“Hello, Lena's family,” Greis said. “Let me know if you need a better angle.” He turned the screen around just as Lena's dad and brother-in-law came into view behind the women.
“Hi, Dad!” Lena waved.
“Oh, sweetheart, you look beautiful.” Yaru Drask leaned closer and touched the screen. “I wish I were giving you away.”
“Greis will be beside me through the whole thing. You can say you part.”
Her dad beamed. “I'm ready!”
“So am I.” Lena squared her shoulders and headed down the corridor and around the high-tech kitchen to the door that led to the roof.
The door was open, soft conversation filtering down. Lena picked up her skirts in one hand, held her bouquet in the other, and climbed the stairs. Greis came up behind her, her family talking among themselves softly. She came to the top of the stairs and stopped. Before her was a petal-strewn path through the rooftop garden. It curved around raised flowerbeds and trees in massive planters. At the end of the path, Vor stood in a dress uniform with General Ankeh. To either side of the path were his closest friends and his parents. As soon as Vor saw Lena through the trees, he smiled.
Lena took a step forward.
Music began to play.
Blinking, she glanced behind her at the vidco.
Liria was smirking as she held a music player close to the vidco's speakers. “As if I'd let you get married without music.”
“Is that me?” Lena paused to listen. “That's me playing the harp for your wedding!”
“That's right, sis! We recorded it.”
“Thank you, Liria.”
“I've got you, Lena.” Liria winked.
Greis beamed at Lena as she turned around and began her march again. The scent of sweet blossoms drifted around her as she made her way through the garden, Greis marching behind her. The music made tears come to her eyes, reminding her of when she had played for Liria and Thaxvarien, wishing she could have a love like theirs. And now she did.
Blinking away her tears, Lena glided around the curve, and Vor came into view. He straightened, his expression shifting from proud to awed, and the gathering went silent. She'd met his parents earlier that week and realigned them, so they both smiled brightly at Lena as she walked by.
Nethren didn't have fancy weddings. The only ceremony they needed was signing the paperwork to make it legally recognizable. But Lena wanted a wedding with vows, rings, and pretty clothes. So Vor had made it happen for her. But as Lena stepped up beside him, she saw how happy he was, and knew the ceremony wasn't for her alone.
Greis stepped to the side, angling the vidco so Lena's family had the best view of Vor and her. The music faded to silence. Nervous, Lena passed her bouquet to Greis to hold as well and glanced around the garden. The guests remained standing. The ceremony was going to be short, so they hadn't bothered with chairs.
“You look so beautiful,” Vor whispered.
Lena glanced down at his dark blue uniform, adorned with an impressive amount of medals, and then met his gaze. “And you're very shiny.” She tapped a medal.
Vor grinned and took her hands. “Are you impressed?”
“Always.”
General Ankeh cleared his throat. “Uh, thank you all for coming to this momentous event.”
Lena blinked, remembering similar words said at Liria and Thaxvarien's wedding.
“We have never had a marriage ceremony in Ranuvul,” Ankeh went on. “But I think they will soon be commonplace, and it's all thanks to this woman here—Lena Drask.”
Lena blushed as the guests applauded.
“Lena, from the moment I met you, I knew Vor was right, and you would bring a great change to the Nethren.” Ankeh laid his hand on her shoulder. “But in less than a week, I've seen and felt more than I thought was possible. It is a great honor to officiate your wedding to my friend, Vor Anakraes.”
“Thank you, General.”
“It's just Tren today, Lena.” General Tren Ankeh looked over the gathering. “Source guided Vor to Lena, but Lena was no easy conquest. Vor told me once that she was the strongest opponent he’d ever faced.”
