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Felix Merid took a moment to smooth his mustache and trim his beard. Being careful not to cut himself with his straight razor, he had to take deep breaths to keep his nerves in check.
Resting on a chair next to the sink was his helmet. He would not need it today. He did not often have free days to himself, but today was a well-needed exception. It had taken immense planning and help from his fellow soldiers to let this take place, and he promised himself that this would be a day to remember.
A knot in his stomach kept him from feeling hunger. But then again, everything was set and ready. One of Valara's fellow maids would be cared for Little Demyan, while one of his fellow soldiers - what was his name again? - would take his shift for the next few days.
After thoroughly inspecting his clothes and armor and ensuring everything was clean and polished, Felix walked to the living room. It had already been two long years since he met Valara. Two challenging years of helping her raise Demyan, spending as much time as he could with her and the boy to be a good father.
His fellow soldiers had mixed reactions when he told them he had his eye on the late Magelord's former handmaid, but most of them had been just as startled as he was when they first met her. To most, the Valara they knew was a Construct that Magelord Medai always had with him. The one they met was a charming woman who preferred not to give her age to them but was as mysteriously knowledgeable and beautiful as the Construct was.
Even now, stepping into the living room, she was still as wondrous as ever. While most wedding dresses had a nightly blue, Valara had chosen a simple yet elegant white dress for the occasion. The moment her eyes locked onto his, her lips reached for him. He knew that staying with them that night was the right choice.
Stepping out of the house, the couple - Valara at Felix's left side -were surprised by the gathered crowd. The families and friends of Citadel's castle maids and soldiers had readied before their house, with the latter raising their swords in salute, forming an arch with crossed swords. Military drummers and local musicians pied and strummed as the pair walked forward. As they reached the end, one of the last soldiers of the squad approached and took Felix's sword before stepping behind the pair.
The march towards the chapel felt like an eternity, with the rhythmic march of the crowd and musicians drowning out the sound of daily life in Citadel's streets. Behind the pair was the soldier - sword in hand, should someone dare attack - followed by the Viceroy's current crier serving as the best man. Given that Valara had no family, and Felix's family had relocated to Xenethil Keep to "enjoy the warmer weather," few people could fit the role.
Approaching the chapel, which was located on the outskirts of the temple of Prolectae, the pair turned to wave at the crowd, causing the musicians to finish their tunes before the crowd worked their way in. After everyone who wished to enter did so, the soldiers turned their backs to the door, swords drawn to ensure that no one would enter until the ceremony ended.
The chapel was sparsely decorated, as it would be for the average citizen. The bishop that would be the celebrant was a middle-aged man that Felix only knew as 'Father Jaess' whose son Korgan had recently joined the order of Raemu as an initiate.
As soon as they all fell silent, the priest held up the wedding rings before beginning. "Before the ceremony begins, the church must know of the two. What is the age of the bride and groom?"
There was a brief moment of hesitation between the pair as Felix noticed Korgan open an inkwell and ready himself to take notes. While it was a way to ensure the ceremony was legalized, he found this administrative malarkey. "Felix Merid. 25."
"Valara Keyes. 23." the bride answered. While she looked somewhat her age, even Felix knew she preferred not to talk about it.
Father Jaess continued with the questions. "Are the bride and groom related to each other by"
"No." Valara quickly answered. "I mean, no, Father. We are not related by blood... and sadly, neither of us has family to permit the marriage."
Felix cocked an eyebrow at Valara's hasty response, skipping one of the questions entirely. Without a family to permit the marriage, it was the state's responsibility to allow the ceremony to continue.
"Were the banns properly published?" Father Jaess continued.
The banns of marriage was a message read out three weeks before the celebration to announce it and give opportunity to any objection. Felix wasn't one to pray or visit the temples outside of work, so he looked back to the bodyguard, who nodded. "They were."
"Do both the bride and groom consent freely to marriage?" Father Jaess looked at Felix, then at Valara.
"We do." both responded in near-perfect sync.
After a brief lecture from the young Korgan, the couple turned to one another for their vows. "I, Felix Merid, take you, Valara Keyes, to be my wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death, us do part, according to the teachings of the Planars. In the presence of Raemu and Prolectae, I make this vow."
It was typical for both the Planars of Justice and Hearth to be named during wedding ceremonies, as both were considered to be a couple... though the veracity of this was never indeed proven by mortals.
Father Jaess then handed each of them a ring to place upon the bride and groom's left fourth finger before it was the bride's turn to speak. "I, Valara Keyes, take you, Felix Merid, to be my husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death, we do part, according to the teachings of the Planars. In the presence of Raemu and Prolectae, I make this vow."
Usually, the two rings and Valara adding her vows were out of the ordinary. It took a moment for Father Jaess to clear his throat as he recited a brief homily in ancient common before placing a hand on both rings. "Let Planars be my witness. In the name of the Divine Council, and under the watchful eye of Citadel, I pronounce you husband and wife."
It did not take long for the couple to kiss, with the attending mass rising to applaud and cheer. As the music began to play outside and the couple made their way to the doorway, no one paid much attention to the few who remained quiet in the back of the church, watching the events silently.
Of the watching couple, the red-haired woman took a handkerchief from her windowed bustier dress and wiped a happy eye. "I never grow tired of these moments..." Prolectae whimpered even as she tried her hardest to smile.
"I'm usually more of a banquet man myself." Raemu snarkily replied, only to be elbowed in the side. "Oh, come on... have you seen it? I didn't expect the soldiers to pull the money for that, let alone the dowry."
"You really should have more faith in your fellow men." Prolectae snapped back before slowly getting up, only to be aided by Raemu. "Besides, don't you think we should have our own ceremony?"
Raemu shrugged as he waited for the last guest to leave. "Not like we need a dowry... and besides, who would we invite? Honestly, it is best to leave some mystery for the mortal folk. Now then... I don't know if they bought that roasted boar, but I could at least steal a pheasant and a- ow!"
Prolectae drew a portal in the air after elbowing Raemu in the side once more. "Let them enjoy the celebrations in peace, or else I'll have you roasted like that boar you want so badly!" she chided him before leaving, only for him to painfully follow suit.