The wedding of Crown Princess Harlow Strongmoor of Draec and Prince Raphael of Cretea was the strangest wedding the kingdom had ever seen.
Everybody agreed on that.
The guests began arriving three days early. First came the nobles of Draec and the governors of all thirty-five colonies, in their finest clothes and carriages. That part was normal.
Then came the elves.
Prince Jadeith arrived through a shimmering portal in the royal garden, followed by a whole procession of elven princes and princesses in silver robes. Prince Nieven was among them, and he was very sulky because Harlow had refused his escort in the Forest of the Elves. Queen Elara, who was half-elf herself, was so excited that she spent the whole afternoon talking to them in their own language.
Even old King Jared came from his mansion in the countryside. Emmelyn let him sit in the second row. It was the closest thing to forgiveness she could give him, and he wept like a child when she nodded at him.
