The wedding can finally continue

You bid adieu to Duke Arcalian, smiling and wishing him and the duchess a good evening. He's actually a pretty good sort, but damn can he talk. You were starting to run through spells you could use for distractions, even though you're falling over your own feet. Today has been more draining than you planned. Patrick used a lot of magic - that was unavoidable. The effects for the wedding, the spells holding back your fiancees pregnancies, the illusion for Cerralla, more magic fed to Patrick - probably to sneak past some checkpoint. All that means that at this point you're acutely aware of every little draw, every link back to the wards and enchantments woven all through this mansion.

But the Duke was the final official guest. Now you are free! You grab Lessia and spin her around. All of your other fiancees encircle you and press inward, hugging, kissing and congratulating you both. An outside observer would think all was as it should be until Bethany says "One down!" and all the others giggle and laugh.

Leshak steps from the shadows near the pantry, followed by several familiar faces. He's dressed in slightly nicer garb than usual though his catgirls are dressed to the nines. "Ready when you are," he says, eyes twinkling.

The first thing that needs doing is you and Lessia confirming you vows before Leshak. It's a simple and quick thing to do, but all your other fiancees insist on being there, surrounding Lessia as her bridesmaids once more.

As soon as you've once again kissed and hugged Lessia steps back and looks a bit unsure of something. "Oh, now you'll have to give us some time," says Renee. She takes the princess' hand and she, Lessia and your other catgirls head back up the stairs, disappearing into the upper rooms.

"What's that about?" asks Deacon Lorrick as he returns from the pantry, a plate of smoked meats in hand. He looks a little different now that he's fitted out in black. Though you've had little chance to talk to Leshak with all the wedding preparations the high priest did mention that Lorrick has taken to the worship of Bast with surprising fervor.

It may have something to do with Fiona, who is absolutely thrilled that not only is there a Goddess of cats but her beloved is changing his faith for her. She told him he didn't have to, that it wasn't something she needed or expected, that she was happy with him as he was. The silver tongued devil twisted it all around and said it was something he wanted to do for her. If you could bottle the feelings and the energy flowing through Fiona right now it would overtake coffee in a fortnight.

Before you can answer the girls start filing back out of the room, carrying or towing a variety of things. Smaller tapestries, chests, chairs, some poles, even a mirror.

"What's all this?" you ask, just as confused as Lorrick is.

Lessia puts her hands on her hips. "Darling, you know you're not supposed to see a bride in her dress before the wedding." She pauses and smiles before continuing. "So we made sure you did not. But if you could lend us a hand..."

Ah - they've dragged the lot to the top of the stairs. And levitation is something you demonstrate reasonably often, even if it's not precisely your field of expertise. They don't know the state you're in and you can't exactly tell them.

"Here, I can't carry anything, but I can handle this one," says Sandra, kicking the rolled tapestry and sending it down the stairs. The knot of cord slips and the wall hanging unrolls like an extra long carpet, almost filling the staircase.

"Whoops," she says, hand over her mouth. "Um... guess knots aren't my thing."

But you know Sandra wouldn't make a mistake like that. On a hunch you reach out and feel with your life sense. Sure enough your mischievous mother to be has sprinkled seeds over the tapestry. You mentioned to her once, long ago, just how much energy and strength little bean and alfalfa seeds had stored up inside them and she remembered.

"No trouble at all," you say, grasping the lifeline she's thrown you and sprouting all the little seeds. The tapestry bursts with the vibrant green of fresh growth, earning a gasp from most of the people in the room. "Just slide all the things you need onto the tapestry and let me do the rest."

They grin and start moving the mirror, chest and other things. One by one you grasp them with little roots and tendrils, letting them slide slowly down the tapestry. Inside, you're screaming, but you put on a casual air as you always do in spellcasting. Never let an opponent know how much you're suffering, how close you are to defeat. Wise words from your long ago master.

When the last chair slides off the tapestry and lines up neatly with the rest you lock the tendrils together and re-roll the tapestry, letting it settle into position at the bottom of the stairs. Your wife and all your fiancees are impressed. They thank you, praise your skill, race down the stairs so they can hug you again. You're having a hard time dealing with it all. It figures that right this minute Emilie has decided to throw a fit. You can feel the shocks as she batters something heavy against her door. It will hold, of course, but it's telling that such a minor thing is like the onset of a headache for you.

The girls tell you they are going to need to set things up. Other catgirls arrive carrying smaller things. Soon the tapestry is being hung from the poles and the other items are being secreted away. Lessia shoos you away with a big, infectious grin, telling you "You're looking a little pale. Perhaps you should have a little of the smoked meat."

Huh, not doing as good a job of hiding things as you thought. The meat, chilled juice and a comfy chair do wonders for you. It also gives you a chance to ask Avina and Carina how things are going with them.

"Great," says Carina.

"Just have to convince Leshak to follow your lead," says her twin sister.

"I hope we can get married soon," says Kalina, rubbing her belly self-consciously.

"I don't see the rush," you say, teasing her. "Your triplets are starting to fill in nicely but it will be a few more months before you get near Yvonne's size."

"Oh, I don't want to be the center of attention. Besides... these are, well, they're mine..."

"And he damn well loves you and them," says Nelayne, catching Kalina in her arms and tickling her till she squeals and her legs go weak. "I told you - no more mopey talk. That's just weird mother feelings messing you up. It is so simple. He loves you so much that if you can't see it you're an idiot. He will marry you, whether you've given birth or not, and the babies are part of the package - you marry and they're both yours and his."

"You should listen to Nelayne more," says Leshak, coming seemingly from nowhere.

Kalina looks mortified and you imagine that under all her white fur she's blushing cherry red. Leshak gives her a hug, very deliberately rubbing her belly. Then he gives Nelayne a hug too. At last he maneuvers Kalina back into Nelayne's arms. The tall catgirl hugs Kalina protectively and pulls her to a seat so she can properly mother her. She rubs the younger girl's tail and kisses her neck until Kalina gives up on complaining or worrying and just cuddles.

...a short time later...

Helena pokes her head out from the area concealed by the tapestry. "Okay. We're ready to go when you are. Not that I want you to hurry..." - there's a soft clap noise and she lets out a yip and hops away from the edge, staring daggers at whoever smacked her ass.

From behind the curtain you hear Renee. "Unless you want to spend days doing this we've got to get moving. Besides, our betrothed doesn't need to do anything but say 'I do'."

Soon the music starts playing - yes, yet another little draw on your meager reserves, but you couldn't exactly ask a troupe to stick around and watch you get married eight times in a night. Bards have a slight reputation for talking, the only reason the rumor would spread slowly is that hardly anyone would believe it.

You take your place, Leshak takes his. Lorrick, Leshak's fiancees, Fiona and the other catgirls watch intently. Even having just seen a wedding this is the best show in town.

When the girls stride from behind the tapestry you are not surprised to see Doe in the lead. You stayed out of any discussions on the order of the weddings. That was between brides. But Doe is so well liked by all the catgirls and by her future wives that it was a sure thing she would be next in line.

Her outfit has changed more than a little. Her dress is still white, still low cut, but now there are tasteful bits of fine black trim here and there to accentuate her lovely form. All in all the effect is eye catching and lovely. Riding at her hips, almost like a pair of saddlebags, are your two darling daughters. Both are mercifully sleepy and quiet. Their black fur stands out against their mother's wedding dress. Your wife to be is smiling, you can tell even through the gauzy black veil.

In a similar vein Lessia's bridal garb has been toned down slightly. It's still very nice but it's not eclipsing Doe. The thin black collar she's wearing is a nice nod to Bast.

Once Doe takes her place with a array of bridesmaids behind her Leshak leads you both through the ceremony. Just before the all important moment Leshak calls Lessia forward. "Lessia, wife of John, do you in sound mind accept this oathtaking ceremony?" he asks her.

"I do."

He turns to you and Doe. "Do you, John, take Doe to be your wife under the sight and blessing of Bast?"

"I do."

"Do you, Doe, take John to be your husband under the sight and blessing of Bast, knowing that he is already wed?"

"I do!" she says, singing with happiness.

"And do you accept your husband's new bride?" Leshak asks Lessia.

"I do," she says, beaming.

As soon as the rings have been exchanged Lessia moves beside Doe and some helpful bridesmaids tug you back into their ranks. Lessia whispers to Leshak while Doe circles back behind the tapestry, the bridesmaids following her and pulling you along. When the music reaches a good point Doe strides back out, following the same path. The bridesmaids follow, Sandra motioning for you to follow last.

Leshak goes through almost the same ceremony, though with minor differences in the wording. A wedding sounds a bit different when there are pair of fiancees becoming a pair of wives to one another. At the appropriate moment Leshak motions you forward and asks you "John, husband of Lessia and Doe, do you in sound mind accept this oathtaking ceremony?"

"I do."

He turns to Lessia and Doe. "Do you, Lessia, take Doe to be your wife under the sight and blessing of Bast, knowing that she is already wed?"

"I do."

"Do you, Doe, take Lessia to be your wife under the sight and blessing of Bast, knowing that she is already wed?"

"I do!" she says, a grin and a blush fighting for dominance on her face.

"And do you accept... this union between your wives?" Leshak asks you.

"I certainly do," you say. Both Lessia and Doe look like a weight has been taken off their shoulders.

As soon as the hugs and kisses are over the catgirls and Lessia head back behind the tapestry.

...a short time later...

This time Lessia leans out, letting you know it's time for the wedding.

The third bride proves to be Renee, her dress modified to make her the center of attention. A fan of long black feathers have been attached to each of her hips. When she walks her hips sway and when her hips sway they start to hypnotize you. Along with a black veil Renee has a long, black train dragging behind her. Laying atop it are five little fuzzy bundles, each hugging the next.

Behind her the others file out. Doe has switched her dress back to its earlier design and left her daughters behind so that she doesn't steal the limelight from her sister.

You have to grin as Renee nervously takes her place beside you. She's hardly ever nervous. You take her hand and she straightens up. The ceremony is the same as before, though a little longer as both Lessia and Doe have the chance to refuse you new wife to be.

Then Renee does a loop and you spend your turn in file with the bridesmaids. After she's been married to Lessia she circles round and gets married to Doe. You give her a hug, fake some sniffles and say "Oh, they get married so young these days!" like an overwrought aunt. Even though the catgirls don't really get the joke Lessia starts laughing so hard that they all start giggling and snickering.

After they recover it's back behind the tapestry once again.

The rest of the ceremonies proceed in kind, with each taking longer as your growing list of wives has to accept the new partner. And there are a lot of ceremonies - by the time you've married your fifth wife and she's married your first four there have already been 15 weddings - and that's not even counting that first church sanctioned wedding to Lessia!

Your fourth bride was Helena, nervous as she'd ever been. Her black gown still had those long sleeves though the high collar was gone, removed so you could see the thin black collar she too had decided to wear. You could clearly see Sandra's hand in the outfit. No one would have noticed before, but the sleeves and skirt of the dress were slit. With whatever laces there were removed Helena's fine white fur puffed out through the edges like flashing streaks of lightning. It drew your eyes straight to her.

After that came Yvonne, proud and confident as always. Her bridesmaid's dress was already slit up the sides, but Yvonne's wedding dress just about made your jaw drop. You couldn't think of a human woman who, nine months pregnant, would remove the red fabric covering from her belly and leave just the thread-like silver chains behind. She used a fine black collar and a long black train to pay her respects to Bast.

Sixth in line was Sandra. Her bridesmaid's dress couldn't have lost much fabric, so she changed to something else entirely. Rather than any kind of gown she wore a pair of deep black sashes. They ran down from her shoulders, across her breasts and crisscrossed over her belly button, where she put a frilly little black velvet bow like that found on a gift box. The minx was, of course, also wearing a black collar and the shortest, sexiest black veil you ever did see.

Lucky bride number seven was Alice, her bright red gown altered quite significantly. It had a keyhole style slit in its bridesmaids configuration, but that was balanced to some degree by the high, tight collar, wrist length sleeves and floor length hem. Rather than a slit skirt or sleeves Alice chose to follow Yvonne's lead - the whole midsection of her dress was removable, making her wedding dress something like a crop top. Totally scandalous! She knew her big bust and tiny waist were her best features and found exactly what she needed to show both of them off.

At long last you got to see Bethany, your eighth and final fiancee, dressed in her wedding day finery. Hers is the oddest of all - she'd been wearing white all night - but for the ceremony she wore black and she wore less. She let her long black hair flow loose like a veil. She wore a tight black vest along with a knee length skirt of the finest gauzy fabric. It took you a moment to realize it, but for whatever reason Bethany took to the idea of Bast more than the rest and decided to honor Bast with the darkest and quietest clothing she could muster. The only colors on her whole body were the whites and sparkling greens of her eyes.

After one last "I do" passes your lips you watch Bethany marry Lessia. The two freshly minted wives give each other a long, smoldering kiss.

Leshak sighs and wipes the dust from his eyes. "I would love to stay, but you already held the reception and at this point I'm going hoarse," he says. "May Bast be with you all, always. Goodnight - or rather good morning." And with that your exhausted priest shambles for the guest rooms.

"Time for me to leave as well," says Lorrick. He takes Fiona's hand and they sneak out, planning to reach home before the dawn.

As for you and yours you look at lovely Lessia and all the beautiful catgirls you've just married, smile and ask "Would it be alright if we had a nap before we consummate all our marriages?" No one disagrees, thankfully, so you all pile into the master bedroom and you know no more. Your eyes close before your body even hits the sheets.