[CRP] A strawberry orchard wedding

[Dwayberry]

"Well, how do I look?"

Two year old Aldwyn did not say anything, but he did smile. Although Dwayberry wasn't sure if he was happy with the way she looked, or happy she gave up her attempts to dress him in anything other than his usual comfortable clothes.

"I suppose you know how to not out-stage the bride,", Dwayberry chuckled. She took her son by the hand and left the inn to make her way to the orchard. It was still very early, about an hour before sunrise, the best time to make sure the orchard was deserted.

It wasn't just because she didn't trust Aniel, although that was one of the reasons. But the most important reason for this somewhat secret wedding was that Dwayberry just wasn't into all this traditional stuff. When she thought before about everything that had to be arranged, she became nervous enough to even forget to send out invitations well in time. And thus, she and Nocturne had agreed to marry in private, with Aldwyn as the only other person present, and have a party with friends and family at a later time.

So, the only thing Dwayberry had eventually arranged were her dress and matching hat. She had explained to Aldwyn, hopefully well enough, that he'd have to walk with her to where Nocturne was waiting. Being her only living male family member, Dwayberry decided Aldwyn could walk her down the "aisle", rather than discard that tradition as well.

[Nocturne]

Truth be told, the act of the wedding itself was meaningless to the Nether Beast, save for one deciding factor that encouraged such a mortal tradition - the look on his soon-to-be wife's eyes when he asked her to marry him, having read and seen how much it meant to people to have such a tradition performed made him decide to ask Dway, because he knew she deserved the sort of happiness that he had seen on others when they were asked. And it had not disappointed, a memory that would be forever carved into his mind.

And that brought them in the hectic times to the wedding day, which as it approached, seemed to be filled with a lot of chaos regarding Aniel, and at Dway's suggestion of a simple civil ceremony instead, Noct of course agreed. An early morning in the orchard, it reminded him of his proposal, and he was glad he'd had the presence of mind to have at least one thing prepared, a strawberry shortcake wedding cake for the reception afterwards. He left Kim in charge of such things, as his steward had a far better understanding of such decorations that a person would appreciate than he likely did. He figured it helped to know one's limitations. Being in the odd situation of being the Judge of Bravia at the time, it was rather amusing for their ceremony to be in his domain, and he split off a shadow clone to perform the ceremony so that he wouldn't have to talk to himself less literally and could do so more literally.

His own garments were a shifting set of robes that might give one illusions of a suit or a pauper depending on the angle. Shadows managed to be elusive like that. Sometimes you knew what they were, and then it seemed to have shifted into something else entirely. Dwayberry was one of the few who had taken the time and showed the interest that he allowed inside his heart and mind, to see all the aspects of who he truly was. And today, they would be formally united by the laws of the land, just as they had been in his thoughts for a long time. The Judge version of himself he put in the formal attire, complete with the silly wig of curly silver hair. Because it might amuse him to be so formal, but at the same time, it was a formal and official proceeding. He entered the orchard, and couldn't help smiling across at how beautiful his wife looked in the early morning, while the dewdrops hadn't even evaporated from the strawberry leaves. Making his way over, the smile never left his face while the judge stood on the small wooden platform erected for the ceremony, "Would the petitioners please come forward, bride," he said with a motion to Dway, "and groom," he motioned to Nocturne. With that, Noct advanced to the platform, careful to keep his pace to that of Dway and Aldwyn's so they would arrive about the same time.

[Dwayberry]

The sun rose and light reflected off the dewdrops on the strawberry plants, making the small fruits look as magical as they always seemed to be in Dwayberry's mind. She smiled when she spotted her husband-to-be. He clearly did his best to look handsom and well-dressed from a human point of view and even though it was his curious, intelligent mind that first attracted Dwayberry to Nocturne, the shallower part of her could not help but appreciate how well they would when standing by each other. She hadn't seen him for several days and smiled.
She never before considered marriage to be one of those things vital to her happiness. However, she was still a human woman, raised in a society consisting mostly of humans, and after thinking for so long this was never going to happen for her, she could now clearly feel the signs of becoming emotional, inside herself. Aldwyn's bright "Nocker!" snapped her out of it and she grinned at her son as he was pointing at Nocturne.
"Yes, let's go to him, sweetie," she said.

Aldwyn began to walk/run as fast as he could while Dwayberry held his hand so he was forced to pull her along. She didn't try to stop his enthusiasm or control his pace, seeing as Nocturne was able enough to keep up with the child.
It was only when they reached the platform, Dwayberry allowed her eyes off Nocturne and Aldwyn long enough to notice the appearance of Nocturne-as-judge. She stifled a snort at the sight of the wig, and wondered why judges insisted on making it so hard to be taken seriously. Aldwyn seemed a little confused, looking from the judge's face to Nocturne and back, quietly asking "Nocker, that?"
Dwayberry turned to face Nocturne again and smiled at his "human antics", thinking this must be one of the craziest weddings ever. She would not have had it any other way.