Wedding

The day began with people smoking meat early in the morning, far earlier than Bard would have liked. Breads were made since Sen had shared the recipe from Elder Emotion. Bard overheard some of the humans and Dryads rehearsing for tonight. Their songs blended fairly well, and he itched to join them, but final adjustments to the attire had to be done. It was a long affair as they made sure the outfit wouldn’t fall apart, and some garments could be recycled for everyday use afterwards. Bard wasn’t sure what to think of the green outfit. With a sash of fabric leaves and a mantle on one shoulder, it felt too extravagant. The boots had also been prepared, and they bothered his toes a bit, being so new and hardly worn in. The catfolk did their best to make it a bit more comfortable with their cobbling, but it still wasn’t the same.

He was ushered to his room with a blindfold and then upon his arrival, he noticed an emblem for him to wear. On it was carved a fifteen branched tree, one for each of his tokens. Two of the branches had been blackened, along with their leaves, a grim reminder of the loss. However, the rest looked healthy and elegant.

As he admired it, he heard a gentle cough and looked to the doorway. At the sight of Sen, he rose to his feet, gawking. He quickly tried to hide this, hoping he wasn’t noticed. Sen looked beautiful. She had a long green and white dress. Her hair had been put up and branches that, looked similar to her Grandpa’s antlers, had been meticulously placed to give her a far older appearance. She had a cascade of leaves and flowers draping over one shoulder. A green and gold banner hung from her waist, adorned with the leaf patterns of the forest. The white fabric was embroidered with silver threads, and he imagined that each flower and motif represented some part of their journey.

She strode towards him and he offered his hand. He looked out as the Dryads began a song. The trees moved their branches to form an elegant walkway from the humble ground to the high reaches of the forest. A white stag with elegant and long antlers strode over, with Kai trailing behind. Bard helped Sen mount the simple saddle on the stag before mounting Kai. They rode atop the beasts as they climbed the stairs of the trees. The distance wasn’t short, and many Dryads had come out to see them as they passed.

The treetops were a sea of green under the starlight. A new moon, meaning only the lights from below and the stars above, illuminated the space they were in.

Elwood was waiting for them, the only Elder of the dryads left, otherwise more would be present. War tree was also sticking up behind him as they approached. Other Dryads rose up on rising branches, perched and elegant. Their voices of song, unified and harmonious with the forest. Bard noticed Ruegar and his wife accompanied by some Dryads, who helped them attend. Bard was grateful for the consideration, and he looked at Sen, who was smiling as she leaned against him. He placed his hand around her and looked to Elwood.

The elder Dryad beckoned them to come before him and as they knelt before him, he held out his hands. Bard and Sen reached into their outfits and procured the tokens before placing them in his hands. He reverently placed the strings that held them on his antlers and kneeled before War Tree. The sounds of the tokens hitting one another as he began the answers resounded in the stillness.

“You stand with merit, forged in one year’s trial. Seek the forest’s song and the sunstones' light as one.” Elwood said in teka before saying it in Asternum. “Merito statis, anno uno durato. Silvae cantum et lapidum lumen quaere ut unum.”

“Not quite how I would translate that, but this is an older-archaic Dryadic,” Bard thought as he kept his head bowed.

“Totems offerimus—quindecim in periculo rapta.” Defender answered.

“We offer the tokens—fifteen claimed in peril.” Elwood said in consideration for the Teka in the audience.

“Eldores et lapides testimonium ferunt.”

“The elders and stones bear witness.” Elwood once again translated.

Bard heard the sounds of the tokens striking one another as Elwood rose. Then footsteps told him that Amir was coming over.

“Lift your heads,” Elwood said, and they did as he asked. Elwood and Amir stared at them as a pillow containing a sharp, thin needle-like blade and two ornaments were presented to Elwood.

Bard slowed his breathing as he attempted to keep his expression neutral and serious. The very idea that they had to do this for the ceremony was not something he enjoyed, but he would endure it for the sake of everything he and Sen had gone through to get to this point. It was a small sacrifice compared to what had already happened.

Elwood grabbed the needle and held it before her. She raised her hands and gently picked it up before being handed one ornament. She turned to face Bard, and he felt his heart beat picking up in speed.

“Just don’t flinch, Bard. You can hold still. And don’t cry out.” He began to chant to himself as the needle was shifted to one hand, and she reached for his ear.

“Filia silvis, cum filio silvarum vincis” Elwood said gently and Sen’s face gritted in determination. Bard knew this part wouldn’t be translated. It was a simple command for the couple. Daughter of the woods, bind with the son of the forest. - was her command.

She then expertly pricked his ear and he closed his eyes, keeping the blood from draining from his face at the sensation. She then quickly put the ornament into the hole and closed it, forming the earring.

Bard opened his eyes to see her close to him, her expression both conveying her worry for him and her adoration that he hadn’t reacted… much. It was very lovely.

She then handed him the needle, and he took a steadying breath as he reached for her ear.

This time it was her father that spoke.

“Fili silvarum, cum filia silvis vincis.” Son of the forest, bind with the daughter of the woods.

Bard focused and pricked her ear, noticing that she barely flinched. He wondered if he had done the same. He then placed the needle on the pillow as he reached for the other ornament and put it into her ear. She smiled and then hugged him. The slight sensation sent a shiver up his ear, and he pointedly felt the new earring as her arms brushed against it.

There were some cheers from the Dryads as he returned the embrace. The humans joined in shortly after, and more cheers from below were heard. Bard noticed Kai and the stag were contently sitting off to the side, and he was drawn back to Sen, who pushed on his antlers just enough that they wouldn’t fall, but enough to garner his attention.

He smiled and closed his eyes as he let his head lower, and she let go of the embrace before kissing his forehead. She then lowered, and he kissed her forehead in procession of the ceremony.

Bard hardly remembered the rest of it as they were dragged down into the forest canopy by the bystanders and the voices of the Dryads changed the woods to fit for a few dances and a celebratory feast.

What Bard did remember of that night was the happy faces and the gratitude he felt that the Dryads and the Humans were peacefully celebrating.

What he awoke to was soft sounds of breathing near his ear in a room that he hardly remembered coming to. He looked to the source of the noise as he sat up and saw Kai sleeping peacefully. He looked to around and couldn’t see Sen. “Well, she is a morning person… perhaps she woke up early,” Bard contemplated with a stretch. Kai growled in his sleep, and Bard took off the covers before setting bare feet on the cold ground. He stretched his ankles and legs before rising and rousing his faithful companion. Kai woke with a start and then grumbled as he set his large head back down.

“I know it was a late night last night,” Bard said with amusement. He rubbed at his own eyes, getting the bit of sleep that still clung to them out. He decidedly sat on the cold floor, which did wonders at jarring the mind out of its slumbering state. After letting out a slight yelp, he took a few deep breaths, and Kai harrumphed a chuckle.

“Yes, yes. Very funny. Have you seen Sen?” He asked and the large wolf hummed. He looked to the door that led out, and Bard rolled his eyes. That was an obvious answer. Kai then looked at the nightstand at his forged crown of antlers.

“I should wear that?” Bard asked and Kai nodded. It did make sense, at the wedding celebration, “but why would Kai show an interest in it?”

Bard got up and threw on his other layers before placing the crown atop his head.

As he got to the door, Kai returned to his slumber and Bard sighed as he opened and stepped outside.

A chuckle was the first thing that alerted him, and then rough hands had grabbed him and put him to the ground.

“Yous be taking your sweet time there, lad.”

“Ruegar?” Bard coughed as he recognized the voice.

“Sure thing. Now it’s off to the village,” Ruegar said, and Bard could tell that there were multiple people that were holding him.

“Why are we heading to the village? And so early in the morning…” Bard contemplated. He would have spoken up, but he had the distinct impression that he wouldn’t get an answer today. He barely could see around the edges of his vision, and hardly anyone was up to really cause a stir that the recently married man was being dragged off from the celebration.

They headed to the edge of the wood and entered the heart of the village, where he could hear the distinct cheers and laughs from the residents.

He put up with it as they set him on a chair that was situated near where he would be building his new home. And that’s where he saw Sen, tied up. He instantly tried to stand, feeling surprised and angered. Ruegar laughed and quickly sat him back down.

“Just go with it f’r a bit,” the short man said with a chuckle. Sen at least didn’t seem frightened or upset. She had her usual joyful smile on her face, which comforted Bard, and he allowed himself to try to relax. Until the ropes were tied around him. Ruegar laughed, and his wife cuffed him over the head.

“We should have warned him,” Bard heard her say as he struggled against the ropes. “So there is a reason for this.”

After Bard was thoroughly bound, Ruegar cleared his throat and stood in between them.

“Ye both be bound, shackled by burdens, responsibilities. Ye break dese bonds and tie y’rselves to on’ another.” Ruegar said in that broken accent of his.

Bard looked at the rope and wondered how he would get out of this. He looked to Sen and she just shrugged. As usual, she was following along, but in her carefree way.

“Ye won’t be fed until ye are together, and none shall ‘elp you out of this,” Ruegar said firmly, and the crowd cheered.

“What sort of ceremony is this?” Bard thought as he felt his stomach pain from a light hunger. While he had eaten late last night, that didn’t help the idea that he would be fasting till he escaped his bonds. He shifted as much as he could, but this was some serious rope work. He began looking around while the villagers began to pull out food and began feasting. The smell of the food was torturous.

He looked to Sen, who had more bonds than him. It made sense that they would take her more seriously. But perhaps that was in consideration for his lack of ability in this department. He was no warrior, and he hadn’t had to deal with being captured till now.

He tried to come up with anything as he felt the antlers began to shift off his head. He paused and imagined them on his head. They surely had a sharp edge. It would be a tool. But trying to drop that in his hands in his lap might prove difficult.

“It’s already slipping anyway.” He paused and shifted his hands as best as possible before tilting his head. There were sounds from the onlookers as they watched. His head shook until the crown of antlers were about to fall, and he double-checked his hands and position before slipping the crown off and into his lap.

There were some light cheers at his efforts, but he failed to figure out how far he could reach, and the antlers were a smidge out of his range of mobility.

He shifted his legs to try to get it to list to one side or the other, and then heard some cheers. He hadn’t done anything of note, so he cast his gaze onto Sen who had somehow cut through one set of her ropes.

Then he noticed Kai sitting at the table, waiting and watching. It was only for a moment, but he met the wolf’s gaze and indicated to his lap. The wolf tilted his head, and then someone brought a bowl of food for him. He looked at Bard with a shrug of sorts and then ignored the silent ask for help as he began to eat.

“Traitor,” Bard grumbled before directing his attention to Sen.

“Petisne auxilium a silva?” He asked, and she sighed as she looked up at him.

“Vox mea non attigit eos,” She replied, and Bard grumbled. He had simply asked if she had asked the trees for help, as that should be outside their expectations. But the idea that they had placed them this far from the forest meant that Sen’s somewhat quiet voice didn’t reach the trees, and they were truly up to their own devices.

He attempted to shift the crown again, then looked in frustration at Kai. That lazy wolf, no doubt, knew about this. Else he wouldn’t have remained calm when he had left and Kai hadn’t even alerted him to people who had the intention to capture him.

Then a thought began to grow in his mind and he smirked.

“Then… I suppose all I can do is sing,” he said and Kai’s ears flicked and Sen looked at him mortified.

“NO Bard. NO SING!” Sen cried out, and Bard kept his face as neutral as possible. Kai was looking a bit panicked at the prospect.

“That sounds like a wonderful idea,” someone in the crowd laughed, and Bard’s grin grew.

“But Sen. They are so eager to hear it. After all I’ve done is play instruments around them,” he said, and she started to struggle. He knew that she still had a way to go before she could come over and stop him, so he took a deep breath.

The sounds began to come out and Kai instantly was up and Bard could see the surprised stares as his off-key singing was garnering attention. Ruegar seemed to be trying to hold in a laugh, and then Kai grabbed his attention as he stood out in between them and arched his tail. Bard saw the spikes and he kept singing. This was his goal. Kai really didn’t like it when he sang. And he had a particular way of getting him to stop.

The quills in the wolf’s tail were flung at him, and he closed his eyes as they struck around his hands and face. One was in close range of his hand and he grabbed it, pausing his singing. He didn’t want to tease the wolf too much, else he might strike him on his skin, and that would be rather uncomfortable. Kai, seeing that Bard was done singing, sat and then harrumphed before returning to eat. Bard laughed and noticed Sen was much further in escaping her bonds, and he began to shift the quill around till he could poke at the ropes holding the hand in place. It might take time, but he just had to weaken the rope so he could break free. If not on his own, Sen would be able to get out and help him.

There were some laughs at his antics, and then some cheers drew him from his concentration as Sen got a lot of her upper body released. She then began at her feet and began to get herself free. Bard sighed. She still had the upper hand.

He paused and relaxed a bit before hearing more cheers as Sen got loose. She then started to come over and Ruegar’s voice rang out.

“And what do ye think ye be doing, miss?”

“What?” Sen said and Bard translated for her.

“I’m setting him free so we can eat.”

Ruegar laughed at her, and so did many of the others.

“I said, no one can ‘elp ye. And ye can’t be ‘elpin him, and he can’t be ‘elpin ye,” Ruegar said, and Bard frowned. “That wasn’t in the directions.”

“That’s not fair.” Bard said, and Ruegar laughed.

“Better get out fast, den,” Ruegar said to him. Bard growled and began picking at the rope again. Sen came over and Ruegar stood, but she didn’t touch him.

“Bard?” she asked, and he looked up at her.

“What?”

“Can you hurry?” she asked, and he could almost make out the sound of a growl in her stomach.

“I’ll try,” he said as he scorned his own abilities. Then he took a deep breath. He remembered Father’s words and paused. He had other abilities. He didn’t need to compete with Sen in this capacity. He was far better at using his words and music. Then he grinned. “If singing got me a quill, and the others were uncomfortable with it, could I convince them to let me go if I kept singing?”

“Sen. I’m going to sing again.”

“No. No sing,” Sen harrumphed.

“But it’s faster,” he pointed out, and she grimaced.

“How?”

“They’ll either untie me or something else will happen that will make it so I can have just enough help to get out of here. It’s something only I can do.” He pointed out to her and she covered her ears. He didn’t like making her uncomfortable. Not being able to sing, at least well, was already a shame as her people really depended on singing. But he wanted to eat and was certain she wouldn’t be able to wait for him to figure out another way.

“I’ll keep it simple,” he said out of consideration for her. She looked as if she was already in pain, but eventually she nodded and covered her ears with even more gusto.

Bard began with a hum as he picked at the rope, and that drew Kai’s attention again. The wolf’s hackles raised, and Bard ignored the warning from Kai as he tried to work himself out of this mess. Eventually he saw the ears of Kai flicking in irritation, and some of the other residents were trying to hide their own discomfort. Sen sat down and looked at the ground, her hands still covering her ears, as Bard kept at it.

Eventually Kai came over and growled and Bard kept his tune going. It was like looking at the eyes of a crazed shade, and it sent a chill down Bard’s back, and he stumbled on the tune but that only made Kai growl. He raised his paw, and Bard worried he would strike him, but instead he covered Bard’s mouth. He struggled to breath and felt the dirt on his face while cheers rang out. Bard felt defeated and tried to pull back so he could get a breath of air. Kai however, followed with his paw and Bard’s lungs screamed in protest. Right before passing out, Kai uncovered his mouth and he took in a big gasp.

“Kai! You’ll kill me,” he growled when he had somewhat recovered.

“Quit your singin’ lad!” a voice shouted. Sen looked at the food again, and Bard frowned. He started up again and Kai tried to shush him, but he turned and avoided the paw. Sen hastily looked about and saw some fruit on the table. She grabbed it, despite the protest, and shoved it into his mouth. This caused everyone to laugh and Bard bit down.

“Well…” he said between chomps. “Since I’ve already started, it would be rude to have you wait,” he grinned and Sen laughed with the others. Someone brought her some food and Bard finished picking at the rope till only a few strands held it together. He broke free and joined her in the merriment.

Since humankind had been afraid of the dryads for so long, the festival didn’t include many of their traditions, but it was still light and fun.

The third day mostly involved clean up and a few contests to end off the wedding. Bard declined to participate, but Sen eagerly joined in the archery contest. She didn’t win, but it was in no small part enjoyable to watch.