[OPEN] "At last, the Light shall shine..."

[lifeofendurance]

WHO: Aleron Darton and OPEN
WHAT: Catchall post for March
WHEN: Present time: March/Drakonis
WHERE: Skyhold: library, tavern, Camp Shady, out and about
NOTES: If prompts provided don't work for you, we can whip up something that does.

[Aleron's a man of routine and constancy, even when his life is on the brink of being turned upside down. Every morning and evening he's in the chapel attending to daily devotions. Each afternoon, he saddles his horse and rides over the Warden camp to spend time with Bethany. A familiar face in the area now if ever there were one. In the evening, he brings a book and sometimes some correspondence to read at Herald's Rest while slowly drinking one, and only one, ale or glass of wine.

Except there's something of a hiccup or two causing a logjam to his daily schedule. Instead of disposing of his letters from his family... he's reading them. And responding to them, even! Which means even more of his time is spent in the Library attending to his correspondence. This leads to less time spent in pleasure reading or in matters of research. If this is not strange enough, his e'er unflappable expression gives way to sighs, rubbing his eyes, and leaning back in his chair to issue some silent plea to the Maker.

Afternoons are no longer spent in the training yard either. Rather, he seems quite intent on seeking out friends to make inquiries with them about wedding attendance. Which perhaps explains the flurry of mail coupled with extreme exasperation. What does it even matter if the groom's clothes are green or blue anyway? And that long-suffering sigh? Probably tied to the man having just ordered a second drink for the third night in a row at the tavern.]

Comments

[lifeofendurance]

[Maker, does he ever need another drink. There's a move on the horizon already and now there's wedding planning on top of it. Mother and sisters clamoring with a dozen questions about the most inane details and really shouldn't this all be Bethany's decisions anyway? He just wants to marry the woman! Colors and flowers don't matter as long as the bride is there and says 'I do.'

A slight smile twitches at the corner of his mouth and then Aleron nods.]

I have some news. And a request to make.

[tactical_alert]

I feel like the news never stops. [Aleron doesn't seem too upset. Tired, perhaps. Being around the likes of him long enough can make anyone an expert in his so-subtle-you-need-to-invent-the-microscope moods.] Of course I'll do what I can to help.

[lifeofendurance]

I'll understand if you cannot once you've heard it. Change is on the horizon and you're well in the thick of it.

[He can see that stack of paperwork tucked under your arm, buddy. It's quite possible you'll be too swamped to wade out for a wedding.]

I've asked Bethany to marry me.

[Stated just as calmly as anything else that comes out of Aleron's mouth. Though that bare hint of a smile gives away her favorable reply and just how thrilled he is that she's said yes. Because he really thought after meeting Mama she would have gone running away screaming.]

And I- we would like you to be in the wedding.

[tactical_alert]

[Were he a different person, he might have let those pages dramatically drop. But it would be such a hassle to pick them back up and sorted back into the proper order, so instead Malcolm's face will just have to do. Wide-eyed stare lending itself quickly to a grin the likes of which few people tend to see.]

Aleron Darton, I never thought I'd see the day! I knew you two were fond of each other, but--marriage.

[Given Al's history, it's momentous. Malcolm claps a hand on his shoulder.]

Yes, yes of course I'll be there. I'll not let anything short of the cold embrace of death stop me. [andraste take the wheel why does he have to be so dramatic] When are you aiming for? Where? Surely you'll be somewhere closer to home than Kirkwall.

[lifeofendurance]

[Aleron rubs the back of his neck mildly sheepishly. He's not fussed about sharing the news with Malcolm but he's so unaccustomed to anything in his life warranting a big response (even if he recognizes that yes it is huge) that he finds himself mildly embarrassed.]

We're planning for Summerday. [It's soon and a holiday meant for weddings anyway.] We'd just as soon not wait much longer. Bethany wishes somewhere rural for the wedding and my sister volunteered Endridge. Mother hates it, naturally.

[Ah Mama's Orlesian snobbery against the Free Marches even after all this time, gotta love it.]

So the move to Kirkwall is more timely than we'd thought.

[tactical_alert]

She could have volunteered the Winter Palace, and you mother would have hated it simply because it was your sister's suggestion. [Oh but is that grin turning ever so slightly mischievous.] Has Lady Hawke met your family? [And by family he MOSTLY MEANS YOUR SISTER, AL.] Because I imagine they might get along famously.

[lifeofendurance]

She's met Mother...

[But Ravonild is a treat that will have to wait until they travel to Kaiten for wedding preparations, Maker help them all. The intense sigh that escapes Aleron shows just how much he's dreading this return "home."]

...but none of the girls yet.

[Because all of his sisters are girls to him still, as they were when he was sent off as a boy, despite being women grown and mothers besides.]

Mother adores her. [Aleron holds up a hand with a wry grin.] And not just because someone's managed to convince me to 'do the right thing by the family' and 'settle down to start a family.'

[tactical_alert]

She would adore her. Especially anyone who makes you this happy. [And rest assured, this is extremely happy for Al.] I can't wait to see how much trouble Lady Hawke gets into around your sisters, though. You're going to have a handful, and while I know you can handle a lot, that? That's going to be more than you can handle.

I might not be of much help on that front. Might be laughing too hard.

[lifeofendurance]

Thanks, Malcolm. You're a great help.

[Was that sarcasm? Why yes it was! Proof positive that Bethany's had more of an impact on the lineface than most people realize. At least this is meant in good nature and it's followed by a hand clapped onto his fellow Seeker's shoulder.]

We'll see how much laughing happens when Ravonild sets her cap at you. She's unaccustomed to being told no.

[Of course there's the implied 'my sister is off-limits' implication behind the ribbing.]

[tactical_alert]

I have a feeling she's going to be hearing no quite a bit. It's your wedding; she'll still have to abide by her brother's wishes. In the letter of the law, not the spirit.

[Ravonild is, of course, quite spirited in her own right.]

Of course things will be busy in the near future, but if there's anything I can do to help, I am, as always, at your disposal.

[lifeofendurance]

I appreciate it, Malcolm. Truly.

[And in a rare show of brotherly affection, Aleron grasp's his fellow's shoulder lightly.]

Though I think you'll not thank me if I recruit you to the efforts of green or blue for the wedding clothes. Why does such a thing even matter?

[Why are the lot of them making such a thing over the color of cloth? Women.]

[tactical_alert]

It's first about appropriate familial representation, and second about fashion. I'll admit to being partial to blue, but there's no reason they can't have a blend of the two colors. They actually go very well together, depending on the...

[The sentence fades away, a sheepish look springing to his face.] Well. Yes. Anyway. I'm sure the ladies will get it all sorted.

[lifeofendurance]

[Wrong. That sounds like Malcolm just volunteered because he understands this nonsense. Aleron shoves a stack of correspondence at him with a wry sort of grin.

The requests/demands are as follows:

Mama - The du Guille colors of blue and silver because she's determined that Aleron is her heir, like it or not.
Ravonild - Green and gold, the Darton colors, because he is still a part of the family and Mama can shove it.
Imogen - Consideration given to the Hawke family colors of red and black, because it is unfair to do otherwise.
Layla - Please, for the love of the Maker, do not use all of those colors and blind the company.]

They wish me to decide, though I feel it best to allow Bethany the final say. It matters not to me, so long as she is by my side at the end of the day.

...does it truly matter?

[tactical_alert]

[w e l p

He looks at the stack in his hand and then back up at Aleron. He did this to himself, opening his big mouth like that.]

Ah...it does truly matter to some. Family colours being represented is traditional. Of course I'll ask Lady Hawke her opinion. [Though he'll have to stop calling her that at some point, given she's not going to be a Hawke for much longer.] Your families, ah, complicate matters some, but I am...sure we'll get it all sorted in due time.

[lifeofendurance]

My family is nothing if not complicated.

[It's not even being snarky, it is a statement of fact. Probably more than Aleron even realizes. He sighs quietly. He doesn't remember all this headache from his first marriage, but then Mama and Mirielle's mother had made all the decisions for them.]

Bethany is worth the effort. I shan't shirk my responsibility in this, once I understand it better. But I confess I haven't the slightest what that should be.