Marius' and Felicita's Wedding

[Felicita]

The wedding of the senator Marius and Lucius' and Marcus' sister Felicita was held in the house of the Silvio family. Many people were invited, who were politically important, and a few others, who were befriended or related to the two families. And slowly, the halls were filling with these guests.
The whole house was decorated with flowers, the slaves had worked on these for many days. Still, the flowers were fresh, they blossomed as if they have been cut only one hour ago, and their wonderful odour was filling the rooms.

Where the wedding was held:



Felicita still was in her room, two slave girls with her, and the curtains that otherwise would reveal the view in were closed. She already was wearing her wedding dress. It was a white, simple dress below, made out of a light, soft fabric. It fell down on her body over her curves almost to her ankles, setting an accent to her cleavage and neck. This dress was bound to her body by a light rosy ribbon, which was tied around her waist and enhanced her slender figure.
Over this light dress, she wore a noble mantle, open in the front, and the sleeves reached down to her ellbows. It was made out of orange-red velvet. A light fabric was laid over the mantle, fixed by a clasp on her right shoulder.
Finally, a limpid, warm-colored fabric, like a veil, was fixed on her hair, which she wore in a light knot on the back of her head, although one whisp of hair fell down to her cheek.
The two slave girls just fixed Felicita's jewelry, they laid a golden necklace around her throat, and hung two rose quarz stones, framed with gold, to her ears. A bracelet that Felicita had gotten from her mother a long time ago she already wore.

Felicita's Wedding Dress:

[Lucius Valerius Silvio]

As the wedding of Felicita and Marius were to be held in the house of Silvio, the brother Lucius was seen inside. However waiting along with the guest he was, as the bride prepared herself to walk down the alter. Many had come to see the wedding be held, as quite important for Rome it was. As Roman tradition it was usual to marry inside the house of the family, although also it were used for the head of the family to proclaim the couple married as the responsibility was left upon the husband. Calm he stood waiting on the alter, beside his brother in law Marius that was to marry Felicita that soon were to come. A lot was decorated in the house with flowers and more, friends and family had gathered to see the event to take place and so stood around waiting for the bride to come.

Lucius himself was wearing his finest cloths, a toga with a tunic below. White and red were the colors of his clothing, representing Rome and their house. However happy he was as his sister were finally to marry someone she seemed to love, he was glad about the deeds to happen. However he had other plans then others seemed to know, long had he wished for more power and with this deed done he would gain it. Although it also could lead to violence later on, even he did not ever wish to hurt his own sister or any other member of the family when fulfilling his wishes.

[Senator Marius]

Marius that were to be married with Felicita, waited on her to come down to the alter as calm he stood beside his brother in law Lucius. It seemed to become a wonderful wedding, although inside the house of Silvio it were to be held. Decorations with gold, silver, flowers and more were placed all around as much was prepared for it. Many guests also seemed to had come, as many known friends and family members there were of the two houses. As he stood there waiting, he were dressed in almost the same cloths as Lucius as costume in Rome. Long had he waited for the moment to come, as beautiful Felicita were and a kind woman she seemed.

With a smile he watched the crowd around them, glad to see many had come thought now wanted Felicita to arrive so the wedding could start. Nervous he was, but still tried to look calm as a great day it surely were. With the blessing of the gods they would marry, and together they would stay truthful as wife and husband.

[Adara]

Adara smiled at her brother as she stood to the side a little bit of her brother...she loved him very much and she wanted him to be happy! She loved the surrounding building it seemed so magical and perfect for a wedding, she wondered who had picked it out, she was sure the bride did, even though she loved her brother...he didn't have this kind of magical ability to pick places out...but she didn't care she jsut wanted to sink the whole thing in and remember this moment forever!

[Felicita]

Felicita was ready, her dress and all her jewelry fit perfectly. However, she was a little nervous. Today was the day she had awaited in a long time, and wished for it all to become perfect, even although she knew it was only little hope all could turn out perfectly. She hoped Marius was a good man as she had thought him to be when they first met. And she hoped their marriage would be a success for them, but also Lucius.

There was so much connected to this marriage that she could not influence that it made her feel nervous if she truly should agree. But what choice did she have, Lucius told her to do so, he was the head of her family and so she had to do as he wished. She now tried to concentrated on how she felt when she met Marius the first time. She fell in love with him, almost instantly, and this feeling she tried to recall now.

Finally, she opened the door to the hall where the wedding was to be held. Many people had arrived, the hall almost was crowded. Many of these people she didn't even know, many politicians it seemed. Most of them were staring at her now, while she moved towards the head of the hall, where she spotted Marius, with another woman at his side. She supposed it was his sister, she never had met her before. On the other side, she saw her brother Lucius awaiting her.

[Marcus Flavius Aquila]

As soon as Marcus received an invitation to the wedding of his beloved sister, he made sure nothing got on the way for him to assist promptly. And so he was one of the first persons to arrive. He got to know Felicita was not ready yet, but he patiently waited outside the room she was in, he wandered through the hall.

He was wearing the outfit he always did for very special occasions, like this one, that would be one of the most important in his life: the wedding of his sister. Everything had to be perfect. He was wearing his blue cloak and was pacing from one side to the other thinking on what to tell his sister for he knew how anxious and nervous she was. It was easy to understand since this day would bring a new life before her feet.

As she opened the doors and looked at Lucius, Marcus approached her and said smiling at her, “you look beautiful sister, will you not give me a hug on this blessed day?” He opened his arms widely to embrace his soon-to-be-wedded sister. His eyes shone with inner happiness, he was so proud of her.

[Felicita]

Felicita was facing many strangers right in front of her, and her eyes lit a little bit up when she saw Marcus stepping right in front of her, a familiar face, she was relieved to see him. “Marcus! I’m glad to see you here. You made it!” She spoke with a smile while taking him into a hug. A strand of hair she wiped our of her face, behind her ear and continued. “Do you know, is everyone here already? The bride groom?” She asked him, feeling her own pulse beating in rapid speed. Although she thought she already had seen Marius ahead, she wanted to be sure as now the crowd were covering any further sight.

Out of some strange reason she felt as if floating, as if she were in a dream, all felt so unreal. This was her wedding day, the day she looked forward to her whole lifetime and suddenly it was here, right in front of her, or rather she was in the middle of it all. It seemed to be happening so quick.

Now since she had all her loved ones around her, or at least somewhere hidden from her in this crowded room, her nervousness seemed to decrease a little, everything pointed to that this wedding was the right decision to make. She was in love with Marius, Lucius had chosen the right husband for her, deep within her she knew nothing would go wrong, at least on this day. From time to time, she took a deep breath to calm herself down again.

[Marcus Flavius Aquila]

Marcus laughed as Felicita embraced him warmly and could really tell she was indeed excited and nervous. She really looked beautiful and was one of the wisest women of all times Marius was lucky indeed.

He then held her sister by both arms and squeezed them gently as he said, “Aye, he is here wearing clothes that make him resemble the Immortal ones and as proud as any man could be of marrying you, sister. You will soon see him.” He then smiled down to her and said, “breathe, my sister, this is your day, today you are the Queen.”

And she truly was, not that there were Kings or Queens in Rome since it was a republic, but Felicita was the noble’s pride, especially Marcus’. As he looked around he saw a lot of people he knew and a lot he did not, but everyone seemed ready and eagerly awaiting for the bride to come and the wedding to take place. As a lot of rites had to be done, Marcus nodded at her and said, “this is your day, make the best of it, dear sister.” He wanted her to know she had Lucius’ and his own support whenever she needed them, it was clear.

[Senator Marius]

Marius could not be happier as he suddenly saw his coming wife approaching in distance, she looked beautiful as she moved over to were he stood and with amazed looks he could not take his eyes from her. He was glad, to have her and his family around as the incredible wedding were to be held. Next to Lucius he stood silent, with hands attached to one another in front of him as he waited for Felicita to come. It surely was a sight to remember, but with the marriage between the two houses it would secure an alliance and friendship for them both. It would also make others gain what they desired the most, Marius a wife and Lucius the wishes to be a pro consul. Hopefully nothing bad would come out of the marriage, as careful Marius were about the exchange.

[Felicita]

Felicita looked back into Marcus' eyes after their hug, and she was glad he still held her arms, otherwise she was was sure she would not bring up the strength to stand much longer, so overwhealmed she was. Relief suffused her that Marius was there, that he has not decided otherwise, not to marry her. She let out a light laugh. "The Queen? Surely not, brother. But thank you." She replied, letting her eyes roam the room once more, searching for familiar faces, especially Marius' face.

"Probably... I should move towards the altar now?" She spoke, rather stating it than questioning it. People were looking at her, talking to each other, all around, and she barely knew them at all. She would prefer to move on, to where ever Lucius stood, and especially Marius with his relatives. She began walking in this direction, still staying in touch with Marcus though.

[Marcus Flavius Aquila]

Marcus looked at Felicita as she looked at Marius, he smiled in tenderness for it was visible the love she felt for him. Her face lit in an angelic splendour as if the gods themselves had dressed Felicita in their own charms, just like they did to Pandora, but this time to let a beautiful and lovable woman reach her happiness. Marcus thought Marius was a lucky man, for anyone would love to have Felicita as wife, “he is a lucky man, my sister, but it is time you go to him.”

He gently led her as she indeed stated that she had to go to the altar. He could sense her excitement and at the same time nervousness, therefore, he squeezed gently her hand in order to assure her that everything would be fine. He could easily tell that she feared those she did not know, but once he had given her hand to Marius, then she would be immerse in his eyes and the love both held from one another.

As they walked forth, everyone seemed amazed and enlightened with Felicita’s beauty and tender smile, everyone could tell she was in love, as well as Marius who could not take his eyes away from her. Marcus’ heart beat fast as he brought his beloved sister to the altar, in order for her to wed the one man he served with all his heart. He would now fight for Rome and the Senator’s house with all his heart, for his sister was to become his wife.

[Lucius Valerius Silvio]

Lucius who still were waiting along side Marius waited for Felicita to come, however as she was seen in the distance talking to her step brother, he had to smile. It seemed Marcus was to follow her down the alter, and to give the hand over to the senator as he were her husband to be. Both of her brothers surely seemed to wish her the best, as they had agreed for her to marry the man of their choosing, but also cause Felicita love towards him. Curiously he watched as they approached, thought happy he was as soon his dreams and hers were to come true.

As they came over and stopped as Felicita were handed to Marius, the wedding was able to start. Interested the crowd watched as the event were to take place, but slightly Lucius nodded to his sister and brother, cause ready they seemed to be in what to happen. When Marius handed Felicita`s hand to Marius, Lucius took their hands and laid them upon each other as their brother went to stand aside. With a smile he watched, glad about they all agree cause strong power it gave the house of Silvio to do greater for Rome and them self.

[Senator Marius]

Marius who nervous and excited stood beside Lucius, was amazed by the sight he saw as Felicita approached with her step brother Marcus at side. The beauty of the woman he were to marry had surely spelled him with great thoughts, the future would become good he believed as long she would be his wife. With a kind and pretty woman as Felicita, she would please him in time to come though still he hoped nothing of what to happen were a trick to gain power. The dress she had on made his feelings move, as well as his heart burned for her with great passion. Everything they had been threw had made them closer, though only short had they spent time talking with one another. From the first moment they had meet, they both had found love in each other but decided to keep the thoughts of fun away, until their wedding night to come.

When she stopped next to him, and he were given her hand as both her brothers seem to agree with it. It pleased him, but kindly he returned a nod as he turned his focus back on his wife to be. Now as Lucius were to marry them, he waited for what to happen but tight and kind he held onto Felicita`s hand as she held onto his while both stood close.

[Felicita]

Only one thought now was on Felicita's mind, and this was the thought of being married to the man she loved. Marius was standing beside her now while they both were facing Lucius, who now laid their hands together. Marriage essentially transferred a woman from the authority of her father to the authority of her husband. As her father was dead, Lucius was the head of the family, and he now would perform the ceremony and take Felicita's and Marius' wedding vows.

The Roman vows were a chant, and were the same words for all brides and grooms. The bride was to say: "Quando tu Gaius, ego Gaia." (When and where you are Gaius, then and there I am Gaia.) These words were one of the deepest traditions in Rome, and it made Felicita proud to speak them out loud and to let everyone of the present people know that she had made the right decision. "When and where you are Gaius, then and there I am Gaia." She spoke the sacred words, looking at Marius.

[Marcus Flavius Aquila]

Marcus smiled at Felicita was now before Marius. He moved a bit away form them and watched the ceremony with pure joy, the happiness his sister transmitted was much more potent than the sun rays. Marcus only hoped that she would always be happy alongside with Marius who already seemed deeply in love with her. But what was hope to mortals but a glimpse of what they could never have?

Silent and thoughtful he looked at his brothers and Marius and recognized the gods' doings on this and therefore, as Felicita spoke, he closed his eyes and prayed for this marriage to be blessed by the gods themselves and in a way, thought that there was no woman as pure and good-willed as Felicita. She had always done what a woman had to do: support her brothers, aid her people and honour their gods and goddesses. Yet she never complained, she seemed to like it and to dream with what was soon to come. Many times did he watch her wearing a white blanket pretending it was her wedding day, describing it and at the same time adding and retrieving things form her dream wedding. And now, here she was, amidst the day she had always dreamed for.