Chapter 43   Alea Iacta Est

            Am reflection was stunning in front of the body-height oval mirror of the bedroom she was occupying. at Lannishire’s Manor. Everybody in that chamber was delighted with happiness. Jocelyn was helping her daughter with the finishing touches of her hair-do. A proud-mom grin reflected besides the red haired maiden’s stern countenance.

            -“Oh, my sweet Am. You look so beautiful in your wedding day. I am so happy for you. Lord Roderick is an outstanding gentleman. You couldn’t ask for a better husband to be. I give you my blessing.” –Jocelyn spoke to Am with the tenderness characteristic of a mother to a daughter who is going to get married.

            -“Here, Am, I brought you this.”- Lady Charlotte opened a wooden box and placed it over the bed. It contained a magnificent set of earrings and pendants made of silver and mother pearl with sapphires incrusted in sapphires. Am’s eyes opened wide as he held the box and admired astonished the luxurious jewels inside of it. Lady Charlotte continued speaking. –“That is for you to wear in this special day. Three generations of Gustemberg’s had used it in the wedding ceremonies. It is a token. Now is your turn to use it, daughter.”- The duke’s mother went extremely emotional as she called Am her daughter too. Everybody’s eyes filled with tears of happiness and emotion… For Am it was something about to see.

            As Lady Charlotte helped Am with the jewelry, she was facing the mirror again. She was wearing a light crème, almost white dress. Imperial cut styled and embellished with silver and sky blue trims and laces she looked like an angel. Her red hair let was let loose and a white roses’ tiara was the only thing that adorned her wavy long hair that cascaded down her lower back… Everybody praised her looks and how happy she would be with Lord Roderick.

            Am didn’t recognize her reflection on the mirror. She transported herself that day she first visited the castle and was getting dress to her first recital in the kingdom’s court. That was the day when her life changed forever. In her memories ran swiftly all the latest events: her dance with the prince that same night; the competitions, her kiss with Maik… oh her Maik. He was not anymore with her. That day the prince brought his dead body was so brutal for her…

            She also remembered her first kiss with her now future husband, Lord Roderick, in the room next door… and even though there had been many kisses, soft, tender, and delightful kisses, those had not overpowered that kiss under the tree, on the cold grass Prince Alasther gave her. That ardent kiss that made her body shivered with excitement and passion… She quickly shook her head trying to erase those memories from her head. That love died the day Maik was assassinated… or at least she forced herself to believe.

            Amalthea had accepted handsome Lord Roderick proposal because she thought it was the best for everyone, including her. “I do not belong to that world… If I had stopped that nonsense before, Maik would be alive…” Am constantly repeated to herself to convince herself this was the best decision.

            -“Am, my sweet. It’s time. Your duke waits for you.” - Jocelyn put an end to the tortuous thread of thought. It was time to go down and become the duke’s wife. Without any doubts Am knew the duke was a good man. He had proved to love her. He was handsome, smart, funny and wealthy. The duke was everything any woman could dream of… but, she didn’t love him…

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            It was a short ride to the chapel, for it was located down the hill at the entrance of the manor. It was a picturesque gothic stone chapel, with a Celtic cross a top of the vaulted ceiling. As the carriage parked in front of the little church, she could see the happy faces of the people gathered in front of it. Those were some villagers that couldn’t go into the holy building, but wanted to congratulate the duke in his wedding day.

            The big red wooden doors of the church opened. Am was escorted by Lady’s Charlotte’s brother, Lord Dubalt. Since Am was orphan, and the duke too, the uncle was the logic person to escort the bride. They walked at the paste of a soft melody played in flute. Everybody rose up as she walked amongst the wooden benches at each side of the interior of the chapel. A rug of white roses covered the path on where she walked through. Am could see also the beautiful garlands of white flowers that hung from the ceiling. There were golden chandeliers with humongous white and blue candles burning.  

            In front of the chapel, there was the priest. The old Roman bishop smiled to her as she approached the altar… Ah… in the altar… there was Lord Roderick. His smile didn’t fit in his stunning face. Happiness was expelled by his pores. He was almost dancing in his white and blue tunic embellished with golden. An indigo ribbon as a badge of honor with the coat of arms of the Gustemberg’s family crossed his chest. He looked regal. His blue eyes popped out of his face so spell bounding… How couldn’t she love this man? He was simply ethereal… What was wrong with her that at this point she was still asking herself if Lord Roderick could be the perfect man for her? Why wasn’t she in love with him yet?

            Finally Am was beside the broom. He gazed at her with such tenderness that the presents could be melted by that look. He took her hand as he spoke to her in a whisper, -“You are so beautiful, my love.” –

            Am just gave a smile to the duke as they now face the altar. The priest began the ceremony, now cursing herself for she understood Latin. It was better if she wasn’t aware of the message and the beautiful words this old fellow was saying in the name of God… “In the name of God the worst atrocities had been committed”, she thought… “and this is one of those.”

            Words like amore, fide, aeternitatis, and voto were part of the priest elegy. And yet it was true that Latin was a so romantic language, Also the fact that she had read The Bible in that language too, didn’t help that much with the negative part that she knew exactly what all the phrases meant… Am felt guilty and sacrilege, for she didn’t feel the way a Christian bride was suppose to feel.

            -“Pronuncio vobis vir et uxor” – The priest uttered the part where the broom had to kiss the bride and it sounded so romantic. It was over. They were pronounced husband and wife…  But it felt more like a “consumatum est… alea iacta est” for her.

            They were about to seal their bound with the KISS… a few inches apart and a sudden thundering noise. The doors of the chapel were opened impromptu side to side with strength. Everybody turned to see what had just happened. Standing by the door’s arch was Prince Alasther and he screamed “Noooooooooo!”

            -“Noooooooooo!”- Am found herself screaming as she woke up jumping on her bed. She was sweating in cold… She was looking everywhere, panting. It had been a dream… It was just a dream… just a dream.