Two days after the meeting the elders of Alkal were again seated at the Hall of the People along with their soon to be in-laws. This time, another werewolf had joined in and Ophelia was there too.
Derrick was surprised to see Ophelia at the table, he couldn't help but voice his doubts.
"As the groom's kin, can I ask a question?" his signature smile was still on his face as he asked.
"Ask away."
"Why is the bride here?"
"We have a rare tradition here. We do not walk the aisle or cover the bride's face. I'm afraid we do not have the time to explain this. You'll just have to learn by experience". This was not said by anyone at the table but a very young woman with straight long white hair. The hair was so long it was sweeping the floor like bridal veils. Although she was walking, her feet felt like they were floating. She had fine features; small eyes, small wide but slightly pointed nose and very thin lips. Her lips looked like a curved line, so that if she didn't speak you would think she didn't have any. She had thick white eyebrows and feathered white lashes. She was in fact not young at all but the eldest in Alkal, Artima, because she was injured and had not fully recovered, she didn't go out much but she had to be present today for the ceremony.
Derrick's eyes followed her to her seat. She sat down at the head of the table. Meanwhile, all the elders stood up and bowed to her in greeting.
"Artima" they chorused
"Platz sentado" she replied and the elders sat down.
At the side, "Do you intend to take a bride also?" whispered Nicklaus to Derrick.
Derrick calmly replied without turning, "I was thinking that she suits you more than the little girl"
"Hmm.. interesting, since you know so much about matchmaking, why don't I tell my uncle Hale about it." Nicklaus sneered.
"my king, my wife is pregnant and she can't be alone" said Derick with a fawning smile.
"Chloe won't mind, after all it's her uncle too"
" I was just curious about the rumoured immortal in the human realm. She is just as the rumours described."
"You don't have to compare her to my wife. Ophelia is ethereal."
"Yes, your wife is ethereal. She can't be compared to anyone." Derrick felt like his king had become a fool after waking up from coma. If not why will he who once said that strength was the most important criteria for mate and that beauties without strength were nothing but flowers that would whither now become a henpecked husband for a...
"Nick, do you really remember how your wife looks like? I feel that apart from knowing that she is too beautiful to be human, I cannot tell her specific features."
"You want to know how my wife looks like" Nicklaus's faced scrunched up. He was trying to suppress the anger boiling within him. He felt like someone was going to strip his wife but he also knew that Derrick couldn't do that. He felt strange. He looked in his bride's direction.
The girl had her head on the table; she was quietly sleeping. Her face looked paler than it was two days ago; her alluring, elegant, enticing Cupid shaped lips were slightly pouting. Nicklaus felt an arrow shoot out from them straight into his heart but instead of pain, his heart was leaping so much like it was about to burst out of his skin. His dark brown eyes turned a glowing red. He closed his eyes and chanted for a while in his head before calming down. He looked sideways and was met with his friend's grin which he returned with a glare. He also noticed his wife's guardian but ignored her prying eyes.
"Ophelia" Mona Serinna gently shook her ward awake. "The Artima is here. The ceremony is about to start"
As Ophelia sat up, she felt many eyes on her and remained calm on the surface but the ones who had close watch on her like Nicklaus's group could see the pink blush on her ears. Nicklaus felt that she looked cute this way and began to device many ways to make her blush, while his subordinates felt that she looked more human that way, especially the burly browned skinned werewolf that tagged along today.
"We will begin the ceremony now. Ophelia come here." She went over.
"perform your rites to your elders"
Ophelia took a wine jar and walked out of the room.
"she has gone to get the wine of the gods. She should be back before noon" Artima spoke slowly almost like she was singing, her voice like a nightingale's. She observed everyone in the hall. Her small eyes seem to be able to look into their minds. All the elders, expect Serinna looked downwards. The werewolves were discussing among themselves.
"Greetings, Artima of Alkal, I am Willie Thain of the Black Castle. I hope you like the gifts sent.". The burly werewolf said.
"The black Castle? Your father was a brave king. It's good to know that he has a worthy successor. Welcome to Alkal." replied Artima. She then turned to Nicklaus and reluctantly said,
"Alpha Lynn. I apologize for my absence all this while."
"It's okay. Keeping up with old age is hard enough." replied Nicklaus nonchalantly, receiving angry gasps from the elders. This arrogant prick was cursing their elder!
"Yes. It is" She couldn't probably say no or her absence would become a deliberate act.
Just like always, a gathering of Alkals and Lycanthropes would end up in awkward silence.
Derrick, the most amiable one among the werewolves in the hall decided to disperse the awkwardness by asking about the 'mission' Ophelia went on.
Mona Galia volunteered to explain....
Ophelia went the Pagoda of Oracles after leaving the Hall of the People. From the entrance of the Pagoda, she bow ninety degrees to all the ancestors of Alkal's statues one by one, then proceeded to the grandest statue of a woman. The had a crown on her head, two lions on her shoulders and many breasts on her chest. At her feet are different kinds of animals. She was wearing a long dress made with the heads of an unidentified animal. The dress had a very high cape spread behind her back like a fan. The statue stretched her hands outwards as if she was going to hug you the moment you stepped closer. This is Oracles, the god of Alkal. Ophelia bowed before it three times. She then performed some rites before bowing again. She then went into the chamber behind the statue. Inside this chambers were doors. She walked till the end of the chamber but none of the doors opened. The third time, one of the doors opened but when she wanted to enter, it slammed eight in her face. Then, door the spoke "What is a girl doing here?"
Surprised and a little shaken, Ophelia said "I'm here to get the wine of rites." Worried that the door might not understand, she explained further
"I'm getting married."
"Were is you husband?"
"He is at the Hall."
" Why didn't he perform the rites himself?"
"He is not a native."
"Why do you want to marry an alien?"
"He is not an alien."
"He is not an alien nor is he a native. Are you going to marry an animal?" the door gasped and shouted "abomination!"
Ophelia felt a powerful headache. What kind of situation is this? A talking door with an erotic mind.
Ophelia has a commendable temper, even though she felt a headache with all the nonsense the door was spewing, she still patiently answered.
"He is from a far country, so he is not a native. Ahmm... I don't have much time, can you let me come in and get the wine?
"oh sorry! I was... curious. You may" said the door but it still didn't open up. It was most likely still stunted by the information it had heard.
Ophelia waited for a while sighed and said "I want to come in"
"Come in, come in"
"I mean open up" she smiled. 'What a funny door'
" oh!", It opened. "wait, what are you called?"
"Ophelia"
"A goddess?"
"No."
" You are beautiful"
"Thank you". Ophelia couldn't see its expression but she was sure that it would be blushing badly right now. She went in and what graced her eyes were roll after roll of barrels of wine arranged on racks. After looking through all of them. She found a red barrel, opened it after much struggle and poured some wine into the jar before tightly closing it again and walking out of the room. she then left the chamber and went back with the wine to the Hall were everyone was waiting for her.
At the same time, Mona Galia finished summarising the 'mission' without giving away much information about their gods and the Chamber or it's location.
After she had left, the door called out in excitement to the other doors, explaining all that happened. When it got the part where he was supposed to describe the girl, it found out that it couldn't. All he could remember was that she was too beautiful and pale...