At Word's End -- Part 6h
anonymous
May 9 2010, 00:55:15 UTC
"Tomorrow's ceremony will follow the traditional Second Ceremony, however your father and I are meeting tonight to go over the protection spells that are normally used and will replacing them with other, stronger spells," the King said effectively ending that line of conversation and putting them right back into their previous discussion where they'd left off.
"Okay," Alfred said with a slight frown. "But...won't altering the Ceremony weaken the structure of it?"
"It won't weaken it," the King said his voice holding what seemed to be a slightly impressed tone. "But it will change it. In our case we will be strengthening sections it but in the midst of doing so we might unknowingly open up some small pockets of open magic in other parts of the ceremony, they should be easily fixable if they show themselves at the time your father, I, and the ceremony master are all well versed in doing this sort of thing."
"What if it's something that shows up later?" Alfred asked.
"I will deal with that when the time comes," the King said seeming unworried about any potential side-effects of changing the ceremony. The Solstice Ceremony will be mostly ritual but I shall evaluate the situation to see if any further protection spells are needed to be layered into the union. If called for I will add them at that time."
"In other words you will be evaluating whether I have any behavioral issues that need further controlling," Alfred said darkly.
"Why do you think that?" the King asked with a raised brow, his voice turned slightly teasing. "Are their behavioral issues that I should know about before tomorrow?
"That's what those spells are really for aren't they?" Alfred snapped in irritation not liking being teased.
"They are being cast for protection, Alfred," the King said evenly. "They will allow me to protect you with my magic when we are not together."
"But through them you can control my actions," Alfred volleyed back pointedly. "If you think I am doing something that is a danger to myself you can stop my actions. What's to stop you from going one step forward and using it to control anything...everything...I might want to do."
"The spells can be used in such a manner," the King admitted softly. "I would hope there would be no cause for them to be used that way. I have no desire to control you in any way much less against your will."
"But you would do it wouldn't you?" Alfred challenged.
"If it would keep you from hurting yourself...or others," the King said meeting Alfred's gaze directly. "Yes I would."
Alfred blinked at him in shock for a moment. He had not expected the King to own up to it so easily. He opened his mouth to continue the argument but somehow it seemed childish to do so. He turned his head towards the fire and sighed.
"I would also hope that if you thought I was doing something that might lead to me hurting myself or others...including yourself that you would tell me as well," the King continued.
Alfred's head jerked back around and his eyes widened with greater shock. "You want me to question your decisions?" he asked sharply.
"If you think it is something that needs questioning I more then want it...I expect it," the King answered.
Alfred eyed him suspiciously wondering if this was some kind of trap. Was the Northern King setting him up for some future bit of punishment by planting the seeds in his head that questioning him outright was okay to trap him later. It seemed needlessly cruel but then some of the rumors he'd heard about the King tended to show he leaned in that direction. Again he was glad that he would not have to find out the truth if the King was playing games or not.
At Word's End -- Part 6i
anonymous
May 9 2010, 00:58:07 UTC
"So you should understand most of the particulars about tomorrow," the King continued after a long moment of silence. "Other then the changes in the spells and any fixes that might occur while the Ceremony happens it will follow the traditional text and practices of the Second Ceremony. We'll discuss what will happen later during the Solstice Ceremony in more detail when we get back to my Kingdom and you are more settled, it is not an overly complicated Ceremony made less so by the fact that it will be mostly ritual," the King said.
"Sounds reasonable," Alfred said.
In truth he wanted to more about the Ceremony he would not be attending but he found that between the food and the warmth of the fire and the weight of the King's strange gaze he was starting to grow sleepy. It had been a long day and he had not gotten much sleep the night before. He would not be getting much that night either most likely.
"Tomorrow after the Ceremony we will be following your families tradition of a post marriage breaking the fast together..." Alfred nodded only mildly surprised to hear that his father really was trying to stay as close to the traditions as possible. "We will be leaving shortly after the meal."
"Alright," Alfred murmured once again letting his attention drift to the fire getting lost in the flames.
"On that note there is one more important thing we will have to discuss about our departure tomorrow. It regards another Northern Kingdom tradition," the King said his voice growing low and even.
"Alright," Alfred said wondering what else there could possibly be to go over.
"When you cross into my Kingdom you cannot bring anything with you that I have not provided for you," the King said.
"Uh...what..." Alfred said in confusion not bother to turn his head. "What does that mean?"
"It means that you will need to arrange for someone to take your things for you here," the King continued softly, Alfred's head jerked around in surprise, his eyes round with shock. "You will not be allowed to take anything that is currently yours with you."
"But..." Alfred said hurriedly, he reached down and pulled his pack back up into his lap and clutched at it protectively. "I don't have that much stuff...it wouldn't take up that much space."
"That's not the reason you have to leave it behind, Alfred," the King said softly. "It's just the tradition...I have to show you that you'll be provided for and taken care of..."
"But can't you just...tell me that?" Alfred asked tightly. "You just did actually so why can't that be enough? I believe you...that you will provide for me...you don't need to take my stuff from me..."
"I'm sorry, it's not enough," the King said. "The traditions of my people...of my family...this is just the way things are done."
"But...this is all I have..." Alfred said in a small voice. "It's all I have to call my own..."
"Alfred," the King said in a strangely rough voice. "I am truly sorry that this all has to be done so quickly, that there hasn't been the time to properly prepare you for the ways of my Kingdom...but I will not change my traditions. I cannot."
On some level Alfred understood this it would be the same with most of the more important traditions in Britannia and he believed the King when he said he was sorry but the thought of having to leave behind what amounted to his entire life for the past 5 years was just too much for him. Even with the small voice in the back of his head reminding him that none of this would matter because there would be no wedding this last bit of information proved to be too much for him and he stumbled to his feet desperate to get out of the library. The strange almost comfort the room held for him until that moment fell away leaving only the bare cold facts about what his father wanted for him for his future.
"I...I'm tired..." his words came out in a jumbled rush of fear and other emotions. "I think I'll retire to my room now."
"There is still a few other things I'd like to discuss with you about this tradition..." the King said pulling himself to his own feet.
At Word's End -- Part 6j
anonymous
May 9 2010, 01:00:06 UTC
"No...I'm tired..." Alfred repeated firmly inching his way around the chair, his intent to get out of the room, to his room and maybe keep on going from there. "I...need to go to bed."
"All right," the King said in an almost soothing voice as he took a step in Alfred's direction. Alfred skidded away from him but was stopped by a hand on his arm. "We will finish discussing this tomorrow."
"Okay," Alfred mumbled even though inside he was scoffing at the very thought. There was definitely going to be no tomorrow. "Good night then."
"I will walk you to your room," the King said sliding his hand around Alfred's a little more tightly.
"I know my way around the castle," Alfred snapped in open irritation. "Far better then you I'd wager. I can make my own way back."
"I am sure you do," the King said in an even voice. "Still I will go and make sure you do not get distracted...on the way...since you say you are tired."
Alfred frowned. There was no room for argument in the King's voice. He knew even without the not so subtle bend behind his words that the King was going to make sure that he was not going to try and run again. Finally he shrugged his shoulders knowing there was no other choice and allowed the King to lead him from the room without a fight.
They walked down the hallways of the castle in silence. It was not an uncomfortable silence though it was heavy and thick. Alfred's brain with running with alternative plans for escape. He hated to leave at night but he was desperate enough to attempt it since he was being given no other choice. He stopped short as they rounded the corner towards his rooms and he spotted two men in strange uniforms outside his door. His heart plummeted as he was propelled forward and the King addressed them both in his own language. These were the King's men and he had a feeling they would be stationed outside his room for the remainder of the night.
He grabbed hold of the knob happy when it turned under his hand at least he still had control of that. He paused just inside the door when he heard the King address the one standing on the right side of the door. The man was about the same height as the King though with a slighter build, his glasses glinted in the flickering light of the candles that lined the hall. It was not his looks that caught Alfred's attention though it was the language they conversed in. It was not the Northern Kingdom language, it was thick and sounded strange though perhaps vaguely familiar to Alfred's ears. He ducked his head when the guard's eyes slipped over to look at him a scowl crossing his lips a sign that they were talking about him. He stepped forward into his room swinging the door shut behind him.
It didn't get a chance to shut all the way as the King slipped in behind him. He stared at the King with wide eyes wondering how far he was going to push this but the King stopped in the open door way and leaned slightly against the stone.
"My men will be stationed outside your room for the rest of the night," the King said in a firm voice. "They have the same orders as my men outside in the garden. No one will come in unless it is okayed by myself or either of your fathers until someone comes to get you in the morning." Alfred waited to see if the King would say anything about him leaving the room but he supposed that went without saying. "I had your father lock the door connecting your room to your brothers unless there is an emergency of some kind where you will need to use it."
Alfred gave his head a jerky nod his hope slipping away from him with each passing second as all routes of escape seemed to be cut off before he'd even considered them.
At Word's End -- Part 6k
anonymous
May 9 2010, 01:01:13 UTC
"I know you think your future is very bleak right now, Alfred," he said in a very soft voice. "I assure you things are not as going to be as bad as you think they will be. I hope you will be willing to work with me in creating a life together instead of fighting me along every step of the journey. I do not wish that kind of life for you...for either of us."
"Okay," was all Alfred could think to say to that.
There was a soft chuckle and the King shook his head slightly. "Try to get some sleep tonight, little Prince," he said. "You have had a long day today and tomorrow will probably be just as long you're going to need it."
With that he nodded his head and then turned and slipped back out the door which slid shut behind him. Alfred heard a telltale click and saw the door glow green as it was locked in the two separate ways. He stared at it for a moment and then with a slightly strangled noise turned and walked back into the bedroom. He crossed over to the bed and lay down on it, not even bothering to pull back the covers and get underneath them or to take off his shoes. He clutched his pack to his check and forced himself to take deep even breaths and not give into the frustration that was welling up inside him.
Instead he concentrated all his effort on thinking about a way out of this mess. There weren't very many options left but there had to be something...anything...that he could still try. He pondered the Kings words as they'd parted and latched onto the fact that he'd said that someone would be coming to get him in the morning. Probably to take him to get changed for the wedding. He assumed that would be one of the palace servants, probably someone who had been there for a while that he would feel comfortable with. The King seemed to want him at ease and would probably especially want that right before the ceremony would take place.
There was a chance that it would be just him and whoever it was that was coming to get him walking to the receiving area near the chapel. On the way to the chapel was the observatory. If he could think up a reason to need to go in there for a few minutes before going on then perhaps they could be convinced to leave him alone and he could make his escape that route.
There was a very slim chance it would work. He wouldn't have very long before someone missed him he would have to use his knowledge of the woods outside to try to escape detection. But...if he had enough luck on his side he just might be able to swing it. If anything at least he could put off the ceremony long enough to buy himself another day. He'd be under even tighter guard but something else might present itself if he was given just a little more time to think about it. He had to at to at least try.
Satisfied that he still had a chance at freedom, no matter how long the odds might be fore it, he allowed himself to sleep.
I feel so bad for Al... sexy Russian King or no, arranged marriges just suck all around. Poor kid even has to leave all his stuff behind! That has got to just suck... That's based off of some actual European marrige-between-royalty traditions, right? I can remember reading something about that in a book somewhere...
Really great job on this chapter! I simply can't wait for Al's next escape attempt and the impending ceremony!!!
Re: At Word's End -- Part 6k
anonymous
May 9 2010, 13:42:09 UTC
Yeah arranged marriages are...hard to imagine for me I think very hard to deal with especially for someone for no time to prepare for it.
I haven't done a lot of research on European marriage-traditions but I admit to being more then a little influenced by the scene from the movie Marie Antoinette. My version of this little tradition is...going to be a little different though... ;-)
Re: At Word's End -- Part 6k
anonymous
May 9 2010, 20:32:59 UTC
Update! Huzzah! (glomps author!anon, then shakes finger at them) Never apologize for putting stuff in a story if you had a reason for putting it there! And, considering the amount of work you've been putting into this fic, I'd say you probably had a reason! And you can't have a story that's all action and confrontations and high-tension - it doesn't work out plot-wise in the long run and would be exhausting to read. Quieter sections are vital because they give the reader a chance to breathe and absorb the info from the high-tension sections while still continuing the story. For example, after section 5, I wanted to bang Alfred over the head with a plank and tell him to get over himself, but now that he's explained his point of view and reasoning a bit better, I find myself liking him again. I'm still totally on Ivan's side, but Alfred is no longer being viewed as such a brat.
I hadn't thought of it earlier, but I find myself starting to wonder what you're going to do with Ivan's family, especially Natalia and Ravis... But, more importantly, we get to see the wedding soon! (bounces up and down) I've been looking forward to it since I started reading this fic! Also, I'm guessing that this is another section where Ivan snuck up behind you and took control of the plot for awhile? ;) This fic is truly wonderful - I look forward to the June installment with much excitement!
Re: At Word's End -- Part 6k
anonymous
May 9 2010, 21:14:32 UTC
Oh dear I'm rather alarmed that anyone would think Alfred was being bratty though I suppose I can see where that comes from...but I'm glad him getting a chance to talk about his feelings takes some of that away...
Oy...I hope I'm not raising people's expectations about the wedding too hard and then won't be able to live up to them... *nibbles fingernails*
LOL...well there's always a chance it might show up before June...we'll see which way the muses run.
Thanks again for your lovely detailed comments! I'm glad you're still enjoying the fic so much!
"Okay," Alfred said with a slight frown. "But...won't altering the Ceremony weaken the structure of it?"
"It won't weaken it," the King said his voice holding what seemed to be a slightly impressed tone. "But it will change it. In our case we will be strengthening sections it but in the midst of doing so we might unknowingly open up some small pockets of open magic in other parts of the ceremony, they should be easily fixable if they show themselves at the time your father, I, and the ceremony master are all well versed in doing this sort of thing."
"What if it's something that shows up later?" Alfred asked.
"I will deal with that when the time comes," the King said seeming unworried about any potential side-effects of changing the ceremony. The Solstice Ceremony will be mostly ritual but I shall evaluate the situation to see if any further protection spells are needed to be layered into the union. If called for I will add them at that time."
"In other words you will be evaluating whether I have any behavioral issues that need further controlling," Alfred said darkly.
"Why do you think that?" the King asked with a raised brow, his voice turned slightly teasing. "Are their behavioral issues that I should know about before tomorrow?
"That's what those spells are really for aren't they?" Alfred snapped in irritation not liking being teased.
"They are being cast for protection, Alfred," the King said evenly. "They will allow me to protect you with my magic when we are not together."
"But through them you can control my actions," Alfred volleyed back pointedly. "If you think I am doing something that is a danger to myself you can stop my actions. What's to stop you from going one step forward and using it to control anything...everything...I might want to do."
"The spells can be used in such a manner," the King admitted softly. "I would hope there would be no cause for them to be used that way. I have no desire to control you in any way much less against your will."
"But you would do it wouldn't you?" Alfred challenged.
"If it would keep you from hurting yourself...or others," the King said meeting Alfred's gaze directly. "Yes I would."
Alfred blinked at him in shock for a moment. He had not expected the King to own up to it so easily. He opened his mouth to continue the argument but somehow it seemed childish to do so. He turned his head towards the fire and sighed.
"I would also hope that if you thought I was doing something that might lead to me hurting myself or others...including yourself that you would tell me as well," the King continued.
Alfred's head jerked back around and his eyes widened with greater shock. "You want me to question your decisions?" he asked sharply.
"If you think it is something that needs questioning I more then want it...I expect it," the King answered.
Alfred eyed him suspiciously wondering if this was some kind of trap. Was the Northern King setting him up for some future bit of punishment by planting the seeds in his head that questioning him outright was okay to trap him later. It seemed needlessly cruel but then some of the rumors he'd heard about the King tended to show he leaned in that direction. Again he was glad that he would not have to find out the truth if the King was playing games or not.
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"Sounds reasonable," Alfred said.
In truth he wanted to more about the Ceremony he would not be attending but he found that between the food and the warmth of the fire and the weight of the King's strange gaze he was starting to grow sleepy. It had been a long day and he had not gotten much sleep the night before. He would not be getting much that night either most likely.
"Tomorrow after the Ceremony we will be following your families tradition of a post marriage breaking the fast together..." Alfred nodded only mildly surprised to hear that his father really was trying to stay as close to the traditions as possible. "We will be leaving shortly after the meal."
"Alright," Alfred murmured once again letting his attention drift to the fire getting lost in the flames.
"On that note there is one more important thing we will have to discuss about our departure tomorrow. It regards another Northern Kingdom tradition," the King said his voice growing low and even.
"Alright," Alfred said wondering what else there could possibly be to go over.
"When you cross into my Kingdom you cannot bring anything with you that I have not provided for you," the King said.
"Uh...what..." Alfred said in confusion not bother to turn his head. "What does that mean?"
"It means that you will need to arrange for someone to take your things for you here," the King continued softly, Alfred's head jerked around in surprise, his eyes round with shock. "You will not be allowed to take anything that is currently yours with you."
"But..." Alfred said hurriedly, he reached down and pulled his pack back up into his lap and clutched at it protectively. "I don't have that much stuff...it wouldn't take up that much space."
"That's not the reason you have to leave it behind, Alfred," the King said softly. "It's just the tradition...I have to show you that you'll be provided for and taken care of..."
"But can't you just...tell me that?" Alfred asked tightly. "You just did actually so why can't that be enough? I believe you...that you will provide for me...you don't need to take my stuff from me..."
"I'm sorry, it's not enough," the King said. "The traditions of my people...of my family...this is just the way things are done."
"But...this is all I have..." Alfred said in a small voice. "It's all I have to call my own..."
"Alfred," the King said in a strangely rough voice. "I am truly sorry that this all has to be done so quickly, that there hasn't been the time to properly prepare you for the ways of my Kingdom...but I will not change my traditions. I cannot."
On some level Alfred understood this it would be the same with most of the more important traditions in Britannia and he believed the King when he said he was sorry but the thought of having to leave behind what amounted to his entire life for the past 5 years was just too much for him. Even with the small voice in the back of his head reminding him that none of this would matter because there would be no wedding this last bit of information proved to be too much for him and he stumbled to his feet desperate to get out of the library. The strange almost comfort the room held for him until that moment fell away leaving only the bare cold facts about what his father wanted for him for his future.
"I...I'm tired..." his words came out in a jumbled rush of fear and other emotions. "I think I'll retire to my room now."
"There is still a few other things I'd like to discuss with you about this tradition..." the King said pulling himself to his own feet.
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"All right," the King said in an almost soothing voice as he took a step in Alfred's direction. Alfred skidded away from him but was stopped by a hand on his arm. "We will finish discussing this tomorrow."
"Okay," Alfred mumbled even though inside he was scoffing at the very thought. There was definitely going to be no tomorrow. "Good night then."
"I will walk you to your room," the King said sliding his hand around Alfred's a little more tightly.
"I know my way around the castle," Alfred snapped in open irritation. "Far better then you I'd wager. I can make my own way back."
"I am sure you do," the King said in an even voice. "Still I will go and make sure you do not get distracted...on the way...since you say you are tired."
Alfred frowned. There was no room for argument in the King's voice. He knew even without the not so subtle bend behind his words that the King was going to make sure that he was not going to try and run again. Finally he shrugged his shoulders knowing there was no other choice and allowed the King to lead him from the room without a fight.
They walked down the hallways of the castle in silence. It was not an uncomfortable silence though it was heavy and thick. Alfred's brain with running with alternative plans for escape. He hated to leave at night but he was desperate enough to attempt it since he was being given no other choice. He stopped short as they rounded the corner towards his rooms and he spotted two men in strange uniforms outside his door. His heart plummeted as he was propelled forward and the King addressed them both in his own language. These were the King's men and he had a feeling they would be stationed outside his room for the remainder of the night.
He grabbed hold of the knob happy when it turned under his hand at least he still had control of that. He paused just inside the door when he heard the King address the one standing on the right side of the door. The man was about the same height as the King though with a slighter build, his glasses glinted in the flickering light of the candles that lined the hall. It was not his looks that caught Alfred's attention though it was the language they conversed in. It was not the Northern Kingdom language, it was thick and sounded strange though perhaps vaguely familiar to Alfred's ears. He ducked his head when the guard's eyes slipped over to look at him a scowl crossing his lips a sign that they were talking about him. He stepped forward into his room swinging the door shut behind him.
It didn't get a chance to shut all the way as the King slipped in behind him. He stared at the King with wide eyes wondering how far he was going to push this but the King stopped in the open door way and leaned slightly against the stone.
"My men will be stationed outside your room for the rest of the night," the King said in a firm voice. "They have the same orders as my men outside in the garden. No one will come in unless it is okayed by myself or either of your fathers until someone comes to get you in the morning." Alfred waited to see if the King would say anything about him leaving the room but he supposed that went without saying. "I had your father lock the door connecting your room to your brothers unless there is an emergency of some kind where you will need to use it."
Alfred gave his head a jerky nod his hope slipping away from him with each passing second as all routes of escape seemed to be cut off before he'd even considered them.
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"Okay," was all Alfred could think to say to that.
There was a soft chuckle and the King shook his head slightly. "Try to get some sleep tonight, little Prince," he said. "You have had a long day today and tomorrow will probably be just as long you're going to need it."
With that he nodded his head and then turned and slipped back out the door which slid shut behind him. Alfred heard a telltale click and saw the door glow green as it was locked in the two separate ways. He stared at it for a moment and then with a slightly strangled noise turned and walked back into the bedroom. He crossed over to the bed and lay down on it, not even bothering to pull back the covers and get underneath them or to take off his shoes. He clutched his pack to his check and forced himself to take deep even breaths and not give into the frustration that was welling up inside him.
Instead he concentrated all his effort on thinking about a way out of this mess. There weren't very many options left but there had to be something...anything...that he could still try. He pondered the Kings words as they'd parted and latched onto the fact that he'd said that someone would be coming to get him in the morning. Probably to take him to get changed for the wedding. He assumed that would be one of the palace servants, probably someone who had been there for a while that he would feel comfortable with. The King seemed to want him at ease and would probably especially want that right before the ceremony would take place.
There was a chance that it would be just him and whoever it was that was coming to get him walking to the receiving area near the chapel. On the way to the chapel was the observatory. If he could think up a reason to need to go in there for a few minutes before going on then perhaps they could be convinced to leave him alone and he could make his escape that route.
There was a very slim chance it would work. He wouldn't have very long before someone missed him he would have to use his knowledge of the woods outside to try to escape detection. But...if he had enough luck on his side he just might be able to swing it. If anything at least he could put off the ceremony long enough to buy himself another day. He'd be under even tighter guard but something else might present itself if he was given just a little more time to think about it. He had to at to at least try.
Satisfied that he still had a chance at freedom, no matter how long the odds might be fore it, he allowed himself to sleep.
The King was right he was going to need it.
* * *
TBC
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oh, but poor Alfred ... I actually want him to escape successfully. I would cry for days if I was in his shoes
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I know I sort of want him to too quite honestly. But if he did...well there really wouldn't be much of a story for me to tell... ;-)
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I LOVE THIS FILL.
BEWARE MY CAPSLOCK REVIEW OF AWESOME.
I CAN'T WAIT FOR THE WEDDING.
AND THE WEDDING NIGHT. LOLOL
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Wedding will be soon...wedding night...might be a little longer off... ;-)
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I feel so bad for Al... sexy Russian King or no, arranged marriges just suck all around. Poor kid even has to leave all his stuff behind! That has got to just suck... That's based off of some actual European marrige-between-royalty traditions, right? I can remember reading something about that in a book somewhere...
Really great job on this chapter! I simply can't wait for Al's next escape attempt and the impending ceremony!!!
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I haven't done a lot of research on European marriage-traditions but I admit to being more then a little influenced by the scene from the movie Marie Antoinette. My version of this little tradition is...going to be a little different though... ;-)
Glad you're enjoying it, thanks for the comment!
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the chapter was interesting, seeing them like this, together... so great! thank you!
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I hadn't thought of it earlier, but I find myself starting to wonder what you're going to do with Ivan's family, especially Natalia and Ravis... But, more importantly, we get to see the wedding soon! (bounces up and down) I've been looking forward to it since I started reading this fic! Also, I'm guessing that this is another section where Ivan snuck up behind you and took control of the plot for awhile? ;) This fic is truly wonderful - I look forward to the June installment with much excitement!
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Oy...I hope I'm not raising people's expectations about the wedding too hard and then won't be able to live up to them... *nibbles fingernails*
LOL...well there's always a chance it might show up before June...we'll see which way the muses run.
Thanks again for your lovely detailed comments! I'm glad you're still enjoying the fic so much!
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