Marital Preparations

[Moonitic]

Meekal stood there, without the aid of anyone to hold him forcefully. He was not as opposed to this silly custom as his bride, & played along just so they could hurry up & leave. Besides, of all the traditions he'd heard about at weddings, this seemed the least intrusive.

Girl after girl came up. None of which were Moon. Though they had seldom kissed, he knew her above all others. There was no mistaking her, & therefore he felt confident that when the time came, he would know his love & claim her rightly.

Or would he?

(And Zelda is a party pooper. A very big one.)

[Crin Dalmeiier]

OT - By the way, there are only four gypsies at the party. Most of the others are still at the Bitter End, enjoying the Bachelor party.

IC:
"Eeeyuck," Crin decided, wiping her mouth emphatically with a sleeve. "And to think I thought I wouldn't be kissing anybody today. Two men, one day. I'm afraid that I'm all kissed out." She grumbled and wiped her mouth again, her eyes narrowing when Talmour and Falcour snickered at her. "I don't suppose either of you has a breath candy, then?"

"No, but I have another idea," Falcour said, pulling her close.

Talmour was quick to chime, "Don't kiss her! She's got Meekal breath!" This of course earned him a kick in the shins from Ame, who had just come over and was looking fairly green herself. "What's up with you?"

"It appears as though I've broken my new year's resolution," Ame informed them, wrinkling her nose.

"And that is?" Crin asked, not really caring about how openly affectionate she was being in leaning against Falcour. It had been a long and trying day.

"Not to kiss any men that I'm not dating." Ame sighed. "I was doing so well, too..."

"Ame, you broke that when you kissed Triphos twenty seconds after the new year had been declared!" Falcour exclaimed, eyes wide. He burst out laughing at the look on Ame's face, which was somewhere between sheepish and murderous. "Anyway, how was it?" He nudged Crin, but she merely scowled.

"Eh. It was all right." Ame shrugged.

"Not many people can say they've kissed kings," Talmour pointed out, grinning impishly.

"Can't say it was on my list of things to do before I die, but in truth it really wasn't that bad," Crin spoke up suddenly, barely hiding her grin when the other three looked incredulously at her. "In fact, it was kind of nice. What's the matter, 'Cour? Jealous?"

"No," Falcour said simply.

Ame and Talmour, meanwhile, grinned at the new couple. "So..." Ame began, looking at her friend. "How long is it before we inform him just how far up the river he is without a canoe?"

"He's definitely smitten. Let's just enjoy it for awhile and use every available opportunity to pick on him." Talmour's smirk spoke volumes on the enjoyment he was getting out of watching his best friend and his brother. "But for now, how about a drink? Nothing like ale after kissing strange people, eh?"

"Only you could put it that way."

[Moonitic]

Ken-Dall watched her sister in amusement, until after the odd kiss. She could sense the build up of anger & glanced at Darion before she made her getaway. Moon would soon blow, & Ken-Dall did not want to be anywhere near her when it happened. So, she hurried off to play her part in the night's game.

Moon, indeed, was ready to burst. This game had gone on far enough. Before she could reach up & snatch away the blindfold, her arms were caught again. "Oh, this is ridiculous! Can we please just be done with this already?" She turned her head left & right, knowing the one person who hated this as much as she did was still nearby. "Nækos, please. Talk some sense into these people. Enough's enough." Certainly, of all people, he would understand.

"But the game hasn't ended," Rosaline protested. "And the doors won't open until you've found your groom."

Moon drew a deep, ragged sigh.

[Swordsman]

"You can let me down now," the Swordsman snarled at his captors. Senyik and Darion backed away, grinning, as Tæbryn scooted out from underneath.

The half-joking tone of indignation was gone from his voice as he addressed Moon's captors; in its place was a deadly calm. "She's had enough. Let her go."

"But, tradition..."

"Traditions are not meant to humiliate people, and that is what this is doing. Now let them go, and end this." A well-aimed glare convinced them to finally let go of her arms and undo the blindfold.

"You're no fun."

"Try me on a bad day sometime."

[Moonitic]

Moon, finally free, shook her head & adjusted her tiara, again mussing her hair. At this point she did not care. The game was over & she could go. "Uh," she said to Nækos in the uncomfortable silence, in an uncomfortable voice, "thank you." For a brief moment she looked over at him, but her gaze strayed to his lips. Then, she mentally kicked herself, & looked him in the eye again. "My hero once more," she stated.

[Swordsman]

He nodded briefly. "I'll let you go rescue your husband. Make sure nobody else leaves when you do." Turning to Rosaline: "Doors stay shut."

She furrowed her eyebrows at him, but said, "Okay," anyway.

[Moonitic]

Moon could not help a grin. She nodded, & walked across the floor to Meekal, keeping silent as she did. He stood there, waiting for the next person in line. Obviously, he did not hear the commotion on the other end of the room, with all the people milling about, laughing & enjoying themselves, & still considered the game to be on. Ken-Dall herself had just taken her turn, & smiled at her approaching sister. Moon winked, & Ken-Dall stifled a laugh, moving out of the way to give her plenty of room.

The kiss began softly, but soon, as Moon wrapped her arms around Meekal's neck, it deepened & lasted several seconds. The guests held their breaths, watching & waiting. Would the groom know his bride?

At last, Moon stepped away. And Ken-Dall came up behind Meekal to whisper, "Who is that?"

With a smile to light up the night, Meekal proudly announced, "My wife!"

A great eruption of cheers spilled forth as tankards were lifted in the air. Moon removed Meekal's blindfold, tossed it to the floor & said, "Let's go." He nodded, & together they exited the hall.

Once in the corridor, Moon snickered at the sound of the lock being returned to its place. "What was that for?" Meekal wondered.

"Oh, nothing."

As much as she hated to admit it in the past, it was always good to have the Swordsman on her side.

[Zelda]

I am NOT a party pooper. It would not be appropriate for the Queen to kiss the King of a neighbouring nation in jest!!!!