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feelings toward this marriage. 
    A huge banquet was held in their honor of this wonderful day. Suckling pigs had been roasted earlier that morning. Fish, muscles, and clams were shipped in from the ocean. Water fowl and other birds were caught and cooked with delicious spices. The bride and groom were sitting at the high table looking like a perfect couple.  The knights were sitting around eating and chatting happily feeling relieved to have a moment away from battles. The mood was jovial and light. The children of the soldiers were sitting in a circle by the roaring fire as one of the knights; Markus was telling the children stories that made them giggle happily. Physically he bore a striking similarity between himself and his younger brother Dominic, but he was warm well his little brother was more stoic. There were rumors took being passed up for Captain in stride, though everyone thought that the elder would get the job instead of the younger. The older brother was married to a kind woman named Lonia who gave him two young sons and a daughter, and was soon to give birth to another child.  Markus was pleased that his brother found a wife for himself, but was none the less surprised by it. Dominic was known for his womanizing ways since he first came into manhood, but there is a time in every man’s life when they have to settle down he reasoned.  He had a sneaking suspicion though that his little brother wouldn’t change his ways.  Shaking his head he looked down at the children waiting for him on baited breath for him to continue the story.  Dominic was sitting draining his goblet as he smiled at his friends and allies, feeling very confident with his new bride at his side. The newly appointed captain looked at his new wife and gave her a smile. Sera looked upon Dominic with her navy blue eyes, unable to believe that she was the bride of the handsome captain.  Her new sister-in-law, Lonia was very kind and welcoming to her. Lonia was sitting at a few people down with her three year old daughter, Kora on her lap, fussing a bit. Sera watched her with the toddler imagining herself with her own child on her knee, and turned her head looking at Dominic who was pouring himself more wine.  After the revelry died down Sera stretched and got out of her chair, Dominic by then was standing by the fireplace with some of his brethren tossing dice. In a daze she knew that  when she walked into her bridal chambers she would not be sleeping alone. She knew she would have to walk this road alone. Feeling her feet heavy on the ground she walked through the double doors of the great hall, and made her way down the hall. Sera knew that her new husband’s friends would bring him in when he was well ready to consummate their marriage. Upon entering her chambers she felt a chill creeping through her. Shaking it off, undoing the sash of her gown and placed it on a nearby chair.  Undressing she walked to the bathroom leaving her clothing laying on the floor planning on picking them up later. The great cathedral was resurrected by the king and had many rooms that boarded monks, soldiers, and visiting dignitaries during special events.  The bathroom was fully furnished with an oak bathing basin in the center of the room. Copper pipes laid under the stone foundation that tapped into a hot spring under the ground giving them hot water.  Crossing the bathroom into the center she admired the tiling on the wall that climbed almost up to the vaulted ceiling. The room was circular with a stain glassed window of an armored angel with a yellow backdrop.  Sera filled the tub to the top and blended some rose oil in it to make her skin fragrant. She washed her body free of the sweat and nerves of the wedding procession away. Sitting there she stared at the stain glass mirror in front of her, the amulet hanging between her breasts.  “I will not let my nerves get the best of me.” She told herself firmly as she squeezed the sea sponge between