Wildhafer - Maiden's Trail

NOTE: This chapter is quite long and honestly without major plot developments, so I won't fault you if you decide to skip it. This entry in the series focuses on the wedding event in extreme detail.

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Hotzetsermun (HOHTST-SAIR-MOON) : The Deiru word for the wedding celebration.

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As the sun rose above the horizon, the sky brightened to orange, and then yellow, transitioning finally into a light blue. Not a cloud was in sight as the midsummer morning sun warmed the air. Several men in dark blue silk cotehardies marched in a line from the bucolic road skirted in tall grasses and bushes to a well trod path leading towards a manorial plot. At the lead was a man in a floppy flat hat. A small drum was tied around his waist with a thick leather strap and he was hitting it with a drumstick at a light tempo. Behind him was a man with a recorder playing a lilting tune. Next, came a man with shoulder-length gray hair, Uengeif the Baron of Suchen, his small cerulean eyes peering ahead. The line of men extended for nearly fifteen and behind them were several wagons of supplies pulled by horses. Behind the wagons were about an equal number of ladies in fancy dresses, firstly Daena the Baroness of Suchen, her hair covered in a wimple and a wide brimmed hat. Her sky blue eyes were narrow and her olive skin was wrinkled. The women wore clothes of a cobalt color, many with veils or hats similar to Daena.

Then behind the women was a man hitting a steady rhythm on his small drum, another flutist and behind him a man with a fiddle, strumming a happy tune. At the end of the procession was a man with similar visage to the Baron, his son, Odwain sitting atop a white steed. He wore a fine dark blue silk cotehardie with intricate spiral patterns across his chest and a large floppy flat with a long peacock feather. His sky blue eyes were like his mother, and his large nose and broad chin like his father. He held up a short sword with lined and spiral designs interspersed with Fareikziechen (a sun with a simple steepled house in the center) and speirelblum symbols (spiral flower shape) cut through the steel as part of the stylized design. He was smiling as they approached the manorial plot.

Those in the nearby village came out of their houses to watch the procession reach the stone manor. The company of well dressed individuals lined up about twenty feet from the abode, women on one side and men on the other, in rows of five people, leaving a gap between the men and women. The music from the drummers, fiddle player, and flutist stopped. Odwain sheathed his sword, dismounted his horse and tied it to the wagon, then walked past the wagon, his father on one side and his mother on the other. He looked to his father who nodded. Uengeif signaled to the musicians with a raised hand. The drums began and then the flutist, and finally the fiddle. As the music swelled Baroness Daena began singing loudly and the women followed along.

&&

Our son has come to get married, we have come from over yon.

We will open up our arms, if you open up your home.

Over the hills and across the river, we have brought you riches.

Let us unite and join our blood.

In Fareik we trust in him we shall join our houses.

&&

When they had got to the end, the men began singing the same words. They went back and forth in this way. Their singing was well practiced and pleasing to the ear.

After a time, the singing grew a bit more quiet, but they continued, even as the small inset door to the great hall opened. From the door came Viscount Deinmag and Viscountess Farnei. The Viscount wore a red coat with ermine trim over a red cotehardie. The Viscountess wore a red dress with white lace and long puffy sleeves. She also wore a red lace up hood lined with ermine trim. Behind them was a line of five men who came out of the door. They lined up in front of the men of the other family, and began vocalizing soft wordless music. Then the women came out of the manor and faced the women of the other family in a line and vocalized in much the same way as the men. Viscountess Farnei of Wukla was at the head of the procession. Those peasants of the village watched as the two families sung together, different timing of the same chorus. Their voices were beautifully mixed. The family facing the manor stopped after the women's verse as the Baron of Uengeif held up his hand. Then the family facing away from the manor finished their chorus, and the Viscount of Wukla held out his hand.

Odwain unsheathed his sword and said authoritatively, "Prepare the gifts of coin and food."

Two of his men, wearing plain gray tunics, got out of the front wagon and went inside the canvas covered wagon bed. One brought a small chest while the other brought a large basket with a handle covered in fabric and stood behind Odwain.

Odwain stepped forward between his mother and father. The Viscount and Viscountess stepped up to meet him with solemn faces. The men that were singing finished their chorus, falling silent and the women shortly after. Then Odwain put the intricate short sword into the scabbard on his belt and spoke in a booming voice.

"I am Odwain, son of Uengeif, Baron of Suchen. We have come many leagues from our home to you today as my family had promised at the appointed time. I have brought the gift of coin pledged in exchange to wed the woman that has been promised as my bride." He turned and waved to the men carrying the gifts who brought them forward. Odwain opened the chest, revealing several hundred golden coins. "We have also brought a gift of food." He pulled back the fabric covering, revealing a large assortment of dried fruit and nuts. Viscount Deinmag nodded in appreciation.

"Do you uphold your family's vow so I may be wed and our houses may be joined?" Odwain asked.

"I Deinmag, Viscount of Wukla, Welcome you to our Manor and accept your gifts," said the Viscount in a serious manner. "I offer your promised bride so that our families will be forever joined."

"Thank you my lord."

They closed their eyes and their foreheads touched for several seconds and then they pulled back.

"How was the journey?" Viscount Deinmag asked, suddenly relaxed and convivial, as he set his hand on Odwain's shoulder. Odwain's austere demeanor broke, and he smiled amiably.

They spoke only briefly, Baron Uengeif joining the conversation as they waxed about simple things such as the recent weather, the conditions of the road, their health, and then having finished, Baron Uengeif touched foreheads with Viscount Deinmag. The Baroness and the Viscountess did the same. Then Deinmag introduced Odwain's family to a man with a graying beard that wore white linen coif beneath a rather plain brown bourrelet style hat. He was Volto, the bailiff of the manor. Volto pointed off to a clearing where they could rest until they would be formally invited inside. He walked with the travelers to the flat ground. The chest and basket were handed to servants from the manor home who took it inside the stone edifice with Viscount Deinmag, his wife, and the bailiff.

The others unpacked the wagons and began to set up a pavilion. The sun was getting high in the sky when a set of large connected tents were finished. The servants that had done most of the work rested beneath the shade of trees nearby as sweat streamed down their brows. Odwain sat at a small table with his father Baron Uengeif, mother Baroness Daena, and young sister Oleinda.

The door to the manor opened wide. A man with a floppy hat and green velvet clothes exited the building and began playing a lute in a slow melody.

"It is time my son," said the Baron. "Tell the servants to eat, we will go inside."

"Yes father."

Odwain with his family (all twenty) queued into two lines of men and women. Odwain stood between his parents at the head of each line. They entered the building and the lutist finished his music, following them inside and closing the door. Inside the great hall of the manor house were three long tables put together in an H shape. A napkin was set in front of each chair setting.

There at the table was the Viscount Deinmag Viscountess Farnei, nearly twenty more of their family, and of course the bride. She wore a long yellow gown with two layers, the inner touching the ground with intricate lace and also at the end of long sleeves that expanded wide at the elbows. Around her waist was a thick shiny blue ribbon and she wore a thin silver necklace with a Fareikziechen pendant and bright blue lapiz lazuli gemstones flanking the center. The neckline of the dress was high, right beneath her jawline. A white veil that obscured the bride's face was affixed to the crown of her head. Those in the bride's family wore beautiful clothing in similar styles of a scarlet color. They had stood up when Odwain's family entered, including the priest at the middle of the table. He was dressed in a pale blue robe, a white sash with Deiru writing, and a square hat with a dove-tailed ribbon hanging from the back corner nearly a foot long. He had a round face with a square jaw and small cerulean eyes.

Odwain walked with his father on his right and mother on his left. Their family behind them followed, the men behind Baron Uengeif and the women behind Baroness Daena. They walked forward until Odwain reached his betrothed. Then the Baron and Viscount bowed, their foreheads touching slightly. Odwain went right, at the head of the line for his family, his father (Baron Uengeif) right after him. They walked around the tables, the groom to the right and the bride to the left, around the 'H' shape to the back. Odwain met his bride in the center of the middle table. They bowed low to each other, but did not touch. Then they turned towards the table.

On the bride's right hand side stood Viscount Deinmag, then the rest of the men in her family. On Odwain's side was his father and the men in his family. The women then entered, from each family, filling the opposite side of the table. The two mothers, Viscountess Farnei and Baroness Daena stood across from their husbands. In between them, across from the betrothed, stood the priest. When everyone was in their place, they all sat down.

The smell of cooked meats, stews, vegetables, and all sorts of pleasing odors wafted from the kitchen and diffused through the hall's tall ceilings. Several servants in gray clothes walked from the kitchen and began placing round gourd cups in front of each individual at the tables starting with the groom, then all the men, and finally the bride and the women. The cups for the bride and groom were trimmed with gold, and on the outside was a painted tableau. It was of a man and woman in dark ink outline and between them a bright yellow Fareikziechen.

Before everyone was served, the priest stood with outstretched hands and said a blessing, invoking the name of the sun god, Fareik. He blessed everyone in attendance and their food before sitting back down. The servants began filling the cups with wine in the same order as how the individuals sat at the tables. As the last cup was filled, Viscount Deinmag stood, holding his cup high. He began a speech in a stentorian voice, welcoming both the groom and bride's family. He expressed his happiness in having them finally wed with a raised cup.

"Heyah!" shouted those in attendance and then they took a sip of the wine. The Viscount then invited the Baron to say a few words. Baron Uengeif stood with wine held aloft. His voice was more measured and melodious. It was another thank you speech, but this time to the father and family of the Bride. When he was done he held up his cup and wished the bride and groom many healthy children.

"Heyah!" everyone shouted.

"Bring forth the food!" Viscount Deinmag stood and shouted.

"Heyah!"

It was at that point that the doors to the kitchen opened and platters were brought into the room. The main course was crispy duck seasoned with scallion, and a hearty vegetable soup. Each person at the tables had a hard slab of bread used like a plate to soak in the flavors of their meal. There was conversation and eating which all told took nearly an hour. Odwain and his bride however did not talk to each other. They were mostly silent, only speaking to their parents occasionally. When everyone was finished the servants collected the table of refuse to be tossed to the pigs.

Viscount Deinmag waved to Volto and mouthed the words 'music'. The bailiff whispered in the ear of the man in green velvet. The troubadour dabbed his lips with a cloth after he finished drinking. Then he grabbed his lute from the floor and began playing it. His pockmarked round face was characterized by a severe square jaw that was open slightly while he played. He closed his jaundiced eyes to focus on his craft.

A few of the children danced in circles with the music while on a small table two middle aged men pondered carefully before moving carved wooden pieces across a board with a square grid. The rest danced, told stories, or played games for nearly another hour before Viscount Deinmag whispered to the bailiff. Volto stood and awkwardly asked everyone to be quiet to no avail. Finally the Viscount, chiding the bailiff's uselessness, stood and whistled loudly. Those in attendance immediately were silenced. Volto apologized and then beseeched the priest to begin the Hoetzetairun ceremony.

The priest stood and started a speech, reminding everyone that marriage is a solemn obligation that joins two people together to create a new family. He set a tome on the table and began reading a parable. It was about a man building a house by himself. His family offered to help and he accepted, but when his wife's family offered to help he refused. The man was pleased with what he created with his side of the family, but the structure collapsed the first night he slept inside, killing him and his wife. The priest explained that there was an important moral to the story. Support is needed from both families, so if there are any doubts the families should discuss them now. Everyone nodded their head, and they were silent.

The priest thanked everyone, then he instructed the bride on her duty to the groom if they were to get married. She must honor and obey him at all times. She was to take care of him, his house, bare children, and always be loyal. He told a parable on this topic about a wife who was killed in an accident when she didn't follow her husband. Then he asked the bride if she understood. She bowed her head solemnly in confirmation. From behind Viscount Deinmag, a servant handed him a bowl with sliced apples. He handed it to the bride who held it out to the priest. The priest accepted the bowl and ate from it. Then he blessed the bride's family with a short prayer.

Next he turned to the groom and said that his responsibility was to provide and protect his new family. He told a long story of a husband who did not listen to Fareik and how Taxiau (Goddess of deceit, lies, and trickery) cursed his family with a difficult and sorrowful life. The priest asked the groom if he understood. Odwain bowed his head in confirmation. His father Baron Uengeif held a gourd cup filled with dessert wine which he handed to his son. Odwain gave it to the priest, who slowly drunk it all down before passing it back. Then the priest blessed the groom's family and completed Hoetzetairun with one last prayer to Fareik.

Those in attendance raised their glasses, drank in celebration and the minstrel took up his lute again. This time only the bride's family danced, both men and women, but not together. On each side of the room they lined up and performed their well practiced folk dance. The children stuck to the sidelines dancing in circles. The dancing waned after a short time and those in attendance took to lounging again. Viscount Deinmag asked bailiff Volto to check on the next course in the kitchens. Soon after, he asked everyone to sit at the table and the next meal was served. There was fish with green herbs and pork with vegetable stew.

After the meal, the families relaxed briefly and the bride's family took to ceremonial dancing in well practiced rhythms in the same style as they had done before the meal, but slower, being very full from their supper. Laughs accompanied several burps from one young woman who had indigestion.

After the dance, a dessert of apples, nuts, and honey was served. Then the servants started cleaning up and the groom's family dispersed. The sun was low in the sky as they left the manor to retire in the pavillion of tents they had raised. The bride's family filled the hall with straw beds, so the servants were forced to sleep outside.

Odwain, although tired from the day before, woke early in the morning. He spoke with his parents about the events of the day. They took their time to dress in formal clothing and he practiced a dance with his mother. As the sun was rising nearly halfway to its zenith, the minstrel in green clothes began strumming his lute. The groom's family lined up in front of the manor and shortly after the Viscount, Viscountess, and the bride came out wearing clothing in a different pattern. The Viscount wore a salmon colored cotehardie with white swirling patterns and his wife wore a yellow dress and hood with a red rimmed collar. The bride wore a green dress and a veil with flowing skirts and long sleeves. They entered the manor and ate wild pheasant on a bed of greens with a leek and potato soup. After the meal, the families each told stories about the wedded. Some were a bit embarrassing, others heartfelt. Through the stories those in attendance came to know the bride and groom a bit better.

After the stories there was more music, but this time the groom's family danced. It was traditional and slow to the strumming of the lutist. After dancing Odwain's family began singing. The men would begin and then the women of his family would sing the same verse in a round.

The Viscount looked at the bailiff expectantly. Volto stood and thanked the groom's family for the entertainment and announced that supper was to begin soon. The servants brought the tables back to the center of the hall, then everyone sat for another meal. They dined on a pork meatball and vegetable soup that was served with sliced bread. The soup was seasoned with many herbs, and the bread was very hard. Most put their bread in the soup and ate it when the texture became soft.

After dinner, Volto announced that Reingensermun was to commence. Two wooden basins with a pole in the center, hung with a curtain, were brought into the hall, one in each corner opposite the kitchen. The servants began taking pots of warm water from the kitchen to fill them. A wooden curtain divider was placed against the basin to block it from view of the opposite corner. The groom's family stood outside the curtain divider and faced towards the other family which did the same for the bride. The groom was behind the curtain and his family in front. A couple servants helped strip off his clothing before he stepped into the basin. The priest stood with a tome held up, reading a passage aloud. The strong odor of welkweed and urine caused Odwain to recoil as the servants rubbed the herbal mix over his body. After he was coated with the pasty substance, the priest said a brief prayer. Odwain bowed and the priest asked him to bathe. Then the priest walked to the other corner to perform the same blessing to the bride.

The fabric curtain at the top of the pole was pulled around Odwain for privacy, leaving only his head visible. Baron Uengeif, with his wife and daughter, circled the basin in which Odwain sat eight times. Then the Baron invited the rest of his family to do so. Afterwards, the servants washed the groom, while everyone else went back to the couches and tables, to talk and drink wine. The same ritual was performed with the bride. The bride and groom were put into clean white clothes, the bride still with a wimple over her hair and a veil covering her face.