Much like many parties started at Cair Paravel, this one started small--just a private gathering between the royal family and friends--and quickly ballooned out past what was originally planned. This one was a wedding ceremony, so of course it got even bigger and lovelier than even normal parties at the castle with banners, streamers, wreathes and garlands of flowers, flowing ribbons, and enough candles that Cair Paravel was genuinely a fire hazard during the ceremony. The castle hadn't looked this lovely and dreamlike since the coronation.
Of course the wedding feast afterward was also spectacular with the most delicious food and so many bottles of champagne, a small orchestra of musicians for exquisite music, and the liveliest dances to make even the clumsiest footed watlzers float across the floor.
"A toast for the happy couple!" someone cried and all the glasses went up.
"A toast for the beautiful bride!" someone laughed and again all the glasses went up.
"A toast for our dear friend, the groom," Lucy cheered--perhaps someone should have been keeping a closer eye on her and her cup--and again there was a merry shout.
With all this merriment, it'd been something of a struggle to find a quiet, darker corner to hide away in, but Edmund had managed it. Tucked into an alcove, next to one of the balconies, Edmund nursed a cup of very strong mead--it'd been made a few months ago in the dead of winter and the water in the drink had formed chunks of ice, leaving some powerful liquor with very little to soften it. He'd hoped it would lend him some cheer, but so far it was only tempering his headache. At least he was not alone, otherwise one of his well meaning siblings would have dragged him back. On the back of his couch, Mnemosyne the raven carded her beak through his hair while her sister, Metis, hopped onto the cushions next to him.
"I could shit in his soup, if you'd like," Metis offered.
Mnemosyne clacked her beak rapidly to scold her sister, but Edmund managed a chuckle as he reached out to run his finger down the back of Metis's head. "That is quite alright, but thank you for the offer."
They sat quietly and Edmund was very grateful that neither of them tried to make small talk. Neither of them had said how handsome the groom looked, or happy the couple seemed, and for that he might have kissed them on their feathered heads. And when Peridan stood to take his first dance with his bride, Mnemosyne hopped onto his shoulder and said "I could say you received a message and need to step out if you like."
Edmund considered his cup of mead before glancing up to look at Peridan again from under his lashes. He really did make a handsome groom; his bride would be very lucky and happy.
"Do it," he said, standing and abandoning his cup of mead on the floor under the couch in the hopes no one would kick over.
Metis huffed as her sister flew off, taking her place on Edmund's opposite shoulder. "I still say you should let me ruin his meal."
"I believe he's already eaten his fill," Edmund replied before adding. "But, if you want to do a harmless prank and hide his wedding ring tonight after they go to bed, I shan't tell a soul."
Metis cackled briefly, but fell quiet as they slipped through the crowd and out a servant's passage. As they walked, Metis spoke again. "He could have at least had the decency to insist on having the reception back in his holdings." He could have the decency not to rub your face in this, went unsaid and Edmund fought a sigh.
"Things change, my friend," he said finally. "People change."
"Well, I think he's done a little too much changing."
Edmund closed his eyes and reached up to stroke her feather again. Maybe she was right, but he had the ugly feeling that maybe the one who didn't change enough was him.
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Of course the wedding feast afterward was also spectacular with the most delicious food and so many bottles of champagne, a small orchestra of musicians for exquisite music, and the liveliest dances to make even the clumsiest footed watlzers float across the floor.
"A toast for the happy couple!" someone cried and all the glasses went up.
"A toast for the beautiful bride!" someone laughed and again all the glasses went up.
"A toast for our dear friend, the groom," Lucy cheered--perhaps someone should have been keeping a closer eye on her and her cup--and again there was a merry shout.
With all this merriment, it'd been something of a struggle to find a quiet, darker corner to hide away in, but Edmund had managed it. Tucked into an alcove, next to one of the balconies, Edmund nursed a cup of very strong mead--it'd been made a few months ago in the dead of winter and the water in the drink had formed chunks of ice, leaving some powerful liquor with very little to soften it. He'd hoped it would lend him some cheer, but so far it was only tempering his headache. At least he was not alone, otherwise one of his well meaning siblings would have dragged him back. On the back of his couch, Mnemosyne the raven carded her beak through his hair while her sister, Metis, hopped onto the cushions next to him.
"I could shit in his soup, if you'd like," Metis offered.
Mnemosyne clacked her beak rapidly to scold her sister, but Edmund managed a chuckle as he reached out to run his finger down the back of Metis's head. "That is quite alright, but thank you for the offer."
They sat quietly and Edmund was very grateful that neither of them tried to make small talk. Neither of them had said how handsome the groom looked, or happy the couple seemed, and for that he might have kissed them on their feathered heads. And when Peridan stood to take his first dance with his bride, Mnemosyne hopped onto his shoulder and said "I could say you received a message and need to step out if you like."
Edmund considered his cup of mead before glancing up to look at Peridan again from under his lashes. He really did make a handsome groom; his bride would be very lucky and happy.
"Do it," he said, standing and abandoning his cup of mead on the floor under the couch in the hopes no one would kick over.
Metis huffed as her sister flew off, taking her place on Edmund's opposite shoulder. "I still say you should let me ruin his meal."
"I believe he's already eaten his fill," Edmund replied before adding. "But, if you want to do a harmless prank and hide his wedding ring tonight after they go to bed, I shan't tell a soul."
Metis cackled briefly, but fell quiet as they slipped through the crowd and out a servant's passage. As they walked, Metis spoke again. "He could have at least had the decency to insist on having the reception back in his holdings." He could have the decency not to rub your face in this, went unsaid and Edmund fought a sigh.
"Things change, my friend," he said finally. "People change."
"Well, I think he's done a little too much changing."
Edmund closed his eyes and reached up to stroke her feather again. Maybe she was right, but he had the ugly feeling that maybe the one who didn't change enough was him.