[closed] you cannot have me, I own myself

[eolasemah]

WHO: Sina, Nari, Beleth, Korrin, Araceli, Thranduil, others as specified in Notes
WHAT: The bonding ceremony of the Firsts of Clans Dahlasanor and Ashara (Siuona and Sorrellean, respectively)
WHEN: mid-Bloomingtide
WHERE: the Planasene Forest
NOTES: Usually only Dalish would be allowed, but amnesty is being granted to close, trusted friends of the bride, including outclan Ashara and Sabrae, should they choose to accept it. Upon the insistence of Clan Dahlasanor, unaffiliated city elves will also be welcomed as long as they aren't disruptive. (OOC note: if you're unsure and your dude wants to go, PM me)

The day starts out rainy and grey, never a promising sight for an outdoor ceremony. But the Dalish do most things outside, and everyone will likely be too busy partying to care about it after the bonding ritual itself, so the festivities are set to begin right on schedule.

A clearing has been chosen by Keeper Thalia of Clan Dahlasanor, and the words are to be spoken right at the edge of the forest, under the shelter of trees but still fully incorporating the flowers of the field. This is a place of some significance to Sina's clan, a symbol of their flight from the plains to the forest, and of their new, strengthening relationship to Clan Ashara.

The clearing and surrounding forest are otherwise littered with aravels and tents, a gathering of clans
one of which eagerly anticipates their joining. Keeper Thalia, an active participant in preparations,
has made it clear that she will be officiating the ceremony alongside Deheune; Dahlasanor is being welcomed, not absorbed.

Sina has been quietly nervous for the entirety of the journey from Kirkwall, but as is her tendency, she comports herself with poise and says little on the upcoming nuptials. She's not unhappy. It's her duty, she's proud to do it, and more than anything she's intensely excited to see her clan again.

And let's be real, the party afterward is going to be a rager.

Comments

[samahl]

Cyril looks over at Sorrel and for a moment he can't breathe. After that passes, though, he moves a little closer and offers his hand to give Sorrel something to hold onto while he can't run his hands through his hair.

"I'm well," he says. There is a lot of sadness in his heart being back among the people who raised him and grew up with him with the knowledge that he might never see them again. He doesn't let even an ounce of that show, though. His face is pleasant, welcoming, and pleased for the festivity.

"More importantly, how are you?"

[writteninblood]

"Nervous. Everyone's going to be watching. I'm mostly alright, but then some stupid thing will come into my head. What if I trip and fall into the fire?"

Well, Cyril? What if he does? Then he'll be on fire and the whole thing will be ruined and his mother will probably just kill him out of pure disgrace. Sorrel reaches out for Cyril's hand, grateful for the distraction. It's clear he's been stripped of his usual self-soothing methods, for the sake of appearances.

"Thanks. Beleth keeps having to fix me back up. I'm a mess."

[samahl]

"If you do that, Beleth will scoop you out before much damage is done and everyone attending will have a story to tell that will make your marriage on of history." He squeezed Sorrel's hand lightly. "Even more so than being the union between two clans."

[writteninblood]

"Oh good, well. Now I'm going to feel bad for just throwing up on someone."

Hopefully not the Keeper. Either of them. Or Beleth. Oh Creators, or Sina. Cyril's squeeze is well-timed, pulling Sorrel out of his panicked spiral. Right. Right.

Shit, what to say?

"I'm really glad you could come, Cyril. I don't have a lot of friends, and I know we haven't really spoken in so long, but-- but even if the Keeper's cold about it, you are missed, around here. Not just by me, either. It wouldn't be the whole clan without you here."

[samahl]

A small frown does reach Cyril's lips at the talk of him being missed. He doesn't want to dwell on that though, instead he wants to focus on Sorrel. He steps a little closer.

"Write to me," he says. "Tell me things about what it's like to be a married man. Keep me updated on your life." He offers Sorrel a small, reassuring smile and then grows serious again.

"I'm not sure I'll be able to return to the Clan again after this."

[writteninblood]

"I will," Sorrel promises, answering smile gone soft and a little silly. Although there was much unknown about the future, that part he was looking forward to, "Though Idon't know if it'll be so different, at first. The Keepers need me here, for at least a while, and I know Sina's still obligated to the Inquisition."

And then Cyril sobers, and Sorrel's smile falls away, concerned. Not able to return?

"Why? Is it-- that thing with the-- your people?" Boyfriend doesn't seem the right word, when there's two of them. Husbands? No, that's not right. Even Cyril wouldn't run off and get some kind of clandestine three-way marriage vows taken, not without telling someone. Telling Sorrel. Or Beleth? Sorrel feels suddenly that the distance between them isn't just time or distance anymore, but something darker, and harder to cross.

"What's going on, Cyril? I know--" Here a subtle glance. No, they're alone, "The Keeper's a pain, but she won't be Keeper forever, and she's not the only one in charge, anymore."

[samahl]

Cyril makes a soft, amused sound at calling Taas and Sam 'his people.' He isn't sure he can fully explain all of the issues that being here has raised in him, so he just sort of shakes his head a bit.

He sighs softly. "When you are Keeper, then, maybe I'll come back." He promises. "But you need to focus on the present. Your marriage." Then, after a moment. "Is this what you want, isn't it?" he asks, watching Sorrel carefully.

[writteninblood]

"What do you mean? Of course it is," Sorrel doesn't quite understand, shaking his head with a bemused smile and reaching to pat Cyril's shoulder, "Cyril, you..."

He knows Cyril, and this isn't something he wants to talk about. Sorrel could try, could prod him, but it would take time, and effort, and there's only so many hours until the sun sets and the ceremony...

"C'mon, stop... talking like you'll never see me again."

[samahl]

Cyril raised his brow a bit. "All right, I won't," he promised. "But I mean it when I say I'm here to support you. If that's cheering for your wedding, I'll do that. If it isn't... For example, if it's throwing you over my shoulder and running away until you're very far away from here. I'll do that too."

His tone might be light, and the idea of the much shorter Cyril throwing Sorrel's lanky body over his shoulder might be hilarious, but there was sincerity in his eyes.

Sorrel would only have to say the word and they would be gone.

[writteninblood]

"Ha."

He thinks Cyril is joking. Of course he's joking, right? That's ridiculous, even if he wanted to, Sorrel can't run now. If for no better reason than the number of terrifying relatives that'll hunt him down and cut off his everything in retaliation for ruining Sina's big day.

"It's okay, really. I know it's the next thing to an arranged pairing, and Sina and I don't know each other very well yet, but-- but she's kind, and generous, and she likes gardening, like me. I don't know how we'll get along, especially with her in Kirkwall with the inquisition and me working with the clans, but there's time yet."

No one has told him yet, about Sina's illness, her steadily worsening condition. Or, maybe, Sorrel is simply optimistic.

"Believe it or not, I'm actually looking forward to this. Having someone else on my side. And the rest all the-- you know. Children? Fatherhood? I want that," This last part almost whispered, a secret sincerity, shared in confidence. Sorrel loved, most of all, to see small things grow fruitful and strong, to care for people. Despite his reasons, that one hope at least, came only from Sorrel himself.

"It's all for the People. I know you don't exactly... agree," Beleth told him about Cyril's broken betrothal, "But this is important to me."

[samahl]

"It doesn't matter what I chose for myself," Cyril replies. He admits hearing Sorrel talk about Sina is reassuring because they both are very good people who will be able to look out for one another, so at least there is that.

"This day, this moment, it is about you and what choice you are making for your life. What is important to you, is important to me."

[writteninblood]

This time, Sorrel's ha is all breath, less like a laugh, and more like the breath has been pushed out of him all in a rush. It's on this exhalation, the reverse of a gasp that he gives in to impulse, throwing both arms around Cyril and simply hugging him with all the strength in his heart.

What is important to you, is important to me.

It feels so good not to hold back, for once. So much of Sorrel's life is about seeing that which you most want to do, dangled before your eyes, and knowing better than to hope for it, let alone reach. It began so long ago that when his magic attracted the darker eyes of the Fade, denying them had been no challenge-- but this is so different from that. Cyril is real and warm and alive in Sorrel's arms, and for all the distance they'd had, over the years, and recently, he came. Even if everyone else left forever and never thought to miss him, Cyril still cares. For a long, tight minute Sorrel simply revels in that, in being permitted to be important, in the simple, comforting contact of it, clean forest smells, and city smoke, and sweat in his nose...

And then he lets go wiping at his eyes.

"Thank you. That might be the nicest thing anybody's said to me all day."

[samahl]

Cyril returns the hug and then rubs Sorrel's back lightly as they just take the moment to hold onto each other. He wonders, briefly, what life had been like if he had allowed himself to be this physically close to Sorrel when they were young - if he had, just once, seen past his obsession with Merrick and looked past the fear of hurting someone precious and dear.

When Sorrel pulls away, Cyril tilts his head a bit to watch him.

"It's your wedding. People should be saying all sorts of nice things to you. Well wishes for the future, good tidings, etcetera, etcetera.

[writteninblood]

"Oh, they are, but they mean for the clans, or for the day, or just the two of us. It's just you and me here."

As if Cyril could forget, with Sorrel smiling at him with such open happiness, eyes still shining.

"You know?"

[samahl]

"I do know," Cyril offered, grinning a bit. "That's why I offered to carry you away. I wouldn't do that where your mother could overhear."

[writteninblood]

"Well, I'm very sorry to break your heart, but I can't get kidnapped today," Sorrel teased, pulling away finally, so that he could give the joke the appropriately exaggerated shrug it needed, "After all, I'm getting married."

[samahl]

"I know, and Sina is a lovely woman," Cyril pointed out. "She helped make a garden in Skyhold, you know. To honor anyone we lost."