Chapter 113
Chapter 127
Overview
Shallan relives her wedding day to Adolin through a vision, this time choosing to experience it fully and joyfully rather than anxiously as she had the first time. She accepts the presence of her mother—the returned Herald—at the ceremony and allows herself to deserve happiness despite the chaos and darkness surrounding her life.
Summary
Shallan enters a vision of her wedding day and asserts control over it, choosing to begin from an earlier, happier moment rather than from a traumatic memory of her mother. She finds herself being prepared by royal makeup artists, amused by the existence of such a role. She receives military-style boots as a gift from Kaladin, which brings her joy and reminds her that she is both the anxious bride and the experienced woman living through the vision simultaneously. In a small prayer chamber, Pattern and Testament appear to her; Testament, who was unable to attend the original wedding, encourages Shallan to enjoy life. Shallan's brothers visit with a letter from Mraize confirming he has protected them. The wedding ceremony itself takes place in an upper room of Urithiru with a view of frosted peaks. Guests include her squires, Vathah's group, Sebarial and Palona, and numerous others. Kaladin stands emotionless in a corner; Shallan acknowledges their bond as one of shared pain rather than romance. Adolin enters wearing a gift sword from Kaladin. Under an arch, Kadash officiates the ceremony with words about oaths, imperfection, and love growing like a bonfire. Shallan and Adolin exchange vows; she improvises hers slightly. They kiss passionately, creating passionspren. Shallan observes Testament's pattern restoring itself, enabled now to witness the wedding it could not attend before. As she looks around the room, she finally sees and accepts her mother—the returned Herald—standing among the servants at the back of the room, the same haunting face she had previously given to Veil to handle.
Characters
- ShallanThe bride reliving her wedding day through a vision, choosing to experience it fully and joyfully this time, and finally accepting the presence of her mother
- Adolin KholinShallan's groom, wearing a sword gifted by Kaladin, meeting Shallan at the arch and exchanging vows of love and eternal commitment
- PatternShallan's spren companion who appears in the vision to explain that she is reinforcing life lessons rather than relearning them
- TestamentShallan's dead spren who appears in the vision to encourage Shallan to enjoy life, and whose pattern begins to restore itself by witnessing the wedding
- KaladinStanding emotionless in a corner of the wedding, his gift sword worn by Adolin, representing their friendship rather than rivalry
- KadashEx-warrior ardent who officiates the wedding ceremony with spiritual wisdom about oaths and love
- NavaniWitness to the marriage alongside Palona for notarization purposes
- PalonaWitness to the marriage alongside Navani, appearing as a proud parental figure
- Shallan's brothersVisiting Shallan in her chamber before the ceremony with a letter from Mraize, offering love and support
- SebarialGuest at the wedding who looks like a proud parent figure
- VathahMember of Shallan's squires attending the wedding celebration
- IshnahMember of Shallan's squires attending the wedding celebration
- RedMember of Shallan's squires attending the wedding celebration
- GazMember of Shallan's squires attending the wedding celebration
- ShobMember of Shallan's squires attending the wedding celebration
- WitGuest at the wedding, distinctively dressed in black, the only person wearing that color
- MraizeMentioned as having sent a letter confirming his protection of Shallan's brothers
- Shallan's motherThe returned Herald, standing among the servants at the back of the room, whose presence Shallan finally sees and accepts at the wedding
- KaWoman Shallan has come to know, attending the wedding
- RushuWoman Shallan has come to know, attending the wedding