The Marriage of Rick Pereg & Terri Nutkins

[Terri Nutkins]

Terri laughed at Nightfall, glad he was here to help her down the aisle and kissed him on the cheek. "That's a very kind offer, Neil, but I think I'll pass. This dress was hard enough to get on straight." Katrin, standing nearby, said nothing but she was smirking a knowing smirk, a smirk Nightfall also knew very well. The Winter Queen helped to adjust Terri's veil, which covered a majority of her face. Still, when she bit her lip, it ws obvious how nervous she was; nervous but excited. "Okay, I'm ready."

Mr. Bates, who smiled, bowed and rushed back to the Rose Garden where he approached Jessica, whispering to the Darkling. Without missing a note, the music swiftly changed, a haunting melody that stirred both emotions and introspection, the perfect examples of love that Terri and Rick held true. Guests stood and waited for the bride to proceed. Mrs. Rosemary looked like she was about to cry. Swilla kept tugging on his tie and Duncan chuckled. Mr. Bates shot them both a disdainful look.

As the music started, Katrin handed Terri her bouquet. "Yes, you are," is all she said, a touch of snow falling around the three of them, which is enhanced with a glimmer of hope and swirled with a fragrance of the harvest. Terri took the roses before linking her arm with Nightfall. "Shall we, dad?"

[Lesingnon]

"A bit of fear is healthy."

It's probably a reminder for himself as much as it is a tidbit of wisdom for Nightfall.

And...yeah, he's about as good at picking up on subtle emotions as Marcus is at expressing them. Elementals had their limits, two of them doubly so. The words, though, he could understand those easily enough. "Yeah, I know, I know. Just nerves, you know? The big moments...you're never quite as prepared for them as you think you are."

A point driven home all the more home as the car pulls up, Terri steps out, his breath catches in his throat, and his heart skips another couple of beats. The moment was finally upon them, a culmination of everything they'd shared so far.All of a sudden, the collar just seemed insignificant.

And he felt even the ordinarily swift-beating falcon's heart in his chest kick it up another notch or two as he turned to face her, looking down the aisle.

This was it.

[Nightfall]

Nightfall winked at Terri, mission accomplished. Had Katrin been anyone else, he might have made a similar, possibly less disposable, offer; but she was not, and instead the pointed tips of his ears reddened at her look. It didn't help that the pleasant mixture of all three of their mantles evoked thoughts of languid snuggling.

"Oh, let's," he said, giving her a happy smile and laying a hand over hers own that held his arm as they headed in.

[Marcus Evan]

Marcus gives Rick the same look of appraisal he uses when he's examining his stubborn jeep or his landlady's temperamental water heater.

"You're ready."

After one last slap on the shoulder for encouragement, Rick's best man turns and formally offers his arm to Queen Byeli in order to escort the maid of honor down the aisle.

[Forn Clakes]

The asile looked like it went on forever and everystep was a blur to Terri as her heart hammered against her chest, and was suddenly very glad she had a close and good friend to support her. Looking at the faces standing in by their seats, watching the procession, Terri made out a few, those that she had grown close to. Spotting Alice caused her to almost trip but thanks to her good balance and Nightfall's arm, Terri kept upright and pushed her ex-Maid of Honor from her mind.

Instead, she looked at the end of the asile to where the arch marked the place that she would finally be wed, and where her heartsworn waited. Terri smiled when she saw him, standing and looing as confident as ever. She briefly wondered if he was feeling as scared as her, as petrified of this new step with so many witnesses watching.

Terri pushed that aside too. This wasn't about fear, or conquering a challenge. It wasn't even about the desire that Spring coveted.

What this was, what this moment represented, was the purest emotion anyone would want to hold true, to feel flowing through their body and mind.

Reaching Rick, Terri turned to Nightfall and released her arm from his, smiling to the Fairest, thanking him. She then turned back to Rick. "Hey, handsome," she whispered so only those close by could hear before waiting for Xerxia to begin the ceremony.

On the way down, Katrin gladly took the arm of Marcus, also watching those that they passed by. As they neared, she leaned in to the Elemental. "Congratulations, by the way," she whispered. "A Hunter's life is a tough one, but I am sure you are up to the challenge, yes?"

[Xerxia]

Xerxia takes a deep breath to calm her nerves, then begins, first giving a brief smile to the Autumnal couple, then casting her glance out to the gathering.

"Dearly beloved. Friends of the heart and of the seasons. We are gathered here to celebrate one of the greatest achievements and moments life has to offer. Many in the world wander, lost to the gift the two before me happened to find in each other, growing a relationship beyond friendship and towards a lifetime of sworn, heartfelt love. It is this nigh-immortal love that has brought us here this Autumn day to help bolster this union of marriage.

"Rick and Terri, will you take the vows before all of us which will symbolize the vows you have already made and will continue to make to each other for the rest of your lives?"

[Irea Dimelo]

"I wonder..." Rea muttered, her eyes fixed unblinking upon the couple about to be wed. She sat perfectly poised in her seat, but her stare remained fixed on Rick and Terri, her eyes holding no hint of what it was she wondered about. Perhaps she wondered if the marriage would last, or perhaps how it would end. Perhaps she wondered if she too, could find happiness in the embrace of another, or perhaps she just wondered whether they would be having chocolate cake or vanilla...