Akran
3rd month, February 35, 2997
On the days leading up to Valentine's Day Ligh's Chinese cult went ahead and began to decorate with pink and read decorations. The fountains that they had recently made to bring up drinking water from the earth had Cupid statues added and the leaders took to wearing pink and red, or as Cordlen did, in purple.
People began to be more affectionate, hoping to have a valentine by the 14th. Ligh and Aspira were two, beginning to be friendlier to each other. Ligh would bring Aspira weapons and armour for the army and Aspira would train the Chinese as we began to call the void's watch.
Gabriel and Lenox were acting friendlier as well both teasing and insulting each other on the other's policies and morals. They also traded resources with each other.
Niki also seemed to be trying to get Charolette to be nicer and Charolette seemed to be trying to humour her and taking lessons on how to be nicer to others, though how Niki knew how to be nice was a matter of question since her ADHD and insanity could rival Shiani's. They did seem to be doing well, and by well, I mean that it was now harder to tell if Charolette was happy or contemplating burning you at the stake.
Cordlen seemed to begin to take a liking for Shiani and Shiani seemed to appreciate that, they are being rather obvious though, so I have suspicion that they are merely trying to establish a diplomatic marriage.
However, two days before Valentine's Day Shiani and Cordlen publicly announced that they would marry, and both confided to me that it was in part for love but mostly for peace. On that day people from all the cities, including the wolves, were invited to attend a grand ceremony in the throne room of the grand palace, which had enough space to fit 2000 people, we used it for church when on Sundays.
"Welcome lost ones, wolves and the night's watch, welcome all, we thank you for coming to the marriage of Shiani and Cordlen. Now please stand for the Avaleon national anthem." I said once the people had quieted down.
There was a time
When the land was alone
No one inside with a place to call home
Its only friend was the man on the moon
And even sometimes he would go away too
Then one night as it closed its eyes
It saw a shadow, flying by
They came to it with people and love
Told it they wanted to stay for a while
They said, Avaleon that's what they call us
I promise that you'll never be lonely
Ever since that day
We are the lost ones
From the shadowlands
Usually hanging out with the wolf pack
And when were bored, we play in the woods
Always on the run from, death himself
Run, run lost ones he said to us
Away from your home, reality
Diag is home to lost ones like me
And lost ones like me are free
And for always I will sing
I am a lost one
From the shadowlands
Usually hanging out with the wolf pack
And when were bored, we play in the woods
Always on the run from, death himself
Diag is home to lost ones like me
And lost ones like me are free*
The crowd cheered as Cordlen and Shiani began to walk down the aisle. The day before both had worried that none would come to the wedding but now it seemed as if the entire population of all four great nations had arrived. Shaini wore a black gown with a tie on the front and no veil and Cordlen wore a white suit with a skirt. They wore such ridiculous attire in order to show their differences, they also hated the gender stereotypes but at least Shiani was female that day.
When they reached the end, both bowed their heads at Gabriel who bowed back in kind. Gabriel was our priest and was well versed in Christianity and Islam. He knew exactly how to fill someone with inspiration with his words and was known to reducing audiences to tears of happiness.
"On this joyful day we gather in the eyes of Gods and people to celebrate the union between Cordlen of the waters and Shiani of the wolves," he began, "Now repeat after me, In the name of life, I take you to be my spouse, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, until death do us part."
They both repeated the oath then kissed to the cheers of the people. Then two kids, Polly and Matt, brought them rings which they both slipped on each other's fingers then they bowed before the cheering crowd. Then each gave a speech.
"Today is a day of love, a day of kindness, and a day of celebration. We have been divided by the sides of the wall that we have chosen but no longer, for we are lost one's of Diag, not of Avaleon, the Knol or anywhere else. Today our great nations join as one in war and in peace, Until the morning, we survive the night, all of us together. So, until the morning!" "We survive the night!" the crowd responded to Cordlen's speech.
Then Shiani smiled and gave a speech. "I have seen fear, I have seen love, I have seen growth, friendship, and ruin in the brief time that we have been in the valley. We as a people are instinctively divided but we do not have to be. All our groups work in harmony and if one falls so do, we all. a great man once said, a house divided cannot stand." She then howled and the other night's (as we called the night's watch) howled then the wolves followed and for the first time Fenris's howl was inspiring instead of horrifying.
The rest of that day people married, celebrated, got drunk, started peaceful riots (which were just tournaments held in the arena staged to be like riots and battles) it was great. The next day A lot of people were dazed, and most had drunk too much, the kids had the better of it and thus the next day was known as the children's day, a day for children to be children and rule themselves.
The children's leader was a boy of about thirteen named Falon, he was Kara's son and when he showed up at the meetings the next day declaring himself the voice of the children, we all saw that he knew very much what he was doing. He would warn us of time to time of whispers and plots and later I would name him the master of whispers. How he collected this information I would learn only later.
Overall, the day was an incredible mess, and no one got any work done but only Alizee and I noticed.
Agriculture: Lenox,44
Water & irrigation: cordlen,37
Guardians: Gabriel, 17
The army: Aspira, 18
Economy: Alizee, 19
Labour: Granger, 20
Health & human services: Alvaro, 11
Housing & urban development: Ligh, 34
Transportation: Niki, 15
Energy: Charolotte, 23
Surveyors: Akran, 40
Education: Kara, 12
Whispers: Falon, #?*
The night's watch: Shiani, 27
322 employed
*We all knew that Falon had sources and others helping him, but they eluded the eyes of the guardians.