Arriving in Ostgrenze

True to your expectations, no trouble has been caused by Cecily's disappearance. The rest of the ride home has been uneventful, at least for you. You have little idea how well Cecily is faring under her new mistress, as you do not share a carriage with Helga and stops have been a minimum in the rush to make it home. You freed a few horses up to send some riders ahead to announce your arrival. At first, passing through the sleepy border towns you would think that your men had been waylaid. However, as you enter the first large town you see crowds of well-wishes, bearing flowers and all sort of other celebratory materials crowding the streets. Carefully your caravan proceeds through. Similar displays are encountered all the way to the capital, where a wild air of festivity is pervasive. The booms and clangs of church bells announce your arrival on the horizon to the citizenry. Few events cause such fanfare in the otherwise dull and dreary lives of the commoners as a royal wedding, and they are out in full ****. Your procession slows to a crawl in the streets crowded with well-wishers, so much so that a few of your men have to surround the vehicles and menace the people away just to get through.

You stop outside of the portcullis to say your piece to the people before retreating into the central keep. As you step out, the cheering almost reaches a fever pitch. "My loyal subjects" you call out in your best booming voice, trying in vain to overcome the collective noise of the thousand assembled around you, "Tomorrow, I celebrate my wedding to a most beautiful and virtuous maiden, Helga of Daynland!" The noise of clapping, whistles and cheers picks up when you stop talking. You walk over to Helga's carriage and open the door, offering your hand to help her down. Helga, ever the stateswoman, takes your hand, more to complete the show than out of necessity. However, as the beautiful nord steps down, the crowd becomes eerily quiet. You look over, and the people seem to be transfixed, staring dumbly at the gorgeous woman. Truly, despite her flaws, Helga gives off the image that every simple peasant dreams a noble maiden in: divinely gorgeous, confident, graceful, and poised. There seems to be a collective shock, as if a wild dream has come to life before them.

You decide to break the silence. "And tomorrow" you say, taking Helga's hand in yours once again, "she is your queen!" This seems to snap the people out of their stupor, and they become almost frenzied, ever wilder than before. You take this as a good moment to leave, and lead the procession of nobles into your personal castle. "I think you've made a good impression" you say to Helga, smirking.