Wedding Plans

The gown was breath taking. Never had she seen such a beautiful gown. She reached out and touched the material that looked almost fragile, it felt like the finest silk and yet it did not look like silk. She slowly walked around the dressmaker dummy, repeatedly touching the gown and softly sighing happily. Susan and Hannah smiled as they watched. Finally, Keera looked over at them and smiled. "It's perfect Hannah, absolutely perfect." Hannah returned the smile. "Only the best for my cousin, I must admit, this is my best work." Keera looked over at the wedding dress one last time before covering it back up to protect it from the dust. She looked back to her mother. "Do you think that Rohan will like it?" Susan laughed softly as she replied, "Keera, I think Rohan wouldn't notice if you wore ash cloth, but he is going to find you even more breath taking than he already does." On impulse Keera ran over and hugged her mother. Susan's eyes misted as she returned the hug. It had been so long since Keera had shown any emotion toward her besides anger. Keera pulled back after a moment and turned her gaze to Hannah. "Soon you must start on Raen and Mallory's dresses. I thought perhaps a russet gown for Raen and a golden wheat color for Mallory." Hannah nodded, already picturing the gowns in her mind. "Those will make for a lovely fall wedding Keera. “Keera smiled as she pulled on her light cloak. "I think so too," then as she started toward the door she turned back, "Oh Hannah, I almost forgot, a woman approached me in the firehall. Her name was Camille, she is looking for a dressmaker for her wedding too. I told her you would probably be able to come to the firehall to speak with her. Is that possible?" "Of course, I shall try to make it on the morrow." Hannah smiled and walked her cousin and aunt to the door, barring it behind them, blowing out the candles and walking to the back of the shop where she lived.

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Keera sat in the window seat of the gallery, having lit no candles, she stared out into the night. How she missed Rohan. He had told her that the wedding plans would keep her busy and they had but it was at night that her thoughts turned to him and left her without rest. "Keera?" She looked up as the voice softly called her name. "Yes, Mallory? I am here." Mallory covered a yawn as she joined her friend on the window seat. "You could not sleep again?" Keera shook her head. "No, sleep escapes me tonight." Mallory studied her friend for a moment. "You may be the first bride of Amber with dark circles around her eyes if you are not careful." Keera looked at her and they both burst out laughing. "The wedding is still two months away Mall, hopefully Rohan will be back long before that and I won't have to worry." "And just what are you worrying about Keera?" Mallory's look was suddenly serious. Keera turned her eyes back to the window. "I do not know." Mallory shook her head, "Keera, I know you better than almost anyone. Do not tell me you do not know what it is that is that is weighing heavy on your heart." Keera was silent for some time and when she finally answered it was barely a whisper, "I suppose I worry about everything, that I will not be the kind of wife that a man in Rohan's position needs, that I will not be a good mother to the girls, that I will never be able to give Rohan more children, that someday he will grow tired of me." Mallory frowned as she listened to her friend. Few saw this side of Keera. The vulnerable, insecure Keera that she hid from the world. Mallory reached out and hugged her. "Keera, Rohan loves you. Its you he wants, not a fragile flower to decorate his home and mother his children. And just because there were complications with Selenia does not mean that it will happen again. I have never known anyone like you Keera, so confidant and outspoken on the outside yet so insecure and unaware of truths on the inside." Keera looked at her. "You do not understand Mallory." Mallory stood and shook her head "I guess you are right Keera, I do not understand someone who fights so hard against being happy." With a small smile she hugged her friend once more and turned to go back to bed. Keera sighed as she watched her friend go and then turned back to the window.