Till Death Do Us Part

Writers: Suzee, Paula, Heather, Chelle, Ames, AL
Date Posted: 19th June 2013

Characters: Reven, Arippa, Faldrimme, Royan, Lisadi, Sarban, Corowal, Zathris, Caenir, D'hol, Cyradis, Benani, Wallia, Poreel
Description: Reven and Arippa's wedding
Location: Emerald Falls Hold
Date: month 13, day 30 of Turn 6

Reven

The ceremonies had been going on all day. She'd heard the crowds
cheering and the non stop party running as the couples rejoiced
an auspicious beginning to a new Turn. The day was beautiful and
perfect and she had to hide in her room. Arippa couldn't stop pacing
and twisting the piece of cloth she held in her hands. She took a deep
breath remembering Felyna's words and that last look in Reven's eyes
that had taken her breath away.

Someone knocked and she whipped around. Her garnet high waisted
dress twisted at her ankles tripping her just as she called "Come in."

"ooof," was all she got out before she landed unceremoniously
on her behind.

Benani opened the door to slip in and her eyes popped. "Arippa!
Are you alright?"

"Yes," blushed the younger woman. "Nothing injured but my pride."

As Arippa stood back up with her aunt's help Benani began her
prepared speech. "I'd meant to come to you last night dear,
but with the Turns End celebrations at Amber Hills..."

"Don't worry," Arippa blushed again. "Lady Felyna already spoke to me."

"Oh well then," Benani blushed with her. "I only hope you are as happy
with your Reven as I am with your Uncle Zathris," she smiled. "Now,
your father and sister are all waiting for you downstairs."

Arippa squeezed her Aunt's hand and they both went out of the room and
down the stairs to the waiting room.

"Father," she smiled when she came in, "Dreamy," she greeted her
sister. Probably for the last time in the foreseeable future they were
dressed almost the same. Dreamy in shades of topaz and Arippa in red
and garnet with gold embroidery. Of course her dress was a bit more
ornate but there could be no doubt they were twins.

Faldrimme rushed forward, embracing her sister with a strong hug. Emotion
was evident in her eyes, her face, her voice.

"Oh, Rippa, you look beautiful. I_still_ can't believe your actually
getting married today!" Faldrimme was so excited for her sister that she
could barely stop herself from bouncing up and down.

"Ah yes, you do look amazingly beautiful," a deeper voice intoned from
behind them, causing Faldrimme to step aside to watch. Royan approached
his daughter. He reached a hand up and tucked a strand of her lovingly
behind her ear.

"When did you grow up so, my dear little Arippa?" He paused, feeling his
own slew of emotions as he looked at his beautiful daughter all grown up.
"I'm so happy for you. You will make Reven a wonderful bride and he better
be _very_ good to you," the last was said with a tone that meant he would
take care of it if the holder wasn't.

"Ahem," a voice cleared behind them. "It's time to start. Lady Faldrimme
if you'll line up first. Then Lady Arippa with her father," the serving
maid spoke as she gestured to them to take their places.

Faldrimme cast a glance back to Arippa before going to stand by the doors.

Royan reached for Arippa's arm. "Are you ready to do this?"

"Yes father," she said and took his arm. She took a deep breath as the
doors opened and a lot of faces turned in her direction. But there was
only one face she really saw.

In the audience, seated near Corowal and his family, was Sarban and Lisadi.

The steward had Wallia on one side and was considering playing finger
games with her when the music started. "Stand up now," he whispered.

"Okay, Uncle Sarban," Wallia replied and hopped to her feet. Corowal
glanced her with a little smile.

At the front of the room Reven stood, his hands clasped behind his back.
His dark blonde hair was combed back away from his face, brushing gently
against the top of his shirt collar. Although vtols had plagued his stomach
all morning, all thoughts of the audience that sat facing him disappeared
in that moment when the doors opened.

A vision in red, Reven studied the flawless perfection of Arippa's skin,
the glossy shine of her hair, and the glow in her eyes as they made contact
with his. A soft gasp of appreciation rippled through the crowd when the
bride appeared. Reven smiled, he could hardly blame them, she had that
same effect on him.

D'hol sat back in the crowd, mingled with the other riders who had come
to witness the event and kept his face expressionless. Political necessity
had required him to take part, but for the most part he found these
displays of supposed future bliss rather dull, boring and at best hypocritical.
Within a few turns, both parties would probably have found other lovers and
their 'wedded bliss' would be a farce. He barely glanced at the bride and
leaned back in his chair, impatient for the entire even to be over with. After
he gave Arippa her letter from Jeyme, he would make nice and stay for only as
long as he had to.

Watching Arippa walk slowly closer took Corowal back to his own weddings. All
two them. How radiant Ofelia had seemed to be, despite the thik lenses she
need to see? How dignified and beautiful Felyna had been when she walked to him.

After retrieving her niece, Benani had slipped back through the crowd to
tuck her hand into Zathris' and watch her niece. Her own experience of her
wedding day suffused the event with a rosy glow. "She looks very happy,"
she whispered to her husband.

Cyradis stood between N'vanik and K'deren and tried to ignore the fact
that D'hol was there at all. Though she wasn't quite successful, she
didn't look in his direction and instead tried to concentrate on the
ceremony.

Arippa's eyes glowed as she made her way down the aisle between the chairs
toward Reven and the Harper. Her eyes picked out people she knew in the
crowd with special smiles for Felyna, Benani, and her sister after she
turned. But then her eyes were glued to the handsome face of her groom.

Felyna watched from her place near Corowal, very little on her mind but
seeing one successful love match made ..and later consummated. She knew
Arippa and Reven would be madly in love within a sevenday. A smile curved
her lips as she winked at Arippa, walking down the aisle.

Corowal would have heard the faint sigh that followed the smile, though,
as the lovely Lady wished, with all her heart, for just one moment, that
her husband would be as wild about her as Reven clearly was about his
bride-to-be.

Lisadi stood, near the front with Sarban and the Lord and Lady Holder.
It felt strange for her to be in such a prominent position. As the doors
opened the crowd stood, she heard a soft gasp of pleasure when they first
sighted the new bride. Lisadi looked towards Arippa and saw pure joy
radiated there. She remembered how she had felt when she'd wed Burned
so many Turns ago. So full of hope and joy, just like Arippa. Her wedding,
however had been small and quick, nothing like this at all. She felt
that pang of desire for her own life to turn out the way she hoped, but
she quickly pushed those thoughts aside, wanting to focus on the bride
this day.

Faldrimme felt her own heart flutter as she'd led the procession. Now,
standing at the front, she eyed Reven and saw the look in his eyes. It
satisfied Faldrimme's desire for her sister to be in good hands. Her
grin was met with teary eyes at the same time as she was able to watch
Arippa process down the aisle. She was_so_ happy for her sister, and
yet so sad to see things change between them.

Royan reached a hand over and patted Arippa's hand that was draped in
his arm. "You are radiant," he whispered with a smile and a tug on his
heart as he glanced at his daughter on his arm. He_was_ very happy for
her, though he would miss having her at home with the rest of the
family. Royan was pleased that his daughter's future was secure. What
more could a father ask for?

They continued to make their way to the front of the aisle. It was
only a matter of a few steps now. Royan waited for Reven to come and
claim his bride. The official handing over, so to speak. He turned and
leaned towards Arippa.

"You're in good hands now. I love you." He said quietly as he kissed her
on the cheek.

Reven confidently stepped forward and extended his hand to Arippa. He
felt like the luckiest man in the room as he looked at his bride. For
better or worse, this wonderful creature was his, and Reven was
determined that she would never regret this day. For Turns to come,
Reven planned on making sure that this was the most wonderful day of
Arippa's life. Reven never wanted to be one of those Holder couples
that wed simply for the sake of being married, or waited a couple of
Turns and then started seeking out other bed partners. If Reven ever
found another man in Arippa's bed, he'd kill him, as simple as that.
He would be faithful, and he expected the same from his wife.

The music had paused and noone talked, watching in awed silence the
pair to be wed. Little Wallia was grewing restless, since she couldn't
_see_ what

happened and there wasn't anything interesting to listen either.
"Boring!" ring out her clear, loud little girl's voice.
Corowal actually covered his face with hands.

Zathris couldn't help but laugh. Of course that would happen and with
great timing too. His face was alight with his amusement as he turned
to see if he could find the source of the complaint.

Caenir glanced over in the direction of the sound and then coughed
softly as if he were trying to cover it up. Then he went still once
more to watch the rest of the ceremony.

"We are gathered here today to witness the marriage of Reven and Arippa.
Would you both step forward at this time?" Poreel, the harper in charge
of the wedding, gestured for them to step forward.

Royan, smiling, stepped to the side to join his wife and the rest of the
family for the duration of the wedding.

So consumed was Reven in the moment, that the child's outburst, and
his best friend, Caenir's, attempt to cover it up, were simply chalked
up to the usual background noise that would be found in a room full of
people. When the harper spoke, Reven's eyes broke away from Arippa's,
and with her hand in his, the Minor Holder stepped forward, closer to
Poreel.

"I love you too father," Arippa said to Royan as he kissed her cheek.
Arippa was so full of nerves that she didn't hear the outburst and
stayed in place until Reven took her hand to lead her toward the harper.
She turned briefly to hand her bouquet of spring flowers to her sister
then turned back to place both of her hands in Reven's and
gaze happily up into his eyes.

Faldrimme took the flowers with a smile. Arippa looked so happy. She
was so happy for her.

"Who speaks for this woman?" Poreer asked, looking to Royan.

"I do," Royan replied with a smile towards his beautiful daughter.

"Unless there are any objections to these two being joined this day,
we shall proceed?" Poreel asked the question and waited. When no one
spoke, he continued.

"Marriage is a joining of two people together for life. This is not
something to be taken lightly. You will forever leave behind your
families and become one together. Now, we must have an accounting of
what both parties bring to this union." Poreel looked towards first
Reven and Arippa, then over their heads towards Royan and the others
gathered.

Zathris almost literally had to bite his tongue. Granted, Arippa had
been agreeable to the marriage, but he hated the idea that she hardly
knew the man. He himself would have supported her if she had wanted
to wait, get to know him, or even choose another path- much like he
had offered Faldrimme. Yet this was what she had decided to do, and he
wasn't going to take it away from her if it was what she wanted.

Caenir glanced at his friend but remained silent. He had no qualms.
His eye wandered to the bride's sister. In truth, he had recognised
Arippa simply because he had met Faldrimme at the stables, though they
hadn't exchanged names at the time. He had to marvel at how much they
looked like each other. He realised he was staring and quickly Caenir
moved his gaze away from the girl and back to his friend with his bride.

D'hol resisted the urge to lean his chin on his hand and give a big
yawn. This was one of the worst parts of a ranking position, the required
attendance of boring Hold functions. His gaze flicked to N'vanik and
Cyradis before he stretched out his legs in an attempt to get comfortable.

Smiling at Arippa, Reven produced the golden mark that represented the
promise that he was making to her. Of course, all the details of contracts
and dowries had already been worked out, and Reven was thankful that Corowal
had overseen most of those nitty gritty details. It seemed like a lot of
fine print, and all Reven cared about was the
woman standing before him.

"Arippa, I hope that you will accept this token as a symbol, and a promise,
of my dedication to you. I can think of no finer lady for Green Valley, or
for myself." He held the token out to her, waiting for her acceptance.

Arippa smiled and accepted the gold wedding Mark and turned it over in
her fingers."Reven, I accept this token and promise my dedication to you.
I will care for you and your hold to the best of my ability."

Truthfully she didn't hear much of the Harpers words after the gift and
acceptance since she was lost in Reven's shining eyes.

Last updated on the June 27th 2013

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Till Death Do Us Part