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

[sunshinethroughgrey]

Bethany laughs at him grabbing at the meat, as she straightens, putting her hands on her hips. She beamed at Inessa, brown eyes warm and bright as she looks towards the coupe herself. "...I think we'll find it more of a reality as we go along."

She sighed happily, as she tipped her head to the side. "And I am truly hoping that I can be the next one."

[circleprodigy]

"Really?" Inessa raises her eyebrows, all curiosity now. "You and...Aleron, correct? The Seeker? That would be akin to the wedding I attended last month; Kain's friends are a mage and Templar couple." Which was odd in and of itself, but attending it as a Ferelden and an elf? Even more so.

[sunshinethroughgrey]

"Really." She laughs at that, a flush coming to her cheeks, "Of course he has to ask me first. Or I have to ask him. I am not sure what the rules are with nobility." She blinks for a moment, before she grins again, "Really? Oh that's so wonderful!"

[circleprodigy]

"A risky match in uncertain times...but sometimes love inspires people to throw caution to the winds." It's not a sentiment Inessa herself can quite understand, but she smiles, glad to see others happy. "Hm...I thought noble marriages were mostly about contracts and heirs, not true feelings? So perhaps it's new territory for him as well. If you wish to ask, I don't doubt he would respond well."

[sunshinethroughgrey]

"Love is always a risk, no matter who it is." She said quietly, her brown eyes warming as she looks around. "Noble marriages are mostly contracts, and not true feelings ... but they happen, whether you want it to."

[circleprodigy]

"Quite true." Inessa smiles as Garahel bumps up against Bethany in gratitude for the treat. "Well, if a Grey Warden wedding is on the horizon, I will welcome the additional chance to celebrate. We ought to have more moments such as this."