The Mourning After

[Thrand Hearthfire]

Thrand sat in silence as his father offered his condolences, allowing them to share words one ruler to another. He believed that the aging king had found some solace whenever in Queen Aewen's company, for she was ancient and full of wisdom in all matters. A mentor of sorts. Now she was gone, and so Thyrian the Uniter remained as the senior monarch. Hopefully, it would stay that way for many more years to come. He could not bear the thought of losing his beloved father.

Under the table he reached for Ióunn's hand, holding her tightly. "Father. Mother. We, uh... have an announcement to make--" He was cut off as the entrance doors swung open and a whole host of people began to swarm in, one bannerman after the other. Likewise did the elven delegates return from their assigned chambers, appearing through one of the side entrances. There was no seating arrangement, encouraging a mixed crowd no matter the prestige or title. Thrand knew to rather wait and let the feast be underway than to suddenly inform the world of their betrothal and his decision to remain in Averlorn with his Queen.

The heads of all his bannermen lined up before their King, all of them kneeling in unison. Thyrian shifted ever-so-slightly in his seat, clearly uncomfortable with the gesture; to him, it reminded him all too well of a bygone era of his life, and that of his wife. With a gesture of his hand they all rose, and were all handed their personal drinking horns overflowing with mead. "Long Live the King," they all cried out before emptying their horns, following by the entire hall echoing these words. Even Thrand saw fit to stand, raising a cup in his father's honour. "Long May He Reign," he added with a fond smile, to which Thyrian took his son's hand and squeezed it, quite overwhelmed by the show of affection.

The King now rose from his seat, prompting everyone else to sit. "Thank you, my dear friends. My family and I are honoured to have such true and loyal bannermen. It's been... what, over 20 years?" Thyrian turned to his firstborn with a look of fatherly pride. "Just look at my son, here; born in the first year of my rule, now a grown man blessed with his mother's brains and his father's brawn. How time flies..." He then offered Ióunn his hand, bidding her to stand beside him as he spoke next. "I would also like to offer a personal welcome to Queen Ióunn and our brothers and sisters of the forest. Tháinbroek is yours for the duration of your visit, and you will only find the warmest of hospitality wherever your legs carry."

As his cup was raised higher, so too did his voice. "Let us drink together now, for the promising future of our world! Never shall the Children of Midvinter be torn asunder, so long as we stand united! Skál!" The entire hall stood and let out a loud cheer before they all emptied their cups. Thrand could not help but turn to his beloved and hook his arms with hers, lost in her eyes as they drank together. An old Valkyri custom, displaying the deepest of trust and fondness for one another. Of course such a display was tied to the act of drinking - the most treasured of Valkyri pastimes!

[member="Ióunn Ar-Olwa"]​

 

[Ióunn Ar-Olwa]

All the times she had visited here, from childhood and now to adulthood, Ióunn had never tired of it. She loved the culture for all it's diversity and difference to that of her own, they were so very different but they each had one thing in common, Midvinter and all her majesty and dangers. No matter the race that shared this planet they all held their home in glory and fear and all of them would fight to protect it no matter the cost. As they King stood and spoke, she watched him from her seat, he did not look as big as he did in childhood, but he still held that passion and compassion in his face for his people and when he invited her to stand next to him, she did not falter to join him in the union of their peoples.

"Come forth", she beckoned to her guard who stood by holding the Shield of Averlorn and he stood in front of the long table on which the family and she sat. "This Shield of Averlorn encrusted with the white tree not only symbolise our home but the strength of my people and our connection to the lands and everything that stand upon it from the north to the south, east to west. It is also a shield of protection against anything or anyone that would stand to threaten us .. all of us and to destroy everything we all hold dear in our heart". She paused for a moment to allow her words to reach all ears and wait for the murmurs to die down once more.

"I give this Shield of Averlorn to the Valkyri as a symbol of our union, to give you all my assurance of not only our friendship but a promise that if you are ever in danger, if every the Valkyri are under threat, Averlorn will answer your call". The guard presented the Shield to Ióunn who in turn held it out to Thyrian to take and place on the walls of the Grand Hall.

Ióunn felt the touch of her beloved Thrand as the passing of the Shield had been completed and with a smile and love in her eyes she joined him toasting to their people. She kissed his cheek with a grin and whispered to his ear, "So what was this announcement?", she knew full well but loved teasing him so.

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[member="Thrand Hearthfire"]​

 

[Thrand Hearthfire]

He watched as his father graciously accepted the shield symbolic of the furthered friendship between Man and Elf, and the King did not wait to have someone else place it upon the walls of the Great Hall already overflowing with bits and pieces collected over countless millennia. "I shall put this in a place of honour," he bowed his head to the young Queen with a gentle smile. As he scrambled off to do just that, Thrand meanwhile felt Ióunn's lips upon his cheek just when his father was not looking. Though from what he could tell his mother had a look of amused approval where she sat with the twins. A faint blush burned his cheeks, yet at the same time he decided right there and then that he would not shy away. "You know what? Screw it," he told Ióunn and stepped out before the crowd of people. His mother, as if she'd read his mind, made a gentle gesture with her hand prompting the hall to go quiet.

"Hello, everyone," he began, not really accustomed to holding speeches. "Uh... As some of you might know, I have enjoyed the Aelvar's hospitality as their guest following the Great Ruinous Invasion. It was not out of mere cultural curiosity I chose to do so, but rather... I fell in love." he looked towards Ióunn. "I fell in love a long time ago." From behind the scenes there was a loud, metallic clang as the Shield of Averlorn hit the floor followed by the quiet reappearance of the High King. "I stayed behind to be there for Lady Ióunn, and I watched as her mother faded away into the Frostvatn to join her late husband. The day before we set out for Tháinbroek, I swore my life to hers."

Slowly did his father step forward, eyes wide and his hands trembling. "Thrand...?" The touch of his father's hand upon his shoulder made him turn and look him in the eye. "I asked for her hand in marriage, so that we would always be together. To be her consort, until the day comes when... when I shall succeed you, Father." By this point he could no longer meet his fiery gaze, and humbled himself with a bow of his head. But Thyrian was overwhelmed with emotion and threw his arms around his son, tears of joy falling where they may. It took everything the King had to not outright sob in front of everyone. Thrand returned the embrace wholeheartedly, until eventually Thyrian beckoned Ióunn to come forth. Without hesitation he pulled her into the embrace as well, placing a kiss upon both of their cheeks.

"The future," he then turned to the crowd, presenting the couple for all to see, met with thunderous applause.

[member="Ióunn Ar-Olwa"]​