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A smile flickered across Derwin's face as he looked down on his son and
his soon to be daughter-in-law. He had been waiting impatiently for
this day for a long time, and had often pushed Y'roden on the subject.
But now, seeing the pair of them together, he saw the wisdom of the
Fates in staying Ro's hand. This was meant to be, this was the right
time, the right place, and the right woman for his son.
Lifting his gaze to the gathered guests the King raised
his soft baritone to address them. "Family, friends, allies and
subjects. All have gathered here today to witness this most sacred of
occasions. The joining of a man and woman in marriage. Yet this
ceremony stands for more this day, it stands for the continued unity of
S'hea and Corin, giving strength to the bond between the Elven and
human races. It is a further step towards peace, and the promise of the
future. The two that stand before you this day to proclaim their love
are the future rulers of this great City, and Goddess grant them the
wisdom and strength to do right by their people."
He held out a hand towards Si'lyen and Fionna, "Now let
us begin where all life begins, igniting the spark that breathes life
into the flame."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Invoking Fire
Brought up in the heart of the circles of power
on Paradelos, Fionna was still slightly taken aback by the sheer number
and variety of people present in the Great Hall. Refusing to let this
show, she took a deep breath and concentrated on what she was supposed
to be doing.
At their cue, she and Si'lyen moved forward towards the
candles on the altar. Taking a lighted taper, Fionna picked up one of
the smaller candles and lit it. Turning towards the bride and groom,
the blonde half-elf handed the lighted candle to her mother, saying as
she did so "Notuile i licuma cale menlya."
Oh! It was candlighting time! three on the altar, two
big, one small… Si’lyen lit one smaller one as Fionna lit the other. It
was a unity candle lighting and the young woman recognized it. She took
her candle and handed it over to her father and repeated what Fionna
had said. “Notuile i licuma cale menlya,” It was a soft voice, but it
carried through the hall with no trouble.
Y'roden smiled down at his daughter as he accepted the
candle from her hand, watching the flame reflect in her emerald green
eyes. He winked at her once before he turned his attention to
Silverthorn, moving forward with her to light the large candle in the
center of the altar. His voice rose, matching hers syllable for
syllable as the wick caught fire, a symbol of their union.
Accepting the candle from her daughter, Silverthorn held
it carefully in one hand. Catching Ro's gaze as he accepted the one
from Si'lyen, she smiled slightly. As one they lit the large candle in
the centre of the altar. "I licuma yanlva kuile" she said in a clear
tone, her voice blending with his.
*****
Notuile i licuma cale menlya - May the candle light your way
I licuma yanlva kuile - the candle joins our lives
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Invoking Earth and Air
Derwin watched with his breath caught
in his throat as the flame leapt to life on the unity candle. It flared
high, never a flicker, nor a tense moment where it might have gone out.
"The flame soars high, like loves first phase. When emotions are new
and quicken the blood." He stepped forward, holding a small seed
between his thumb and index finger. "Love blossoms and takes root,
binding two souls together with intention and the spoken word."
He nodded to his son and Y'roden stretched his right arm
out, palm up. The seed was set on his life line, and Derwin placed
Silverthorn's right hand palm down over the half-elf's before
withdrawing.
There was a spark of emerald and silver light as their
skin touched. From between their pressed palms emerged tendrils of
green ivy that wove around their hands and wrists. Leaves sprouted and
small white flowers blossomed. A garland of flowers wrapped tightly
around their clasped hands, binding them together. For once there was
no hint of nerves at having her hand restrained. That had no place
here. The jade green eyes that met his showed nothing other than love
and a calm surety in the rightness of what they were doing. Derwin's
words washed over her almost as if they were a dream.
Y'roden smiled, the same love and confidence in what
they were doing shining in the depths of his own eyes. He knew the
words as well as she did, and once more their voices raised in unison.
"You cannot possess me for I belong to myself
But while we both wish it, I give you that which is mine to give
You cannot command me, for I am a free person
But I shall serve you in those ways you require
and the honeycomb will taste sweeter coming from my hand"
"I pledge to you that yours will be the name I cry aloud in the night and the eyes into which I smile in the morning
I pledge to you the first bite of my meat and the first drink from my cup
I pledge to you my living and my dying, each equally in your care
I shall be a shield for your back and you for mine
I shall not slander you, nor you me
I shall honor you above all others, and when we quarrel we shall do so in private and tell no strangers our grievances"
"This is my wedding vow to you
This is the marriage of equals."
Gently the flowers seemed to sink into their skin leaving a delicate tracery of gold around their wrists.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Rings
Derwin was practically beaming by this point.
Perhaps a bit unKingly of him, but this WAS his son after all.
"It is customary in both human and elven culture to trade tokens that
signify your bond of marriage. The most common symbol being the ring,
for in its unbroken circle it represents eternity. Y'roden, place the
ring on Arianne's left hand and seal the gesture with the words of your
heart."
A grateful smile flickered across Y'roden's face as his
gaze met Darien's. They had been to hell and back together, literally,
and he held a genuine affection for his nephew. He looked down at the
ring that now sat in the palm of his hand, an heirloom of the D'riel
legacy, and turned towards Silverthorn.
The half-elf almost forgot to breathe in the moment his
eyes met hers. "Arianne," he began in his whispery baritone, "I choose
you over all others to be my wife, my lover, and my soulmate. You have
given me a sense of peace and fulfillment that I have never known
before. I can only hope that I have done the same for you."
His eyes sparkled as he took her hand in his, "You are
my dew-kissed morning, my sunwarmed afternoon, and my moondrenched
evening.... my Silmenya Falmarin." He poised the ring on the tip of her
finger, "This ring is a symbol of the eternity I want to live with you.
Aminmela ile." The band slid onto Silverthorn's finger, settling easily
into place.
The words and the emotion behind them caught at her
heart. For a moment she almost forgot to breathe as she looked at him,
her gaze full of all that she felt. As the ring slipped on to her
finger its slight weight felt right somehow. For a moment as she stood
there she was lost in the emotion in her bondmate's eyes. Then,
remembering where she was she was, she glanced at Derwin. At his nod,
she turned back to Y'roden as she was passed the second of the rings.
Taking his hand, she looked into his eyes. Her words
were just for him, straight from the heart. "Y'roden, I choose you over
all others to be my husband, my lover and my soulmate. With you I have
found a love and trust that I never expected to experience. Words are
inadequate to describe what you mean to me."
Gently she slid the ring on to his finger. "This ring is
a symbol of all that I feel for you." Her voice grew soft, her breath
catching in her throat, "I will love you, always."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Invoking Water
Derwin was smiling to himself as he stepped
forward with a silver chalice, his blue eyes sparkling as he once again
addressed them. "Mai'tus wine, a symbol of life, love, and prosperity,
this chalice has been blessed by Arminiea herself. May drinking of it
bring you luck and happiness throughout your years together." He held
the cup out to Silverthorn and bade her to drink from it.
Accepting the chalice from the King of Corin,
Silverthorn took a sip of the Mai'tus wine it contained. Then with a
smile, she handed it to Y'roden. Her green eyes shone with love and
happiness and it was a little hard to believe that this was the same
elf who was usually so unapproachable and reserved. For once the
shields were down far enough that the crowd could see something of what
she was like behind the barriers.
Y'roden accepted the chalice, his fingers brushing over
Silverthorn's as he lifted it from her grasp. The ring was a new and
comforting weight on his finger and his eyes never left those of his
Melda's as he drank from the cup. The wine was sweet, true to the taste
of the fleshy purple fruit it was made from, not that he really noticed
the flavour at the moment. Without looking he moved his hand to the
side and his father took the Chalice from his hand. Ro heard B'rodyn
move out from behind him, taking his place by King Derwin's side.
B'rodyn moved out from behind the other men and took his
place next to Derwin. He was smiling despite the serious nature of his
task. The King of S'hea took Silverthorn's hands in his and held them
palm up. "Arianne Badb Catha, in marrying Haryon Y'roden, Coacalina
D'riel you become royalty, and part of our house. Do you give your
pledge to uphold the laws, and to act in the best interests of the
people of the Kingdom of S'hea, and the Kingdom of Corin?"
Silverthorn's eyes met those of the King of S'hea. In
some respects this was both the hardest and easiest part of accepting
Y'roden's proposal. The hardest in that she would be taking on a
tremendous responsibility. The easiest in that she knew that in loving
him it was necessary to accept whatever came with him.
"I do" she said simply, her voice clear.
Releasing Silverthorn's left hand B'rodyn drew a small
ceremonial dagger from his belt and smiled reassuringly at her as he
carved a small line into the flesh of her palm. He nodded at Y'roden
who extended his hand, and repeated the procedure on the Prince.
Pressing their palms together he let the blood mingle, watching as a
silver and emerald green mist swirled around their hands for a moment,
until it dissipated into nothing.
"Welcome to the house of D'riel, Arianne," he said
softly, but loud enough that it carried through the hall. "Ve Ingaran
coaina D'riel, Ni esselyë Aranel Arianne D'riel." The King of S'hea
stepped back and released them. When their palms parted there was no
evidence that a mark had ever been made. B'rodyn touched his fingers to
the empty claw at the front of Silverthorn's circlet, a warm green glow
leaving behind a D'riel emerald in the crown.
As B'rodyn returned to the spot he had been occupying
behind Y'roden, Derwin stepped foward again. "By the power invested in
me as King of Corin, I now pronouce you husband and wife. Y'roden, you
may kiss your bride." The King grinned and raised his hands to the
gathered crowd, "Ladies and Gentlemen, may I present to you, their
Royal Highnesses, Prince Y'roden and Princess Arianne D'riel."
*****
Haryon Y'roden, Coacalina D'riel - Prince Y'roden, Light of the House D'riel
Ve Ingaran coaina D'riel, Ni esselyë Aranel Arianne D'riel - As
High-King of the house of D'riel, I name thee Princess Arianne D'riel
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