Mature: Desert Moon

[Soran Nightblade]

Sinead's ice-blue eyes held Atul's, like she was weighing a complex puzzle only she could see. The silence stretched on and on.

Vlad crossed his arms, eyes rolling at the drama. "He's not used to this yet," he chided Sinead.

Sinead waved him off. "King Atul, let me be clear." She leaned in close, scrutinizing him. "Four is too many. Is that understood?"

[Emora Deen]

Atul blinked at Sinead, trying to make sure he understood her words properly. He reached up and scratched the back of his head, chuckling. "I suppose it would be too many, not to mention the amount of money I'd have to spend for a bed big en-" The King grinned, and knelt down in front of the neighbouring Queen, putting his head far lower than hers. "Thank you," he whispered. "I do not know what else to say."

[Soran Nightblade]

Sinead gave the young king a warm look, if not a full smile. "If you had given me any other reaction, I might have felt differently," she told him. "Your answer tells me you are doing this for the right reasons. And the least I can do is trust you, since you seem to have recovered my maiden's memories." She turned to Tenele and framed her face in her hands. "Do you feel all right, my dear?"

[Emora Deen]

Tenele smiled, cupping the Queen's hands over her face. Tenara finally let go over her and wrapped her arms around Sinead's legs. "I'm feeling great," she sighed. "I don't remember the last two months, but that's okay. I understand a few bad things happened that I don't really care to remember, so maybe its for the best."

[Soran Nightblade]

Sinead stroked her cheek affectionately. "It was a difficult time. Perhaps those are memories best left in the past. You have the people who care about you right here. Though they certainly wasted no time in making sure you stayed by their side this time," she threw a light, scolding stare at the two powerful men. You are certain this will make you happy?" she asked Tenele.

[Emora Deen]

Tenele smiled. "I am certain," she whispered, feeling heat rise in her cheeks. "I love two men, and I am lucky enough to have them both be accepting and loving of each other. This will work just fine. Besides, it will be good for Tenara to have them both."

Atul stepped forward. "Queen Sinead, this might be moving very quickly, but I hope you'll come to the wedding. We haven't discussed an appropriate time, but I was hoping to move things quickly. If that is okay with Vlad and Tenele, of course."

[Emora Deen]

Vlad's gaze lowered ever so slightly, eyes flashing with predatory satisfaction. "No problems," he said, smooth as silk.

Sinead didn't seem surprised by the response, though she raised her eyebrows expectantly. "Oh, I assumed as much. I'm here to help with the planning."

Vlad's posture pricked up. "Are you, now?" he muttered.

[Emora Deen]

Tenele grew very excited. Tenele's wedding to Vlad had been in a remote area of the Ashgrown forest near a ruined monastery that they helped defend. It had been rushed, as his protection from holy magic was slipping, so Sinead wasn't able to attend or help with all the things that a mother would want to be apart of.

The Queen's Maiden curled her arm around Sinead's. "Oh, this is exciting!"

Tenara jumped up and down. "Yay!" Even if the little girl didn't know what to be excited about.

Atul clapped his hand's together once. "Fantastic," he sighed. "I'll have my advisers begin inviting the dignitaries and the nobles. That should give us a few days to a week to prepare. Does a week sound good to you?"

"It sounds fine to me," Tenele replied happily.

The King smiled at his future wife. "I'll have a seamstress visit you and the Queen so you can begin preparations on your dress."

[Emora Deen]

Sinead's blue eyes lit up, even if her stoic face didn't grow as excited as Tenele's. "Thank you," she said with a warm nod. "And for Vlad as well."

"I require no such-"

"Nonsense. Don't tell me you'd waste an opportunity to strut-" Sinead paused mid-syllable as she turned and noticed Vlad's eyes. "Vladimir?"

His expression washed flat and segued smoothly into a look of careless bravado. "Of course, I intend to look my best," he bragged.

[Emora Deen]

Tenele tried not to squee as she took hold of the Queen's hand. "This means you will be staying with us. I'll have a lovely room prepared for you," she explained to the woman that was her mother as they headed further down the hall away from the men. Tenara's hand was fisted in the folds of Sinead's skirts, following along with them.

Atul laughed as the two women sauntered away. "I am so thankful that the Queen was that accepting, and it seems to please Tenele a lot that her mother will be here to help her with some of the details. Now, I have a lot to get started, so do you want to catch up to your wardrobe design team, or come with me while I run these errands?"

[Emora Deen]

"Errands," the vampire responded immediately. "What do you need to work on?" He was a little off center after the look Sinead had given him. "It's odd to think of an actual ceremony. In Ighten, there was so much scandal around our union that we needed special permission from Ighten's gods, and we wed in secret. I hardly need anyone else's permission to care about you, but your people's approval is something I'm quite pleased by."

[Emora Deen]

Atul smiled. "Verin was our religion. But, our unions are hardly religious. They can be very spiritual, very traditional, and full of pomp and circumstance. The ceremony is a symbolic show of people coming together to be one, but the union... the connection between those partaking in the ceremony is made in private. Its, eh, well, we don't have to opt into that portion of the procedures. We've been together already..." Atul laughed. "You actually might consider it a little intrusive and strange. It involves a presentation of the groom to the bride... and groom. A formal disrobing, where servants actually remove the clothing from your body. There is incense and ceremonial oil involved. Then, the servant's leave and you're left the finish the ceremony. In some parts of Hajara the man presiding over the ceremony will actually sit in the room and make sure that the couple consummates their marriage. Of course, we will be skipping all of that."

[Emora Deen]

Vlad snickered. "Why skip it? Sounds fun." He leaned over and brushed his lips against the king's ear. "The oil may come in handy," he purred softly.

[Emora Deen]

Atul shivered, smiling. "I suppose it could. But, having perfect strangers rub oil all over you and Tenele might drive me mad with jealousy. I'd rather do it myself." He stopped walking long enough to kiss the vampire before he carried on with his wide gate. "First we have to get the invitations out. Then, I have to coordinate the feast. I'll have Mathis figure out who will preside over the ceremony."

[Emora Deen]

Vlad glanced at Atul, both surprised and not surprised by how vigorously he was pursuing wedding planning. The man was nothing if not thorough in the way he ran things. "Are you sure Mathis will want to support this arrangement? He seemed quite protective of you when we first arrived."