Freeday, 22nd of Juno, 470th Year of the Fifth Era

Josias stared at the ceiling of his room. It was still dark for the most part but the crowing of the roosters had indicated it was dawn. Either that or the rooster was being as drunk as usual with its choice of crowing. Either way, he did not catch a wink of sleep for the entire night.

He felt so stupid even daring to criticize his companions for having antsy looks during their weddings but now that it was his turn… Josias' heartbeat raced for most of the night as he even felt warm sometimes. It also didn't help that he felt itchy almost the entire night. He could've sworn he cleaned his room and the floor his straw mattress was on.

Deciding that laying around waiting for a sleep that would never arrive was stupid, Josias got up. As he exited his room, he saw his father once more already awake, smoking in the small hallway of the house.

"Couldn't sleep, huh?" His father chuckled while taking another huff from his pipe. "Yeah, I was like that too before I married your mother. Reminds me a lot of those days… Her sinamot (dowry) was still far more insane than what we had to pay for your wedding today, though. I am so glad you didn't end up marrying a Hutabaru."

Josias chuckled as he sat down next to his father. "I could've sworn I was fine up until yesterday, father… But the sudden realisation of the reality just…"

"Just hit you?"

"Like I got crashed into by a tiger beast…"

"Pfft, yea, it does feel like that."

"I just… I just feel so worried here." Josias shrugged as he laid his back against the wooden wall.

"What's there to worry about, son? Anyways, you want some?" His father held out a cigar but Josias turned his hand away.

"No, I don't like the smell. But coming back to what I was saying, what isn't there to worry about? Whether or not I'll be a good provider to Serena, or if I would be a good father to my children… Whether I can truly live with someone else or not who isn't related to me. These are real concerns, father."

"Oh, please. Your first worry isn't even a legitimate worry. You're in line to be the king of this realm. I'm not a genius, but only a complete idiot could squander that kind of wealth and prestige. And I know you're not an idiot. As for your second more interpersonal worries, I have to ask you a question. Do you love Serena?"

Josias looked at his father like he was an idiot. "What kind of question is that? Of course I love Serena! Even if it was an arranged marriage, I would be the first to rebel if it were to someone I didn't love."

"Then why the hell are you worried whether or not you can live with someone you love?"

"I… I just…" Josias was trying to find the words but he found himself stumped. He had a big worry but he couldn't put it into words.

"'Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her…'. My son, if you truly understand this one verse, your marital life will be set."

Josias let his father's words sink in as he nodded. It was true enough. If he truly loved Serena, he would do all he can to work with her and live with her. To love her more than he even loved his own life.

"But it's still going to be a rough ride, son, I won't lie to you." His father said

"...Well, I'm going to need you and all the advice I can get then." Josias looked at his father earnestly.

"Oh don't worry about that, son. Look at me! Almost forty years of age and I still have my old man there for me. I'm not going anywhere anytime soon. You're stuck with me, son! Bahahahahaha!!"

"Not if you keep smoking like that, you're not." Josias shot back "I don't know what it is about tobacco that I don't like, but I'm sure that devil plant is what's causing grandfather's coughing pains! It's what confuses me about those damned pagan kings. Somehow, they are quick to reject the faith saying it's some form of 'foreign machination' yet were so quick to buy and cultivate that damned plant."

"Son, if a plant like this on its own is enough to take the life of a seventh star aura warrior, there is literally no longer a need for any of us to train anything!"

"There's no use telling him any of that, bang." Josias was startled as he saw his mother come out of her room while carrying Janus and Tigor. "Your father doesn't care about his health and is determined to leave me a widow."

"Hasianku… (Dear…)" His father sighed at his mother's comments.

"Unang ho baen 'Hasianku, Hasianku' molo songoni ho! Sae ma i, dung i maridi ho! (Don't you 'dear' me, stop that and get yourself clean!)" His mother nagged as she lightly kicked his father up.

"Alright, alright, I'm going… Sheesh…" Josias' father got up with a chuckle before kissing his wife on her cheek. "Don't frown too much, or you'll wrinkle that pretty face of yours."

"Hurry up and get ready, you oaf!" His mother shooed his father away, but Josias could see she had a faint smile on her face. "And don't kiss me before rinsing your mouth with lime… And you, Josi! Bad enough you didn't get a good night's rest, and now you're just lounging around on your wedding day? Get up and get yourself washed!!"

With his mother's firm reprimand, Josias got up and quickly did as he was told. There were plenty of things he had to oversee as well. Well, technically his clan and kinsmen were mostly responsible for all of that. All he had to do was sit pretty and go with the flow. But to take his mind off of his worries, there was nothing wrong with busying himself a little. Well not unless his mother had other dictats for him.

***

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Serena had only gotten a few hours of sleep last night. How could she dare to get rest when the biggest day of her life up to this point was right in front of her eyes? She wondered whether Josias was feeling the same way as her but quickly shrugged. Josias could sleep through all sorts of things like a pig. He's probably sleeping in right now, being woken up by his mother.

Serena had smiled thinking of Josias and their wedding. There were plenty of silly things he did that were annoying but endearing at the same time. She'd have to learn to accept those quirks more if they were to live together… Living together. Serena couldn't help but grin as a blush appeared on her face.

"My beautiful darling, can you please try to not twitch your face too much while I apply your makeup?" Serena's daydreaming was cut short by her aunt Lasmauli's request.

"Oh, sorry about that, Inanguda, my mind was just wandering a bit." Serena said as she closed her eyes once more and stilled her face.

"I know you're excited today, but we need to focus on making yourself even more beautiful than you already are, darling. We want to make Josias lose his breath when he sees you today!"

"Oh, can you blame the girl, though?" Another woman chimed in from behind her. It was her aunt Duma who was currently helping to do her hair.

Serena was currently at the mercy of her aunts and clan kinswomen to do her up for her big wedding day. Some of her cousins were also there to help out with getting her dress ready and all sorts of other menial tasks. Even Ompung Ester was there, observing the situation, sitting not too far from the rest of the women.

Serena continued to sit quietly as the women also did their task of preparing her for her wedding. Serena didn't usually like to put on make-up in her day to day – at least not as much as her other friends. She wouldn't dare go out completely bare-faced either – but today was different. Her aunts were right and she had to look her absolute best.

After a good while of sitting still as she surrendered herself like a doll, Aunt Lasmauli finally picked up a bronze mirror to show Serena her work. When Serena looked at herself through the mirror, her eyes widened as she blushed a little. It was splendid. Her lips were reddened but not too much. Only bright enough to not overload the contrast with her naturally pale skin. The eyeliner put on her also did well to accentuate her eyes.

She also had to give her aunt Duma credit as well. While the back of hair was put into the traditional Halak bun, her sidebangs were curled instead of being pulled back.

"Kak Serena has always been so pretty! It's not fair that she's made even more pretty with the makeup!" One of her cousins spoke.

"Thank you for the compliment, Rea." Serena smiled at the young fourteen-year-old sister of Hesekiel.

"Alright girls, we have to get her into her dress! Chop chop!" Aunt Lasmauli said as she directed Rea and Serena's other cousins to dress her up.

The first item of clothing they had helped put on her was the sortali headband fitted with gold-plates and other such flower ornaments. For her dress, they had decided to fit her with clothing inspired from the Banuans called the 'kebaya'. Her father had first suggested that she wore a traditional western dress in the Imperial fashion but after more deliberation, she wanted to stand out from the rest of her friends.

The kebaya was a front-open upper garment dress that was worn over the cloth she had wrapped around her body. The kebaya she wore was made of a white-patterned brocade with flower motifs and other such ornaments put to it. In addition to the kebaya, she also wore an extra 'sarong' lower garment also sourced from the Banuan Aryawiran Empire. It was golden brownish in colour and was fitted with the beautiful Banuan 'batik' motif.

The last ornament Serena put on was one she didn't dare forget. The beautiful silver aquamarine pendant that Josias had gifted her for their betrothal. The aquamarine pendant complimented her eyes and the silver colour went well with the white kebaya. Serena had to stop herself from gawking into the mirror for too long. Not even she was aware of this narcissistic tendency.

"So, what do you all think?" Serena finally asked the women there for a small bit of validation.

"You look absolutely beautiful, darling…" Her aunt Lasmauli smiled at her with such a proud expression. It wasn't long after that her aunt's eyes started tearing up as well. "Oh, God, if only my kayak (elder sister) were here to see this… Her beautiful baby girl is all grown up and…"

Aunt Lasmauli had started tearing up as she reminded herself of her late sister – Serena's mother.

Serena was trying her hardest not to remind herself of her mother. Even she felt the tears already welling up. She knew her mother was smiling down on her from the heavens. She must be proud… There was no use mulling over what could have been, but it was still a wishful thought that she had.

What wouldn't she give to see her mother once again? To have her here with her, guiding her, teaching her. To have her mother do her makeup for her like when she was little. Was it too much to ask, God? Just a single glimpse and to hear her say, 'I'm praying for you, always' just one more time…

A few tears started streaming down from her eyes against her will as it ruined a little bit of the make up.

"Oh dear me…!" Her Aunt Lasmauli finally noticed that Serena was crying as well and immediately looked sullen.

"See what you did, Lasma! This is a happy day! Why'd you have to remind her of my dongan sagoar (lit.: friend with the same name)" Aunt Duma sighed exasperatedly.

"I'm so sorry, darling! I didn't mean to…"

"No, no, Inanguda. It's fine honestly!" Serena tried her best to smile and wipe her eyes with a piece of cloth. "It's my fault for being such a crybaby, hahahah… I'm so sorry, we'll have to do some of the make up… I'm so sorry to trouble you…"

"Don't blame yourself for something that silly aunt of yours did, sweetie." Her aunt Duma said as she caressed her head. "It's okay."

Serena finally cleared her throat before giving everyone an encouraging nod, signalling she was fine. She had to be strong. For her mother. For herself. Her mother would hate having her wallow in sorrow on such a joyous day. Inhaling a little of her decongestant medicine, she sat back down to let her make up be fixed.

It didn't take too long to fix her make up and this time. Another look in the mirror and she smiled. She was just about ready.

As if on cue, her father had come into the house. He was already garbed in his full liturgical regalia. When she stood and turned to look at her father, he froze for a bit when he saw her. Serena gave a sheepish smile before she asked, "How do I look, papa? Do I look pretty?"

"You look… absolutely stunning, my little princess!" Her father said as he immediately gave her a hug. "You look so beautiful. Just like your mo-...!"

"AHEM!" Her aunt Duma audibly cleared her throat before giving her father a death glare.

"Bang (older brother) Wig, I swear to God, one more word out of you and I will actually punch you." Her aunt said to her father who was her adoptive older brother.

"What-...?... Oh! Of course! Of course!" Her father seemed confused at first but realisation finally dawned on him as to what he was about to say. He immediately bumbled his words as he apologised and continued to praise Serena. "You look beautiful! Josias would be struck speechless!"

Serena laughed at her father's awkward attempt to shift his comment. It was adorable and somehow worked to take her mind off of the thoughts of her mother. As the people there laughed, they had heard the sound of drumbeats and sarune playing from afar outside the house.

Serena's heart had skipped a beat as she heard the music. Josias was arriving!

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