As she approached the archway, her eyes took in those of the assembled guests,
and she nodded a greeting. Then, they widened in surprise when she saw that
Samuel stood at Matt's side. She met his eyes and smiled her appreciation that
he had allowed their old friendship--or Matt's persuasion--to win out over their
more recent difficulties.
Samuel winked at her, returning her smile.
Finally, she looked at Matthew. Her eyes were drawn to his, and it was as if no
one else existed. Her smile changed to the one only he had sent before that
moment.
At that moment, it felt as if Matt's heart would stop. She was, if possible, even more beautiful than he had pictured her. She would have been more so had her ear tips been exposed (there's just something about those ears....) but that, likely, was purposeful. Leaving something to the imagination. He could feel his smile widen considerably from its almost permanent lopsided lilt into a full-blown "life doesn't get any more perfect than this" sort of smile. He had to force his feet to stay planted in their spots, since he wanted to rush toward her and take her into his arms.
and she nodded a greeting. Then, they widened in surprise when she saw that
Samuel stood at Matt's side. She met his eyes and smiled her appreciation that
he had allowed their old friendship--or Matt's persuasion--to win out over their
more recent difficulties.
Samuel winked at her, returning her smile.
Finally, she looked at Matthew. Her eyes were drawn to his, and it was as if no
one else existed. Her smile changed to the one only he had sent before that
moment.
At that moment, it felt as if Matt's heart would stop. She was, if possible, even more beautiful than he had pictured her. She would have been more so had her ear tips been exposed (there's just something about those ears....) but that, likely, was purposeful. Leaving something to the imagination. He could feel his smile widen considerably from its almost permanent lopsided lilt into a full-blown "life doesn't get any more perfect than this" sort of smile. He had to force his feet to stay planted in their spots, since he wanted to rush toward her and take her into his arms.
That breach of decorum simply would not do, however. Especially with the stern looking Rihanha at her side.
She wondered to herself how time could seem to move at warp speed and stop at
the same time. He had seemed so far away, then in an instant, they stood
side-by-side.
The last notes of the man's song drifted away on the breeze, and the sun sank to
the horizon. All was silence as if in waiting.
She wondered to herself how time could seem to move at warp speed and stop at
the same time. He had seemed so far away, then in an instant, they stood
side-by-side.
The last notes of the man's song drifted away on the breeze, and the sun sank to
the horizon. All was silence as if in waiting.
Father O'Malley took that as his cue. He had officiated at more weddings and joinings and bondings than he cared to remember (including two of Matt's to mortal women, both centuries ago). But this one had quickly become one of his favorites. "Dearly beloved," he began in the oh-so-cliched way, "we are gathered here today to witness the joyful union of these two souls in the blessed sacrament and institution of marriage." He turned toward Carrhae's grandfather. <[It is your wish and purpose to present this woman for bonding?]> he asked in the mother tongue.
(eh?)
To Carrhae he asked, <[And this union is agreeable to you?]>
(eh?)
<[I trust we can dispense with the pre-bonding negotiations over dowery and trusts, and I equally, feverently, hope there are no challenges or duels that first must be settled?]> Rihannsu weddings were affairs that sometimes could last weeks, as negotiations and conflicts waged on, at times decreasing the number of living wedding party participants considerably.
--
Randy
Randy
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