Runil stood in the garden. He was looking out over the location, observing the preparations they had made.

"Runil,"called Stefan as he approached.

Runil looked over to him. They shook hands vigorously.

"Stefan," he said. "Good day to you."

"This is Serana," he introduced her to him. "She is my bride."

Runil looked at her. He nodded politely, Serana smiled in return.

Stefan lead him to the aisle. Valerica and Serana brought up the rear.

"How many guests will be in attendance?" asked Runil.

"I honestly don't know," replied Stefan.

"No matter," said Runil. "We can still make do."

He walked up the aisle and stood behind the large table that was turned into a makeshift alter.

"We don't have a Mara shrine," said Stefan apologetically.

"No matter,"said Runil dismissively. "I trust you have an amulet."

Stefan nodded.

"Then we can use that,"continued Runil. "It's not a problem."

Runil inspected the area. He looked around and muttered to himself.

"Serana," he called suddenly. She looked up as he called her name. He gestured for her to come down to the alter. She bounded over and stood next to Stefan.

"Good," said Runil. "Serana you stand on my right. Stefan on my left."

They did as they instructed.

"Excellent," he said. "The service will begin at around 10 'o'clock. I will have the rings ready for you tomorrow."

He turned to Serana.

"I assume your mother will be giving you away?"he asked.

Serana nodded. He then turned to Stefan.

"You should arrive first and wait for your lady to arrive," he instructed to Stefan. "Then Serana and her mother will walk down the aisle and she will give Serana to you."

Stefan nodded.

"I will give the service, which won't be more than half an hour, then you and your guests are free to enjoy the feast afterwards."

He looked at them both.

"Any questions," he asked.

"I have one,"said Stefan. "Where I come from. It is traditional that the groom gives his future wife a gift. It should be done after the rings are exchanged."

"No problem," he said. "Anything else?"

They both shook their heads.

"Alright," said Runil. "Then I will see you on the 16th."

He made to leave. Stefan stood on the spot. As Runil walked away, Serana approached him.

"Runil?"she asked.

"Yes my dear," he replied politely.

"I understand that you are a mage,"she said.

"Well yes, I suppose so," he said. "Why do you mention this."

"I have a special request," said Serana. "I was curious to know if you could write a summoning spell."

"A summoning spell?"asked Runil.

"Yes," she confirmed. "One for me and one for him. So we can summon each other."

Runil thought for a moment.

"Humm, an unusual request but not impossible," he said. "I'm sure I can do that for you."

Serana smiled at him.

"Thank you,"she said gratefully.

"No trouble," he said.

He lowered his voice.

"Between you and me," he said. "He's a very lucky gentleman."

He winked and walked away, leaving her smiling.

Later that afternoon Stefan sat alone at one of the exterior tables. Serana and Valerica had disappeared to the upper floors of the house. He sat at his table drinking a bottle of nord mead and reading a book when he heard a kerfuffle from the front of the house.

"I think this is the place," said Gunmar.

"It is," said Isran. "I can smell Vampires."

Stefan put his book down and made his way around the house to find the source of the commotion. He could see the Dawn-guard striding up towards his house.

"I hope you won't be using that to kill my new wife Isran," said Stefan as he stood in front of the main door.

"I can't believe you are going to marry that Vampire,"said Isran. "After all that we sacrificed to destroy the beast of her father."

"Nice to see you too Isran,"said Stefan.

"Cosy little place you got here," said Gunmar. "Isran could take some building tips from you."

Isran gave him a look and Gunmar was silent.

"Where do you keep the mead?" asked Sorine. A fellow Breton. "It's been a long journey."

Stefan pointed to the back yard. Sorine lead them to the back yard. Stefan sighed and followed them. He entered the back yard to see Serana and Valerica had returned from their mysterious activities inside the house. Stefan froze as Serana and Isran saw each other.

"Hello Vampire," he said stiffly.

"Isran," said Serana defiantly. "I see Stefan invited you."

"Yes," he said.

"I see you brought some of your friends," said Serana sweetly. "That will be good in case I get hungry during the reception."

Isran hands twitched. Stefan could see him reaching for his weapon.

At once Stefan picked up his Dragonbone sword and stood between them.

"Isran," he said. "That's enough."

Isran looked at him.

"Stefan," he began. But Stefan cut across him.

"Save your breath Isran," said Stefan firmly. "Serana is going to be my wife. I will not tolerate you threatening her. If you wish to stay, you are going to be civil. Is that clear?"

Isran nodded. Stefan then lowered his sword and turned to Serana.

"Serana," he said.

"Yes," she said.

"Don't encourage him," he asked politely.

"I won't if he doesn't," she said looking at him.

Stefan touched her face and stroked her cheek softly.

"What do you know about the Dwemer?" asked Sorine looking at Valerica.

"Oh I don't know," began Valerica awkwardly. "Perhaps a little."

Sorine stood up and approached her carrying her bottle of nord mead.

"I have a particular interest in those little underground Elves," said Sorine. "I wonder if you could tell me what you knew about them?"

"What makes you think I know more than you?" asked Valerica.

"I understand you are from the first century," said Sorine. "You must be very knowledgable.

"Well," said Valerica flattered. "When you put it like that."

She was silent for a moment. She then gestured Sorine to follow her.

"What would you like to know?"she asked.

Sorine followed Valerica as she lead her inside the house. Serana looked between Stefan and the twosome. Stefan smiled at her and tapped his knee, requesting she sit down. Serana then looked back at Sorine and Valerica. She decided that staying with the females would be a safer choice. She smiled at Stefan and walked off to join Sorine and Valerica.

"I don't understand what you see in that...Vampire," said Isran as Serana walked away.

"She may be a Vampire but she is just as human as anyone else," said Stefan. He took a deep swig of his nord mead. "Besides, she is a charming young woman."

"She certainly seems different from the rest of her kind," said Gunmar.

Isran looked over to him.

"Different?" he asked.

"She helped us stop the prophecy," explained Gunmar. "I for one am pleased with that."

Isran was silent. He glowered at Gunmar.

"Still," said Isran. "She's a Vampire. The dawn-guard has spent thousands of years fighting her kind."

"I see your prejudice has made you as short sighted as ever Isran," said Gunmar. "Serana clearly is different from others of her kind. It seems that her and Stefan are very happy together."

He raised his bottle and looked at Stefan.

"She's splendid Stefan," he said. "To your future happiness."

Stefan raised his bottle.

"I'll drink to that," he said.

They clinked their bottles together and drank to Stefan's happiness.

Isran made a noise of mixed with disbelief and annoyance.