[RPG] Ariana and Morthwyl ~ Announcement at the Ball

[Timothy Collett]

Ariana steps out onto the head of the grand staircase and smiles.   
Her shimmering golden hair is pinned up in a complicated arrangement  
somewhat suggestive of a crown, winking with rubies.  The colours are  
mirrored in her dress: the velvet elbow-length gloves are bright red,  
as are the shoulders and sides of the gown, framing a gold bodice  
that seems to sparkle under the chandeliers.  The voluminous skirts  
of the dress have a curved-inward deep red section in the front, but  
are otherwise a muted gold.  At her breast flashes a brooch bearing  
the sunburst and sword symbol of her Goddess.  She is the very  
picture of a glorious sunset--or dawn.

If she is the glory of dawn, then Morthwyl, beside her, is a moonless  
night, dark but full of starlight.  His tunic and trousers are  
deepest black with silver embroidery twining about it, stylised  
dragons appearing unobtrusively on each shoulder.  His shortsword  
hangs at his side, fastened to a black belt encircling his waist. The  
scabbard is richly decorated, with the stylised from of a dragon  
curled around it as if to protect the precious sword inside.  His  
long black hair is held back by a steel ring filigreed with silver.   
On his brow rests the Ducal coronet--a rarity, as he prefers not to  
advertise his rank.  He smiles back at her as he takes her left hand  
in his--covering the third finger carefully.

They do not descend the staircase yet, but look out at the crowd.   
Their friends--their second family--is here, Einar and Hoshi looking  
happy in each other's company for the first time in weeks or months,  
Aimee and Sabastian continuing their careful dance of courtship.   
Even Riamh Aice has arrived from Ethiala just in time to attend.   
Some are absent, true...too many, and too much has been lost of  
late.  But now is not a time to dwell on loss: it is a time for  
celebration--of the completion of the strongest defenses on the  
continent, and of Morthwyl and Ariana's announcement.

"Friends," Morthwyl calls, his voice carrying easily over the music  
and chatter.  "We have more to celebrate tonight than just a mighty  
fortification.  For months now, we have seen little but war--a war  
that at time seemed hopeless.  But hope still shone in all our  
hearts, and it has carried us here, to this happy day."

Ariana continues, "That hope was, at least for us, not just of a  
future where Svunnetland is no longer besieged on all sides by foes  
who wish to destroy us, but of a future where we can be together as  
one.  Today, we step forward into that future."

Morthwyl raises their linked hands, revealing the jewel on Ariana's  
finger.  "Nobles of Svunnetland, friends, honoured guests, I have the  
great pleasure to announce that Baroness Ariana Anaris has agreed to  
be my wife, and we will be wed once we have fulfilled our dream, of  
Svunnetland whole and at peace."

A cheer goes up from the crowd.  Ariana and Morthwyl kiss each other  
lovingly but decorously, and descend the staircase to join the ball.

--

"The only thing you can't trade for your heart's desire is your heart."
  ~ Miles Naismith Vorkosigan