[Open] I Look At You

[sunshinethroughgrey]

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.

Comments

[lifeofendurance]

There's a blank stare from Aleron at the request to confirm that he would choose Bethany over anything else. Given his distant relationship with his twin and the dubious one with his overbearing Mama, this is a no-brainer. He's not known his younger sisters save through correspondence since they were babes. They are blood but they are not family. "Of course I would choose her." He'd be more offended at the implication that he might not do so if it weren't for him already softening his gaze as he looks at her. Really, once he commits to something it's as steady and sure as a boulder. "My life was nothing before Bethany."

As to the Seekers? He's given that no small amount of thought and yes this was a decision made in his own self-interest for once in his life. "If it reforms," If, for it might not, and even should it do so, "I do not intent to return. I was given to them as a boy of eight by no decision of my own." In some lights, one could almost see it as very similar as young mage children being handed over to the Circle, placed into a life not of their choosing. "I know my duty, to the Maker, and to my family. Today, I chose my path, my devotion, and it lies wholly with my wife."

"Regardless, Mother knows and cares not; she is Orlesian after all." Issues with the tragedy of the White Spire aside, they're far more agreeable about mages attending court than some other nations. "And she's quite determined to settle her title on me. So in time, Bethany will be a Countess in her own right and free to do as she pleases. "

And frankly if the new Divine (or Mama) truly makes a stink about it, they'll simply return to Nevarra where Mortalitassi are respected and that will be the end of it.

[justice_is_blond]

It must be nice to be in a position where you lose nothing and where there are no downsides. Anders is a bit jealous. He's never had those luxuries, and he's most definitely never had money or position enough to not be afraid.

He takes a breath, working to push down those feelings. The Seeker lives in a charmed world, but at least a friend of Anders is benefiting from it.

"Right. That's what I wanted to know." He doesn't miss the emphasis on choice and given, but he's not going to go into that. Not when he's quite certain that the Seeker wasn't deprived of meals on a whim or treated harshly for the fun of it; their positions were quite the opposite as one was headed for power and one was nothing. Bethany will be taken care of. That's all Anders needed to find out here.

"Well. Congratulations again, and good luck."