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Chapter 331  Wedding Preparation

While many hands made for light work, the sheer volume of opinions and choices threatened to eclipse the sacred sentiment behind the occasion. Ravina began to long for a simpler, more intimate celebration—one not lost amid elaborate dances and extravagant musical numbers.

Noticing her sister\'s contemplative expression, Darcy approached, her brow furrowed in concern. "Is everything alright?"

Ravina glanced at the lavish dresses, the gleaming jewelry and thought of the whirlwind of excited faces all around. She felt caught between her personal desires and the weight of the expectations. "It\'s just... it\'s morphing into this grand spectacle," she admitted, a hint of vulnerability in her voice. "I understand that he is their King, but it\'s all becoming so… overwhelming."

Darcy, ever the voice of reason, gently reminded her, "It\'s your day. It\'s about you and Malachi. A day that captures your journey. Not a pageantry for the kingdom. Sometimes, to stay true to ourselves, we might have to step on a few toes."

Ravina\'s gaze softened, gratitude evident in her eyes. "I thought I\'d be at peace with whatever came our way, but it\'s hard when it feels this disjointed."

"It\'s because you care," Darcy whispered, squeezing her hand.

Resolute, Ravina decided she would speak to Malachi to see where his head was at. Perhaps he liked it the way it was. *** *** *** Elsewhere, Malachi wrestled with a different dilemma: the vows. The weight of the words and the gravity they held left him unsure and hesitant. Parchments littered his desk, filled with discarded words and sentiments that felt borrowed rather than birthed from his heart. It just didn\'t feel right.

Hearing a soft shuffle, Malachi glanced up to find Ares peering over his shoulder. "Having trouble?" Ares asked, an eyebrow raised.

Malachi closed his notebook that he had been scribbling on, a sense of defeat in his posture. "I am trying to write down my vows. It feels superficial when I do."

Ares, leaning back, pondered for a moment before suggesting, "You don\'t have to follow a template. Imagine you\'re writing her a heartfelt letter—filled with dreams, commitments, maybe a hint of humor, and genuine confessions. Be free with it."

The idea of a letter, sparked a few ideas in his head. Throughout the day, Malachi wrestled with his feelings, pouring them onto paper, only to crumple it up and discard it, dissatisfied. The words felt elusive, slipping through his fingers just when he felt he was close to capturing the essence of his emotions. Exhausted and a bit disheartened, he decided to return home for a much-needed reprieve, well-aware that dinner with the families awaited him.

While Ravina\'s father, preoccupied with his own kingdom\'s affairs, had not been deeply involved in the wedding preparations, he\'d promised to arrive a day before the grand event. But Darcy and Ephraim where there for support, particularly Darcy. At dinner, Malachi naturally took his seat next to Ravina. As laughter and discussions filled the room, conversations inevitably drifted to the future wedding of Darcy and Ephraim. Poor couple had to endure the constant questioning of when they would wed. Malachi had atleast heard it three times now. "We haven\'t decided a date," Darcy admitted, glancing fondly at Ephraim. "Once Ravina and Malachi settle into their new life, we will consider it. But we know we want something intimate and private."

Darcy and Ephraim had already spoken about it before. They wanted something more private where only close family and friends were invited but truly everyone already saw them as a married couple. They could finish each other\'s sentences and with a look they could know how the other was feeling. Another couple that were getting grilled about getting married were Nazneen and Ares but they made it clear that they were focused on the kingdom at the moment and their plan to get married was after Nazneen settled down with her new role as a queen. It would be a lot to add marriage on top of building a kingdom.

As the evening wrapped up, Malachi gently took Ravina\'s hand, guiding her away from the crowd. The two found solace in the temple\'s serene surroundings, lying side by side under the starlit sky, finding comfort in the silence of the night.

"You\'ve been working relentlessly," Ravina pointed. Well, they had a lot of damage to rebuilt after the attack. He mostly focused on that and let the woman do the wedding planning. "I can see the stations on the mountains are all set now," she continued. "We wouldn\'t want an attack on our wedding day," he said. "No," she smiled. "But it would be… a pattern for sure to tie the knot in chaos twice. What a story to tell." He grinned, his smile reaching his eyes. "Certainly a unique love story."

She tilted her head, studying his features. "Are the wedding preparations overwhelming you?"

"Not the wedding but everyone is loud." He admitted.

She smiled, her eyes softening with understanding. "They are excited, aren\'t they?" she mused. "How did you envision our wedding?"

Lost in contemplation, he responded, "I imagined it to be traditional, much like the weddings I\'ve witnessed growing up. But ours is unique."

She nodded. "Are you content with the direction it\'s taking?"

His jaw tensed, a muscle twitching slightly. "If you are," he replied, attempting to deflect.

But Ravina was relentless. Propping herself up on an elbow, her gaze became piercing, probing. "Speak your heart, Malachi."

He took a deep breath. "I think it might be spiraling out."

She sighed in agreement. "I\'ve been feeling the same."

A playful glint entered his eyes. "Perhaps I should just fly away with you and the priest," he teased.

She chuckled, "As tempting as that sounds, our people are simply happy for us. We shouldn\'t kill their joy but perhaps channel it more in line with our wishes."

"Yes," he murmured,"I feel the same." He paused, a tender smile playing on his lips. "Though, after the ceremony, whisking you away for some quiet moments doesn\'t sound too bad."

A teasing smirk touched her lips. "A grand exit indeed."

The following day dawned bright and clear, and Ravina found herself slipping into her wedding gown. The dress, a deep, luxurious shade of red, was a tribute to the dragon tradition. Yet, its design subtly incorporated the human aesthetic. The top  seamlessly flowed into the skirt, covering her belly and becoming more like a dress than two different pieces. The dress itself was a masterpiece. A rich canvas of red was adorned with intricate golden patterns. The patterns seemed alive, shimmering with every movement, creating an aura of ethereal beauty around her. Accentuating this were opulent golden jewelry pieces that seemed borrowed from the treasures of ancient royalty. Chandelier earrings, layered necklaces cascading down her chest, and an array of bangles graced her delicate wrists. The veil was a transparent sheet of red, adorned with tiny golden beads and motifs, and cascaded down, framing her face and trailing behind her.

Malachi wasn\'t allowed to see her until the wedding but she was testing it on to see that everything was perfect. She showed it to her father, Darcy and Araminta. The moment she stepped out, there was an audible gasp. Darcy\'s eyes glistened, tears forming as she whispered, "Ravina, you\'re the very epitome of grace and beauty."

Her father\'s eyes shimmered with tears held at bay. "You look radiant," he murmured, his voice quivering with a weight of emotions. Beside him, Araminta was less restrained, tears spilling freely down her cheeks, while Darcy enveloped her in a comforting embrace, herself teary-eyed.

Taking a shaky breath, her father managed a nod. "I\'ll leave you ladies for a moment," he murmured, turning on his heel to hide his tears. Ravina, perceptive as ever, sensed the swell of emotions threatening to engulf her father. After shedding her bridal attire, she sought him out, finding him seated on a stone bench in the garden, discreetly wiping away tears with the back of his hand.

"Father," she began gently, settling beside him, her fingers intertwining with his.

He met her gaze, forcing a weak smile. "Forgive me, dear. It\'s just... seeing you in that dress, the realization hit. My little girl is stepping into a new chapter."

She pressed his hand, comfortingly. "It\'s only natural."

Drawing a deep breath, he covered her hands with his. "Tomorrow, as I walk beside you, guiding you down that aisle, understand that while I may symbolically hand you over, you\'ll never truly be out of my reach. I\'ll always be here for you."

Tears pricked at her eyes. "I know, Father."

He continued, "I want you to truly find your happiness with this step forward. There will still be many challenges ahead, and marriage itself can be a challenge. A challenge that can lead to growth and be very rewarding, especially when you overcome it together. It is a chance to deepen your bond." She nodded, absorbing his wisdom. "I understand."

With a gentle tilt of his head, he pressed a loving kiss to her hand. "I am proud of you and honored to be your father." "Father!" She bursted into tears and hugged him. They shared a heartfelt embrace, and in that quiet moment, Ravina felt an overwhelming gratitude. Grateful for her father\'s unyielding support and for the privilege of having him accompany her on one of the most significant days of her life.