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[Elyna]

30th Ymiden 716 - Sunset

The woman stood barefoot in warm sand. The sky and the reflected ocean were painted with the soft and subtle tones of sunset. Golds, pinks and faded blues in gentle drifts across the sky. Excitement made her restless, weight moving from one foot to another as she forced herself to look up and meet the gaze of their gathered guests, grateful and humbled by their presence, the Skyrider felt almost shy. She wore a blue dress that fitted snug to her waist and hips, but billowed from elbow down on the sleeves, so that she didn’t feel the need to shove the fabric back and leave her arms bare. Her hair was caught and tangled by the persistent breeze, let loose as requested by the man before her.

This was the right thing, the right man. Nerves caused her fingers to tremble, so she clasped them tightly behind her back. Her gaze retuned to Benjamin who stood with his back to the water. Nothing surely, could stop them now? Nothing would stand in the way. Surely, surely they were allowed to be happy and to have this moment to treasure? The young woman had set aside her worries over Malcolms’ departure. Determined to be strong, faithful and resolute. She promised herself that she wouldn’t question him, or be worried about his own devotion. All that mattered was that no matter where they were, no matter how far apart, that he loved her. Nothing more, and nothing less. She could feel the ring on her finger, smooth against her skin, warm to the touch.

It wasn’t a wedding that anyone would have expected for a Noble daughter of Burhan, or even a former Baron. A commoners wedding, held by the closest body of water. In this case, on the shore just below their home together. But Elyna knew she wouldn’t have traded a single detail for all the wealth in Rynmere. Her gaze fixed on the man she would shortly be able to call Husband. Hers. No matter what, till the day she died.

Benjamin spoke about the symbolism and importance of water. No one was native to Rynmere. Even if their family had been amongst the first inhabitants, they had still arrived by ship. A tiny wooden replica bobbed on the waves. Prevented from vanishing off into the night, by a piece of string that Kathryn held. It was time to burn the ship, and any ties to the past.

Elyna looked up at Malcolm, grinning “I’ll leave that to you,” she murmured. Her heart jumped in her chest, afraid that shaking fingers would drop the torch into the sea somehow.

[Malcolm]

Benjamin had been chosen to officiate the proceedings and all of their friends were present, including his team from the Moseke Knights. Kathryn, Ronald, Peter, and everyone else Malcolm had worked with for the last few years, except Heath. It was evident that neither party had any family attending the wedding today, though one could have easily mistaken Nathan for Malcolm's eldest son, Marcus.
The whole day had felt surreal, and now, with the sun finally setting, the two of them, Malcolm and Elyna, would make things official. He followed her out into the water, shielding the small flame she held from the wind as they got nearer the small model ship. Malcolm watched as Elyna bowed to light the right side of the vessel while lazy waves broke and rolled into shore to erase the day's wear on the sand. It was then his turn to take the flame and catch the other side of the small wooden boat alight.
As the ship burned Malcolm pressed his hand to the small of Elyna's back and kissed her, wearing a smile too gleeful for words.
"Hey!" Ben whistled. "None of that, you two still have promises to make to one another."
Malcolm stood up straight and took Elyna's hands in his. "What I ask of you, I promise in return," he said gently as the water swelled and saw their bare feet buried again. The breeze pushed the open collar of Malcolm's white shirt back an forth, his black trousers folded up just below the knee. "I ask only that you answer with the truth, this and each trial until our living bond is severed by death's embrace."

[Elyna]

The ship was easier to light than she had expected. Shaking hands hadn’t managed to stop the fire from catching and she was relieved to hand the taper over the Malcolm. Watching the building flame as the vessel was released and drifted away over gentle waves, the woman was caught by surprise by the sudden kiss. Forgetting for a brief moment, the wedding guests watching from the shoreline. Her embarrassment stained her cheeks red as Ben interrupted. Sinking back into the wet sand, she grinned at Malcolm. There would be more time later, she warned with a playful look.

Her dress bunched at her hip and under her belt, lifting it just above her ankles in an effort to keep it dry. Or as dry as possible. Sparks raced down her spine as Malcolm made his promise. The setting sun between them, and stars coming out above. Spell-bound she let the words fall and treasured them. His hands were warm against her own. Feverish if he’d been a normal man. But he wasn’t. She would keep his promise. Honesty was something that came naturally to the woman and it was important to him. It took Elyna a few moments more, to realise that it was her turn. The woman watched her toes beneath the water, shy. Squeezing Malcolm’s fingers gently she forced herself to look up and meet eyes the colour of a forest on a spring day.

"What I ask of you, I promise in return," the words came quiet but sincere, "I ask that you love me, until our living bond is severed by death’s embrace." A silly, romantic promises, a tiny voice warned but she put it aside. It was the truth. No matter what the future held, her heart was bound with his and she would love him. Even on the days she didn’t like him. Until their bond was severed by death. Her death. It was strange to have such certainty and almost melancholy to consider, but impossible to avoid. Strange to see the end of the life together, as it was only just beginning. The woman made another concerted effort to force her worries aside as Benjamin approached.

A new Captain, it was his first ceremony to perform and he offered them a glass of wine. Elyna accepted the vessel, paused and lifted it with care. It was beautifully made, with leaves engraved around a thick stem.

“To any immortals who watch us with favor,” she spoke quietly. A toast to the Immortals was no longer common, many Ryns believing purely in the Sacred Seven. But Elyna knew better. Malcolm knew better. The Immortals existed and she intended to honor them. She took a sip of the crimson liquid and passed the glass to the Mortalborn son of Vri. Malcolm took his own sip and there ceremony was complete.

They were married.

The smile that spread over her face was infectious. She didn't know if she would ever be able to stop grinning like an idiot.

[Vakhanor]

The Baron of Krome...

This was a load of bullshit, what in the name of all the Immortals that existed was Elyna doing marrying that. A man that murdered his wife to be with her? This was almost too good to be true. Finely donned with a suit and tie for the occasion Vakhanor had made the effort at least to clean up for the whole secret affair. Not that the marriage being a secret came as a surprise to him, with all the crap Elyna's new to be immortal damned husband was pulling recently he wouldn't blame her parents for disowning the girl. Not that he had the right to judge the man, his wife could have been a tosser for all her knew... then again he married a noble, the man should have known.

Watching with mild apprehension for the arrangement Vakhanor stood at the back of the small gathering and waited for it to be over. Something about weddings and the standing around, waiting for the vows, the kissing in front of the world just to admit the fact to somebody that you love somebody else with the mere sentiment of a gift that didn't even necessarily match with one another, in Rynmere in particular seemed weird and pointless to him.

In his early years Vakhanor had heard of people getting married and later in Sirothelle discovered that marriage was worthless if it didn't serve for the purpose of carrying on the bloodlines. Which given the circumstance of the Aukari, love was a weakness more than it became a strength. The ceremony concluded and Vakhanor slowly clapped his hands for the newly wed couple. As welcome as he had felt at this wedding, the rest of the Baron's friends had been watching his sorry ass like a hawk. Nobody ever trusted a man with red hair and almost rightly so.

You're here for Elyna, he had to remind himself as he hid behind one of the faces that he vaguely knew. There were a few among them her recognised, some less than others and even then he wasn't in the mood for striking conversation. The nights making the wedding presents for Elyna and Malcolm had taken the smith far too long and he was far too tired to give a flying monkey's ass about how somebody else's day was.

[Sabine]

"I love you without knowing how, or when, or from where.
I love you straightforwardly, without complexities or pride;
so I love you because I know no other way

than this: where I does not exist, nor you,
so close that your hand on my chest is my hand,
so close that your eyes close as I fall asleep."
Pablo Neruda.

- - -

There was nothing that gave Sabine mixed feelings quite like marriage.

As she stood at the edge of the friends and acquaintances who were waiting to wish the happy couple well after the ceremony, Sabine’s thoughts inevitably turned to her own love life. She was seeing only one man, and that, as she liked to tell her friends, was the problem. Bram was beginning to get ideas, like that they should make it “official” and start dating – soon followed by settling down on a farm with two kids and a cow, no doubt.

She would rather cut off her toes with a butter knife.

Marriage held very little appeal for Sabine, especially with how the majority of Ryns treated the process. It tended to be very transactional and, once married, neither partner had any opportunity to change their minds. They were stuck with one another for life – even if she snored, even if he was frigid, even if she grew a sixth finger or he grew a second head.

Still, as she’d watched the simple ceremony and saw the radiance in Lady Elyna’s face when the noblewoman looked at Malcolm, she couldn’t help but feel as though she was missing something important. It made her think that perhaps, just maybe, marriage could be about something more than just dowries and power. Maybe it could be what the bards sung about and what her parents insisted they felt; maybe it could be about love.

A binding and demanding and probably quite boring love, but love all the same.

She stepped closer to the couple as the crowd began to thin and smoothed her blue chiffon gown. It was a simple dress, but still took first prize as the fanciest piece of clothing she owned. That, however, hadn’t stopped her from immediately regretting the colour upon seeing Elyna. Thankfully and unsurprisingly, the noblewoman still managed to upstage her in every way: in beauty, in joy, and in men.

Was Malcolm always that good looking? Well done, girl.

But good looks were not the only thing Malcolm had going for him. Thoughts of him being a murderer had flown out of Sabine’s head the moment the couple had kissed in the water. Logically, she knew an investigator ought to leave bias at the door to keep from clouding one’s judgment, but she couldn’t help it. She just couldn’t believe that the very man who had kissed Elyna so tenderly, who had looked at her as if she hung the moon, could be a cold-blooded killer.

And it was that thought - along with her hope that alcohol would soon be served - that had her in an excellent mood, marriage notwithstanding.

A space opened up in the small group surrounding the couple and Sabine stepped forward to grab it. She reached out to tap on Elyna’s arm in an effort to capture her attention. If the noblewoman looked her way, Sabine would meet her eyes with a smile.

“I thought I’d offer my congratulations to you and Malcolm,” she said. “It was a beautiful ceremony. You know, I’ve never been to a Ryn wedding before. Between the sunset and that thing with the boat and, oh, and the wine – good call there - it was just lovely. Are they all like that?”

She glanced sideways at Elyna’s partner. If he was paying any attention to her chatter, she would forgo all attempts at etiquette and simply throw out her hand in a common greeting. “I don’t think we’ve met. I’m Sabine. Sabine Qe’azour.”

[Tristan Venora]

The ceremony was beautiful, Tristan thought as he stood there, on the beach while Malcolm and Elyna said their vows, and the suns slowly disappeared behind the horizon. If he ever had to get married – which he hoped would never happen since he’d rather be free, thank you very much – he wanted it to be exactly like that. He wanted to get married barefoot, on a beach, and surrounded by his friends rather than a bunch of stuck up lords and ladies that had nothing better to do than criticize the bride’s dress and smile a fake smile while they secretly wondered how they could better their position in society.

Although, he had to admit, he hadn’t expected Elyna’s secret lover to be Malcolm Krome who had been accused of murdering his first wife. But then again, who knew what had really happened? Maybe she had tried to kill him first and he had only defended himself. The Gazette probably made up half of its stories because it wanted to make money, and the truth just wasn’t interesting and scandalous enough.

That had to be it, he decided because he couldn’t imagine the Elyna he knew to fall in love with a ruthless murderer. Before that trial he would not have hesitated to call such ceremonies stupid and pointless, but now he couldn’t help but be happy for the young noblewoman. As she spoke to her new husband, he smiled all over his face. He even applauded.

Once it was over, he approached the newly married couple. For once the Venora was appropriately dressed, in a most elegant dark suit. He had tied his unruly hair back with a black silk ribbon, he had shaved, and he had even used a bit of perfume so that he smelled of something other than wine and paint. His feet were bare though so that he could feel the sand between his toes.

“I see that you finally found him“, he said to Elyna with a smirk, remembering their meeting the season before and how sad she had appeared to be. “Congratulations to the two of you.“ He cast a glance at Malcolm who was quite a handsome man and much younger than he thought he would be. Hadn’t his first wife been kind of old? But then again, King Cassander had a much older wife. Such marriages happened sometimes. “I hope you’ll take good care of her. Elyna only deserves the very best.“

[Malcolm]

The ceremony was done and their friends moved in to congratulate them. The wedding was a lot smaller than his first had been, but much preferred by the man. He reached out and pulled Elyna against his side after she had embraced a few of her friends, seemingly gluing himself to her hip. They were approached by a thin woman in a blue dress who introduced herself as Sabine, and though Malcolm couldn't say he had ever seen Sabine around, the woman looked at Elyna with a fondness he had shared earlier in their friendship.
Malcolm shook the outstretched hand and smiled warmly, “Sabine, thank you so much for coming down here this evening.”
They were also approached by a man Elyna had pointed out as Tristan Venora, and Malcolm was pleased to finally put a face to the name. The mortalborn shook the nobleman’s hand and nodded, “only the best,” he promised, and he meant it, for Elyna there was very little he wouldn't do. “Thank you for joining us, please feel free to pour yourself some wine and eat,” he gestured to the table Kathryn had set up before excusing him to escape for a moment, leaving Elyna to enjoy the affections of her friends.
Amongst his own, Malcolm was offered a tight hug by Kathryn who then disappeared to help pour drinks. Benjamin put his arm around the man’s shoulder and pulled him near. “I always knew it would work out,” he beamed, “the two of you.”
Malcolm smirked. “Anything else I should know?”
“You will have many babies, and six cats.”
Malcolm laughed, “I hope you're wrong.”
“About the cats or the babies?”
He laughed again.

[Elyna]

Elyna hugged Sabine as she approached before settling back on her heels. She moved forward, out of the cool waters and let the simple dress drop down to her ankles. “Thank you Sabine, Tristan!” It kissed the sand as she moved to embrace lord Venora with a smile that refused to fade. Reclaimed by Malcolm and held against his side, the woman looped an arm around his back and looked up at him. “I’m so glad that you could both be here,” her enthusiasm was clear and genuine but her gaze returning quickly back to her husband.

Her husband. Who would have thought? Her heart carried on its uneven fluttering. How had she managed to pull this one off? All that she knew was that she loved Malcolm, and he loved her. She couldn’t think of a single thing that could matter more to her in that moment. He excused himself and she pressed a kiss to his cheek, squeezing his fingers and reluctant to let him leave, even for a second.

Left to her own devices the woman lifted a hand and waved at the red-haired smith who so far had lingered at the back of the small gathering. She grinned at Vakhanor, wondering why he kept his distance. Instead of dwelling on her concerns though she looped an arm around Tristan’s and one through Sabine’s and led them forward towards the wine, “come on,” she smiled, cheeks flushed with joy. “It is time to celebrate!”

The sun set over the cheerful gathering. Torches were lit along the waters edge and provide enough light to see the food by. The small amount of guests were able to eat and drink. Glasses refilled as the water slipped up the beach and then started to retreat again. As the evening wore into night, one of Malcolm’s crew produced a whistle and another a fiddle and the dancing began in happy earnest.

Swept along by her husband, the stars had started shining long before they eventually made their way up the sands. A little worse for wear she pressed herself to Malcolm’s side, whispering and giggling in turn, making distasteful promises in a low tone for his ears, and his ears alone.

► Show Spoiler

I'll give this a couple of days if anyone wants to add another post - then throw it up for grading

[Sabine]

The blue-eyed man who approached Malcolm and Elyna alongside Sabine had the look of someone she’d seen before, although she couldn’t imagine having made the acquaintance of any man who dressed quite so elegantly - except perhaps for Lord Quincy Andaris.

Though maybe ‘elegant’ was a bit of stretch for the Andaris nobleman.

Regardless, someone who dressed as fancy as the stranger beside her couldn’t be mistaken for anyone other than a member of Rynmere’s wealthy elite – the one group that Sabine did her very best to avoid. And so, when Elyna referred to him as ‘Tristan’ and pulled them both towards the wine, Sabine quickly detached herself from the distracted noblewoman and lost herself in the small crowd of guests.

It may have been a celebration of love, but that didn’t make her any more receptive to the city’s privileged few.

Still, even as she thought it, she was not nearly disciplined enough to keep her eyes from lighting up at the sight of tables piled high with food and drink. This was why she'd come. Well, this and the murder and the fact that Elyna had specifically requested her help.

But, insisted her stomach, it was mostly the food and drink.

Rich people always had the best wine.

Sabine poured herself a glass and quickly finished it as the suns finally faded from the sky. She followed it with another, and then another, and then her brain stopped caring who was poor and who was not. The small group of nobles, knights, and riff-raff like herself became a place to explore and conquer, not avoid.

She stepped towards them as her world spun happily around her, streaked with torchlight and stars and the man with the blue, blue eyes. She would send the man a wink if he noticed her before allowing herself to get swept along with the guests and their revelry.

The fiddler fiddled and the dancers danced and another glass of wine found her kissing a man (a nameless man, a beautiful man, a man whose lips could bring any woman to her knees), while her last glass found her lying alone and shoeless on the sandy beach - legs curled, arms spread wide, and eyes firmly shut.

As darkness crept towards her consciousness, two unconnected thoughts would loiter aimlessly in her mind until she finally passed out.

The first: Malcolm was most certainly not a murderer.

And the second: The idea of marriage may have been questionable at best, but damn did she love weddings.

[Maltruism]

Come and get your loot!

(There's plenty more where that came from)

ELYNA:

Rewards:

• Story: +5
• Collaboration: +5
• Structure: +5

These points are NOT to be spent on magic

Knowledges:

• Benjamin: First Time Wedding Speaker
• Discipline: Joy is the Hardest Emotion to Cover
• Discipline: Setting Aside Worry
• Etiquette: Commoner's Wedding
• Etiquette: Include Immortals in the Toasts
• Etiquette: Rynmere Symbolism: Ship Burning
• Etiquette: Full Observance of Wedding Customs
• PC: Sabine Qe’azour
• Sabine: Wedding Attendee
• Tristan: Wedding Attendee
• Vakhanor: Wedding Attendee

Loot:

Sorry, no one posted any wedding gifts

Loss:

Someone stole all the wedding gifts

Injuries:

Nothing to speak of

Fame: +15

Marry a PC (+10)
Host an Event (+5)

Devotion: +10

I figure your general toast is worth double the usual gain from toasting a single Immortal in particular

Comments:

Congratulations! Nice to see a happy thread from time to time
Two things: I think you have 100 more bank points than you show.
At the start of your PB ledger you have +134 + 114 =148 (should be 248)
Also, I may be sticking my neck out a bit, if the ledger entry "seasonal crap -50gn" is not referring to your Vhalar expenses.
The last season you name is Ymiden, so your CS may not be up to date.

PM me with any comments or concerns

___________________________________________________________

MALCOLM:

Rewards:

• Story: +5
• Collaboration: +3 (Sorry, only two posts)
• Structure: +5

These points may NOT be spent on magic

Knowledges:

• Benjamin: First Time Wedding Speaker
• Etiquette: Commoner's Wedding
• Etiquette: Rynmere Symbolism: Ship Burning
• Etiquette: Full Observance of Wedding Customs
• PC: Sabine Qe’azour
• Sabine: Wedding Attendee
• Tristan: Wedding Attendee
• Vakhanor: Wedding Attendee

Loot:

A Beautiful Wife

Loss:

Your freedom

Injuries:

Impending Emasculation

Fame: +15

Marry a PC (+10)
Host an Event (+5)

Devotion:

Sorry, Elyna was the one that made the toast.

Comments:

I'm honestly not sure who paid for the wedding, but if one of you feels entitled to an additional +3 fame for funding a celebration, I would add it on.
PM me with any comments or concerns

___________________________________________________________

SABINE:

Rewards:

• Story: +5
• Collaboration: +5 (Full points for finishing and submitting)
• Structure: +5

Knowledges:

• Benjamin: First Time Wedding Speaker
• Bram: Getting too Serious
• Elyna: Bagged a Winner
• Etiquette: Congratulate the Newlyweds
• Etiquette: Don't Match the Bride's Dress Color
• Etiquette: Rynmere Symbolism: Ship Burning
• Malcolm: Not a Murderer
• Research: Wealthy People Have the Best Wine
• Tristan Venora: Wedding Attendee
• Weddings: Mixed Feelings
• Weddings: Too Permanent
• Wine & Weddings are a Fun Combination

Loot:

Lots of free food and wine

Loss:

Your Sobriety

Injuries:

Hangover

Fame: +2

Let's call it "Supporting a Popular Cause

Devotion:

Nothing I noticed

Comments:

Sober up and submit those job threads soon!
PM me with any comments or concerns

___________________________________________________________

TRISTAN:

Rewards:

• Story: +5
• Collaboration: +1 (Sorry, only 1 post)
• Structure: +5

Knowledges:

• Benjamin: First Time Wedding Speaker
• Etiquette: Commoner's Wedding
• Etiquette: Congratulate the Newlyweds
• Etiquette: Rynmere Symbolism: Ship Burning
• Etiquette: Full Observance of Wedding Customs
• Malcolm: Not a Murderer
• Malcolm: Victim of Gazette Sensationalism
• PC: Sabine Qe’azour
• Sabine: Wedding Attendee
• Tristan: Wedding Attendee
• Vakhanor: Wedding Attendee

Loot:

Lots of new friends

Loss:

Nothing to speak of

Injuries:

Probable hangover

Fame: +2

Supporting a Popular Cause

Devotion:

Nothing I noticed

Comments:

hard to read your "Old Ledger" to find your Vhalar expenses
PM me with any comments or concerns

___________________________________________________________

VAKHANOR:

Rewards:

• Story: +5
• Collaboration: +1 (Sorry, only 1 post)
• Structure: +5

Knowledges:

• Elyna: Making a Bad Choice of Husbands
• Etiquette: Congratulate the Newlyweds, Even if You Disapprove
• Etiquette: Rynmere Symbolism: Ship Burning
• Etiquette: Full Observance of Wedding Customs
• Intimidation: The Groomsmen Watch You Like a Hawk
• Malcolm and Elyna are Married now
• Malcolm: Rumored to Have Murdered his Previous Wife
• PC: Sabine Qe’azour
• PC: Tristan Venora
• Sabine: Wedding Attendee
• Tristan: Wedding Attendee
• Torture: Sitting Through a "Bad" Wedding Quietly

Loot:

Nothing to speak of
(no real indication of having made any new friends)

Loss:

Nothing to speak of

Injuries:

Probable hangover

Fame: +2

Supporting a Popular Cause

Devotion:

Nothing I noticed

Comments:

There have been some grading changes, but I went with the system at the time, since I used it for everyone else. I honestly have no idea if Vak's opinion of this marriage has changed any, but I know from my own experience that sitting through a marriage you feel is a big mistake, quietly, IS sheer torture.
PM me with any comments or concerns