Certain major characters are not mine, though Lon is mine, among others. Language warning.

x x x

Crossroad Keep - - -

--Bishop

Damn gnome. We didn't need to be reminded, and it wasn't going to change anything at all. Lon was lucky, she just seemed to be floating in a bubble of happiness. When I realized we were lit from underneath, I was so close to leaping over and pounding him. Even Cas looked torn. But the little bard had gotten smarter, and I'd have to barrel through several people to get to him, including an oblivious Elondra.

Karnwyr was laughing at me, You wanted everyone to know she was yours, so why don't you now?

At least it didn't look like Casavir heard that, but my mind had stopped, if not snapped. It was strangely tempting, being carried along with the flow of the music... feeling her... tasting...

Stop playing, dammit! I wanted to howl, but managed to only step closer and put my arm around her waist. Lon beamed at me briefly, and I smiled. She returned to paying attention to the ceremony.

I took a deep breath, trying to focus a little. At least this time Cas and I weren't trying to prove anything on each other. Reaching out to hold her, had helped a little. Holding on to each other after the pronouncement helped more. Once we'd kissed, the damn music was unneeded, and of course, it stopped.

She stayed close for a while as we got well wishes from our smirking friends. That did explain why there had been so many plants. I guessed this was the bard's masterpiece prank. I hoped he didn't have any more, as now I wanted to get him or them.

Both Cas and Elondra suggested we separate to chat with the people waiting for food. I did, but ended up talking more about combat with the soldiers than our wedding. I saw the wench from the Phoenix, and moved off in another direction.

Something's really wrong. Karnwyr told me.

--Where is she?

Near the end of the benches, talking to the drummer. I'm coming, as is pack brother.

She was only about ten yards from the back row, and in the middle of a group of well-wishers, mostly from the village. Grobnar said something, but then she was asking that he and the Neeshka clear our bedroom, in a hurry.

Cas asked her first, but she pointed with her chin saying that we had friends in the last row.

I looked more closely to the dozen or so people in a clump, and saw the very last person we wanted to see here, Nasher.

M'Lady gave one more thank you to the immediate crowd, and began to move to the other group. They still had travel stains, and I wondered where the rest of their travel train was, groups like this never traveled light.

Lon, or maybe the Commander, bowed, and said, "Welcome to Crossroad Keep, Lord..."

"Rezzill. Congratulations on the occasion. I wish I had known..." Nasher interrupted, his voice cold. A glacial reproof was there in the ass's voice, though his face was blank.

Interestingly, Nevalle was missing. The lady beside him sounded like his wife, but none else in the group looked familiar to me. One was wearing that stupid Neverwinter Nine cloak, but the rest all seemed to be Greycloaks or the like.

This made my stomach sink, a group of nobles always had lots of hangers on, toadies, lackies, and pretty boys and girls. Even when 'hunting' they needed peasants to take care of their useless dogs and wipe their asses.

"I'm sorry... sir," Lon said stiffly. "We only decided shortly before my note, and weren't sure how long it would take. I did not want politics involved. If you wish, a room is being prepared for you and your lady, though accommodations will be rougher for the rest of your group."

"I understand the Greycloak Cormick is doing an inspection..." More coldness for her friend from Nasher.

Her face was too pale, and Cas looked carefully blank as well. Dammit, this was supposed to be their day!

Lon carefully said, "Yes, sir. He did not know of anything before we began the inspection. I have a copy of the preliminary inspection report, of you wish to see it."

While she was speaking, my only warning beyond my own acid stomach was a instant of glee from Karnwyr. He was about to do what he'd wanted to do for days. I lunged and shoved Nasher aside, and got soaked.

I knelt there on my hands and knees, afraid of his escort's reaction and yelled at Karnwyr mentally. Cas was pushed further away and I heard weapons drawn. I could still see Lon's fine boots beside me.

His tail between his legs, Karnwyr whimpered and slunk away.

--Pup, I.... Whatever happens, stay with her.

Nasher stood up, and smirked, "Perhaps you should change, before it stains..."

M'Lady began apologizing, saying, "I'm sorry, Sir. The companion has done pranks before, but..."

He waved it off, and began to move away towards the food with his group, chuckling.

I stood up and held my arms away from the wet. I would have liked Nasher to be wet, but I was afraid what would happen to the pup, or us.

Casavir stepped over said wryly, "And here I was worried about whatever prank Neeshka was going to do. Karnwyr wins."

"Heh," I said without any humor, "I think the stream or even a horse trough would be closer for a quick rinse than going back to the Keep right away. Then I'll walk back and see what I can find to wear today."

Elondra said quietly, "I've already ordered shutdown of pranks and moving all our stuff to the attic. It should be there in a little while. Is this like a progression, Cas?"

"Yes, and we should use the name and title he gave, it means the fiction of casual manners as long as it's maintained. We will need to include at least he and Lady Rezzill at our table."

"Look, I'd love to help," I said, lying through my teeth, "but I'm getting sick." I left for the nearest water I could remember, wishing for an instant to keep going.

x x x

--Casavir

The smell had been getting pretty rank, even from a few feet away. I hoped it would wash out, as we were all scant on formal clothing. That was probably a mistake, as we shouldn't try to hide from that kind of battle. I wondered if there was a chance we could ask Sand to get that last set we left in the city.

My Lady said, "I don't think we should break up the turquoise set for tomorrow, but nothing else is nice enough."

"Perhaps Sand would be willing to get the court clothing from the Flagon?" I asked.

"You'd better find him for that. I'm going to take over the laundry room again in a few minutes." She looked around, and spotted Karnwyr, hiding under a bush. "Karnwyr, please don't do pranks to people other than the pack. They may not be forgiving."

He whimpered, He's howling.

I said, "We know, we're worried too. Could you help him quietly get to the laundry?"

The wolf slunk away.

Elondra looked pale and worried, though she was smiling. My happiness was dimmed as well, and I stepped closer to put my arm around her for a moment. She looked up at me with a more genuine smile, before sighing. A moment later, we each double checked that we hadn't been splashed, and then moved on to more necessary tasks than I'd thought we'd have right now.

I moved through the crowd, exercising what charm I had, looking for Sand. I asked one of the helpers to get two more chairs for the tables on the stage. Sand, I found on the dais, talking magic spells with Zinnea.

"Ah, paladin. Where are your better halves?" he said with that snide edge of humor.

I said urgently, "Sand, this isn't the time. Do you have a couple of teleports, and would you be willing to use them? Getting our court outfits from the Flagon to the laundry would be really helpful right now..."

"Hmm. It seems we owe the dwarf, we thought it would be much sooner," he said with real regret.

"After M'Lady was obsessing about the lists? We would have been fine, if Bishop's outfit hadn't gotten... soaked," but I continued, "We've had an unexpected guest, a Lord Rezzill and his lady, who will be to this table soon."

The elf's eyes focused more seriously on me, and he looked towards the food table. He nodded, stood, and vanished with a short word and a puff of air.

I circulated for a while. A few conversations ended when I got close, which made me uneasy.

A couple of unfamiliar Greycloaks were laughing with some ales, one saying something very crude, about us and my Lady. His friend stopped laughing and noticed me before I got there and tried hushing the other.

"I would appreciate your name and the name of your sergeant," I said keeping my voice flat, although I was sure it was very cold. I wanted to do something more direct, and managed to only clench my fists. "You also should probably sleep off your alcohol in the barracks."

"Fuck off," he said dismissively with a rude gesture. "That's what you're here for. Must be quite a party tonight, eh? She gonna invite more in? Must be good, or it's one way to get promot..."

"You will tell me your name and commander," I interrupted, gritting my teeth.

Nearly spitting on me, he said, "You're not in our chain of command. Piss off, like your buddy." He laughed.

"Even if not, tell me," I insisted. "Anyone can ask it of you."

"He's Sker, under Lieutenant Robend," the other Greycloak admitted, looking pale. "I'm Jeffolke."

None of those names were familiar. Nodding, I said, "Thank you, you should take him away. For his own safety."

Sker added, "Not afraid of you, some kind of climber, getting into the castle with his..."

Jeffolke dragged him away, while I stood there with clenched fists, tense with wanting to do more. The people in the nearby area were quiet, and scattered, leaving me alone in an open area.

I said a quick prayer for calm, and left, looking for Cormick. He was not visible in the crowd anywhere. I had to swallow my anger, as I could do nothing else at this time. Checking further, I made sure the bards who were providing music would have a chance to eat, as would the servers.

After a while, Karnwyr came up and told me, Time to change.

Good, maybe we'd get a chance to eat. I already wanted a strong drink.

I made my way back towards the Keep and passed Sand on the way down to the festival grounds. Elondra caught up with me near the locked laundry, and she let us in. Once inside, Bishop was wringing out and hanging his earlier outfit. I put mine aside for later, as did she. We got redressed in the fine court outfits. Those looked fine, still, but I was wondering if we'd ever wear them in happiness. We shared a strong embrace, before hurrying back to the festivities without saying anything.

It looked like everyone had gotten to eat, aside from us, and some cooks were bringing out the covered cake carts. We went to get some food before it would be collected, and made our way determinedly to the high table. We didn't have much time to eat before the cakes were revealed. One, with more decoration, was delivered to us at our table. We carefully cut and tasted it peacefully, to the surprise of our friends, and resumed our dinners.

I'm sure there would have been much more high spirits, if Nasher was not watching, and I could spare pang of regret for that.