Ascending Legends

[BookWyrm]

"I haven't had clothes that I wouldn't wear adventuring for a while now love." Now that he thought of it, Dayn only had one really nice outfit, maybe two. He grabbed the clothes and gave Arryn a kiss on the cheek before walking off towards the bathroom. Maybe we need to have some nicer clothes made sometime. The water felt good and warm, and before too long Dayn was out, dry, and dressed and back into the bedroom. "Alright. I'm set, unless you want to linger a little while." Dayn held out his hands to his wife. "Maybe I could trouble you for a quick dance before we left?"

 

[Dragongal]

Arryn smiled and took his hand. "I would love that, dearest."

 

[BookWyrm]

Dayn led Arryn out into the main room before taking her hand, his other moving to her hip before he pulled her close as they started into a slow dance. Dayn gently nuzzled against Arryn's neck as they swayed back and forth. It was just a simple dance, something they had done many times before, but that is what made it special. It was the first slow dance they ever had together back at the pauper's ball in Low Rock.

 

[Dragongal]

Arryn leaned her head against his chest, enjoying the moment in silence. She loved it when Dayn did these simple but romantic things. She closed her eyes, focusing on his warmth and breathing.

 

[BookWyrm]

Dayn found himself getting slightly emotional. A few happy tears slid down his cheeks as he thought back on that day. "You remember the first time we danced together?"

 

[Dragongal]

"Mhm. And you didn't know how to dance right, acting all stiff and formal dancing, but once you relaxed, you were amazing. Still are, love."

 

[BookWyrm]

Dayn laughed as he recalled that first dance. "I was awful stiff wasn't I." Dayn laid his head against Arryn's neck as the dance slowly came to it's end. He pulled her close against him and held her tightly. "Mm. Thank you for the dance love."

 

[Dragongal]

"Any time, beloved." Arryn lightly kissed his cheek and reached up, wiping of his tears lovingly. "Shall we get going?"

 

[BookWyrm]

Dayn smiled and leaned into Arryn's hand before taking it in his own and kissing her palm and wrist. "Sure. I think I'm ready to ride a mountain. All we need now is to see about the others."

 

[Dragongal]

Arryn nodded, then went back into their room and strapped on her greaves. "Just a personal preference of mine." She pulled on her coat, then held his coat out for him.

 

[BookWyrm]

Dayn took his coat, though he gave some thought to grabbing his greaves. Then came the thoughts of, do I, don't I, will I regret this later if I don't, will Matthias and Theodas be wearing them as well? "Is there something you're not telling me?", he asked as he slid into his coat.

 

[Dragongal]

Arryn looked at him with a confused expression. "No. I just don't like the feeling of the rocks scraping the shield. The extra layer kind of prevents me from feeling it."

 

[BookWyrm]

"Okay.", Dayn sighed with some relief. "I was starting to worry there for a second."

 

[Dragongal]

Arryn chuckled and took his hand, leading him outside and to Matthias's house. Kalie let them in, having heard their knock, and Matthias looked up from a map he was studying at the table. "Oh, hi. What can I do for you two?" "Well, do you want to go mountain riding...? And do you have an extra shield?" Matthias looked surprised by the question and paused to think. "I have a spare, yeah. I have yours in the back room too. Are you both... feeling up to this?"

 

[BookWyrm]

Dayn shrugged. "We've been out a bit the past couple of days, and well, I have been getting a little stir crazy." Dayn of course wasn't going to talk about all of the wonderful time he had been able to spend with his wife...wait. "Um, Arryn.", he leaned in to whisper, "We haven't told anyone yet. Do you want to break the news?"

 

[Dragongal]

Arryn looked up at him, then shrugged, whispering in reply, "I don't know if they'd understand the Southern custom...." Matthias looked at them questioningly, but with a smile on his face. "Rude to keep secrets, you know." Arryn looked to Dayn, then smiled shyly and admitted, "Dayn was just reminding me... I didn't tell you that, um, we're married, according to a Southern custom - " Arryn was cut off by Kalie pulling her into a hug. "Congratulations!" Matthias just looked dumbstruck. After a few moments he smiled, even laughed a bit. "Yeah, congrats to you both. I didn't expect this news." "Arryn, we should have held some form of celebration!" "No, no, um, that's just fine. However... don't tell Mum... I think she'd have a heart attack if Dayn and I were suddenly married... for her sake we may have to have a proper ceremony."

 

[BookWyrm]

Dayn laughed before looking at Arryn. "Did you really just say Mum?" Dayn pulled Arryn against him and kissed her forehead. "My speech is rubbing off on you love." He had another good laugh before taking her hand and squeezing it tightly. "We're still talking about doing a nice ceremony, for the sake of appearances really. Arryn told me about Northern tradition, and officially with Noble tradition we need a ceremony and at least one witness of reputation. Arryn is, after all, now...well....a Lady."

 

[Dragongal]

Arryn blushed a bit, which made both Kalie and Matthias smile wider. "Congratulations to you both." "I never though you'd be a lady. Norim will kill you two if he can't throw you some form of party." "That... is for later, then." Matthias's smile faded as he thought, then said, "Wait, you need either a priest, priestess, or a noble who's lived on the land for more than ten years to conduct the ceremony. Inder hates you. We don't have anyone else, really. I mean, you could call Libro or Thaum priests almost, but not really." "Well... actually... I know someone. Who meets the nobility requirements. My mother." "What?" "Well... she married into the Griffin line, making her a minor Lady in a way...." Both Matthias and Kalie were dumbstruck. "But... But your Da...." "Was of the Griffin line, yes... it's a very long story...."

 

[BookWyrm]

Dayn shook his head slightly, running a hand through his hair as he gave a coy smile. "We truly are quite the pair. A knight and a descendant of the Griffin line, and to top both of those we both are wolves." Dayn still felt a slight hint of guilt about that last bit, mostly because he was around Matthias and Kalie. He still felt like the two of them were bothered in some way by his lycanthropy, and possibly because of him having to turn Arryn. When he felt the lump in his chest he sighed, knowing he had to get this off his chest.


"Look, Matthias, Kalie, I'm...." He looked off for a few moments as he gently rubbed the back of Arryn's hand with his thumb. "I know this has probably been difficult for both of you. Arryn comes back to Rorich with a noble fiance who is also a wolf, and then with everything we have both been through since we got here..."

 

[Dragongal]

Matthias chuckled a bit. "It's been interesting, I admit." Kalie shrugged, going back over to Matthias's side. "I am glad you two are married. I was a tad suspicious of him initially. Admittedly, Arryn, you were in a bad state before, and suddenly have a noble courting you?" "Similar line of thought, honestly. Though, your improvement definitely threw me for a loop." "To some extent, the events after you arrived didn't surprise me. I anticipated some issues. The lycanthropy was odd, as was the archer picking Arryn off, but, truly, I think we're used to odd things being thrown our way and just having to deal."

 

[BookWyrm]

Dayn was still slightly off, but his spirits had lifted some. I still don't feel like that is complete acceptance, but it'll do for now I guess. "Admittedly part of the reason for coming out today was to get to know you two better." Dayn smiled slightly as he looked at both of them. "I figured, well, we're married now, and we haven't really had the best of times to get to know each other. Well, if you think about it, we haven't had any time between all that has happened. And, I feel slightly responsible for dragging both of you into everything." Dayn realized he was rambling slightly. "I thought that maybe it would be nice to have some fun, and then, maybe you two, and Theodas if we find him, would like to join us for dinner? It would be my treat." He looked over at Arryn, feeling slightly bad for not discussing this before hand. "That is, as long as my lovely bride doesn't mind having company tonight, of course."

 

[Dragongal]

Arryn smiled. "It's fine. But where is Theodas?" "Oh, he's, well... he's building a small cabin near Libro's, a halfway between the village and there. He seemed quite happy with the decision... he's apparently going to be some kind of apprentice/messenger for Libro." "Well, he's quite busy. If we see him, we'll invite him. However, I, personally, am up for some mountain riding. Love?" Kalie smiled and nodded. "I'll get the shields, then." Matthias disappeared into another room. Kalie smiled and said, "I really am happy for you both. And I'm sure he is too. He's just had a lot on his mind lately."

 

[BookWyrm]

Dayn smiled at Kalie. "Thank you. Hopefully I'm not the subject of such dedicated thought." Dayn sighed heavily. "But, what's done is done. I'm just thankful I have Arryn here." He pulled Arryn over and wrapped his arms around her possessively.

 

[Dragongal]

Kalie shook her head. "Don't worry, you're not." Matthias came back with four shields, handing one to each of them. Arryn's had an A etched into the back, so it was easy to tell that it was hers. Dayn's was unmarked. "So, Atria, what trail do you think Dayn could handle on his first go?" "Grey trail would do. And, also, my name's Arryn." Matthias looked up from pulling on his coat, surprised, then he grinned and laughed. "Two fucking years, about time she's back!" "Absolutely!"

 

[BookWyrm]

"Watch your mouth around my wife Matthias." Dayn eyed the man as he slung the shield over his shoulder, a smile slowly forming across his face. "She is a Lady, you know."