GSIII Weddings: Ylena and Fisdan

Ylena and Fisdan

As wedding bells rang out across Elanthia, scores of family members and friends gathered in the Liabo Temple to celebrate the marriage of Lady Ylena, one of Elanthia's best-loved Ladies and most renowned bards, to Lord Fisdan, who is quite well-loved, in spite of his best efforts to the contrary. The lovely white-columned Altar Room of the Temple was filled to overflowing with Elanthia's most famous adventurers.

Lady Piriotessa, dressed in black and adorned with the sickle armband and earring of her order, greeted the guests in preparation of performing the ceremony. She was soon joined by Lady Azure, resplendent in a crimson silk gown embroidered with musical notes and lilies, who performed the music for the ceremony. She had been scheduled to be accompanied by Lord Amadeus, but he was too ill to attend and had to send his regrets.

As the bridal party arrived, Azure accompanied them down the aisle on her mandolin. The first to arrive were the bridesmaids, Lady Aravenne and Lady Khait, both resplendent in ruby-dusted silvery silk gowns and carrying delicately chiming bells which rang softly in the night air. Lords Kranfer and Frozenstar, both dashing in black and white, served as groomsmen. Lady Charynna, adopted daughter of the bride, and Lord Dissipate served as honour attendants.

Lord Fisdan was dressed for the occasion of his marriage in his own unique style, combining resplendent finery with run-down chic. He accessorized his handsome black silk tunic with slashed silver sleeves, fashionable black silk trousers with red trim at the seams and waist and stunning mithril crown with chiseled vultite prongs topped with dragonsfire ruby globes with scuffed boots and ragged leather work gloves. When the bride arrived, the wedding was momentarily delayed while she made him remove his gloves.

Lady Ylena is the epitome of chic in Elanthia, and so it is of little surprise that her wedding outfit was stunningly fashionable and flattering. Her elegant white muslin houpelande tightly backlaced with ruby-dusted silvery ribbons and embroidered at the hem with intertwined lutes in red and harps in
silver was worn over a sheer white cotton kirtle trimmed with silvery lace at the hem and sleeves. Her accessories were carefully chosen for maximum punch while still maintaining the elegant line. Simple silver combs adorned her hair, and a simple silver band and ruby and dreamstone earrings were her only jewelry. A white satin instrument pouch embroidered with Cholen symbols in red and silver picked up the pattern of instruments embroidered onto her houpelande, and she wore a lovely pair of high heeled white satin slippers with an elaborate silver filigree overlay, one of many in her outstanding collection, quite possibly the most shoes owned by one person in the Lands.

Allowing the crowd the time to settle down after Ylena's arrival, Piriotessa called the bridal party to the altar to present the four elements in offering to the gods. Aravenne presented Air, placing a whirling tube of amber smoke on the altar, and Kranfer brought forward Fire in the form of a candle. Khait placed a goblet of spring water on the altar in honour of the element Water, and Frozenstar called forth Earth with a smooth stone. With the altar consecrated, Piriotessa cleansed the altar and prepared the space for the rite ahead. Lady Azure then presented a lovely musical selection written especially for the occasion, which was enjoyed by all (except perhaps the best man, Dissipate, who made a show of covering his ears whenever Azure sang).

After the musical selection, Lady Piriotessa turned to the cleansing of the bride and groom. Each had minor wounds on their chest, representing the hurts and pains they had received in their past loves. As Piriotessa turned to plead with the Gods, They showed their approval of the marriage by striking both members of the couple dead, allowing them to be resurrected with a "clean slate", thus beginning their marriage pure and without the baggage of past loves. Piriotessa declared them cleansed of all past sins, and resurrected them.

The rings were presented next, and after a few tense moments where it appeared that Dissipate had lost the bride's ring, Fisdan presented his bride with a delicate silver band with two white dreamstones inlaid on both sides of a single flawless soulstone. He accompanied the presentation by telling his bride how much he loved her and how she had made his life complete, followed by threatening to hunt down and kill anyone in the crowd who repeated that. Noone seemed too worried, and many guests were seen to be writing down Fisdan's words verbatim.

Ylena, for her part, had written a lovely song to accompany her presentation of Fisdan's ring. As she sang of true love and her feelings for Fisdan, she slipped a heavy silver band with two black dreamstones inlaid on both sides of a single flawless soulstone onto his finger. Many of the guests were misty-eyed as Lady Piriotessa blessed the rings.

Piriotessa then stepped aside for Azure, who quietly strummed her mandolin as she stepped forward. The couple clasped hands as Azure began the most unique part of the ceremony. Each of the honour attendants presented her with a different colored ribbon, which she draped over the couple's hands as she sang. Charynna's gold-edged white velvet ribbon represented life, while Dissipate's silver-trimmed ebony ribbon represented strife. Azure's own crimson ribbon was placed over the first two, representing the bonds of love overcoming all. As the strains of Azure's mandolins filled the temple, Piriotessa reverently bound the ribbons around Ylena's and Fisdan's hands.

Afterwards, all the guests were encouraged to come forward and tie a ribbon around the couple's hands. Many friends stepped forward, gently adding their own ribbons to those already present, and soon the couple were bound not only by their own love, but by the good wishes of their friends. Rice and flower petals rained down upon them as Piriotessa declared them one soul and a single trumpet could be heard majestically ringing through the night.

The Grand Ballroom of the Liabo Temple was filled with orchestral music and gaiety as guests joined the bridal couple to toast their marriage. Guests feasted on the traditional wedding cake and champagne, as well as such delicacies as honey-glazed vegetable kebobs and caramel-dipped apples.

Note: I have borrowed copies of the weddings from the Silvergate Inn and other places to preserve memories incase of lost or stolen pages. If you do not wish for me to have these on my shelves, I will remove them and store them away in my vault.

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