The Rose and Her Thistle
6:55AM, 7th May 2019
Wedding Day, National Holiday
Royal Redrugus Palace, Redrugus, Great Morstaybishlia
Rosamund’s eyes opened slowly. She realised what day it was and jolted up from her bed. Today was the day that she and her adored Edwin tied the knot and their future full of children and prosperity. She had longed for someone like Edwin. She was no desperate woman- but lacking a man in her life is something she did not want. These last few months she had spent with her fiance had been a roller-coaster ride, and she had enjoyed every minute. Whilst she was alone, anyone watching her would have laughed at the facial expressions she was pulling. It was an unusual piecing concoction of happiness, delight and nervousness. In a quick flurry the nervousness overtook her and she climbed out of bed. She began getting ready, at least she did what she could- she undressed and showered. When she was done, she applied some nice smelling floral deodorant. She put some clothes on and walked out of her quarters. She ordered a light breakfast and waited for the wedding team to arrive.
An hour later
Rosamund was sat by herself at the table she had just eaten from. A maid had arrived and cleaned down the side in anticipation for what came next. The time was nearing 8 o’ clock- and that was when the team was due.
Less than a minute passed and the door opened. Several men and several women arrived, all carrying equipment such as mirrors, collapsible tables and all of her jewelry and makeup. She was to prepare herself in this department first and finally have the dress fitted. She sat back and let the team do the work, after all, it was what they were getting paid to do. Out came the nail polishes, the moisturiser, the primer, the liquid foundation, the concealer, and so on. The woman had just applied the concealer on her face when her younger sister Celina walked in. She had only just woken up. She rushed over to Rosamund and gave her a massive hug.
“Careful Cel!” Rosamund laughed and ushered at the same time- her nails were wet and face was not finished. Celina laughed and sat in a nearby chair, waking up and rubbing her eyes to stuff she was not yet used to; womanhood, and something she laughed at. She was a little bit young to really understand why makeup was so important in her sisters image but she went along with it anyway. She knew that after her sister was done herself and the other bridesmaids would get their turns. She really wanted winged eyeliner.
About twenty five minutes had passed. Her face of makeup was complete to her younger sisters laughing approval, her nails were drying under a UV and her earrings were in. By this time her bridesmaids had all woken up and were sat around. There were Rosamund’s two younger sisters Harriet and Celina, her uncle Prince Edmund’s two daughters Henrietta and Lilliana, her uncle Prince Frederick’s two daughters Serena and Rosalina and her uncle Prince Walter’s daughter Florence who was the youngest at age 5. They were all relatively similar ages between 21 and 13. They were accompanied by two Kuthern bridesmaids that Rosamund held dearly close- Princess Aderyn and Princess Charlotte who took a break from her office as President of Nacata on this very special occasion.
More members of the team walked in and more chairs and stations were made. One by one the bridesmaids makeup, jewelry and dresses were fitted until they were all done. Rosamund was smiling with glee, in fact they all were. The girls looked stunning already, but with burgundy bridesmaid dresses their beauty just glowed. Rosetta walked in and was shocked.
“Oh girls, you’re all so beautiful!” she exclaimed. She walked over to them all and kissed them on the cheeks. Following Rosetta through the door was Naomi II of Kuthernburg. Unbeknownst to most people outside of the royal circle she was the maid of honour. She was to lead the bridesmaids down the red carpet.
Rosamund was itching to try the dress on and so was the two mothers’. The three had their dresses fitted at the exact same time, with the mothers’ having coral pink dresses. The twelve girls in the room were left by themselves after the prep team packed and left. They admired their dresses, moreso the bridal dress, but what stood out the most was Rosamund’s hair.
“It’s so beautiful. I’m so glad to call you family.” Lilliana blushed.
[hr]
9:45AM, 7th May 2019
Royal Redrugus Palace, Redrugus, Great Morstaybishlia
Edwin had already had his breakfast and had washed. He was in the same room as his to-be father-in-law and to-be brother-in-law. Whilst the three did have a prep team, they were mostly independent and did not have dress laces, hair or makeup to do like their counterparts on the other side of the palace. Edwin was not allowed to see his bride until she was accompanied by the man next to him up the isle. In fact they weren’t allowed to, by the royal rules, allowed to sleep together the night before the wedding. It made him laugh but it didn’t phase him.
The three were putting their outfits on. For the ceremony it was a strict male dress code. If you had served in the RAFOTE, you had to wear your uniform and any campaign or other medals worn. In Edwin’s case he had three medals to fit. The Justelvard Star that he was awarded in 2016, the Long Service and Good Conduct Medal and the Meritorious Service Medal for the Royal Navy. Lambertus had too many to count, but Thomas had none, but that made sense as he was only 14. After the service and when they return to the palace party the men were allowed to relax their attires into suits instead. Lambertus wanted to change his usual grey suit style up so he chose a light pink shirt to go with a dark burgundy patterned tie and a dark navy suit. Whilst Edwin had put his formal military attire on, Lambertus had second thoughts on his outfit. He tried it on first and walked over to a mirror to check it out. He had a backup just in case.
“Hey, Edwin, can you come here?”
“Yes, one second.” Edwin put his Justelvard Star medal on and walked over. Lambertus smiled, as he always does.
“Please can you take a photo of me? I want to put it on CafeNet.”
“Yes yes, of course, hold on.” Edwin fiddled around his coat for his phone. He snapped a picture and showed Lambertus.
“Do you like?” Edwin asked.
“Perfect, thank you, send it to me?”
“Yep.” Edwin nodded. A moment later Lambertus’s PrimPhone 9 vibrated. He picked it up and opened the image.
https://i.imgur.com/6gcWqIB.jpg
“Cheers,” Lambertus patted Edwin on the shoulder as he walked past. “Better had get ready,” he looked down at his watch. “There’s only a few hours to go.”
[hr]
12:05AM, 7th May 2019
Syllester Road, leading to Syllester Abbey, Redrugus, Great Morstaybishlia
The morning had forged the day in a perfect balance of warm and cold weather to form a harmony- it was both sunny and shady which depended on where you where. Not too hot and not too cold. Everyone dug it.
Half of Redrugus had been warded off for the event. The wide streets from the Palace to the Abbey had been fenced off on both sides with thousands upon thousands of people in a state of pure euphoria and ecstasy. Thousands of miniature triangle flags ranging from Staynish, Caltharusian, South Staynish and some Justelvardic were being waved, but they were outnumbered by the peoples solidarity under the Morstaybishlian colours that reigned everywhere. The atmosphere was jubilant.
For such a large event required the highest security. In front of the fence that stretched for miles through the big city road saw thousands of both Jomsgard and Emperors Guards in their ceremonial outfits accompanied by police. It was a constant symbiance of checking that everything was alright. There was not going to be a repeat of what happened in Sani Bursil two years ago. All vantage points of which mainly consisted of rooftops were secured by police. Unknown to the public, or anyone for that matter, each rooftop had a sniper on. It had to be done for safety. Just in case.
Whilst the ceremony was being held at one o’ clock, people had begun to turn up as early as half eleven to get to their seats inside. As most weddings go, the rows closer to the front was filled with family and friends, the rows behind filled with figures of parliament and the closest allies, and the further back rows were filled with invited celebrities and more neutral world leaders.
The Abbey was stunning. Its construction began in 1255, following Staynnica Gothic patterns. It went through major changes in the 15th and 16th centuries: the spires of the main facade, the Chapel of the Cerna and dome of the transept, elements of the advanced Gothic which give the temple its unmistakable profile. The last works of importance were constructed in the 18th century, in which the Gothic portals of the main facade were also modified. The Cathedral bellowed its mainly Gothic theme, but several decorative Renaissance and Baroque elements seeped through as well. On the occasion of the wedding, a very long red carpet was laid out which extended all the way from the road, up the steps sweeping through the abbey all the way to where Edwin and Rosamund would make history.
Near to 1 o’ clock
The event was being broadcasted across the world. Over one hundred and fifty million people had tuned in on their television channels from Great Morstaybishlia alone with an additional hundred million viewing from several dozen news stations across the 7 inhabited continents of Urth.
The abbey had moreso now than before flooded with public figures, politicians and sovereigns from across the lands. It was only a matter of when the royalty of Morstaybishlia would arrive, but more importantly the fiance to the heir of the most influential royal bloodline on the planet and the heir herself. Lambertus was the High-King, but he was shadowed by the events’ national and worldwide symbolism. The last time the world saw the direct royal bloodline to the Morstaybishlian throne espoused was twenty seven years ago, and before that- forty seven years. A good portion of the people around the world were not even born when Lambertus VII married his wife- an event like this usually only comes around once in a rememberable lifetime, twice if you’re lucky and three if you live to triple digits. However you are an exception if you are Grand Dowager Empress Amanda Bishop who, because of her species and luck with not entering her thirsting has seen six royal weddings of this variety, the furthest back was when she sailed to Morstaybishlia in 1865 aged 25 to the wedding of Queen Rosamund II to Edmund Constantine.
