It took three visits to seamstresses before Janessa finally found her dress. She twirled in it, giggling. It was cream, with a mixture of Karagot and Northfjord styles. The fabric clung to her curves, but the neckline was high, which Janessa, struggling constantly to avoid her breasts bursting out of her clothes, preferred. There was lace with a snowflake pattern and pearls from Karagot. She looked perfect. Lilia and Greta, both crying tears of happiness, agreed.
Next, they had to find a temple for the ceremony. The reception would be at Sven's castle, on the outskirts of Silverfall, which meant they could use any temple in Silverfall. But there was only one dedicated to a Karagotine god. And even then, it was a deity shared between Karagot and Northfjord.
Janessa and Sven made the visit to the temple of Sonselle to meet the Head Priestess themselves. Sonselle was originally a Northfjord deity, but Northfjord immigrants brought her to Karagot, where her worship spread. She was widely respected, feared, and loved. Her domains were the sunrise, sex, fertility, victory, transformation, and fate. Normally, weddings were not held in her temples. But the Head Priestess gave them permission, even wryly admitting that the Northfjord gods would likely be displeased to have a Karagotine woman be wed in their temples.
Sven and the Head Priestess went outside to discuss more details. Janessa stayed behind for a few minutes. She looked up at the statue of Sonselle above the altar. The goddess was represented in her typical way: naked, with large breasts and a pregnant belly, the sun behind her head, holding an extinguished torch in one hand and a flaming axe in the other. Janessa lit a stick of incense at the altar. She bowed her head and said a soft prayer. Then, she left, unaware that after she turned away, the statue's eyes glowed.
The rest of the preparations came together after. The decorations were decided, as were the wedding colors (icy blue and pale gray, the colors of the betrothed couple's eyes). Lilia arranged for the same musicians that had performed at the Bachelorette Ball where Sven and Janessa met to play at the reception. Karagotine immigrants and refugees taught the caterers traditional Karagotine dishes, so there could be foods from both cultures. And invitations were finally sent. The entire Copperstone family was invited. Antyny was not.
While Janessa was too busy to notice much during the wedding planning, she did notice one thing. Greta had stopped bringing multiple men back to her room. Instead, all of her flirtation and sexual needs were focused on one man: Leonid, Head of the King's Guard. Janessa couldn't help but smile a bit as she watched Greta fawn over the tall, handsome man. For once, her behavior was genuine, not an act to get information.
Janessa remembered the wedding blessings. She wouldn't know what they were until the wedding day, as that was arranged with the person performing the marriage. But she wondered if Greta might be involved in one of them.