faderift | [Open] I Look At You

Entry tags:

[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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This is a formal wedding, so of course there is a formal reception line. Feel free to come up and congratulate the bride and groom (who will answer together, of course!).

Please, do help yourself to as much wine as you want, find your place at one of the long tables decorated elegantly (and Bethany won't say a word if you decide to make off with some silverware). Eat, drink, make merry with your fellow guests.

Naturally, there is a ballroom, decked out in the Darton and Hawke colors - Ravonild's idea, of course. It would look garish if not done with such excellent taste. The orchestra is playing the latest in all the dances, per the hostesses's orders. Take a spin, step on some feet, but just have fun.

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.

As far as her social calendar goes, Gwenaëlle has never been enthused about weddings. The ceremony has never inspired her to anything except a headache; better not to get into what the notion of marriage prompts. For more than one occasion, she's ignored invitations, begged off ill, been mysteriously out of the area or flatly declined to attend -

but for Aleron, she makes an appearance. Dutiful throughout the ceremony and dressed finely in the Vauquelin shade of green, she ignores the receiving line - imagines the happy couple will be far too occupied with each other and their guests to notice - and declines all invitations to dance, politely aloof as such occasions invariably find her. She does not make small-talk, nor bother much with anyone's family. It's quite possibly rude to snub the hostess, but somehow she thinks Aleron's sister will survive the slight.

He looks as if he might now survive anything, and it is worth sitting through a hundred weddings to see him so happy.

"There you are," she says, when at last there's a moment of peace in the festivities and she can catch him in the gardens, turning and holding her arms out - to embrace him, of course, but how can there not be shades of each time as a child she would turn in Mirielle's lap and hold her arms out in much the same fashion, expecting to be lifted? "I'm very happy for you, cousin. You look much less dour - I approve. It isn't as I remember you."

Nor as she'd choose to. He deserves a bit of joy.

Nathaniel is in his dress uniform, turned out every lint (and pet hair) brushed away and every button polished. He hasn't attended such a posh event in some time, and he's not entirely sure how he should feel about it. Except happy, for Bethany. Nathaniel didn't have the chance to see Delilah married off.

He peeps through a curtain separating the bridal party from the guests, then turns to give her a smile, walking toward her.

"Are you ready?"

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Greet The Bride and Groom

The Reception

Dancing

Wandering About

for aleron.

Just before the procession | closed to Bethany