[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

[arlathvhen]

As soon as Araceli greets her, Beleth turns away from her current task (worriedly directing people on hanging garlands in the trees), and greets her with a warm smile. It's nice, to be able to show Araceli a glimpse of Beleth's world, the life that shaped her into the bard that she is. The place that she feels the most stable. Even if she's currently running around a bit like a chicken with it's head lopped off.

"Ah, you're a guest of the clans, Araceli, you're under no obligation to help. But if you would like to, uh..." She pauses for a moment, scanning the area around them. Best, she thinks, to stick Araceli with the Ashara clan, who has had dealings with humans before, and whom Beleth has some small measure of influence over. Luckily, when there's around a hundred of them, and only two dozen of the other clan, it's not too hard a task. "You could always help with the decorating? I bet that you'd be excellent at it." Araceli, after all, always managed to look so pretty, surely it couldn't be that hard for her to make places look pretty as well.

"You needn't worry too much about customs here," Beleth assures her, with a wave of her hand. "The only thing that you would be unable to get involved in would be the ceremony proper, but that applies to pretty much everyone but the couple and the Keepers. Just be courteous during the ceremony--nothing that is unusual for any ceremony, really."

She stops for a moment, thinking. "And don't worry too much about the party afterwards, just. Ah. Maybe avoid any dark corners--Not for safety!" She quickly puts her hands up, not wanting Araceli to think there's a possibility of her getting jumped. "Sometimes people get carried away with the revelries and lose their...discretion. Couples, particularly." This is explained with a look of distaste. Beleth would, personally, contemplate death before having anyone stumble upon herself in any...compromising situations. "Other than that, just have fun. It's a bonding, after all."

[foxsays]

Good as her masks might be - nobles are worse than sharks when they scent blood in the water, sharks have better manners - Araceli can't hide that she's nervous and more than a little uncomfortable.

"The clans are under no obligation to have me here," she points out gently because Kirkwall has rubbed at these days until she's left raw. It's been good for her in some ways but it doesn't stop it from being exhausting to always have to watch and worry and wait for the next thing to come along and put paid to all the hard work. Having time to stop and think too much isn't good for her. She'd rather keep busy. "I can do that, gracias."

Smiling, she manages a soft laugh before looking around at everything. "We aren't a people given to many ceremonies, naming a new ship and sending her off is one of the most important things in our lives." It's half a lie. It is one of the biggest but she can't go telling Beleth about all the royal ceremonies though her ability to tell a lie isn't just as convincing as usual. Or maybe it's nerves. Being surrounded by people who probably would rather you weren't here does that to a person. "That bit? That sounds like our parties or what we have instead of weddings or bondings. Not many people get married. Or...well, not like Sina and your brother will, maybe what my mother and father did is sort of like a marriage but briefer and it's-- not relevant, forgive me." Her mouth is running away with her and she's just counting herself lucky it was all in common instead of slipping into Castilean.

[arlathvhen]

"Araceli--" The idea of comforting the other girl strikes Beleth as odd, not because she minds, but because Araceli, though younger than her, seems to never quite need it (at least where Beleth could see). But things are different here, and Beleth has the advantage of being surrounded by the people and family who made up what the Dalish called home.

She was home, and Araceli was in a different world (again).

Gently, she rests her hand on Araceli's arm, her smile as comforting and kind as she can make it. "--You needn't worry so much, I promise. I know that we aren't quite like the Inquisition, and that not all Dalish are...as well-meaning as we are. But I assure you, no one is going to try to kick you out because you don't bless a sneeze, or talk at length about your home. I bet there are quite a few Dalish who would love to hear stories from your home. Particularly the hahren--our elders. The only rifter any of them have met is Thranduil." Who is...different, obviously. Both in the tales he tells, and the regard the Dalish have for him.

"We're just a family celebrating a bonding between two people." She's torn between assuring Araceli that they're not so different from humans, and the innate Dalishness in her that primly informs her yes, we are. After a moment of weighing the choices, she tacks on, "Our ways might be different, but the thought is the same. And you are here as a guest. We may not have a lot of guests, but..." Shrug. "...We are not without the knowledge of courtesy." Is any of that assuring? She's not really sure, but at least she can say that she tried.

[foxsays]

Araceli doesn't ask for many things, not unless she can offer something in return of equivalent value or greater, would rather be in the position of having offered something first. She knows. She's handled things. Has always handled things at home with the assurance of a safety net available and in Thedas where one of the very first accusations levelled against them was that they were demons? Why would she ask, why would she provide ammunition? Stow your blessings in your holster and never give a person something to use against you, bard training only taught her that better.

But she's not quite twenty-two, long and far away from a home she loved that loved her in return, fighting a war that isn't hers that she never asked for.

"Not all the Inquisition are the Inquisition," Araceli says in an undertone intended for the two of them, grateful for the hand, her own set atop it to squeeze gently. A remark that makes less sense to people outside than those who actually know what it's like: it's not really one big thing, it's a lot of people with a lot of agendas and a lot of opinions conflicting and contrasting all trying. "I met a clan in Rivain though they were different, by their own admission, more used to trade and contact with outsiders and having different dealings with next to everyone by necessity. The less I talk about home, perhaps the better, we're a bit loose by the standards of almost all our neighbours. Leading their folk away with wine, women - and men - and song."

She introduced Sina to wine alongside Korrin, and she's a bard, she certainly fits the bill if that bit ever gets about. Might be a funny story somewhere down the line but not today.

"Only nobles do that whole thing. Last time I was at anything close there was a young man who took exception to me and his intended, we had a duel. I promise that I won't duel your brother." She pauses and manages a laugh. "Unless Sina asks, it's hard to say no to Sina but we are all very fortunate in her not being the violent type so everyone is quite safe."