The chapel was ready at the end of April and the preparations for the first wedding, Clara and Junior's, started immediately.

Making it a grand event was impossible seeing how difficult it was to do even the smallest tasks, like sewing a few new dresses for Clara's friends from the village, preparing rooms for a handful of guests, or ordering extra food for the wedding dinner, while trying to keep the omnipresent, obnoxiously watchful members of the Council ignorant of our intentions.

The castle was buzzing with excitement and feverish activity, just like the village, hushing only during those days when we had to receive and entertain our unwelcome visitors-- we tried to make everything look normal then, as if nothing out of ordinary was happening.

We couldn't fathom if Rareş, who had visited Bran a couple of times in person, or his minions, noticed that something was going on, but they never said anything openly, and so we pushed on with our plans and preparations as well, and as fast, as we could.

As the wedding day drew close, it was decided that it would only be me and Vlad who would accompany the couple from the castle, the rest of those present at the ceremony would be the people from the village, our, and Clara's father's closest friends and relatives. Radu and Lucas would stay behind, with a valid excuse for my and Vlad's absence should anyone from the Council arrive before we returned.

The morning of the wedding was a wonderful, early May day. Little Ioan was entrusted to his great-grandmother and Katerina and I was supposed to help Clara to get dressed and ready.

While Katerina brushed her hair, Clara's eyes met mine in the mirror sitting on my dressing table between the two windows. She looked very serious throughout the preparations, a thing which I considered normal seeing that she was about to be married to the man she loved, who happened to be the future prince. But now I thought I saw tears glisten in her eyes and it worried me.

The moment Katerina finished with her hair, and the only thing left to do was attaching the heavy, richly embroidered sleeves to the dress Clara was wearing, I decided to let Katerina go. I could do that on my own. I felt that Clara needed to talk and she would not say anything while my old nurse was in the room. Our nurse... My subconscious reminded me about mine, and Katerina's connection with Clara.

I took a deep breath, trying to find words which would not offend Katerina, but she curtsied and started walking towards the door even before I opened my mouth.

"I'll help Cook with little Ioan. She must be busy with the lunch... Call me should you need my help, my lady." She said, smiling at me.

She noticed Clara's strange behaviour too. I realised. She... knows, or feels something I don't...

Once we were alone, Clara stood up from the stool she had been sitting on and I pulled her in an embrace before I started with the sleeves. She was like a sister to me, a sister I had never had. And yet I did have her... Don't think about this now. Talk to her. My subconscious scolded me.

"I'm so happy for you and Young Vlad," I said, moving to her side, and making her push her right arm through the first sleeve.

It was a magnificent work of art, the light green, gossamer fabric a shade lighter than the floor-length dress she had on, was covered with fantastical flowers embroidered with a golden thread, Clara's own work. It took her more than a month to finish and she was proud of them... Just what's worrying her now... I mused, not knowing how to ask her.

"I... " Clara spoke suddenly as I took the second sleeve from the table. "I think I'm with child." She said, covering her lips with the palm of her hand.

I opened my mouth, closed it, then nodded simply while I rushed to finish with her second sleeve, taking my time to choose the correct words, before I took her by the hand and led her to the wooden bench by the fireplace where we sat down.

"You are expecting Young Vlad's child, that's great news." I said, looking in her eyes glittering with tears again, unable to comprehend what was so wrong about it. "Does he know? I'm sure he is delighted."

She shook her head, wringing her hands which she couldn't keep still on her lap nervously. "I told no one. It is only two months... This is my second child... with the second man... and I'm not even married. People will judge me... And Ioan, I can't stop thinking about Ioan, what would he say... what would he think... and that back then, when he died, I... would have ended my life had I not been expecting his child..."

Tears were falling down her cheeks coloured with embarrassment as she confessed, her eyes searching mine for a hint of repulsion, or understanding. Poor girl. Until now she had never let on what she was going through.

I drew a deep breath, considering what I should say, knowing that what I would tell her now might influence her future happiness, at least partly.

"Clara, you only followed your heart before, and even now. It is not wrong, acting out of love must not be considered a sin. I'm sure that Ioan would want you to be happy, whatever that happiness might entail. Your marrying Young Vlad would please him, they loved each other like brothers. There is no one better for you out there. And Young Vlad himself... he needs you and he loves you. He is lucky to have you in his life, he will worship and treasure you and all your children..."

I let my voice trail off as she embraced me, sobbing on my shoulder.

It took her several minutes before she was ready to look at me again, wiping her last tears in her new sleeves.

"Thank you." She smiled, drawing a shaky breath. "I needed to hear that."

I returned her smile then stood up and pulled her to her feet. "Come on then, let's not leave the men waiting for us too long."

We walked down the corridors and descended the staircases arm in arm, followed by a Guard and even a couple of Knights who had been positioned in every shadowy corner of the castle again since the visitors from the Council started coming.

Finally in the Entry Hall we met our men waiting for us-- Junior, who ran up the last staircase to take his bride off my arm, and Vlad, looking at me from the bottom of the stairs, his eyes so full of love that it made my legs feel weak and unsure. I ended up collapsing in his arms as I descended the last step, giggling.

"You are beautiful, Samara." He whispered in my ear as I laced my arm through his, while he kissed Clara's hand and patted Junior on the shoulder.

Lucas and Radu paid their compliments to the bride, then walked back towards the Great Hall even as the four of us headed towards the door leading outside.

Our horses were ready in the courtyard, excited by the prospect of a run across the blooming meadows as much as we were by the wedding. We mounted, taking the reins from the two valets struggling to keep the animals still, and set off immediately, looking over our shoulders occasionally for any sign of unannounced, unwanted visitors as we led the horses towards the forest at a brisk trot.

Vlad and I rode into the thickly grown trees first, leaving Junior and Clara trailing after us at a slower pace.

"Is Clara all right?" Vlad asked when we finally slowed down and he brought Midnight next to Frost, so close that their sides kept brushing against each other as they followed the narrow path.

"She is. It's just... nerves. Clara loves him." I said, turning around and glancing at the couple inconspicuously.

"I know that she does. He loves her too. I'm happy for him, he's been alone for so long..." Vlad mused.

I nodded, looking towards a spot in front of us where a few sunbeams found their way through the thick canopy of trees, pointing to the clearing where the chapel stood. As we approached, its bright walls shone through the shadows of the forest, dispersing them.

Vlad followed my gaze for a while then looked back at me, placing one of his hands over mine, closed around the reins. "Are you thinking what I'm thinking?" He asked, his lips curved into a smile, eyes sparkling with excitement.

"Hmm... I was thinking that they did a great job, the chapel is perfect. And that, despite the danger, I'm happy that so many people like the idea..." From what the priest had told me, I knew that his list of promised and planned weddings was growing long.

Vlad nodded, his eyes still boring into mine. "That's true. But I was thinking... that maybe we should get married as well. It's been so long..."

I gaped at him, surprised, not knowing what to reply, but he didn't give me enough time to collect my thoughts before he pressed his lips to mine, kissing me deeply.

"This is our wedding day, Father, have you forgotten?" Junior teased as he and Clara overtook us, smiling, reaching the clearing first.

Only a handful of people were present in the chapel apart from the priest and Clara's father, a few more were waiting for our return in the castle, to join the couple in the celebrations-- a lunch and a ball, small and unofficial enough not to attract unwanted attention.

Vlad led me into the chapel's cool semi-darkness and we sat on one of the pews close to the entrance, not wanting to disturb the villagers sitting at the front. From there we watched the couple, followed by Clara's father, walk towards the altar and stop there, facing the priest.

I inhaled the scents of incense and burning candles as I listened to the priest's words, revelling in the peaceful, otherworldly atmosphere reigning within the walls of the chapel.

Vlad took my hand in his, searching my eyes through the tenebrosity. I smiled at him, then leaned my head on his shoulder even as he wrapped his other arm around my waist, pulling me closer.

The solemn ceremony was made as short as possible because of the perils it could lead us to. Soon we were outside again, squinting our eyes in the blazing sunshine, thanking the young priest and exchanging friendly words with Clara's father and his friends.

"I'm so happy." Vlad said, enveloping me in an embrace before I could mount Frost again.

"Me too. I love you." I said, tilting my face up, waiting for him to kiss me, then lacing my fingers through his hair and leaning into him as the kiss grew deeper, forgetting where we were.

"Father, Samara, we have news." Junior's excited voice startled me back to reality as he rushed towards us, silent Clara in tow. I glanced at her and when our eyes met she nodded imperceptibly even as Junior continued. "Clara is with child."

Vlad looked from him to Clara, then at me. "Well that was... fast, even for an old vampire like yourself, Son." He teased, grinning.

Trying to suppress a fit of giggles at his inappropriate silliness I drew Junior in an embrace, then Clara, holding her a little longer as I whispered in her ear, "I told you that he would be delighted! We all are!"