Introducing Mr. and Mrs. Carpathius

After getting seated and comfortable, Artorias took a moment to admire his bride's radiant beauty up close. Briar was always beautiful to him on any given day, but today, dressed in her breathtaking attire with her feather crown atop her head and positively glowing with joy and love, she was more beautiful than he'd ever seen her before! The Aegis was positively smitten with his Queen, and it was written all over his face with the way he looked at her like she was the only wolf in the room. To his surprise, when he made a comment about not getting drunk, Briar retorted with a sultry whisper and sly smirk that he was a lot of fun after a couple of drinks. Amber eyes blinked in surprise, a wolfish grin creeping over his face as understanding dawned across him. "Oh really? Well, I think I can manage moderation for the benefit of my queen," he quipped back with a sly wink of his own and a husky chuckle. No doubt that their night would be quite active with celebrations of their own once the festivities had died down.

The first guests to approach them were Chimera and Aliana. Artorias' face illuminated with delight to see his friend and ally, immediately rising to greet his peer with a respectful nod of his head. "Chimera, Aliana, thank you both for coming!" Chimera and Aliana made their introductions to Briar, and then Chi gestured a paw over the finely crafted wooden box set on their table. With a curious look exchanged to Briar, Artorias watched with keen interest while Briar opened and unwrapped the contents within. The two golden crowns were stunning, their finely polished surfaces glistening in the light and reflecting the stunned stares of their owners. "Thank you, Chimera! This is much too generous. We will be sure to take great care with them." After Chimera and Aliana issued their congratulations with the mottled gray fae wishing them many happy and healthy pups, Artorias exchanged a slightly embarrassed grin with his new wife. Briar had no idea how much weight or implication Aliana's well wishes brought, since Chimera had a small army of children with most of them birthed by the clouded queen. Another sheepish look was exchanged when Briar gave him an amused glance as Chimera wandered off with his paw on his mate's rump for all to see. "Chimera's a very... free spirit," he tried to explain as tactfully and tastefully as he could. Perhaps later in private he'd explain in more detail, if she wished to know.

Briar's brother came next, offering some scented oils to the couple. Artorias dipped his head graciously to the Fatalis brute. Though he didn't know Kotori well, he knew enough of the young man and clearly liked his family. "Thank you, Kotori. We're both happy you could share this day with us," he said to the spotted wolf, then broke into a chuckle with an amused grin as Kotori subtly cautioned him. "I promise I will. I know how special she is." Art turned to smile at Briar as a punctuation to his statement. Yes, he knew that she would be the best thing to ever happen to him, and he would treasure her forever.

Up next, two very familiar figures approached, and Artorias' smile grew wider. Ikigai spoke first, congratulating them and presenting them with a fine blanket crafted of soft ermine pelts. Venom echoed her daughter's sentiments and presented them with a gilded cage with two snow white doves within and instructions to release them together at dawn for luck in their union. "I remember you, Princess Ikigai, from your family's tournament," the Aegis said, giving the young girl a lopsided smile and dip of his head. "Thank you for celebrating with us, and for your lovely gift. I'm sure you make your mother very proud." A knowing smile was turned Venom's way as he spoke, regarding the Empress and his fellow alpha with all the dignity and respect she deserved. "Your daughter speaks very well for herself, and for Ashen. You must be the proudest mother in Boreas." Though a superstition it may be, Artorias was touched to be included in a part of Ashen's culture. He grinned at the doves, then passed them to Briar to care for. He didn't trust himself to not accidentally knock over the cage or something. "Thank you, Venom! Your presence means more than you know, and we're thrilled to have you here. Please, enjoy your stay!" As she left the table, Artorias made a mental note to find a time to discuss finalizing an alliance between their packs as soon as possible. He respected Venom greatly, and their packs would both mutually benefit from tightening the ties between them. It had been a work in progress, but now it felt like it was the inevitable next step for their friendship.

The next wolf to pay their respects was a kindly face Artorias was fast becoming familiar with. "Theory! Welcome back, I'm glad you made it!" he greeted the Abaven alphess with a bright smile and wagging tail. The Headmistress dropped off her gifts, was given the gratitude of the Aegis and Queen, and then went to join the rest of the revelry. "Theory has started a school in Abaven recently, and I offered some of our brightest to help teach lessons," he explained to Briar. It only made sense to keep his Queen abreast of the interpack relations he'd cultivated along the way. Thankfully, Theory's cousin didn't seem to be amongst the mix at the reception. Perhaps this would be a peaceful affair after all... A peculiar wolf-dog he didn't recognize dropped off a gift as well and received a grateful nod and smile from the Aegis. He didn't know the man, but perhaps Briar did.

Eligos came to the table next, an air of severity about him as he offered his gifts to the newlyweds. Artorias raised a brow, beyond surprised to see Aerie's alpha amongst the revelers. He'd only met the dark-furred man once before in his life, during the tense and terse meeting of the alphas at the onset of the Long Night. Since then, he'd heard nothing of Aerie, nor seen hide nor hair of any of their members or their enigmatic alpha. Eligos presented his gifts and congratulated them on their union, wishing them many children in their lifetimeIn a bizarre and yet quintessentially Eligos fashion. "Thank you for the gift and well wishes, Eligos," Artorias said in measured yet gracious tones, dipping his head to show respect to his peer. "It's good to see you again. Please, enjoy the party." While it was indeed good to see he hadn't succumbed to the horrors of the Long Night, Artorias couldn't help but feel a bit creeped out by the Aerie wolf's general demeanor. Still, he had been civil and cordial and was observing his pack's laws, and so Art would match his decorum.

A pink wolf approached them next, and Artorias was surprised to find she bore the scent of Tojo-kai. Though he had sent ravens with open invites to every pack, he truly did not believe a single wolf of Hattori's would show up at the reception. Yet here she was, this nameless wolf offering them cougar pelts and well wishes. Although he was generally distrustful of Tojo-kai given their leader and history, they had been civil and reclusive thus far, and had not made themselves an enemy of the Hallows. She would be welcomed here, as was everyone. "Thank you kindly, miss. Please, enjoy the food and wine." Once she had stepped away, Artorias whistled to catch the attention of Romulus on the other side of the room, then gestured for him to keep an eye on the Tojo-kai wolf. If she behaved, there would be no reason for any of them to worry.

The next guests they saw were a very familiar couple and who Artorias assumed were their children, as they both matched their parents almost to a tee. Alastor stopped his son from running off, then presented them with several snow leopard pelts and a sack filled with raw metals and gemstones. Then Alastor gave them his well wishes and blessing for many healthy and copious litters, punctuated with a double entendre and a sly grin that made Artorias squirm a bit in his seat while he exchanged a sheepish grin with Briar and the Mendacium pair. He vividly remembered their interactions with the Elysium alphas, and from the flush he saw on Briar's cheeks and her grin, he knew she did as well. The Elysian pair presented them with gifts of snow leopard pelts, precious metals from the northern caves, as well as a beautiful crystal sculpture of their castle home crafted by the talented daughter. "Manea, Alastor, this is far too generous! Thank you!" he said with a beaming smile, then turned to give Avacyn a heartfelt smile, emotion welling behind softening eyes. "You're incredibly talented. Your mother must be so proud. Thank you very much."

Shortly after came the two wolves he had been expecting to see in due time. Artorias greeted both Rudyard and Fern with a warm familial smile. "I haven't made too much of a fool of myself with all my sappy speeches and vows yet, have I?" he asked his brother with a joking wink. Fern gave her well wishes of good fortune to them, then placed two matching boxes before the pair. Artorias raised a curious brow and lifted the lid, gawking in awe at the ivory statue within. It was carved to intricate detail and looked exactly like Briar, as Briar's had been carved to be his alabaster doppelgänger. Fern explained how on their own they were beautiful, then proceeded to slot them neatly together to demonstrate how to display them. Connected, the two ivory wolves interlocked in a snuggle, and the half arch formed the arbor they'd had at their wedding. Artorias' heart felt light and airy with the emotion as he gazed at the splendor of her gift. Rudy was quick to follow up with his own gift, and as the weight of it slammed to the table, Art began to wonder just what the hell his brother had come up with for him? That curiosity was quickly satisfied when Rudy revealed the sword rack beneath, carved from fine dark mahogany with velvet to support the weapons it housed. Artorias studied it with wide eyes, his paw tracing the etching of Embershard's name, then the willow tree, which bore a willow branch. Memories immediately flooded back to the Aegis of a time long ago, when they were all pups living by the falls. Artorias chuckled, then he laughed, and then he was nearly crying while laughing, shooting his brother a wicked grin. Oh, he remembered their childhood fights with his sticks and the adventures in the willow groves without their parents' permission! "Rudy, Fern... I have no words. These are incredible, and you're both far too generous." Artorias rose and moved around the table to embrace Rudyard first, then Fern. "Thank you, both of you, from the bottom of my heart. Thank you." With another chuckle, he shot the other couple a roguish grin as he returned to his seat. "I suppose the next wedding we'll be having around here will be yours—once Fern gets off her butt and proposes to you, that is!" He gave Fern a knowing smirk and his brother a teasing wink, knowing of the bet they had made and who the winner had been in that contest.

Laeta approached then, and as he usually did, Artorias rose to greet the older wolf who had cheated Death and defied all odds with recent respect. She was the medical miracle of the Hallows, and every day she spent amongst them, he considered himself in blessed company. "Laeta and Mel! I'm so glad you both came!" he exclaimed with a wide, earnest smile. Laeta presented them with a beautiful bouquet of preserved wildflowers and the florals from the Hallows' own gardens. It was gorgeous and made with such precision and intricacy that, while simple, was quintessentially Laeta. It was personal and heartfelt, and Artorias loved it. He handled the blooms as carefully as if they were made of sand, showing them off to Briar. "Thank you, Laeta! I know exactly where to display these in our chambers," Artorias said with a smile to the gaunt wolf and her decorous companion. "Please, enjoy the feast! Once you've gotten your strength back, I'd like to run some scouting trips with you." He hadn't forgotten of the woman's love of travel and exploration that she had told him about when she first joined the Hallows. Artorias truly considered every wolf in the pack a part of his family, and remembering their passions was a simple way to show he cared.

The last wolf to approach for some time was little Sota. Artorias greeted the pack's most precious member with a beaming smile and wagging tail. The flowers he presented were beautiful and so carefully and thoughtfully arranged in their bouquet. The attention to detail screamed Sota, another thoughtful and personal gift from one of the wolves he was honored to call his family. Before Sota could fully retreat, Artorias stood and called to him. "Sota." He'd wait until the other wolf looked back before adding, "Thank you, truly. When we can, I'd like to go see more lands with you, like the creek." He knew Sota would remember. A part of Artorias worried that he didn't spend nearly enough time with all of his wolves as he did with others. That would be rectified immediately, and he would share in the skills and passions of his family.

"Artorias & Briar Carpathius"