Dragons of Aster Cliffs (Chapter 10)
Jan. 25th, 2013 02:45 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
sidhe_faerie
CHAPTER 10
Lord Aster had a house built at the bottom of the cliffs and soon other draconian came to build there as well and a village started to grow. The new village was given the name Astoria by King Harrod. There was a dedication ceremony, of course, at which King Harrod welcomed the draconian people. His speech was much longer than it was at the dragon sanctuary dedication. It seemed to go on forever.
The three months passed slowly as Lord Aster and Lady Benna waited to be married. The weather on the day of the wedding cooperated. The sky was blue and the day was warm. It was a perfect day for a wedding.
As they had planned Lord Aster and Lady Benna’s wedding was held on the cliffs of the dragon sanctuary. The dragons were what brought them together so they thought it only fitting that the dragons be there when they married.
An iron scrollwork arch had been placed near the edge of the cliff. It looked out to the sea that Lord Aster had traveled from to bring the dragons to Ogham-Duir. It was on the very spot where Lord Aster proposed to Lady Benna. It had been surrounded by flowers for the wedding.
For the wedding party, banquet tables and smaller tables with chairs were set out on the higher part of the cliffs overlooking the sea. There were white cloths and silver bowls of fruit on all the smaller tables. There was also a low table full of fruit and vegetables for the dragons. There were baskets of flowers everywhere. It was all quite lovely.
The guests stood as they gathered around to witness the wedding. They were all faced out to sea. Among the guests of Lord Aster and Lady Benna were friends and family
The dragons were honored guests. They sat in a semicircle in front. They were extremely well behaved and paying attention to what was going on. The female dragons wore pink ribbon bows for the special occasion.
Lady Vena was there by request of the bride. She had come from Atlantis to preside over the ceremony. She was there as a favor to Lord Retalon because she believed that a magical creature had no business marrying a mundane. Lord Retalon reminded her that it was the least she could do after forcing Lady Benna from the Sisters of Avalon.
Some of the Sisters of Atlantis were in attendance as well. They had come with Lady Vena. They had been friends with Lady Benna when she was part of the order. Their blue robes flapped in the light winds.
The bride wore a flowing white gown and brightly colored flowers in her hair. The groom wore a rich robe of royal blue silk as was the custom for a groom on Atlantis. Lord Retalon had given it to him as a gift to honor lady Benna.
Lady Estelle and Lady Tsing Na were the bride’s attendants. They wore pink dresses and each had a white flower in their hair.
Lord Drake had agreed to be witness and serve as the groomsman. He was the only person that Lord Aster knew well on Ogham-Duir.
Lord Retalon walked Lady Benna up a trail of flower petals that the dragons had helped to spread earlier that morning which was a treat for Nort and Brida.
Lady Vena started. “Who gives this bride?”
“I do.” Lord Retalon said. He went back to stand with his wife, Lady Anna.
“Join hands please. Do you, Lord Ulster Aster, promise to keep this woman well and love her much?” Lady Vena asked the groom.
“I do.” Lord Aster smiled at his bride.
“Do you, Lady Benna Draconis, promise to keep this man well and love him much?” Lady Vena asked the bride.
“I do.” Lady Benna said as she smiled at her groom.
Lady Vena took a blue silk cord and tied their hands together and put her hands over theirs. “I bind you together in love. Be strong and true.” Lady vena smiled at them and took her hands away. “You may kiss to seal your promise.”
Lord aster and Lady Benna kissed and the guests started to applaud. They stood there just gazing into each other’s eyes. They really didn’t even hear the guests or see anyone but each other.
Myrdren looked around at everyone and decided he would show his appreciation as well. He let out a howl that gave the newly married couple a start. The other dragons didn’t want to be left out so they started to howl as well.
Lord Aster and Lady Benna started laughing and bent down and started to pet the dragons trying to calm them down. None of them quieted despite their attempt.
“I don’t think they want to be still.” Lord Aster said laughing.
“They aren’t upset. They are happy for us.” Lady Benna laughed as they continued to howl. She said something in dragon tongue and they quieted down.
“What did you say?” Lord Aster asked his bride.
“I told them if they were quiet, I would let them have cake.” Lady Benna laughed.
“Cake?” Lord Aster was surprised. He didn’t even think they liked sweets.
“Yes. They should have something for bringing us together.” Lady Benna said. “I don’t even know if they will eat it but there is plenty.”
Lord Aster nodded. “Then they shall have cake. Come let’s have a seat.” Lord Aster led her over to a table in the center of the space. He guided her into a chair and sat beside her.
Trays of glasses of wine and ale were being passed as the guests settled in the chairs around the smaller tables that circled the banquet table.
Lady Benna looked up just in time to catch a little head with a broken horn snatch an apple slice off their table. She laughed. “Myrdren! I saw you.”
Lord Aster looked over and saw Myrdren lift his head with apple slice in his mouth. He laughed at the dragon’s guilty look. He was surprised when a second head popped up. “Myra! I should have known you would be there too.” Lord Aster handed her an apple slice and both of the dragons went off to eat their treasure.
The meal was over soon and the cake was cut. All the guests were given a piece and then the dragons. All of the dragons seemed to like it. They wore more of it than they ate as they got icing and crumbs all over themselves.
“I will have to clean them up before the go to sleep.” Lady Estella said to Lady Benna as they watched the dragons eating. “That is if I can get them to sleep after all the excitement.”
“They will be exhausted I’m sure. I had no trouble getting them to sleep after the dedication ceremony.” Lady Benna said.
“Well they didn’t have cake at the dedication ceremony.” Lady Estella said.
“They can barely keep their eyes open. Look at Nort and Brida. They are almost asleep now. I think Myrdren is asleep.” Lady Benna laughed as Myrdren startled awake just as his head was about to fall in his plate of cake.
“I had better get them inside right now then. Good night Lady Aster.” Lady Estella laughed and smiled at her.
“I like the sound of that.” Lord Aster said as he came up behind his new wife. “Are you ready to go to our new home.”
“I hate to leave them.” Lady Benna looked at them wistfully.
“We are right at the bottom of the cliffs. We can be here in a few minutes if there is trouble.” Lord Aster reminded her. “Are you ready?”
“Yes.” Lady Benna looked back at the dragons that were now following Lady Estella before following her new husband.
Lord Aster sighed and took her hand leading her to the carriage. He and Lady Benna waved good bye as they got in the carriage. They traveled down the trail to their new home.
Several other carriages followed and soon only the dragons and the two Matrons were left alone at the sanctuary. It was strangely quiet after such an exciting day.
The dragons barely stayed awake as the Matrons cleaned them up and put them to sleep in clean straw. It had been a long day so they went to bed as well.
The next day workmen come and clear out the remnants of the wedding. They hauled off the trash and the tables and chairs as the dragons watch with curiosity. They take everything but the arch that overlooks the sea.
Lord and lady Aster requested that the iron scrollwork arch be left there as a part of the grounds. They wanted it there to remind the dragons that they came from far away across the sea.
Epilogue