[Astedia] Family
Posted: Wed Aug 02, 2017 1:01 am
1st Saun, 717
Sitting in front of her mirror, she looked at herself and gave a half smile. Whatever had she become? Celeste Andaris, Baroness of Astedia and first in line to House Andaris was marrying for love. It was the only explanation she had for the events which were about to transpire, for the man that she was to marry this trial, the one whose child grew within her was a Lord of House Krome.
In terms of political allegiances, she was positively slumming it.
Yet, that was not entirely true, Celeste knew. As she looked at Lin, her personal assistant, Celeste smiled but did not speak, simply considered that it would be too easy to underestimate Xander. Ala'ni, her adopted daughter came charging in and Celeste could not hide the smile on her face. Ala'ni looked beautiful in her white dress and head-dress of flowers.
"Celeste! Celeste look! Listen!" Ala'ni said and Celeste, Lin and Louisa, the mistress of the nursery who had walked in behind the little girl all turned, wide eyed. Ala'ni did not speak, not to anyone but Celeste, yet here she was, speaking out in front of the three of them. Celeste smiled and put her hand on the girl's cheek.
"Well, it's nice to see you. You look beautiful," Celeste said and Ala'ni beamed.
"Am I really walking with you?" The young girl asked and Celeste nodded.
"Yes. The flowers in your hair mean you are the most important person there."
Ala'ni beamed and looked at Celeste with a look of excitement, "you look beautiful. Xander always thinks it, but he'll think it two times this trial." Celeste chuckled. The dress was a far cry from what she had thought it would be, when she had envisioned this trial in the previous arcs, but it was right. It was right for her and it was right for them. Plus it rubbed Cassander Renault's nose in it, so even better.
Breathing in she looked at Lin, who nodded her head.
"Is it time?" Ala'ni asked and Celeste nodded, standing and letting Lin fuss. Then, holding on to Ala'ni's hand, Celeste made her way down to the small private beach where they were to married.
Walking with Ala'ni's hand in hers, Celeste came into view for those who were waiting. Lin had arranged it and scooted ahead, then given a signal. Having checked one last time that Ala'ni wanted to do this and was happy to, Celeste handed her the small bag in which was Xander's wedding ring. She and Ala'ni were both wearing white dresses, chosen by the little girl. Celeste's had a strapped white lacy top, elegant and unassuming, cool too in the Saun heat and the skirt was long and fell to the floor in waves of fabric. It wasn't embroidered, it wasn't over the top. It was elegant and simple in the extreme. She wore her hair loose and, in it there were tiny flowers. The slight bulge of her pregnancy was largely hidden by the waves of fabric in the skirt, but Celeste held tight to Ala'ni's hand and she searched out Xander Krome.
Damn him, she thought with a smile as her eyes met his. Unconcerned by the moment, Ala'ni let go of Celeste's hand and ran to Xander. The first words she'd ever spoken to him she said there, with all the confidence of a young child. "I told her you'd think she's beautiful two times, this trial. Do you? I got a new dress too!" She started to do a twirl, but stopped as soon as she saw the people assembled. Looking around, the cherub-looking little girl grabbed hold of Xander's hand and whispered, "Are all these people here to see us all become a family?" Suddenly overcome by shyness, she buried her face in Xander and waited with him for Celeste to join them, which she soon did.