Chapter 402 - Vows Under The Twilight
a/n: sorry, I get kinda late. in truth, I'm at hiatus but I'll get out of it soon.
thank to all the supporters on Pay-Pal and Pat-reon and I promise I'll get to my peak condition soon.
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"I thought you don't like weddings, uncle." (Jon)
"Well, I'll make sure that this wedding is one I like." (Uncle Sheo)
"Wait, Sheogorath is your uncle." (Alina)
"I prefer to go by Uncle Sheo if you please, my dear." (Uncle Sheo)
"Didn't I tell you?" (Jon)
"Yes, but you were drinking." (Alina)
"I don't get drunk that easily, just make sure that no one else knows." (Jon)
"Something wrong, Jon." (Wulfur)
"Nope, just make sure that all the Cheese Pizza we have are served only for the Gothi here. And if we have some raw cheese in the kitchen, bring them all over. Wait, open the cheese vault and keep that Gothi sink in cheese." (Jon)
"All of it?" (Wulfur)
"Every drop of cheese we have." (Jon)
"Even the Cheese Wine." (Wulfur)
"Especially the Cheese Wine." (Jon)
"Did I hear that right?" (Uncle Sheo)
"You did and it is awesome, now don't go on a killing spree or no cheese wine for you." (Jon)
"H- How boring!" (Uncle Sheo)
"Zip it! You want to be the Gothi, don't screw it up. But no killing." (Jon)
"Humph! Fine... Let's do this. Haskill." (Uncle Sheo)
"Yes, Mad God." (Haskill)
"How do we do this Gothi thing?" (Uncle Sheo)
"Oh, Kyne!" (Alina)
"Oh, Lord. That's a delightful ritual indeed, my lord, I'm sure you'll love it. First, it involves a lot of blood splashing from that cauldron there on the rock here then putting some on the groom and the bride faces, after that, we bring that sword and..." (Haskill)
"No need to continue, I already know what to do." (Uncle Sheo)
"Goodness! Don't get any weird ideas, mad one. This is my wedding so just do as I say or else. Wulf, send someone to fetch that cheese and you... Red suited bald man, you're ruining my background. Now!" (Alina)
"... Yes, ma'am." (Uncle Sheo)
"On it." (Wulfur)
"O- okay." (Haskill)
"And you, is there any other Daedra I need to worry about?" (Alina)
"No... unless... No." (Jon)
Alina sorted the mess with only one glare.
"Gothi, let's begin."
For some reason, Sheogorath was a little meek towards Alina and didn't even argue.
"Dearies and little mortals, we gathered here today to celebrate, to feast, to enjoy this moment of union as two people fall in madness and get married. In these years they have been together… let's be honest, they killed a lot of people… which is awesome! That time when they hunted some Thalmor together as they first met… true… some very bad boring Thalmor died when they first met, the second time they met was the day when this ladd flew like a madman and burned the pirates to a crisp, then the two of them went to battle together in Kynesgrove, then, Ha! This is my favorite… the last battle when they planned it all together and sent many people to Oblivion. I've personally seen that Dagon get a share to torment. Anyway, life is all about descending to madness together to the very end, the future is filled with more people to kill so it is a very promising wedding in my personal and humble opinion. So, and by understanding their full aptitude for disaster, those two has decided to kick it off and get married.
Marriage is love, and love is blind. Why? It is because of madness! That's right, madness was once shooting arrows and perfectly shout the two eyes of love so it had to bear responsibility in the end and walk it around. Yes, I was a good shooter at my youth and invented the first musical note using a dead woman's vocal cords but that's a story for a cheese time. Now that we agree about love and madness taking the same pass, we can all come to accept madness in our life and that's not some hidden agenda or anything, it is just to give you something fun to do. Well, may the bride and groom find the true meaning of love and madness while having fun and killing many people in the process."
Sheogorath gave a warm speech that somehow none found it strange.
"The sword." Freyja handed over the sword.
"You two hold that."
Jon and Alina joined their hands on the sword and Sheogorath started pouring the bear blood from the cauldron on the stone with the Animal Totems of the Nordic Gods. He then made a marking with the blood on the foreheads of both Alina and Jon and on their hands holding the sword together.
"You two repeat after lock foreheads and repeat after me…"
Jon and Alina came closer and locked their foreheads touched and started saying the vows.
""You cannot possess me for I belong to myself
But while we both wish it, I give you that which is mine to give
You cannot command me, for I am a free person
But I shall serve you in those ways you require
and the honeycomb will taste sweeter coming from my hand
I pledge to you that yours will be the name I cry aloud in the night and
the eyes into which I smile in the morning
I pledge to you the first bite of my meat and the first drink from my cup
I pledge to you my living and my dying, each equally in your care
I shall be a shield for your back and you for mine
I shall not slander you, nor you me
I shall honor you above all others, and when we quarrel we shall do so in private and tell no strangers our grievances
This is my wedding vow to you
This is the marriage of equals.""
[A/n: it is Celtic rather than Norse but let it pass.]
"Well, by the powers given to me since the era is creation, I announce this couple wed. You may… oh, you're already kissing? Fine, you need to exchange the rings though… the rings."
***
"Well, that was unusual."
"Yeah, I never thought Sheogorath would make a good Gothi though."
"Next time you want to bring your uncle, you tell me first."
"What… how can I control that? He's a Daedric Prince. I can only control him with cheese… by the way, he seems a bit meek when you talk to him?"
"Hm? Me?"
"Yeah, it is strange."
"I don't know. I feel he is not as evil as the Daedra we saw so far."
"The only one you saw is Vaermina which is demonic on the standard scale but yeah. Sheogorath is kinda a wild force without a purpose. Not good or evil."
"I felt that too. He's a bit like you, you know."
"Like me?"
"Yeah, it's like you two are cut from the same cloth. Weird, right?"
"... Somehow."
Jon and Alina were having a private discussion alone on their fancy seating. Jon was worried about Sheogorath but he seemed to be engrossed at the cheese wine tasting party of his own.
A total of 10 fattened sheep and a dozen deer were brought in today to be slaughtered. The party was full of all kinds of meat and the roasting smell was destructive. The mead and wine flowed from the barrels like rivers and the cheeses were mound around Sheogorath.
As Alina and Jon were done with the vows and rings, the Firemanes and the Moonblades entered a competition of races duels and shooting, the losers had to serve mead for the winners.
The atmosphere was filled with music and somehow, Nefertiti was surrounded with many kids and cats who had their own party on the side.
Jon had to serve the Elders drinks too and had a man to man talk with his father. It was then when Jonrad introduced Jonhild to the man who protected him the first few months of his life on Nirn, Fultheim.
On another place, Wulf and Jorna were having their own moment as well as all the young lovers and Sheogorath with cheese. Jon and Sigurd decided to duel each other which was a loss for Jon despite Sigurd being drunk.
As he was done with most of the entertainment, Jon met a woman who somehow found her way inside his Domain and had a chat with her. He had to sigh and offer her some drink in the end then joined his girls and his wife for a round of dancing.
The woman, that Jon just talked to, walked as if she was unseen with a glass of red wine in her hand and joined Sheogorath's table.
He looked at her with a frown.
"Mad One."
"What brings you to the neighborhood?"
"Wasn't I invited?"
"I don't remember my nephew inviting you here."
"He didn't, I came to claim a name and offer guidance."
"Claim a name? In this day and age?"
"You know mortals. They love to come up with unique names from time to time."
"I'm not even going to bother myself with you. I'm here for the cheese. Haskill, don't give that woman any cheese. In fact, you may give cheese for everyone and not for her."
"Yes, Mad God."
"Save your cheese, Mad One. I am already done here… aren't you curious about his next Labour?"
"I'm sure he'll manage."
"Indeed. It is finally time, you know. His purpose and value will truly shine from this point on. He will carry the most fearsome weapon befitting for my Labourer."
"My money is always on my dear nephew, Vain One. There is no weapon he can't swing."
"I hope you are right, the girl who holds the Bitter Mercy is waiting for him. The two shall be sent to the Queens and their enemy shall truly emerge this time."
"Yeah, yeah. Bore me to death. Maybe this is the only way you can kill me with. My nephew is already winning this, that's why you chose him in the first place."
"True."
"Well, you got what you wanted. We all pity your enemies. End of the story, leave me to my cheese."
Jon kept gazing at the two Daedric Princes that were fooling around in his wedding. He locked his eyes on Azura whose proud expressions were clear as day. He couldn't hear what they said but the words she just told him kept ringing in his head.
'I have served your purpose for you to serve mine. A promise kept by you appreciated and the name I shall keep. As her mother's prayers reached me, she is now my herd. A Dunmer she becomes full, my daughter of my daughter of a thousand line of daughters. Blessed by my light, she is Twilight, she is a Child of Azura.'
He looked at Jullanar and caressed her head, she smiled back at him. She shall never be harmed like what happened before as she is now under divine care and bore a great blessing. A Child of Twilight.