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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

The formality of the event is all a bit much for Fenris. He's not exactly the most comfortable in a grand setting like this... he never has been and likely never will be. Still, he'll put up with what he has to. He's here for Bethany's sake, after all. At least during the actual ceremony, he got to hang back and avoid any of the questions that had been coming his way the whole time, from various other guests he doesn't know. It's hard for them not to recognize him as one of the others from Varric's stories, though.

He waits until most of the others have gone through before he approaches the couple.

"My congratulations to both of you."

"Fenris." And it is said with a depth of warmth that only the Kirkwall group has gotten, outside of a few dear friends. She has known Fenris for a third of her life after all, and it shows in the hug she gives him, without reservation.

"Thank you so much for coming." She holds onto his hands, gives him a long look. "No one has bothered you, have they?" She should have warned him, about Ravinold and her ...bevy of handsome elven servants. In fact - "Listen, that is my sister-in-law down the line there. Steer clear. For your own safety. She's ... somewhat predatory."

It takes all those years of disciplined self-control for Aleron to refrain from laughing outright at his wife's warning to Fenris. As it is, he snorts quietly, but does manage to resist cracking even so much as half a smirk. The temptation is there, however.

Instead, he directs his attention to the query regarding the elf's treatment. It's not all that often that Aleron will dig his heels in and stubbornly demand his way about something. But in this case, he makes sure he's overheard, because he won't have people important to Bethany treated like servants. Especially not today. Especially not his sister and her potential for sampling at the sweets. A hand goes on Bethany's shoulder, just as an outward sign of solidarity.

"Yes, our thanks. We know it was no small distance to travel." This particular fellow is a guest, not the hired help. "And I know it especially pleases my wife to have her dearest friends present."

It's taken a long time to get to this point, where Fenris accepts the hug readily. He even (albeit a little awkwardly) hugs in return. There are a lot of reasons he'd grown to like Bethany, and her warmth is very easily one of them. Along with being one of the most sensible mages he's known.

"I could do with less curiosity... a few people recognized me from Varric's stories." He swears he is having words with that dwarf when he next sees him. At least it's a step up from being thought of as a servant, the other mistake he hopes to avoid. "But it's nothing I can't deal with. This is your day." He glances toward the woman pointed out as Al's sister. "I'll make it a point to avoid her."

He looks to Al and nods, appreciating the man's strategy right now. If it keeps away annoying nobles, all the better. "It really wasn't any trouble. I'm used to traveling... I wouldn't have missed this."

"You're going to have to deal with that whenever you visit us, dear Fenris." She dimpled warmly, "We're both infamous, after all. Varric made us something of storybook heroes. Larger than life legends...."

She did a dramatic whisper, before her dimples widened again. A long look, before she squeezed his hands again, "Good. There is very good wine, very good food, and if you want to dance with the bride - you merely need to ask."

Those dimples turned into a happy smile, "Be careful, Fenris. I might start thinking that you like me."

Unfortunately, she's right, of course. There's no escaping any of it. Thanks a lot, Varric. But it was inevitable, given what they went through, that it would end up in his writings. Anyway, even without the stories, he's never quite been able to avoid the occasional questions about the lyrium markings.

"I guess my deepest secret is out now." He manages a bit of smile at that even, always a lot more at ease around his closer companions than anyone else. "I'll be sure to sample that wine. I have no doubt that you have only the best here. As for dancing... I wouldn’t presume to take you away from your husband on your wedding day. Unless he has no objections?”

[Open] I Look At You

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