New Name, Same Love

The last of their wedding guests had made their way to greet them and give the happy couple their blessings and well wishes, and now thoroughly inundated with an abundance of generous gifts and a moment to breathe, Artorias breathed a sigh and gazed around at everything happening around them. He drank in this moment, memorizing every perfect little detail, from the sounds of their friends and family’s voices echoing off the stone walls to the smell of the floral centerpieces and the foods from the feast. He savored the moment, wanting to remember this for all his days, to relive it when he was old and gray in the twilight of his life. Ecstatic eyes glimmered while he gazed around, his eyes eventually coming to rest on his beautiful bride seated at his side. Artorias’ smile widened to the point where his cheeks began to hurt. They had finally done it! All the years they’d been together, all the plans they’d made and trials they’d faced, they had finally reached the goal they’d been dreaming of since they were fresh yearlings.

A giddy laugh escaped Artorias to join Briar’s giggle when she declared that they were married, emphasizing the fact as if it had just dawned on her. "We are married!" he said with a happy wiggle beside the new Mrs. Carpathius, his tail wagging so fast it kept accidentally bumping her hip across their chairs like a whip. He returned her kiss with glee, leaning in to gently rest his forehead against hers while being careful to avoid jabbing himself with her antlers. "How’s it feel being Mrs. Briar Carpathius now?" While they hadn’t really needed the whole pomp and ceremony to solidify their relationship, and Artorias had long considered her his mate and a part of his family, this was his way of showing his love and devotion for Briar. Officially giving his name to her and bringing her into his family was the greatest show of adoration he could give her. Briar was worth all of it.

Artorias was so filled with bliss and excited energy that he felt high, riding the euphoric feeling like a wave from the moment he’d seen Briar walking down the aisle towards him on the beach. "You’re so beautiful, Briar. You’re the most beautiful wolf in this world," he spoke softly to her, lifting one of his own large paws to rest over hers on top of his foreleg, reaching in again to plant a gentle kiss to her lips. "Is this everything you ever wanted?" He had spared no expense to make sure she had the day she dreamed of. If anything was missing from it—anything at all—the Aegis would make sure she had it.

"Artorias & Briar Carpathius"