We walked up the floor with confidence and greeted people we knew on the way. There was a step up to the emperor’s table, where our closest family was gathered.
The people in the room were clapping to show their excitement that Emmerson was now in charge and when he turned to speak to them, he had to raise his hands to silence the loud cheers.
“Today is the first day in the year of 2237. It’s also the first day of a new era in the Northlands where I will rule instead of King Jeremiah. It’s tradition in our country that we all celebrate when a girl is born because with too few women, each one of them is precious. Today I have something spectacular to share with you as we’re adding a woman to our current number of two hundred and six.” Emmerson paused and let the anticipation build in the room.
“She’s not a baby but a beautiful and grown woman ready to marry and bear children.”
Whistles and outbursts were heard in the large room and again Emmerson had to wait for the cheers to quiet down. I closed my hands into fists, not happy with the way he teased the men in the room that Devina was already taken.
“A woman from the Motherlands has chosen to move here and have a family. She made it a condition that she got to choose her own husband and I agreed. The man she has chosen is the father of her unborn child, Tyton Green.”
Confused mutters filled the room.
“I know this isn’t according to our traditions, but if we’re lucky the child she’s already carrying will be the first of many girls.”
I listened to him talk for what felt like an eternity before Emmerson finally placed a hand on my shoulder and gave me a smile. “Are you ready to see your bride?”
I nodded and stood straighter.
On his signal, the doors to the back of the room opened and Devina came in with Wilma, Starr, and Claire behind her.
I forgot to breathe as I watched Devina come toward me in a dress that showed off her gorgeous curves and displayed her pregnancy to the world.
“Wow,” Frederick muttered and I sucked in a breath.
There was envy in the men’s eyes when Devina passed them with her sole focus being on me. My chest was bursting with pride that she had chosen me over every other man in this country.
When she was ten steps from me, her smile grew and it was like the whole room lit up with bright sunshine. It had to be the most angelic smile in the history of the Northlands and I swallowed hard to suppress all the emotions in my throat.
I reached out my hand to her when she was close. Still smiling, Devina took it and walked into my arms to hug me tight.
At normal weddings there was no hugging or kissing before a ceremony, but we weren’t strangers and I closed my arms around her and kissed her.
Emmerson grinned and spoke up again. “I’ll say that shows every skeptic that the bride knows this man and wasn’t forced in any way.”
He gestured for us to face him and then he began a speech about the joy of finding love and how hopefully the future would bring many more unions between Nmen and Motlander women. I only heard half of it because I was blinded by the beauty of my bride.
Emmerson raised a piece of paper and read from it.
“Do you, Devina Baker, take Tyton Green as your husband?”
“Yes.” She smiled at me.
“Do you promise to love him for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health; to cherish, and stay true till death do you part?
“Yes.”
“And do you, Tyton Green, take Devina Baker as your wife?”
“I do.”
“Do you promise to honor, cherish, and protect her for as long as you live?”
“I do.”
“Then give her your ring as a symbol that you will worship her with your body and endow her with all your worldly possessions.” Emmerson nodded to Frederick, who stepped forward with two rings on his palms. They were simple rings that would serve only until we had time to pick out the right ring for Devina.
My hands shook when I slid the ring onto her finger. I had visualized this moment a thousand times these past six hours while waiting for the ceremony to begin.
