faderift | [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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Bethany turns, catches Mama's death glower at her son and manages to repress a smile before she is stepping up to press both of Christine's hands in turn.

"Truly, we appreciate you coming all this way. We hope you don't have to hurry back to Kirkwall?" Yes, she is hopeful that Aleron's friends will stay and enjoy the party.

"The journey was easy," she assures him, and then focuses on Bethany, her smile growing at the woman's friendly manner. "Thankfully, I have no pressing duties back there and can stay longer. But when I do return, I will have the memories of this beautiful place to take back with me." Which she will be revisiting often, because she hates Kirkwall. A lot.

"Will you be traveling elsewhere for your honeymoon, or staying here?" she asks, because she can see this place being a wonderful retreat.

"We've imposed on my sister's hospitality a full month already with the wedding preparations. I don't wish to intrude further." Which is polite Aleron speak for if he spends another day with his sister, he might snap. They've been making inroads addressing their many and myriad personality conflicts, but they are far from resolved. And no matter how beautiful the land is, this hasn't been his home in far too long.

Though since he's been back, he's come to realize how much he's missed it, the children, the cousins, all the extended family. Yes, even his irrepressible twin.

For a split second, there's a mischievous glint in his eyes and he adds casually, "Though she does adore playing the hostess, so you should take your leisure here as long as pleases you."

"We'll probably stop off someplace and not try for a hard journey to Kirkwall -- but we also need to get back to work." Was Bethany's warm reply, so Aleron has a ready-made excuse for them to be leaving as soon as possible. She knows how he feels about his home, mixed blessings indeed.

A side-ways glance, before her own lips twitch upwards, "She does like the company." Is all she will say, but he is getting Nudged later.

In response, Christine inclines her head a little. "I will take that into consideration." But even if she did miss the glint and the glance, she wouldn't be comfortable staying too much longer. Those in the upper class tend to make her easily irritated. People like Aleron who don't act better than others is fine, but she hates small talk with people who settle into the lifestyle so easily. So she's stuck between Aleron's sister... and Kirkwall. Which is worse?

"I will certainly sit down with the lambs before I go. I cannot pass up such an opportunity." And it's not like she wears this dress often enough to care if a lamb steps on it.

There's a nod when Bethany agrees with his assessment of Ravonild's preference for entertaining. He's not innocent in suggesting that all the guests stay a few extra days, and Aleron knows it. More people around, however, keeps her attentions scattered elsewhere and off him, which is so much the better. Better because it keeps the two of them from resorting to shouting matches like young children all over again.

Honestly, its a marvel that there hasn't been a single outburst from the Darton twins all day. The whole family's been on the edge of their seats waiting for the inevitable blowout since dawn and so far have been vastly disappointed on that score.

"We'll take you round by the east pasture. It's the nicest and where the oldest from this year's newborns are kept." He clears his throat and adds in a quieter tone, "Though you might wish to take your beau along as well."

Left unsaid is that his sister is practically predatory in her tastes for attractive... things. Christine might not care to share him.

Bethany caught onto Aleron's meaning instantly, before she looked back at Christine with a firm nod. "Neither one of us is very familiar with your young man, but let me assure you, you would like to bring him along to see the lambs. And everything else here, if you can."

Under any circumstances, she should not leave Church alone where Ravonild could find him. Neither one of them would be able to save the poor man if he was left for his own devices. Not without some serious growling.

Oh dear. Here Christine doesn't understand their reasoning and is thinking they're saying that Church will make a mess of things if Christine leaves him alone. And okay, yes, it was a pretty bad idea to leave him alone around nobles back during the soiree, but he's really learned not to say every thought in his head since then!

"Ah, well," she begins, unsure just how to say that Church isn't her beau because that's a label and the two of them have agreed not to put labels on this thing. But to say anything here and now just feels like splitting hairs, and it's not like it's an incorrect assumption to make. She'll just go with it.

"I will find him. He is probably enjoying the lovely food. And after you two have made it through this line of well wishers and can barely stand on your feet, I will return and impose on you." Christine flashes a smile at her joke. After all, they're the ones who have offered to show her the lambs.

[Open] I Look At You

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