[RPG] [FEI][GLoL] The wedding of Tiernan Fionn and Anya Merry

[Alex Davies]

Anya sat blissfully in the tub of hot, perfumed water that Millie had hauled 
up the stairs by the bucketful, and thought about the coming day. A thick 
fog wound damply through the streets or Ortedail, but it was early yet.

"Millie?" she called. "Millie!"

The girl came rushing into the room as though she had been thrown, just as 
she usually did. "Yes, Ma'am?"

"Has there been word from Tiernan? I mean, Men sometimes drink the night 
before their weddings, and I hope that he didn't do anything foolish..."

She thought back to the tournament in Nighthelm. "Not that he would, now 
that he's a priest. But still..."

The young maid watched, looking worried.

"Oh Millie. I am a silly woman. Of course he did nothing rash. Never you 
mind- it must just be a bit or nerves, making me fuss so."

----------------------------------------------
Tiernan woke up.He had no idea where he was.

He stood up and looked around him.He seemed to be standing in a large 
hayloft.There was also the unmistakable smell of animals rising from the 
floor below him.

"How did I get into a barn?!!?!" he said scratching his head

Tiernan climbed slowly down to the ground floor and out the door.Then it 
dawned on him what day it was.

"Oh crap" he said as he started sprinting back towards Ortedail.

He swore under his breath that he would never drink again.And he would make 
sure Anya never found out.Though she did have a way of knowing things.

----------------------------------------------
The afternoon light began to fade, and Anya paced in front of her window. 
"Any word yet, Millie?" she asked.

"No, Ma'am," respond Millie abjectly.

Anya frowned. "I thought he'd have sent word at least. Back home, it was 
customary for a man to at least send his bride a note on her wedding day. 
But maybe things are different here. Let's just go on to the temple- I'm 
sure he'll be there with San, doing priest things."

----------------------------------------------
As Tiernan thought of the note that he had left anya in her bag,it seemed 
foolish now.

She probably wouldnt remember.It would be there he knew,he just hoped Anya 
would follow his instructions.

It had read

My Dearest Anya,

I have a surprise for you.Head out of Ortedail for one mile to the east.You 
will see a giant oak.Under that oak is a drinking hole.It should not be hard 
to find.There you will find my gift to you on this wedding day.It is 
something special,I can assure you.

Tiernan

Tiernan walked slowly through the streets of Ortedail.He had dressed 
formally,in preperation for the biggest day of his life.

He was clean after returning home to wash and change,and he would soon head 
for the temple.

Brian would join him on the way.

He was nervous,more than he had ever been.More frightened than he had been 
when facing undead in the wastes of northern Beluaterra.But he was also 
excited.

Excited to have finally found his place in the world.He had thought that the 
life of a swordsman was what he desired,he was wrong.He had finally found 
peace here in this peaceful place,with the simple oak staff and a beautiful 
young woman.

Things were looking up.
----------------------------------------------
Brian sat on the steps of the temple,watching as the festive bunting was 
laid out over the pavilion where the first marriage the temple would see was 
about to take place.

The sun shone down brightly and no cloud drifted across the sky.

"A perfect day" he said to himself.

Despite his dark thoughts,he was happy for his brother.He and Anya were a 
lovely couple.

Brian looked around and thought he saw a dark figure near the temple.

"My imagination" he said as he stood up and walked to his meeting with his 
brother.
----------------------------------------------
As they finally headed out the door, Anya grabbed her favorite handbag (the 
one with the bright flowers embroidered on it). As she did, a paper spiraled 
out onto the floor behind her. Out in the street, she wrapped her cloak 
around her, and climbed into the coach.

Millie, always in a flap, came bustling out behind her. "Oh, you dropped 
something Ma'am," she said. I stepped on it and slipped, but it has your 
name on it.

She handed it to Anya, who distractedly unfolded it, then, recognising 
Tiernan's hand, began to read hurriedly:

My Dearest Anya,

I have a surprise for you.Head out of Ortedail for one mile to the east.You 
will see a giant oak.Under that oak is a drinking hole.It should not be hard 
to find.There you will find my gift to you on this wedding day.It is 
something special,I can assure you.

"Oh." She was embarassed. Come to think of it, he had mentioned that she 
should look in her handbag today. And now it was almost too late- the sun 
would be setting soon. "But there's still time, if we hurry," she announced 
to no one in particular. She shouted directions to the coachman, adding "And 
hurry. Please." and they were off.

After a brief eternity, the giant oak came into sight. "Halt!" she cried. "I 
will go on foot from here." She picked up her skirts, glad that the sun had 
burned brightly all afternoon, drying the grass, and approached the drinking 
hole.

Anya walked around the oak, looking more puzzled by the minute.

"There's nothing here," she said to herself. Then, a glimmer caught her eye, 
and she bent down beside the little spring. Nestled in the moss, glowing in 
the evening light, was a large silver brooch decorated with a stag's head.

"The white stag!" she exclaimed, turning the beautiful gift over in her 
hands. Green stones circled the stag, reminding her of a forest glade in 
springtime. She smiled in remembrance, then turned and ran back to the 
coach. "The temple. Quickly! I fear that this time it is I who will be 
keeping Tiernan waiting and wondering."

They left, the coachman taking her at her word and setting a hair-raising 
pace. "Millie- help me with this. Pin it here, at my waist- no over a bit. 
Perfect."

Anya's face flushed with excitement as they flew towards the temple, towards 
Tiernan.

----------------------------------------------
San stands outside the temple, awaiting the arrival of Anya to get the show 
on the road. The preparations are already being made.

He prays silently to Luna. His friends had made a very good choices all 
round. He felt honoured to be here, chosen to do this.

A coach hurtles down the path from the copses in the east. San stands and 
stares in disbelief, and mutters under his breath about women drivers.

"Anya! Glad you could make it early. We will begin soon. If you would tell 
everyone to prepare it would be much appreciated. And see if you can find 
your husband-to-be mooching around somewhere."

San smiles. It is a good day. Not even news of his brothers or the sight of 
the east can dampen his spirits today.

----------------------------------------------
"Early. Wow." Anya looked in amazement at her coachman, who winked 
irreverantly, then tipped his cap. She grinned at San, started to shake his 
hand, changed her mind and gave him an enthusiastic hug instead, then she 
took a deep breath. "Um, I don't think that I'm supposed to see Tiernan 
until the ceremony begins. I'll send Millie to round him up and make sure 
that he's ready. We'll begin when the sun sets."

Millie headed off, bursting with importance, to find Tiernan, and returned 
shortly. "He's in the Twilight wing, waiting for San," she reported. "He 
says that everything is ready, and Oh, Miss, does he ever look handsome." 
Anya laughed at Millie's gushing and smiled at San. "Well, you'd better go. 
The sun will set in a couple of minutes."

After San left, Anya stood in the shadow of Luna's wing, listening to the 
gentle sounds of the twilight mixing with the notes from the flautist's 
instrument. She barely noticed Millie's fussing as she thought about what 
she was about to do. To stand beside Tiernan forever. She could think of 
nothing better.
----------------------------------------------
Tiernan sat thinking to himself.Nothing had prepared him for this,nothing 
more could be done.

He was tapped on the shoulder and he turned around.San stood there.

"Are you ready?" asked the soon to be master of ceremonies.

"As ready as Ill ever be." said Tiernan with a smile.

They walked together to where the ceremony would take place.

Tiernan looked at the crowd,all the nobles were gathered together.He saw 
Brian in the front row,who gave him a smile.

Now all they needed was a bride.

_________________________________________________________________
Are you using the latest version of MSN Messenger? Download MSN Messenger 
7.5 today! http://join.msn.com/messenger/overview