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“We’ll figure it out.” She placed her hand over his callused knuckles.

He paused again—she watched his gaze travel across the cornfield.

In his familiar presence, a calmness swept over her, like the gentle lapping of sea waves meeting the sand’s edge. She didn’t press him for an answer, despite their time constraint.

“I’ll do it,” he finally said as he wrapped an arm around her and drew her close. “I’ve known for a while I wanted to marry you. It’ll be without the courtship we’d expect, the whole ceremony will have to happen quickly, but I’ll do whatever it takes to keep you safe.”

A heavy weight lifted from her chest. She buried her head against him and breathed in the scent of wood and the ever so faint tang of vodka clinging to his clothes. Even though it wasn’t the life they’d planned, she could see happiness with him.

∞∞∞

Back at the house, the newly engaged couple shared the news with their parents.

“We must send word to the house of worship,” Daro said.

“A wedding will need to take place at night once the stalls have closed and the festivities have ended—you two can’t linger for too long in this village.

When Filip realises you’ve been gone longer than the spring equinox lasts for, he will come looking for you. ”

“There’ll be no time for traditions,” Velinka said, a flicker of sadness in her eyes. “No week of celebrations. No dancing, singing, toasting, or banqueting.”

If Adelina thought about her ideal wedding ceremony, she’d have a traditional venchanie , formed of a Betrothal; a prayer from the ordained, who blesses the rings during engagement and the Crowning, where members of the wedding party would place crowns on the bride and groom’s head.

As if noticing her daughter’s deep thought, Velinka rested her hand on Adelina’s shoulders. “You will be married properly if we have anything to say about it.”

“Which we do,” Daro added.

Adelina clasped her mother’s hand. “I’ll have you both by my side, which is all I need. Have you told Tihana?”

“Yes. She won’t come out of her room—she doesn’t want to lose you again,” Velinka said. “She will come ’round soon enough.”

“Where has Salma gone? Is she not attending the ceremony?” Adelina surveyed the room.

“She’s returned to her home,” her mother said.

“If Filip and his men come to Aramoor in search of you, they will likely find Salma. Don’t fret, she has already sworn to say nothing about your wedding.

If Filip questions her, she will simply tell him she saw you home for the festivities, and once you were returned to your parents, you were no longer her responsibility. ”

Adelina nodded. “I’ll see if I can convince Tihana to come out.”

Daro exited the house to call upon the ordained, and Adelina left Damir in conversation with his parents and Velinka while she padded across the floor towards Tihana’s room. She rapped on the door.

“May I come in?”

Tihana sniffled and grumbled incoherently from the other side.

Taking this as an answer to her question, Adelina slipped into the room—her gaze falling on her dainty sister, wrapped in a bundle of blankets in the centre of her bed.

Kneeling beside her, Adelina placed her hand on her sister’s shoulder, which poked out from the swaddle. “Tihana, do you want to come out from under there and speak with me?”

“Hmph…” Tihana grumbled again. “If you’re to leave all over again, I can’t bear to say goodbye.”

Adelina rested her forehead against her sister’s wrapped form—her heart ached. A few seconds later, she lifted her head and sighed. “I’m sorry, sis. Truly. But don’t you want to join the celebrations? Damir and I are to be wed. Would you like to help me get ready?”

Tihana lowered the covers a fraction until one eye popped over the edge. She peered at her sister. “Can I put flowers in your hair?”

“There’s no one else better for the job.” Adelina squeezed her sister’s shoulder.

Tihana scrambled out of the blankets, leaving them in a puddle around her, then flung her arms around Adelina’s neck.

“W-will I ever s-see you again?” she whimpered .

“I hope so,” Adelina said in a breathy voice, holding her sister close against her chest as she stroked her hair. “Do you want to see something cool?”

“What?” Tihana let go—her eyes alight.

“ Linasriel .” Adelina conjured a golden, spinning orb between her palms.

Her sister gaped. “Magic!”

“Yes.” Adelina grinned. “Soon, I’ll be strong enough to produce it without having to use the word.”

“Can you teach me?” Tihana bounced on the edge of the mattress.

“ Linasriel ,” Adelina repeated. “Your turn to say it now.”

“ Linasriel, linasriel, linasriel, ” Tihana said without a breath. She hopped from the bed, then skipped around the room. “ Linasriel, linasriel, linasriel. Does this mean I’m like you now, sis?”

“You are special in your own way, Tihana,” Adelina said as her sister bounded into her, flinging her arms around her waist.

“I love you,” Tihana said.

“I love you, too.” Adelina’s throat tightened around the words. How could she possibly tell her younger sister the inevitable—they truly may not ever see each other again?

∞∞∞

Two hours later, when the moon drenched the village in a pale light, Velinka rummaged in her cupboards.

She drew out a large wedding gown—its neckline was high, and the sleeves were full and long.

Vine-like embroidery was stitched up the length of the skirt in silver thread, matching the delicate detailing on the veil.

“I know it’s not what you imagined—wearing your ma’s dress,” she said as Adelina perched on the edge of the bed.

“It’s perfect.” Adelina clasped her hands together on her lap and fought to ignore the bubbling anxiety inside her. Her stomach muscles clenched and twisted, while her heart rate climbed.

The ordained agreed to perform the wedding ceremony on short notice, having accepted a small sum of coin from Daro, and awaited their arrival at the house of worship. Daro also reassured her the coachman wouldn’t interrupt the wedding as he’d paid a trusted friend to keep him company at the inn.

Velinka helped her daughter into the dress, adjusting and tightening the corset, then pinned the veil into place over her curls.

Downstairs, Damir waited with his parents, Tihana, and Daro.

As Adelina descended the stairs—her train flowing behind her—she held her breath.

Was she really going through with this? He’d admitted to loving her, and the fact he was prepared to wed her so hastily was enough to prove it.

Warmth spread through her body, a mixture of nerves and realisation—she could be very happy with Damir, indeed.

Gripping the banister, her racing thoughts turned to what happens after the wedding ceremony. She halted on the stairs, her mother bumping into her .

“What’s the matter, dear?” Velinka said behind her.

“I’m nervous, maybe a little scared, for what happens after we are wed.” Adelina peered over her shoulder. “ Later.”

Velinka squeezed Adelina’s shoulder. “I’m sure Damir is, too, but you’ll figure it out together. I’ve spoken with Damir’s parents, and they’ve offered their home to you both for the night. It’s best to keep you away from prying eyes while you’re here.”

Adelina nodded once.

When she reached the last step, Damir glanced at her, and his eyes brightened. “You look beautiful.”

“Thank you,” Adelina said—her voice timid as if she was looking upon him for the first time.

He was about to become her husband, he would share her bed tonight, and the warmth ignited into a fervent heat inside her, spreading up to her cheeks.

She took in the broad planes of his shoulders, the way the garment hung a little loosely around his otherwise defined body, and the warm, endearing smile spreading across his lips. “You look dashing yourself.”

She grinned at his white jacket—its collar stood up, framing his face, and gold buttons ran the length of the garment and a quarter of the way up the sleeves. The fabric flayed outwards around his hips. Matching white breeches bunched slightly above his shoes.

“My father’s wedding attire,” he said. “It’s a bit on the big side but was the best I could do on short notice.”

“It’s perfect,” she said and meant it.

He drew two velvet boxes from his pocket, rested the smaller one on the table beside him, then opened the first. A golden bracelet lay upon the cushion—thin, curling vines wove into petals surrounding tiny rubies.

“It was my grandmother’s.” He clasped it around her wrist. “And it will belong to my wife.”

“Beautiful. I’ll cherish it.” Adelina’s breathing shallowed as she traced the delicate metal.

“It’s tradition.” He smiled. “To pay the dowry.”

“A splendid offering.” Velinka beamed.

“Do you have a ring?” Daro asked.

The tradition of paying the bride’s dowry required two pieces of jewellery, if not money, and the latter piece must outshine the first.

“Of course.” Damir picked up the second gift box, popped it open, and revealed a beautiful triple rolling ring—three interlocking bands made of rose, white, and yellow gold.

“The bracelet and this ring are heirlooms, and they are very precious to me, and my family. I could not fashion you a new ring, given our haste, but it would be an honour if you wore this.”

Adelina’s eyes widened at the gift and realisation sank in—she and Damir would be married before the gods, and Filip wouldn’t be able to do anything about it.

Lifting her gaze from the ring, she met Damir’s gaze. “What you have given me is more than I could have asked for.”

Nodding, a warm smile spread across Damir’s own face.

“Let’s get a move on.” Velinka ushered them towards the door. “The ordained will be ready for us.”

∞∞ ∞

When they arrived at the house of worship, candles were lit and dotted along the aisle and positioned on the sills of stained-glass windows, mingling with the silver moonlight. The ordained—a short man with greying hair—awaited them at the altar, while Adelina and Damir’s family slid into the pews.

Adelina’s body was numb, each of her limbs weightless, each step towards the ordained brought her closer to her married life with Damir. The prospect of it exhilarated her and terrified her at the same time. She wanted, above all else, to make him happy.

They stood, facing each other, in front of the ordained.

His deep voiced echoed through the building.

“The servant of the gods, Damir Litvin, will be married to the servant of the gods, Adelina Orlova, in the name of Lada, Goddess of love and fertility; may she bless your union. Damir, place the ring on her finger.”

Nodding once, Damir drew the piece of jewellery from his pocket, held Adelina’s soft hand in his, then slid the ring onto her fourth finger.

“A man will leave his father and mother and be united with his wife, and they will become one flesh. Therefore, what the gods have joined together, let no man separate.”

Turning towards the altar, the ordained picked up two candles, handing one each to Damir and Adelina.

“ Let these candles represent the eternal flame ignited in both your hearts, and may the gods guide and protect you as you begin your lives as man and wife. Now, Damir, hold your wife’s right hand, so you may be united as one mind and one flesh.

May you be blessed in the sight of all gods. ”

Adelina and Damir’s hands remained clasped—he stroked his thumb along her skin, which soothed the pounding of her heart and the painful knots in her stomach.

“Drink from the common cup.” The man took the candles from Damir and Adelina, and in its place, gave them goblets.

“For it represents the mutual sharing of joy and sorrow. From this moment on, you will share everything in life, joys and sorrows. From this day, you will bear one another’s burdens.

Your joys will be doubled, and your sorrows halved. ”

Adelina sipped the wine—its sweet, berry contents tingling her tastebuds. All the while, she kept her gaze locked on Damir’s, for she feared her knees would buckle. He kept a steady grip of her hand and gave her a reassuring nod before drinking from his own cup.

“It is my honour to pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss.” The ordained took the cups and placed them on the altar.

The world around her blurred until all that was left was her and Damir. Her husband.

Damir bent and pressed his lips against hers.

The hairs on the back of her neck stood on end as bolts of warmth shot through her core.

He guided her out of the building, his strong arm around her waist, and she smiled as her family applauded.

The moon shone between sparse clouds, a cool breeze tickled her cheeks, and with each step she took, the sturdier she became.

No matter what they faced, they’d face it together.