Wedding bells...Ding Dong..

Writers: Eimi, Heather, Miriah, Suzee
Date Posted: 26th April 2019
Series: The Hallmaster's New Wife

Characters: Endarin, Naton, Jylanya, Thayde, Enamra
Description: Thayde and Enamra are married.
Location: Dolphin Hall
Date: month 10, day 23 of Turn 9

Jylanya

Thayde

Enamra

------

Enamra stood in front of the mirror as she waited for Endarin to
arrive to take her to the dock, feeling a bit faint. Staring at her
reflection, she hardly recognized herself; Jylanya had provided a
dress, and had helped Embly with her hair and she looked pale but
surprisingly...pretty.

She had expected to wear one of her own dresses, plain but
serviceable, nothing so nice as this. It was a bit big, but somehow
they'd quickly nipped and tucked it all in the right places. Her hands
smoothed down the skirts with trembling fingers. With a modest
neckline trimmed with delicate lace and a now fitted bodice, the gown
was the color of the ocean on a bright summer day, greenish-blue with
little embroidered waves along the waist and belled sleeves. Even the
slippers matched. She lifted a hand to her hair, which looked shiny in
the intricate braids. Embly had gathered little shells and with the
Headwoman's help, wound them into the braids along with satiny ribbons
of the same color as her gown. She couldn't hide behind it today.

Endarin arrived at the door and knocked. "Are you ladies ready?" he
called, dressed in his Gather best.

Jylanya turned and smiled at the Hall Master. "I think we are," she
said. Her own dress was more simple and a deep wine color which was
especially fetching with her coloring. Or at least that was what Naton
had told her. Her hair was wound around the back of her head in a more
matronly style and undecorated. She'd wanted to be sure the bride
would be the loveliest woman in the room. She smiled reassuringly at
Enamra and Embly. "Let's go," she turned to walk past Endarin into the
hall.

"You look really pretty, Enamra." Embly quickly hugged her and then
followed Jylanya with the excitement only a child could display.

Enamra wasn't quite so quick. Jittery with nerves and feelng as though
her heart would pound out of her chest, she had to force one foot,
then the other to move forward. As she reached Endarin, she looked up
at him. Since she was officially a ward of the Hall, it had been
explained to her that he would present her to the groom. To Thayde.
She carefully laid trembling fingers on his arm and swallowed. "I'm
ready. "

Endarin patted the girl's hand in a paternal manner as he led her out
of the Hall and toward the dock, where simple flowers had been strewn,
and where the harper and Thayde waited at the end of the dock. The sun
was setting, casting brilliant golds and oranges over the water as
they approached.

Thayde stood beside the harper, head bowed, hands clasped together as
he studied the wood grain of the dock. Behind him, in the water, he
could hear Ada splashing about as she waited, intrigued by the
ceremony. When he felt the harper's elbow nudge him, Thayde looked up
and saw that the wedding party was approaching. He swallowed past a
dry knot in his throat as he looked at Enamra on the Hallmaster's arm.
She looked... pretty. And she looked as nervous as he felt, he
thought.

Jylanya walked behind to slip over to stand by her husband. She
slipped her hand into his and gave it a gentle squeeze.

The moment she saw Thayde in his formal attire, Enamra's face flushed.
Her eyes immediately lowered to watch her own feet move, keenly
remembering Jylanya pointing out that he was indeed an attractive man.
Now she was far too aware of it and her nerves nearly made her stumble
over her feet before she caught herself. She looked up as she passed
her sisters and brother, all of them giggling quietly with excitement
and tried to offer a quivering smile in return.

Glancing back at Jylanya and her husband, she also noted others who
were peering out of the Hall's doors, watching from a distance The
other drudges, a few looking resentful, some thoughtful, and some just
curious. She turned away from them, aware of being led to stand beside
Thayde.

Endarin nodded to the harper and to Thayde as he and Enamra reached
the end of the dock. "Good luck," the Hallmaster said to them both as
he took Enamra's hand from his arm and gave it to Thayde.

Thayde nodded at the Hallmaster and took Enamra's hand in his own,
noting how much smaller it seemed than his own. He gave her a squeeze
of assurance as they turned to the harper.

Naton looked down at his wife as Enamra and Thayde took their places,
remembering their own wedding, though it was under much better
circumstances than today. It was too bad things had not been allowed
to develop naturally between the two, but Naton hoped they would find
happiness anyway.

Thayde's hands felt warm to her icy fingers that trembled in his grip.
She looked up to look at his profile as the Harper began to speak,
outlining their duties and responsibilities towards each other. She
barely heard what he was saying. She was being permanently tied to
this man, under his protection, bound to his will, and expected to
bear his children, all completely by necessity. She tried to imagine
what life would be like with him, what his expectations of her would
be, but simply couldn't. She had no idea of what would tomorrow much
less farther out in the future.

Her thoughts were interrupted by the Harper clearing his throat. She
blinked and looked forward. "Your vows, Enamra."

"Oh, yes." She licked her lips, clearing her throat as a flush crept
over her cheeks.

The Harper smiled and continued, "Enamra, ward of Dolphin Crafthall,
you've come to make your vows to Thayde to be bound in marriage,
forsaking all others. Your vows may not be broken. You must promise to
honour him, obey him, to care for him, whether in good times or bad,
until death takes you from him or him from you.
Is this a promise you are willing to make and keep?"

She swallowed hard and spoke, her voice shaky, but clear. "I do so promise."

The Harper turned to Thayde, speaking again. "Master Crafter Thayde,
you've come to make your vows to Enamra to be bound in marriage,
forsaking all others. Your vows may not be broken. You must promise to
honour her, protect her, to care for her, whether in good times or
bad, until death takes you from her or her from you.
Is this a promise you are willing to make and keep?"

Jylanya smiled and squeezed Naton's hand. They'd spoken almost
identical vows to one another in almost the same spot.

The vows were exactly the reason he was marrying her, Thayde thought.
To protect her and provide for her. At this point, her welfare the
only reason he was marrying her. "I promise," he answered the harper.

Smiling, the Harper nodded. "Then I declare this marriage to be
binding from this moment forward. May you find happiness and
contentment with each other. Master Thayde, you may kiss your bride."

Thayde turned and placed a finger beneath Enamra's chin, tilting her
face up to his as he brushed a very chaste kiss upon her lips.

Her lips barely moved against his before he pulled away. And with
that, they were wed. The knowledge that Thayde was now her husband
pressed in on her and she had to grip his arm to steady herself as
they turned to face the small group that had joined them on the dock.
Her sisters began to clap and giggle while her little brother tried to
emulate them, but obviously didn't know exactly what was going on.

Thaye nodded at the congratulations, guiding Enamra's hand to the
crook of his arm as he escorted her from the dock so they could enjoy
the refreshments inside. "Well, we made it," he said for her ears
alone.

Jylanya tucked her hand into Naton's arm as they turned to follow them
back into the hold and the small reception they'd set up in the dining
hall.

"Well, that could have gone a lot worse," Naton whispered to his wife,
glad the ceremony went off without a hitch. The circumstances that
surrounded their union didn't quite sit well with him, but he was
hopeful good things would come from it.

Enamra just gave a faint nod and kept her hand on his arm, using him
to steady herself as they continued into the building.

Last updated on the May 3rd 2019

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Wedding bells...Ding Dong..