TCO: Chapter Forty

As Miliani's wedding day grew nearer, the atmosphere in the Mesengic household could only be described as chaotic. Syam had insisted that Miliani and Haji use the Temple of Kya for the ceremony as a wedding gift, which only served to increase her anxiety rather than delight her. She appeared to be on the verge of hysteria, often bursting into tears at any slight issue concerning the wedding.

On the afternoon of her wedding, Sahdika informed Miliani that Madam Sarnik had to order flowers from a neighboring town, causing Miliani to almost reach her breaking point.

"Did Madam Sarnik say the stardrops will be here on time then?" Mili shouted.

"Yes, they arrived at the temple this morning," Sahdika replied calmly.

"Good! Because I can't take anything else going wrong!"

Although Gyan found his sister's behavior more amusing than anything, he could not wait to escape the house. After mulling over various ways to avoid his sister's critical eye, Gyan decided that the best way to leave was to sneak out without telling anyone. His plan failed, however, as Miliani came barreling through the kitchen at the sound of the creaking door.

"Where are you going?" she demanded, glaring at Gyan from the kitchen doorway.

Gyan turned his head in surprise and paused in the middle of tiptoeing down the porch steps. "How did you hear me? Does being a bride give you supersonic hearing or something?"

Miliani gave Gyan an abhorrent look and opened her mouth to shout.

"Oh, relax, I'm just leaving early is all," he said, not giving her a chance to respond.

"Gyan, I can't chance anything going wrong. I swear you better be on time!" she said shrilly as Gyan skipped quickly down the porch steps.

Gyan, who had never seen Miliani so out of sorts before, looked up at her in amusement as she stood on the porch with her hands on her hips. "Seriously, if my wedding day makes me as crazy as you look right now, remind me to skip the whole thing."

"Just go!" Miliani said, throwing up her hands. "You are driving me insane."

"Alright! Just have some wine before you get there so you don't collapse," Gyan said over his shoulder before jogging across the yard toward the grove.

Miliani slammed the door.

Deciding he had time to visit the beach before the wedding, Gyan continued past the temple and climbed down the cliffs that led to the sandy shore of the Green Sea.

He breathed the sea air in deeply, feeling content. It was unusually warm, even for Yevani, making Gyan wish he were swimming in the falls already. The thought led to his memory of the first conversation he had with Jalena at the Tran Ceiabré, and a desire to see her overcame him. He walked for some time along the shore and then sat down in the sand. Lost in thought, the hypnotizing effect of the waves took over him as he leaned against a washed-up log.

He jolted in surprise moments later, however, when he felt a large hand grab hold of his shoulder. His looked up to find his father smiling down at him.

"Letting your guard down, warrior?" Eamonn teased. "You must be on vacation."

"If I don't leave soon, I may choose to stay on vacation forever," Gyan said as stared at the endless ocean waters.

Eamonn shook his head. "No, you'd get restless eventually. Although it would please your mother and I, a warrior isn't meant to remain stagnant. I'm not sure it's even possible."

Gyan nodded. "You're right."

"I have been sent to retrieve you. Although…I'm considering staying at the beach myself."

"Is she still yelling?"

"Let's just say, I'll be glad when this is over," Eamonn answered with a sigh.

Gyan laughed. "Lead the way. I suppose it's only fair that if you have to endure Mili's chaos, I should as well."

Gyan couldn't help but feel amused at the temple decorations as he and Eamonn walked through the sanctuary and into the back rooms. The décor certainly reflected Miliani's taste. Pastel streamers of blue, yellow, and pink were wrapped around the temple pillars, giving the temple a soft appearance, unlike the bright decorative colors used in the Pyhron ceremony. Banners of yellow stardrops and blue monarosias hung from the temple ceiling. Thin stone pillars supporting small candles surrounded the outer aisles of the temple chairs. An arch of multi-colored pastel flowers stood in the middle of the temple platform. Glittering sparkles of pastel lights shot out from the arch, creating a sphere of glittering lights over the platform. Holographic waves of color moved across the temple ceiling and floor.

Gyan smiled as he glanced at the arch, believing that Malik must have had a small hand in enchanting some of the ceremony decorations before his venture into Gawl Forest.

After changing into his formal wedding attire, Gyan looked in on Miliani, who was in a room on the second floor of the temple.

"You're not even ready yet?" he teased. "And there you were, wasting time yelling at me for the possibility of being late."

"Get in here so I can see how you look," Miliani demanded. She began straightening his tight clothing as Gyan approached, brushing the lint off his dark cloak.

Gyan shifted uncomfortably and tried not to tug at his clothes, preferring the flexibility of his training gear. He remained silent however, deciding it wasn't the best time to voice his displeasure.

"What's up with the decorations anyway? Looks like a load of friggin' fairies threw up all over the temple," Gyan said as he walked over to a large window that opened out over the Green Sea.

"Shut it," Miliani growled. She threatened to throw the brush in her hand at him.

Gyan smiled. "Go ahead; throw it—been dying for more chances to practice using my charisma."

"Your what?"

"I thought I told you. My…uh… gift, or whatever, that each light warrior is supposed to have."

"Oh, you mean your ability to produce a light shield?" Miliani said as she walked over to the full-length mirror in the front of the room and turned to examine the back of her pastel-lit dress.

"How did you know what it was?"

"You don't remember the incident in the falls?"

Gyan shook his head.

"You know…when Kampa threw the water snake on me because I wouldn't jump off the falls with her? You deflected it by throwing up a shield. You were furious…. I can't believe you don't remember. Honestly, Gyan, you're such a moron."

She turned to face the mirror again and began messing with her hair.

Gyan smiled slyly as he walked over to her. "And you will always be slow," he said, lightly pushing her out from in front of the mirror.

"Don't start, Gyan," she warned. "You'll mess up my dress." She pushed him back and continued primping. "Besides, I may be slower, but I'll always be smarter. You can't even remember your own special skills. Do the other warriors mind that you are the worst on the team?"

Miliani smiled mischievously at Gyan's reflection in the mirror.

"Get off!" she suddenly yelled as Gyan grabbed her from behind and put her into a headlock.

"Take it back."

"Gyan!" Miliani shrieked. "I am going to kill you!" She turned red in the face as she struggled against his hold.

Gyan laughed. "Now, that's the second time you've said that since I've been back. That's not very nice."

Sahdika entered the room with a bottle of wine and two glasses.

"Gyan Mesengic, you let your sister go this instant!"

Gyan released Miliani and smiled, throwing up his hands to indicate surrender.

"You messed up my hair!" cried Miliani, her face still pink. She immediately began to repair the damage.

"Here, let me help you with that, dear," Sahdika said. She set down the wine and glasses and hurried over to Miliani.

"Looks better that way," said Gyan.

"Get out!" both Miliani and Sahdika yelled at the same time.

"Okay, okay…don't get feisty." He disappeared out the door, but not before he caught Miliani's eye in the mirror and noted the small smile that flashed across her face.

Gyan revisited one of the temple rooms where he had changed earlier and saw Haji, his soon-to-be brother-in-law, looking at himself in the mirror. Haji was running a hand through his dark brown hair when Gyan entered the room fully.

"Gyan," said Haji. "It is good to see you again…finally."

"Haji."

The two embraced.

"Are you ready?" asked Gyan.

"Of course," Haji said with a wide grin. "Wouldn't even dream of letting this opportunity go."

Gyan paused at the door. "I would ask you…

Haji held his gaze.

"Well, you already know…" said Gyan softly, "…I'm glad the family will have you around, Haji, since I cannot always be close. My sister is very important to me, but I already know how much you love her without you telling me."

"How do you know?" Haji asked.

"It's a warrior thing. I can feel it."

Gyan entered the stage platform for the second time in his life feeling very happy. He scanned the congregation and smiled as he saw his mother beaming fondly at his father. He also found most of his fellow warriors with their families in the audience, all looking as uncomfortable as he felt out of their training gear. He fought the urge to laugh out loud as he watched Brogan tug at his clothing. His eyes met Jalena's, and his breath caught. A feeling of relief overcame him as he stared at her. She was sitting further back from the others in the group next to Asia and her father, wearing elegant light blue and silver, glittering ceremonial dress. The top half of her hair was pulled back in braids. Sparkling stars were woven in her braids while the rest of her hair hung loose down her shoulders. Her smile lingered on him a moment before she turned her attention back to the bride and groom.

The ceremonial process went smoothly, containing all the typical trimmings and traditions of a Yevani wedding. A temple asceta stood before them as a guide in the proceedings of the ceremony.

Miliani and Haji each took a small candle and lit a larger candle sitting on top of a stone pillar under the arch of flowers to symbolize their unity. Gyan joined the rest of the crowd in laughter as Miliani threw herself into Haji's arms and began to kiss him immediately after setting down her candle, unwilling to wait for the asceta's final words.

She grabbed Haji's hand and hurriedly stepped down from the temple platform but stopped abruptly before the two reached the center aisle. She turned back to Gyan, who smiled at her. His chest constricted with affection as Miliani released Haji's hand and quickly retraced her steps back to the platform.

Gyan quickly stepped down from the stage to meet her, reaching out to receive her embrace. She hugged him tightly, smiling, as tears fell from her eyes.

"Get out of here," he whispered, swallowing hard.

Miliani nodded and took Haji's waiting hand and together they walked down the middle of the temple amid the cheers of the standing crowd.