1328 - Seasons of Weddings
Author's note: There are two weddings happening in this chapter so it'll be a lengthy one! Enjoy!
The winter of 1328 failed to produce any snow but that was no bother to the Chapmans. It was quite beneficial, actually, as there was still much planning to do regarding Bobby and Lavina's wedding, which had been confirmed to be held on the first day of February. The neighbouring isle of Ireland would have called this day Saint Brigid's day but in Praaven it was to be Lavina's wedding day.
Alongside the usual winter chores Byrhtnoth would travel to the keep and to various merchants and craftsmen to finalise all of the details for his youngest daughter's union and by the middle of January everything was stored at the venue's cellar. The families decided to keep the wedding quaint yet celebratory and confirmed the venue to be the Mahlsberg tavern. It hosted a large space with a stage for the ceremony and a hall for eating and drinking afterwards.
Bobby came around several times also to finalise his own details with his bride-to-be and her father. Lavina confirmed that she would delightfully bake their wedding cake and even came up with some fun smaller pastries she could decorate with. On Bobby's last visit before the big day Byrhtnoth revealed Lavina's wedding dress to the couple. The bride was gobsmacked but expressed her love for the style and the colour and Bobby was just happy to see his courted love happy.
And so the morning of the wedding came. Lavina wanted to be her prettiest on this fine day so she indulged in a hot bath as soon as dawn broke and the rooster crowed. As she scrubbed her limbs the butterflies in her belly continued to intensify... she was really going to be a married woman after this day. And as she washed her gentler body parts her excitement brewed into nervousness; she would have to consummate this marriage tonight also but she wasn't certain she could go through with it.
No matter her feelings it was time for her to get dressed. Her father offered any assistance with getting ready before they travelled to the distant village but she secured her independence and dressed alone. The buttercup yellow dress was draped gently on a hanging rack when she opened the communal dresser and she pulled it out from between the other clothes inside. Her fingers glid over the dyed linen and began to undress, the butterflies returning to a positive nervousness inside her chest once again.
And there she was, a beauty in a subtle yellow and orange. She tightened her corset just right and called for her father to come and see her. Her lips curled into a smile as she did a few twists, watching the flowing fabric swing around her shins.
"By The Watcher," breathed Byrhtnoth with sincerity. "Lavina, darling, you are simply a breath of fresh air." He began to slowly walk towards her, his brows furrowing into a look of disbelief. "Give me a spin," he commanded and his daughter happily obliged. He did his best to hide any tears that were building up in his eyes from pride and spoke with a slight crack in his voice,
"Your mother would have loved to see you on a day like this. You are so gorgeous, and so grown up." He pinched her cheek and she exclaimed in surprise.
"Thank you, father. And thank you for the dress, it's everything I wanted for this day." Lavina gently lifted some of the ruffles as she said her thank yous and was quickly met with a tight embrace by her father. She held onto him tightly, taking in his warmth and smell for as long as she could, as soon she would see him less and less as soon as she was a married woman. She would be living close by but it wouldn't be in this home anymore, the abode where she was born, raised and nurtured.
"I have one last gift for you before we travel off, my dear," said Byrhtnoth as he began to pull a small pouch out from one of his pockets. Lavina cocked her head to the side as she wondered what it could be and soon it was revealed to be a dainty necklace with the symbol of The Watcher.
"We may not be highly religious folk, and you may not be getting married inside a church, but let The Watcher guide you through this day safely and make sure your married life is filled with love, care and bliss."
Lavina kissed her father on his cheek and turned to accept the gift as he tied it around her neck. It hung loosely on a black cord and the symbol sat perfectly in the center of her breastbone. She rubbed the metallic symbol with her thumb and smiled up at her father again. Osuald broke up the father-daughter moment as he urged them to hurry up if they wanted to be there early. He also threw a passing compliment his sister's way but was too busy focusing on preparing Gloria to journey Lavina over to Mahlsberg on.
The weather was gracious to the Chapmans as they travelled and thanked The Watcher for Their cooperation on such a day. The early spring sunlight beamed across the lands and illuminated Lavina, becoming a beacon of light with her blonde hair and yellow dress. The Mahlsberg tavern was empty when they arrived but the owner of the inn congratulated the young girl on her big day as soon as they entered the doorway. Osuald tied up Gloria in the stable beside the large building and it was time to get ready.
And so the men set up all of the furniture to suit their ceremony, leaving the tables put inside the hall but making sure most of the chairs faced the stage at the end of the room. They fashioned up an archway made of fresh timber only to add extra effect that it was a wedding that was celebrated and not just a raucous party at an inn. And to the left of the arch was a small table where Lavina set up her baking masterpiece.
The tavernkeep provided some crates and dishes to display her work on and so she arranged her whipped cream slathered berry cake on the table. She placed the smaller pastries around the main cake, perfectly surrounding it in a satisfying formation. She added her last little touches of fresh strawberries and bilberries in the center of her wedding cake and admired her work from a distance.
Soon the guests began to arrive one by one, family by family. The first to arrive were their friends from Praaven city, King Sidgurd, his wife Queen Magda, Frank and Shavonne. Byrhtnoth had extended an invitation to Frank and anyone else who wanted to come from the castle but was honestly quite taken aback that almost everyone arrived with him. They all began to mingle and catch up on the winter that had passed.
Before Lavina inevitably ran off after Shavonne to gush over the grand affair to take place Osuald caught his sister by the fireplace. He apologised for being quick with her when they were home but finally spoke his mind on her appearance,
"You really do look gorgeous today, sis," he smiled as he gestured her up and down. "Father surprisingly knows how to pick a good dress for a wedding!"
"I say! I was pleasantly surprised when he showed it to me first," confided Lavina, profusely nodding. "And, although we never made it a competition... ha! I get to get married first." She crossed her arms with a smug yet silly look on her face and Osuald burst out laughing.
"I know you're eager to chat with Shavonne so I won't keep you long but I have a wedding gift for you." He walks to the remnants of the burlap sacks they packed with them and took out a parcel which looked erratically wrapped. He placed it into her hands and nervously chuckled,
"Sorry, I was running out of time this morning." She turned her gaze from her brother to the gift in her hands and began to carefully unwrap the crinkled paper. It was revealed to be a wooden carving that could be mounted onto a wall depicting a flapping fish and a pair of tongs. She studied it and her eyebrows began to rise up in admiration of his work.
"It's meant to be a depiction of a union of our houses," he explained as he guided his finger along the wooden grain. "The fish represents us, as we're fishermen, and the tongs are for Bobby's smithy." The wood was nowhere near smooth like his father would produce but it was a handcrafted gift nonetheless.
"I love it, Oz," spoke up Lavina. "I love it so, so much, thank you." She dropped the wrapping and embraced her slightly taller brother. He hugged her back and they shared what they both felt like could be their last meaningful hug for the next while.
After another hour of conversing and inviting more guests in Bobby finally made an appearance. Lavina breathed a sigh of relief when he walked inside, she had been told of horror stories where the bride or groom had been stood up at weddings before and although Bobby didn't seem to be the kind to do so it was still a worry of hers. They shared a quick embrace, a trading of compliments, and soon called on their guests to make their way to the hall to watch the ceremony.
It seemed that Linyeve and August were missing from the celebration and Byrhtnoth couldn't help but deeply worry for his eldest daughter. She was still taking October's loss very deeply but he was delighted to know that she had August by her side back at home. He just hoped their absence from the wedding was a good choice for them and pushed his worries aside to enjoy his other daughter's union.
The Mahlsberg priest stood by the archway and welcomed the young couple and their families to the union. He invited Lavina and Bobby to hold hands as he spoke and to connect with one another as he recited some lines from the scripture of The Watcher.
He told of marriage and love being a decision made by the couple but only through the guidance of The Watcher. He spoke in his own words yet audibly influenced by the scripture and much of it was already said at previous weddings the family had attended. He went on to speak on how The Watcher most certainly brings the presence of the souls of the fallen to meaningful gatherings such as these and Lavina believed she could feel her mother in the room with her while Bobby felt his parents and grandmother with him also.
One word after another the vows were exchanged. The pair decided to follow the traditional vows you would hear in a church setting and promised to one another to stay together for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do them part. They exchanged copper rings, handmade by Bobby, and he was ready to kiss his bride!
Their hands were still interlocked as Lavina reached towards Bobby's lips, pushing herself onto her tippy toes, and they locked in their union with a peck. They kept it short and polite and listened to their friends and family cheer. She smiled in Osuald's and Byrhtnoth's direction and they waved back at her.
Osuald clapped vigorously and congratulated the newly wed couple with hoots and hollers yet his mind was elsewhere in that moment. He envisioned how he would stand similarly with Lana, declaring their love to each other for everyone else to see and hear, and having to kiss in front of the people you would usually hide this affection from. What a strange tradition it was but he grew even more excited for his own special day.
Lavina quickly invited everyone for a slice of cake and expressed to everyone that it was a token of gratitude from the Chapman family for their presence. Bobby did the honour of cutting the large cake in the center into cornered pieces and handed it out for the guests to enjoy. The innkeep offered everyone a warm cup of mead with their delicacy and thus began the day of drinking, eating, dancing and overall merriment!
Bobby made sure that each guest received a slice of cake before getting one for himself and his now wife. He looked around and found his eyes fall on Lavina and took her hands in his as he said,
"Congratulations, Lavina Smith. It's great to say that you are my wife now."
"It is truly an honour, Bobby Smith." She emphasised his surname as he did with her and they shared a cheeky glance before her husband interrupted,
"Now, let's get you nice and fed. I want to finally taste what your famous baking skills are like!"
The wedding guests all took their seats at various tables in the hall, all separated into different groups. Osuald and Byrhtnoth sat at a table together and indulged in the confectionary, with Byrhtnoth wolfing down his faster than he expected. His son looked up at him as he chewed through his third bite and widened his eyes when he saw his father's empty plate.
"I can just tell there was a lot of love put into this cake, I couldn't help myself!" jested Byrhtnoth.
Meanwhile the newlyweds continued to indulge in their company away from the crowd, vehemently conversing to no end. They knew they had a long evening of dancing and socialising with others ahead of them and they would be often separated during the festivity so they enjoyed this time together. Bobby sang his praises to his young wife for baking their cake and stroked her hand that rested on the table.
He went on to enthuse about how life would be like at their smithy and bungalow and Lavina had many questions for him. She asked about a small plot of soil for growing their own garden of vegetables and Bobby remembered that there was space for such a thing. They were all smiles throughout their conversations of the future and Lavina even fed her husband her last spoonful of cake as she felt satiated.
The sky outside grew to sunset and each torch inside was lit to keep the night going. As the tavern downstairs sported an inn upstairs all of the guests agreed to spend the night and continue the party until last man standing. Drinks were poured out and other villagers were invited in after dusk to enjoy the festivities also. The people of Mahlsberg were very polite and kind and so many men that usually came for an evening ale after their work was done were a delight to dance and joke with.
Osuald gained some courage to start a darts competition with some of the Mahlsberg lads and some of his family. He was surprised he was doing so well as the room was beginning to spin from the amount of ale he had consumed over the hours. In between his turns he stumbled his way to the innkeep and asked for a baton of bread to ease his tipsiness and his father found it amusing to see his son navigate moments of adulthood.
It had gotten late enough that the married couple was getting tuckered out but the party guests had one thing to remind them of: consummating their marriage. Lavina took a big gulp as people jeered her on about such an intimate act and Bobby kept his arm around her waist in support. Byrhtnoth calmed the crowd down and explained that nobody would be overseeing this occasion but escorted the couple to an empty room upstairs.
He opened the door and gestured them inside, giving his daughter a wet kiss on her forehead and whispering a quick sentence of encouragement before closing the door behind him. The room was quiet and a little musty but relatively clean. You could hear the commotion under the floorboards beneath their feet but other than that it was just Lavina and Bobby in the bedroom with a large enough bed for the two of them.
After the married man inspected the place he turned to look at his bride who stood stiff as a statue. He gently walked over and began to guide his hands around her waist and holding onto the small of her back, yet she stood stiff still, trying to act natural by placing her hands on his chest.
CW: age-gap relationship, adult - teen romance, brief descriptions of sex.
"We don't have to do this tonight," muttered Bobby close to her face. "We can tell them we were successful, but if you don't feel comfortable yet I can be a patient man." Lavina bit her lip as she thought and tried not to meet Bobby's gaze only inches from her face. He continued to gently rub her back with his fingers and wait for a reply.
Lavina still felt very much like a young girl, she would be turning fourteen in a few months time. Yet she had a sense of maturity ever since she began her bleed nary a year ago. Here stood a nineteen year old man, now her husband, who was not much of an adult as he was a teen. She weighed their differences and felt like they weren't too far from each other.
It was decided; she wanted to take it all the way tonight because she feared if she didn't tonight she never will. She didn't answer Bobby with any words, she only looked into his blue eyes for a few seconds before embracing him further and placing her cheek on his shoulder. He was briefly taken aback but only hugged her tighter, sliding his other hand onto her upper back.
They stood like that for a moment and Bobby closed his eyes. He pictured her in his mind, a small frame pressed against his rugged one. He mapped out her waist and hips as he gently glid his hands across her back and felt her warm breath whistle onto his tunic. This was more than he had hoped for for their first night but soon Lavina raised her head to look up at him.
"I'm ready," she whispered. "I want us to follow through with it, I want our marriage to be truthful and pure."
"I promise you I will be gentle," responded Bobby, taking one of his fingers and pushing back his wife's blonde hair behind her ear. "Just follow my lead."
He let go of her and stepped back half a step. Lavina's hands flopped to her sides and she began to watch Bobby undo his belt and kick off his boots. She fiddled with her long sleeves on her wedding gown but was unsure of how to act next.
"You have to get undressed," chuckled Bobby, pulling down his pants. "It's the only way we can get the act done... do you need any assistance?"
"No, I-I can do it." Lavina turned around and began to undo her corset that was tied at her front. She didn't turn around because she was embarrassed to soon be naked in front of Bobby but because she felt embarrassed for not immediately beginning to undress like he was. She noticed her hands become shaky but eventually the corset came undone and she placed it on the dresser at the foot of the bed. She hiked up her skirt and pulled it over her head, revealing herself in only her undergarments.
Bobby stood in the same fashion, only his loose tunic and underwear draping his body. They both exposed skin that they thought they would never see of each other and then Bobby guided Lavina to sit on the bed next to them. She took the left side and he took the right and fluffed the pillows to lean against.
Lavina's undergarment bunched up in awkward ways as she tried to get comfortable but eventually just fell into Bobby's arms as he extended them towards her. She nestled into his chest and looked up at him, trying her best to not express her nervousness to him, and he began to lock his fingers in hers. They looked at one another for a few minutes, both minds rapid firing all sorts of thoughts.
The young wife may have had her mind swirling of nerves and comments of reassurance but Bobby thought of his experiences. He would be lying if he said he hadn't indulged in the art of the flesh before, it was an experience that was handed to him very suddenly only months before he met Lavina. He had been travelling on the outskirts of the Kingdom of Praaven when he delivered a smithing order and spent a night at a raucous inn that had an extension of a brothel. One thing led to another and he had his first sexual experience with a harlot.
He couldn't help but think of that night as the woman he shared a bed with a couple of years ago was just as blonde as Lavina but she was far older and was straight to the point, not shy and immature like his bride. This time it was up to Bobby to fully take the lead and so he began with a soft kiss on the lips. Then his kisses trailed down to her neck. Then his hands wandered up her nightgown. And soon... they were under the covers, doing exactly as they had been told, consummating their marriage.
Lavina was relieved to find out that Bobby was telling the truth, he was gentle and he was loving and kind. Once the act was done she lay her head on his bare chest and reflected on what she had just experienced and was unsure if she would be begging for more anytime soon. Before she knew it she was fast asleep and soon it was the morning.
CW over.
The newlyweds awoke to the sun shining a ray down onto their faces through a gap in the curtain and Lavina winced at the bright awakening. She found Bobby cuddled close up behind her and turned to look at his sleepy face, smiling at the sight. It was official, she was married, and she was overjoyed.
Everyone that was in attendance last night slowly trickled on downstairs as the sun rose in the sky and shared a breakfast around one table. They all congratulated the married couple one more time before venturing back to their respective homes. With that began Lavina's life outside of the Chapman stead.
Not long after Lavina's wedding there was another celebration to be had: Byrhtnoth's forty-seventh birthday. Just one day before his milestone Bobby came knocking on the Chapman's door and delivered a parcel which revealed a divine honey cake inside.
Bobby excused Lavina's absence and shared that she hadn't been feeling very well in the last few weeks. It had been around three weeks since their wedding and with such news one's mind couldn't help but wander to think if she had fallen pregnant. Bobby could tell that such a thing crossed Byrhtnoth's mind and just responded with,
"It's too early to tell, but I'm taking good care of her. Happy Birthday, Byrhtnoth, from myself and Lavina."
Although his daughter couldn't be here to celebrate such an occasion he was glad to see her here in spirit through this sweet gesture and kept it in the box parcel until the very next day where Osuald decorated the baked good and cheered on his father to make a wish and blow out the candles.
He presented his father with a gift of a handknit sweater, expressing that he did not knit this himself but found a wonderful lady inside the Praaven walls that created masterpieces such as these. Byrhtnoth quickly donned this gift and it fit snug and comfortably.
The years continued to catch up to him and his hair was almost fully grey by now. His face only grew more wrinkled with every year and his hands weren't as strong as they used to be. Such is the toll of living a long life that The Watcher brings upon people but he was thankful to still be alive.
They shared a slice of cake and reminisced on days that had gone, distant days such as building up the home from scratch and recent days like Lavina's wedding.
"You may have a nephew coming your way soon," spoke Byrhtnoth as he thought about Bobby's words the day before. "Your sister hasn't been feeling like herself and often times that's the first signs of a baby to come." Osuald choked on his cake a little but composed himself relatively quickly.
The knowledge of his sister's life developing and changing so fast just from a simple marriage is a shock to him. He wondered, will it be the same for me?
The men eased back into their farmwork as soon as the spring weather allowed it and their crops grew strong and prosperous. With every year Osuald began to take on more of the physical work and his father began to take breaks in between the weeding and watering that needed to be done.
And alongside their usual labour they were halfway done their renovation of their home and the small shed that stood near the farmhouse. They decided to destroy the old horse stable and move their horses inside their home to create more warmth and more space on the farm. Byrhtnoth's bedroom had to be moved to make more space for the tall beasts and soon enough the construction was complete.
The shed renovation was a quicker feat as most of it was made from wood. At first they knew they wanted to make it into a two storey home of some sort but soon decided it would be perfect as a guest house or potential bedrooms if their family expands to a greater size than it is now.
By the beginning of summer the renovation work was done and the Chapmans were ready to begin saving up their money once again. The farmhouse's exterior was barely unchanged, only a small addition was built on to change where the front door would be and to allow more room for the horses.
Inside most of the walls stayed the same with mostly the upstairs changing to house two bedrooms, one which Byrhtnoth slept in for the time being but would soon be passed onto Osuald once he was married and another with two twin beds for his future offspring. What was once Lavina's bedroom was now a corridor that hosted the ladder up to the upstairs while Osuald's room stayed relatively the same. The kitchen was the heart of the home, smack dab in the center, and radiated heat throughout the abode.
In the new wooden guest house they transferred most of their belongings they had in their living area into the center room which also sported a roaring fire. For the time being they scattered hay onto the ground and decided to place stones down once the structure settled.
They moved their Domino table into the shared space and left the walls bare for the time being and the small entryway had the ladder to the upstairs. The ladder opens up into a space with a crib and various children's toys that they kept from childhoods gone and at the end of the upstairs area had a double bed with another fireplace to stay warm during the winter.
They also shifted the chicken coop to the small shed that they slightly extended to place most of their dry goods and salted fish out of harms way, keeping it nice and cool with the shade from the main farmhouse. It was exactly the differences that the men needed now that Lavina was gone and their lives were going to continuously change.
Speaking of Lavina, she and Bobby visited to check out the renovations and to socialise after several months of absence. Bobby may have been helping with the construction on occasion but was excited to unveil it to his wife and see her reaction. She was stunned at how different it looked yet it still felt like home. She appeared a little different also as she donned a head covering, respectfully expressing her status as a married woman.
Alongside their visit they had news that Lavina was indeed with child and she even began to show it through her clothes with the smallest bump Byrhtnoth had seen in a long time. He gently rubbed her belly and prayed to The Watcher for her pregnancy to go smoothly and for the baby to be born healthy when it was ready. There was also a clear sign between the young couple that they were settled into married life comfortably and looked to be more affectionate towards each other.
On the other side of Praaven an extension of the Chapmans were celebrating a birthday: February was now five years old and as active, bold and charming as ever. Byrhtnoth visited to deliver his grandchild a gift of some horses he whittled and also to check up on his daughter, Linyeve. She was still very clearly grieving her many losses but cracked a smile when her only remaining child blew out the candles to wish for something cute and childish.
With so much talk of babies and children Osuald brought it up at dinner one summer night, after a day of spending some time with Lana in Praaven and learning more about her father's line of work.
"Father," began Osuald with an inquisitive tone, "when is it the right time to have children when you get married?" Byrhtnoth stopped chewing and made a side glance at his boy before finishing his mouthful and swallowing.
"Well, many couples start as soon as they get married, but if you would prefer to wait that is absolutely your choice."
"I'm just... not exactly sure if I'm ready to care for a baby at my current age." Osuald began to fidget with his nails and looking down in doubt. Byrhtnoth pushed his plate to the side.
"I don't think anyone is truly ready to be responsible for a screaming little baby," confided his father. "But I just know when I got to hold little Pipa in my arms for the first time things just felt... right. All of the doubts and worries I had just melted away and I wanted to give that little girl everything I had and more."
It was inspiring to listen to his father and Osuald still pondered how willing he would be to raise a child at sixteen years old - well, seventeen hopefully by the time he marries Lana and she carries out a term.
"I truly hope I feel the same way, father," he finally responded to which Byrhtnoth finished the conversation with,
"Trust me, my boy, you will."
The only baby they had at home currently was baby Silvian, who was actually a few months away from reaching full maturity and ready to be tasked with learning how to be saddled and ridden. The Chapman lads relished in the adorable sight of the foal scrunched up asleep beside his mama in their new stable inside the farmhouse.
Osuald continued to see his love, Lana, as the summer grew to autumn but the more work there was on the farm the less he got to meet her in Praaven. His father was not only stepping back from the farmwork because of his aging body but to also begin finalising the plans for Osuald's and Lana's wedding, which was confirmed to be had in the first week of November, just before the snow would coat the hills.
In between all of their chores the lads would sit down and play some dominoes while they discussed the upcoming wedding. They followed through with Lana's mother's wish for them to marry in a church and they had it set to be held at Lughaven. Byrhtnoth thought of Father Bruceus and wondered who took his place as the church's priest now that he had passed, especially with Frank remaining as the royal priest inside the castle walls. He said a quick prayer to The Watcher to rest Father Bruceus' soul and carried on with the planning.
Byrhtnoth would sometimes invite Lana's parents to discuss the event to their home and on occasion he would visit them in the city and on those days Osuald was in charge of all of the responsibilities of the farm. He fed the animals, gathered the eggs, cleaned the dishes and made sure to maintain his own needs in between all of that.
He found himself incredibly tired after these days and hoped there wouldn't be many more of these days to come, imagining how wonderful of a housewife Lana will be once they marry. If they had the spare clean water and time while his father was away Osuald would indulge in a hot bath inside their new guesthouse and attempt to scrub his weariness away.
Days before the wedding Silvian was noted to be of the same height as Gloria and shared many similar quirks as her, especially their mutual adoration for carrots. He took to handling a saddle on his back relatively easily and soon Osuald could comfortably and confidently gallop around the empty fields surrounding their farm and reward Silvian with his deepest desire: carrots.
Once again the Chapmans awoke to prepare for a wedding celebration. They arose out of their slumber just as dawn broke and Osuald peered outside to admire the sunrise beyond the Praaven mountains. The sky appeared in shades of glorious reds and oranges and couldn't sit still for more than a minute while looking outside as his nerves and jitters caught up with him.
Osuald and Byrhtnoth had their breakfast together to prepare for another big celebratory day and made sure to eat a hefty portion of porridge. Unlike Lavina, Osuald wasn't getting any sensations of butterflies, he was excited but there was no anxiety behind it. He shared his feelings with his father and believed that he has been ready to marry Lana this entire year, especially after seeing his sister marry.
Byrhtnoth cleaned the dishes that morning and Osuald went upstairs to get himself dressed. There was no grandiose gown that he was being gifted and so he was quicker to get ready. He made sure he bought a fresh and new linen tunic for his big day and he chuckled to himself when he saw how white it was compared to his older ones. He fastened it off with a belt and his usual pants and went to give his face a wash before venturing off to Lughaven.
As expected the Chapmans arrived first to the church and waited for their guests and bride to arrive. They knew most of the gathered friends and family were to be travelling a larger distance than they did so they patiently waited for everyone to arrive. Osuald went to speak with the priest and make sure all of the information provided for the ceremony was correct while Byrhtnoth visited the family plot in the cemetery next door.
He stood alone in the early morning amongst the headstones of his children and one true love and so he quietly talked to them. He spoke to Olyff the most and expressed how he wished he could see her face full of pride as she watched her son get married today. He couldn't stop the tears from producing as he talked to the grave markings and knelt down on the moist soil to gently rub the cold stone.
Byrhtnoth's mind reminisced on his own wedding, short and sweet and also held at the Lughaven church, with a much smaller attendance. Then he thought of Pipa's wedding to Frank, and Linyeve's to August, and now these two weddings in one single year. He was shaken out of his reminiscence as he heard August's voice break through and he stood up slowly to meet him.
They took their greetings inside as it began to drizzle across the graveyard and began to catch up. Byrhtnoth immediately asked about his daughter, especially asking about her absence, to which August explained that she was still not ready to leave the home.
This worried the father but was calmed down with information that she has ventured to the markets in Tovar several times now, she was just not ready for any celebrations. It saddened Byrhtnoth that Linyeve would be absent for another family wedding but he could never harbor any negative thoughts towards his suffering daughter.
Just as Osuald finished speaking with the priest in came Lana with her step-mother and father. He so wished to run and sweep up Lana into his arms but he remained calm and reserved in the home of The Watcher and instead shook hands with her father. The boy was given many congratulations and praises for being ready to accept Lana into the Chapman family and Osuald only felt joy from the parent's approval.
He met them back with just as many praises for Lana as they did for him, adding that he will cherish and be ever-grateful towards her love and servitude as his wife and her step-mother, Alanna, almost shed a tear from his genuine words. She gave the young boy a hug and congratulated him once more on such a fine day before asking to speak to his father.
As Bobby arrived to the church alone he glanced towards the altar before he found the other guests. The Watcher's churches were known to be somewhat plain and straight to the point so it was somewhat refreshing to see some life introduced with the wedding arch that stood near in front of the lectern.
The gathered wooden twigs that curved into a darling archway was decorated with gorgeously white bunches of hogweed flowers. Bobby noticed the symbolism of purity and virginity of the white bouquets and grinned, thanking himself for not doing the same for his own wedding arch as the symbolism would have been a lie. As he met Byrhtnoth he excused Lavina's absence as she was getting close to the end of her pregnancy and wanted to stay vigilant with it being her first child she conceived.
Frank was the last to arrive, without the company of any of the royals but with Shavonne staying close by, and quickly joined in to the conversations being had between the adults. While the parents and all were distracted Lana and Osuald shared a quick moment of affection, trading a loving embrace before their union.
Lana may have been wearing the same dress as she usually does but it was clear that it was newly sewn and bore a more intense colour than her everyday gown. As they pulled away, glancing around to see if anyone caught on, Osuald spoke up,
"You are looking magnificent, Lana." He clasped his hands at his chest and looked her up and down. "I'm so lucky to be marrying such a pretty lady like you."
"Oh stop, you're making me blush!" announced Lana as she pushed back her ebony hair behind her ear and fluttered her eyelashes at her future husband. She tried to change the subject before her face turned profusely red,
"Can you believe this day has finally come? We are going to be married by the end of the day!"
"It feels surreal but I have been waiting for this for months on end. I'm ready to start my life with you." Osuald took her hand in his and stared longingly into her eyes and although she loved the gesture her eyes glanced around before she slowly pulled away in shyness.
"Wait a moment more, Osuald. We will share a kiss soon... and more." The couple giggled like little kids that just learned a vulgar word and soon were ushered back inside to begin the ceremony.
The priest asked for the guests to take a seat on the pews as he began a short moment of prayer. He stood at the lectern and recited a passage from the scripture of The Watcher word for word, speaking on the gift of love and treasuring emotional connections; unions such as marriages may be common but honest and pure love doesn't come naturally, it can only be attained through the guidance of The Watcher.
Soon he asked all of the guests to rise and for the teenage bride and groom to meet together under the arch. Their respective parents stood close by while the rest of the guests found their places around the aisle and to the sides of the benches.
Lana looked towards her parents and gave them a soft smile. Her step-mother and father stood arm in arm and bowed their head gently in approval, a small gesture of their willingness to send off their daughter to marry the boy she fell in love with. Lana turned back to look at Osuald and felt like her heart was melting from how lovingly he looked at her. And so they began to say their vows.
Not too surprisingly, Lana requested for the vows to stay as they were written in the scripture and so they used the same words as Lavina and Bobby did at their wedding. They each took turns to promise to one another that they would love each other no matter their wealth, no matter their health, no matter their age and sealing it with an "until death do us part." They exchanged copper rings, courtesy of Bobby, and the priest announced that they may finish the ceremony with a kiss.
They felt strange to share their very first kiss in front of all of their friends and family but once they locked lips it was difficult to tear themselves apart, just like two perfect magnets. The onlookers clapped, and a few gave some shouts of praise, and Byrhtnoth admired the scene.
My last child is now married, he thought to himself. My mission in life is complete, they have all grown up and have begun their families. May The Watcher protect them so.
Thus began their celebrations. The families all began to individually congratulate the young couple once more, now adding that they are officially man and wife. Their stay at the church didn't go on for much longer as they drifted off to the Lughaven tavern that was just across the dusty road from the church. There they drank responsibly, especially Lana's parents, and shared a hearty meal and some cake also.
Once their plates were empty and cups seemed dry Byrhtnoth began a singing circle. He started off with a song all about a historic queen of Praaven from many, many years ago where she married many men throughout her life yet died a lonely woman. The song was humorous and people chuckled as they joined in to the hook of the repetitive chorus. The songs that followed after were all sorts of folk songs, and Alanna even performed a Spanish song that her father taught her solo to which everyone was in awe.
The night was far different from Lavina and Bobby's wedding, far more timid and together, but the evening had to end sometime. Just as the sun showed signs of setting it was time to part ways. Lana gave her parents one last tight hug before her departure back to the Chapman stead and so the wedding concluded.
As soon as they entered the home Byrhtnoth started up the fires at the various hearths across their home as the air felt still and chilly. Osuald revealed that he was still quite hungry and Lana offered to make them some stew. He showed her around her new abode and she complimented their remodeling, remembering how the place looked like when she had met Osuald for the very first time. She got straight to work in the kitchen to make a spiced vegetable stew and served it with pleasure.
Lana's cooking was unmatched to the Chapman men, there was a clear feminine touch to the entire process and the flavours were soft yet bountiful. Osuald complimented her for the umpteenth time and Lana always gave him a genuine smile of adoration back, a perfect rapport. Once the meal was finished and the plates were being gathered to wash by Lana Byrhtnoth brought a new conversation out onto the table,
"So, lovebirds," he began playfully. "Now that there's a wedded couple in our home you have the rightful ownership of the master bedroom upstairs." The couple looked at one other, Lana looking over her shoulder as she scrubbed the soup bowls, and shared a look of realisation. Byrhtnoth continued,
"I will take your bedroom, if that is alright with you, Oz." His son nodded in approval with a raised chin. "Brilliant. Well... you children have one last thing to do before the night is over." Byrhtnoth began to twist his head to look at each teen for a moment before uttering the words:
"A conjugal consummation."
CW: descriptions of kissing & sex, teen sex.
Sex was a very taboo word, yet everyone knew of it, and the teens always wondered why people were so averse to saying it. Then they hear a parent try to describe it and they understand why society decided on such a decision. Osuald felt his face get hot and felt uncomfortable to look his father in the face while Lana began to scrub the pottery faster.
"Now, before you get stressed, I'll make it easy on you. I will leave to the guest house to take a bath before my slumber and you can see through to your marriage finalisation. Good with you?" Osuald breathed out a slow sigh of relief and Lana began to dry her hands as she spoke up first,
"Thank you Byrhtnoth for respecting our privacy. I promise you we won't be any trouble."
"This is nothing even close to trouble," said Byrhtnoth sincerely as he shook his head. "You'll both soon grow to realise that it is a blessing gifted to us by The Watcher, a blessing that gives us the miracle of life and a way to build a deeper connection to our spouses." He rose slowly from his seat, steadying himself on the table.
"Don't take too long though," he teased, "I don't want to fall asleep in the bath!" He disappeared out of the farm house and into the wooden guest house. The newly wed couple now stood there, only several metres apart, and stood frozen in indecision. What do they do? Do they begin to kiss right here, right now? Do they wait until they are in bed? They both felt clueless but soon Lana took the reigns,
"Let me just dry these bowls and I'll be right upstairs, alright?" Osuald nodded silently with his mouth agape and he took off up the ladder, stumbling a little as his nerves began to rise in his chest. Once he stood in what used to be his father's bedroom he shook his hands to try throw his anxiousness out through his fingers but things didn't seem to work. This nervousness wasn't present this morning, why did it decide to only show now?
He settled on warming his hands over the fire as they trembled, foolishly thinking he was cold, but it would later on be beneficial to make his hands warm as he would be touching many parts of his beloved for the first time. Time felt slow yet fast to him and before he knew it Lana was upstairs and walking closer and closer to him.
He turned to look at her and dropped his hands by his side. They were less than a metre from each other and could visibly see that they were both nervous about this. Osuald took a deep breath and broke his mute streak, looking down and taking Lana's hands in his as he held them tightly,
"Let's take things slow, one step at a time."
"But your father may come back inside," worried Lana but Osuald shook his head at that thought.
"You heard what he said, this is a blessing. I can't imagine he would want to interfere in this blessing of ours so remove him from your mind... it's just you and me. Right here, right now." The room went still yet both of them could swear they could hear each other's heartbeats. The fire crackled with ease next to them and radiated a welcoming warmth their way.
Osuald began to act on instinct and tried to calm his wife's nerves by taking his right hand and gently caressing her cheek with the back of his fingers. Lana closed her eyes for a short moment, inhaling sharply at his affection, and placing her hand on his. She opened her big doll eyes and looked back at him, worries fading away with every touch he granted her.
They began to naturally take smaller steps getting close to each other, their chests almost touching, and Osuald began to wrap his arms around his wife. She reciprocated with her own embrace and listened to her husband say,
"Oh, how I wanted to kiss you much more when we were declared man and wife." He looked down at her supple lips and back up to meet her gaze.
"Show me what you wanted to do," she demanded in a soft, sultry voice. Osuald took the lead and pressed his lips against Lana's and felt a rush of emotions. His lips began to take on a life of their own as they parted and met hers at various angles; all his mind was doing was relishing on the ecstasy that rushed to every limb attached to his body.
Soon their breathing grew laboured and they both felt warm in a way they have never felt before. They pulled away gently and glanced at one another.
"I'm ready to try," announced Lana.
"So am I," answered Osuald.
They watched each other undress down to their undergarments before relaxing onto the large straw bed, fluffing the feather pillows to lean against for some more kissing before committing to the deed. The nerves came back during this break but quickly melted away once their skin made contact with the other.
They cuddled up closely, nuzzling their faces against each other, before sliding down into a horizontal position and getting lost in between the bed covers, the flowing undergarments, and Lana's long raven hair.
Neither of them thought that such a taboo act, that they were both told so little about leading up to this moment, would be so magnificent. Although his father was the last thing on Osuald's mind his words rang true to him, this was his first moment of building an immensely deep connection with Lana, and before he could even finish he was buzzing for the next opportunity to share a bed with her again.
CW over.
As they caught their breaths and settled back into a comfortable cuddling position Osuald watched Lana's eyes flutter closed and fall asleep rather quickly. It had truly been a highly eventful day, full of firsts and full of joy. He tried to fight back sleep, wanting to relish in his sleeping beauty that lay beside him, but quickly succumbed to the sleeping urge.
Just before he drifted into the land of dreams he heard his father shut the front door and shuffle his way back to the downstairs bedroom. Everyone was safe and sound at home and a new life awaited them in the morning.
P.S. I hope you enjoyed reading this chapter! I just wanted to add a note that although I believe it is very clear that the Ultimate Decades Challenge has many mature themes I will just put it out there that, yes, my story is strictly 18+.
I will never be going into extreme detail with any of the sexual scenes in my story as to not turn it into smut but I will be giving it some lead up, and if it isn't your cup of tea, I will be doing a content warning beforehand so you can skip it entirely :) I know it is also a bit awkward knowing that our current romances were between teens but such is the challenge if we're sticking to history. Thanks for understanding and I hope you can support my decisions going forward! <3
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