Forever Begins Here

Rudy was getting married! ... Yeah, it still didn't feel quite real. But as Avantika approached the tables and the growing crowd, the smell of delicious meat and wine swirling around her nose, she had no choice but to believe it. She'd known about his relationship with Fern in vague terms, but had she really been so absent for so long that she'd missed how serious they were? She didn't know Fern very well. Well, no reason not to start now! She knew, of course, that Rudy probably knew Fern inside and out and wouldn't pick the wrong person. But there was always that pestering touch at the back of her mind that said, "What if?" and she... she didn't know how to fight that. But there was nothing wrong with making friends. She actually probably should talk to folks more. She was smart and perfectly capable of being respectful and not pushing boundaries. And Rudy was already getting married; she wouldn't stop the ceremony or anything drastic like that. But there was no harm in being careful. Rudy didn't deserve to be hurt, ever. She wasn't sure if she could manage to speak well right now, so she simply took a seat somewhat close to the front -- as close as she could bear -- and smiled at her brothers at the hearth.

"Speech"