The Wedding Day (3): Dancing Away the Night

Writers: Chelle, Clancey, Paula
Date Posted: 6th May 2009

Characters: Sarban, Corowal, Felyna
Description: The wedding day celebrations continue with Harper Hall's surprise and dancing.
Location: Emerald Falls Hold
Date: month 2, day 7 of Turn 5

Felyna

After the ceremony was over, there was a small pause. People milled around and congratulated the newlyweds. The staff brought in the food. Then they were seated to begin the wedding feast. Vanea and the kitchen staff had really outdone themselves. The food was delicious and plentiful. There was a round of toasts before the actual eating started. Since there were several courses, the dinner lasted well over two candlemarks.

After all had eaten their fill, there was another of those pauses seen in large occasions. Ladies went to "refresh" themselves, men chatted over the dessert and cognac, and staff cleared away the dishes and tables to make room for dancing. They left one sidetable loaded with drinks and small snacks. Harpers appeared and started to set up their instruments.

Corowal looked around and located Sarban. He gestured for the steward to come over to him.

Felyna had sat beside Corowal all evening and enjoyed the attention and experience of being newly married. The food had been beyond wonderful. She wanted to make sure she thanked Vanea tonight. As the candlemarks passed, her nervousness had grown. She knew as much as could be taught about bedroom games - learned from her mother - without actually doing anything beyond a kiss or so. She _had_ to be worth the wait. Part of a successful marriage would be keeping

Corowal happy, and hopefully straying very little from her bed. As the dinner concluded and Corowal gestured for Sarban, Felyna kissed her Lord's cheeks and stood up, excusing herself for a moment to make some changes to her gown, to make it easier for dancing. As she stood, a few of the other ladies in the group stood with her and followed her into the Hold proper to make the adjustments.

Rising from his seat, Sarban approached Corowal and bent down to hear what he had to say.

"Sarban, when the Harpers start their performance, I want you to keep your eye on the audience and observe their reaction. I want to hear your report on how they receive tonight's performance later. Like tomorrow, afternoon," Corowal instructed his steward.

Tomorrow afternoon, of course. Tonight was the Lord Holder's wedding night and Sarban assumed he'd want to sleep in the next day. He wouldn't dream of disturbing the new couple. "Aye Cousin, I will be sure to do that. Is there anything else you need me to..observe?" With all the visiting dignitaries, Sarban was having to play host since Corowal was busy with the ceremony itself.

"Thanks Sarban," Corowal replied and let his hand rest against his shoulder for awhile. Then his attention was drawn towards the Stand. The choir came up. It was an all-female choir. They were greeted with a stunned silence.

It was into the stunned silence that Felyna made her reappearance.

Her lovely blond hair was pulled up off her neck completely now, showing off the fine slender structure as it led down to her shoulders. One shoulder was bared slightly, the top of her gown having been pulled tighter and bustled up at her waist so she would not trip over the trailing lengths.

Seeing an opportunity to help her new husband, she clapped delightedly when she saw the all female choir. "Oh, husband! What a lovely gift you've given me for our wedding." She went eagerly to his side and kissed him ... a little more intensely than was proper... leaving her arm tucked into his arm. Such was her simple joy, calculated to just the right intensity, that the crowd had a harder time staying silent even in the face of a blatant break with tradition. Why, if it was a gift... who could complain?

"Thank you, my love. I'm glad you approve," Corowal replied with a smile. He then settled back to enjoy the performance. It was definitely the harper hall's best.

Moving away from the table, Sarban mixed and mingled with some of the guests. "We hope you enjoy the Hold's hospitality," he replied to one of them before he heard the music start. Turning, he saw them. A second later, he realized what was happening and what Corowal had meant.

With his lips in a soft smile, he moved through the people, listening to some of their comments. Some weren't favorable, wondering what the harpers thought they were doing. Others thought the sounds were very soothing and appropriate for the wedding celebration.

When the performance ended, choir leader came to give his bow and the was rewarded a thunderous applause. The choir gave room to the band. The instrument players were of both gender, Corowal noticed to his amusement.

When the first notes hit the air, Corowal bowed to his lady. "May I have this dance, my Lady?"

Felyna had enjoyed the performances immensely, the moreso because she felt it was interesting to see her new husband exerting .. influence... over tradition. She appreciated that, and enjoyed being at his side to watch the Holdfolk respond. A slightly calculating, but mostly extremely satisfied look danced along her face, then broadened into a smil as Corowal bowed and asked her to dance. "You had better." She teased him lightly, then extended her hand to his gladly, leaning her soft, curves into his embrace with a willful abandon. Her mind was on the night ahead, and she tried to grow comfortable in his embrace. It worked far too well, and her cheeks and the smooth skin of her neckline were both flushed when he relinquished her at last to do his duty with the other ladies of the Hold.

Corowal danced several dances with Felyna. Then he dance with his mother, with Corolia one very quick-paced toss dance and with Ladies among the wedding guests. One, rather overweight and elderly one trod on his toes painfully twice during their dance. And she was a Lady Holder! He thanked the Faranth for Felyna. He even managed to lure Erassa to a dance with him before the children retired for the night. He went to save Felyna from the other Lords and reserved her for the rest of the evening.

Almost too soon the clock chimed midnight. It was time for the newly weds to retire to their bedchamber.

And it couldn't come soon enough. Felyna, though a virgin, knew enough about what was to come to relish the though and the experience. She also knew, trained so well by her mother, that this - the bedchamber - was where she would exert most of her power over her handsome husband. And, her mother had also warned her, _he_ over _her_.

Either way, the dances had proved to be a delightful peek into what the night might hold, and it was definitely time to let her husband take her to bed.

Corowal escorted her out and locked the bedroom door behind them. Finally, the moment he had waited for so long.

Last updated on the May 10th 2009

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The Wedding Day (3): Dancing Away the Night