Vows without Love, Sermons without Family [Keldon, please]

Alicia Elsdragon · November 16, 2007, 02:24 PM

Timestamp: 39th Aperitus, Summer, Era XIV

In the room where she was getting ready

Alicia Gil'dae considered that a woman should feel differently on her wedding day. She should feel excited or happy or something like that. BUt instead, she felt nothing more than calm and quiet and.... unconcerned. She stood in the dress that she had had made and considered the woman who looked back at her from the mirror.

Beautiful, yes, she supposed, although Alicia wondered quite what others saw. The mist grey eyes appraised her form and she sighed slightly. The last touches to her hair and she stepped back. She didn't cut a bad figure, she supposed and a wrenching pain tore at her as she realised that this was her life now.

And so, she fussed slightly over her dress, her hair and her make up and tried not to actually think.

And then....

It was time. Time to go forward, to do what was best for the children. So Alicia stepped out and walked to the area where they were to be married. She walked into view and Keldon caught sight of her, presuming he was there, of course. She wore a dress of shimmering gold, flowing and beautifully detailed. The top was strapless and around her shoulders was a gold organza wrap. The dress itself fell to the floor in cascades of silk and lace. Her hair was piled high on her head, with strands falling to her shoulders.

And in this deserted place, she walked to stand next to Keldon, in front of the priest who was to wed them.

Keldon Elsdragon · November 16, 2007, 03:11 PM

The sun shined brightly over the gardens of the Doli Castle. The great fortress loomed over the garden, the lush green bush's and flowers finely planted and maintained in the court yard. The great mountains flanking them all into the enclosed and secured space.

Keldon had the priest setup there little marriage on a ledge looking over the garden, flanked on either side were wide stair case's leading down to the garden and fountain below, and well kept paths. But looking over it all would be the couple, and the Doli Castle itself.

Standing to the left of the Priest stood Keldon, in full dress uniform. He was going to buy a suit fitting the occasion and wear that. However he was proud of his current posting and his position so he decided to wear his dress uniform instead. After all it has only been used once before and that was a situation that didn't even require formal attire.

His armor glistened as the wind gently caused the crimson red cape of the Ministry of War to move softly in the wind. His longsword at his side securely fashioned in a gold plated scabbard.

When Alicia came out into view he turned to look at her with a soft smile, he could say things as she approached but instead he kept the comments to himself. As she moved towards him, and the priest he just stood there in awe watching the women he was soon to be wed with, her beauty was stunning in his eyes. She had her flaws like any mortal, but he could not think of another perfect creature at that moment.

When she made it to him and stood at his side he was facing her and looking at her with a warm welcoming smile. "They say the gods are the most beautiful beings in all of Teleth. But looking at you I find that hard to believe," he said looking into her eyes with emotion inside him.

Alicia Elsdragon · November 17, 2007, 03:34 PM

He cut a fine figure in his dress uniform, she supposed, looking at him and smiling softly to him as she stepped forwards. His eyes held some deep emoton and she smiled softly, watching his expression as she did so. "I.. thank you. she whispered, looking at him and smiling slightly, blushing a little also. She stood next to him and took his hand, surprised to find that her hands themselves were shaking.

"Both of you are here, this brightening, to declare your vows to each other and to be wedded in the eyes of the Church, the Law and each other" the Priests lilting tone spoke and he motioned them forward, taking their hands, joined together, in his own.

"Please, now, repeat your vows to each other. Mi'lady/" he said, and Alicia looked at Keldon, calmly speaking the words that she had memorised.

"Keldon. I promise to be the best wife to you that I can be, to accept you into my life, my heart and home with all that I have to give you. I will be faithful to you and foresake all others, I will strive to make you happy each brightening and I will be grateful for our union each morning when I awake"

She smiled slightly, the words tumbling out and whispered, but obviously rehearsed.

The priest nodded and looked at Keldon "Mi'lord? Your vows, please? he asked, in a most friendly and upbeat manner.

Keldon Elsdragon · November 17, 2007, 03:56 PM

Keldon listened to Alicia with a smile as she spoke he stood there with a warm smile, perhaps he was about to shed a tear but it was unlikely. But then as she spoke more the desire to release one grew, perhaps not for the words but perhaps more for the meaning that was behind what they were doing. Was the Provost starting to second guess the action? Yes, however he would still go forward with it. It was something that needed to be done, and in a small way he did not mind the notion of it.

Keldon paused for a moment when the Priest asked him to speak his vows, he had not thought of any, nor did he practice what he could say. The words that started to come from his mouth were created then and there, and the expression in his face and tone showed that they were coming from him as they moved through his mind from elsewhere. Perhaps his heart, or his soul. But then again they could creep forward from his lust and desire. Or aspiration. So many factors although one was true, they came from within him.

Holding Alicia's hand with a firm gentle grip to try and calm her nerves. His eyes had left the Priest sometime ago and now looked into Alciia's. "I, Keldon Elsdragon, take you, Alicia Gil'dae, as my friend and love, beside me and when apart from me, in laughter and in tears, in conflict and tranquility. Asking you to be no other then yourself, loving what I know of you, trusting in what I do not know yet, in all the ways that life may find us..." he finished his voice speaking softly with a touch of emotion in them as he spoke.

The priest smiled and nodded. "The ring please Mi'lord." he said waiting for him to give her the ring.

With that Keldon took out the ring that he had in a small pocket on his armor. The diamond shewn brightly in the sunlight, set in a gold band with two finely crafted dragons flanking each side of the diamond holding the stone in place. As if they were guardians of the precious stone and what it represented. Two small diamonds rested inside the eyes of the diamond. There meaning unknown to all but Keldon and he smiled when he held her hand and slowly placed the ring on it as he spoke. "Alicia Gil'dae. I give you this ring as a symbol of my vow, and with all that I am, and all that I have, I honor you, in the name of the gods." he finished pushing the ring perfectly onto Alicia's finger.

Alicia Elsdragon · November 18, 2007, 09:45 AM

He seemed to be genuinely emotional and Alicia looked at him as the priest spoke. She felt calmer when she was looking at him, in fairness. His pause was telling, she thought, he probably hadn't thought to actually create any vows, so she listened as he spoke.

The feelings that were coursing through Alicia's heart at that moment were impossible to discuss, and she certainly couldn't describe them, even to herself. There was the constant gaping hole where her love had been, where her feelings had once resided. But if he meant what he said, if his vows were real maybe one day she'd feel friendship towards this man, feel affection for him. Maybe.

She looked down at the ring and it seemed to be a quite unusual, she looked at it and raised an eyebrow then glanced at him and smiled gently. "Now Mi'lady" said the priest and she nodded, taking the ring from out of her sleeve where it was held and placing it on the finger of his left hand. The ring was a plain golden band, simple but elegant "Keldon Elsdragon" she whispered "I give you this ring as a symbol of my vow, and in the hope that our future together will be as happy as we both wish of it."

The priest nodded and smiled and then placed his hand once more on theirs. "Then by all laws known on this land, the mundane, the divine and the moral. I pronounce that you are wedded, a married couple from this moment forth"

Alicia looked up at Keldon, looking down from their joined hands, a single tear slowly making its way down her cheek.

Keldon Elsdragon · November 18, 2007, 05:21 PM

As the gold metal slid onto Keldon's finger he smiled to her softly, wondering what exactly was ahead for the two of them, and her... their children. Her speak was just like the ring, simple and elegant. It gave no hit or emotion to it however it also gave wonderful amounts of possibility. She was going to be a complicated partner which was obvious. But then so was Keldon.

Grasping both her hands firmly and moved his left hand. The one with the symbol of there vows to her face, using his thumb to softly move the gentle tear away. A smile on his face as he started to lean forward to kiss her. The kiss itself would not be filled with magnificent emotion or passion, but there was nevertheless passion as he would touch his lips against her.

Alicia Elsdragon · November 19, 2007, 04:27 PM

So it was done.

They were married. They were united, man and wife until death parted them and all those words that the human used in their ceremonies. Alicia watched the ring she had purchased slide onto his finger and her blood ran cold. She was married and Tito was dead. There was no justice in the world, not one jot of it, but she did not even feel it. She felt, instead, a clamness and seperateness from the world.

And then, Keldons lips were on hers. He was kissing her and her own eyes widened. And in that moment, Alicia Gil'dae made a choice.

And so, with a feeling of deadness inside, but an exterior of passion returned, not massive, but there certainly, she kissed him back. She would never again feel the kiss of a man who loved her, or whom she loved. She would never again feel Motito's arms around her and so she would do this, she would give this man her all for the woman that she was had died.

So she returned his kiss, hope and passion in equal parts.

And the priest stepped back, allowing them to take this to wherever they wished. There were no plans, after all, for they were the only two.

Keldon Elsdragon · November 19, 2007, 04:40 PM

~> Later That Brightening <~

The quarters were lavish to say the least, likely one of the suits for previous lords and ladies from ages past. It was rather large, a small office attached to it, its own bathing quarters, a large king sized bed flanked with pilers to hold up the fine fabrics above.

There was a balcony just outside two large glass doors looking out over Primus Gaudeo and the countryside. They were close to the top of the Castle so the view would be stunning for any who looked. But instead near the office stood Keldon as he started to unlatch the armor.

He turned his head to Alicia and smiled then looked back to his coifs. "It would be a gift from the gods if these things did not weigh so much and I needed to wear it every brightening." he finished with a brief smirk placing the peice of plaitmail onto the table.

Alicia Elsdragon · November 19, 2007, 04:47 PM

She walked in behind him and sighed, looking around. Lavish was certainly the word and this place was where she would spend her wedding night with her new husband. This was.. her head was reeling, spinning from the surprise of it all, the speed of it all, and she could not say what this was.

He was taking off his armour, and Alicia moved over to him, her hands moving over his as he started to unstrap himself. "It's alright. Let me?" she asked. Should he acquiesce, he would find her able to take off armour in the right order, and to do so correctly. It was almost as though she herself had been in the military at some point, so well executed was it. Once the armour was off though, one way or another, she turned and looked out over Primus Gaudeo.

"It's a beautiful place, isn't it?" she said, wistfully "I mean... the architecture.... how do you feel Keldon? Are you alright?" she asked, looking at him earnestly. This question seemed very important to her, the only thing more important was his answer to it.

Keldon Elsdragon · November 19, 2007, 05:05 PM

Keldon smiled when she offered to take off his armor, he just nodded with a warm look on his face as she started to unstrap the armor. His eyes wandered around the room admiring the paintings as his mind also started to wander. It was after the wedding and he knew what traditionally followed. Was he comfortable with that? Was she? That was one of the most important questions that had ran through Keldon's head recently.

As she moved away towards the door Keldon turned to look at her, he was wearing just basic fabric cloth given out by the legion to go under armor. Nothing fancy and yet also not poor. It was padded enough to make it comfortable however it surely was no suit. Keldon's eyes fell to Alicia's figure as they moved from head to toe then back up.

There were many a beautiful women in this empire, perhaps some more then her. However none of theres were his, nor was he theirs. It is what made the difference to Keldon. On his finger was a ring, his words spoke the vows. His word was his binding.

When Alicia turned and asked her question it stopped Keldon in his tracks as he paused for a moment. He looked past her for a moment and smiled as he saw the city, although it was not likely the city she was referring to. "The city is truly a remarkable place. One of the more enjoyable times in my life working for her people and living amongst then." he finished moving his eyes onto hers with a smile.

"I suppose the words to put to it... is I feel alive." he said with his smile turning into a brief small smirk. "With that I mean the ocean of emotions and thoughts running through my head. What to do next, where should we go... and what the darkening holds." he finishing moving towards the window but stopped partway there and turned to face Alicia and placed both his hand on her thighs softly. "But how do you feel Alicia? We took a leap of faith this brightening, and I am sure with those in the past... things are different now then they where with them, and I do not want to do anything that makes you uncomfortable..." he said with a brief pause then removed his touch from her thinking if he should say exactly what he wanted to say but decided not to yet.

Alicia Elsdragon · November 19, 2007, 05:13 PM

"Alive?" she said, repeating his words as she looked at him and she nodded "I suppose that makes sense. Alive. Yes" she said and then looked down at his hands on her thighs, before looking back at him, her eyes following him carefully.

"I .. how do I feel? I knew what I was getting into when I got into this Keldon, and if you're asking whether I've changed my mind, no I haven't. I haven't changed my mind and I don't want to alter it. I... I want to have a marriage with you, so that we can live a life, at least. But yes, we both took a leap of faith, and.. I suppose how I feel right now, Keldon, if I'm honest is uncertain" she said, looking at him calmly enough, but with a maelstrom beneath the surface.

"Because I don't know what to do now. I don't feel uncomfortable, I'm just.. unsure of what to do or where to go now. I... feel uncertain about how you want this relationship to progress and need to know what it is that you want, because... well, because I need to know that" she shrugged slightly and looked at him, wondering if he would understand.

If it was left to her, she'd have no relationship at all. But that was grief talking and she wasn't prepared to give in to that, so she was here and she was doing this and by all the gods, she was doing this.

Right now. Right here.

Keldon Elsdragon · November 19, 2007, 05:33 PM

Keldon nodded and listened, she did. He had no clue what so ever. But that was something he would discover as time passed by, for good or for worse as they always say.

Looking into her eyes for a moment of silence between them his lips curled into a large smile as his hand moved upto her neck grasping her. His thumb moving softly over her cheek towards her ear he looked at her and smiled. "I know little of marriages or what is to be expected of me, or how our people go through them. But something I know to be true, is when I took you to be by my side, I took you as yourself. Not in a expectation for you to act in a certain way, or to have you to cater to my every need in this relationship." he said with a brief pause looking into her eye's. In his own mind he was looking for something inside of her. Something he would never likely be able to truly find without her help. Help that will develop over time.

"The only thing I want out of this relationship is to be standing by your side when we face the uncertainties of the future. Whatever they are, wherever they come from. I want, whatever it is you can offer, and in return I offer you whatever I can, and everything I am." he finished, his tone sincere. Although in his mind he was wondering why the feth he didn't think of something like that for his vow.

Alicia Elsdragon · November 20, 2007, 03:09 PM

His hand on her neck surprised her, in truth. She did not expect physical contact from him, not at all, and she found it.. strange.. that he was so forward with her. But then, they were married now, and that was unsurprising. She had made a deal with him and it was only to be expected that she would play it fair.

Then his thumb moved gently, caressing her almost and softly stroking her cheek, moving back towards her ear. She did not respond to that, instead stood and watched him, her mist-grey eyes wide and with some deep emotion in them. She listened to him speak, however, and his words were kind, soft and with real feeling in them.

"I appreciate it, Keldon. I really do" she said, quietly "As for marriages, I don't know that I'm someone to tell you about what to expect or what is expected. I think each marriage is different, and so we should perhaps try and find our own way here without expectations. I appreciate what you say, and I think that perhaps what happens tomorrow is one of the uncertainties. I rather suppose what happens tonight is one of those uncertainties to".

She lifted one side of her mouth then, a half-smile at him as she looked at him "And those are nice words. You're quite a poet, quietly, arent you? I must admit to being surprised by that, though I shouldn't be." she sighed slightly and then almost moved away. But she didn't. She stood her ground, looking up at him and feeling herself start to tremble.

"Keldon... I.. I don't know what I *can* offer you, in truth" she said, looking at him and thinking that no matter what she would not cry. "I.. I have no feelings inside me for anyone, for anything, except the children. I am dead inside and I don't think that will ever change. I'm sorry. I guess that isn't what you want to hear, is it?"

She sighed and forced herself to look at him. "I don't know what to do next, where we go from here. I don't know much of anything at the moment, in truth. I really don't. I don't know if this will ever get better... ever"

She sighed, and looked at him, wondering if he had the answers, her mist-grey eyes looking at him earnestly. Maybe he would say the words that would make her feel better. Or make her feel. That would be a start.

Keldon Elsdragon · November 21, 2007, 04:52 AM

Keldon looked at her softly for a moment, his mind working franticly. It was odd, he had not problem walking into a meeting with the Regent of the Aelyrian Empire and asking the man to declare a city under the control and authority of the Imperial Army and have armed troops control a city of the empire's people. But when it came to the questions they were asking one another, sometimes he just ran blank for words for several seconds and had very little clue how to respond to them.

But, then again it also meant that she could keep him on his toes yet also be sweet in her own way at the same time. So in a way Keldon did feel for the women, and knew there maybe a chance in the future for something to develop. But that would be something only time would tell, perhaps anger and pain will fill the void where love and lust was. Perhaps not, perhaps so.

His voice was soft, almost as if he spoke from experience, or knowledge like an old scholar. albeit it was a very brief moment in Keldon's life it is something that was mustered up from Keldons very own soul, something he believed to be true, sparked from something someone once said. "I was once told when I was young, our souls are like candles. To be put out, and relit as the experiences of life pass us by." he said moving closer to her, now perhaps only a foot from her, his right hand resting on her neck, his thumb sitting gently on her cheek and the tips of his fingers gently mingled in her hair. "I agree, yet there is more to it. The flame of a candle will burn through it, and after time the candle is no more. Yet that is the way of life is it not? I have lost a love that I will never be with again." he said moving his thumb ever so briefly looking into her eyes.

"Life, our lives. Are like a pond, wide and unknowingly deep. Her candle is no more, it has burned to the bottom only a brief trace of wick remains. Wax is still present, and memories will always be there. The surface of the water is the current time of our life. Her candle is always there under the surface, always with me. Just like the experiences of the past, my time as thane good and bad, the friendships and pain of childhood. All of the flames at one time burned brightly, but are no more." he said, the look in his eyes that of passion and hope. But yet the tone in his voice changed from one of wealth and knowledge to more of a tone of a philosopher.

"Our candle..." he said moving his hand away from her and walking to the stand nearby that had a Candelabra on it, he pull one of the long wax candles from one of the holders and turned to face her. "Our candle is new, and burns brightly. We know not what will come to pass, only the gods do... but yet... when we think the flame is gone, and what we knew to be the past to be no more.." he said and blew outwards causing the flame to shake and flicker then disappear and smoke gently rise. "The candle stops burning and sits to wait for another brightening... but it does not mean it is out forever..." he said holding the candle over another burning flame, and the dark burned wick that had grey smoke in it suddenly erupted into a glowing flame once more.

After looking to Alicia briefly his eyes looked down to the candle and he broke out into a warm smile and laughed gently. "I think you are right Alicia... I am more of a poet then I thought... I am sorry... my mind just wanders and puts words to the way I look at life naturally. But I think you should be surprised, as I will be surprised by things that come to pass... after all. We do not know what will be revealed as each brightening passes... so what feels like death inside... is only the swelling of smoke and in time the flames may just be reignited..." he said looking to her with warm eyes, inside his mind he just started to wonder if he made himself sound like a sissy fool to his new wife. Although his own mind started to wonder about the words he spoke, some of them did make sense to even himself.