Chapter 5: Water lilies for the bride
Luke finally ran up to the platform and stood in front of Herki with his sword raised.
“He took her, Luke, he took her…” Herki mumbled leaning on the wooden block.
“I know, Herks! First, we have to take care of you,”
“Only thing we have to take care of is getting rid of this…. Bastard! He is banished from Thilia island forever!” Lord Hadrian yelled.
“You shall not speak dirty of my brother! I cannot believe, you sound just like that scumbag Morten!”
A loud slap resounded across the platform. Lord Hadrian had hit his son’s face. Luke held to his cheek looking at his father like a scorned child. Then he turned his back on the Lord, and helped Herki get up. Luke did not say a word, dragging his friend away through the crowd. He didn’t care about the wind and the rain.
Luke never stopped, nor did he look back until they reached the Pinewood coast. He knew the only way Herki would recover. Luke braced himself, rolled Herki into his boat and pushed it into the stormy waves.
“You never… never sail in the storm,” said Herki laying in the boat.
“I don’t!” Luke’s hands were shaking, still he rowed the boat further. The violent waves shook the vessel like a tiny wooden toy. Luke helped Herki up and watched as the young Autumnian dived into the lake. He didn’t come up for air, Luke leaned over the side of the boat - a wave clashed against it and Luke fell. He could not save himself, waves covered him, he was drowning. When Herki swam up from the depths of the Lake, he saw a lifeless body carried back and forth by the waves. Herki grabbed Luke, swam up and put his friend back into the boat. He shook poor Luke, but he did not move. Herki raised his trembling hand at Luke’s chest and tried to make the water leave his lungs. Luke coughed up the water, alive and breathing.
“You saved me again, my brother!”
“This time you saved me first,” Herki smiled at him revived - the Lake had given him strength.
“Now let’s get you to safety, the Lake is restless today,” Herki made the water carry the boat to the shore, he followed it closely.
“You’re going home?” Luke asked Herki, standing on the shore.
“I am home,” the latter replied from the lake.
***
Ulise stared at the Wizard’s castle with awe; not only was it enormous, but each hall, study, chamber and hallway was decorated with precious stones, inlaid with silver or gold ornaments, trimmed with marvellous tapestry. Gold threaded carpets rustled gently as she stepped on them, the delicate scent of flowers lingered in the air - roses and lilies, hyacinths and daffodils, fresh flowers brought from overseas daily. Each room was designed to impress and to leave its guests speechless; the inhabitants of the castle thrived in beauty and luxury.
There were rooms Ulise had never even heard of, nor seen - an indoor pool made of marble stone with magnificent sculptures surrounding it, filled with clear turquoise-blue water, a large Winter garden with brightly coloured cushions covering several daybeds. Birds chirping in golden cages. Strange plants blooming in red, purple, yellow and white. Ulise was dazzled with all the colours, scents and sounds of unseen splendour. Her new Lord walked beside her holding the girl’s hand gently. He was so much like Herki! Everything about him appeared perfect, chosen with an immaculate sense of taste. Lord Morten was a mature mirror image of Herki, and bewildered by all the beauty surrounding her, for a minute Ulise imagined it was Herki walking with her. She smiled, Lord Morten smiled back. A dark fear struck the girl’s heart - Morten’s eyes were black with a vile flame of lust within them. Herki’s amber-coloured eyes radiated warmth and kindness. Ulise’s smile faded, sensing the unkind nature of her Lord lurking beneath the flawless surface.
The tour around the castle took up several hours, when the Lord and his court finally returned where they started, to the entrance hall. Suddenly the heavy doors opened, a nude man entered the hall. It was Herki. After swimming in the ice-cold lake he felt alive again, but sadly he had nowhere else to return. The dirty, wine-stained robe he wore these weeks Herki had left in Luke’s boat.
Herki still hadn’t comprehended - Ulise was his father’s bride-to-be, therefore he was stunned to be standing in front of her naked, without a warning. Both were lost for words, silence lingered, but what a beautiful silence it was! The two caressed each other with their eyes. Ulise saw the amber glow she had longed for every day, his masculine body she yearned to touch. The girl blushed, but still could not turn away - the sight of him was a precious gift, she would not lose a single moment of it.
Herki couldn’t move - the one person he did not expect to see him nude in public was standing within arm’s reach. Ulise had changed the maids dress she used to disguise herself. Now the girl indeed looked like a royalty; Lord Morted gave her the best silk gown matching her blue eyes.
Though ashamed, Herki did not wish to hide from her - just to be standing and looking into Ulise’s eyes.
“Oh, look who’s back! I hoped you’d be beheaded by now,” the idle voice of Lord Morten broke the delicate silence between the two. Ulise frowned, but did not take her eyes off Herki.
“I’m not even going to waste your time, my dear, introducing this embarrassment of an offspring,”
“I know him,” Ulise replied softly.
Lord Morten squinted his dark eyes. If there was one sensation his corrupted spirit could still detect, it would be desire.
“Oh, I see…”
The Lord addressed Herki.
“I might suggest you to enter this fine house at least covering those crown jewels of yours, but then again… there’s nothing much to cover,” He smirked.
“My bride is not to be disgraced by such tiny inconveniences. Do find some clothes, if you can!” His court laughed.
“You must understand, my dear, the boy was never much of a wit, but lately it seems his mind has abandoned him completely! You must’ve heard about his little mischief on the island? Unpleasant business! But he shall not bother us. I’ll make sure he’s nowhere near you from now on. He’s considered to be a dangerous creature, you know?!”
His court followed the Master’s example and stared at Herki with contempt. Herki did not hear a word they said. The time had slowed down, all the sights and sounds around him blurred. There was only Ulise.
“Come, my dear! The feast awaits us!” The Lord lead Ulise away. She didn’t resist, but her sight lingered looking back at Herki. He was naked, embarrassed, ridiculed by the court, yet in Ulise’s eyes he appeared as the most beautiful creature she had ever seen. Lord Morten suddenly seemed like an over-trimmed, tainted version of his young son.
Herki closed his eyes. Ulise was his father’s bride; he did not stand a chance, no poems could save his love.
The engagement feast was truly a lesson in royal splendour. From the gowns to the table decorations it appeared as a carefully designed performance, directed by the Lord.
He was most attentive to Ulise. Her every wish was fulfilled. Her Lord only once allowed himself the pleasure of kissing her hand. Still Ulise sensed there’s a hidden threat beneath the immaculate surface. Something in the way the court’s men and women looked at their Lord and at each other was awkward. Ulise could not quite understand what.
Herki never showed up, although the girl had hoped he would, just to look at him once more. After some hours her sight grew weary - it had been a long day.
“Merush! Take the guards and escort my lovely bride to her chambers,” Lord Morten idly waved at his councillor.
“Of course, my Lord!” The young Snakeling had been standing near his Lord all evening, waiting to fulfill his requests. He accompanied Ulise through the hallways. Merush was not at all disappointed to leave the feast early, he knew very well what usually followed after midnight.
“How long have you been serving your Lord?” Ulise asked after they had walked some minutes in silence.
“But two years, my Lady,”
“Tell me - are the rumours I’ve heard about the court true?”
Merush looked into her innocent blue eyes, and felt a sting piercing his heart. Poor thing! She didn’t have a clue! He sighed.
“Sadly, they’re not. The life in my Lord’s court is much more worse than the rumours surrounding it,”
“I felt something was wrong! They’re all pretending. The beautiful surface…”
“Is only the surface. You are quite observant, my Lady,”
“But you’re different than the rest of them,”
“A sharp mind you have, indeed. I’m only a servant, an accountant, to be precise. I try to avoid the revelry as much as I can,” Merush explained quietly.
“How am I to avoid it?” Ulise looked at him, desperate and frightened.
“I’m afraid I don’t know,”
Merush looked over his shoulder and lowered his voice.
“I must express my deepest regrets - I did not wish to bring you and your father the bad news. No woman should lose her dignity serving as a plaything to a pervert,”
Ulise’s eyes widened with the notion of the terrible fate waiting for her.
“And the wedding, Merush? I have heard…”
“It’s true what they say. You have heard of the nature of Dragonlings?”
Ulise nodded.
“The Autumnian wedding ceremony does require the consummation of the marriage to be carried out in front of the guests. One of the Lord’s previous wives did not survive it. The other’s lived a bit longer, but all died trying to conceive a child. They were all pure Autumnian descent.”
“So, to me it’ll mean certain death in front of a crowd?”
“I’m truly sorry!”
They had nearly reached Ulise’s chambers.
“Merush, I must beg you! If such is my fate, I have a last wish. I must see Herki one more time. Please, could you arrange it?” Ulise pleaded nearly without a sound. Still Merush heard her.
“I’ll see what I can do. Goodnight!”
“Thank you! Goodnight!”
The councillor turned around to make his way to his own chamber, when a servant ran up to him.
“Councillor, the Lord is expecting you back,”
Merush shook with disgust. Well, it had to happen one day. He had been lucky enough to avoid his Lord’s feasts for two years. His luck had run out. Merush took a deep breath and regained his posture. Whatever humiliation his master has in store, he shall withstand it with dignity.
Merush entered the festive hall; it appeared to become a completely different place. Half of the candles were put out. Nearly nude dancers swayed their luscious figures, accompanied by vulgar dance rhythms in the dimly lit hall. The court and the guests had moved to cushion covered daybeds, brought in by the servants. They laid observing the dancers, caressing each other, drinking wine and smoking Snakegrass. The Lord laid on a throne-like bed above them to see all the delicious sights around him. He had changed into his usual robe, embroidered with silver threads and black pearls. Indeed, he embodied the nature of the dragon trapped within him - his scales shining in the candle light, white smoke rolling from his mouth. Morten observed the souls he reigned over, with a hungry flame flickering in his eyes, and tonight he wished for a new kind of entertainment.
“You wished to see me, my Lord?” Merush bowed abruptly with an indifferent expression on his face.
“Ah, yes, Merush! Some of our lovely friends pointed out - you barely ever have fun! Poor Merush, they said, he’s always busy serving our Lord! Let the man enjoy himself for once! Especially on such an occasion. I don’t have engagement feasts every night,”
“Indeed, not every night, sir,” Merush still held his chin high, and his eyes fixed on the Lord. He noticed the court smirking and chuckling - tonight they had chosen him to serve as the entertainment. Merush braced himself; this could not be good.
“So, we’ve decided to give you a special treat,” The Lord gestured at one of the daybeds near him. Mari laid on it, wearing an extremely sheer robe. They obviously made her put it on, none of the other women was dressed like her. Merush swallowed hard and gritted his teeth. He heard the hidden laughter of the court behind his back. They knew. The bastards had somehow found out about his feelings.
“Go on! Join our little Mari, loosen up your collar! Oh, take the whole damn shirt off for a start! The girls always brag what a wonderful lover you are. Share your secret with the rest of us! Show us, how do Snakelings make love? Do they wrap together in a bundle like mating snakes?”
That was pure, vile ridicule! The court laughed openly. Merush blushed, his heart pounded; mustn’t lose his calm! But Mari laid there embarrassed, staring at him with her innocent eyes. If something was to taint her spirit, this would be it. Merush cleared his throat and said,
“I’m afraid I cannot do it, my Lord,”
The laughter went silent in an instant. No one dared to disobey the Lord.
“And why is that, Merush?” Lord Morten asked, squinting his black eyes.
“A Snakeling mating would require a Snakeling woman,”
“True, true! We haven’t got one, what a shame! I’ll summon a Snakeling girl for the next feast just for you,”
“You are most generous, my Lord,”
“Meanwhile, what should we do with our dear Mari? She looks so drow tonight. Moris, dear, would you go and please her?! Get some happy sounds out of her,”
“My pleasure, sir,” a stunning young Autumnian replied. He grinned walking past Merush and joined Mari on the daybed. This was even more terrible then Merush had expected. The Autumnian laid on top of her, the Lord reclined on the cushions observing them. The music played another tune by his command, the dancers swirled around the daybeds. It was too much! Without waiting for his Master to release him, the young Snakeling used his power to become a snake at will - he seemed to disappear into thin air! His Master did not even care, he watched the two bodies moving in a rapid rhythm. The snake slithered its way out of the hall, then became a man, who ran into the hallway and stood leaning at the wall. He heard lustful screams of a woman. Merush threw up right there on the spot, then stood pressing his forehead to the cold wall, while the loud noises of the feast drowned down the screams.
“You should’ve gotten used to this after two years,” a voice spoke to him from the shadows of the hallway.
“Forgive me, young Lord! It shall not happen again,” Merush bowed to Herki.
“Don’t apologise for your decency. I’m glad there’s someone who still hasn’t given in to the dirt my father does for fun,”
Herki was not allowed to the feast. The guards made him go away whenever he tried to enter the hall. Herki roamed around the dark hallways, listening to the obnoxious sounds he knew well.
Now both young men walked together, moving further away from the festive hall.
Merush was some years older than Herki, still both shared the same wisdom, that made them older beyond their years.
“Did the old scum find an unusual way to humiliate you? He enjoys his own twisted inventiveness,” Herki said casually.
“It… it was most creative indeed,” Merush looked around, no guards followed them.
“I have a message to you from Lady Ulise. She requests a secret meeting with you, before…”
“Before Morten assaults and murders her in front of his court?” Herki closed his eyes. A teardrop escaped from the corner of his eye.
“I wish it could be avoided. Believe me, young Lord, I do know your pain,” Merush whispered.
“Could you help us to arrange the meeting? I trust you, Merush,” Herki’s teary amber-coloured eyes looked into the green eyes of the Snakeling.
“I will help the two of you,”
Both shook hands and went their separate ways.
But the chance didn’t arrive soon. Days passed, Merush had more work than ever before - not only the usual paperwork of the whole kingdom, but also all the business concerning the wretched wedding. His master was obviously busy with trying on wedding clothes, picking flower decorations and other pleasantries, while Merush sat by his blackwood desk from early morning, long into the night and so forth. Also, he knew the Lord had arranged for the guards to watch Herki’s every move, should he try to approach Ulise.
Merush was not surprised when a servant summoned him to his master’s bride - she must be impatient for meeting Herki.
“You called, my Lady?” he asked, entering her study, “I must apologise, the wedding preparations took up more time than I…” Merush went silent at the sight of the ones greeting him. Ulise sat by her desk, but she wasn’t alone. Mari looked over her shoulder and smiled, she sat near the fireplace, it was a cold autumn afternoon. She got up and both bowed to each other.
“I hope you don’t mind Mari’s presence here. We’ve grown fond of each other these last days,” Ulise smiled.
“Not at all!” he answered more eagerly than would be appropriate, but quickly regained his restraint, “how can I serve you, my Lady?”
“I wanted to write to my father. I do not wish him at the wedding. And since all the letters leaving the castle are inspected by you…”
“Of course, I will help,” Merush sat opposed her, took a blank page and a quill. He could clearly feel Mari’s eyes watching his every move.
Ulise began to dictate the letter, but stopped mid-paragraph.
“I’m feeling a bit faint. The preparations for the wedding are truly tiresome. I think I’ll rest for a minute. Could you wait?”
“As you wish, my Lady,” Merush tried to sound as indifferent as he could, but his trembling voice gave him out. He got up and bowed to Ulise.
She gave Mari a cheeky smile, and went into her bed chamber.
Mari indeed was a hot-blooded Autumnian girl. She rushed towards Merush, and nearly grabbed him, but stopped herself inches from his body, when Merush stood still and bewildered.
“Is it because of the feast? I wish you didn’t have to see that! I am dirty, I know….” Her eyes desperately searched Merush’s face for some kind of understanding.
“No, no! It’s… I can’t… the Snakeling laws… I have to…” Merush stammered, but knowing this might be a rare chance to be alone with the girl, he gave into his feelings and pulled her close. Mari wrapped her arms around him and held tight. Oh, the gentle warmth! Merush didn’t know how long they stood - maybe a few minutes or maybe a couple of years. He did know he shall never forget her warmth and he’ll never be the same again.
Ulise coughed before returning to the study. Unwillingly, the two released each other. Merush sat by the desk writing down Ulise’s words without paying any attention to the letter; his cheeks burned red and his eyes shone with excitement. Mari stood behind his chair. Although she had turned her back to him, both still lingered in the afterglow of the embrace. Ulise smirked at the two, but said nothing. After the letter was finished, signed and sealed, she handed it to the young councillor.
“I… I must thank you. My Lady had helped me more than I’ve helped you,” Merush said, taking the letter.
“I believe you shall help me, if you have the chance. Just like I did,”
Merush bowed.
His day passed in the usual busy rush, but his heart still indulged in the memory of Mari’s nearness.
Late at night a servant summoned Merush to his Lord in the Winter garden. The councillor straightened his collar, took a deep breath and paced sternly to the master.
Lord Morten laid on the daybed as usual, with a girl by his side. Luckily it wasn’t Mari. The Lord smoked a Snakegrass pipe. Merush took one look and he knew - the old scum had been smoking too much; his sight was oblivious, his pupils unnaturally wide with no fire in them.
“What is it, Merush?”
“You summoned me, my Lord?”
“Oh, I guess I did. Hmm…” Morten took another smoke, “how’s the preparation for the wedding going?”
“All is well, sir,”
“Ah, yes! Now I remember! Water lilies for the bride. You must fetch them from the lake,”
“I’m afraid the lake cannot provide the water lilies in this time of the year,”
“What’s the point of this giant puddle, Merush? It can’t even give me some flowers,”
“All has been taken care of, sir. The water lilies for the bride’s wreath as well as the decorations are ordered from overseas and shall arrive on the wedding day,” the councillor explained.
“Excellent! Aren’t you a smart little snake, Merush?!” The Lord chuckled. Merush knew very well his master wasn’t sane enough for a sensible conversation. Usually it took five minutes of mumbling some kind of gibberish, then he would fall asleep.
“But just think about it. The lake takes up all this land… just imagine - if all of it was dry land. My land. I would write my name in the history as a King. No, not just some King! A High King! Yes, yes, High King Morten, the ruler of the vast land of Autumna!”
Merush frowned.
“And when is this transformation to take place, my Lord?” the Snakeling asked cautiously.
“Not too long now, Merush. The wedding comes first and then… and then…” Lord Morten fell asleep.
Merush left the Winter garden hurriedly. He had heard the Lord pondering about turning the lake into land before. Merush believed Lord Morten indeed was insane enough to follow through with his plan, now that he had mentioned it more than once. To destroy the lake… it would mean destruction of all the islands, both Thilia and the Snakeling island.
Merush became a snake and secretly slithered out of the castle. Stars shone above the councillor’s head as he made his way to the lake, turned into a man again. He crouched down by the water’s edge and gave a lengthy hissing sound. A small black snake weaved its body through the water and slithered upon Merush’s opened palms. He whispered something to the animal and it listened carefully, tilting its little head. Then the councillor put the snake back into the water and it swam away quickly, without making a sound.
The wretched wedding day began with a lot of fuss and uproar. Carts and carts of goods flooded the castle’s drawbridge, poor Merush was frantically running around, making sure everything goes according to the plan. His Master was busy with “making himself pretty”, the councillor smirked. But there was no time for pondering; Merush directed a huge delivery of water lilies to be carried into the indoor pool. They would stay fresh in the ice-cold water until the ceremony. Nobody would be attending the pool on such a day.
Lord Morten had been pampered all morning, although the wedding ceremony was to take place late in the afternoon. Ulise, on the other hand, would have to go through some unpleasant ceremonial rituals. It was an Autumnian custom; the bride had to be “purified” before the wedding. First, she had to undergo the cleansing of the spirit - standing in a room full of Snakegrass smoke, which made her eyes hurt and she nearly fainted from intoxication. Afterward there was the purification of the flesh; the girl would be laid down in a marble tub full of clear water and black, slimy leeches wiggling in it. She had to lay still in a sheer white dress and let the disgusting worms feed on her “dirty” blood. The court was, of course, allowed to observe the ritual. Ulise had already comprehended - everything about the life in the castle was made to appear beautiful on the surface, but beneath the visible, it was rotten through and through. Her pale skin revealed by the wet dress, laying in the turquoise-blue water surrounded by the black leeches was a stunning sight - both beauteous and frightening.
Finally, she was left alone for some hours, before the bride would be dressed in the heavy wedding gown. The girl fell into the giant bed to stare at the golden ornaments of the silk wallpapers of her bed chamber.
***
Herki lost all hope to see Ulise before the wedding. He spent the two weeks drinking, smoking Snakegrass and lying in bed. Whenever he met Merush, the councillor reassured him everything would be taken care of, but Herki had lost his faith. A snake was still a snake… Loyal to no one but himself.
The night before the wedding, Herki was wandering about the castle hallways without a destination; the guards would not let him come anywhere near Ulise’s chambers.
Herki sat on the floor finishing a bottle of wine, when - lo and behold - his scumbag father walked by with his court.
“I cannot believe the maids haven’t cleaned this hallway! Look at that pile of trash!” Lord Morten pointed at his son. The court burst out laughing.
Herki picked himself up and dragged his feet away from them, but just before he had disappeared behind the corner, the Lord called,
“I hope you clean yourself up before the ceremony! I’m expecting you to come,”
Herki could not believe his ears.
“You must be joking. I’m not going to watch you murder Ulise,”
The Lord marched to him and grabbed the front of Herki’s shirt.
“Oh yes, you are! You’ll sit in the front row to see every glimpse on her face and to hear all her moans - first from pleasure, then from pain. You’ll see the fire burn her guts. I saw how you looked at her. You’ll pay for it!” Morten pushed him to the ground. The court went away looking down on Herki.
The morning of the Wedding day found Herki lying sleepless after a torturous night. The festive clothes awaited near him on the bed. Soon enough he’ll have to put them on and go to the wedding.
A quick knock on the door woke Herki from his grim thoughts.
To his great surprise the one entering was Luke!
“Brother!” Herki shouted. Both friends embraced.
“What are you doing here?”
“The Snakeling councillor invited me to come. Aurora tagged along, but we got rid of her. She’s with the ladies of the court,” Luke explained.
“Gentlemen! We have a wedding to attend. I suggest you put the festive clothes on with haste,” Merush entered the chamber.
Herki didn’t understand. There was plenty of time before the ceremony. Still he listened, suspecting Merush had something else in mind.
Both friends looked dashing in their festive attire. Merush hurriedly led them through the hallways - he was in charge of all the planning, he knew exactly what his Lord was doing and when. Right now, the Lord was led to his chamber to be dressed into his wedding clothes. It would take a while. Ulise should be doing the same. Also, Merush had directed the guards spying on Herki to move elsewhere. Only because of the wedding, of course.
“Why are we here, Merush?” Herki frowned; they had stopped by the small hall with the indoor pool.
The Snakeling gave the smuggest smile a snake could make and opened the doors. This sight Herki would remember for the rest of his life; Ulise standing by the pool in a white silk gown with a water lily wreath on her head. The turquoise-coloured water of the pool filled with the glowing-white budding blossoms and the blue of the skies in the windows behind the girl. Both friends stood in awe from the wondrous sight.
“It may not be much, but I think it’s a decent setting for the occasion,” Merush said.
“What occasion?” Herki asked bewildered. Her and Ulise’s eyes seemed to have been locked with some kind of magic; both couldn’t take their eyes off each other.
“The wedding. It’s a bit hasty, I know, but I had to deal with the situation,”
Herki slowly approached the girl.
“Sir councillor, how is it going to work?! Lord Morten will kill us when he hears he’s been out-wed,” Luke smiled confused.
Merush sighed impatiently.
“My young Thilian master, I have it all planned. You see, the Autumna lake is at stake. We, Snakelings shall do what is in our power to stop its destruction, but we need a strong weapon,” He gestured at Herki, “we need to get the son away from here to keep him safe, so he can save the Lake,”
“I’m afraid I don’t understand,”
“You will in time,”
“Why today? And is the wedding necessary?”
“Today is the best day - the old scum is busy; his every minute is planned. And the wedding… it wasn’t necessary, but I thought it would be a nice farewell gift to my dearest master,” Merush gave a sinister grin.
Herki and Ulise met by the pool. They stood close, looking deeply into each other’s eyes.
“But how is it to happen, Merush? We have no Ceremony master,” Ulise whispered.
“Do not despair, my Lady! I know Autumnian laws very well - there is a special one, allowing the young couple to hold a lawful wedding without witnesses or the Ceremony master. when their lives are in mortal danger. Yes, your lives indeed are in danger, would you not agree?” Merush gave them a meaningful look. Both nodded; Lord Morten was determined to kill Ulise, and Herki’s life was always in danger living with such a father.
“You must exchange rings and then consummate the union,” Merush explained casually. Herki’s eyes widened with fear.
“Consummate? I am a Dragonling, how…?”
“I believe after a two-week diet of wine and Snakegrass you shall not hurt your lovely bride, besides…” The councillor gestured at the pool, “nice and cold!” Herki and Ulise smiled at each other excitedly.
Merush pulled two rings out of his pocket, but before they had exchanged them, somebody shook the locked doors of the pool hall.
“Councillor, sir! Are you in there?! There’s an emergency! You must come to the Lord at once!” a servant called him.
“You must make sure they get married! Hurry! I’ll come back as soon as I can,” Merush gave the rings to Luke and ran toward the door. He slipped through a narrow gap, so they would not be seen.
Poor, confused Luke!
“I don’t know a thing about weddings, but I think we should do it fast,”
Somebody began to move the door handle, Luke ran and locked it, but the intruder kept wiggling the handle.
“Who is there? Open up! We need the flowers to decorate the newlywed chamber!” Servants banged on the door and yelled.
“Erm… I declare you man and wife! Kiss now, come on!” Luke whispered without a clue of what he’s supposed to do, while the servants kept making a noise outside.
Herki and Ulise were as bewildered as their “ceremony master”, they kissed without thinking. Despite the awkward conditions, the kiss awakened the flame within Herki; they kissed heatedly.
“Oh, wait! The rings! But the rings!” Luke grabbed their hands and stuffed the rings on their fingers forcedly.
“What else?! The flame!”
Luke didn’t know any better, he pushed the passionate couple into the pool. The servants outside had gone quiet, they went away without the flowers.
“I’ll leave you to it then,” Poor Luke rushed out of the pool hall and closed the doors behind him. He felt both overwhelmed and heart-broken. He had just wed his best friend to the girl Luke himself was in love with…
But his struggles did not end there - the young couple were overtaken by passion, lustful cries resounded down the hallway. Luke saw some of the court members approaching; Merush could not control each and every person in the castle. They heard something and were curious to find out the source of the noise.
Something had to be done! And Luke began to sing. He sang loudly to drown out the passionate screams. He poured his broken heart into his song. Luke sang the poems about Water lily, the ones that Herki wrote. The louder the couple got, the more melodious Luke’s voice became. The surprised Autumnians stood staring at the singing boy - maybe it’s a Thilian wedding tradition, or maybe the young guest had already drunk too much wine.
After a while Luke heard no sounds behind the doors, he ended his song and bowed awkwardly to the listeners. They clapped and smirked, and walked away.
Carefully Luke peeked inside the hall. Was everything alright? Was Ulise even alive?
Relieved he saw the two lying in the water - their bodies submerged, but the water held them up by Herki’s magic. They laid breathing rapidly in the same rhythm and caressed each other’s skin. Ulise’s face, neck and chest had visible burn marks, her lips were red, but other than that both seemed truly happy. The flame was fed, now it rested. All the water lilies were in full bloom - the dragon’s fire had warmed up the water in the pool.
This chapter rapidly skyrocketed Merush into the position of my favorite character in this story. I already enjoyed him for the dichotomous contrast his considerably more conservative nature painted against Lord Morten's constant indulgence in violent debauchery, as well as the intellect he's shown throughout this story. Here, though? Here we see the principles he's been shown to hold being acted on in a way that's genuinely heroic in one of those wonderfully small but deeply meaningful ways. It's a simple rebellion - wed the wife Morten wishes to claim to the young man she loves, who also happens to be the son he loathes, then spirit them away so they can begin undermining his plans. It's the sort of thing that I expect will likely cost him his life, an expectation that he clearly shares, and that makes the decision all the more impactful. I can definitely see why this is your favorite chapter.