Spring had come and with it a wedding. As promised Kur had brought Elswyth her desired flowers when he had come in a week in advance. Marriage seemed to be treating Heron's friend well. Though still fairly quiet, Kur seemed to be practically glowing with happiness. He didn't say much on the subject though.
Now it was the evening of the day Heron and Elswyth had chosen for their wedding and Heron was getting ready. He felt more nervous than he had thought he would. He was really excited as well, and the two conflicting emotions made his stomach churn.
"You need to hurry up." Kur came in and told him. "The ceremony is supposed to be in a few minutes."
"I know." Heron moved past his friend. "I'm heading to the hall." He didn't run but he did walk briskly. He wondered what Elswyth would look like in the wedding gown – he had yet to see it.
In answer, she was beautiful. Well, she was always beautiful, but seeing her in the wedding gown struck Heron in a different way. It was hard to explain – but it was a bit like being awestruck.
They joined hands before the priest as they took their vows.
"A gift from Xi'eli you are to me. To hold close and never let go. I would be a shield around you all of our days." Heron took the loop of red thread and began looping it around her wrist, "May this thread though it fades from sight always bind you to me."
She also looped the thread about his wrist, "A cord uneasily broken. May our promises one to another always remain true, and never break till to the dust we go. I will be your one and only harbor to return to, a sanctuary from the world. Even if all friends fail you, and you have no other place to go, I will still be at your side loving you even at your darkest."
"My all is yours and I shall never betray you. No matter how tough the road is, nor how much disappointment may come, together hand in hand we shall push through without faltering."
"For you are mine from this day and I am yours."
After their vows the priest gave some long -winded blessings. Exhorted them to never break the vows, to always cherish what they had found in each other and to produce children.
Afterwards they were allowed to mingle with their guests. Hazel quite excitedly threw her arms about Elswyth as she congratulated them. Heron smiled at his sister's excitement to have an older sister added to the family.
Kur quietly congratulated Heron, with a soft affectionate smile as he wished him all happiness. For some reason, the other wizard seemed just a little bit more satisfied than was usual.
Others came up and congratulated the couple as well. Nobles, knights, several priests. But finally people started either heading home or to their guest rooms in the castle. A bit shyly Heron glanced at Elswyth. "Should we go to our room as well?" It gave him a bit of a thrill to call it their room.
"Yes. Yes we should." She slipped her hand into the crook of his arm.
Heron wondered if she had any idea of what he was thinking about as they headed to their room. Would she be upset at him if she knew? Or was she also thinking the same thing?
Also what was the best way to bring it up?
He really wanted to have relations with her. She was his wife so that was okay of course. But he didn't want to come off as demanding to her.
He really shouldn't have worried. As soon as they were in the privacy of their room, she kissed him deeply and pulled him into an intimate embrace.