 Posted: Sun Aug 18, 2013 9:18 pm
Quote: Cato smiled at Bernadette, waiting in the entrance of their home, the green vines still concealing some light. He had wanted to wait until the sun was in the center of the sky before their "ceremony" began. Their lands had been ripped apart by the wars raging, and evil lords attempting to control the lands. He was afraid to venture too far from his other half, and also was afraid of waiting much longer. What if there wasn't a future down the road? He wanted his woman by his side in ever manner possible and lifemate was next on the list. Quote: Bernadette was the one who had been ready to dive head first into all of this a couple weeks ago, but with everything still in such turmoil she was aprehensive about doing this ceremony. After all, he was already hers, he was the picky one needing formalities. "We can wait, you know. Is it smart to do this now?" Quote: "I don't want to wait another second Bernadette." Cato was all seriousness, business like when he made his rebuttal. Today would be one of the happiest of his life, he knew, and he also knew that things would be worse before they got better... if they got better. He moved towards his mare, his restraint shrinking more and more with the nearness of their lifemated union. It was improper, he knew, but he nuzzled her cheek, and the soft area just below her jaw with his snout before pulling away and staring into her eyes. "Come. It's time." Quote: She let out a breath, knowing once this stubborn stallion before her set his mind to something it was to be done. So it seemed today would be the day, she just hoped nothing went wrong for his sake. It was his day after all. "After you, dear." Quote: Cato grinned, eyes shinning bright. How he loved that she was doing all this simply to satisfy his culture. It made his heart swell with affection and love. Moving, Cato used his body to move the vines, creating a doorway for his lady. He bent his head as if for her to go first, and he would follow before taking the lead to the spot that was none too far from their home. Quote: She stepped through the vines, resisting the urge to bump him playfully, and waited for him to join her outside in the sunshine. Quote: Cato, with his head held high, and wings splayed out to the sides began his long stride toward a willow. This willow however stood out from the rest. In the wines of drooping tree, blue silks had been strung to hang in large swooping decorations. Blue was his families color, and thus had to be represented in the ceremony. He smiled down at Bernadette, hoping she found the sight beautiful, even just a 1/3 of how beautiful he found her. The wind was breezing through lightly, having the vines come alive, and tinkle. Yes. Tinkle. There were tiny bells lining the drapes as well, singing a cascade of tiny noises as the couple made their way.
Brushing the vines to the side once more, Cato allowed for Bernadette to continue once more. It was visible that trunk of the tree was wrapped in diamond shaped design with gold, dainty chain that held silver bells, to represent Bernadette's silver adornments. The sun still shone high and bright in the sky, lighting their canopy up in a green shining beauty, the beams still sifting through lay on the gold pelts of the soquilia. Quote: Her breath was taken away at the sight of the decorated tree. Without realizing it, she'd stopped and stared at it for a few moments. How on earth did he find time to do all of this? She then realized he was waiting for her and trotted past another set of vines, again struck by the beauty of everything. "How did you do all of this? Where did you find it all?" Damn the properness, she leaned against his side with her head resting on his neck. "It's beautiful." Quote: Cato chuckled, deep in his chest. "When I first went to retrieve your engagement gift, your necklace," Cato leaned, nodding towards her neck where it lay around her throat, "I assumed you would... say yes." He said, almost in shame for assuming such a thing. "And I knew I wouldn't be returning to my homelands again, and so I had to be prepared..." He shrugged not scolding her for her affection, or making the move to shy away from it. Quote: She laughed. "Had a bit of confidence in yourself, did you? That was quite a daring move considering I was upset with you. Well it looks great. I think you have a talent for decorating trees, perhaps it can be a new hobby of yours," she teased. "What happens now, my love?" Quote: "Think of it more as a well prepared stallion." He winked, leading Bernadette to the tree trunk. "Now, you help me unwrap this gold cord from the tree." He smiled, using his mouth to release the tie, letting the cord fall slack. Once completely unwrapped from the trunk, Cato wrapped half around Bernadette and half around himself. Had they had one, a witness would be the one to do this. Once both were connected by the gold and silver bells, Cato smiled, moving closer to his mare. "And now..." He light dimmed in his eyes, and a sad, almost angry expression crossed his features. "I must tell you.. where it is I come from, and why I am not still there." Quote: Bernadette couldn't help but giggle at being wrapped up, she wanted to tease and ask if he planned on unwrapping her like a Christmas present. She smiled at him and expected a happy story to follow, but seeing the light practically fall out of his eyes made her worry. "Cato.. You don't have to. You can tell it later, tomorrow, if you like." This was supposed to be happy, she didn't want him upset. Quote: Cato sighed and looked down. "Before you agree, before you say the words, I want you to understand. I am... I was not a good man. I did something horrible, horrible enough to lose the love of my brother, my mother and father, and... my first betrothal." Cato peeked up to see Bernadette's expression at the mention of the last part, nervous of her reaction. He continued quickly, afraid to see her rejection, anger, or hurt. "She was arranged for me to marry, because of her good blood." Swallowing, Cato continued, looking down again. "My brother... my damn, selfish brother was furious that he was no chosen bride, and the second to my father. He was older, yes, but he was not built to rule. He was cruel, and not nearly as strong as I..." He looked away, taking a moment to breathe in the hot air around him. Quote: It was strange hearing she hadn't been the first to be betrothed to him, but considering how cold, distant, and not to mention formal, he'd been when she first met him, she figured it was safe to assume that mare didn't have a great affect on him. Not as she did, and that gave her a little flutter of pride. She nudged his cheek gently for him to continue. Quote: Cato, with a ragged breath, continued. "I was informed by a frantic maiden that my bethrothed was in danger, that my brother was furious, and was verbally attacking her... and possibly more. By the time I arrived, the mare was a bloodied mess on the ground. Dorin, my brother, stood above her raging and out of breath. I... I broke." His voice was flat, and he looked away. "I killed him Bernadette." His voice was whisper. He looked to her then, his eyes wide and sad and afraid. "I murdered him." He swallowed and closed his eyes for several moments before opening them again. "And she was too far gone, lost. She lived for only a few moments, and even then, I'm not sure she was aware of what was happening anymore, thank gods." His breath shook again, his body sagging in depression. "This... this is why I didn't want to tell you. How could you love someone, love someone enough, to forgive the history I have, the wounds I have attached to me?" Quote: Her ears tipped back as she listened to the tale. She hurt for him, it obviously ate at him about what he'd done. She nuzzled her nose to his and tried to meet his gaze. "I love you for you, and I understand why you did what you did. I don't know if you loved this mare but she was important to you and your brother killed her. He was a danger, and I know how your temper is. Quite frankly I'd be insulted if I was killed and you didn't kill the one who did it." She tried to make a joke and realized it was probably a bad idea. "It's in the past, Cato. And I don't think any less of you for it." Quote: Cato actual tilted the corner of his mouth up at her comment. It was a joke to him. It was actually the first time anyone had made him feel the least bit better about what he had done. He stared into Bernadette's eyes, searching and memorizing. He loved this mare more than he could have ever thought possible. He stepped closer, enveloping her into his wings. "Bernadette. I love you. You are the dearest thing to my heart, and as long as it beats, you will be the thing that keeps it going. Will spend the rest of your life by my side?" He waited, holding his breath. Quote: Bernadette smiled at him, he was such a sweetheart when he wanted to be. She'd take one last shot at him first though before this was finished. "Hmm nope." She turned her head away from him all snooty-like, then gave it a little to sink in before she turned back to him. "I will only accept forever as a sufficient amount of time." Quote: At first his eyebrows furrowed, and he felt the immediate sting of rejection and anger and hurt. He huffed, "Wh-What??" before really looking at her. He reigned it in, noticing her coy attitude. Taking a deep, uncertain breath, Cato followed, being tugged by the gold. She continued, and he smiled, his heart swelling back up. Grinning like a fool, he used the chain and his wings to jerk her back to him, with a ridiculous amount of proximity, he might add. Whispering, and with hooded eyes, Cato continued. "Fine. Then forever, if it so please my mare." Quote: She giggled and snuggled into him. "Forever and ever, my handsome stallion." Her head lifted so her eyes met his and she sent him the most dazzling smile. "I'm yours." Quote: Cato left out a gust air, his eyes closing in relief. And so it was done. Well, almost. Opening his eyes, Cato reached down to three jars. One had the same blue as his eyes, and the other, the closest teal he could find to Bernadette's. The third was empty and waiting. "We just have to mix our sands, and it's done. Grinning Cato waited for Bernadette to take hold of hers. Quote: She blinked with a tilt of her head as she studied the jars. Boy this was all strange, but it was what he needed. She picked up her own jar and waited for him to tell her when. Quote: He nodded, and began pouring, making sure she knew it was her turn to follow. And together their sands were mixed, symbolizing their union together. Once complete, Cato sealed the jar and raised his head smiling. "Anything you would like to add, my beautiful mare?" Quote: She didn't expect a jar full of colorful sand could be pretty, but their colors mixed together were strangely beautiful... for being sand. "Umm.. Can we leave the tree like this?" She grinned sheepishly at him. There wasn't much else she could say to make this any better than it already was. Quote: Cato laughed, grinning like a fool. "If thats what you wish. I can think of better things to do anyhow." Cato then claimed Berndette's mouth with his, forcing his way onto the mare, wrapping his feathered wings around her, refusing to let her back away from him now. As much as she tormented him and his boundaries, we was excited to finally give her what she'd been wanting.
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