Swing Me On Your Trapeze

[pinprick]

WHO: Friends of Nathaniel Howe and Anders.
WHAT: An informal Wintersend wedding
WHEN: Wintersend Day
WHERE: Camp Shady
NOTES: Open invitation to all Wardens and anyone who considers themselves a close enough friend of one of the grooms. We're not policing the invite list.

There's scarcely an announcement, though the men have had their minds made up for a while. It's assuredly not formal, invitation spread only by word of mouth. It is, due to the people involved, tactfully swept into Wintersend where it will be camouflaged by a number of other Wintersend celebrations.

No it's not a surprise. No it doesn't really make sense. But Anders and Nathaniel are getting married anyway.

Decorations are simple, mainly winter flowers and evergreen, whatever is colorful at this altitude. Those same winter flowers are made into crowns for the grooms, which is a tradition from the Anderfels. Nathaniel wears his dress uniform, a tradition everywhere. Anders wears a striking set of blue robes to match, though mages have no marriage traditions. Miraculously, a priest has agreed to perform the ceremony. She is content not to make this more or less than what it is: a celebration of the love of two people.

Vows are spoken, the ceremony kept short, and soon enough the grooms take hands and jump over a broom together--a tradition from Amaranthine which puzzles people to this day. And so they are now married, and the party can begin.

The party has simple but abundant fare--mostly meat and bread and plenty to drink, none of it nonalcoholic. There are fires and torches and lanterns casting their warm glow. A couple of Wardens provide the music for dancing on drum and fiddle. Anyone who pleases (Kaisa) is welcome to stand (if they still can) (Kaisa) and propose a toast to the husbands, to the Maker, to the Grey Wardens, to their right buttcheek that's gone numb from sitting (Kaisa), anything they wish. The drunker people get, the funnier everything is. No fighting is allowed, however (Kaisa).

Tonight, the moon is high and the stars are bright and the music is merry. It's easy to forget, for a short time, that the world is in such peril. It's easy to believe all will be well when you're celebrating a wedding.

Comments

[conqueredhearts]

"I should like to meet them after they are trained. Would this be something that I could do?" To meet a griffon seemed a grand thing. More so if he could ride one. Given the fact that he was a Rider himself, it just was in his very nature to want to rider vehicles and creatures. Then again, that could also be the conqueror in him as well but that was another matter entirely.

[circleprodigy]

"I would think so, yes, as long as you have one of us for company. The griffons can be skittish and prone to aggression when confronted with those they don't know." Unlike Garahel, who wags his tail at anyone passing, especially if they scratch behind the ears. "They have...interesting baby names at present, but I'm hoping a renaming attempt will work, once I know which will have me."

[conqueredhearts]

"I understand. My Bucephalus was much the same way before I trained him." So clearly he was not offended that he would have to have company in order to be near them. That sounded just fine to him actually. After all it meant he would get to see them at all! "Interesting names? What are their names?"

[circleprodigy]

Inessa sighs, a slight grimace as she responds. "For example; Burp, Butterball, Flea, Potato.... Maja, the griffon-keeper at Weisshaupt, named them. The first griffons to exist in ages deserve something better, I think. More dignified, at the very least."

[conqueredhearts]

He blinked for a moment before he burst out laughing. "Did a child name these creatures? These are the names I would imagine a small boy or girl coming up with!"

[circleprodigy]

See? This right here. This is why the griffons need new names, or no one will take the Grey Wardens seriously. Inessa shakes her head, wishing they had even that excuse. "No, Maja isn't a child. She's another Grey Warden, with some...interesting taste in names. I still have yet to learn what possess her to pick those particular ones."

[conqueredhearts]

"I will have to meet this woman sometime. She sounds as if she would be fascinating to speak to!" He laughed again and actually patted Inessa's shoulder sympathetically. Yes, those names were very terrible and he understood now. "What would you name them?"

[circleprodigy]

Inessa's embarrassment eases as she considers his question. It's not like she hasn't mulled it over in her own spare time. The answer is usually the same. "Oh, after famous Grey Wardens of old. Garahel was one such, though giving my mabari and griffon mount the same name would be confusing. But there were others of note; Corin, who ended the Second Blight or Carinus, who founded the Grey Warden order."

Gaharel lets out a disapproving whine at the notion of sharing his name like that, but he wags his tail at the other choices.

[conqueredhearts]

"If there is room for another name then you could name one Alexander! It is a very fine and strong name, don't you think?" He grinned, clearly pleased with his offering of a name. For good reason though!

[circleprodigy]

"You...would name a griffon after yourself?" Inessa's lips twitch. That he would make the suggestion isn't shocking at all given his vast confidence, though she can't help but fight it amusing nonetheless.

[conqueredhearts]

"Certainly. It is a strong name that means protector of man. A fine name for a griffon, yes?" There wasn't the slightest trace of shame found from him over offering his own name. If anything he seemed remarkably proud of the fact.

[circleprodigy]

She can't hold it in any longer and laughs lightly. "I have to admit, it is more dignified than most of their names at present. The meaning would be significant as well, as they are linked to the Grey Wardens. We seek to protect all from the darkspawn, of course. It's worth considering."

[conqueredhearts]

"You see? It is a good name for a griffon!" Well he certainly wasn't easily discouraged by the naming of things. Far from it really. Then again, was he discouraged by anything at all? Probably not. This was Iskandar and he had been crowned Fool a bit ago for a very good reason.