You've made sure of it

The actual wedding is the place where the most can go wrong. You knew that as long as you convinced Doe to marry you Linne would surely follow. Long before you cleared that big hurdle the wedding was the focus of your attention. Not only ordering identical rings and two very custom bridal gowns from different sources, but organizing the priest, church, witnesses and security.

The Valanists aren't all that popular in the capital. There's a single Valanist church allowed here, more or less permitted as part of old royal treaties. That's the one church you can use, so that church it must be if you want to get married in the capital. The building is all stone and locked up tight to make sure it isn't ransacked, torn down, defiled or squatted in. The lower class and very religious citizens who live near the church hate the Valanists more than anyone. Not for any good reason that you can see, they just want to vent their frustrations and some people who are different and don't obey the normal rules are a perfect target.

As to the priest, well, that too is a reasonably simple choice. There's a small enclave of Valanists who live miles and miles out of town in a mountain retreat. A very defensible one. To placate the locals they aren't allowed to marry any outsiders at the church they have up in that retreat. Luckily there's no real limit on how many priests or families they can have up there and their leaders are quite interested in a deal with you.

It may have involved some usable grazing land and a coveted mountain spring. You recently acquired the deeds to both after some other deals with a group of shepherds and a few lonely farms. Looking back, arranging for this marriage has involved more land deals than some banks deal with. Lucky that you could take time to write messages between transformations while your mana recovered, otherwise there wouldn't have been enough hours in the day.

As the large carriage you ordered takes you and your brides to the church you see the evidence of some of your other preparations. Groups of king's guard out in **** near the church. Some favors and gold can get you a reasonable imitation of a small army. Enough to intimidate the locals and keep the priests safe until you're done.

In similar fashion, as you pull up near the church the first of several ornate coaches makes its appearance. A few nobles are coming because they don't believe you'll actually get married at all. They certainly don't believe you'll go through with a Valanistic wedding - to any of them that's political suicide. You, as a mage and an essential advisor to the king, see things differently. To be sure that you'd have enough witnesses you offered some favors to a few other nobles. Having the wedding called off due to lack of numbers would be a disaster.

In no time, before the altar...

Doe slithers forward, ready and eager to tie the knot. Though she's only had since this morning to take to the idea she's committed.

Even though the head priest had some time to see her during the wedding it's clear the old man is taken aback each time he sees the heavy tail that issues from beneath her gown. He drones on about faith, unity and several other things, perhaps to distract himself from the living mythical creature before his eyes. Finally, he intones those all important words.

Doe doesn't even blink before saying, "I do!" Her back is straight, her whole body standing proud, as if she's wanted this marriage her whole life. Controlled, ladylike, the picture of a fine noblewoman taking her place at the side of a husband she's always known would be hers. It may all be a lie, but it looks real enough.

Next the priest goes through the special, additional part of the ceremony. Even for Valanists this form of triple marriage isn't done every day. He makes various supplications and you, then Doe swear a few important oaths. As the first, or 'harmonious', wife, the 'wife of heritage', Doe must be on board with the idea of your marrying Linne and the priest must verify that during the ceremony.

All through this Linne is trying to hold still. Her tail flicks back and forth and her ears twist this way and that. She sweeps forward on small, quick steps, getting perhaps a bit too close to the priest. He turns his attention to her and she freezes up. She swears a few oaths of her own, speaking quickly, as if she's hyperventilating. Being the second, or 'accommodating', wife, she is the 'wife of cultivation', or in coarser terms the 'breeder'. It certainly seems more appropriate to call her the accommodating wife, though you hardly think harmonious is quite right for Doe.

Finally, she too says, "I do!" She clutches her arms to her bosom and looks to you with a beaming smile.

Doe starts staring at you as well and you realize that you've missed you cue. You know you didn't make her eyes hypnotic, but in that moment it feels as though they are. The priest repeats himself and you smile too as you say the magic words, "I do!" You sound calm even though your hear is thumping in your chest. And nothing can stop the huge smile spreading across your face as you place one ring on Doe, then another on Linne. As one they take the third and place it on you.

Immediately there's a cheer from the small crowd. That's something you didn't organize. Then the wine starts flowing. Something fun about the Valanists - their priests have no objection to ****. Not among the flock and now amongst themselves. It's really a wonder the faith isn't more popular with advantages like that.

Linne almost bowls you over as she wraps her arms around you. Doe waits patiently, but as soon as her new wife lets you go she moves in. She's slower about it, but her hug is crushingly strong. She's still not used to her new strength.

A few of the nobles are looking at this tableau with interest. Maybe they're just checking out the beautiful girls in their wedding best. Or maybe they're wondering if they could have done the same as you just did. A few young nobles who have yet to tie the knot look discretely thoughtful as they sip the wine. Perhaps you've done more for your new faith than you thought.