Topic: Promises

Merethyl Benoit

Date: 2016-04-13 22:38 EST
Though impatience had ruled their hearts since the moment they had been inspired to shared their loving affection, Christian Benoit and Merethyl Cytria had managed to resume their patience as the world turned through winter and into spring. With the encouragement of Tony and Anya, they had finally agreed to a very small civil ceremony to legalize their marriage in the eyes of the city and the world, and to give Anya the chance to dress everyone up. Tony had insisted on taking them out to dinner, and a lovely day had been shared by all.

But now, as the moons rose, the time had come for the promises that meant more, the promises that were theirs alone, in the way of Merry's people. She had drawn Christian out of the city, to the smooth crystal cave where they had first begun to learn one another - a cave no other seemed to use, the striated rock smooth and shining in the moonlight that shone down through the open roof onto the shimmering surface of the gently steaming water. Despite the chill of the spring night, it did not touch them there, warmed by the natural heat of the rock itself as they lingered together in the light of the moon's rays.

Merethyl stood, her hands resting tenderly over Christian's heart as she looked up into his eyes. No more did she wear her glamor; he had given her the confidence to live unmasked, and in the light of the moons, she seemed to shine, her pale hair luminescent as it poured down her back. On her finger sparkled the moonstone ring he had placed there only hours before, a visible sign that they were bound together in the eyes of the world that was held at bay outside these cavern walls. "Amin mela lle, mellonamin," she murmured to him softly, reaffirming her love in the tongue he was slowly coming to learn as the months went by.

Though he was human and she was an elf, there could not have been two people more deeply in love than they, and it was with a full heart that Christian echoed his beloved's words in this sacred place that had once brought them together. "Amin mela lle, mellonamin," he told her softly, her hands in his, the words still clumsy on his tongue, despite his best effort to learn the language of her people.

Her smile deepened, touched that he would choose to answer her in her own tongue, rather than his native language. Rising onto her toes, she touched a tender kiss to his lips. "J'adore," she whispered, the language far more suited to his lips than her own. There was no ritual to observe here; they were free to take their time, to spend this one night promising everything they had to one another. Perhaps there would be words, perhaps not, but by the time they were done, they would be joined not only in the eyes of his people, but hers, as well.

His smile mirrored her, equally touched that she'd answered in his tongue, as he'd answered in hers. Their children, when they had them, would be raised to know three languages - the common tongue of Rhy'Din, as well as his native French, and the language of her people. There were no other words that needed to be said really that had not been said already, though they had come here to fulfill her wishes to share their promises here in this place, beneath the moon, in the custom of her people. "I love you in the words of every language in the multiverse," he told her with a smile that was warm with affection.

"And even the languages that have no words," she answered affectionately. They had learned one another through dance; it seemed fitting that the first time they would dance together on a stage before an audience, they would be man and wife. It might take the rest of the ballet troupe a little by surprise, given how professional they were at rehearsal, but by the time the Gala arrived, it would be common knowledge that Christian and Merethyl had married.

"There are no words than can truly express what I feel in my heart, mon amour," he told her, drawing closer to press her hands against his heart. Whatever the troupe thought, he did not care. This woman - this elf - had not only healed his heart, but she had made him whole again in ways he could not explain or understand.

She leaned into him, feeling the beat of his heart beneath her palm, welcoming the peace he had brought into her life. "I promise," she whispered to him, "from this moment until my last moment, I will be yours, and even beyond, into Arvanaith and the eternity promised to us after, I will so remain."

"As do I," he told her, echoing her promise in his heart and his eyes, if not in so many words. He touched a kiss to her brow, as she leaned close, as graceful and poised as the dancers they were. Partnered not only on stage but in life, they would soon be making their debut together at the Shanachie, no longer soloists in life or in art.

She closed her eyes, breathing in slow and deep, smiling still as they lingered close together. "I promise to learn how to cook human food," she added softly - a promise he'd told her she wasn't allowed to make a part of her vows in the human ceremony they had shared in daylight, but one she was determined to get in there now.

He laughed, a happy sound that echoed through the cavern. "That is not part of your vows, cheri," he reminded her gently. "And I promise to try tolerating elven food," he countered with a smile. He wasn't promising to like it; only to tolerate it.

Her own laugh joined his, her head tipping back to share her smile with him as her pale eyes danced with loving amusement. "Toleration is acceptable," she promised him, gently slipping one hand from his to draw her slender fingers over his cheek. "I promise to share everything, the good and the bad, and never to keep a secret from you."

"I promise to always listen and never go to bed angry," he returned, matching her promise for promise, as he drew her hand to his lips for a kiss. He met her gaze with equal love and affection, no longer needing to hide all the love he felt from her or the world.

"I promise to speak in a language you understand when I am upset or angry," she countered, knowing this was a failing of hers. It was easier to be angry when he didn't have the first idea what was bothering her, but it was entirely unfair to him, too.

That promise made him smirk, mostly because she wasn't angry with him very often, and even when she was, she didn't stay angry too long. "And I promise to try and not upset or anger you," he replied, knowing they would probably argue sometimes, so long as they always made up.

Merethyl Benoit

Date: 2016-04-13 22:38 EST
She giggled softly, the sound youthful on lips he knew were far older than many people suspected. "I promise to stop levitating whenever I think you might possibly be aching a little bit," she offered, though this was a promise that came with a qualification. "Unless you really are hurt."

He laughed again, not because he found her promise funny so much as ironic. "I promise to tell you when I am hurting, so you can levitate without worrying about offending me."

"Thank you." She beamed, rewarding him with another soft kiss. These may have seemed like everyday promises they could have made to one another at any time, but on this night, they meant everything. It wasn't just words; it was the winding together of two lives, two souls, a confirmation of the bond that had begun to grow the moment they had stopped fighting their love for one another.

"Merry," he said, when she was done kissing him, her name touched with the accent of his own native French. She seemed satisfied with the promises they had shared and exchanged in this magically-touched place, but he was not yet finished. "I promise to always love you and care for you and to always do my best to make you happy. Toujours l'amour," he told her quietly, echoing the vows they had made together earlier in the civil ceremony, but needing to repeat them here.

Her expression softened, not quite with a smile but with a softness of emotion that said far more than words ever could. "I promise to cherish you all my days," she promised, an echo of her own vows from earlier in the day. "You are the greatest gift in my long life. I will never take you for granted, mellonamin."

"And you are my reason for being, mon amour," he countered, letting go of her hands so he could slide his arms around her waist to draw her into his embrace and touch a soft kiss to her lips - a kiss that spoke far deeper of his feelings than any words could say.

Wrapped in his arms, Merethyl smiled into the kiss he bestowed on her, feeling the bonding of their souls reach its completion as their promises came to an end. Could he feel it too, she wondered, that gentle throb beneath his heart that was his link to her for all eternity' She didn't know, but a part of her hoped he could. He should know that she was right there with him from here on in, even if they were parted.

Locked in each other's embrace, he wasn't sure what he was feeling as their lips met to seal the promises they'd made with only Rhy'Din's twins moons to bear witness, except to know that he loved this elf-woman with every beat of his heart and with everything that he was. He could no longer imagine his life without her, and as their souls bonded together, he felt a strange peace come over him, somehow knowing their fates were linked, their hearts and souls entwined for all time. Whether they were together or apart, neither would ever be alone again, in life or in death, until the end of time.