The morning had been long. At least it felt long for a day such as this. Where it felt as if her nerves were built up and waiting to burst forth. Iris wasn't entirely sure if she wanted to laugh, scream, or cry. She was so nervous. As nervous as any bride would be on her wedding day, she supposed. It had been difficult to choke down her breakfast despite the sweet nature of the fruits and savory cheeses. Both things she rather liked but could not find the stomach for as the morning wore on. Aimias had joined them, his own family too far away to have ridden to Aetaea on such short notice.

The bride to be wouldn't deny that she had been a little crestfallen that she hadn't been able to meet his family before the wedding. But reassurance that she would, in fact, meet them settled her doubts rather quickly.

Takis had spent the morning chatting and playing with Phillipa and his sister, seeming to find such a second wind of energy in order to enjoy the day. Part of this had all been for him. So he could witness it before his illness took him. It had been hovering over the family like a dark cloud for months now. The suddenly, rapidly declining health, his deteriorating ability to walk on his own. It had made Iris almost desperate for some reprieve. One more day of seeing him in good spirits and in fairer health. As he had been when she was much, much younger.

With her heart like a brick in her chest, Iris had gone still when Takis had announced that it was time to retire toward the temple. The family took two separate carriages. Aimias and Takis rode together and Iris, her cousins, and her aunt rode in the other. She kept trying not to wipe her sweaty palms on her chiton as the horses trotted along the road, though she found herself failing once or twice.

It was true that she was anxious, but it didn't mean she hadn't wanted the marriage. In truth, the thought of being married to Aimias, as awkward as he was, was pleasant. He was a good man and Iris likely could have found no one better. At least, she would have found no one as familiar with her as Aimias was. Maybe that was why she hadn't resorted to screaming... yet. First and foremost, Aimias was one of her oldest friends. Hopefully, their union would not change that. Nor, she hoped, would it change the ease in which they were able to work with one another.

But Iris had always had her anxieties about getting married. There had always been this worry in the back of her mind that told her that any man she married would try to take power from her. Try to take away what she had built for herself over the last ten years that she had been running the province. But she knew Aimias wasn't that type of man. He was a master in the senate. What other power could he truly want to hold, if he even had his sights set on power in the first place.

When the carriage stopped at the small local temple to the gods, Iris slowly eased herself from the carriage, standing in the grass and letting her gaze drift to her betrothed. A smile settled on her lips in that moment; kind and prepared as she pushed the worry from her mind. They were to perform the ceremonial bathing first. Separately so as to not see each other before their wedding night. With her resolve set, Iris nodded toward Aimias and started the slow walk toward the temple, her hands resting relaxed at her sides.

The next time she saw him...

Her heart jumped into her throat.