The Widow and The Witcher (Complete)

Chapter 18 – The Wedding

It was night, the sun had gone to bed and the sky was blanketed with stars. As was the custom in this village he was preparing to ride to claim his bride. Geralt stood dressed in his formal dress blacks, the only Jewellery the medallion hanging around his neck. His thick hair the whitest it had ever been after Jaskier insisted that it be washed with some special soap. He smelt of Camomile and Honey. Funny, Julia had never commented on his smell except for when he had been around the horses too much. But tonight, he would have bathed in the petals of roses if he thought Julia would like it, and Jaskier did understand the female gender better than he did. The last thing he held was his bouquet of flowers to present to Julia. As Visenna and Yen had walked home with him he had remembered Tobias the day he went to get his bride, and how important it had been that he got it right. Well, this small bunch of wildflowers they had picked on the way back to the inn was not expensive or exotic but they represented him.

His Brothers, Father, Mother, Daughter, and closest friends behind him on their horses moved through town to the road leading to the estate. He was not sure what to expect as he had been waiting at the estate when Tobias and Renee were given to each other. All he was instructed to do was to ride to the house and kneel before Tobias asking for his blessing as the man of the house. As they reached the road leading to the estate, he saw an eery glow, as he got closer, he saw Villagers lining each side. The whole village must have turned out because It looked like the road to the estate was completely lined with Lanterns.

As he slowly pasted each lantern the villagers smiled at him and fell in behind the small band so that by the time, he got to the estate a large crowd was following. Geralt had never felt so accepted and loved. He dismounted at the entrance to the estate and the rest of his family followed suit. Jolna, Petra, and another servant took the horses as the progression walked the final distance to the house.

As he drew nearer, he stopped, the breath knocked from him at the sight of Julia holding her lamp the symbol of her love for him. She was breathtaking, her reddish-brown hair hung in curls around her shoulders and the top part was braided around her head to symbolize a crown. It was dotted with small white flowers and covered with a thin sheer vale. Her dress was made with the finest white silk edged with ivory and a bright royal purple sash accentuated her small waist. Around her neck was the finest lace wire that held the most beautiful mix of purple and ivory crystals. To Geralt she was perfect.

With moist eyes he made his final steps to the house, as instructed he went to Tobias who was standing with Renee. Kneeling before him, Geralt suddenly felt nervous, the whole village was watching, listening, and the words seemed to have gotten stuck in his throat. He looked up at Tobias who was smiling down at him. This gave him courage so he spoke with a clear baritone voice "Tobias Son of Julia of Wolnosci I have come here today to humbly ask for your blessing, I have fallen in love with your mother, and I wish to ask her to be my wife. I promise to cherish her all the days of her life and to honour this family all the days of my life."

Tobias replied to Geralt an unshed tear glistening in his eye "Geralt of Rivia, Renee, and I have watched from the beginning of your time here. We both saw the spark that lit between you during the days of your recovery. It has been an honour to watch as that spark became a flame. I have also observed your integrity, compassion, and gentleness as you worked with the horses, shared chores with the servants, and assisted the community. The greatest joy I had was watching you with Ciri and Julia, your love was evident for them both in every action, tenderness in touch and cherishing of spirit. It would be my honour to give you our blessing and welcome you into our family as a husband to Julia and Father to our house. But I can only give you my blessing, there is only one who can accept your offer."