The Wedding of Zuan and Ella

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Ella
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The Wedding of Zuan and Ella

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Last edited by Ella on Sat Oct 29, 2022 2:27 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Ella
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The Wedding of Zuan and Ella

Post by Ella »

The Winterbourne family had long resided in the northern territory of Fenia, living within what is now North Fenshire for centuries — long before Zuan Winterbourne ever became King. It is not unsurprising that the King then chose to build his personal castle and family home within this same rugged landscape. Nestled deep within a valley, surrounded by mountains on three sides lays Wintercrest Castle. Officially, the castle serves as the seat of the Duchy of North Fenshire, however, it is more often used as a getaway from the Royal Court. It was here that Zuan Winterbourne proposed to Ella Blackwood and it was here that they would be married.

The estate was quite large, and much of it is newly built within the last ten years. There are two large wings leading off the main block of the estate, and beyond that there there are stables, gardens, hedge mazes, and courtyards. In one of the larger halls on the main floor, the room had been redone and rearranged in preparation for the King's wedding. Golden chairs with white velvet cushions form rows on either side of the room, split down the middle to form an aisle. As the guests begin to arrive at the main entrance, servants greet them and lead them to the ceremony venue inside.


((ooc: the thread is now open for those who have been invited to the wedding ceremony))
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Lavinia
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Re: The Wedding of Zuan and Ella

Post by Lavinia »

Lavinia had just finished braiding her hair when she went to find some embellishments to add to her outfit. She searched a box where she kept all of her jewellery. Inside it was a treasure trove of rings, necklaces, earrings and bracelets she had gathered over many years. She looked around until she found a pair of silver drop earrings that had small amethysts dangling on one end. "Yes, these should go nicely," she said and took them out. Grabbing a piece of cloth, Lavinia quickly polished them to make them extra shiny for today’s occasion. Once that was done she put on the earrings and walked over to a full length mirror she had kept in her bedroom.

The earrings really did enhance the already elegant purple velvet gown Lavinia chose to wear. She was rather pleased with how she looked. It was all simple, not too elaborate on details or overly adorned. It was just the right amount of everything. The thing she liked most about the gown, after its colour, were the pockets. When she was nervous about something she’d fidget, her hands especially. So pockets were life saving in such situations.

Poe gave her a weird look as he sat on her bed, she could see his reflection in the mirror. "Vinnie, please take me with you. I beg you," Poe implored.
"Absolutely not, the last thing I need is for you to cause a scene," she replied sternly then turned around to face the black cat.
"But please, I promise I’ll be good," he tried yet again.
"I said no. The only reason you want to go is because of Luna," she said in an amused tone just to tease him a little.

It was the truth after all. Lately, as Lavinia attended Privy Council meetings her familiar got into the habit of following her around. It was somewhere in the Castle that Poe saw Luna and since then he wouldn’t shut up about the other cat.

"Please Poe," she said imploringly and crouched down to look him directly in the eyes. "Someone needs to watch over the ashes in the living room. Blaze might resurrect at any moment and will need someone to keep him company," she added quietly when all of the sudden Poe turned his back to her. She narrowed her eyes at him. 'That little furry rascal. So help me Hecate I will murder him one day,' she thought feeling quite annoyed at him.
"I heard that missy," Poe said in a smug tone.

'Alright, this was going to be a negotiation,' she thought and stood up, then paced around her room.

"How about," Lavinia stopped and approached the bed, "you stay here and I solemnly promise you can come with me to the Castle every single day? What do you say?" Her offer was sincere and she knew she was going to regret it.

The cat turned around and looked at her intently with his piercing emerald eyes, almost as if he was testing whether the witch truly meant what she said.

"Alright Vinnie, we have ourselves a deal. I’ll go play the phoenix-sitter," he said non-nonchalantly and jumped off her bed then hurried outside, presumably to the living room. She rolled her eyes after he left and chuckled. That cat was really something.

A moment later she heard a knock against the door frame. "Are you ready grand-daughter?" Eldridge inquired. She smiled brightly at her great grandpa and nodded. "Yes, let’s go please before Poe changes his mind and decides to follow us," Lavinia said and approached Eldridge.
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Nikola
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Re: The Wedding of Zuan and Ella

Post by Nikola »

“What …?” Iris asked, her mouth agape at the piles of fabric strewn across Nikola’s bed and every other surface that was not the floor. Raising an eyebrow, she looked at her mistress as she closed her mouth before asking, “Can’t decide?”

In the middle of the room stood Nikola, holding a gown up to see her reflection with it in the full-length mirror. “I know, it’s silly of me, Iris, but I don’t want to do anything to draw attention to myself, yet at the same time, I do want to be pretty. Maybe even look just a little bit elven. Oh, I don’t know,” she sighed and tossed the gown onto a pile covering the whole of her bed. “Help?” she asked her steward.

Iris clucked her tongue and started rummaging through the piles of cloth until she found what she was looking for.
“How about this one?” she asked and held it up for Nikola to see. “Just try it on. I know there are some detached sleeves that go with it somewhere….aha! Found them!” she proclaimed as she lifted two limp sleeves from the pile.

Nikola sighed and did as Iris suggested, letting the woman help her with the lacings in the back and then slipping on each sleeve and securing them in place. Nikola smoothed the skirts with her hands and faced the mirror as Iris began to fuss with her hair. A smile began to spread across Nikola’s face as she looked at the outfit now that it was on. The gown was varying shades of purple accented in blue and trimmed with flowers and leaves around the bodice and the sleeves. From each sleeve hung a swath of wispy purple fabric that draped the length of the gown. After pulling Nikola’s hair up into a graceful combination of braid, bun and curls, Nikki had to admit Iris had chosen well.

She had not been this nervous in a long time, but things were different now. More so than they had been in a long time. The sound of hooves and carriage wheels sounded in the courtyard below and Nikola smiled as Iris fastened a necklace of interwoven flowers with their leaves that matched the dress perfectly.
“Thank you, Iris,” she said softly, her fingers resting briefly on the necklace. She was heading for the door when Iris stopped her and handed her a pair of earrings. “I think these will look nice on you tonight, my lady,” she said and helped her put them on. “Now let me take a look at you,” she said and twirled her finger in a circle indicating that Nikola should twirl around slowly. The Countess obeyed with a smile and then waited for Iris to release her before leaving the room and gliding down the stairs to meet Raef, who had come to pick her up and serve as escort for the wedding.

They traveled by carriage through the Fenian countryside, enjoying the trip until at last they arrived at King Zuan’s North Fenshire estate. Wintercrest Castle rose up proudly before them, but Nikola found she only had eyes for the elf who handed her down from the carriage. Raef offered his arm and she tucked her hand in the crook of his elbow as they made their way into the castle. Servants greeted them at the door and showed them to the location that the ceremony would take place. As they were shown their seats, Nikola smiled at the servant and asked,
“Would you please ask the bride if she would like some company as she prepares for the ceremony?” The servant curtsied and hurried off, presumably to check with Ella. In the meantime, Nikola took her seat next to Raef and together they waited.
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Re: The Wedding of Zuan and Ella

Post by Raef »

Weddings were a joy; a combining of not only two people but the promise of a unified, shared journey though life with all its joys, sorrows, adventures and moments to remember.

Raef was surprised to get an invite and happily accepted then instantly began to panic. You would think that at his age, he would be less nervous but this was a special event. He had asked his Princess, Lady Nikola if he could be her date/ escort for the wedding and she had accepted. NOW...if the thought of escorting a radiantly beautiful elven princess to a wedding of the most prestigious and most respected couple in Fenia, then he didn't know what will!

Normally his attire would be in reds and golds like autumn but today his slick attire in the fashion of the Vale, was purples, blues, lined in pure silver thread. He had made good time and had waited for Nikola at her manor. When he saw her, he gulped in awe and managed to utter how lovely she looked without stumbling over himself too badly.

Some time later, they were in the Wintercrest castle and seated. Finally able to catch his breath and calm his heart he patted her arm, still wrapped through his.

"This is my first non Vale wedding. What shall we expect? When do we give gifts and what not? Will there be wedding duels to death? I have heard some cultures have very colourful bonding ceremonies! ", Raef asked excitedly, the ever inquisitive nature coming to the fore, while patting his pocket which had a small velvet pouch with a very special gift in it from the Vale.
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Circe
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Re: The Wedding of Zuan and Ella

Post by Circe »

Outside of the Bravian town of Paz there was a little coastal cottage belonging to Sokanon Kuhlash and Circe Kuhlash née Blackwood. The two had resided here for nearly a year now, finally finding a place they could call home. Circe never really did well with living in a tiny home on wheels (AKA a vardo), and thus it was better for the small family unit to reside in a more traditional home. It also helped to be near Soka's family while not being on top of them. Though Circe loved her own daughter, Kiernen, she wasn't exactly a fan of other people's kids. She and children just didn't vibe – she was better at being the 'cool auntie' when the kids reached an age where they wouldn't drool on you or sneeze in your face. That said, because of their proximity to Soka's family, it meant they were much further away from Circe’s various relatives, and thus whenever they visited it required them to shadow travel which Circe was not a fan of.

Once Circe had squeezed her notably pregnant body into her outfit for the wedding, a vibrant blue dress with beaded detailing and a deep-plunge neckline, she found her wife waiting in the living room. She had just returned from dropping their daughter with her sister — as Kiernen was only just a year old, she was not ready to sit through an event of this nature.
"Are you ready?"
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Re: The Wedding of Zuan and Ella

Post by Sokanon »

Sokanon was not at all ready if she was being honest. Certainly she knew Ella and the King and was happy for them, but it couldn't be denied that there was some awkwardness in her attending the wedding of her ex brother-in-law. The fact that her twin sister Akos didn't begrudge her going at all didn't seem to help the small knot of tension that seemed determined to settle within her stomach regardless of what logic told her. It also didn't help that Soka was just awkward in general when it came to social situations. Creatures. Mingling. Gross.

She smoothed down the grey fabric of her vest and turned to her wife. They grey pantsuit wasn't extravagant, but the cut of the suit fit her perfectly, and the colour complemented the blue of Circe's dress without overshadowing it. Ready as I can ever be for something like this. Mages, she was nervous and it bothered her that she was. Trying to push the anxiety aside she took one last look around their living room, threw their cloaks over her arm and took her wife's hands. She gave Circe a moment to prepare herself for the shadow port, and then they were gone.

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Soka shivered slightly at the chill in the Fenian air and quickly wrapped a cloak around Circe's shoulders, making sure the woman was fully ensconced within the material before throwing her own cloak haphazardly over her shoulders. Looking around skittishly at the increasing crowd gathered around the entranceway to the ceremony Soka halfheartedly asked Do you think it will be warmer inside?
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Circe
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Re: The Wedding of Zuan and Ella

Post by Circe »

"It'll be alright," Circe assured her spouse, "Besides, no one will be paying attention to us anyway." The witch took her wife's hand so that she could transport them through the shadows to North Fenshire, bracing herself for the uneasy travel.

Her morning sickness had long since subsided, but traveling via the shadows always made Circe nauseous. Thankfully, it passed rather quickly once she had found her feet back on solid ground in the regular world. She gulped hard as she pushed back the urge to throw up in the nearest bush. She counted in her head, 'one...two...three...' and then it passed.


"I imagine it'd be warmer inside, certainly, the King can afford heating even in a castle of this size," she quipped with a playful smile on her lips. Circe placed a quick peck on her wife's cheek and tugged her inside by the hand. "Have you met all of my nieces? I can never remember. I expect they'll all be here for Ella," she said conversationally as a servant pointed in them in the direction of the ceremony.

The wedding hall was large, and decorated in a more subtle yet elegant style. Nearer the front, she could see Ella's daughter, Rosalie, so she gave a slight wave in greeting before taking a seat in the back row. She figured this would be a more comfortable place for Soka who was whatever the opposite of a social butterfly was.
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Re: The Wedding of Zuan and Ella

Post by Sokanon »

Soka held firmly to her wife's hand, and let herself be calmed by her close proximity as she was led inside. She mindlessly took in their surroundings, though sadly the grandeur of the location was lost to the more pressing issue of feeling too closed in. Soka was preparing herself for the onslaught of creatures when she was tugged to the side and pulled down into a seat. Blinking, she realised that Circe had chosen a place for them at the back and near the doors, putting aside her own reasonable desire to be closer to her family in order to placate Sokanon's social peculiarities. A firm squeeze of her hand drew her attention and Soka offered her attention, fully for the first time since they had arrived, to her wife.

Soka? Did you hear me?

Colour tinged her cheeks as she had to admit that she had in fact, not heard Circe, Hmmm? Sorry...what did you say?

A soft smile of patience found it's place on Circe's face, I asked if you'd met all my nieces yet.

Oh! Sokanon exclaimed a little too loudly which attracted the temporary attention and furrowed brows of a few of the other guests. I don't think so. I've met a couple? Ella obviously. But it's not like you've got as many as I do, so maybe I have?

Circe chuckled softly and entwined her fingers through Soka's Is this a competition now?

Eyes wide at the implication that she may end up with even more niblings then she already had Soka shook her head slightly and shifted to snuggle a little closer into her wife's side, Mages, I hope not.


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Nikola
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Re: The Wedding of Zuan and Ella

Post by Nikola »

Raef wrote: Tue Nov 01, 2022 6:12 am Some time later, they were in the Wintercrest castle and seated. Finally able to catch his breath and calm his heart he patted her arm, still wrapped through his.

"This is my first non Vale wedding. What shall we expect? When do we give gifts and what not? Will there be wedding duels to death? I have heard some cultures have very colourful bonding ceremonies! ", Raef asked excitedly, the ever inquisitive nature coming to the fore, while patting his pocket which had a small velvet pouch with a very special gift in it from the Vale.
Nikola quirked an eyebrow at Raef's excited questions, a playful smile on her lips. "Wedding duels to the death? Hmm... Not that I have heard," she answered in a mock serious tone. "I think the ceremonies here tend to be fairly calm in that respect," she added and squeezed his arm. It was fun watching the delight in his eyes as he learned new things about the world outside the Vale. "I'm not entirely sure when we will give the gifts, but my guess is after the ceremony, at the reception." She looked around to see who else had arrived and nodded greetings to those whose eyes she caught. Leaning a little closer to him so she could whisper quietly without being overheard she said, "I hope Ella doesn't get cold feet. She loves Zuan with all her heart, but she hates being the center of attention and something like this is so much more than she is accustomed to." She wondered whether the servant had passed on her message offering assistance to Ella or not, but either way she was happy today. Happier than she had been in some time. The inquisitive elf at her side had started turning her world upside down. Mostly, though, he made her smile and brought joy to her heart. After having been closed off for so long, his influence on her was a breath of fresh air. Someday, she might even tell him so.
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