The next few days were spent getting ready for the wedding. The location was obvious, directly in front of the Obelisk of the Law, in Aius, the capital city of Arx. What better place to make their vows in front of God and the people. Just the thought of the symbolism of that and all the pressure involved made Hadar nervous and sick. Every noble house in Arx was planning to attend, and countless of its common-folk as well. Including Milo, who, upon hearing the news, became quite somber. Even though he never left Hadar's side, and certainly didn't show any signs of hostility, at the same time he seemed more distant from Hadar than ever before. Hadar would try to say things to spark conversation and get one-word answers, in the driest tone he'd ever heard Milo use. Hadar couldn't stand this. He had hired Milo as his bodyguard to keep the three of them together, he didn't want them so distant even though they were so near. Hadar kept telling himself, “Just get through the wedding and the coronation, and then you can fix this.”

The day of the wedding arrived and Milo helped Hadar get ready in one of the rooms of the Grand Cathedral. The Grand Cathedral was inside the walls of the capital, right next to the king's castle, and standing in its front courtyard was the Obelisk of the Law.

Hadar's outfit was formal attire, colored purple with gold trim as a symbol of his royalty. He wore a rose in his front chest pocket, and black gloves. Adjusting his clothes and fixing his hair Hadar turned to Milo. “How do I look?”

“With your eyes,” Milo said with a smirk. It was the first time he'd done anything close to a smile or otherwise showing any real emotion to Hadar in days.

“Fool,” Hadar said, chuckling. “No, seriously.”

“You look regal. I'm assuming that's the look you're going for.”

“It is, yes,” Hadar fixed his hair one last time. “Thank you again for standing by me during this time. I know this must be hard for you.”

“Why would it be hard for me?” Milo asked, his voice again as deadpan as could be. Hadar could tell that this was a man definitely struggling to hide his emotions.

Hadar turned and gave his friend a tight hug. “Just stick with me through this, stay the course. I promise it'll all turn out fine.”

“You're going to take care of Sarahi, right?”

“Of course!”

“Then it's already turned out fine.”

Hadar pulled away from Milo. “Look at me!” he commanded. Milo obeyed. Hadar's look was authoritative and strong. “It will all turn out fine.”

Milo looked at his friend inquisitively for a moment before finally just saying, “I trust you.”

“Good,” Hadar patted his shoulder. “Will you check on Sarahi for me, please?”

“Of course.”

If it had been more than just the two of them Milo would have followed his phrase up with a title, such as “Sire,” “Your Majesty,” or something to that effect, but Hadar had made it very clear that he wanted Milo to still talk to him as his friend when they weren't near a crowd of people. It was important to Hadar that their friendship not turn into a purely business relationship. His two friends had been closer to him than family for most of his life now, because he was with them more often than he was with his family. With all that was changing now, the fact that all of his immediate family members were now deceased, he couldn't bare the thought of losing them too.

Milo made his way over to the room Sarahi was getting ready in and knocked on the door. “Who's there?” her voice called from within.

“Sarahi, it's Milo. Can I come in?”

“MAY I come in.” Sarahi corrected him.

“Yes you may,” Milo said.

Milo heard her sigh through the door as he chuckled, “Yes, you can come in.”

When Milo entered the room he gasped as he saw Sarahi in front of the mirror in her baby-blue wedding gown. Around the waist was a white sash, hanging down in front of her lap. The sleeves were long, and very loose. From the stomach up to the chest were laces, tightly tied, and the bottom of the dress trailed on the ground behind her, but lifted up slightly in front of her feet so she would not have trouble walking forward, only trouble if she tried to step back. Milo wondered if there had been a history of brides trying to run away from the altar that led to this particular design. She wore diamond earrings, and her hair was in a braid that wrapped around the top of her head. Milo stared, his mouth hanging open for a few moments.

“Well?” Sarahi asked.

“What?”

“Do I look ridiculous?”

“Not at all! You look amazing!”

“Don't flatter me!” Sarahi poked him in the chest with her index finger. “I've never worn something quite this...elaborate before. Or impractical! Look at the way it poofs out at the waist! I look like a giant bell or something!” Sarahi shook her hips back and forth, “Ding! Ding!”

Milo laughed. “You look great! Seriously!”

“Stop it!”

“I just wish you could see yourself through my eyes, Sarahi.”

“Well, thank you for the compliments, whether or not they're true. They help a little.”

“Helps with what?”

“My nerves. I'm getting married in just a few minutes, Milo, in front of a large room of people. I'm nervous.”

“Well...” Milo wanted to say something encouraging for her there, but he really had nothing. It wasn't like he'd ever been in a situation anything like hers. He'd never even attended a royal wedding before, and peasant weddings were far different. At a commoners' wedding the only attendees were close friends and family members, people who loved either the bride or the groom already. If anyone who didn't know the bride or groom personally showed up they were just there for the booze, or to flirt with the bridesmaids. It was a joyous occasion when two people swore their love for each other and promised to stay together for life. Most of the guests at this wedding, it seemed, had never even met Hadar or Sarahi, and the occasion seemed to be more of a major political event rather than a ceremony that bonded two lovers as husband and wife. In fact, Milo was pretty sure Sarahi and Hadar had no romantic feelings for each other whatsoever. Usually when people cried at weddings it was because the event was so touching and so moving, but Milo felt like he could cry at this wedding because it was so heart-wrenching.

His thoughts were interrupted as he heard a voice at the door. “Ahem.” Standing there was a woman in her mid-forties, with blonde hair pulled back in a bun, and wearing a fine dress that gave away her social rank. Milo had seen her once before. This was Zoe, the Marquise of Muri, Sarahi's mother. “Pardon me, boy.”

“So sorry, your ladyship,” Milo bowed to her and quickly exited the room.

Zoe helped her daughter adjust the ribbons and laces of the wedding dress. “I must say, you're certainly doing a lot more for Muri than I ever expected.”

“Thank you for the confidence,” Sarahi said, shaking her head.

“I always expected you'd do much for our family and the March. Frankly, you're more responsible than either of your sisters, but will you forgive me for never expecting you'd form a marriage alliance with the King of Arx?”

“I never expected it either. These things sneak up on you.”

“Are you happy, Sarahi?”

“As happy as I can be.”

Zoe looked her youngest daughter in the eye. “I know what your father would have said here. He would have talked all about how well you'll be taken care of since you're marrying a king, how all your needs will be handled for you. It's true, you'll never have to worry about how you'll survive in the world, but I know that's not the part that troubles you, so it's certainly not the part that will comfort you. Take comfort, then, in the fact that you are marrying a good man, your best friend in fact. With all the luxuries nobility and royalty are afforded in this world that is not commonly among them. Commoners marry for love, nobility marry for advantage. In that way God has blessed you, child.”

“I'll keep repeating that in my mind during the wedding. That and the fact that it's for the kingdom...”

“Your sister is here.”

“Which one?”

“Sorry, Estelle. She came with her husband, Jesse. Nerissa is in the middle of a long pilgrimage right now. She probably hasn't even received word about what's going on yet.”

“Well, I'm glad Estelle is here to support me...”

The cue for the wedding to begin was the sound of four large bells resounding throughout the Cathedral. The guests quickly took their seats around the Obelisk, where stood the Arch-Bishop and Hadar, with Milo and about 20 knights and paladins standing not too far away from there. Each of them were ready to step in should anything threaten either the bride or groom. Hadar smiled, any stranger would have thought this to be a joyous occasion for him, but anyone who'd known the man for more than a month could tell that the smile was forced.

From within the Grand Cathedral came Sarahi, on her mother's arm. Traditionally the father gave away the bride and the mother gave away the groom, but both of Hadar's parents had been deceased for years and Sarahi's father had died in a skirmish with Nihilus a long time ago, so their wedding broke from tradition a bit out of necessity. As he watched Sarahi walk down the aisle he truly wished his brother, Amasi, had been there to lend his moral support. Of course, if Amasi was still alive Hadar wouldn't be in this situation in the first place. Still Amasi had always been so encouraging and helpful.

For Sarahi the distance between the Grand Cathedral and the Obelisk may as well have been a mile. With all these eyes staring at her she felt almost as if she was being accused, as if they knew the secret she kept. She had told herself long ago to let go of that childish dream, but it just kept holding on. She repeated in her head over and over, For the good of Arx, for the good of Arx, for the good of Arx, in hopes that her patriotism would overcome all of her selfish desires. Was it truly selfish to want to be happy in life? She wanted to shout that question to all the people there, to make them understand what she was sacrificing for them.

Finally she arrived in front of the Obelisk, where Hadar stood. He took her hand, and the two of them turned to face the Arch-Bishop. “The first covenant was between God and mankind. It was a sacred bond between us and him, that so long as both God and mankind live they shall care for each other. Following this example the covenant of marriage was begun. In marriage, not only do a husband and wife join together as one, but two families join together as one. Let these rings forever be your symbols to one another of the bond you have formed today.” Hadar and Sarahi exchanged rings, rings made of platinum with a small, round diamond on top. They placed the rings on each other's index fingers in accordance with Arxian custom. “Do you, Prince Hadar, swear to cherish and protect Lady Sarahi, to take care of her as if she were yourself, furthermore to put her before yourself, to join your family with hers, so long as you both shall live?”

Hadar couldn't look either the Arch-Bishop or Sarahi in the eyes as he said, “I do.”

The Arch-Bishop continued, “Lady Sarahi, do you swear to cherish and care for Hadar, to put him before yourself, to comfort him when the road all men travel gets difficult, to fully share your life with him, so long as you both shall live?”

Sarahi took a deep breath. “I do.”

“Then, in the name of our God, before these witnesses, and under the authority of the Law, I pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride.”

Hadar could feel the eyes of the countless strangers at the wedding upon him. He was queasy, and dizzy. His stomach churned and his head spun. He had to do this. They couldn't have a wedding without a kiss, could they? he wanted no one to suspect anything unusual about the married couple that now stood before them. His hands trembled, and he closed his eyes and started leaning forward, his lips pressed together.

Sarahi could see that Hadar was struggling. She'd seen before that he was having a hard time even faking any kind of affection for her. Sure, she knew that he loved her as a best friend would, but he seemed almost disgusted at the thought of any kind of physical contact with her. Was she so unattractive to him? She felt so hurt, this event was so far removed from the way she'd hoped her wedding day would go she almost didn't believe it was happening. Still, she knew they had to do this, even if for show, for the good of Arx. Arx needed its King and Queen, and it needed that King and Queen to at least PRETEND to be in love. Sarahi closed the distance between them. She brought her lips to Hadar's, and she felt his lips tighten up against hers. Was he cringing? At least with this final act the ceremony was finally done.

The coronation ceremony was set for the same day to minimize the amount of time that Arx was without a king. Hadar would wear the same suit to his coronation that he'd worn to his wedding, and the same guests were likely to attend.

There was a rush to get over to the next ceremony, no time for the newlyweds to settle down and enjoy their new marriage, no, straight on to business. The coronation was in the throne room of the castle, and Hadar entered it from the double doors at the opposite end of the room from the throne. His subjects watched as his bodyguards, including Milo, walked him up the aisle, along the long, red and gold rug, to the throne. In front of the throne stood the Arch-Bishop, the Chancellor, and the Grand Duke, all decked out in their best.

Hadar stood before them, and then took his place on one knee. The Chancellor was the first to approach him. “Prince Hadar, will you protect the people of Arx, safeguard fair and equal trade, and consider the people's needs as you make the laws of this nation?”

“I will, I swear it,” Hadar said.

“Then the people accept you as their ruler.” The Chancellor took Hadar's right hand, and on his middle finger placed a signet ring, with the symbol of the royal family on it.

Next to approach was the Grand Duke, “Prince Hadar, will you lead our soldiers in battle, show them that you will match their courage if need be, honor their sacrifices, and take care of their widows and the children they leave behind should they fall?”

“I will, I swear it.”

The Grand Duke handed Hadar an ornate sword, with gems encrusted into the scabbard. “Then the army recognizes you as its leader.” The sword was not one that a king would use in battle, it was a sword meant for decoration, and for show, not for use.

Finally the Arch-Bishop approached. “Will you uphold the Law as it is written? Will you protect the Church and all pilgrims and believers? Will you rule justly and fairly, with both compassion and wisdom?”

“I will, I swear it.”

The Arch-Bishop placed a platinum crown upon Hadar's head. The tiny bells worked into the metal rang as the Arch-Bishop raised it high. “Then the Church recognizes you as the King of Arx. Now, rise, stand with us.”

Hadar rose to his feet and turned to face the cheering crowd. With all the hubbub, all the noise, all the fanfare, and with all the citizens of Arx shouting his name in approval, Hadar felt so alone without his two friends standing beside him. In the crowd he couldn't spot either of them, it was a crowd of strange faces, people who threw their arms up in celebration that a man they knew so little about now had the power to decide all of their fates.