Always and ever my darlings I wish you love and I wish you joy <3
Epilogue: And I wish you joy
They announce it on Tumblr of course, and then their mutual friends, who way back in the beginning began to make plans go back through their posts and dig up all the ideas. Christine promises to fly out and be the singer for their wedding. Aurie insists on baking a wedding cake composed of many smaller cakes with help from a bunch of the guests, although something sits a little heavy in her heart, she is happy for the two women she loves but she wishes, oh how she wishes that they could have gone on being three, and before the two really know it the date is not only set but here.
People traveled from all over the world – family and friends to bear witness to the marriage of Ashira and Kari. Every guest was in costume, some more ornate than others but it seemed fitting that this new chapter of their lives starting with reference to the game that brought them together -Dragon Age.
They had decided that both of them would walk down the aisle.
The celebrant asked for the guests to be upstanding, and as rainbows filtered through the stained glass of the grand ballroom Christine began to play, the piano’s chords sweet and strong as the wedding party began their walk – Janie and Nick first followed by Aurie and Lin. The bridesmaids were resplendent in elegant matching gowns – both featured an ombré effect, one from red through black and back to red and the other with the reds replaced by purple and the bridesmen elegant in their traditional black tails with waistcoats that matched their maid.
It seemed like both an eternity and a bare second before Ashira began what felt like an impossibly long walk. There was a smile on everyone’s faces as they saw the first bride, resplendent in her traditional kilt of red and gold, with a crown of golden flowers in her hair instead of carrying a bouquet.
“And I wish you joy and I wish you love on this road you walk together,”
Christine sang the words she’d written for the couple long before, when she had held the flame close to her heart, barely daring to believe that one day she’d be here singing this for real, seeing her friends (her fronds - she grins internally at the thought) wed.
When Ashira had reached the front of the hall and the piano was alone, playing the interlude the doors opened once more to reveal Kari in a gown of elegant purple. She too wore tartan, indigo and black with delicate threads of red as a shawl pinned at the front with the luckenbooth that Ash had given to her. She held a delicate posy of paper flowers – their stories printed out and turned into beautiful white roses.
“May every moment that you share, be the best day of your lives.”
Kari and Ashira joined hands as the last notes of Christine’s song lingered for a moment. Then the celebrant took up the thread – a relatively simple and traditional service - but the vows they had written themselves.
“I promise to cherish you with words, to love you with actions
To be your friend, always no matter where our lives lead
I promise that you will be mine – my storyteller, my heart
And that my love will last a lifetime, an unquenchable flame.”
“I promise to cherish you with actions, to love you with words
To be your friend, always, no matter where our lives lead
I promise that you will be mine – my champion, my heart
And that my love will last a lifetime, a never-ending song.”
The cheer that went up when the celebrant pronounced them to be wed was second only to the wolf whistles when Ashira dipped Kari into a romantic kiss. The hall began to quiet when they turned to face the crowd and spoke together, a third set of vows.
“And we love the third, our missing piece
our friend and joy, we could not live without
we want to share our lives with you, Aurelia
take our hands, we can do anything together”
She cannot believe this - but there is a third ring and the celebrant is nodding with an encouraging smile. Blushing furiously she walks up to the two lovers and takes Kari's hand as Ashira slides the ring onto her finger. They kiss her, one after another and the crowd is on their feet applauding this unexpected but wonderful turn of events. As they tried to exit the hall, swamped by well-wishers, all wanting a hug and to share the joy Christine struck up another song,
“I have died every day waiting for you, darling don’t be afraid I have loved you…”
The crowd spilled out onto the lawns of the manor house, and the photographers started snapping away, the women didn’t want to go away for photos, just to spend this day sharing it with each other and with all their loved ones.
The reception was something to behold indeed, there was laughter and tears during the speeches, dancing and the food was beyond description. It was set up as though it were a gigantic feast straight out of Thedas, and the centrepiece, 4 tiers of small frilly cakes, all sorts of flavours (red velvet, triple chocolate, orange and poppyseed to name but a few) and beautiful to behold. The photo booth captured all the joy and beauty of the moment, because when hearts unite in love that is the best cause for celebration.
When the stars were shining Kari, Ashira and Aurie took their leave – off on a new adventure, together, and thus they remained, not always happy, not always perfect but always, always in love and together.
THE (true) END
*songs are A Wedding Song by myself and 1000 years by Christine Perri
