NIce.  I like it.

*Once everyone had arrived at the Temple and had gotten organized, Penthesilea, Kodiak, the members of Handfasting party and the Sisters gathered for a late and hearty lunch and a chance to go over their ritual parts. This part of the handfasting rite normally occurred at night but since the most auspicious time for the ceremony had been determined to be at 2 in the morning when both the lesser and greater moons, showing their Dark Faces, were directly overhead, alterations had to be made!  Everyone present smiled when Penthesilea entered the dining room  and Kodiak saw her. It was evident that the Darklord and his Lady had missed each other. Custom demanded that Kodiak do no more than kiss his Lady’s hand but the intensity of his gaze as he did so and the very palpable energy that passed between them made everyone one aware of what was on their minds! When everyone was seated around the Temple’s dining table, Kaliani stood.

“Today we gather to wish joy to Penthesilea and Kodiak. We also have an opportunity to send with them to their fast with full bellies and good fellowship. This is a very serious time, and yet we have great need of levity as well. I know that the next twelve hours are going to be hard for you lovebirds, but, as we leave from here, the Sisters and I will escort you to the rooms you will occupy until the ceremony. Neither of you will be in your normal suite. Too many … sexual memories there.” Kaliani said amidst the giggles of the Sisters and the grumbles of the soon to be wed.
Kaliani moved to stand behind Kodiak and Penthesilea, and placed a hand on a shoulder of each. Kodiak and Penthesilea looked first at each other  smiling, and then as one looked up at Kaliani. With a smile to answer them, Kaliani took a breath to prepare to give them her blessing::

“You two have been a boon to me with your friendship and with the protection that you have offered to me. The Temple thriving enough to need a larger facility, the growth of the Sisterhood, and the ever-growing expansion of our powers and friendship are a direct benefit of the contentment I feel being a part of Valcaria and also your friend. My path has grown with the needs of Valcaria, and you, my Lady Keyholder. With the step that you two are taking there will be great sorrow and yet great passion, this will always be the case with you. However, as things change more to one or to the other, remember that this union is blessed by Deity, and remains as strong as you both are. You are on this path out of stubbornness, and a desire to see things through. The demands of Valcaria and all of her people will add to your strength and will also test you mightily. Just remember who you are, and the love you share now.”

Kaliani raised her hand and gave them both the anointing of the pentacle and then stepped back and bowed.

“I will always be here for you, my Lady Keyholder, and I am in your service. Kodiak, you are a wonderfully strong partner for Penthesilea; we all see that none other would be able to be her mate.”

With this, Kaliani stepped back to them, and embraced them both. Once they were sufficiently hugged, she pulled back and went to her seat across the table from them. Upon sitting down, she rang a small bell placed beside her plate. Moments later the door to the kitchen opened and the younger Sisters came in with trays laden with food. These were dishes that had been chosen specifically for the health of the marriage, and the well being of the participants of the Rite. As the Sisters walked down the sides of the table, the diners chose from the trays.

The meal for the most part was a quiet affair, with minimal chatter as everyone was involved in their own thoughts. Kaliani gazed at each one of the Sisters in turn and reflected on the gifts that each one brought to the group. She was delighted with the combined ability that this group had together, and the ease with which Penthesilea and Kodiak had with one another.

When the main course was finished, the table was cleared and the dessert was brought in. The two sisters holding it had slightly nervous looks on their faces as they carried the cake to the blissful couple. With the cake carefully set on the table in front of the couple, the sisters stepped back. Kaliani looked at the Sisters and caught their eyes, and smiled hugely at them. The girls looked at her, and the ease on their faces was evident. The cake had survived.

The cake…

The cake was German chocolate, with 2 layers, and lavender icing. On the top was the crest of Valcaria and also Kodiak’s family crest, side by side. Written under the crests were the words.

“Congrats, and May the Gods and Goddesses light your path forever”

“Chocolate?” Penthesilea looked at Kaliani from across the table and smiled. Kaliani nodded yes with a huge grin on her face.

The happy couple grinned at each other. Penthesilea then took the knife and cut the first piece for them. Smckim, sitting next to Penthesilea reached over and cut the rest of cake to share with everyone. She passed plates laden with cake down the table and the sisters all wait for Penthesilea to take the first bite. She does, and the expression of pleasure on her face was the only thanks that Kaliani needed.

After dessert was finished they all trooped to the Cathedral by a secret way to run through the ceremony.  No one wanted any mistakes when the cameras were rolling and the world was watching! Finally, Kaliani was satisfied and signaled the couple’s attendants.  MoonCat and Spirit stepped up behind Penthesilea.

“It’s time, Mother.” They each took a hand and led Penthesilea out of the Cathedral to her new suite for the rest of the day. Cujon and the Master stepped in behind Kodiak and did likewise leading Kodiak to his new chambers.

“Sisters, we must guard them, so that no one sees them but us. More so that no one has a chance to attempt anything stupid. Be alert. Their attendants will take the first watch. I must attend to my own meditations, as well as visiting each of them  for one last purification rite before the ceremony.” Kaliani walked around to each sister and embraced her in turn.

Kaliani headed out of the dining hall and out to her little house behind the temple. Her mind firmly on her task, she shut the door behind her.*

damn.  wow.

Special Announcement for fans of Penthesilea’s Castle

    As you know, the Handfasting of Penthesilea and Kodiak will take today and will bring to a close what we have been calling “Book 2”. We are looking to start Book 3 before the end of August, the Gods and Darklord Kodiak’s Real Life willing! The main story line of Book 3 is very intense and some of what is planned is, frankly, disturbing. Some incidents, even if written in the most circumspect manner, would seriously push the limits of Mystic Wicks’s  PG-13 policy. Since these incidents are central to the story we want to tell, we cannot omit them from the story.
    Therefore, out of respect for Mystic Wicks and the work that mol and the rest of the staff put in to make it what it is, the Penthesilea’s Castle threads are moving to a new site. While this site is still “under construction” as it were, it is ready to receive the Castle and the Handfasting -- and the wedding night -- so they will be posted there. http://valcariasworld.com/yabb Registration and posting at the new site is limited at this time for a number of reasons, primarily the fact that the Site Goddess is preparing to move! Therefore, anyone who registers without prior approval of the Site Goddess and her Council will have their accounts deleted. You can email this address to be added. valcariasworld@yahoo.comBecause of this, the Penthesilea’s Castle Discussion thread here on MW will be kept open for your comments and discussion.  
    Now, for our last bit of news. Some of you may be rightfully wondering why “Book 2” and “Book 3”, instead of Book 1 and 2?
Well, the answer to that is simple. Since his return to MW after his injury, Darklord Kodiak and I have been working on an original novel based on Penthesilea’s Castle.  If it has seemed to you that I’ve been spread thin over these last few months, this is why. I’ve been working on the timeline, new characters and first draft of Book 1 -- which is something like 99% new material, Book 2 which is now wrapping up and, since late April, Book 3. Now that Book 2 is out of the way, I’ll have only 1 and 3 to work on and I’m hoping that we will have a manuscript ready to shop around by the end of the year. Book 1 will reveal, among other things, where Penthesilea was before she returned to her mother’s ancestral home, what  Darklord Kodiak was doing when he first heard about the new Keyholder -- and you will be stunned. Naughty, naughty man! -- and whatever happened to the mischievous Bladeraven and her son.  Don’t think that because you have read the thread, you know the story! I’m considering it a rough first draft/outline and so should you.
   Anyway, we hope that you’ve enjoyed Penthesilea’s Castle and will follow it to its new home. Thank you for your support and thanks to mol and the rest of the Mystic Wicks staff for letting us play in their playground. And don’t think for a moment that we are abandoning Mystic Wicks! We’ll be around making nuisances of ourselves for a very long time to come!  Be safe!

Think I'm gonna start playing around with that "Night Club" story that DK and I never got finished..

Sounds like a plan.  Got the muse on my shoulder for this project I can't wait to show it to you.

I've started on Book 3 -- much later than I had wanted too. I haven't had the heart to write the last few weeks as you know.
I've decided that, rather than just jump into the main Penth/Kodiak plot, I'm going to be starting 10 days after the Handfasting when the first vampire raids start. That will give me -- and the rest of you -- a chance to write some battle action, character intros (in Ashe's case) and for me some bedgames that I hope will satisfy most of our audience and seriously PO..someone we won't dignify with a name! I haven't decided how soon to start the Penth/Kodiak plot. I'll have to see how the story and real life goes.

Kaliani, you mentioned a muse. As soon as real life permits, we need to get together.

Ashe, I've got a bit of an idea about how to reconcile what was posted about your character in the original Castle thread and what is in your character profile.  hehehe After you rescued the Keyholder and went on your way, you "ran into" something that managed to hurt you and damage your memory. What could hurt a wraith? Good question and we can bet that whatever it was, it was a major nasty.....

Doc, I need some werewolf action from you. I just wrote that you, still enraged over Nebra's betrayal, are taking the Wolfkin pack to the Devil's Gate, the mountain pass that the vampire raiders came through to track them and do major damage to any stragglers that you find. Have fun with it. Consider it therapy. We can always edit it back to PG-13 if we need to.