#I assume that the bride's family needed to be present during the wedding

[samadhifired]

Since S4 hinted that Nezha, Erlang Shen and Princess Iron Fan used to be some kind of elite warrior trio... Do you think Nezha and Erlang were invited to DBK and PIF's wedding?

No... not invited. Tricked.

I'm willing to bet my head that when PIF ran away to be with DBK, no one in Celestial Realm realised what had happened. After all, the mere idea of a Celestial Warrior falling in love with an enemy is just way too absurd to even consider. They probably assumed that she had lost a battle and DBK had captured her. As a trophy, so to speak.

And who would the Heavens send to rescue one of their greatest warriors? Naturally, the two other warriors who are equally as skilled!

So Nezha and Erlang are sent to rescue their sister-in-arms. But instead of a battle, they find very annoyed looking PIF waiting for them at the gates of the DBK's lair.

"What took you two so long?"

"Of course, you managed to rescue yourself... Well, let’s draw a teleportation circle and go ho-."

"The only thing you two will be doing is getting in and change. We are already late."

"... Late from what?"

"My wedding. We have already been postponing it over a day because you two were taking your sweet time. Do you have any idea how embarrassing it would be to get married without any of the bride’s family present?”

"Wait… You are getting married?! With whom? The Demon Bull King?"

"Naturally. Now chop-chop. My beloved is getting impatient."

Their presense probably made it the most awkward wedding in the history (not that DBK or PIF noticed) but thankfully no one got killed.

(And even though both Nezha and Erlang would rather die than admit it; they actually had pretty good time.)

[shadowofyourheart]

I dance as I'm falling ━ thomas shelby x fem!reader

When she wrote, her paper would always be tilted, and she made almost no sound except for the pen on the paper. She found herself writing on the other side of his desk, which was large enough for the both of them to work on their respective tasks, bathed in the coziness of the fireplace. Her companionship emanated an exceptionally soothing effect, must be her calmed breathing as opposed to the man's frustrated sighs.

A murmur of the record player filled the quiet room, gifted by the sweet Ada who said "you could use some company since you married that stone cold brother of mine", in a taunting but still playful way.

She'd been given a simple task for her own peace of mind, since she'd grown weary with the lack of things to do around the residence. The charity function at Arrow House would require a guest list.

Dutiful wife, delightful stepmother. Those are the titles she carries around since she married him.

A quiet melody began to play, interrupting her thoughts, resonating with the two hearts in the room. Moving papers around, he almost missed her timid smile.

It was their wedding song which they were unable to dance to. Tommy was nowhere to be seen, having been summoned somewhere far off. Despite the fact that the words "I give you the bride and groom" were pronounced, the eldest assumed leadership. It was a Shelby party, Arthur declared, rather loudly and inebriated, and it should be remembered as such. He took her hand and began spinning her around the room, effectively disregarding the gentle music playing. She felt so dizzy that she didn't think she'd be able to eat the cake that was shortly to be cut. Sweet John was more gentle, perhaps a little apprehensive, given her recent introduction to the family. Then he reappeared, always the spectator, witnessing his family's antics and yet never partaking. The dance was over and it was time for cake before he could reach her among the sea of guests who were undoubtedly invited for business purposes.

It was a fond memory which almost made her forget this was a marriage done for convenience.

His voice sent goosebumps down her spine as he inquired, "Do you enjoy the song?" He needed to say something about that day, so he offered a simple request.

"It holds good memories, that's all. I don't know If you recalled but it was played at our wedding." What an unusual thing to tell her own husband. A distant man who she only sees during meals and galas, if her presence was demanded.

“I do. Should've been there, I’m sorry." When he stated this, she looked away from the paper to observe if he meant it or if he was just trying to appease her restless mind and heavy heart. He was seizing her up in the same way she has seen him do before with business partners at eventful nights, filled with hidden rolling eyes from him and pleasant chatter done by his wife, as she played the role of Mrs. Shelby exceptionally well with a glass of champagne in one hand and the other wrapped around her husband's arm.

"It's alright, I had lots of fun with your family all the same." Please continue to talk she implored to no one in her mind. She wanted to learn more about him, even if it meant putting together the pieces of the puzzle slowly. She longed for his affection, to be present on his mind as he was in hers.

He stood up abruptly while she was having her internal debate, and before regret clouded his resolve, he approached her side and extended his hand, "I owe you a dance, I'm not accustomed to being in debt." His hands were cold, covered in abrasions she hadn’t noticed before and yet she felt secure in his firm grasp. Intimidated by his stormy blue eyes she concentrated on his nicely done tie, contradicted between wanting the moment to be over and wishing to be held by him until night fell. But this force of a man commanded to be looked at when he occupied the room and with a light touch on her chin she was pushed into the ocean of his eyes. Illuminated by the fireplace, she felt unnervingly seen as if her eyes were pouring out her heart to him and yet he seemed unaffected by it. She wished to believe there was something more tender behind the walls he had constructed around himself as his calloused hand lingered from her shoulder blades to her waist, gently drawing her closer to him. She could feel her cheeks flaring up and with a rapidly beating heart she clutched onto the fabric of his vest, astonished by his action.

Like specks of lighting, memories of the past weeks began starring in her mind. She felt a tug at her heartstrings and the magic was gone. It was replaced by an empty feeling of self-pity and delusion as she realized the man in front of her didn’t love her. She wasn't even sure If he was capable of loving. Cold air was what she needed, after thanking him for the dance, a brief fake smile was all he got as she ran away from his study leaving him with an unsettling tingling in his palms.

[dwellordream]

“During the years of Eleanor of Aquitaine’s captivity, 1174–89, she disappears almost entirely from sight. According to one account, Henry II ordered her confined in “well guarded strong places”; and she was first housed under close supervision in the royal castle at Sarum, or Old Salisbury, although later she can be located occasionally at other royal castles in southern England. As a woman, Eleanor received more lenient treatment than men captured while taking part in an armed rebellion; and Henry may have chosen Salisbury Castle for her detention as a gesture of leniency, for its residential quarters, a large quadrangle next to the keep, had been one of her favored abodes during her earlier years as queen.

According to a chronicler at Limoges, Henry imprisoned his queen at Salisbury Castle, “on guard against her reverting to her machinations.” The king’s fear was Eleanor’s continued involvement in the intrigues of their quarrelsome sons, and he tried to ensure that no communication passed between them. Yet he could not afford to treat her too harshly, for that would only have added to the hatred that Young Henry, Richard, and Geoffrey already felt for him. Earlier, both Anglo-Norman monarchs and counts of Anjou had not hesitated to imprison defeated nobles, including near-relatives, for years, often under such harsh conditions that they lost their health, if not their lives. 

A queen’s long captivity was startling, but imprisonment of great ladies was not unprecedented. In medieval vernacular literature, tales were not uncommon of aristocratic ladies locked away for years, many of them by their own families, and history records many noble maidens whose fathers were forced to turn them over to their lords as hostages. Henry II could have made other choices for ridding himself of the threat presented by Eleanor to the stability of his rule. She could simply have disappeared during her captivity at Chinon, but young Arthur of Brittany’s mysterious disappearance from Rouen Castle later during John’s reign shows that such a solution would have created more problems than it solved. 

Rumors that John had murdered his nephew with his own hands quickly spread, and it sapped his subjects�� loyalty to him, crippling him in his contest with his archenemy Philip of France. Certainly rumors of Eleanor’s death while in Henry’s hands following his suspected role in the murder of Becket would have had a similar effect. His wife’s murder would have aroused revulsion throughout Europe, and it would have so enraged the Poitevins that Plantagenet rule over them would have been impossible. In any case, Henry’s character had little in common with that of the insecure and overly suspicious John, and although severe and vengeful, he lacked his youngest son’s depraved cruelty that surfaced once he was king. 

An option that great men had often chosen in earlier centuries for dealing with wayward or unwanted wives was immuring them in convents. Henry II considered such a step in 1175–76, when his adulterous affair with Rosamund Clifford was at its most passionate stage. A contemporary writer claimed that Henry, having imprisoned his queen, no longer tried to hide his adultery, and publicly displayed as his mistress, “not a rose of the world (mundi rosa) . . . , but more truly might be called the rose of an impure husband (immundi rosa).” 

Apparently Henry was not worried that dissolution of his marriage to Eleanor would threaten his authority over her duchy of Aquitaine. Despite Louis VII’s loss of Aquitaine as a result of his divorce, Henry seemed confident that Richard’s formal installation as duke of Aquitaine and count of Poitou would keep Eleanor’s lands safely in Plantagenet hands. Henry saw an opportunity to secure a divorce from Eleanor at the time of a mission to England by a papal legate, sent from Rome to settle one of the endless quarrels between the kingdom’s two archbishops. On the papal representative’s arrival in England in autumn 1175, the king received him with honor, showering him with gifts and flattery. 

Henry assumed that the cardinal would agree readily to a dissolution of his marriage on grounds of consanguinity, since Louis VII had won a divorce for that reason, and Henry’s kinship to Eleanor was even closer than her relationship to her first husband. The English king allegedly offered his queen release from her captivity during his Easter court at Winchester in 1176, if she would agree to enter a religious house, no doubt Fontevraud Abbey, probably with the prospect of becoming abbess there. The abbey had a reputation as a residence for noble ladies seeking refuge from wordly affairs, but Eleanor was unwilling to join them, not even if installed as abbess, and she and her sons resisted Henry’s plan. 

She even appealed to the archbishop of Rouen against being packed off to Fontevraud, and he refused to give his consent to Henry’s plan. As the archbishop of Rouen’s role shows, the Church’s opposition was another obstacle to Henry in ridding himself of Eleanor, and his projected divorce was not to be easily accomplished. After Becket’s martyrdom, the English king had little credit with the papacy or with churchmen in England or elsewhere in Europe. He was in no position to pressure a pope firmly opposed to approving a divorce, particularly one who was doubtless aware of rumors that he desired the divorce in order to marry his mistress. 

Whatever the possibility of Henry II setting his queen aside and taking Rosamund Clifford as his wife, events intervened to prevent it, for his beloved mistress died late in 1176 or in 1177. His fair Rosamund was buried at Godstow Priory in Oxfordshire only a few miles from their trysting place at Woodstock. Around the time of Rosamund’s death the patron of Godstow, an Oxfordshire baron, assigned his patronage rights over the house to Henry in order that it should be held “in chief of the king’s crown, as the Abbey of Saint Edmund and other royal abbeys throughout the kingdom of England are constituted.” This elevation in Godstow’s status reflects Henry’s deep feelings for his mistress, a desire to honor the convent that housed her tomb and to place the nuns watching over it under royal protection. 

In the years following Rosamund’s death, Henry showed great generosity to the Godstow nuns, making them cash grants and giving them timber for their building projects. Soon gossip was circulating that Henry II’s desire for an annulment of his marriage was not in order to wed Rosamund Clifford, but so that he could marry instead the sixteen-year-old Alix of France, a maiden whom he had already “unchastely, and with too much want of faith, dishonored.” Alix’s father Louis VII had betrothed her to Richard at the Montmirail settlement of 1169, and he had handed her over to be raised at her future father-in-law’s court. 

Henry’s ravishing of young Alix was far more shameful to contemporaries than his affair with Rosamund Clifford, for he had taken advantage of a girl entrusted to him as his ward when she was only nine to remain in his household until she reached the proper age for marrying Richard. In taking her to his bed, he had not only violated her trust, but also the trust of her father, his lord the French king, as well as that of his own son. This affair had begun during the queen’s absences from court, but given the rapid circulation of rumors from the royal court, Eleanor heard of the scandal almost at once, whether still in Poitou or sequestered in England later. 

The queen would learn that Henry did not limit his adulterous affairs to Alix of France while she was in captivity. He sired another illegitimate son by a Welsh woman, Nest, married to one of his knights from southwestern England. He acknowledged the boy, named Morgan, who became a cleric and eventually was named provost of Beverley, Yorkshire, a lucrative ecclesiastical living that English kings often granted to high-ranking royal servants. News of the king’s liaison with Alix must have left Eleanor appalled, for the king’s conduct not only grossly violated aristocratic standards of honorable behavior, but also betrayed and humiliated her favorite son. 

It gave both Eleanor and Richard yet another grievance against Henry. According to a courtier’s hostile account, the king hoped by means of new heirs born to his new favorite that he might “be able effectually to disinherit his former sons by Eleanor, who had troubled him.” The story of Henry II’s seduction of Alix is not simply another scurrilous tale told by his enemies, for several sources corroborate it. Henry was curiously reluctant to carry out the princess’s long-delayed marriage to Richard, despite periodic protests from Louis VII and Philip II and from high-ranking churchmen including the pope complaining on their behalf. 

Strongest evidence for the accusation’s accuracy, however, is Richard Lionheart’s own resistance to marrying Alix. Roger of Howden, a chronicler with access to court circles, records Richard’s excuse offered to Philip, her half-brother, for refusing to marry his betrothed of many years at the outset of the Third Crusade. He quotes Richard as telling the French king, “I do not reject your sister; but it is impossible for me to marry her, for my father had slept with her and had a son by her.” Richard then added that he could present many witnesses capable of testifying to the truth of his statement. 

At the time, the English king was in the embarrassing position of preparing to take a Spanish princess as his bride, and he needed a potent excuse for breaking off his engagement to Alix. The Lionheart’s most respected modern biographer finds it difficult to discount Howden’s “explicit statement.” Furthermore, the Lionheart need not have lodged such a bitter accusation against his own father in order to justify his rejection of Alix; he could simply have declared that she had borne another man’s child without naming the father.

…As years passed Eleanor was allowed to make sojourns at other castles, certainly to Winchester and Windsor and perhaps as far west as Devonshire, where she had held substantial lands. Within Winchester Castle was a series of buildings that together formed the equivalent of a royal palace; and during Henry II’s reign repairs and additions to the residential quarters were constantly under way.  At Winchester, the queen probably encountered her daughter-in-law, Margaret, wife of the Young King, who was a frequent visitor there, for works undertaken in 1174–75 included construction of an addition “where the young queen hears mass.”

In 1176, Robert Mauduit received a payment of almost three pounds by the king’s order, apparently for Eleanor’s expenses during Henry’s Easter court held that year at Winchester. That court marked the last time that she would see all four of her sons together. Richard and Geoffrey had crossed from France for the feast, and they returned to the Continent with their father. Henry the Young King and his queen also left England after Easter, and he would be away from the kingdom for three years before returning for another Easter court at Winchester. 

The dullness of Eleanor’s life was brightened by the betrothal of her youngest daughter Joanne in 1176. The captive Eleanor had no voice in negotiations for the eleven-year-old girl’s hand, but she would have been filled with pride at Joanne’s selection as the bride of William II, king of Sicily. William’s kingdom was the creation of eleventh-century Norman adventurers incorporating both Sicily and the southern Italian mainland and heir to traditions of the island’s previous occupiers, Greeks, Romans, and Arabs. 

Years earlier Eleanor had seen first-hand the island’s splendors at their height under King Roger II, when her ship from the Holy Land, blown off course, landed her at the cosmopolitan city of Palermo in 1149. By the time William succeeded to the throne, however, Sicily’s greatness was fading into a sort of “Indian summer.” Henry II had sought a Sicilian marriage for one of his daughters earlier, and the project was revived in May 1176, when ambassadors from the Sicilian royal court came to England. They were entertained at Winchester, where Joanne was residing and where Eleanor had remained for a time after the Easter court. 

The young princess’s beauty impressed the envoys, and Henry agreed to her betrothal to the young Sicilian ruler. English emissaries set off for Sicily to negotiate the marriage settlement, arriving at Palermo in early August. Perhaps the queen helped in readying her daughter’s trousseau and prepared her for life at the Sicilian royal court by recalling her own visit there years earlier. After Joanne’s departure for her new home, her mother could not have expected to see her ever again, but chance would reunite them on two occasions many years later. In September 1176 Joanne left Winchester for Palermo, loaded with clothing, gold and silver plate, and other impressive gifts to take to her new island home; the cost of one of her robes, no doubt her wedding dress, was over £114.25 

In February 1177 in the Palatine Chapel at Palermo, she married William, a young man of twenty-two, and her coronation as his queen quickly followed. Joanne’s Sicilian marriage aroused greater interest among the English than had her two elder sisters’ marriages earlier to foreign princes. English adventurers journeyed south to seek their fortunes, attracted by accounts of the island kingdom’s riches. Artistic and literary inspiration flowed northward from Sicily; mosaics in Sicily’s Byzantine-style churches influenced English wall-paintings and manuscript miniatures, and the Sicilian kingdom became a setting for English romances.”

- Ralph V. Turner,  “A Captive Queen’s Lost Years, 1174–1189.” in Eleanor of Aquitaine: Queen of France, Queen of England

[genevievemd]

Hi Sara, I am here with an UNO reverse card of asks. I want to ask you more about the beautiful newlyweds G&E

but

there is a twist. You have to answer these as Gen and then some as Ethan :) NEWLYWED GAME BABY!

For both:

What did they wear on the first date?

Who is their embarrassing crush?

Who's the better kisser?

What is their star sign?

What's their weird quirk?

For Gen:

What was the best present he ever gave you?

How does he like his eggs cooked?

What is his worst habit?

Ethan takes your hand and pulls you to the dance floor. He say that the DJ is playing your song . What song is it?

What was his worst date?

For Ethan:

What is her pet name for you?

What is the first movie you saw together?

What's their most prized possession, or the item she'd save in a fire (apart from you!)?

What would Gen say are her worst personality characteristics?

What’s something that always makes Gen laugh?

Okay these are just starters, an appetizer if you will! I will be back soon with more!

BREEEEEEE THIS IS NOW MY FAVORITE ASK EVER. OH MY GOD

the best uno reverse ever. And you're gonna come back!? I die.

(also I put a photo at the end of what they wore on their first date)

For both:

What did they wear on the first date? Gen: A red dress. Ethan likes when I wear red. Ethan: An all black suit.

Who is their embarrassing crush? Ethan: Bold of you to assume Gen is ever embarrassed about any of her crushes. But, if I had to pick, it'd be Josh O'Conner. If only for the fact that he plays Prince Charles, and G has a very strong opinion on the real Prince. Gen: Correct. Ethan doesn't have crushes, he hates everyone but, like, ten people.

Who's the better kisser? Gen: Ethan. Ethan: I won't disagree with that.

What is their star sign? Gen: Ethan is Capricorn. Ethan: She's a Libra.

What's their weird quirk? Gen: He can't stand when something is using electricity when it doesn't need to. Toaster not in use? Better be unplugged. Are you standing in the hall, no? Then turn the hall light off. Ethan: She loves the ocean, but won't go in past her waist.

For Gen:

What was the best present he ever gave you? "During my second year, before we were actually together for real, my mom's aunt, her dad's sister, was having this big party to celebrate her 50th wedding anniversary. All of my mom's family, my pepere's family was going to be there. Family I hadn't seen in years, some that still lived in New Bruinswick, in Canada were going to be there. And I was going to go, it was up in Fort Kent, Maine, which meant I was going to have to fly. But I couldn't afford the flights after we didn't get our pay increases as second years. I was crying about it, like 3 days before I was supposed to leave, and Ethan found me in the lounge and asked what was wrong and so I told him. And then at the end of the day, he told me to come to the office and he gave me my ticket to go see my family. When I tried to refuse, but he insisted and said my time off was already approved and that I should go see my family. He said to think of it as an early birthday present. We weren't together, he was just my boss, but he still got me a ticket, made sure I wouldn't miss seeing my family. I cried the entire flight there because I just couldn't get over how thoughtful it was."

How does he like his eggs cooked? "Not cooked by me. Usually in an omelet or scrambled."

What is his worst habit? "Being too overly critical, about everything."

Ethan takes your hand and pulls you to the dance floor. He say that the DJ is playing your song . What song is it? "'Can't Help Falling in Love' by Elvis Presley."

What was his worst date? "My favorite story! So he went on a date, after he came back from the Amazon and we were on a reset. Baz set him up on a blind date because he found out I was trying to date other people, since Ethan refused to accept that we were meant to be, and Baz knew it was making Ethan extra grumpy. So he set Ethan up on this blind date, and all Ethan knew was that she was a writer. Turns out she wasn't actually a writer, but a blogger. One of those superficial, super fit, self centered, vegan bloggers who things being vegan is the only way to live and it will cure everything and it makes you elite. Apparently she spent the whole night talking about herself, and how amazing she is and how it's so hard to be vegan, blah blah blah. And because Ethan is a gentleman, he didn't end the date early but sat through the entire dinner. He didn't talk to Baz about anything other than our patients for like a week."

For Ethan:

What is her pet name for you? "Babe. I used to hate it, it's juvenile, but it's grown on me."

What is the first movie you saw together? "The Princess Bride. It was while she was staying with me after the assassination attempt. It's her favorite movie, we sat on the couch and I held her the entire film. It was the calmest I'd felt since the funeral. Every time she watches it now, I think of that night and how thankful I am that she lived. That I was able to have forever with her."

What's their most prized possession, or the item she'd save in a fire (apart from you!)? "The watch her parents gave her when she graduated from Perelman."

What would Gen say are her worst personality characteristics? "That she cares too much. But I argue it's one of her best."

What’s something that always makes Gen laugh? "That damn clock app -- TikTok. She'd spend hours on that damn thing, laughing at the most asinine things."

BREEE THIS WAS THE BEST THING EVER

I CAN'T

I CAN'T

Also, the first date outfits...

[sincerelyella]

All In My Head Part 9

Book: The Royal Romance (AU)

Pairings: Liam x MC (Ella)

Characters belong to Pixelberry; MC Ella Brooks belongs to me.

Song Inspiration: You For Me by Johnny Gill

A/N: This is the last chapter! This is set in book 2 chapter 1, after the mess at the coronation takes place. MC has been stuck at Ramsford doing her daily lessons with the Beaumont brothers. Some canon but mostly went left with this! Liam’s social season lasted about 5 months. He and MC had been carrying on their relationship since the beginning, they just had to do this in secret.

Thank you @burnsoslow​ for pre reading and letting me bounce ideas off of your brilliant mind!

Warnings: Fluffs

Words: 1843

Liam was worried his father or Madeleine may ruin this day somehow. He had instructed Bastien to find out where his father and Regina had escaped to, and also to verify Madeleine’s whereabouts. It was initially assumed she was in Karlington but it was never proven. As it turns out, his father and Regina were in Karlington with Madeleine. Liam had quickly banished the trio from stepping foot in Cordonia, alerting the Royal Guard and the borders of the new law.

When Liam had told Ella about his father and Madeleine’s whereabouts, she was relieved, but also disappointed that no further punishment would come to them. That was the same day Liam made Ella the new Duchess of Valtoria, as part of becoming his Queen.

~The Cathedral~

The large, ornate doors of the cathedral were flung open and Ella started to walk forward slowly, holding her bouquet of overflowing white orchids and baby’s breath in front of her. She locked eyes with Liam at the front of the cathedral and continued to walk with purpose down the aisle. She didn’t look at anyone in the room, her gaze is solely for her King.

Liam’s breath caught in his throat and he eyes immediately well up. She’s all mine. Finally. He tried to look away from her so that he could stop the tears from falling, but he couldn’t bring himself to. Their eyes were locked on each others until she made it to the altar in front of him. Ella is the first to break eye contact as she turns to Hana to give her her bouquet.

As soon as his bride is face to face with him, his eyes sweep down Ella’s dress and back up again. “I … Ella … wow,” he stammered.

“You look very handsome my King,” she smiled up at him.

Leo cleared his throat, “Alright, let’s get to the marrying part now, shall we?” The congregation laughed as Liam gave his brother a warning look. Leo continued on, ignoring Liam’s glare, “We are all gathered here to witness the marriage of King Liam Rys of Cordonia and Duchess Ella Brooks of Valtoria. The commitment of love between Liam and Ella speaks of their shared experience together, their dreams for the future, of the importance of each of them as individuals as well as the special bond they share, and of the importance of their community of family and friends. Liam and Ella, your love is something that you both cherish, so much so that it’s moved you join in the union of marriage and create a home together. The pledge you make today shows your devotion to one another and to the love you share, and the words spoken here will support your marriage. Today, in the presence of your families and friends, you pronounce your love for each other and make a commitment that will define the next phase of your journey. Now,” Leo paused and looked at the couple. “I understand you both have written your own vows?” Liam and Ella nod. “Okay, Liam, please go ahead.”

Liam clears his throat and speaks with confidence, “Ella, I choose you. I choose you to stand by my side and sleep in my arms. I choose you to be the joy to my heart and the food for my soul. I choose you to learn and grow with me, even as time and life may change us both. I promise to laugh with you in good times and struggle alongside you during the bad times. I promise to respect you and cherish you as an individual, a partner and an equal, knowing that we do not complete, but complement each other. I love you, Ella, and I will always love you.”

Tears were running down Ella’s face, she couldn’t stop them if she tried, the emotions just came in large waves. Ella took in a deep breath as Hana stepped in to hand her a handkerchief to dry her eyes. She gave her best friend a grateful look and heard Leo speak, “That was beautiful, Liam. Ella?”

She looked up into Liam’s glistening eyes and smiled. “Liam,” her voice cracked and she cleared her throat and tried again. “Liam, I love you and will always love you unconditionally and without hesitation. I vow to love you, encourage you, trust you, and respect you. Today, I choose you to be my husband, my partner, my King. You have taught me that two people joined together can be far stronger and happier than each could ever be alone. You are the strength I didn’t know I needed, and the joy that I didn’t know I lacked. Today, I choose to spend the rest of my life with you.”

There wasn’t a dry eye in the cathedral, waves of sniffling and handkerchiefs being pulled out could be heard amongst the people. Liam and Ella’s tears were coming down their faces in an unbreakable stream.

“Ahh … okay. That was … well said, both of you.” Leo stammered and cleared his throat. “May we have the rings please?” Hana and Drake stepped forward with the rings and handed them to Ella and Liam.

Leo continued speaking. “Since ancient times, the ring has been a symbol of the unbroken circle of love, with no beginning and no end. Love given freely has no giver and no receiver, for each is the giver and each is the receiver. May these rings always remind you of the freedom and power of this commitment you make here today.”

Ella looked down at the two rings now adorning her fourth finger on the left hand and grinned wide. Liam hooked his finger under her chin and lifted her face to look at him. He smiled at her and found his eyes welling with tears again.

“By the power vested in me I now pronounce you husband and wife,” Leo announced. “Now what you all have been waiting for. You may now kiss the bride!”

Liam leaned down, grabbed Ella’s waist and pulled her tightly to his chest. He kissed her softly, but quickly became heated as her tongue grazed his bottom lip and entered his mouth. They kissed passionately and forgot there were people watching until they heard the applause and pulled away, breathless.

“Yeeeaaaaaaaa! Get it!!” Maxwell yelled as he and Drake clapped.

“Ladies and gentlemen, it is my greatest pleasure to present to you, the new Mr. and Mrs. Rys, the King and Queen of Cordonia!” Leo yelled excitedly.

**

~The Reception~

The new King and Queen sat side by side in the ballroom, listened to their friends make their toasts and watched dinner being served (chicken tagine). Liam looked around at the plethora of people in the room, then his gaze flicked to his new wife, his queen. I have everything I could ever need, right here. He leaned over to whisper into her ear, “My love, may I have this dance?” he put his hand out and she placed her hand in his.

“I would love to.”

He led her onto the dance floor and a song played over the speakers and they swayed together.

It seems like forever, That I have waited for you

In a world of disappointment, One thing is true

God has blessed me, And he’s blessed you too

In a world of lonely people, I’ve found you

Ella leaned back to look into Liam’s eyes. “Did you pick this song?” she felt her eyes stinging, her voice cracking as the lyrics hit her right in the heart.

“Yes, do you like it?” Ella could only nod yes, she felt like she lost the ability to speak. “I heard it and immediately thought of us. Why not make it our wedding song?”

We were once strangers, All by ourselves

Living alone, with no one else, But here we are

And it’s so, so sweet, God must have done this

Made you for me

Ella snuggled her face into his chest and continued to sway, feeling safe in his arms. They danced into the night with their friends and family surrounding them.

**

~Six months later~

Ella sat in on the rocking chair in the nursery, singing Alexander to sleep. Liam cradled Nicholas in his arms watching Ella with a small smile. The twins were about a month old, born at 35 weeks and the doctor had given them the all clear to head home without a NICU stay. When Alexander was finally asleep, Ella slowly got up and placed him in his crib. Liam followed suit and tucked in Nicholas next to his stuffed bear. The new parents made sure the baby monitor was on, crept out of the nursery and left the door open a little bit. Once in the living area they both plopped down onto the couch and sighed.

“I want to take a nap for … forever,” Liam breathed out.

Ella laughed, “Well, we can definitely do that. We haven’t had a full night’s sleep in weeks.” She didn’t hear anything from Liam, so she looked over at him and found he had already passed out, snoring softly. Ella shook her head with a smirk, nestled onto his side and fell asleep almost immediately.

[frances-baby-houseman]

My thoughts on H&M, and HM

I have very many thoughts, as I am mentally quite invested. 

1. Meghan was wildly naive and I have trouble believing she did no research on joining the royal family, and if she didn’t, like, GIRL. That’s on you. This is an openly toxic, racist group! 

2. THAT SAID-- I believe Meghan and Harry truly do love each other, and falling in love can often blind you to reality, particularly if you are already some level of famous. I don’t doubt a word of what she said about her struggles. I don’t think she has great instincts in this, but the way she felt/was closed off from speaking for herself makes a lot of what they did make more sense. The work she got to do during her brief tenure was some of the coolest work from a royal fam member I’ve seen (the cookbook!!), and I wish desperately they could have gotten off on a better understanding from BOTH sides to keep her involved and present. She could have been so good for them! 

3. I think Harry comes off very bad. He did not prepare her at all-- the bit about not knowing how to curtsey and being told she would need to in the car was played off as charming but it read to me as a real flippancy about his own lifestyle. He says he was trapped, but he was wildly un-self aware if that’s true. I have said this many time-- Meghan was very good for Harry, who was clearly unhappy for many years with the role he was born into (being second, not the part about being famous-- I think he likes being famous). But Harry was terrible for Meghan, who I think was really sold a bill of goods. 

4. The Queen is the only one in that family who has any sense of duty, and that good manners are used to make bad situations better. Charles and William both came off as huge assholes, and assuming everything was true (true enough for one side, at least), it really comes off as a failure of two men to find any self confidence while waiting a lifetime to do their “real” job while in subordination to a woman (QEII). 

5. The part about kate making meghan cry and vice versa was really gross-- every bride cries during the lead up to her wedding, it’s an overwhelming week for normal people, and I’m SURE they had a squabble that led to tears, and they BOTH should have been given the privacy to have that moment pass into history. I still remember crying in the bathroom at the hair salon during my wedding week! 

6. I think the “protection” the palace provides is that your public image is a cypher-- if you play the role and wear the costume, the rest of the time you get to be fairly normal and do the grocery shop and visit with friends. But they were NOT prepared for how racist and horrible the media would be to Meghan, and so that formula that ended up working for Kate Middleton didn’t work for Meghan. Kate also had NINE YEARS of preparation before getting married, and Meghan had like 18 mo and the false sense of security of being a somewhat famous person already. 

7. The part about Archie’s title was confusing, bc unless he was born when Charles was king, he’d never have been styled a prince. He could be a lord like Edward’s children, or nothing like Anne’s. But the part about security was pretty gross. 

8. I think the interview was really interesting, Oprah was obviously amazing (and harder on them than I expected-- all her super soul whatever stuff made me forget that she’s so good at this), and again, Harry is complicit in what happened to Meghan. I hope they are very happy together, I guess I hope he reconciles with his family bc everyone deserves to have family and they don’t have much left (I genuinely believe the only thing that saved Prince William was the Middleton family), and I hope he can get some reflection on how he could have prepared her better. 

9. I don’t think anyone royal or royal adjacent watched except Fergie, Eugenie (to support Meghan, they are friends), and James Middleton, who kept Kate and Pippa updated on highlights in the family group text. 

10. Go ‘Cats. 

[anotherbeingsworld]

I Will Always Remember You This Way.

Pairing: Bryce Lahela x F!MC (Casey Valentine)

Book: Open Heart

Rating/Warning:G/ ANGST. 

Word Count: 1769

Disclaimer: I do not own the characters. All rights goes to Pixelberry.

A/N: Hiii! This is a new fic of mine, and its an angst one! This is my first-ish try towards angst soo, I hope I manage to capture it! Also, I hope all of you don’t hate me whilst reading this (i am terrified of posting this🙈) , I have been wanting to write this in a while so, this is the final result!! Apologies in advance if there are grammar mistakes since English is not my first language. The song used was, (Adele’s : Make you feel my love with a one word change which is highlighted in bold) Soo, I hope all of you enjoy it! (please don’t hate me, i’m sorry. )

Tags: @soederberg ; @choicessa ; @bitchloveskcbaseball ; @princess-geek ; @storyofmychoices ; @n-whas ; @annekebbphotography ; @mrsbhandari

LINK TO MY MASTERLIST

She knows. It is too late for her, as she is watching the love of her life, or as she assumed is standing at the end of the aisle. He is wearing a black tux, with a white bow-tie. His hair was slicked back as he stands there with his groomsmen. She places a painful smile on her face as his gaze falls on her. The look in his eyes filled with surprise, with a pint of sadness along with the obvious look of regret. His gaze from her has torn away when the music starts. Casey feels the pain in her chest as the bride walks down the aisle with a million-dollar smile shown in her face. 

Sienna who is sitting beside her, takes her hand and squeezes it tightly as support. She felt herself putting a façade to make him happy, it is his day after all. The ceremony continues as the officiant announced,

‘Speak now… or forever hold your peace.’ 

Casey felt herself wanting to object, the look on his face is saying something similar. The way his eyebrows furrowed in frustration, despite the smile shows everything. But, it was silent. No one objects, not even herself. As it continues, Casey felt herself walking down memory lane as the moments with Bryce played within her consciousness. 

Both of them were walking down the rainy streets of Boston, as she stopped in her tracks in front of a store. Her eyes followed the item on the display rack. A beautiful modern wedding dress, it was a long ball gown, with thin straps that she felt drawn too. 

‘That’s beautiful Bryce!’ Casey said in awe as she examined the detail on the dress.

‘It really is, I bet you would look better in it than the dummy.’ Bryce winks at her as she felt her cheeks burn.

‘Do you think we will ever get married Bryce?’ She suddenly questioned him.

‘Hmm, do you want too?’ His head turned as they were facing one another.

‘I would love to be your wife, Mr.s Casey Lahela sounds perfect.’ Casey replied with a huge grin on her face.

‘And, I would love to be your husband as well.’ Bryce said as he gives her a kiss. 

The cheers around her bring her back to reality, as Bryce and Chloe walk hand-in-hand with another. As they walked down the aisle once more after being pronounced husband and wife, Casey claps for them as her heart breaks, as it should be her there, with him.

As they walked together, Casey’s eyes meet his in an instant. She places a smile as she follows the other guests doing the same. 

The  couple was celebrated through the night as the celebration goes on. The reception was held in a townhouse, that is believed was owned by the bride’s family. Casey felt herself needing space after what she is going through, she felt herself walking in circles in the enormous household. 

‘Damn it, I shouldn’t have come here! Your stupid Casey, he is already married and you can’t do anything about it!’ Casey found herself broke down as she stopped in an empty room. Her body immediately sinks down the carpet as she stood there. Her tears that she was holding before had fallen down, leaving nothing behind. The tears finally stop after a while, as she tried to force more to fall but failing miserably. She lets out a sigh as she takes out a handkerchief courtesy of Sienna to wipe the tears away. Her head perks up at the sound of an opening, she turns her head and saw him. He stands in front of the door with the look of regret in his eyes.

“What are you doing here Bryce?” She asked nonchalant whilst trying to hide her sadness from him.

“I…came here to check on you,” Bryce said quietly.

“Wouldn’t your wife will be looking for you..?” A harsh tone came out from her voice, as Bryce looks at her with guilt in his eyes.

The room was silenced, as Bryce goes quiet. He couldn’t answer that, Casey lets out a sigh and stood up to leave the room to join the others. In a flash, Bryce quickly pulls her into him, as they were facing one another. Their faces were close enough with one another, Casey felt herself leaning forward with him doing the same. Their lips meet for one moment as memories of him flowed through her mind making her pulled away instantly with a pained look on her face. She caressed his cheek examining his features one last time before sprinting out of the room. Her feet keep on dragging her until she bumped into a familiar group of faces. 

Sienna notices the puffy eyes and immediately pulled her into a hug, whilst Aurora rubs her back. They knew how painful this is for her, they knew how much love she has for him. 

“We can leave if you don’t feel like staying any longer,” Jackie said as she gestures to the exit whilst all the guests are getting ready for the reception. 

“No, no… I’m okay, don’t worry about me guys. Let’s go get ourselves seated.” Casey replied with a calm exterior earning questionable looks from her friends. Each of them lets out a slow shrug as they follow her to their respective seats.

As the ceremony begins, it went well as the family from both the bride and groom started to present their speeches for the happy couple. After a whole town of speeches were given, the emcee lets out a small announcement. 

“I have a request from one of our guests for the happy couple, a song to be specific. Here I call, one Miss Casey Valentine to the stage.” The emcee said as Casey stood up from the table and makes her way to the stage. 

The guests clap for her, while Bryce’s eyes went wide at the announcement. He thought about the kiss they shared in the room once more, as the music starts to play.

“I dedicate this song for both the bride and groom, may your wedding lasts for eternity with happiness and love…” Casey said before meeting his gaze, with a smile on her face as her voice starts to sing.

When the rain is blowing in your face,

And the whole world is on your case,

I could offer you a warm embrace,

To make you feel my love.

The tears started to form in her eyes, as she sang the first verse. She stopped for a moment and took a deep breath before she proceeds with the song.

When the evening shadows and the stars appear

And there is no one there to dry your tears

Oh, I hold you for a million years

To make you feel my love

The words from the song resonated on how she felt, in her mind where she would be the one to hold him in her arms, as they cried their sorrows away, doing everything she can to make him feel loved in the world. 

I know you haven't made your mind up yet

But she will never do you wrong

I've known it from the moment that we met

No doubt in my mind where you belong

Her eyes fall into the couple, as they were seated with a huge smile on their faces, the bride mostly as Bryce hide the pain through a small smile. Standing there, she knows Bryce is going to be happy… even without her and that is all she cares about.

I'd go hungry; I'd go black and blue

And I'd go crawling down the avenue

No, there's nothing that I wouldn't do

To make you feel my love

She will do anything, knowing that his happiness matters to her. The pain from letting go is visible in her eyes as her gaze lingers at him. His eyes were wet from the tears, as he subtly lowered his head. 

The storms are raging on the rolling sea

And on the highway of regret 

She emphasizes the word, ‘regret’. The feeling of sorrow in her heart takes over into her voice as the wetness on her eyes seems too real to ignore. 

The winds of change are blowing wild and free

You ain't seen nothing like me yet.

I could make you happy, make your dreams come true

There's nothing that I wouldn't do

Go to the ends of this Earth for you

To make you feel my love, oh yes

To make you feel my love.

As she finished, the room was silent as their eyes meet once more, the memory of their encounter before keeps on echoing in her head as she is brought to the real world as applause erupts. All of them are giving her a standing ovation, she lets out a small bow before heading back to her seat. Her friends were silent, they understand the message she wanted to give. 

“Cas, you sang beautifully,” Aurora said to her as she placed her hand on top of hers.

“Yeah, we are proud of you Cas,” Jackie says with an encouraging smile on her face.

“You’re gonna be okay, Cas?” Elijah asked as all eyes were on her. Casey went silent. 

Casey nods after a while, her thoughts still lingering… as it was writing a letter to him. Her final words towards him; a goodbye. 

‘I love you, will always do. I am really happy for you, even if it's breaking my heart. You deserve all the love in this world and I am glad someone is going to be there, throughout both the hard and easy times of life. I will always be here with you, every night and day. I will be just a phone call away. Bryce Lahela, thank you for all the love you give. Maybe, if our fates one day intertwined, I would wait a million years for it. You are one of the best things that ever happened to me and,  I am always going be that same girl who you found in the supply closet during our first meet. You deserve all the happiness, even though it’s not from me. Life is really insane sometimes, but one thing that is true in this life is, the love I have for you. – Love, Casey Valentine. 

Her thoughts are still playing as she  proceeds with the life in front of her. The words are still there, making itself visible. Maybe, as a reminder? A future wish or maybe, a way for one to move forward once again. 

 THE END

A/N #2 : HiI! It’s me again, I hope all of you enjoy it! I am so sorry for the angst! LIKE SUPER SORRY!! (Its painful to write it, but I somehow enjoy i welp! I still love Bryce, don’t come at me!!) But, don’t forget to like, reblog or even leave a comment! It really means a lot, and THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR READING. ❤ 

[lia-jones]

Growing Stronger - Chapter Thirty-Six - Preview of What's to Come

It was the day before the big day! Saturday, March 21st. In twenty-four hours my last name would no longer be Jones, and I would officially belong to a new family, one Victor and I were creating for ourselves. A dream come true. I had butterflies in my stomach since I woke up that morning, I could only imagine how I would be on my wedding day.

Victor and I spent most of the day packing and making the last arrangements for our honeymoon. Our conjugal expedition would last a total of two weeks, which I thought was very ambitious, given LFG would be minus a CEO, but Victor was adamant that we took the time to ourselves, since we had been so busy the last few months.

“We need to learn to take time to ourselves.” Victor pointed out once again later that evening, while we drove to Aunt Terry’s ranch for the wedding rehearsal. “I don’t mean just you, me too. I have been solely focused on work for way too long. Our lives are changing, so should we.”

“You are not wrong, but I still think your no phone policy won’t last long. Eventually, Goldman will need something from you. Two weeks is a long time.” I frowned at him.

“At least just for the first three days. I want those to be just for us.” He turned down the familiar dirt road that led to his aunt’s property, stopping the car right at the entrance. “Ready?” He smiled tenderly. I took a deep breath, my heart starting to beat faster.

“Yes.” I nodded with conviction.

The dusky sky was getting darker, the fiery hues being replaced with dark ones, as we drove down the dirt road. It was like I was entering a fairytale. Every tree lining the road was covered in beautiful colored ribbons, and from them hung jars with flickering candles, lighting our way to the mansion. By the gates, two huge golden letters, V and A, signed the place of what would be called by the media the most important event of the year: our wedding. The gates and the walls by them were adorned with beautiful white roses and peonies, and huge lit candles were strategically placed by them, giving the whole area a whimsical atmosphere. The child in me was expecting to see fairies floating about,  like I was watching one of those Tinkerbell movies.

“I think it’s safe to assume you like it.” Victor gave me a smug smile. “You’re yet to say a word.”

I had helped plan some of the wedding, but the big plans were in Victor’s and the wedding planner’s hands, and Victor insisted on keeping some of it a surprise for me. When I looked at the man I loved, my eyes were brimming with tears of joy.

“It’s perfect.” I couldn’t help my wide grin. I was so happy. And seeing him grin back just as wide made things even more perfect.

As we entered the gates and I observed the garden, perfectly illuminated in the now darkening night, I felt my heart fill with joy and love. I was so distracted with my professional life, only awakening slightly to my personal one, that I completely forgot how romantic and magical Victor could be. This was clearly an ode to our love. It had the care and the tenderness I felt from him every day times a million. It was dazzling.

“This weekend, I want you to be surrounded by nothing but joy, beauty, and love.” He spoke with tender eyes looking at me, containing a million emotions, most of which I couldn’t decipher, but one was very clear.

Bernard met us at the door and we strolled around in the garden for a while, admiring in detail what we were sure we wouldn’t be able to the following day, while he showed us every aspect of the decorations. After spending some time with him, his English was starting to sound more normal to me, although peonies were still a serious trigger for my laughter. Noticing that it was getting late, we headed for the wedding venue. The officiant was already expecting us at the gazebo, along with my family and some of Victor’s family, which included his father, some of his aunts and uncles, aunt Terry and her partner, Susan. Gregory didn’t look happy.

The rehearsal was pretty simple, as we assume our positions, my father walking me down the aisle and taking me to Victor, and the usual exchange of vows that we chose to memorize instead of repeat. It was pretty uneventful, but of course, no wedding is a true wedding without a story to tell. And although this was a Lee wedding, held to the highest of standards, ours wouldn’t be an exception.

After we said our vows and pretended to exchange our rings, the officiant made the dreaded declaration that is always so popular in movies: If anyone has reason to be against this wedding, speak now, or forever hold your peace.

This part was so useless nobody was actually paying much attention. That is, until we heard a loud NOOOOOOOOOO coming from the end of the aisle. It turns out, it was Mia’s assistant, Minor, who was playing something on his cellphone and apparently was not having a great game. But that wasn’t actually the funniest part. Gavin, who was sitting by his side, got up ready to fall on him like a boulder, but not before Mia, red as a tomato, got up from Gavin’s side, smacked Minor hard in the stomach, making him double over and let out a loud ooofff.

Victor witnessed it with an expression that screamed What are these idiots doing now? To me, it was the funniest thing I had ever seen since blue penises. I stifled a laugh, noticing Greg watching us closely with judgemental eyes. But, truth be told, I knew what was coming, and I wouldn’t be able to hold it in. Pretending to show affection to my beloved future husband, I leaned my face against his chest, letting myself laugh a little. Noticing it, Victor rubbed my back.

“Quit it, Andrea.” He whispered between clenched teeth. I was lost. Victor’s reprimand only made me laugh more.

“Is she crying?” I heard Terry ask. “Oh, honey, there’s no reason to cry.”

“No.” I heard Victor’s voice, flat as a board. “She’s laughing.” He turned to me. “Ok, enough already. It wasn’t that funny.”

But it was. I replayed the entire scene again in my mind, picturing Minor’s face getting slightly purple with embarrassment and surprise, and tears started to come.

“The little woman…” I heard the officiant’s voice, strained as he tried not to laugh. “For someone so little she sure does pack a punch!” He let out a hearty laugh.

“Just like the bride!” My brother chimed in, laughing, and soon I could hear my parents laugh too.

They say there is nothing as contagious as laughter. One by one, all the guests present started laughing in unison. Even Victor, who was trying to keep it together, threw composure to the wind and was laughing too, his chest rumbling against my cheeks.

When, after some very long minutes, the laughter stopped and I was able to lift my face from Victor’s shirt, Gavin, Mia and Minor were nowhere to be seen, and Gregory was shooting daggers in my direction, a look of disgust on his face. The officiant was still wiping tears from his cheeks, trying to catch a breath.

“I have to say, in 10 years of practice, I have never heard a single objection, let alone such a heartfelt one!” He chuckled. “Well, let’s finish this practice. Does anyone else object to this wedding? If that’s the case, I think we can summon the little woman again!”.

I laughed loudly and the room followed me again. Victor gave the officiant a stern look.

“Skip that part tomorrow.” Victor instructed the officiant.

There is definitely no cleansing power like laughter. We left the rehearsal in good spirits, Victor particularly excited for the next activity.

It is customary for the groom to plan a dinner with all his favorite things before the wedding, usually during rehearsal dinner. My father and Victor were planning this for weeks, constantly talking on the phone or via Skype, constructing the perfect wine tasting dinner. Victor hired three renowned chefs to cook for us that night, one of them being his teacher Guy Sauvant, and some sommeliers to explain the wines and the pairings to the guests.

The decoration of the tent was truly Victor’s taste, and it somehow reminded me of old cellars and antique parlor rooms, intricate iron candle holders and dark velvet sofas and chairs, images of paintings everywhere, decorating the menus, hanging on the walls or in the background of the bars.

We sat and ate, and I noticed how relaxed Victor seemed to be around my family. Although we were trying to give both families the same attention, we would naturally gravitate towards mine, and Victor seemed to enjoy himself more in their presence, either engaging in light conversations with my parents, or laughing at some joke Joshua had made, or simply holding Ana on his lap when she demanded attention. He had clearly been adopted by the Jones, but it seemed he had adopted them too.

Gregory walked up to us while we were laughing about a story my father was telling from one of his trips.

“Greetings to the happy couple. It seems like my son has such a busy life nowadays that he doesn’t  have time to greet his own father.” Gregory shook our hands, his expression as dry as the desert.

“I was waiting for you to finish your meal.” I noticed Victor’s shoulder’s tense as he shook his father’s hand. “I hope everything was to your liking.”

“I can’t say I’m terribly impressed so far.” Gregory gave me a weird look and turned to Victor. “Make sure your fiancée shows a little more restraint tomorrow. We don’t want that ridiculous scene in front of our guests.”

“You mean your guests.” Victor kept his poker face but his ears became red, revealing his anger. “The people I know nothing about and yet you insisted I’d invite.” He gave Gregory a defiant look. “Moreso, please remind yourself that this is Andrea’s wedding too, and she is allowed to laugh as much as she wants, even if that is disagreeable to your guests.”

Gregory took a step further, ready to charge with some venomous words. I held Victor’s hand tight, anticipating a confrontation.

“Gregory!” My mother touched Gregory’s arm amicably. He looked at his arm and then at her, as if he was considering if he had been infected by something. “Have you tried the cherry wine my husband brought? Come, I’ll serve you some while we chat, I would love to know the father that raised this remarkable young man.”

Wise as always, my mother knew that a stroke of Gregory’s ego would be enough to divert his attention. The flattery made him quickly conclude she was worthy of his attention, and both walked away to get the cherry wine. Sitting by my side, Victor was fuming.

“It’s ok, let it go.” I rubbed his upper arm lovingly.

“That’s exactly why I didn’t want him here.” He mumbled, turning at me after. “How are you not angry? He basically implied you were some idiot I should control.”

“I don’t care what he says.” I shrugged. “Besides, he’s the real idiot if he thinks he’s going to ruin my night. You shouldn’t let him ruin yours either.”

Victor nodded, coming closer for a short sweet kiss. We heard a soft clink from afar. It was my brother, in the center of the room, gathering everyone’s attention.

“Good evening, everyone. For those who don’t know me, my name is Joshua, and I’m Andrea’s twin brother. If you are wondering if that is actually true, because I’m taller and better looking, yes we are twins, no, I didn’t steal all the food in the womb, and yes, despite being the second born, I am the best twin.”

Everybody, especially my family laughed, while I playfully stuck out my tongue to my brother, Victor chuckling with the both of us.

“Hmmm… So what can I say about the bride and the groom? I’ll start with the bride, since I know her since we were two fertilized eggs inside my mother's womb.” Josh continued. ”Growing up, Andrea was a tomboy, refusing to live up to her gender role, always defying the rules and sticking true to what she believed in. I remember at a relative’s wedding, we were eight at the time, she tore her dress trying to show some ‘snotty boy,’” he used air quotes, “that girls could climb trees just as well as boys. The dress caught up in one of the branches and ripped apart, as Andrea dangled happily in one of the branches, her underwear showing.” There was another wave of laughter in the room. “My mother was livid but didn’t ground her, because she did climb the tree faster than the boy, even with her dress tearing apart. And even though she now is a respectable lady of the elite, and such dress ripping habits are frowned upon, I am sure she will still be the Andrea I’ve always known, a small yet concentrated force of nature, defying everyone that tries to put her down and showing us all there can be incredible strength in adversity.” Joshua’s throat caught up with emotion. “I’m so incredibly proud of you, sis.” He turned to Victor. “Now what can we say about our CEO.”

“This should be good.” Victor spoke to me, his flat voice not matching the smile he had in his eyes.

“Perhaps our groom doesn’t know this, but we had heard of him way before the two started dating. The truth was, Andy originally didn’t like Victor very much. Well, that’s an understatement. Every time she referred to him, she used some very original terms. My two favorite still are “Lord Victor, King of Highhorseland” and “Victor Lee, the Slayer of Souls and Destroyer of Joy”.

Again, everybody laughed, including Victor, but he still gave me a dirty look. I could feel myself seriously blush.

“That was before I knew the real you, you know that.” I defended myself. He simply smiled and softly rubbed his nose against mine.

“But the mighty King of Highhorseland must’ve done something right and somehow convince damsel Andrea to ride with him because, to our surprise, he flew across the ocean for about twelve hours just to see Andy defend her thesis and… they seemed pretty intimate, if you know what I mean. And that’s when I found out three undeniable truths about my future brother in law: one, he is persistent, because I bet it was no picnic trying to woo this one.”

Victor shook his head and everybody laughed. Thank you, dear brother.

“Two, he is caring and extremely giving. He flew from a distant country, ready to face our family and Dr. Mariana’s thorough interrogation, just to make my sister happy. And by the way they held each other, the way she looked at him, she was. It’s obvious you make my sister very happy Victor, and I have to thank you for that. Thank you for taking such good care of her.” Joshua was misty-eyed again. “And three!” Joshua cleared his throat. “Victor is a very strong man. Not only did he date hurricane Andrea, he’s marrying her. Now seriously, I wish the best to both of you! Victor, welcome to the family!”

Everybody clapped and we nodded, thanking them for the applause and the best wishes, although it was more of a roast than a best wish speech. Either way, it was the way my brother would say I love you , through comedy and sarcasm, a mask not very different from the one Victor wore with his poker face. Goldman stood up, and took the mic from Joshua.

“Victor, Andrea, it is with great joy that I come here to witness your commitment, and what I believe is the beginning of a lifetime of happiness. I still remember the first day Andy came to LFG and thinking she wouldn’t last a day there. But she was a pleasant surprise, manning the desk in no time and impressing us all. Apart from some minor mishaps with a fountain pen.”

I looked at Victor with wide eyes, feeling like a burglar caught red-handed. Way back when, when I started my internship at LFG and was moved to Victor’s office, I accidentally broke his favorite fountain pen. It was a stupid accident, I unwittingly threw it to the ground while getting some documents from his desk and stepped on it. As I saw the ink spread on what seemed to be a brand new rug, my heart nearly stopped. Fortunately, Goldman entered the room, and, seeing the panic in my eyes, he swiftly exchanged the broken pen with a new one from his front pocket, and spilled coffee on the ink stain to hide my crime. And soon we were partners in crime, joined in a secret that, if revealed, would make Victor have my head.

It looked like it was time for my punishment. I just hoped the wedding would reduce my sentence.

“Stop acting so nervous.” He smiled at me. “I knew it was  you all along.”

“YOU DID?!” I was appalled. “How? Why didn’t you say anything?” He kept quiet this whole time, letting me live with the guilt?

“Unless Goldman was trying to poison me, coffee isn’t blue. And I could tell the pen I was using was brand new. After that, it was a matter of finding out who truly did it. The guilty look on your face the next morning was the final clue.” He came closer, pecking the tip of my nose. “I knew that if I mentioned you would feel bad, and most likely want to leave LFG again. I couldn’t allow that.”

I smiled at him, my heart warm for knowing he wanted me close to him since the very start. We turned to Goldman, who was still giving his speech.

“... a good man, with a heart made of gold. Yes, he may sometimes be demanding, but he is that way for the good of the company and to allow us to keep our jobs. And Andy has changed him deeply in that department as well, he’s very different from what he used to be. I mean, when I started seeing him so happy I started tasting all his drinks, fearing she was putting something in them.”

“WHAT?” I heard Victor shout by my side, making me laugh hard when I saw his disgusted expression.

“And I should probably finish my speech, if I still want to keep my job. Let’s hear it for the happy couple! A happy life for you two!” Goldman rushed to finish. Needless to say, everybody laughed.

After a few more shorts speeches, with guests wishing us a happy life, gushing about how Victor and I looked cute together, some more lively music started playing. Victor and I sat in one of the sofa’s bantering with my parents, his hand on my waist, holding me lovingly, while I occasionally nudged his chest with my head. Eventually, Terry and Susan came to sit with us.

“Are you enjoying yourselves?” Victor asked.

“Actually, I would like to thank you both for inviting me to the wedding.” Susan spoke. “It means a lot to us.”

“No need.” Victor answered with a frank smile. “My pleasure.”

“I’m just sorry I was so oblivious before.” I chimed in, slightly embarrassed. “I didn’t even invite Susan to my bachelor party.”

“It’s alright.” Terry took my hand, turning it. “I can predict a double date in the near future, after you are done honeymooning.”

“That will take a while.” Victor joked.

“What is this I’m hearing now? Terry’s assistant is invited? Is it the theme of this wedding to display the stains of this family for the whole world to see?” We heard Victor’s father say, behind us.

“I have invited them.” I stood up, facing him. “If she’s with your sister, she’s part of the family.”

“Why am I not surprised?” Gregory spat. “You are definitely unfit to be a Lee. You lack the decorum, the finesse-”

“Ok, enough.” My mother approached us, trying to lighten the mood. “We don’t want to start a fight here, Gregory, our kids are getting married tomorrow.” She paused, holding her hands up, urging us all to calm down. “Let’s all get some sleep, tomorrow we’ll all have a big day. Agreed?”

“Either she goes, or I go. You choose.” Gregory warned Victor. Victor was about to retort when my mother intervened again.

“Please, no need to choose.” She looked at Gregory warmly. “This isn’t about any of us, it’s about Victor and Andrea. Let’s get some sleep, come on. Off you go, guys.”

“Do you still think it was a good idea to invite him?” Victor sighed, frustrated, as we walked towards the house.

“Hey, stop worrying about it.” I held his bicep, squeezing it tight. “Tomorrow we will have the wedding and we will be too busy to even know he’s there, and he won’t dare misbehave with all the media around him. And after that, we will only deal with him if we want to. It’ll be over soon.”

“You are right. He will forget all about us the moment all of this ends.” He smiled at me as we walked in, heading to my bedroom. “Go get your things and come sleep with me.”

“No, we should spend this night apart.” I smiled, stroking his chest lovingly. “To make it more special the night after the wedding.”

“We’ll spend the night after the wedding on a plane to Paris.” He grabbed my waist, pulling me closer, luring me in. “Come sleep with me, I can’t sleep without you.” He kissed my neck softly, teasing me.

“I’m sorry, Mr. Lee, but my answer is no.” I pushed him away playfully, only to get a sigh in response. “I’m saving myself for marriage.”

“You can’t even say that with a straight face.” He gave me a flat expression, which only made me laugh.

“I bid you goodnight.” I pecked him on the cheek. “Sleep well.”

Obviously, I wouldn’t get away with it. He pulled me against him once more, kissing me so passionately I had no choice but to melt in his arms.

“Fine.” He broke the kiss and let me go, chuckling when I slightly whimpered. “No, no, don't complain. My fiancée wants to sleep away from me and her wishes are my command. She shall sleep alone tonight.”

Later that night, alone in my bed, I was tossing and turning. Not only did I miss my bed, but mostly I missed Victor, his touch, his smell, his warmth. This was going to be a lot harder than I thought. With a heavy sigh of resignation, I opened my bedroom door and left, taking my pillow with me. Time to get some sleep.

[moon-ruled-rising]

as the rain hides the stars | xvii

Read it on ao3... or Wattpad...

Babe, there’s something lonesome about you.

Something so wholesome about you,

get closer to me.

-Hozier, “From Eden”

The Godswood of Winterfell was always magical. Something about the overgrowth of the plants gave it a mystical quality and enhanced that it was a holy place. It was surrounded by activity and noise but remained quiet and peaceful, wholly removed from the frenetic atmosphere of the castle. Jon found himself there often, listening to the soft bubbling of the hot spring and the light birdsong. He’d spend hours there if he could but somebody always discovered him and the moment was ruined. 

 Now, instead of the uninterrupted nature scene, there were a hundred or so chairs arranged in front of the heart tree to form a long aisle lined with white and wine colored flowers and twinkling lights. The decorators even wove them around the tree branches, letting the strings dangle off and wave like the branches of a willow. At the beginning of each row of chairs stood an arch, laden with flowers and greenery. There wasn’t an altar or arbor, the Weirwood provided all of that, its red leaves stretched over the place they would stand. 

On top of the ethereal decor, the excited energy from everyone gathered for the rehearsal ceremony created a palpable buzz. Jon hoped it was enough to cover up his apprehension. He refused to be nervous, it wasn’t any different than all the state appearances and functions he participated in. But there was still reason to be hesitant.

“I’m sorry I’m late,” Dany’s voice called from the back of the seating area, “The final fitting took longer than expected.”

The wedding planner assured her it was okay as Dany charged up the aisle. When she reached the front, a bundle of fabric was pushed into her arms and she settled into the seat next to Jon.

“Is that a bride’s cloak?” “Yes,” she sighed, “I had to make a compromise with Her majesty so I could repay a favor I owe someone.”

He assumed she meant the single photographer that prowled around the area of the Godswood, whose obnoxious camera clicks interrupted the soft bird song and whispers around them.

Dany unfolded the bundle and swept the black cloak around her shoulders, fastening the clasp with ease. Jon was a little pleased to see it was lined with fur.

“You’ll be glad to have it tomorrow,” he commented.

“Why? It feels fine right now.”

“There’s going to be a cold snap.”

The forecast didn’t predict for anything other than a rain shower over night but Jon could tell. The drizzle would turn to flurries and the snow would stick around long enough for the wedding ceremony around noon. At least it would be ice and snow instead of muddy and damp.

“Let me guess, you can feel it in your bones?”

“Something like that.”

“Doctors say that’s a sign of arthritis.”

Jon splayed his hands out in front of him and then turned them so Dany could see, “They look fine to me. Would you like to assess them, considering you have a wealth of medical knowledge?”

“Mm, I’ll pass, thank you.”

He shrugged and dropped his hands but unconsciously popped the joints. He noticed Dany doing the same thing.

“Alright everyone, let’s get started,” the wedding planner said, “We will be running through the whole ceremony so everything goes smoothly tomorrow. After the processional we will have the opening remarks and invocation from His Highness, Benjen Stark, a reading from both sets of Their Majesties, then the unity promise and changing of the bride’s cloak, then we’ll exchange vows and rings, and finally the recessional. It should be noted that the vows and rings section will only be mentioned.”

They were given the run down of the processional order and dismissed to their starting positions. Dany retreated back down the aisle with Sansa and Arya right behind her, wrangling a gaggle of high born children. A stirring, melancholy melody started from the string quartet behind the seating and his father and Catelyn started down the aisle. They were followed by Elia, escorted by Bran as her husband would be responsible for leading Dany.

As was a royal wedding custom, the bridesmaids and pageboys followed the bride down the aisle, so Dany walked before them. With her brother absent, she forged down the lengthy walkway by herself. She was far enough away that she looked small and lonely despite the bodies behind her.

That Dany reminded him of the version he’d first met, the outer shell of Daenerys that the media observed and critiqued. Jon would’ve assumed she used her solitary nature as a form of elitism. Keeping people at an arm’s length and seeming to float above them just to show she was better. But he knew her at least a little bit better than that and was starting to understand it.

Being alone was easier for Dany. He noticed that long and lengthy social events weighed on her. She still smiled and made conversation, like any good Princess was taught, but she always slipped away quietly when things settled down. It made sense then, why she skipped the gala to swim in fountains.

As she neared, Jon saw that instead of a bouquet she had a sword in her hands. It took him by surprise until he remembered that she was supposed to have it. The presentation of a weapon the groom could use to defend the bride was meant to further reinforce the idea that she was under his protection. Rheagar would carry it tomorrow but, for now, it was hers. And paired with the stoic look on her face, Dany looked like a painting of a warrior queen Jon saw at a museum opening once. A romanticized rendering of a woman standing against the backdrop of a dark, furious storm. Her dress and hair caught in the forceful gales before the skies opened up, the sword held tight against her chest. 

Then the breeze picked up, tousling Dany’s hair and fluttering the white silk of her rehearsal dress. And Jon wondered if the Gods pulled that warrior out of her frame and set her walking down the path toward him.  

“You picked a fine young woman, Jon,” Uncle Benjen remarked.

There weren’t priests for the old gods so the wedding committee picked the closest thing they had to a holy man. It helped that Uncle Benjen was ordained by the state too.

“We’re just lucky she hasn’t sprinted back down the aisle yet.”

Jon elbowed Robb in the ribs, “That’s because this is a rehearsal, dumbass.”

“You never know.”

But they did know and there was no chance anyone was allowed to get cold feet. 

Finally, Dany was standing at his side, her stoic expression as they turned to face Uncle Benjen. As he started in on his opening remarks, Dany set the tip of the scabbard into the ground and rested her crossed wrists on the pommel. 

The invocation started when Uncle Benjen started asking the Gods to watch over the ceremony and provide a number of things to the couple about to be married. It was during this that Dany leaned toward him and whispered,

“So, do you have a huge bachelor party planned for after this?”

“You mean like a stag party?”

“Yes, that.”

Jon hadn’t wanted to tell her about the custom practiced in the North so it would come as a surprise. But he figured Dany wasn’t a big fan of those, so he decided to tell her. The ceremony moved on to the readings.

“Actually, we have this… tradition-” the look she gave him was full of annoyance- “where the groom has to steal their intended from their family. Otherwise he isn’t worthy of her.”

“I think we’re far past needing to worry about ‘worthiness’ but continue.”

“And we get out of the castle for a while.”

“Just us?” she raised an eyebrow.

“And the security detail.”

“Alright, I’m in. Just one more question.”

“Yeah?”

“Am I supposed to put up a fight?” the smirk on her face…

“You can if you want to,” Jon agreed.

“I’m in.”

Uncle Benjen stated it was time for the unity promise and motioned to Dany.

“If you plan to steal me, then you’ll probably need this.”

She offered the sword to Jon, the modestly embellished scabbard glinting as he took it. A hand-and-a-half, a bastard sword. A small smile bloomed on his face, he wondered if Dany knew it was called that. The hilt was wrapped in black leather, a little worn from use, and the silver pommel contained an egg shaped fire opal that shifted between orange and green and red. He pulled the sword out of the scabbard enough to reveal the swirling texture of the blade. Valyrian steel, the technique of making it was long lost to the world. Owning one was rare as the Targaryens kept them in a private collection. 

House Stark had one in their possession, the greatsword Ice. It was gifted to them by the original dragon lords of Valyria who settled on Dragonstone, before Aegon’s ambitious conquest and the doom. The greatsword was only used in the coronation ceremony of a new King of the North now but it was still considered to pass from king to king as though they still used it in battle.

It would belong to Jon, without question. But there was a time when it couldn’t be. He couldn’t remember if he really wanted the sword and he certainly didn't expect it. But what young, bastard boy doesn’t want to rise above his station by some miraculous means?

“Does it have a name? All the best swords have names.” Jon prompted, wondering if Dany knew any of the history behind the weapon.

“If it did, we don’t have any record of it. It’s one that we loan out to museums but I’ve always been fond of it so I figured it could find a home here.”

There was something wistful about her tone, as though she wasn’t really talking about the sword.

Jon handed the sword to Robb, who placed the Stark bride’s cloak in his hands. He turned back to Dany and she removed her Targaryen one. The direwolf embroidered in pearls and jet gave the cloak weight and her shoulders shifted trying to distribute it and keep the clasp from her throat.

“May you each bring your best self to the other. May you each bring commitment as well as faith to the task set before you. May you maintain enduring respect and trust. May all who follow your lives have cause often to rejoice, not only in happiness, but also in your brave and generous living,” Uncle Benjen recited.

Jon couldn’t think of a more perfect blessing for a marriage forged in politics. There was no reflection of love, merely neutral intent and factors that would make any business relationship successful. 

They had to go through the recessional, Dany and Jon retreating down the aisle to the playful cheers of their family. Luckily, the wedding planner deemed the single run through acceptable but there was still one more rehearsal waiting for the happy couple.

The tables of the Great Hall were pushed to the sides, as they would be after the dinner portion of the reception, to create a dancing space. Above them hung the banners of every house in the North, from Karstark to Reed, and the decorators hadn’t spared the hall in their descent upon the castle. The same flowers and lights were strung through the heavy chandeliers, similar bunches near sconces and on window panes.

The choreographer gave them last minute reminders before the music started. An old fiddle, guitar, and pipe ballad at a walking speed, perfectly paced for two arguably amateur dancers but a tad melancholy for a wedding celebration.

“Are you ready for this?” Dany asked over the music as they circled each other.

“As ready as I can be. You?”

“We’ll see.”

The first pass of steps was easy and they stayed far enough away to avoid injury. The next part brought them closer until Jon offered his hands and Dany accepted them. They both had to focus harder to keep from making mistakes. However, their little blunders still happened. 

The instructor once explained the symbolism behind the steps and their order. Something about the development of his and Dany’s relationship but also the expected camaraderie between North and South. Jon didn’t know if any of the wedding guests would pick up on it, they would be too drunk to really care, and all he could focus on was how complicated the steps were despite the slow pace of the song.

Jon second guessed his hand placement and missed the intended mark entirely, colliding with Dany’s rib cage. She stumbled but recovered.

“Sorry,” he muttered, trying to remember what piece of the overly complex choreography came next.

She chuckled and shrugged it off, “If it boosts your confidence, you’re better than a good portion of the partners I’ve danced with at court.” 

She looked up at him, inclining her chin in the slightest hint of movement. Their bodies were pressed close together as they moved back and forth across the floor, allowing them to lower their voices. 

“I highly doubt that.”

“Not all noblemen are light on their feet. I’ve had my fair share of toes and fingers crushed.”

“Fingers?”

“It’s a long story,” she dismissed.

“One for tonight?”

“If the conversation leads us there.”

They quieted as they came closer to the end of the dance, the series of steps and passes and small hops requiring their full attention if they wanted to get through it. Dany stepped on Jon’s foot when she was behind the music. 

The apologizing started again but was cut off when Jon wrapped his arm securely around her waist for a small lift, foreheads bent close to offset the gravity. Dany’s cheeks were a deeper shade of pink when he set her down but whether that was from the dance or something else he couldn’t tell.

They entered the last section of the dance, a series of spins and twirls ending with the two facing each other, palms touching. Instead of the expected applause, they were celebrated by a groan from the choreographer.

They received a sum of all their mistakes, accented by looks of disappointment, but Jon and Dany fell into their regular fit of stifled laughter that came with the hilarious thought of broken toes and misplaced hands. They would run it two more times before they were allowed to leave the Great Hall, tired and sweating.

Jon found Robb and Theon in the smoking lounge with a large group of people fussing over a pile of foam swords. Left overs from someone’s birthday party long ago but they would serve their purpose. 

“We’re going to have to split into teams, Dany doesn’t have enough family for it to be any fun,” Robb said as Jon approached.

“Sansa and I will be with her and the Southern Queen tonight,” offered Arya as she poked her sister with the soft weapon. 

Sansa knocked it away but when Arya stuck her again, she gripped the foam blade and pulled it from the young troublemaker.

“And I plan to be there too,” Rhaegar Targaryen, who arrived at Winterfell only an hour ago, pitched in.

“Just don’t give Dany a sword. She’d love to knock me senseless right about now.”

“I will make no such promises,” Jon answered, not wanting to deny Dany the satisfaction taking her anger out on her brother in a relatively harmless way.

After double checking the transportation and destination arrangements and sending Sansa and Arya off to ‘guard’ Dany, Jon was able to relax into some light drinking with the men who joined him. They lounged around with their glasses and laughed at stupid jokes they had heard a millions times before. He was already feeling a little more like himself, ready to run through the halls of the ancient castle wielding a foam sword like a damned idiot. It wasn’t long before they were ready to begin that night’s fun.

Jon stood, raised his glass and said, “Alright boys, let’s go steal my bride.”

Cheers and laughter rose up as Jon drained the contents of his glass and slammed it down on the table in front of him.

[thepineapplejuicer]

Imagine...Loki choosing you as his queen because of your understanding and talent of magic

Words: 1551

Warnings: extremely slight sexual mention. Mostly fluff

The violin orchestra livens up the room and the colors of the shimmering stained glass windows bounce off the golden drapes, sending the candlelit ballroom floor swirling like a kaleidoscope. The gem incrested chalices are filled to the brim with aged wine that stains the teeth of the guests, who are too busy foolishly laughing with rival families to notice. 

This gathering was for the eligible princesses, and their parents, of Asgard to be pinned against each other in beauty and skill to win the heart of Sir Loki and Sir Thor. The families of each royal tree thought it a great honor for their daughter to be chosen so they flocked to Odin’s castle to ensure their family place on the throne. 

You stood with incredible posture, burned into your spine by tedious balancing exercises. Your corset squeezed your small body, keeping your breathing slow and quiet while giving your form the most beautiful shape. Your eyes droop from the exhaustion of the journey and the slight sting in your kidneys. You listen to the girlish whispers gossiping about the princes and wondering about their interests, their fancies in a woman, and... more risque topics.

“I hear Thor is incredible in bed!” 

“No, I hear Loki is!”

You roll your eyes with grace as you try and tone out the inappropriate squeals of the princesses you once grew up with. 

“Would it kill you to smile, Y/N?” Your mother whispers while trying to keep her own well placed wrinkled smile. 

“No, but this corset might.” You groan, picking at the wire digging into your hip.

“Don’t you dare, that took all day to get you in.” You mother swats your hand, “Have you practiced what you are going to say?”

“Yes, mother.”

“Good, do not ruin this. Either one of the princes will do, so long as you act accordingly. And please, no magic. He can find out after the two of you wed.”

You sigh quiet enough so it sounds like you are only trying to breathe. Your magic had manifested as a child, but you were forced to keep it hidden- along with most of your personality- to assume the persona of the perfect bride. You always had a way of scaring off suitors; their fear of witchcraft was more powerful than their desire of your beauty. 

“All bow before the princes of Asgard.” A woman says as she leads the curtsy.

You feel like your ribs will snap if you move, so you hide behind another princess to shield your fake curtsy. 

Thor walks in first, smiling pridefully from all the attention and the women at his becking call. His long red cape is grazed by dark leather boots, seemingly fighting the urge to stomp on the fabric. 

Loki’s dark hair sways slightly, falling from behind his ears. His brow arches as he doesn’t really look at the women, but mostly at the spaces between them. His long green cape drags behind him, somehow evading all dust and grime. His long-horned helmet has been shinned and his thin armor looked painted on.  

The princes take their place in front of the young women who desperately try to catch so much as a glance from them. They all stand perfectly still as Thor and Loki walk around each of them; examining them like fine art, and appreciating each of their assets as someone enjoys the smell of sweet wine. 

Thor smiles at each of the ladies in order to gain their smile back and see them at their happiest. He stops at each one, dancing with them and thinking very intensely at his options. He knew that his future queen must be strong, beautiful and above all intelligent. 

Loki, on the other hand, hated this. The ladies looked to Thor instead of him. His broodish demeanor frightened them and made them self conscious enough to fix their hair or their dresses. He tried to smile as Thor did but always seem to time it when the ladies looked away. The way the princesses moved subtly towards Thor made Loki tighten his jaw, holding back his insecurities. He looks down, now drifting pointlessly between the women who wait for Thor to display their strengths and talents to him when he asks them for a dance.

Loki begins to walk towards you unknowingly, his mind somewhere else, until he stops, his chest nearly touching yours. “My apologies.” He whispers in a breath that smelled like hints of wine mixed in with licorice. “Think nothing of it, my prince.” you smile.

Loki smiles back, finally able to show a beautiful woman his true nature. It disappears just as quickly as Thor makes several young women giggle with joy. “I will... get out of the way.” He whispers as he sees Thor moving towards you.

“If I may be so bold, my prince. I’d rather you stayed.” You take Loki by surprise, but this does not scare him off. He wanted to ask you to dance as Thor did with the others, but his self-esteem was too low that he’d rather carry our conversation to break the ice. 

“What Family do you hail from?”

“The Andels, My Lord.”

“Ah yes, the Andels own mining land. We use some of their Ores for many things around the palace. You are their only child?” 

“Yes.”

“I’ve heard rumors that no one has ever been able to court you for long. Your beauty is unmatched, but I do not see why you still have not married.”

“My talent is... unconventional.”

“Oh? Might you show me?”

You look around the room at the parents lined near the wall, your mother trying to get a view of Loki’s reaction to you.

Loki turns and sees your mother’s performance, “Perhaps if we went somewhere private?”

You could not resist, something about Loki’s gentle nature that hides a fierce and deadly type of ecstasy, fascinates you.

You follow him to the balcony, away from the party, your mother close behind. You turn and see her mouth quietly, “No magic!” you tighten your grip, sending the glass doors to shut in a white and pale pink glow. 

Loki turns, alarmed by the sudden bang.

“Must have been the wind.” you shrug.

“Yes..” he trails off knowing very well that there is not even a breeze during this lovely sunset. “Is your father present tonight as well?”

You look away from Loki, “My father passed away some time ago.”

“I’m sorry, I didn’t know.”

“It is alright. Many would prefer I not speak of him.”

“I remember the rumors. He was a sorcerer?”

“Yes, he duplicated most of the Ores in our mining caves to help stock neighboring kingdoms.”

“Why do I get the feeling you didn’t only inherit his kind nature?”

You hold your hands behind your back instinctively.

“Tell me. What do you think about being the queen of Asgard?”

“It is a great honor to-”

“No, no, I did not ask what your mother thinks.”

You clear your throat, “I think,” you decide to throw your script away. “I think that magic has been shunned enough in our lands and must be embraced, even taught to the children. It could be used as a line of defense or a way to teach our community how to socialize without the need of brutish force shown in the arenas.”

“An interesting view, not many people share.”

Loki shifts closer to you, pinning you carefully against the stone balcony. You press your hand on the stone, but wince as a rose thorn pricks your finger. Loki grabs your hand in his. His Ice-y cold touch shocking your fingers numb. A green flare strings around your wound and Loki brings your finger to his lips, laying a single kiss on it as the skin heals over.

“Not all magic is a curse...” It seems like he is saying this to himself rather than to you.

You can see the hurt in his eyes, perhaps he knew what it was like to be outcasted because of magical superiority. Perhaps he had the same aches and pains in your wrists from long periods of time without spell casting. Perhaps he knew the same look of fear others gave you.

You cup his hands in yours and allow the pale pink and glittery white magic to whisp like sand above his hands, letting him feel your power. You control it calmly and create a ballerina, twirling and leaping across his palms before curtsying. 

He looks at you with eyes filled with acceptance, something you’ve never seen. The ballerina takes a still form in your hands before a green shimmer of dust creates a small man dressed in the clothes of a prince, asking for her hand. The two small, magical figures dance across your palms, pieces of their ashy bodies thrown into the wind as they twirl. Finally, the pixelized figures mimic how you and Loki are holding hands, and the male figure cups the ballerina’s face, kissing her gently.

Loki looks up from the magic in your joined hands and stares deeply in your eyes.

He cups your cheek and snakes his fingers behind your neck, pulling you into a cold, gentle kiss.

“Asgard will be lucky to have you as its queen, Y/N.”

-Thank you for reading and your support.

[the-busy-ghost]

Since I’m now obsessed with the concept of a Scottish widows themed tv series, may I suggest, a four season+ tv show following the life of one immortal black widow as she weaves her way out of one close call after another. 

As the backdrop to her plot we will also see her interact with the stories of real-life widows (though some of the stories may be mildly inaccurate for the Drama), and so I present for your consideration:

Season 1- 1513 to 1528. The Scottish Widow- a daughter of the minor nobility of Midlothian who married an Edinburgh burgess- has lost her first husband at Flodden. The second husband she marries hastily in the aftermath of the battle to protect her business interests is... less convenient than he seems. Her peers include Margaret Crichton (cousin of the late James IV, and widow of another burgess) and the provost’s widow Janet Paterson. Meanwhile the dowager queen of Scots, Margaret Tudor, has her own problems and a certain earl is looking increasingly attractive. As civil unrest develops around 1516 we meet Agnes Stewart, Countess of Bothwell and her new husband Lord Hume (at least until his head ends up on a spike), Isabella Hoppringle the prioress of Coldstream and maybe later Euphemia Leslie of Elcho (not widows but too interesting to leave out- and brides of Christ who involve themselves in wars may be an interesting perspective), and others. The season ends with the Widow’s husband drowning when one of her ships sinks on its way back from Veere and yet she somehow seems to have made money, not lost it...? And now we see her making her way towards the kirk of St Giles in the dark of night while, thirty miles away, a long-lost son rides to his mother at Stirling...

Season 2- 1548-1554- the Rough Wooing is in full swing and the Scottish Widow is over the Forth, having snagged herself an earl and become Countess of Kinross ten years ago. Everyone is vaguely aware that she should at least be in her fifties by now but she doesn’t look a day older than she did in 1528. Fortunately most of her husband’s estates are in Angus and the Borders or she would have to bump into one particular rival much more frequently- Margaret Erskine, widow of Robert Douglas of Lochleven (he died at Pinkie), the favourite mistress of the late James V, and a formidable woman who is not a little miffed that- through some temporary witchcraft or madness- one of the late king’s familiars was granted the new earldom that she believed should have been hers. But any further squabbling is temporarily called to a halt by the order of the dowager queen Mary of Guise and the need to band together to while English ships are raiding the Tay and Forth. 

A whole second season of intrigue follows, the Scottish Widow’s national loyalties and wedding vows are put under strain as both protection money and a handsome and seemingly malleable English lord catch her eye during negotiations. Meanwhile we are also introduced to women like Janet Beaton, lady of Branxholme and Buccleugh (widow of “Wicked Wat” Scott); Janet Stewart, Lady Fleming who is busy making a name for herself on the European stage due to the fall-out from her affair with Henri II of France; Marion Ogilvy, who was as good as married to the late, infamous, Cardinal Beaton; perhaps some interesting Englishwomen of the period; and others. The season ends with Mary of Guise becoming regent, while, with the winds of change in the air, the Scottish Widow again descends into the crypt at St Giles.

Season 3- 1567 to 1573/4- Obviously this season has to open at Kirk O’Field and it’s going to be a crazy season for the costume and pyrotechnics departments. At first though the Scottish Widow seems a different character- younger, timid, blushing modestly around men of the court, and hysterical in the face of all the political intrigue which she witnesses as a lady-in-waiting to Queen Mary for a short time. Turns out she’s now passing herself off as her own descendant, the sheltered daughter of the late Earl of Kinross, raised in seclusion on some estates in Angus since her father’s untimely death thirteen years before and, having been taken under the new queen’s wing, her lost lamb act is working quite well on both the men and women of court. But, as the political situation deteriorates, the Scottish Widow remembers that she is not only adept in courtly intrigue but also in war and trade. She also changes her supposed religion at least twice, and manages to get hitched three times in three different countries (we’re travelling to both Ireland and Norway in this, for that full, lavish Season 3 nonsense when you have loads of funding). She may also have a son of dubious paternity- she knows she cannot be a constant in his life so can only observe his upbringing from a distance. This season will not only feature Mary Queen of Scots, but also Mary Fleming (wife and widow of Maitland of Lethington), Agnes Keith (wife and widow of the Regent Moray), Annabella Murray (wife and widow of the Regent Mar), the aged Margaret Douglas (wife and widow of the Regent Lennox and mother of Darnley), Jean Gordon and Anna Throndsen (both sort-of wives but not yet widows of the Earl of Bothwell), Agnes Campbell (in between the death of her husband MacDonald of Dunyvaig and her marriage to Turlough Luineach O’Neill), maybe Jean Stewart Countess of Argyll (as a technical divorcee not a widow but still) and others of that most infamous period. I’m assuming the season would end somewhere around the end of the Lang Siege but I’m not sure yet- the most important point about Season 3 is that it be spectacularly lavish and dramatic, while the plotting is of secondary importance. 

Season 4- 1590s. The Scottish Widow has an interesting role this season- she’s now the honoured wife of a prominent minister of the Reformed Kirk of Scotland. She also has a clutch of stepchildren in whom she outwardly tries to instil some discipline whilst secretly encouraging each of them into rebellion- this is not always a self-serving act on her part, and she is surprisingly popular with her stepdaughters. Her husband is not the king’s biggest fan, but is from a prominent Ayrshire family so mixes with the elites and his wife with him- the Scottish Widow has certainly come into contact with the scandalous Countess of Arran and the fabulous Anne of Denmark and others. She is also keeping an eye on her son’s development at the university- he seems destined for the Kirk too but secretly seems more suited to older style of politics (squabbling stabby nobles) than the new. But rather than hanging out in Edinburgh or the east coast, this season most of her time is spent in rural South Ayrshire. Technically her role is as the mistress of the manse but she seems to spend more time  getting into unseemly squabbles with the neighbouring lairdly families over grazing rights, and debating over whether it technically counts as a crime if you requisitioned some cattle/smuggled goods in from Ireland in the name of the Lord (by which she means paying for one of her stepdaughters’ dowries). But looming over everything is the growing spectre of the witch-hunts- although the Scottish Widow is not about to get caught up in this as a victim. Instead when her husband dies suddenly and suspiciously, the blame falls on some of her poor neighbours with whom the Widow and her stepdaughters had been fighting. When an old woman might go to the stake because of her, we have to wonder- has the Widow gone too far this time?

And probably it would get cancelled after Season 4 because a) huge cliffhanger means cancellation and b) all of the Scottish nobility and a good portion of the merchant class were interrelated, so the Widow’s marriage pool is increasingly small. But could defo go on in some spin-off novels covering the 17th-20th centuries. 

I’d like to point out that I don’t really find the murder of one’s spouse to be a happy/easy subject, no matter what gender the murderer is, though in this age of marriage for politics and convenience more than straightforward “love” it’s a bit different. And also if men get to have their Hannibals and Breaking Bads and Draculas and all sorts of worse horrors, then I think a massively over the top show where it’s heavily implied (but not really shown) that a sixteenth century noblewoman is doing away with some (not all) of her husbands is not really that controversial.

Anyway I’m no writer and have no imagination but it’s the sort of show we all deserve.

[hobbitsetal]

courtship customs from the world of Vex and Mute

@ofsaltandsmoke asked me about marriage and courting within my world and i realized that a) i have like seven kingdoms to talk about and this is gonna get long, and b) some of my other friends might be interested! therefore, a long and unduly complicated explanation, but under the cut, because manners.

Sarkine:

arranged marriages are common, but the people take an Elizabethan approach in that they believe the spouses need to be happy for the marriage to be successful, or any children will inherit discontent and strife. therefore, parents work to make sure their children will like their spouses and will typically seek their input on who they choose.

those of higher social status are typically more concerned with status and expected more to make the most of a situation than those of lower status. love matches and passionate souls who ignore conventions are not heard of, but are typically turned into cautionary tales.

affairs are horribly scandalous and are a source of shame for literally all parties involved. the dishonored spouse is a subject of pity, but any children they had together will be regarded with suspicion and people will assume the worst (naturally): children of a cheater are likely to be cheaters and liars themselves and therefore a really terrible choice in the marriage market.

courting customs, once the marriage has been arranged, include gifts of fancy goods and songs. richer families might arrange for spectacles, such as parades of horses and camels and a present of enormous rugs or tapestries. poorer families might give a precious barrel of water or a jar of preserved foods by way of demonstrating their ability to provide. the family who initiates marriage negotiations is expected to give the presents as a means of “persuading” the other family to accept the bargain, so the gifts can come from either the bride’s or the groom’s family.

in some wilder clans, those further out in the desert and farther away from cities, the wedding ceremony may involve kidnapping the prospective spouse and carrying them away to a tent in the desert for several days’ honeymoon. the rulers of the lands and provinces tend to uphold this custom as a nod to their nomadic roots and as another form of proving they can provide for their spouse–in this case, in the form of providing a dwelling place. this has the added benefit of giving the couple some privacy to discover the first delights of conjugal bliss.

Litoria:

being a land of farmers and small towns, rather than desert tribes and clinging to the banks of a river, Litoria’s marital customs have developed in different strains. a greater emphasis is placed both upon societal acceptance of a marriage and on the couple’s freedom to choose for themselves, a tension that illustrates Litoria’s traditional tendencies and the religious schism that occurred after their migration from Sarkine.

couples are typically expected to seek the blessing of their head of house, and the initiating suitor again must demonstrate to the head of house their ability to provide and their compatibility with the one being courted. the formality of this courtship depends largely on the family. some families get the gallachs involved and hearken back to the religious roots of courtship. other families leave the couple largely to their own devices, with the caveat not to disgrace the family by getting pregnant out of wedlock. 

social status is important partly as a testament to the suitor’s character. courtship customs probably most closely resemble 1800s America, with walking excursions, quiet talks in semi-isolated rooms, and spending time with the family as whole being expected. the heads of house frequently monitor the town’s gossip about a couple and what the people have to say about suitors.

while there are those who believe in the old religious tenets and believe children inherit their parents’ flaws, many others frown upon adultery simply for the social upheaval it can bring.

young couples may live in their parents’ houses after being married. most couples will carry on the business of one or the other’s parents, whether farming or mercantile endeavors, and living with the parents simplifies this business arrangement. children frequently build their own homes with the first five years of marriage, situating the homes at a distance that both allows for privacy and the continuation of the business partnership.

Terasi:

being a loose confederation of different seafaring clans who are loosely based from an archipelago off the coast of the Realm and of Sarkine, marriage customs differ wildly. some clans believe in conducting raids for their spouses. consent is not required. 

others conduct elaborate negotiations that frequently end in one or the other clans’ expansion. gifts of ships, goods, and slaves are common. these negotiations are delicate affairs that must take into account the pride of both captains, the size of their respective fleets, and the values of the fleets. a slave trader would do poorly to offer slaves to someone who trades extensively with the free-minded Realm.

physical health and craftsmanship are both highly prized, and an individual of extraordinary strength or skill may be able to command a higher marriage price than their clan alone could dictate. this is the best strategy small clans have for expanding their fleets rather than being absorbed into a larger one. many clans also seek omens to predict the success of a proposed union. storms or dead calms on the days of negotiations are considered bad omens. mild breezes, good fishing weather, or sunny days are considered good omens. some of the bloodier pirate clans might consider fog a good omen, as it conceals their ships during raids. the island towns put less of an emphasis on physical health, as it is frequently the less hardy Terasians who become land bound, and more of an emphasis on skills. these skills may include storytelling and people skills as well as tangible crafts, since tradesmen must rely on their gifts of gab to distinguish themselves from their compatriots. 

Sabline: 

 as a matriarchal society descended from Sarkine, Sabline’s customs combine romance and pragmatic provision. matriarchs frequently arrange matches, men are considered flighty and led by their appetites, and place an emphasis on physical capability and home skills. husbands are expected to know how to cook and clean and to perform strenuous manual labor so that the women are free to bear children, run businesses, and maintain social relations. 

extravagant gestures are expected as men compete to capture the women’s attention. displays of strength, intelligence, and romance range from over-the-top to subtle, depending on the woman they seek to attract. variety is also highly encouraged, as women insist on individualized courtships. 

men are also expected to be able to navigate the outdoors well, and to be proficient hunters. animal pelts are acceptable courtship gifts, as is meat. men are expected to build or cause to have built a home. the woman and her family are expected to furnish, decorate, and stock the house. the size and elaborateness of the house as well as the quality of the furnishings depends on the capability of the families. a miner may be expected to provide only a single-room hut, albeit one sturdy enough to withstand the bitter mountain winters. a guild leader’s son would be expected to provide a house with a kitchen, separate bedroom, and separate room for entertaining and business. social expectations run businesses and dictate families. 

business mergers are more likely to be conducted by means of an advantageous marriage, since businesses will be run by future children. 

The Realm: 

faeries are simultaneously freer and more formal with their love than humans. since magic flows through the Land and the people, Magic is an important component of courtship and those with dissimilar skills may not be able to pursue an otherwise suitable marriage. if one suitor’s skill with plants runs to a tree that cannot grow with his beloved’s trees (an invasive species, or one that would choke out another tree), the courtship will be ended. if the lovers are unwilling to end their romance, the parents or the local healer may invoke the local steadmaster. if their magic is compatible, or if one has little magic to work with, their courtship depends on personality. 

courtships may involve displays of magical ability or skills. they always involve singing, both because magic is invoked through singing and because parties and feasts involve singing. flirtations are accomplished in verse, from coy hints to bold and personalized ballads. 

while marriages are not dictated by parents, custom dictates that they must be blessed by the local healer or steadholder, as a final test of magical compatibility. young couples who marry without obtaining their blessing may be forced to move to a region where one or both may not be able to work with the local magic, lest their interference with plants and magic upset the local ecosystem. 

marriages among the nobility tend to be more political and center more around efforts to understand the flow of magic. magic, according to all known studies, is not purely a matter of genetics, but depends on the will of the Land and the mental fortitude of the people, and the power of the different noble families depends both on political skill and magical strength. a family whose magic has waned may remain a political force thanks to alliances and mercantile endeavors. love offerings therefore include everything from songs to woodcarvings to food to weapons, and love matches are more prevalent among faeries than among humans. 

Cratia: 

the nation formed of many nations, Cratia’s courtship rituals are even more varied than the other nations’, since they include all rituals plus family variations. strength and physical provision are recurring themes. 

intercultural relationships are a minefield of customs and traditions, and the success of these relationships depends on the individuals involved. some people care less for tradition than for their lovers. others want their lovers to learn their family traditions, or want to prove their devotion by learning their lovers’ traditions. many marriages blend different cultures, and a suitor may give a tiny carved ship as a courtship present while planning a honeymoon getaway. 

Quenten: 

the most isolated and most culturally unique kingdom, Quenten is notable for its steppes and its social stratification that is even more stringent than Sarkine. the higher up the mountainside a family lives, the more important they are. marriages cannot be proposed to one higher. Quenten is the only kingdom to use concubines. 

while one of lower social status may be taken as a spouse if they demonstrate unusual skill or intelligence, they are more likely to be considered a secondary spouse than a primary spouse. this applies both to men and to women. commonly, the nobility and the royalty choose lower spouses for their artistic, mechanical, or magical abilities, and marry a peer for political or social stability. peer marriages are contracted between parents or overlords; secondary marriages are usually left to the higher person involved. while a lower class may refuse a marriage, the higher person may be able to inflict repercussions. most marriages, however, are love matches, though the social dynamics can be tricky and fraught with jealousy and scheming. 

gifts are frequently based on the spouse’s skills. higher spouses are expected to compensate the lower spouse’s family for the loss of skill. the extravagance of the gift depends on the strata of the spouses involved. the higher up the mountain, the greater the gift. thus, a lady from the second level cannot take a laborer from the seventh for less than she would offer a craftsman from the third; the gift depends on her status, not her husband’s. peers must give gifts to each other of equal value, something sensitively negotiated by the parties involved.

[xathia-89]

Shattering the Bond of Twins Part 1

This is @toloveawarlord and @plumpblueberry fault. I’m in OC hell. 

The tea rooms had been an adequate way of passing the afternoons, as Irene returned dutifully to the Eustice manor in time for preparation for her father’s usual evening demands. Her twin brother was out as per usual, enjoying his position as the younger brother to the Eustice name. Their elder brother had five years on them and was dutifully serving the Red Army as the Ten of Hearts. He rarely came home, so it was more than a little surprising to see him in the living room opposite their father.

“Irene, glad to see you could make it home,” the distaste in her father’s voice was apparent, though if it was in his power, then she would be locked in the manor and under his direct control as a puppet like her mother was.

“I had informed you of my timely return father,” her voice was curt but unchallenging. There was nothing to be gained by agitating the man. “How can I be of assistance? And Levi, a pleasure to see you,” her smile was pleasant but restrained, the Ten of Hearts had a duty to the position and family, of course, his presence here would not be a social visit.

“Likewise, Irene,” Levi was still fully dressed in the uniform, stiff as ever and watching his sister with a sharp eye.

“You are of an age where you should be married, we have been sourcing an adequate suitor. Levi has just come back with a response from the Clemence family,” her father would drag her brother through this. “Their eldest son is also in need of a bride to continue the family, your mother will take you to the dress store tomorrow, and the party is being held next weekend. This news will be announced then, so please try to hold your tongue in gossiping about it.”

“I would never dream of going against your wishes,” Irene gave a restrained smile. The Queen of Hearts was notorious for being a stuck up pompous ass most of the time, it was always his way, or you didn’t do it. It was almost possible to sympathise with his little brother who had defected to the Black Army territory. “I was going to check on the maids and how dinner was coming on, would you like me for anything else, father?”

“No, you may leave now.”

His tone was cold, there was nothing loving in this family as James came bounding in, high off something as he pushed Irene aside. Her twin brother was allowed the freedoms she could only dream of, but his entrance also meant the attention was no longer on her as she approached the kitchens. Her skirts were brushing against the floor, alerting the staff to her approach as the maids and servants were already rushing around in a panicked state.

“When is dinner due to be served?” Her question was addressed to the head chef, a man who refused to bow to any woman as per the usual state of affairs.

“At seven thirty, as it is every night, you stupid girl,” he hissed.

Irene had no authority in this manor. It was suffocating, but all she was merely smile at the foul man.

“I will inform my father then,” her smile didn’t warm her eyes as she left the room.

Every staff member knew she never returned to her father after this daily exchange. She would go to her room and pass the time until dinner was to be served. She would play the part of the dress-up doll while her father was at the manor, she would never question him in earshot of her brothers or the staff, she did as he wished and always made sure to dress the part. During his absences, then the strangest of things were happening. Irene would be out most evenings, and the postman would always have a pile of letters for her, not that it would ever be shared who she dared to communicate with. She had no friendship with any of the maids, she had refused to take on a lady in waiting, saying that the staff had better things to be doing than to pander to her needs. Something that her father had approved of since it meant that the appearance of the manor was always going to be the primary concern, though it did also mean that maids came and left on a cycle. No one dared to say ‘no’ to the head of the Eustice family, of course.

Everything was set in its stone. Irene would wed Jonah Clemence and set the Eustice family in good stead within Cradle. Beyond their position as the Ten of Hearts of course. This was the only way that Irene could bring her family some use and pay her father back for her upbringing.

***

The dress code was as formal and stiff as ever. There was no official announcement as to the occasion, and Irene arrived with her mother and father. The dress was in the colours of the Eustice family, a dark royal blue and shining ivory as her father had initially disapproved of the fact it was sleeveless and off the shoulder until the dark blue satin gloves that came up to just over her elbows were displayed. It would never do to show too much skin, of course, that was unbecoming.

Most of the families of the Red and Black territories were present. Anyone who was anyone in power was present. Her father was only loyal to money and public image, as Irene had already been instructed not to leave his side unless he had allowed it. Her mother was a shadow of the woman in the wedding portraits and early paintings that were displayed around the house. Her father cruelly said that Irene had stolen her beauty since she had never been the same since giving birth to the twins.

He believed that Irene was just another woman. She had no drive, she would be sated by having a husband and would cease to be his problem as Levi approached.

“Jonah has not arrived yet, but I will keep searching for him,” Levi announced to their father quietly, only just loud enough for Irene to hear.

The siblings shared a look. Levi had always loathed the twins, they had gone through nothing like he had for a childhood. James had declined to attend the ball, and that was fine, but it would be a disgrace to the family name if Levi had refused. Their father had pushed and pushed for Irene to be matched to another officer, he had even tried to insist on Lancelot. Levi’s choice was the elusive Jack of Hearts; instead, he had to settle when the Clemence family had reached back to him. Jonah had been furious when he was told, to the point that the two nearly had a duel in the corridor. Edgar and Zero intervened, with some form of ‘help’ from Kyle on the side, mostly bitterly complaining that he didn’t need to be stitching up the officers as well as the soldiers over something so petty.

His hatred of her was well known. Levi had always been telling Irene how weak she was as a child, saying that the only thing a woman was good for was spreading her legs, and that was how she was to spend the rest of her days of course.

Then Edgar’s approach seemed to change the entire tone.

“Levi, I’m surprised to see you here,” the Jack of Heart’s smile didn’t reach his eyes, it read more as a warning that Levi was stepping out of line. Something that tickled Irene before the attention switched to her. “May I have this dance, it seems a shame for you to miss out,” his gaze lingered on Levi, who was trying to ignore his ‘superior’. The accusations of Irene being loose-lipped would flow as she felt her father tense up next to her. “Since it has become a hot topic of the Red Army barracks that Jonah is to be wed after Levi and Jonah could not contain their tempers in the corridors of course,” he continued, immediately freeing Irene of any blame, not that it would stop their father.

“It’s improper for a young lady to dance with any man who is not her intended,” Irene smiled, inclining her head slightly, trying to calm the atmosphere. “But thank you kindly for the offer, Jack of Hearts.”

“For you, it’s Edgar,” his smile was the scariest thing about him until she saw the flicker of a real one, and he kissed the back of her hand. “Levi,” he firmly said, all pleasantries disappearing before Irene felt her father grabbing her arm tightly as the Bright heir departed.

“You whore,” her father’s voice was a whisper in her ear, an accusation that he would always assume of her of course. “You can’t resist flirting with any man who looks at you-”

A cough brought shame to her father, just because he was caught. Jonah Clemence was frowning at the man, staring over Irene’s head with a passionate glare before extending his hand to the female.

Words weren’t necessary. Edgar had been merely riling up her brother by talking to her before Jonah lead her decisively onto the dance floor. He was proud by all appearances, taking the lead in the dance as usual in these situations while Irene naturally stepped into the demur follower. Dancing was one of her favoured pastimes, but this was just a manufactured reaction.

“For everyone’s sake, I hope you are nothing like the rest of your family,” Jonah’s words shattered the doll’s mask that Irene wore in public, and the couple froze.

“Let’s assume nothing then, but it would be best to speak freely and outside of such an event where we are about to be made the centre of attention,” Irene lowly replied, as their names were shouted, and everyone turned to them, clapping in response to the news that the two were engaged to be married.

[howwelldoyouknowyourmoon]

The two captors of the Dutch family held for 9 years had both been members of the Family Federation or Unification Church

Published October 17, 2019.  Updated October 18 - 22, 2019.

‘John Eagles’ is Gerrit Jan van Dorsten – who ‘imprisoned’ six of his own children on a farm.

Police have rescued six young adults (four women and two men, aged 18-25) of the van Dorsten family living at a remote Dutch farm. Police were alerted when Jan Zon van Dorsten, a 25-year-old man, walked into a local bar. He looked dirty and was wearing old-fashioned clothes. He said he had not had a haircut in nine years. The bar-owner raised the alarm with police after Jan revealed he had never been to school and said he had run away and needed help. He said he wanted his lifestyle to “come to an end.” Jan said he was the oldest of the six children.

The Police came to investigate on Tuesday and found a hidden staircase behind a cabinet in the living room of the farmhouse. At the point when they were discovered, the five other siblings thought that they were the only people left on earth, the broadcaster RTV Drenthe reported. According to reports, they could barely speak and communicated in a “fantasy language” parts of which were “incomprehensible.” The father of the six young adults, Gerrit Jan van Dorsten, 67, was found bed-ridden. He had suffered a stroke about two years previous.

Josef Brunner, 58, who had rented the farm was arrested at the property. Reports say the farm was equipped with motion detectors and security cameras. Locals also claimed Brunner locked the gate and kept watch using binoculars. He’d reportedly chase away anyone who came too close to the secluded property.

After the young adults were released and living in a safe place, the former ‘prisoners’ were observed to be taking part in frequent rituals where they moved in circles. They were then taken to a more private safe location where they are being given appropriate care. The police want to understand what happened over the past decade, but are being considerate of their psychological needs.

Josef Brunner appeared before an examining magistrate on Thursday and was detained for 14 days on suspicion of unlawfully depriving the children of their liberty and money laundering. Later, Gerrit Jan van Dorsten was also arrested.

Brunner was born on March 3, 1961 in Waldhausen, Austria and was one of five peasant children. He completed a carpentry apprenticeship with distinction, but while enrolled in the army in Linz he joined a sect.

He met a Japanese woman who introduced him to the Unification Church (now the Family Federation for World Peace). He had two children with her. Through the ‘Moonies’, Josef Brunner came into contact with Gerrit Jan van Dorsten in the late 1990s. Gerrit Jan had been a member of the Unification Church in the 1980s. He left in 1987 but to this day he still embraces many of their ideas. LINK

Together Joseph Brunner, known as the Austrian, and Gerrit Jan moved to the farm in 2010. Joseph was a carpenter and lived in a caravan behind his workshop. It was some four miles from the farmhouse. Neighbors saw him regularly visit the farm in his Volvo where he dropped off groceries and supplies.

Joseph Brunner’s brother, Franz, claims Joseph became delusional after joining the Unification Church. He said, “Josef has a very strong persuasiveness.” 

Franz said Josef had been married to a Japanese woman.

“In 2006 or 2007, Josef left his wife and children behind in Austria and went to the Netherlands.” Franz told NL Times.

“Josef regularly visited Gerrit Jan van Dorsten with his wife and daughters.” 

“Josef’s daughters, now adults, tried in vain to get in touch with him in 2017.”

The two arrested men had close business ties. Brunner paid the rent on van Dorsten’s toy craft store in Mepple and another storage unit nearby – as well as the rent for the farm.

According to a van Dorsten family statement. “Eight years ago, three older children of Gerrit Jan – Dino (Endino), Shin and Marjan, 29 – fled the family in Hasselt and contacted their brother from a previous marriage, their grandparents, uncles, aunts, and cousins.” 

"The family has taken notice of the events in Ruinerwold with dismay," the statement, translated from Dutch, says.

"Mr Gerrit Jan van Dorsten broke all ties with his immediate family in the 1980s. He told us not to make any attempt to find his place of residence."

"At present, it is the express wish of the family to support the discovered family," the statement said.

Gerrit Jan’s children were never registered with local officials or went to school.

Janny Knol, North Netherlands deputy police chief, said "on the farm there was actually a separate, closed-off area and its main aim was to keep the outside world out," she told Dutch TV. 

She said the imprisoned family were kept in an 'enclosed space' that was 'divided into small compartments.' The room was hidden behind a staircase, behind a locked door. Daylight was allowed inside, and children were occasionally allowed into the yard but they didn't go beyond farm's perimeter fence during nine years of captivity. She said, “We are investigating whether a certain religion or philosophy forms the cause of their living situation.”

Police found “tens of thousands of euros of laundered money” hidden on the property.

Jan Zon van Dorsten, 25, stated that his mother died in 2004 and “every day we are happy to take care of Dad”.

Gerrit Jan was initially believed to be one of the victims of Josef Brunner, but he has now been charged as “co-perpetrator of unlawful deprivation of liberty and of abuse, in the sense of prejudicing the health of others and money laundering.”

When Gerrit Jan and his brother, Derek, both joined the UC in the 1980s, their devoutly Protestant parents were very much against it. The father was a prolific author of Christian novels. Gerrit Jan was active in the UC in Amsterdam.

Gerrit Jan van Dorsten was a member in 1984. He worked as a Munich correspondent for the New York City Tribune at that time.

Gerrit Jan left the Unification Church in 1987. His estranged brother Derek van Dorsten, a long-time member of the UC said, "I have not heard from my brother since 1984."

A Church spokesman, Willem Koetsier, said “Sometimes people with spiritual inclinations found their own church or movement. I think this was the case with him. It could be that he thought he had a special mission.”

After a few years in the UC Gerrit Jan appears to have become ill at ease. According to reports in the Dutch media, he retreated from the church after announcing that he had begun “receiving signals” from Moon’s son, who is regarded as a prophetic figure within the faith. That son was Heung Jin Moon who had died in a car accident on January 2, 1984. 

Heung Jin was buried in Korea on January 8, 1984. A week later, Rev. Moon proclaimed that his son had a new mission and that he was free to travel between his spirit world and our physical world. Rev. Moon also proclaimed that Heung Jin became a leader to Jesus in the spirit realm and that he had assumed the role of “the commander-in-chief” to those who are unmarried in the spirit realm.”

▲ Sun Myung Moon wrote this calligraphy for his son: “Absolute Victory of Moon Heung Jin 文興進 as Commander-in-Chief of Heaven.”

On February 28, 1984, Heung Jin was married postmortem to Hoon-Sook Pak, the daughter of Colonel Bo Hi Pak, one of Moon’s top aides.

Colonel Pak was the president of the Washington Times at that time.

▲ At the wedding Julia Hoon-Sook Pak held a photograph of her new husband.

Colonel Pak stated that his son-in-law’s sacrifice “carries far greater importance then the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.” According to Rev. Moon, his son needed to be married in order to move from prince to king in the spirit realm. Hoon-Sook was positive about her unusual marriage. “I will never forget in my whole life and for eternity this greatest honor of being Heung Jin Nim’s bride, which I do not deserve.”

Shortly after the death of Heung Jin, Unificationists in different parts of the world claimed to be receiving messages from him. Most of the alleged revelations took place in 1984, and in 1987 and were published in book form under the title The Victory of Love.

Revelations are also claimed from St. Francis, St. Paul, Kierkegaard, and Jesus. The last speaks both of his submission to Heung Jin and the True Parents. “I will show them that the Lord of lords and the King of kings and the king of glory is our precious Lord Sun Myung Moon and his beloved bride Hak Ja Han. They reign as king and queen of the entire universe. I, Jesus of Nazareth, known as the Christ, bow in humility before them. Any who will follow me must do the same.”

From 1984 Gerrit Jan also received messages from Jesus and Heung Jin Moon.

According to Algemeen Dagblad, Gerrit Jan ascribed “supernatural powers” to himself. 

Older Unification Church members who knew Gerrit Jan in the 1980s had described him as a very "ritual" person who had set up his own group with his family. 

Gerrit Jan’s wife, the mother of nine known children, died in 2004. It is possible he has even more children, the newspaper reported.

In an interview with De Telegraaf, a cousin said, “Gerrit Jan broke with the rest of the family a long time ago,” the 32-year-old cousin said.

“About thirty years ago anyway. There was a lot of disagreement between my parents and my uncle, and between my uncle and the Unification Church. At a certain moment he ran away angry. That was before I was born.”

Joseph Brunner and Gerrit Jan van Dorsten lived next door to each other in Hasselt, south of Ruinerwold before moving to the farmhouse in 2010.

Shortly after Brunner moved in next door to the van Dorsten family, they removed a fence that separated their backyards, according to a neighbor, Sandra Soer. Brunner left the block first, and then in 2004, Geert announced his wife had died of colon cancer, which came as a shock as no one knew she had been sick, Soer said. The family left not long after.

In an interview with the Netherlands' English language news outlet NL Times, the older brother of Josef Brunner said he was not surprised to learn his brother had been arrested.

Franz Brunner described Josef as "greedy, calculating and unpredictable" and the pair had not been in contact for a decade. "He always wanted money and was always after his own advantage.”

The brothers quarrelled over their parent's farm and fell out with Joseph moving out.

In Austria, Josef's brothers told the Kronen Zeitung website that he had joined a sect and had not turned up for the funerals of his parents in the past four years. "He thought he was better than Jesus," brother Franz told the paper. “We've had no contact with him for 10 years. I told him to get lost when he wanted me to become his financial guarantor.”

Police have admitted going to the farm in the past, following up reports of a cannabis farm on the property, but say they never entered the building.

A team of 30 police are now trying to solve the mystery of the farm at Ruinerwold. The farmhouse is still being investigated and other properties have also been searched.

Police will question Gerrit Jan van Dorsten why he reported to Dutch immigration in 2009 that he had emigrated.

A large white board found pinned to a wall had a series of mysterious drawings and numbers in black felt ink. They went from top to bottom, side-to-side and ran across each other without making any sense. The board, and a set of books and records kept by the two men, have been taken away by detectives for analysis and forensic examination.

Police have brought in thermal imaging cameras to search under the soil of the fields around the farmhouse and sniffer dogs to examine underneath floor boards.

In a statement the police said, “We are investigating whether a certain religion or philosophy forms the cause of their living situation. Currently, a great deal of new information is received by us every day. It is our duty to verify the veracity of this information, and its relevance for our investigation. The circumstances the suspects and persons involved lived in require that we be extra careful when conducting our investigation.”

________________________________

‘John Eagles’ is Gerrit Jan van Dorsten – who ‘imprisoned’ six of his own children on a farm.

John Eagles video: “Each Soul is a Mirror”

Gerrit Jan van Dorsten, ‘Father Moon’ and the Divine Principle in his providence

Suspected of sexual abuse, ‘John Eagles’ aka Gerrit Jan van Dorsten is father of all nine children

Rev. Young Whi Kim testifies about Gerrit Jan van Dorsten

Jessica Villerius is making a documentary about the van Dorsten children of Ruinerwold

“Five beers and a plea for help is all it took” – Frank F

January 21, 2020 Gerrit Jan van D. sexually abused two of his children in Ruinerwold

________________________________

Black Heung Jin Moon – Violence in the FFWPU

The FFWPU / Unification Church and Shamanism

Hong Soon-ae, the mother of Hak Ja Han, was jailed for killing a young man in a shaman ritual

The FFWPU is unequivocally not Christian

A Korean perspective on Moon and his ‘Fall of Man’ teaching

How “God’s Day” was established on January 1, 1968

Rolling Stone: Children of Recluse Dutch Family Thought They Were the Only People Left on Earth

https://wikimili.com/en/Heung_Jin_Moon

[bffhreprise]

Entry 279

 When I attended Jarod’s bachelor party, I felt like I was experiencing the life of the rich and famous.  Sleeping on a yacht and being brought to destinations as I slept was nothing compared with the ride of Somerset Estate’s driveway.  Seeing that three-story, sprawling mansion in person was an experience I’d never forget by itself.

 “You okay there, Marlin?” asked Lake, grinning at me.

 Nodding I asked “Did you get a look at this place?  Don’t know how I’ll manage to sleep tonight.”

 “Probably curled up on some cramped bed with no room to stretch your arms or legs.” she teased.

 Shaurya laughed and said, “I think I’ll just enjoy a guest room instead of the boxes you’re requesting.  This place must have many options.”

 We didn’t have too much more time to banter before we found ourselves stepping up to the double doors at the main entrance.  The first set of doors opened, followed by a second.  Then there was an open area with stairs leading to a balcony.

 “Hey, guys!” exclaimed Jarod as he approached us, wearing a black t-shirt and blue jeans.

 “You know you’re getting married today, right?” questioned Lake as she looked at him critically.

 He shrugged.  “We’ve got a few hours, so might as well be comfortable, right?  Ai and Mai are hidden away in their wing, so I don’t have to worry about appearances.  Best to avoid their mother.  Trust me on that.  She already gave me an earful when she arrived.”

 Damien, seeming to ignore the last of what was said, asked “Back up.  Did you say their ‘wing’?”

 “Huh?  Oh.  Yeah.  I guess noticing from the front is a little difficult, but there are four wings off the main building of the mansion.  I can’t give you a tour of the wings, but I’ll show you the rest.  You can just leave your luggage here.  Mila will get it.” he assured us.

 “I don’t really want to trouble her.” argued Jesse.

 “I can’t be troubled.  Please, enjoy yourselves.” came Mila’s voice from unseen speakers throughout the large room.  “I’ll have your belongings in the rooms far before you ever return to this part of the house, assuming Jarod gives a sensible tour.”

 “Yes.  Sensible.  Of course.” teased Jarod, putting on airs of great dignity with his posture and bad British impersonation.  Speaking normally, he said, “This way, guys.”

 Jarod led the way past the West Wing where Lady Pendreigh called home and into the kitchen, where a man was busily cooking.  Numerous types of food were already sitting out on a long, wooden table as well as several carts.

 “This is Marco, the incredible chef you missed meeting at my party.  I guarantee the food will be every bit as incredible as it smells.  Let’s not bother him too much, since he seems focused.” stated Jarod.

 Marco, however, noticed us and hurried over with a small tray of candies.  “Please, please.  You must try.” he told us with a friendly smile.

 The decadent layers of chocolate had noticeably different flavors to them, but they blended into a nutty mixture that left my mouth watering for more.  We all thanked him profusely as we headed out.

 The dining room was massive with seats for a very large number of people.  Between a billiard room and a… sitting room, I realized that the ceilings were incredibly decorative too.  Wood was engraved into some elaborate story, stretching out as far as I could see.

 “More guests?” questioned a voice I didn’t quite recognize.

 “Cosette, I don’t believe you had a chance to meet my friends here during the bachelor party.” stated Jarod before whispering “She doesn’t really like the sun.”

 The chestnut-haired beauty laughed, making her deep blue eyes sparkle.  “No, I’m more of an indoors type.  My name is Cosette Bourbon.  If you noticed me in our guild, you’d know me as Madeleine.”

 “Really!?  I’ve seen you around!” exclaimed Damien, proffering his hand to shake.  “I’m Damien, Sinister in the game.”

 She shook his hand, smiling pleasantly, and immediately went onto the rest of us in turn as we made introductions.  Then she told us “Sorry that I don’t join you, but the twins have requested me in their wing.  I suppose they want someone to make their mother uncomfortable.”  Her grin was more sinister than Damien tended to manage with his character.

 As she headed off, Jarod said, “She’s rich.  Shares a wing with Emma.  Don’t let her fool you though, she’s actually a total sweetheart. Izumi, the twins’ mother, is just a pain.”

 “Should you really be so harsh toward your soon-to-be mother-in-law?” questioned Shaurya.

 Jarod nodded, grinning broadly as he said, “Yep.  She deserves it.  I imagine she’s going to cause me all sorts of trouble when we reach Japan.  Don’t worry.  I’ll manage.”  He continued on with the tour, room-after-room with numerous hidden passages as well.

 We bumped into several of the others we knew.  Brandon happily joined us when he caught up.  I never would have imagined that checking out someone’s home would be so time-consuming.  When we ended up under the garage, Jarod marveled us with projects he and MIla were doing.  The wealthy really were something else.  I didn’t know how he found time for anything, but he seemed sad when Mila pointed out the time.  Leaving his toys behind, we went to get ready.

 Each of us were given a lavish room to use for our one-night stay.  As beautiful as my dress is, I felt it plain next to my surroundings.  I could only imagine how extravagant the bridie’s wedding dress would be.

 Finding myself in the sitting room with Jarod and the others after we were all changed, he was finally showing nerves.  We were all doing our best to calm him, but to no avail.

   “How is everyone?” questioned James after strolling into the room at least ten minutes after the rest of us.

 “Dude, you made it!” exclaimed Jarod, grinning again instantly.  The tension seemed to drain away instantly.

 “With a little help, I managed to get here on time.” acknowledged James with a small smile of his own.

 “How’s it going?” questioned Damien as he stood to shake James’ hand.

 “The master is engaged now!” exclaimed Mila, now with a body present.

 A series of congratulations broke out as we all wished him our best.

 “Thank you, but try not to tell anyone else yet.  I haven’t had a chance to tell my parents.” confided James.  “Alma’s not even wearing a ring yet.”

 “Whoa.  Stop right there.  You got engaged without even putting a ring on her finger!?” asked Jesse incredulously, her mouth hanging open in shock.

 “Her family’s complicated, and things happened to play out that way.” explained James, shrugging slightly.

 “Don’t get me wrong.  I don’t blame her for accepting and all, but wow…  Rich people are weird.” insisted Jesse with a slight shake of her head.

 James seemed to listen to something I couldn’t hear, and then looked up, saying, “Ah.  Yes.  Looks like you’ll need to be taking your seats.  Jarod and I are supposed to be entering soon.”

 Practically forming a line, each person wished Jarod luck again before walking out the door.  I waited toward the end on purpose, knowing there was something I could do that might help.

 Putting a hand on Jarod’s shoulder, I said, “Just relax.  You’ve got this.”  I carefully focused on the energy around us, willing it into a blessing as my grandmother had shown me years ago.

 The untouched energy in the room suddenly danced into a number of spells, and I saw sweat sweep away from Jarod, floating off toward a window.  Without thinking, I had jumped back, too shocked to think.

 “You don’t use magic much, do you.” stated James with an amused look.

 I shook my head, staring at him in awe.  Even my grandmother couldn’t do multiple spells at once, and she couldn’t form a single one that quickly.

 Jarod glanced from James to me with a considering look before he said, “Wedding, guys.  You can discuss what just happened later.”

 “Yes.  Sorry, Jarod.” replied James.  Turning to me, he said, “I’ll be happy to discuss things with you later if you’re up for it.”

 All I could do was nod before rushing out of the room.  My heart was hammering in my chest.  My mom had always warned me that there were others.  She thought using magic was dangerous and foolish, but I never could resist.  

 James had always seemed to radiate power and authority, but seeing him be so casual in casting such complicated spells rammed home the truth: he was every bit as powerful as he seemed.  His spells had been effortless for him, despite controlling so much energy at once.

 The wedding started before my heartbeat had returned to normal.  Too much adrenaline was pumping through me for me to relax.    The enormous mirrors surrounding the ballroom turned out to be monitors, creating an incredible scene of an ocean below a large cliffside where we appeared to be seated.  The the bride entered, looking inhumanly beautiful in her white gown.  I knew there was probably some trick of the light making her seem to glow, but I found myself wondering if magic was involved there as well.  The cliffside view changed, now showing us the bride as the sole light in a black void as she walked.

 Somewhere during the ceremony, I started to relax again.  James was a wonderful man, and he probably had been pointing out how foolish I was being, using my meager skills in public.  More thoughts of magic filled my head when we went to the backyard for the reception.  There should have been a chill, given that winter was still upon us, but the air was warm.  Exotic plants filled the area, despite obviously being out of season, and some of them even seemed to glow.

 James caught me alone some time into the reception.  After a little gentle urging on his part, I revealed to him that my grandmother had taught me the spells I knew.  I told him of my mother’s warnings and apologized for not being careful today.  Something about James made me trust him, but I was still shocked when he claimed to have started using magic under a year ago.  He merely said that he had good reason to practice regularly, obviously not willing to go into details on why.  He offered his aid in helping me to perfect my skills, claiming that he didn’t mind teaching me a few things as well.  Mila apparently had a program that would help me study from home.

 When the reception ended, many of the guests left, instead of joining the endless hospitality of this magnificent home.  Seeing no reason to hold back, the rest of us decided to do some gaming.  I could hardly believe my eyes when the ballroom’s floor shifted, allowing chairs to rise up in a circle.  The enormous mirrors on the walls acted as monitors, and there was another level beneath the first with more systems!  My laptop was left in my room, momentarily forgotten.

 We played so late into the night that I didn’t even remember making it to my room.  Mila was gentle in waking me for my flight, but I was still groggy as I left the place, staring back at that glorious building and hoping that a day would come where I’d be able to visit again.  James had an incredible home.

[hollenka99]

The First Day of the Rest

Summary: On April 21st 1910, a young aspiring actor nervously awaits his bride.

Jameson stood by the altar of a comfortingly familiar church. When he'd first begun attending in the Fall of 1906, he never would have imagined he'd be here, over three years later, fidgeting in anticipation of his sweetheart's arrival. It's fine, he assures himself. There was nothing to fret about because everything would be just fine. It was nothing. What were a few vows in comparison to all that they led to? All that was expected of him was his attendance, love and ability to repeat what the priest told him. His inability to verbalise audibly would be rectified by his best man and translator. What was he stressed about, messing up? Why would he ruin such an occasion with blunders? He could never do that to Siobhan. He couldn't be the husband she deserved if he can't even get through the ceremony. Think, he needed a distraction. How about... imagining all that would follow this wedding. The first order of business was escaping Edison and the Motion Pictures Patent Company. Although, where could they move to? The area in Los Angeles known as Hollywood was a possibility, the city itself was another option. They could evade legal repercussions in Mexico. Except, it was still a fairly large country. Plus, what would they do in Mexico? He doubts there will be a booming business with moving pictures in Mexico. He'd have to learn whichever sign language the Spanish used. No, California had a better appeal anyway. Children. He would love to have them with her. Oh, the amount of combinations involving their features must be phenomenal. Brown hair or blonde? Green eyes or blue? Would their smiles better resemble hers more than his or vice-versa? Then again, it wasn't advisable given her family history. Two sounded lovely. He'd be willing to risk a third too. The father of seven he will be within 20 years would find this bargaining amusing. What of the hard times? He was yet to make it as an established and respected film actor. Money was tight. All you had to do was see how much scraping together of funds was performed in preparation for this wedding. What if he failed her and was unable to fulfil his promise to support her, would it affect their marriage? He hopes not. Whatever the future entailed, it all started today. It was the first day of the rest of their lives. He looks out at the people gathered. There weren't many. Jameson had known this would be a small wedding, he'd known as far back as his search for the ring he would offer Siobhan during the proposal. That didn't erase the truth that having fewer than twenty adults and two young children present, with three more guests due to arrive along with the bride, was disheartening. The majority consisted of his family but he spotted a pair he recognised from Sunday masses. All he can assume is that they wished to watch a couple unite in holy matrimony because why not. Clearly, they had nothing better to do on a Thursday afternoon. There was his mother, of course. She had purposefully brought her best dress from Canada for the occasion. It was more than Sunday best. Jameson rarely saw it on her. That dress had likely lingered in her wardrobe longer than he'd been alive, witnessing christenings and weddings alike. As such, fashion had left it slightly outdated. It was still the best she owned. If truth be told, Jameson was relieved she was wearing it at all. He certainly didn't wish to learn she'd 'forgotten to pack it' as had been the case in 1908 for Clifford's wedding. Subtle passive-aggressive protests were not what he desired today. To her left were Harvey and Edith. He and Dorothy exchange a tiny wave as she sits impatiently on her father's lap. She wouldn't fit on Edith's lap anymore, given her future sibling took up that space. How many months along was Edith now, six or seven? Jameson had been so preoccupied with organising today's celebration that he'd forgotten whether they'd mentioned June or July as the time this second child was due. Honestly, where had the time gone? His niece was a month shy of her third birthday and soon to be a big sister. Harvey himself had turned 30 in February. Now here he was in a Manhattan church, waiting to watch his youngest brother get married. It was dizzying to consider how quickly their lives were progressing. His other niece was being told to stay still. At all of 15 months, he doubted Clara understood the importance of this occasion in the slightest. You could tell Elizabeth was a teacher by the way she instructed her own child. It wasn't so much that Jameson disliked her. It was more an aversion to how she dealt with things she didn't agree with. He was grateful he wasn't present for most times she and his mother met. He didn't want to deal with the conflict. In fact, his heart went out to his brother for having to be caught in the mess. Still, Clifford had married her and she was as linked to the family as Edith or Siobhan. Except for the fact she was the only daughter-in-law Florence Jackson was yet to approve of. Edward sitting next to a stranger was a sad sight. His wife was probably attending to Siobhan at this very second. Brother-in-law-of-the-groom didn't sound particularly fluid. He and Mabel were yet to have children of their own. They would come in time. After all, they had only wed last year. There was no rush to produce a family. Out of all his friends from Saint John, only David had been able to travel down. He didn't wish to admit it, it would be somewhat of an insult to his other friends, however... if just one of his friends was able to come, he felt fortunate David was that singular friend. He'd jokingly proclaimed him as his third brother on numerous occasions. Although some of those he'd known as children and schoolboys had since drifted, he was glad David still featured in his life. Friendships came and went, as any person could tell him. Jameson didn't mind that. Of course, he had minded when his parents explained why a friend could no longer join him in social activities. One thing was rife in neighbourhoods like the one he'd grown up in and it was far from wealth. Yet here was David, the closest friend he'd ever known, dressed smartly in a church that was over 600 miles from home, purely to celebrate this day with him. His heart sinks further at the reminder his bride's family only had her father as representative. Everyone she knew lived in Ireland. Even Michael had been unable to cross the Atlantic. At least she had friends from New York in attendance to support her. Facing forward again, he makes distracted small talk with Clifford. The first chord of Wagner's Bridal Chorus sounds. A glance to his right shows his brother has the ghost of a sly smile. "Here we go." He mutters. "Last chance to make a run for it." Jameson answers with an offended glare. "Yes, I know, you would never." His best man suppresses a grin, attempting to stay formal. "Well, are you going to stand there, all goopy, or are you going to watch your bride approach?" "I am not a goop." He hurriedly signs back before pivoting as casually as an eager groom can. There Siobhan was, wearing an elegantly simple dress of tiered lace and linking an arm with her father. Even without the veil slightly obscuring her face, he knew the truth. She was gorgeous, as to be expected.