Year 782 of Octavus, 35th day on the fifth-month Auonus

Sidastir turned in front of the mirror. He had chosen a black coat with silver embroidery and a white silk shirt underneath.

He grimaced at the somber sight. A ghost looked more vividly. He loathed his white complexion which gave him the visage of a wraith. It doesn’t matter what colors he wore, he always looked far from proper as he possibly could be.

"Dissatisfied with the choice of clothes, your Greatness?" uttered a garish voice from above the mirror. Sidastir managed to get rid of the impulse to make the little fairy to explode. Her voice was far too annoying.

"Tell me, Madin, do I look sensible for my wedding?" asked Sidastir and spun in front of the mirror.

"If you do not like your clothes, use magic to create new ones," Madin said while flying around him before she landed on his shoulder.

"I'm an icemage. Why should I have the power to create clothes?" Sidastir huffed.

He let out a sigh and decided that this would have to do. He has no idea about Akana's taste anyway. Not that Akana seem to have a special fancy for anything but he must admit he had been surprised by Akana's eye for details.

Akana had in a short time planned a wedding that was in no way inferior to all other weddings. He had also gotten to know the trolls and the fairies while giving orders to them with a mother's patience.

Akana had no problem explaining to the all too dumb trolls or the too rebellious fairies what he would want to be done. However, Akana seems to assume that all of non-Auonian origin are less intelligent so he is well accustomed to dealing with such situations.

Sidastir had tried to get to know Akana but soon noticed that his prospective husband prefers to work instead of enjoying himself and has taken up the majority of the palace's duties.

He has spent time writing royal announcements in all different languages and sent them to the different kingdoms while planning the wedding and in some way found time to furnish their future bedchambers.

Sidastir has no idea when this happened. He only woke up one morning and realized that his chamber was filled with boxes of new things and trolls carried in new furniture and stumbled over the old.

He had tried to put an end to the unexpected invasion, but Akana had prevented this with only one glance.

His new husband had a frightening gaze.

Not that Sidastir was afraid, of course, but it is not wise to annoy the person who will share his bed in the future. That's what Sidastir tried to convince himself after he had retired from the chamber and sat upon his throne to brood.

Sidastir sighed and turned around to leave the room.

"Your Highness! You forgot this."

Madin had seized a silver tiara that symbolized the royal consort. The tiara was shaped like small-crystalline vines. Crystals decorated the tiara in the shape of leaves. In the middle of the tiara was an extinct sunstone, which despite its status shone in a golden glow.

Sidistir grabbed the tiara and looked satisfied at it. His consort would undoubtedly look handsome in it. Akana may look peculiar but he was no doubt beautiful to look at. Although he seemed strangely unaware of it…

Sidastir stormed out of the room and could not wait to see his consort arrive at the altar.

Soon he would no longer be alone.

*****

Akana heard how the music begun to play. A foreign melody which sounded antique from Akana's perspective.

Two trolls began to open the gate and he started to walk down the hallway. He was wearing a silver-white suit with a silver belt around his waist. He had the royal consorts ceremonial robes on him.

An odd piece with long wide arms and long enough so the bottom of the piece was dragging on the floor. The fabric was white like snow but had an odd luster about itself that made it glitter.

Fairies flew to help the robes lie comfortably when Akana went down the hallway, but he tried to avoid the instinct to pull his robes and carry it in his arms.

Only one fool would let such beautiful clothes dragged on the floor and get dirty. Northerners were odd people.

Akana took a deep breath when the last door opened, and he went into the light from over a thousand candles. The eitirans always had their wedding at sunset so the light needs to come from candles.

Akana reviewed the room. Trolls crowded the room to see their future royal consort while the fairies flew along the roof and allowed snowflakes to fall. Another thing that was a tradition which Akana could not understand.

In front of the throne, there was now a small altar that Akana calls the basin. Sidastir stood in front of the basin and waited for his consort. Akana could only speculate why he had discreet clothes when he himself looked like a walking snowman. He even wore a dress.

Akana reached Sidastir and kneeled. He pulled down the white hood and closed his eyes. He had studied the ceremony carefully. Sidastir would say a few words in Canaan, the language of the ice-elves, and splatter water on him. Afterward, he would put on the tiara and then they would be done. Short but effective.

Ise grian deir soles ardic solasta barc. You take amaon do fanic mean. Mein a dion agus a kadir. Mean anis agus gubrath.

In the last light of the sun, the shining one raises. I choose this one to be mine. Mine to guard and respect. Mine now and forever.

I thoir sig mo ainem agus ise aneirig glac í do techdail. Techdail sinn rain. Ardica Akana den Auone. Gabhail sig mo ainem?

I give you my name and in return, I'll take your future. A future we now share. Rise Akana of Auone. Do you accept my name?

Tha (yes). Akana let the word roll over the tongue. He has no idea if the pronunciation was correct. It is difficult to learn an extinct language correctly. Sidastir seemed pleased at least. He washed water over Akana's hair. It should apparently symbolize chasing away the old name or something superstitious that non-Auons believes in. Sidastir continued.

Ansin thoir í sig ainemag Akana den Rifabienn agus tiotal Rial Caraid. Failte na is meinn no seas mo corac.

Then I will give you the name Akana den Rifabienn and the title Royal Consort. Celebrate what's mine or meet my wrath.

Akana turned around and met the troll who was roaring after Sidastir had put the tiara over his forehead. He was quite sure that the chant said to celebrate, not shout but he had no issue with the troll’s simple culture. It was honest in many aspects, and the majority were only shouting to make sure Sidastir would not freeze them on the spot.

Sidastir walked over to the left side of Akana. He was now Akana den Rifabeinn. Eitir's royal consort.

*****

The festivities lasted until midnight. Akana and Sidastir sat on the now two thrones and receive gifts. Food and drinks were served and when midnight came for the couple to start the wedding night, the troll was in great piles and slept off the alcohol while the fairies flew into light and furniture in screaming laughter.

Sidastir took hold of Akana and led him out of the throne room and into their chamber which lay in the highest tower in the palace.

Sidastir examined Akana with a frown. He was spread out on the bed while Akana carefully folded the robes and clothes. He undressed and lay down beside Sidastir. The silence fell upon the room and the newly wedded couple.

"Is something wrong?" asked Akana.

"I had hoped to undress you," Sidastir admitted. He took off his shirt and approached Akana.

“Why? I can undress," Akana said while frowning.

He lay flat on his back under the covers like a dead fish. Sidastir glared at him.

"Foreplay," he murmured.

"Foreplay," repeated Akana like he wanted to savor the word.

"What’s the use of foreplay? We will complete the contract not devote ourselves to play,” said Akana and made no effort other than to play dead fish. Sidastir had straddled Akana’s naked body and had his face just inches from Akanas beautiful albeit stiff face.

Sidastir had ice-elf blood in his veins, and with it came very few sexual needs, but it was a big difference between not wanting to have sexual intercourse to not being able to have sexual intercourse for the partner would be turned into a block of ice. He sighed and Akana looked bewildered.

"Come on, Sidastir. Manhood, please don’t fail me now! Firstly, I need to silence my beloved husband for something more off-putting than his comments does not exist."

*****

Akana woke up late in the day. His body ached from the nightly activity. He stretched his naked body but cringed again under the warm blanket. He had been surprised by all the furs, but he could now not help but adore them. It felt like he was sleeping on a cloud. He was sure that he would miss them when he went to school.

Something moved beside him. Sidastir embraced him while he mumbled something unintelligible and buried his head in Akana's neck. Akana could hear him sighing contentedly.

Akana let his body conform to his and found a more comfortable position. The heat from Sidastir got Akana to consider waking him to continue yesterday's activity, but he decided that the idea was vain. Sidastir needed his sleep and Akana needed to heal his bottom before marital activities were possible.

Akana had not told Sidastir that he was a virgin because he had found it unnecessary. Knowing his lack of experience could not have helped Sidastir implement the act in any way. Akana had been concerned that his inexperience would affect Sidastirs ability in bed, but he had been satisfied with their marital responsibilities. Akana had been especially fond of his kisses. They had his blood to boil.

Akana slowly turned so he had his face against Sidastirs. He let his hand caress Sidastirs arm and brought it up to his husband's lips. They were cool but soft. Akana leaned forward and gently pressed his lips against Sidastirs. He enjoyed the feeling of their lips meeting before he retired. He was met by Sidastirs eyes and a smile slowly broke out from Sidastirs lips.

"Good morning, husband!" Akana said in an effort not to look embarrassed.

"Good morning, Rial Caraid."