Chapter Text
Morning dew mixes with the blood of the deceased. It is cold, almost freezing, like icicles dripping off the bodies. Absorbed by the dark green grasses that sway with the wind like waves of the ocean.
“We must end this, for good,” a man says.
“Then, it is a deal.” Another, cloaked figure, replies. His outfit is decorated with golden embroidery and gems that drag on the muddy ground, though the man does not seem fazed about getting it tarnished. He lowers his body to a fallen knight, who has vines wrapped around his arm like ribbons. The knight remains unresponsive as the gentleman shadows him from the rising sun, observing him down upon his opened eyes. He then gently touches the eyelids of the lifeless body and closes them, welcoming the poor soul to eternal slumber.
“Your service has not been in vain. May you rest in peace.” He mutters and rises from the ground. He looks to the other, who is adorned in much bulkier metal armor, until he speaks.
“I'll expect to see you when the moon is full for the 130th time. During the last day of spring, I suppose?”
“Indeed.” The cloak figure replies, still watching over his fallen man. Then slowly, He takes off his hood to reveal his ears, sharp like the blade of a dagger, pointed towards the sky.
“The war of elves and humans shall end today.”
𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧
“I am not looking forward to tomorrow,” a boy with fiery hair says. It circles like a tendril with its ends highlighted brightly by the sun passing through the strands of hair.
“What?” A young maiden replies, tightening the waistband of the young man's robes.
“Why not? Is it not your coming of age? What is not to be excited about?” She says, offended.
“Just that.. I won't be here any longer.” He says, sadly, looking outside to the sunset that shimmered like strings of gold resting in the sky.
“Oh, young master Kyle, I am sure you'll be able to return whenever you desire.” She reassured him and stretched out his robes.“And have you forgotten that I'll also be joining you?”
“No, I am aware. I'm just-” he says, looking into her eyes, like a wolf cub in need of milk.“Worried that I wouldn't be able to get along with him. I wouldn't want to disappoint anyone.”
“Who said anything about getting along?”
Kyle froze like the marble statues in the courtyard, motionless, until he spoke.
“Bebe, isn't that the whole point of the arrangement? To be wed, so no human nor elf would go to war again?” He said, in complete bafflement.
“Yes, but marriage does not require you to get along with your partner, sir. I have heard that some even sleep in different chambers,” She said, whispering to him, as if her words were sinful. “What’s more, is that you will be residing in a newly constructed castle, which would be big enough to ignore his existence for the rest of your life!” She finished, looking proud of her statement, which Kyle responded by giving her an even more perplexed look.
When the 200-year war ended between the Humans and Elves, 12 years ago, neither kingdom trusted the other to follow through with peace. Thus, to strengthen the accord, both kings agreed on an arranged marriage between their first offspring.
However, complications arose when one of the king's eldest daughters fled one night to marry a commoner. Leaving both kings with only sons. Though the marriage was to proceed as planned, many were concerned with not having an heir to further stabilize peace.
The arrangement was decided when the prince of the elves, Kyle, was only 7. From that day forward, he was treated like a god, praised and spoiled till his heart's content, with the most grandest parties and celebrations for each birthday that crept near his wedding. No longer could his closet, nor drawers, contain the sheer amount of gifts he would receive at these celebrations, to an extreme that his mother had to start refusing them altogether.
Kyle hated the attention he was getting and felt an enormous weight on his shoulders to please his people with the marriage, even if it wasn't what he desired. The gifts only made him more nervous about his wedding, as if he were awaiting execution.
“What ornaments would you adorn this evening?” Bebe, his servant, asked. Admiring his collection of jewels, which were all kept in his custom-made drawer, wide enough to fit a full person in.
“Just the usual arm-cuffs would be alright,” Kyle replied.
“Oh, how humble of you,” she said, rolling her eyes. “Have you even worn any of the others?” She asks, though already knowing the answer.
“You see,” she continued. “These lovely embroidery-styled hoops? It takes ages for craftsmen to knit branches like this, and how about these earrings? They are encrusted with emeralds!”
Kyle looked at her with slight amusement, knowing he wouldn't change his mind.
“Oh, good, you're still here.” A voice says behind him. Before he can turn to see the person, a box is handed right in front of him. It is carved in great detail, as if it were made with magic alone. The edges portrayed trees, while the center illustrated poppies, all curled in knots to spell out his name.
“What is this? I thought I wouldn't be receiving anything.” Kyle says, already recognizing the person by their hands. It is his mother, the queen.
“This isn't any ordinary gift, it's from your fiancé.” She says, which makes Bebe squeak from excitement.
“What?”
“Don't you remember? I asked you to pick a gift for him during winter, this is what he sent back.”
“Ooo, what did you give him?” Bebe chimes in, in more joy than Kyle would ever be.
“A ceremonial dagger,” he says, glancing at her with exhaustion.
“You gave a weapon to a human?” She says, half chuckling, from her sentence.
“Bebe!” Kyle's mother snaps.
Bebe holds her mouth as if she were petrified with what had come out of her. She lowered her head, which made her golden curls drape over, to the queen.
“I am ashamed, your Majesty. Please forgive me,” she says.
“I wouldn't want you to talk like that to your future master.” Kyle's mother replies with a sigh. “Peace can only be achieved when all souls are united. Bebe, be careful next time.”
“Right, your highness.” She says and moves slightly behind, keeping her distance away from both of them.
Kyle decides to open the box out of the sudden uneasiness he feels. Even after the war ended, tension between the two kingdoms stayed. It was an inevitable outcome that greatly worried some who wanted change in the right direction. These were little issues that substantially affected Kyle's view of his marriage. He believed he was responsible for ending any lingering prejudiced ideas.
The top of the box is secured with a leather flap with holes, hooked to a metal buckle. Kyle releases the flap gently to reveal what is inside. Kyle's eyes lowered in disillusionment when the item gleamed in the light.
“Is this a hair accessory? Doesn't he know that I have a plentiful amount of jewelry?” He says, placing the box on his dresser in a disgusted tone, like a mother rejecting her newborn.
“No, it isn't, look carefully, it's a broach,” his mother says, taking the item in her hands, displaying it to him. The object is shaped like a crescent moon, with a small needle-like spear impaling through it. On closer observation, Kyle could see the ends were fashioned with the head of a wolf.
“It’s to keep your cloak secured, how thoughtful is that?” She says, rubbing the item.
“Oh.. perhaps I overreacted.” Kyle admits, cupping the item off of his mother's hands, gently stroking the surface to feel its engravings, resembling those from the box. He gazes upon it for several minutes thinking it must be a common decoration for the humans, and slowly returns it to the velvet cushion it was displayed in.
“You want to keep that as well?” His mother asks, pointing to the case.
“Why not? It must have been made for it.” He answers, closing the lid, which slides in perfectly back into the container, which makes Kyle feel a slight shiver once the wood collides to make a satisfying sound, securing it.
“Well, I'm glad to know you like it, dear. Now, come, supper is waiting for us. Some of your relatives have come to visit you before your departure.”
“Oh, how considerate of them,” Kyle says mockingly, to which his mother reacts, giving him a side eye stare.
𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.
Kyle manages to escape early from the dancing drunks of the dining room. However, after glancing out of the window, he soon realizes how late it actually is. In fact, it is already his birthday.
The halls are quiet but warmly lit with lanterns, guiding him back to his room. He feels considerably more isolated this evening, with the dread of his departure slowly consuming his mind. He has no one to confide in, to truly understand how scared he is. Kyle knows he doesn't have a choice, and that his future is set in stone, but inside, he wishes to live a life without such a responsibility.
Kyle's chamber is lit with a small candle on the wall, perhaps left by Bebe knowing he would return. A nice breeze welcomes him in which sways the flame engulfing him in complete darkness until the fire bounces back again. The doors to his balcony are wide open to cool his quarter, with the blue light of the night sky blending in with his room, creating a relaxing atmosphere for him to rest in.
He takes the candle off its holder and walks to the middle of the room with his drapes sliding off his shoulders. Kyle is exhausted from the number of people he greeted today, and would be delighted to just collapse onto his bed. However, when his eyes catch a glance of the wooden box, the gift he received from his fiancé, still modestly placed on his dresser, He can't help but gravitate towards it, with his fingers sliding through the wooden carvings, as he pulls his body closer. The lid comes off with the sound of release tension, like a bubble that has popped. The brooch glows, displaying itself to him, with the fire he holds, radiating from inside of the box. It's exceptionally gorgeous.
Kyle thinks to himself what a man his partner could be, and wonders if he liked the dagger Kyle had sent him. He hates to admit that he is actually quite happy with the gift. Smiling softly, like a drunken, lovestruck girl who just received a bouquet. Kyle was never given anything that could be useful, only decorations to further embellish himself with. Though the item is somewhat an ornament in itself, he feels already appreciated by this unknown man.
He closes the present slowly, feeling a little lighter than before, already dreaming of what a man he would meet at the end of this month.
𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧
Two carriages covered in flowers and drapes were arranged in front of the castle, tied to it were white horses with flowers braided into their main. Men held banners of the Royal family's emblems, with some carrying the kingdom's flag all lined up towards the entrance.
“This is kind of ridiculous.” Chuckles his little brother, Ike.
Kyle gently shoves him with his shoulders to keep his mouth shut, even if he feels the same way. Ike was the son of a very prominent nobleman whose life was cut short during the 200-year war. His mother was the last family member when she gave birth to him, but sadly, overwhelmed with grief, she took her own life shortly after. Out of pity and debt to his father's sacrifice, his parents took Ike in as their own, raising him with Kyle. Though Ike had never met his family, he still adorned himself with the family's crust with pride, while carrying his father's well-respected reputation by helping the King, his adoptive father, with solving issues such as drought in the Kingdom, even only being 15. By the end of the day, however, he always comes back to Kyle as a child, talking about women's breasts and sword fighting.
Kyle is wearing a white sheer veil over his head with cream colored robes. A traditional ceremonial outfit couples would wear in his kingdom before their wedding. Bebe wasn't the one who clothed him this morning, since she and his other trusted servants were sent off to his castle the day before, in preparation for the wedding.
Instead, his mother's maid dressed him, forcing him to wear his unwanted jewelry on his arms, ears, and neck. He feels like a wind chime, with the amount of accessories colliding with each other, making pleasant twinkling noises.
“You two, don't dilly-dally. The ceremony awaits!” His mother says, clapping her hand behind them. Both of his parents are in matching pale green outfits with some vines curled into their arms and hair. His father doesn't have his crown on, and looks rather bare without it, like a malnourished wandering trader.
“Can Ike sit with me in the same carriage, mother?” He asks before being shoved in.
“Why? Are you scared?” Ike says with a grin and his hands on his hips.
“No, but I doubt you'll enjoy the 5-hour journey with father and mother. Not with all of their nonsensical conversations.” Kyle smugly whispers.
“Oh, right. Good thinking.” Ike says and leaps in before his mother can object.
When the carriage started to move, all of the servants gathered outside to wave Kyle goodbye. Some, already weeping. He feels like a needle spearing his heart when he sees everyone's faces, people whom he had grown up with, for what feels like the last time.
When they reached the castle gates, Kyle could start to hear the immense cheering of a crowd from outside. With instruments playing, people singing and flower petals thrown at them.
“This is what it was like when the war ended,” Kyle says to Ike, reminiscing. Ike doesn't reply to his comment as they both wave to the people outside. The carriages are moving slowly and diligently through the crowd, with some people reaching up to the window to shake his hand.
A child on top of a man's shoulders approaches them with a flower crown. When Kyle notices her, he pulls back his veil and lifts his torso out of the window for her to reach his head, with Ike holding tightly onto his waist, preventing him from falling out. When the crown slips on, gently covering his eyes, the cheering becomes even louder, with the small child beaming back at him.
𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧
“What does it say?” Ike asks, pointing at the flower crown on Kyle's lap, with his veil once again covering his face. They left the kingdom 5 minutes ago and are finally on their way to the wedding. The outside is a dense forest with lanterns hanging on trees, like fruits ripe for the picking. Kyle can still hear the celebratory tunes close by as their people follow from behind.
“Let's see, yellow daffodils, for joy, white roses for purity, and lilacs for love. But most importantly, what do they all have in common?” Kyle asks Ike.
“I'm not sure, uh.. something about a good marriage?" He answers. Flowers are a means of communication that have been woven into their culture for millennia. It carried secret messages for knights during the war and was used for prayers in ceremonial occasions, an important part of Kyle's heritage.
“Certainly, however, all of these flowers also symbolize new beginnings. Thus, it must mean, ‘good luck’.” He says.
“Don't most flowers symbolize new beginnings?” Ike asks.
“Well, flowers that emerge during spring do. However, as I told you before, many also hold multiple meanings. So it is the job of the receiver to decode what the giver was implying.” He answers, still holding on to the crown. “What would you do if a lovely maiden confessed her love to you with flowers? How are you going to decode it without knowing any of this?” Kyle looks up to Ike, who is staring at the blossoms.
“Why, I would ask her directly what it means!” He says, glancing up at Kyle's eyes. Kyle laughs at the honesty Ike holds, with his breath swaying the veil in front of him.
“Haha, how naive!” He says, holding his stomach now. Ike, confused, gave a slight giggle to Kyle's chortle, unsure what was wrong with his statement.
𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼
The curtains for Kyle's carriage were pulled down before arriving at their destination, as for tradition. Even so, Light still bled through the small gaps between the fabrics, giving the inside a comforting environment, as both Ike and Kyle sat in silence, trying to picture the outside world with the sounds they heard.
They hear the horses’ hooves scraping the dirt road repeatedly for a while, until they suddenly hear a man's voice speak to them.
“We're almost there, your highnesses.” Says the coachman of their carriage. As the news reaches their ears, the light grows stronger outside, with the carriage jolting upwards for a brief second till the wheels hit solid stone.
Kyle can hear his mother's voice from the carriage behind, trying to wake his father up to admire the view. Kyle and Ike grin at each other for how loudly they can hear her, and laugh when she continues nagging him.
As they continue, Kyle starts to hear a crowd talking and admiring the flowered-covered carriages, with some welcoming them through the curtains. Slowly, the sounds of waterfalls approach them, with the laughter of children close by. Their coachman greets the youngsters as they giggle with delight.
Finally, the carriages slow down and stop gently with the horses huffing with content, as they have finally ended their journey. Yet for Kyle, it is just the beginning.
The carriage door opens, letting in the light, like rivers of water clashing into the small space, as a figure greets them from outside.
“Your Royal Highnesses, it is the greatest honor for me to welcome you.”
A serious yet nasally voice says. Kyle sees the gentleman outside of the carriage wearing a dark blue tunic and slick black hair standing in front of them. His outfit has a hint of yellow dandelion colors mixed in, with his belt and clothes embroidered with the golden thread. He looks rather exhausted, perhaps from all the planning.
“I am Craig Tucker, the butler of this estate. Though, please address me as Craig.” He says, while a nearby servant holds their hand out for Kyle to exit. Kyle is perplexed to see a young man such as himself to have such an honorable position. Though he does seem like he lives up to his title, perhaps due to the bags under his eyes, which remind Kyle of his family's own butler.
When Kyle lifts his head out of the carriage, jangling his accessories, Craig and the servants all lined up behind him, bow down to his presence. Which makes Kyle feel slightly abashed.
They do the same when his father emerges, followed by his mother.
“Ooh, how lovely!! Look at this studding fortress!” His mother voices out with delight as she pops out of the carriage, which slightly lifts when she departs.
Indeed, the building that stands before them is nothing but outstanding. Tall with columns reaching to the sky as they held leaf-like patterns of stone above them. He can barely make out the carvings that depict unicorns and dragons flying and prancing on each pillar, with vines starting to grow beneath them. Truly a work of art.
Kyle has never seen such architecture in his life. Though he can make out some similarities to his own childhood home, it is something entirely new. He ponders to himself, if it's a blend between both cultures, considering it's rather recent history.
The castle itself was put into construction right after the marriage was decided, and took roughly a decade to finish. It was one of the first joint projects the kingdoms agreed upon, and from what Kyle heard, they had no issues whatsoever in completing it. A true symbol of unity, which is rather fitting.
“Bebe, you may take his Royal Highness for preparation,” Craig says, looking behind to the maiden Kyle now recognizes.
Bebe’s hair is braided up in a bun, with small flowers sprinkled on. Her dress is a flowy, soft fabric that is the color of cherry blossoms, while her arms have vines wrapped around them.
Bebe bows gracefully to Kyle's family and walks off, anticipating Kyle to follow behind, which he does before saying goodbye to his parents and brother.
His mother braces him into a hug, which feels tight. It reminds him of a memory, the day his mother brought in the news of his arranged marriage. Though the memory is a fogged-up mist in his mind, he can clearly remember her hug, one with sadness and relief, cradling him like a baby. He feels as though his heart is ripping, knowing the next time they'll meet, he will be considered married. She lets go and squeezes his shoulders, before her husband can have his turn.
Kyle's father nods and hugs him as well, which doesn't feel as suffocating compared to his mother's. Ike wears the flower crown from earlier on his head and whispers to Kyle.
“Good luck,” he says, lightly rubbing Kyle's back.
After walking out of earshot from his parents, Bebe lets out a squeal and takes Kyle's arm after checking to see if anyone is looking.
“Oh, how incredible this place is!” She says. “Young master, you're going to adore every single room, just as I did. The halls, the courtyards, even your new study!”
Kyle wishes to have the same childlike excitement that Bebe possesses, instead of feeling like he could collapse at any second from all the tension.
They walk for a while through the halls that are lavishly decorated with flowers and ribbons until they reach a spacious room. Inside, many familiar faces of maidens await, with baskets and baskets of even more flowers and jewelry presented in front of Kyle. Some of his luggage is piled up in the corner, all taken from his room yesterday, with the box of his partner's gift resting on the very top. They cheer and clap when Kyle enters, guiding him to sit in a chair in front of a gigantic oval mirror, with a table beneath it presenting a bowl of berries and a glass of water for him.
Some of the maidens sing with joy as they prepare him for the ceremony, while others already start gossiping about the human servants.
“Have you heard? Young master. We aren't even allowed to talk about the war! Not even the word is permitted.” Jenny, a girl with dark hair, says.
“Oh, how mad, isn't it?” Says another with red hair. Both girls are brushing Kyle's head with combs that are made from bones.
“Hush, all of you, it's a very sensible rule.” Snaps one with brown hair, as she ties the shoes on Kyle's feet.
“Indeed, do not rock the boat. Today's a celebration, isn't it?” Kyle says, agreeing with the brunette girl, which makes her look pleased.
“You see here? These are the devils who corrupted my mind with their wicked ways.” Bebe says drawing circles with the brush she holds, as if to cast a spell on them.
“Corrupt? My, you're the one who's always spreading rumors! Do you recall the time when you said the nobleman of the east was having an affair with one of the priestesses? When in fact she was his sister?” Jenny says.
“That was just a misunderstanding! But I swear to you in my heart that he was actually being unfaithful! Honest!” Bebe says, blushing about her little error.
The women laugh and continue decorating Kyle. Rubbing oil from jasmine onto his skin, as well as braiding and curling his hair with beeswax. Newly embroidered robes that shimmered in the sun like silver are styled on top of his existing ones by Bebe.
“Would you mind fastening it with my new brooch?” Kyle asks her who is almost done dressing him.
“Why, certainly.” She says and grabs the box from behind. She opens the case and presents it to him before securing it to the fabrics. It is the only thing that stands out from his outfit of white, until one of the male servants brings in an important accessory from outside. A pair of antlers.
A symbol of strength and renewal. Adorned by high-ranking men during religious ceremonies, and women after giving birth to their first child. An item so sacred, everyone in the room stops to admire it as it is carefully placed on Kyle's head, which he does by himself.
The ends drape small strands of gemstones, like water droplets, with moss-like grass on the base of the crown. Handwork that must have been done by his parents, according to tradition. It isn't as heavy as Kyle thought it would be, feeling as though it is a part of him, as it comfortably sits on his head. Lastly, the veil Kyle wore early is cloaked on top of it by Bebe, finally completing his wedding look.
Kyle looks at his reflection in the mirror, and sees the maidens behind him awing and gleefully holding each other's hands, feeling satisfied with their work. However, Kyle can feel his heart bleeding onto his organs for the agony he feels. He wishes to throw it all up on a platter, to live freely without being chained up like a slave to his duty. Even so, he forces a smile and glances at the women behind him.
“Thank you.” He says, because he doesn't know what else he can do.
𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼
The sun is beginning to lower itself down upon the forest of spruce trees, though the landscape still appears to be noon. People chatter below holding lanterns that lit like fireflies from a distance, with baskets of flower petals of all different colours held in their hands as they wait for the ceremony to start. The moon has risen softly whisking with the clouds as it all presents itself in front of a wreath shaped window of the third floor, though a room covered in tapestries. They depict two large figures shaking hands, with one in dark robes with pointy ears, and the other in armor. The needle work is so precise that the metal plates appear to shine, as if its actually reflective, while the hood on the other feels velvety, and enchanting.
Kyle recognizes one of them to be his father, and that the whole tapestry is a depiction of the exact moment of reconciliation, 12 years ago from today. The other smaller drapes are illustrations of plants and scenery, nothing quite impactful than the one in front of him. Kyle was swiftly moved to this room after all of his preparations were completed, and now he awaits for his father to escort him to the venue, which apparently is taking place outside in the garden.
Kyle can feel his stomach, twisting and turning, with the amount of waiting he has endured. He wishes to get over with the ceremony, however, he also wants to stop time from flowing forward like a river, to cherish his last few minutes of his single life.
Someone knocks on the door before the handle is moved, which startles Kyle, like a rabbit with his ears up. However when the person on the other side is revealed to be his father, his stiffness subside.
“Are you nervous?” He says to Kyle, whose ears have yet to lower.
“immensely.” Kyle responds. His father laughed in a harmless way, as he moved closer to see the tapestry.
“Have I ever told you exactly how the war ended?”
He says.
“It's blasphemous to talk about the war, father.” Kyle instead replies. He can't really see his father from the veil and the illumination from behind, shadowing his features.
“What? Oh, is that one of the rules for the servants?”
“Indeed, though I suppose it doesn't apply to you.”
Kyle's dad laughs again softly, while they both admire the artwork.
“It was you.” He says suddenly.
“What?” Kyle says, looking at him now. Though his fathers eyes are still fixed on the wall.
“The war ended because of you.” He replies, and glances at Kyle's widened eyes. They stare at each other for a minute or two until his father moves to face the door.
“Shall we?” He says, which Kyle can't object.
𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼
Rows of flowers displaying lilacs arch over the aisle. Next to it sits family members, acquaintances, and noble men from both kingdoms, with the crowd continuing under numerous willow trees until it reaches a lake. Where swans drift in the water next to an oval shaped gazebo besides the reservoir.
Kyle can hear the guests anticipate his arrival from inside, where a curtain separates him from the outside world. Two servants whose job is to raise the curtains stand before him, with the right being a human boy and the left being a familiar blonde boy by the name of Tweek, who looks twitchy as ever.
His father is called first, as music is played for him to walk to his seat, and when the sound of the crowd softens out, Kyle could start to hear his own heart, beating rapidly through his chest.
“And now please rise for his Majesty, the grand prince of the elves, Kyle Broflovski.”
Trumpet horns blow as the curtains rise. Slowly the sunshine crepes up to Kyel's face with its golden light reflecting off of his jewels creating fractals of illumination, like glass shards, to spill out onto his clothes and flowers. The curls to his hair move with the slight breeze that passes through him. It lifted his veil to reveal his eyes until it draped back down.
Kyle takes a deep breath, that doesn't do much to ease his nerves, and starts walking down the aisle. Pleasant music plays while he passes through the guests, each one looking at him with delight, and some move their head to get a better glance of him. Kyle feels like he is dreaming, with how easily his feet carry him under lilacs, even if his insides are all twisted like rose bushes, prickling through his skin.
As Kyle slowly reaches the altar, under the gazebo, he sees two figures waiting for him. One, is a religious looking man, with long robes, and the other, who Kyle guesses instantly, as his to husband to be, the prince of the humans, Stan Marsh.
Kyle only ever heard about Stan from the mouths of others, and never truly met him until now. He imagined a tyrant of a man to be the prince of humans, considering how many talked about his expertise of the blade. However he was delighted to see Stan was a little shorter than he anticipated, though with a better build.
Stan has dark thin hair that waves in the wind, with a bronze crown over his head, that looks like tree roots all tangled up with each other. He wears animal furs over his shoulders, like armor and bears a long blue cape beneath it. The rest of his outfit looks well tailored, compared to Kyle's dress like robes, and adorned with belts and buckles instead of jewels and flowers.
Kyle feels intimidated at first, with how masculine he is dressed, however when he glances up to Stan's face, Kyle's eyes soften simultaneously from the expression he sees. A pleasant and welcoming smile. A smile a mother will give to her newborn, with pride and glee. Somehow comforting and nostalgic, and for a moment he feels like his worries were left behind.
When Kyle reaches the altar, Stan moves his body to face the front, opening a gap for Kyle to stand. Kyle desperately wants to admire Stan up close, but as the officiant starts to talk, he gives his attention to the ceremony instead.
“Dearly beloved, We are gathered here today to witness history, as the first elf and human kind join in a holy union of matrimony.” The officiant says, slowly and precisely in a calming voice.
“With it an era of peace will bless us all until the end of time.”
Kyle can hear his mother weeping behind him, which he isn't sure why. It's every mother's dream to see their child find love and marry off. However, Kyle isn't here for love, this is his duty. To tighten the contract. Perhaps she weeps for a different reason, for how Kyle would no longer belong to her.
Stan and Kyle say their vows, after the officiant lightens the mood, which feels like a magic spell being cast over them. They reach for each other's arms for the handfasting, where a blue ribbon like rope is wrapped around their hands. Kyle feels a slight shiver down his spine when he comes into contact with Stan, as if lightning has struck him. When they both pull at the ends of the rope, it forms a knot, which the guests react by rejoicing and clapping wholeheartedly, with bells ringing and flower petals thrown into the air. Now, they are officially married.