Marriage of the Century!|Sparstrike, Maelstrom

[Kender Bard]

Citizens of Sparkstrike and the people from both Maelstrom and Talen'sul that had settled here ahead of time bustle about, getting things prepared. Music was being set up in tasteful spots, the priest they'd given the honor of presiding over the ceremony was looking over his notes. Decorations were being thrown over every spare inch of cover. Food was being prepared for the ceremony that would come after the actual wedding. All in all, the place was more or less ready when Lady Lya and her escort - as well as a few citizens who had discreetly decided to play tag-a-long - arrive in Sparkstrike.

Lya looks around, her confusion quite obvious. Glancing over her shoulder, she beckoned for Laura, who had met her on the road with her family, to come forth. Laura does, all smiles.

"I thought there was a situation in Sparkstrike that needed to be taken care of," Lya inquired, confused. Laura beamed.

"There was," she agreed. "You weren't getting your wedding. It's now going to be taken care of." Lya stares in wordless shock at her friend and advisor, though a look of pure and radiant happiness starts to seep through her and she fairly glows as her wings perk up and her mouth stretches into a wide smile.

"Oh Laura!" she exclaims, and throws her arms around her friend, nearly falling out of the saddle. Laura laughs and hugs back.

[Northen Light36]

Saph laughs softly and gives Lya a fond smile. "Sorry we had to trick you, Lady Lya," he appologises. "But at this rate we were all going to grow old before you and Lord Shadow got your wedding, if you both didn't go insane first." The sound of pounding hooves catches Saph's attention and his eyes light up, hoping Flash will be with Shadow. Sure enough, Flash arrives on Quest a few moments later and he glances around, grinning.

"Looks like we might not be in danger of my Lord flattening Maelstorm after all," he comments, dismounting. Saph hurries over and the two brothers give each other a fond hug, with Flash taking a moment to look Saph over for any sign of illness or injury.

[Kender Bard]

Cloud had urged his gelding into a fast run. Though no match for Quest, he shows up soon after and dismounts recklessly, stumbling to catch himself as he runs back to his family, laughing. Luna greets him with Laura, hugging her twin and scolding him about breaking his neck, Laura adding gently to the nagging before she turned her attention to her brother-in-law.

Lya of course knew that where Flash was, Shadow wouldn't be long. Standing up in the stirrups of her horse she pratically trembles with anticipation, watching for his arrival. Some of her guards smile good naturedly and keep an eye on her, making sure a breeze wouldn't catch her wings and knock her off her horse. What a poor day it would be to break something!

[Northen Light36]

Flash smiles and greets Laura fondly, ignoring Saph's own gentle nagging about Flash's recklessness when on Quest. Judging by the wistful looks Saph can't help giving the horse, his words are only brotherly protectiveness and given half a chance, he'd do exactly the same thing.

Shadow and Damien arrive moments later, neither seeing a need to abuse Damien's mount by making him move faster then the horse is completely comfortable with. Damien had already guessed from Flash and Cloud's behaviour that there was no great problem, but Shadow has no idea. As they arrive though, the first thing Shadow notices is Lya and he pulls Lightning to a halt and stares at her.

"Lya..." he breathes with awe, wonder and sheer delight all mixed in his tone. It's clear he hasn't even noticed anything other then the Wind Leader, a fact that makes Damien laugh softly as he dismounts and lifts Ann off the horse.

"Why's he acting funny?" Ann whispers to her uncle.

"He's just in love," Damien chuckles. "You'll understand when you're older." With a grin, he stands back to watch his fellow leaders, concealing his own surprise at Lya's wings well.

[Kender Bard]

Lya spreads her plumage in response to her joy at seeing Shadow. "Shadow!" she gasps, jumping off her horse. Her escort gives a little cry of alarm, but there is no need; a mixture of flapping her wings and cushioning herself with air ensures there's no harm to be had. With eyes only for her groom, Lya rushes forth and envelops Shadow in a hug.

A few rowdy citizens give whistles and catcalls, all of which go ignored by Lya. Meanwhile, her servants are diligently getting everything in place; the few that had come already had outfits picked out for the couple already, as well as accompanying accessories. After a few moments, the head of Lya's servants comes forward. The elderly man clears his throat for the couple's attention.

A few other of Lya's loyal citizens come to gawk at Damien. Some of them hadn't seen him a couple years back during the wars and were making up for it now.

[Northen Light36]

Ann squirms uncomfortably in Damien's arms, made nervous by the staring. "Uncle Damien, why are they staring?" she whispers.

"They just think you're one of the prettiest little girls around," Damien replies, then casts a dark look at the staring wind types that suggests that if they don't stop now, Damien will see how well they burn. "However," he adds aloud, "I'm sure they have work to do and I'm not fond of the smell of burning feathers, so I think it's time they got back to work."

Meanwhile Shadow's hugging Lya as tightly as she's hugging him. "Forces I've missed you so much dear," he murmurs as Ebony looks out of one of Lightning's saddle bags and gives a soft trill in joy at her partner's happiness, although she hisses when the servant interupts the couple. "Yes?" asks Shadow, irritation flooding his tone.

[Kender Bard]

Lya simply ignores her servant, nestling into Shadow's arms, though she does cast Ebony a surprised look.

The servant gulps and bows nervously, saying, "M'lord, you and the Lady will have plenty of time for that later. Right now, you both need to get changed and ready. Your outfits have been laid out in your own changing quarters. Two people have generously donated their houses for that purpose, and will be standing by in case you need help with anything. Furthermore, they have instructions on how you're to proceed; Lord Shadow will be coming out first and then Lya once everything is settled." After a pause he also asks Shadow, "Who would you like to be your best man?"

Lya rolls her eyes and admits, "We should probably get the boring part over with, hm?"

The Wind types near Damien cringe at that, and those with wings fold theirs up in surprise and scurry off. One of the Winds remains, though he obviously doesn't seem to want to. "Ah, Lord Damien, your appearance was unexpected, but have no fear. I'm sure we can work you into the ceremony."

[Northen Light36]

Shadow considers the question, then looks over at Flash and smiles. "Oh, I can think of someone... What do you say Flash? Mind if I steal you from your family for awhile?" Flash looks surprised at the question.

"You want me to be your best man?" he asks. Both Shadow and Saph roll their eyes at that.

"No, I want your horse," replies Shadow dryly. "Honestly Flash, did you take a fall and hit your head at some point?" Saph shoves Flash foreward.

"He's all yours my lord," he tells Shadow. Flash snaps out of his shock and smiles at Shadow, nodding.

"I'm honoured, my lord, and it would be my pleasure."

Damien glances at the Wind type, his posture more relaxed - though still slightly intimitating - now the staring has stopped. "No need," he tells the Wind type. "This is their day. I'm just here to laugh when Shadow messes up." Hearing that, Shadow scowls over at Damien.

"It would be bad for everyone if I sent him back to Naurorod by tossing him off the mountain," he comments to Lya. "But I'm so tempted." Damien just smirks, giving Shadow an 'I'd like to see you try' look.

[Kender Bard]

"Don't fight," Lya scolds mildly, as she's snatched up by her maiden servants and pulled off to get changed. A couple male servants politely show Shadow the way to his quarters, not daring to pull the leader of Storms around!

Meanwhile, seating is being arranged, music played softly. Damien and Saph's family are all given places of honor at the very front.

[Northen Light36]

(My knowledge of weddings is non-existant, just reminding you.)

At last everything begins, and proceeds smothely. At his cue, Shadow makes his way out and takes his place, dressed in a fine suit of blue so dark it's nearly black and that's edged in gold, with Shadow's family crest sticked in gold on the chest and revealing his birthplace as having been in one of Maelstrom's upper class family. Completing the outfit is a carefully made cloak made of the best silk, blue to match Shadow's suit, and lined with gold. In all he looks stunning and powerful.

"He looks like he'd give everything in the world to get this over with so he can steal Lya away," whispers Saph to Laura at almost the same time as Flash casts Shadow a reassuring smile.

[Kender Bard]

"You can't blame him," Laura whispers back. "Weren't we much the same? Everyone knows the wedding is for the loved ones as much as for the ones being wed!"

Once everyone is in place the music changes, signaling Lya's turn to come forth. The dress had been tailored last minute to make room for her wings, but it still looks as if it were made just for the ocassion. Of pure white silk and lace, soft blue ribbons are tied tastefully in places to compliment Shadow's own outfit. A veil of gauzey material is draped over her hastily curled and braided hair. Flowers decor her hair in places - white roses with blue silk ribbons streaming down from them. At her neck was a white lace choker with a cufflink that her father had worn at his ascension to office when she was but a little girl. A glittery dust had been applied liberally to her wings and skin, making her shimmer in the light of the day. Although no wind blows, someone somewhere is using their powers to send a rippling breeze over Lya, ruffling her dress which had been tailored to billow with the effect. Once she's at Shadow's side, however, the breeze stops. She beams radiantly at her groom, lost in her own little world.

The priest clears his throat. Though he had politely kept his regalia to neutral grays, he still bore an emblem that marked him as a priest of Etaf. Though it was argued to considerable lengths on which priest should be invited, it was eventually decided that Etaf was one hardly anyone could get too offended over. "Are you two lovestruck leaders ready to begin?"

[Northen Light36]

"To be honest, I was too busy being terrified you were going see sense and change your mind," Saph murmurs to his wife with a smile.

Glancing adoringly at Lya, Shadow manages to break his daze enough to say, "I've been ready since I first saw her."

[Kender Bard]

Laura smiles, resting her hand on her husband's and saying, "I guess I'm still a silly, blind fool then because nothing has changed."

Lya sighs contently at that and nods. The priest just chuckles and begins.

"Ladies and gentlemen; winds, storms, and all other elementals gathered on this joyous day: we have come together to witness the union between not only man and wife, but Leader and Leader. In a coming together that is both symbolic and wholly meaningful, we wed lovers and nations in one day. Where love will bloom in two hearts, peace will cultivate in two lands. Lady Lya, have you any words for your husband to be on this day?"

Lya blushes and nods, not breaking her gaze from Shadow's eyes. "Shadow, I have grown up my whole life hoping against hope that I would find myself in one of those fairy tales I was told as a child; the kind where the princess is locked in a tower, and her knight comes to rescue her. They fall in love at first sight and live happily ever after. As I grew, though, my hope for such a life faded and dwindled until the day I met you. You are my knight; you have saved my heart from becoming encased in stone walls thrown up out of necessity. I will never again doubt that true love exists because it's standing right before me."

A couple people clap at that, grow misty eyed or sniffle. Lya beams, and the priest nods approvingly. "Lord Shadow? Have you any words?"

[Northen Light36]

Shadow nods as well, never looking away from Lya. "Lya, my dear, until I meet you I never even dreamed that any wedding I was in would be for anything more then power and continuing a family line. Then you came into my life, taking my breath away with your courage and beauty and for the first time I dared to dream that there might be more to live and love then I'd ever thought. This wedding, my dear, might bring peace to our lands and combine the power of both our people, but it is only an after thought. The greatest meaning this wedding holds for me is that it is my promise to love you always."

[Kender Bard]

Lya smiles and it takes her a great amount of willpower not to forgo tradition and snatch Shadow in a warm embrace.

The priest, understanding their impatience, smiles indulgantly and makes a motion with his hand. Two children - a wind boy and storm girl, each carrying the rings that had been fashioned for this day - step forward. Lya takes her cue, gently taking the the ring off the girl's pillow. They had been ornately fashioned; two wings on the sides, connected by two bolts of lightning on the other sides. Smiling, Lya takes Shadow's hand and slips his ring on.