Emilia and Sepet

Emilia and Sepet

         The pale moon filtered through the balcony windows of the bedroom of Emilia. It was the evening before her wedding to Sepet, and she had not spoken to him since last evening as he had been away on family business. She needed to talk with him and hear his voice as she had doubts.
         The door opens in sweeps Sepet. He strides over and gently takes her hand, kisses the back. He is cold from the outside. He must have rushed to see her.
         "My love, you are still awake. I am glad to see you appear well. Wait, you frown. What bothers you so? Has something not been to your liking?
         "No, Sepet, I am fine. No, I am not. I am concerned about tomorrow. Our wedding. Many people will be attending, and I do not know but a few. I feel I do not fit into your lifestyle. I am afraid, and I do not know why."
         "Beloved, my sweet, innocent beloved. You will be a rose among lilies tomorrow. You will become one of us before you know it. I promise."
         "I have doubts, Sepet. Real doubts. I do not feel this is right. Something is telling me this is all wrong. To run away and hide. Those thoughts make me afraid. Make me afraid of you." Emilia paused and looked deeply into Sepet's eyes, "I don't want to be afraid of you."
         "I need you to want to marry me of your own free will. You must come to me on your own. This choice I cannot force you to make."
         "I would feel much better if some of my family could be here. You sent the invitations, didn't you?
         "Yes, beloved. You saw the messenger leave yourself with the sealed invitations. The border wars may have slowed or even halted the messenger from arriving at the destinations. If that is the case, we shall prioritize visiting them after we are married. What else troubles you?"
         "Well, honestly, I feel like a prisoner here during the day. You are away on business or visiting nobles, and I cannot leave because of my safety. I only get to see you at night, which is only for a little while before you need to deal with other business. Will that change?"
         "Most certainly it will. We will spend all our waking hours together, my love."
         "Why is it when you are away, I have doubts, but when you are here, you wash them all away? You have something about you that makes me trust you completely. As you would never do anything to harm me."
         "Contrary to harm, I want to make you stunningly beautiful. Something kept in an hourglass. Encased in time, if you will."
         "You always talk so beautifully. How soon must you leave?"
         "Soon. I have yet dinned and must make final preparations for tomorrow's wedding. That is if you are still ready?"
         "Oh, yes. Now more than ever. I want to be by your side forever. I want to make you the best wife you could ever have. I want you to be proud of me." Emilia thought momentarily, "It is so late; I do not know how you can stay up and do everything you do. You must be ravished by now."
         "I am, quite. I must take my leave. Do not fret. I shall check on you before I retire to ensure you are safe. Your gown will be delivered before you awaken. I shall call on you earlier than usual. We will proceed to the chapel together. As we enter, all eyes will be on you as they will never have seen anything like you in a long while."
         The wedding day was overcast and gloomy. The sun had not been shining all day. Emilia did not even notice. She was giddy with joy. Her Prince Charming was going to marry her soon, and her life would soon be something written in books.


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