was a choice he still thought about. He then turned slightly to look at the Princess and waited for her answer.

The Princess whispered something in High Valgardian to her brother who chuckled a bit and then he turned to the Patriarch and nodded. Then the Princess said in High Valgardian,” I do now take the Crown Prince of Garnate as my husband till the will of God says otherwise.”

With that said Emperor Olaf lowered his head in blessing and the Patriarch then said in Latin,” I now pronounce you two man and wife, till the sun fails and the moon is dead. You may now kiss the bride.”

It was those six words that scared Edward the most. The kiss. The most dreaded part of this Wedding, at least to him it was. To everyone else it was the beginning of a Successful union between Granate and the Scandinvans. He was sure he wasn't going to enjoy this part.

They both stood up and turned to face each other. They each looked into each others eyes. Edward was trying to read her once more. It wasn't working as it didn't before. He was sure she was doing the same. Finding no objections and seeing as his time was running short he began to lift the Veil from the Princess' face. He moved his hands agonizingly slow, as if trying to stall the inevitable. Once the veil was well away from her face the looked into each others eyes once more. Then they leaned forward. Each was ready him or herself for the kiss. It was not a kiss of love, but of duty. Once their lips met they gave each other a quick Chaste kiss.

OOC: Oh, how I hate you for making me write that. :p

OOC: You could have just said you kissed her and that would be it, but now you have to be all emotional and in detail like a novel writer.

IC: With that kiss the trumpets all in the Cathedral sounded and all of the Scandinvan nobles let up a loud applause with a lot of cheers thrown into it. As well, now came up to two High Imperial Guards bearing two separate crowns for each of them (kind a of my own spin off of the ring thing) and then knelt before the Emperor Olaf who then said,” Here now are the two crowns forged for you two to solidify this marriage and bound your two hearts and minds as long as they last and your link lasts.”

With that he presented the first crown which was a light circlet of solid platinum encrusted all the round with diamonds of white was put upon the head of the Prince Elfhame. Then the Emperor Olaf gave Edward a heavy gold band crown which he placed upon his head. Then he said,” Do you two accept these crowns as an embodiment of your union and the new friendship between our nations?”

Princess Elfhame replied," Yes, my liege brother I do."

"And I do too, my new Brother" Edward said. He didn't move an inch, waiting for the reply.

The Emperor laughed a bit to which the whole of the audience, in repeating their Emperor as to which many of whom did not even not what he was laughing at, did so as well. After he stopped laughing he said,” Well to say to you as you are my kin through my sister. So now let us go celebrate in the great Imperial hall across the street.’

OOC: I know that is rather strange, but my people hold many Viking cultural attitudes still.

bump

OOC: Will post on this later. Kinda got distracted by the pretty colors of Timeline 191.

Edward had the dignity to blush at his own embarrasment. He quickly followed the Emporer out of the Cathedral to Imperial Hall across the street where the Reception would take place. Edward breathed a sigh of relief. The worst was over. At least, until later tonight that is. Edward slightly cringed mentally at that thought

With that the hundreds of nobles in the Cathedral now walked across the street to the marble Imperial hall where it was decorated in the highest of Valgardian fashion. Then inside there was a great table where everyone sat in a spot reserved for them. At the highest part of the table sat the Emperor where one seat away sat the Princess so in the other closest on the right side of him was a place for the Crown Prince.

Edward sat to the right of the Emperor. He acted with as much diginity he could muster after his earlier slip-up. He waited patiently for the food to come to the highest part of the table table and carefully chose the foods that he would like best. He noted quite suprisingly that almost all of the food was great. He could get used to cooking like this, he thought dryly.

The Emperor said to the prince after he finished some King Lobster said,” Well, you seem to be little uneasy about this marriage, understandable since you do not know her, but know from me she is a good person who shall support your rule.”

"Yes. Marriage.... it is a hard thing to ask someone" Edward said "But, I have no doubt that what I have done is the right thing. In time maybe we would grow to love each other. Stranger things have happened." After he was finished talking he looked down at his unfinished Lobster. With his head filled with thoughts, he slowly began to eat again.

The Emperor replied,” Well, look at the bright my sister is one who easily gets crushes, but has always awaited Crown Prince to marry as she refused to marry one of the nobility of the Empire as they would not reign supreme so this marriage is of her own free will in a way.”

"She has spunk, and vigor to match almost any man" Edward said "And yet, she still is beautiful and thoughtful. Any man would be gracious to be married to her" After he was finished Edward blushed slightly because he hadn't really thought about saying that, it just came out.

The Emperor turned his head and stood then he stood up to say,” Let us propose a toast to the newly wed couple and therefore raise a toast in the hopes that they live a long life of prosperity.”