The gesture is familiar more than words could say. Aleron has spent the better part of two hours lifting, hugging, spinning, and otherwise utterly doting on his nieces, nephews and younger cousins. Gwenaëlle is tiny and he recognizes the request being made.

In one motion, he hugs her tighly, then lifts her well into the air and gives her a spin as he had done when she was a little girl. When he replaces her to the ground, a tender brotherly kiss is placed on her forehead. "Maker bless you, little cousin. I'm happy." A pause as he doesn't wish to revisit the painful parts of his life today, but they are just as much a part of him as his arms or legs. "I have not been so in years, but today I am."

Evidence that Aleron's speaking the truth? One of his exceptionally rare, genuine smiles comes with the assertion. "And I'm pleased you could come." Would come. The Vauquelins were invited as was proper. Most could not accept, some would not. There are a few of his in-laws present tonight, but he'd not seen the majority in years, either by chance or design.