faderift | [Open] I Look At You

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[Open] I Look At You

WHO: Aleron Darton and Bethany Hawke, Malcolm Reed, Nathaniel Howe, The Grey Warden 2LiveCrew (even you Teren), The Seeker Trio, and YOU.
WHAT: A Noble Wedding Between Two Great Houses.
WHEN: Backdated to the first of Bloomingtide
WHERE: Endridge, outside of Kaiten in the Free Marches.
NOTES: Warnings for Exceeding Sappiness and Happiness. What is that? Why is this in this game? That's just weird.EDIT: I've put in headers if you want to tag under those, but please feel free to put in your own top levels!

It's a far distance to Endridge from most anywhere, situated five miles outside Kaiten. But the destination is well worth the journey. The roads are even and in good repair as they stretch out through gently rolling hills of green. Picturesque. Tranquil. This is precisely what Bethany had wanted for her wedding: somewhere outdoors under the Maker's sky.

The pastoral setting truly is breathtaking for anyone moved by nature. Lush pastures stretch out almost to the horizon, dotted with fleecy ewes and their bouncing new lambs. Gentle breezes dance through the trees, the rustling sending gusts of fruit blossom petals scattering to the winds. Within those branches, twittering birds in joyous song cover the backdrop of baaaaaahs arising from the sheep. Behind the birdsong, the burbling of the creek sings out as it trips along its way to the lake. The warming new summer air coaxes perfumes out of the flowers, filling the air with their mingled scent. Behind the bounteous gifts of nature looms a stone edifice, seat of the Darton family, an imposing but not ungainly castle. The house is the work of the first baron, built to be a stronghold against further Nevarran incursions and a sign to legitimize the new title.

Never let it be said that Ravonild does not know how to throw a party. She's graciously offered the house and the grounds for the wedding, but has had her hand in all the preparations. Every inch of the ballroom has been polished and shined. The great hall transformed into a banqueting hall large enough to accommodate the guests, which includes every far-flung Darton relative crawled out of the woodwork. Where she has not worked her magic as a hostess is in the location of the ceremony proper. It is arranged within the formal gardens, which were a gift from Aleron's father to his new bride on her arrival from Orlais. Holding the wedding there, instead of in the wilder walled garden with its riot of variety and colors was a conciliatory gesture to appease Mama for not having the wedding in Orlais. Regardless of the behind-the-scenes bickering beforehand, everything is now the very picture of hospitality and celebration. The music is unending, the wine is free-flowing, and the dancing will last until dawn.

The simplest portion of the wedding is the ceremony itself. The Darton and Hawke coat of arms have been placed on display within the gardens, but that is the extend of excess and showmanship. Nathaniel Howe gives the bride away, Aleron's sisters are the bridal attendants, Malcolm Reed standing guard as a groomsman. In a break from tradition, youngest sister Layla carries a bouquet in one hand and her newborn baby in the other arm. (The tiny one was fussy, you see.) Oh, and yes, the bride's maiden of honor is an elf - but considering it is Merrill of the Champion's Tale? It is given a pass for the excitement of seeing one of Varric Tethras's heroes in the flesh, next to the bride.

Beyond that, it is a traditional ceremony performed by the Revered Mother who blessed all the Darton children as babes. Portions of the Chant are sung. Vows and rings are exchanged. Though behind the flowers Aleron and Bethany are holding hands and making eyes at each other. In fact, it seems miraculous that they're able to respond as required since they appear already lost in each other and not at all attentive to the ritual they are engaged in.

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Not up for this socialization? Looking for a nice quiet corner? Feel free to wander the grounds - they Are gorgeous after all. There are even private little places for, You Know, You Know.

Well we hope you know or the wedding night is going to be very confusing for you.

Have a stroll, a conversation, or a 'private moment'. We won't tell.

Aleron is happy. Actually, the man is deliriously happy, though perhaps it might be hard to tell. He's been smiling all day, but it's his subtle version that is just a fraction above lineface. Fortunately, Bethany is adept at reading his small emotional markers. It's more obvious in the way his eyes watch her wheresoever she goes, how they shine, his relaxed posture. Deliriously happy.

But also painfully overwhelmed. Aleron has never been one for parties, and he has nearly hit his capacity for small talk and just people. Large crowds, huge swaths of distant relatives, the dull roar of voices rising as the wine casks are emptied, he endures these as part and parcel of a celebration which for once in his life is actually about him and his wife. My wife. How sweet those words are to him and he looks down at Bethany again with a swell of pride and adoration.

Out of a rare impulse, he takes hold of Bethany's hand and leans over to whisper in her ear, "Come with me, darling?"

It possibly sounds suggestive, and frankly now they are wed, all things are permitted. But that's not quite what he has in mind. At present. He more wants to sneak away to a remote corner of the walled garden for a few precious moments alone with his beautiful bride. And just a teensy break from having to be social.

Bethany is, of course, radiant with happiness so if Aleron only looks mildly above pleased? Bethany is shining bright enough with both of them. Flushed with joy, and a little bit of wine, she turns away from the conversation she is only half listening to at this time towards her husband. My husband, all mine. They've been so overwhelmed with everyone - all the arrangements and all the ridiculous levels of Formality that they barely had a moment alone together since this began.

Except of course when they were up before everyone, but she only counted that in the emotional sense of not seeing anyone but him.

His request makes her tilt her head curiously, but she squeezes her gloved hand around his. "Anywhere."

Dimples appear, and she lets him lead her off - guessing that he just wanted a moment alone.

Before he leads her away, Aleron kisses Bethany's temple. It sets off a group awwwww in their nearby vicinity, but he doesn't mind. That is the extend of the PDA he is comfortable with and it will have to suffice for the voyeuristic romantics in attendance. And if a few of them hold off and then follow behind to be nosy, that's none of his business.

He escorts Bethany to the garden's wooden gate without talking, which isn't so unusual for him. Aleron is marvelously happy to have even that short moment alone with his bride. Her hand is relinquished only long enough to open the gate, and then it's reclaimed quickly. The garden is dark, with only the moon and stars overhead for light. Well no, that's not quite correct. Someone's placed a handful of lanterns on the stone paths. Likely so no one trips and hurts themselves taking a moonlit walk. (Wrong, Ravonild banking on private trysts and helping those along.)

Once truly alone, and ensconced in a private corner near the crystal grace beds, the smile that Aleron's been holding in most of the day breaks free. He loves Bethany so very much, there is no doubt there. But his abilities to actually emote in public are forever stunted. "I wanted some time alone with you." More smile and a confession to go with it. "I am selfish and didn't feel like sharing you for a while."

He might know and even agree that they need to be good and gracious hosts, but that doesn't mean he can't have a selfish moment of wanting his pretty wife all to himself.

Bethany's smile causes more awwws, but she shoos them away with a laugh and a wave of her hand, "Go enjoy the party, you gooses!" It's enough to get them to laughing, turning away to whisper and waggle their eyebrows.

Bethany knows her husband - hers! - too well. No garden trysting for her. If she were to guess, she would say that he just wants a breath of fresh air. It does feel and smell delightful out here - all of Bloomingtide's blossoms all out and thriving. She picks up her gown with one hand, but the other stays in his.

She settles on the marble bench here, folding both of her hands within his, and ah! There was the smile that stole her heart, all that time ago. She squeezes his fingers in hers, before she laughs. "Well, you are allowed to be as selfish as you like. You married me today, after all."

"And I will spend the rest of our lives defending your happiness, my darling." Ah Aleron, so good at taking a sweet and light moment and making it weighty. But he absolutely means every word. And while he has custody of Bethany's lovely hands, he lifts both and kisses the tops (yes even though there are gloves in the way) of both. Then a thought occurs and he corrects himself, "My wife."

My wife. He could repeat those two blessed words over and over. For not the first time, he marvels how he's so lucky to have garnered the affections of such an amazing woman and she consented to marry him.

Aleron scoots closer to Bethany on the bench. Better to be as close as humanly possible for the short stolen moments they are taking for themselves. They will eventually have to go back and be social, and he'd endure that and more for her sake. Though perhaps for once it is not as much a burden as it might have been. Today is about them. What a novelty that is.

"Are you happy, Bethany?"

The look she gives him is tender, and knowing. It might just be more literal than either one of them realizes it. He is a Seeker, she is a Warden and a Mage ... they have taken a huge step forward for both of their proverbial sides today. It just won't always be easy. She has faith in them, though. She always would. She gently corrects him, "Your darling wife."

She squeezed his hands again, and this time she is the one who sneaks a kiss to his cheek, warm and lingering. Then she rests her forehead against his, a slow dimpled smile appearing on her lips.

"I am overjoyed, Aleron. And you?"

"I feel like I could burst, I'm so elated." And then in a shocking turn of events, Aleron impulsively leans in to kiss his lovely bride. Because to him, she is the most marvelous of all the Maker's creation. He is never so impulsive, but this is the miracle Bethany has worked: he is more relaxed and at peace than he has ever been. When he does pull away, it's only enough to breathe and finish his thought, "You've brought me more joy than I thought was possible."

He is long past the lingering fear that she would change her mind about him. Further still from the fog of grief that threatened to suffocate his life forever. But for more days than are possible to recount, he truly believed that the best he could ever hope for was a sense of numbness to dull the pain he's carried alone. Bethany has erased that blur of a half-life and restored to him a sense of meaning and purpose.

Such thoughts are not on his mind, however. Rather, his mind is absorbed with drinking in the pleasure of a private moment with his beautiful bride in a moonlit garden. The evening air is cooling but still thick with floral scents, crickets chirrup from under the grasses, this is magical. And it makes the prospect of their eventual retirement to Orlais not such a burden of a prospect after all. This sort of tranquility can be their every night if they wish it.

Right now, Aleron is drunk on happiness and love. It suits him well, dwelling on hope for their future. "I adore you, Bethany."

She smiled at him, before her breath was quiet taken away by him stealing a kiss. Here, in the garden of all places. In the moonlight, with the scent of roses and other flowers in her nose, and she can hear the sounds of one of the fountains trickling as his lips leave hers. She keeps her eyes closed for a long moment, lips slightly parted, before she opened her brown eyes to see all the love in those beautiful blue eyes. The warmth of his expression, all the joy and the happiness.

She had done this. She had made this saddened soul burst from the seams with joy. And in turn ...

"When I was a little girl, I used to dream when I was little that one day I would grow up like my mother, wear a beautiful gown and have children that laughed and played at my feet. My husband, like my father, would bring home flowers from the field, and tuck them in my hair. It wouldn't matter if we had money, or riches, we'd have each other and ... and I thought that made my parents the richest people in the world."

She looked down at their hands, "Then my magic appeared -- and I thought -- well. That's it. There's no way. Mages aren't meant to marry, meant for happiness -- but there were my parents again. Defying everything to be together, and I thought ... maybe, just maybe."

A soft sigh, a heavy one, "A Blight, a flight to Kirkwall, a year grinding away in Lowtown, and one trip to the Deep Roads and I lost everything. I lost hope, I lost my freedom, I thought I had even lost the sunlight. It took me a ... very long time to turn the corner, to find brightness in the world again. My sister and brother had a lot to do with that. Nathaniel, even more. But I thought to myself - that's it. To live, to serve with honor would have to be enough."

She looked at him, her eyes bright with unshed tears, bright and happy ones. "But then I met you - and ... and I fell in love. And you loved me back, and it was everything. You ... are everything, Aleron. You are all my dreams come true."

She cupped his cheek, whispering, "I love you, to the stars and back again."

Enraptured by her shining eyes, Aleron listens intently, measuring and storing every word of Bethany's childhood measure of happiness in marriage. Because today anything feels possible and he'll do whatever it takes to bring such idyllic dreams to fruition in earnest. He leans in to her touch, basking in the warmth of her hand, matched by the warmth of her blessed sweet and loving heart.

"You are my stars, darling. Sun and moon too. You've brought light back to my life. I know what it means to live again, because of you."

Perhaps that dances the edge of thoughts of sadder days, and best left alone. Their pasts are part of who they both are, and yet those harships led them to each other, and it is that destination that is worth remarking. Being in the present, looking to their future, makes the troubles of the past dim, and heal.

Aleron leans in to steal another kiss, then press another to Bethany's forehead. "I mean to give you that dream, my love. All of it. Even the flowers for your hair."

It seemed a lot to heal from such darkness - to lose both parents, to lose a beloved wife and child. Yet you had to take the steps in the dark to find yourself facing the dawn again. The song never seemed more true, than at this moment. You had to come through the fire to find yourself blessed, and free, on the other side again.

There were no end to the fires before them, but Bethany had faith they could weather them as long as they were together.

She closed her eyes at the kiss, and pressed her forehead to his, smiling. "I know you will, my love, and just know ... whatever dreams you have, I'll make come true, if I can."

The lure of the gardens and the need for a little distance from crowds and music has Inessa wandering away from the heart of the action after a while. That and she's spent entirely too much time away from Garahel, who has been enjoying the company of other mabari while formal affairs took place. More at ease with her canine companion at her side, the slight elven woman is content to wander at a relaxed pace and savor the sights and scents of the area. When her feet start to ache enough, she begins seeking a quiet place to sit for a while.

...at least that's the plan. But what seems like an inviting nook turns out to be very effectively occupied. Quickly averting her gaze, she mumbles an entirely ignored apology and steps away, her cheeks pink. Is it suddenly hot out here?

Edited 2017-05-14 02:17 (UTC)

Honestly, Christine would have stayed on the dance floor all night had she not gotten a blister on her foot that is now causing her pain. It's a simple fix, but not one she's willing to do in front of a group of stuffy nobles -- even if they have been making allowances for mages and other races this evening.

Limping ever so slightly to try and prevent her slipper from rubbing against her blister any more than it has to, she enters the grounds and looks for an out of the way space, preferably with a bench. When she finds such a spot, she seats herself and carefully works off her shoe, lifts the hem of her gown up out of her way, and lays a hand over the wound, eyes suddenly glowing blue in the darkness as she uses magic to heal herself.

It would be a surprising sight to turn the corner now and see two glowing eyes in the dark, wouldn't it?

Romain is in that timeless yet slightly awkward position: attending a wedding where he knows neither the bride nor the groom. (Except, of course, by reputation.) He is technically Gwenaëlle's guest, though he probably could have pulled a few Orlesian strings to attend without her if he had really wished. Still, most everyone here he knows only at a remove, if that.

He will not shadow his granddaughter all night, however, as she has people to speak to and she is (as she continues to remind him) no longer a child. Instead, he circulates, a piece of Orlais incarnate in his dress (if on the sober side by the nation's usual standards). He is not looking to interrupt anyone, but if someone else is at loose end, well -- one can make interesting acquaintances at a wedding.

Wine is a fantastic idea to Fenris, who's sure to take a close look at what's being offered, and to sample a glass of most everything. He's not really much for mingling, but it's kind of... hard to miss him, so he inevitably ends up often with someone or other approaching him with random questions.

It doesn't take him long to have enough of that already, and to take his current wine glass elsewhere, wandering toward the gardens where it's much less crowded. There... that's much better.

The gardens is an ideal place for a more peaceful evening. Or at least it ought to be. Inessa sighs as she urges Garahel move away with her from yet another nook that turned out to be, ahem, occupied. She's about to give up entirely and return to the crowds when she spots Fenris. Garahel perks up and barks, heading over for some petting, and she approaches as well.

"Beware, Fenris. The more isolated corners of the garden are well-occupied tonight. At least the ones I have found; if there are others, I would welcome the aid in finding one."

"I'll heed that reminder. The last thing I need is an awkward interaction... or worse, to be asked to join in. I haven't had nearly enough to drink for regrettable actions, just yet." Not that he actually would, not being one for quite that level of casual flings.

Ah, well. This is supposed to be about celebration, even if he's not doing a very good job of it. Mostly he just wants to stay away from random people who recognize who he is and are a little too curious... and Anders. He's the other priority to avoid. This is too important an occasion to Bethany for them to spoil it with the usual squabbling.

"Are you enjoying the festivities, Inessa?"

Inessa's lips twitch as Garahel leans on Fenris lightly, crossing her arms. "None that I have found have paid enough attention to present such an offer, so you may be in luck. As for the festivities, both of us are enjoying them considerably. A Grey Warden wedding...that's not something you see often. We'll remember this night for a long time to come."

Grey Wardens aren't usually the marrying kind, let alone mages. Bethany's breaking all sorts of barriers today, and it has Inessa wondering if the future is less set in stone than she had thought. It's still early to tell, but tonight, she is optimistic.

Well, he can't ignore the mabari leaning on him, now can he? Fenris looks amused as he gives him some much needed petting, glad to oblige. At least it seems like Garahel can get along in most any situation. Any situation with food, undoubtedly.

"I'm glad you're enjoying it. This is... certainly a unique occasion." Perhaps only the first of many to come. He's still getting used to this notion of mages being part of society here in such a way. He's not sure how he feels about it on some level, but... he wants the people he cares for to be happy. The Grey Warden topic is perhaps a bit easier to bring up, comparatively. "It must mean a great deal to you to see that happen, as a Warden."

She nods, smiling as Garahel gets some much-wanted attention. "Grey Wardens by nature of what we do are required to live a life apart, outside of society's rules. Our goal must first be the eradication of darkspawn, always. There is little room for anything else...but we are not automatons. We need connections, as much as anyone else. Our lives may be brief, but we ought to cherish those moments, nonetheless."

She stares off, in the general direction of the bride and groom. "I wonder if he truly realizes what marrying a Grey Warden entails. One does not stop being a Grey Warden; we're bound for life." No children, and sooner or later Bethany will have her Calling. It's still not a reason to avoid life or love, but the price is a high one.

"I don't know him all that well, but he seems like a serious person, someone capable of handling the world's harsh realities. As for Bethany... well..." It's hard to really imagine that Bethany has been through so much, considering how upbeat her atitude usually is. She'd lost her father... then much later, her mother in a particularly awful way... She'd nearly died herself of the taint, to be given the only possible solution at the time. She's no stranger to loss, to how cruel the world can be. "She may have told him already, considering its importance. Even then... I doubt she would dwell on it. She hasn't let it stop her so far, after all."

He glances in the same direction as Inessa, watching the both of them as well. "That's her strength, and an admirable one, being able to keep living a full life despite all of that."

"I haven't asked her; it's not my place. But for myself, I don't know that I could share such a burden with someone not already bound to it." It would seem cruel, when they could otherwise have a full life with someone else. Inessa shakes her head as though to clear it. It isn't applicable to her, either way.

"I don't mean to sound judgmental. If they can live with the taint and its restrictions, that's all that matters. I wish them well."

"It's hardly judgmental at all... this is a realistic consideration, something which they have to face, whether or not they like it. The same for anyone in your position..." He doesn't mind having these intense, overly serious conversations, anyway... even at a wedding of all occasions. "But I don't think you'll have a choice in the matter, if someone should come along. Those feelings can't be controlled so easily."

That sort of thing just... happens. Attraction intensifies, flirtations are exchanged, and suddenly you're having the odd fling with a certain pirate lady. He doesn't think what he had with Isabela was quite what Bethany and Aleron have, though. In fact, he questions now if he's ever truly been in love.

"...but it is possible, difficult though it might be. I was taught the importance of self-discipline, especially for a mage. If I had to draw upon that to spare another, I would." It wouldn't be easy, but 'easy' never deters Inessa from doing the right thing.

Then she raises an eyebrow, curious. "You speak as though you have experience in that area?"

He doesn't doubt that at all about her. It was why he'd found it easy enough to get along with her initially, despite her being a mage. Her continued evidence of being so disciplined has always been admirable. Even so... "I would consider it harder to repress than an urge to give in to demons. But then again... if anyone could manage it, you could."

He shrugs then, not one to... talk too openly about such topics. He's a bit touchy on the matter as a whole, not sure he's ready and willing to deal with this sort of thing. "Not quite to the extent that you might think. Still, I've... wondered about it."

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[Open] I Look At You

Wandering About

well, you know...

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