The wedding of Gysella Harlaw and Erik Coldiron

[Fel]

The wedding takes place in the great hall of Pyke. Ironborn from all over the Islands have come to use the wedding as a thinly veiled excuse for getting drunk and throwing axes at each other.

[Erik]

OOC: So do we have any idea how an Ironborn wedding happens?

[Fel]

OOC: Not exactly, no.

[Erik]

Erik arrives wearing his best (Paid for with iron, of course), and takes a look around for his blushing bride.

[Ellinda]

Gysella, looking well in soft ivory colored leather, smiles with a little trepidation at her groom. This was an arranged match and she had never met her groom before.

[Erik]

Erik gives a broad smile when he sees that Gysella isn't some misshapen ogre. He holds his arm out to the girl and leads her down the aisle, toward the Drowned Man presiding, Irrin Codd.

When they reach him, the Drowned Man intones, "We, those born of Iron, are gathered here on this day so that this woman, Gysella Harlaw, might be made the rock on which this man, Erik Coldiron, may stand, and face the Drowned God's enemies. Now bow your heads, and accept the God's blessing."

Irrin uncorks a skin and pours seawater from it onto the heads of the bride and groom, while attendants on the sides of the hall splash water on those attending. He continues, "Let Erik and Gysella, your servants, be born again from the sea, as you were. Bless them with salt, bless them with stone, bless them with steel. What is dead may never die."

"But rises again, harder and stronger!" Comes the call from all along the hall.

"Indeed." The priest produces a long strand of seaweed, which he holds over the hands of the bride and groom. "Do you, Erik Coldiron, take this woman to be your rock, your safe harbor in the face of the Storm God's depredations?"

"I do." Erik responds.

"And do you, Gysella Harlaw, swear to serve as this man's rock, his safe harbor?"

[Ellinda]

"I do," said Gysella in a firm voice, plunging forward into her future. She was a Harlaw, she would be fine.

[Erik]

The priest wraps the strand of seaweed around the hands of the bride and groom. "Then, in the name of the Drowned God, I bind you together as man and wife. May you life together be long, ere you meet once more in His hall."

Erik turns to face the crowd, Gysella being pulled along, and the priest announces, "Now hail Erik and Gysella Coldiron!" While Erik leans over to give his lady wife a long kiss.

[Fel]

Felryn claps and roars for the drinks to be brought in. A seeminly unending line of thralls begin entering, each carrying a barrel of wine or ale.

[Ellinda]

Gysella liked his kiss. He tasted of salt water, a good taste for any Ironman or Ironwoman. She also allowed herself a good flagon of ale and toasted in a voice that echoed through the hall the new life she and her husband would lead.

[Erik]

Erik smiles when the drinks are brought in and has himself plenty of ale. It wouldn't do for the groom to be outdrunk by the guests.

[Ellinda]

After a few flagons, the couple began holding on to each other for support, laughing at the salty jokes that were flying around the hall.

[Erik]

"So Lady Coldiron," Erik says to Gysella, "I do hope you enjoy the cold. We'll be sailing north before long, and the first snow has already fallen on Bear Island."

[Ellinda]

She grinned. "As long as I have something to keep me warm, I'll be fine."

[Erik]

Erik laughs loudly, "Don't you worry about that, my lady. You'll have a heap of bear skins and your lord husband on top of you for those chilly winter nights."