The Wedding Rite

“Love,” he whispered, his lips brushing against her swollen ones. “Aryun Love?”

Aryun’s breasts heaved in exertion, her breathing shaking within her throat as her tears fell down. Her right hand curled around Erdric’s neck, pulling him down so that his cheek brushed her own, and held him to her tightly.

She turned her head, her lips brushing against his face. “I love you,” she whispered softly against his ear, her voice sounding shy and vulnerable. “Stay here… please…”

Erdric smiled gently, his fingers brushing her temple as he burrowed his face down into her neck, his lips tenderly brushing her neck. “Of course, Love,” he murmured, wiggling slightly to snuggle closer and get more comfortable.

Aryun shivered underneath him, the sweat cooling on her skin making her feel cold, and she gave a soft groan at the feeling of Erdric move still within. Her right hand gently tangled in Erdric’s sweaty sea-green hair while the other caressed the curve of his shoulder and back, fingertips kneading into the flesh and enjoying the feel of his slick skin under her hand.

When Erdric felt her shiver, he pulled one arm away from holding her to securely grab the edge of one of the many comforters that lay around them, and wityun’yun’s help, they were both covered by the warm black sheets. Erdric’s left hand stayed beneath her head, cradling it against him as his left hand gently caressed the curve of her own shoulder, dipping down to ghost over the curve of her breast before going down further and took her hand into his own.

Aryun twined her fingers in his and she brought them to her face, gently kissing his slender ones. “Erdric,” she whispered as she nuzzled his ear. “Did I hurt you?”

He let out a soft chuckle, his fingers squeezing hers. “Love, no. I must admit, I like your nails digging into my shoulders… it tells me I’m doing something very right.”

Aryun felt her face blush, and continued to kiss his fingers.

“What about you?” Erdric murmured against her throat, softly kissing the pulse that had slowed. “Did I hurt you?”

She thought for a moment, her hands stilling. “I honestly do not know… at the moment, it hurt… then it faded in the wake of pleasure… however I’ve the feeling that I will be sore tomorrow,” she chuckled slightly.

“Do you think you bled?”

“Yes, I think I did.”

Erdric laughed gently. “Then we can claim that Thera was a miracle.”

Aryun smiled softly, her fingers stroking his hand. “He was... but not in that particular way and I will not simply say that that extraordinary night never happened…” She let go of his hand when he tried to pull it away.

“I’m glad you find such expressive words for our unions…” He watched his finger gently trail down her shoulder, sliding around the curve of her breast before stroking the slender waist she had.

“In a few months, I won’t have that waist, so enjoy it while you can,” Aryun smiled, her hands gently tangling in his hair.

He slipped over her thigh, finally withdrawing from her body with a wet sound, settling down beside her so that his hand could run his fingertips over her smooth stomach. “I cannot wait to see your belly swollen again,” he said softly, his fingertips gently running along the area right under her belly button.

Aryun laughed gently and kissed his forehead. “You missed it when I was so large with Thera that I d nod not see my feet. It was a humorous situation all around because I had Ashi fetch me shoes and had to help me put them on, when I could fit shoes on my swollen feet that is. Finally, near the end I resorted to just walking around barefoot, which upset Xristis and Nara to no end.”

“I can imagine. Thera was so small… yet you looked so large…”

Aryun sighed, her hand that was not tangled in Erdric’s hair slid down his arm. “It was mostly the water. It shocked me how delicate and small he was and how he fit in my arms…”

“I’m sorry I was not there, Aryun,” he whispered softly, his fingers gently stroking her belly.

“Things happen, Erdric love, and I knew… I knew that last time I saw you in the gardens that it would be the last time I saw you alive… I knew, somehow inside of me, I knew that you would not be here to see Thera born.” She let her fingers gently stroke his damp cheek. “Yet I knew you watched over me… That is all that matters in my mind.”

His fingers still gently stroked Aryun’s belly, and Aryun laughed. “You know it’ll be a while before my belly swells out.”

Erdric smiled, and placed a kiss on the curve of her neck. “I still cannot wait to see your body change; the way your breasts will swell, the way your belly grows, how you will glow.” He sighed, his face snuggling into her neck. “I love how you are when you carry a child… you’re so… beautiful that I cannot place it into words.”

Aryun felt her cheeks grow red, and she turned in his arms, snuggling into his embrace and putting her head on his shoulder. She slid one of her legs across his waist, pulling him close to her. She sighed as she snuggled closer to him, trying to wrap him around her.

“Well, we have until the candles burn down… and I know they’ll last till morning…”

Erdric’s hand came up to cup her face, his thumb gently stroking her cheek. “Aryun love, we can wait till you’re ready again… I don’t want to hurt you without need.”

Aryun smiled softly, turning her face to kiss his palm. “You won’t hurt me, love.” She laughed slightly as she gently pushed him on his back and slid over him. She leaned forward, her nose touching his. “Besides, I want to make the most of this night, since it’s probably going to be the last time we’ll have uninterrupted ‘us’ time.” She dipped her head, her lips brushing across his throat. “The question is: can you keep up with me?”

Erdric started to laugh, a full sound that echoed in the chamber, making Aryun laugh as well as she sat across his hips. His hands wrapped around her waist, holding her above him as his laughter quieted.

Aryun sat up, her eyes sparkling as she shifted her hips, forcing her body into his, sliding against him.

Erdric’s head fell back on the pillows and he sighed, pushing his hips up into hers. Thought narrowed eyes, he watched Aryun move against him, her body enticing his to rise again to their passions.

Aryun felt him stir against her, hardening as she slid herself against him, and she laughed. She leaned forward, brushing her lips against his, her hands fluttering down his chest.

He arched underneath her, his hands stroking the curve of her hip, smiling up at her from his prone position. He shifted his legs, drawing them up so that his feet laid flat upon the floor, his thighs supporting Aryun’s lower back.

Aryun tilted her head, watching Erdric’s face. She trailed her fingers across his throat, running down his chest to hold onto his waist. “Now, love, how do wantwant me?”

He arched an eyebrow at her and smiled, sitting up. Erdric wrapped his arms around her, one around her back, the other cupping her cheek. His thumb brushed against her lips, and he felt a grin tug at his own when he saw Aryun open her rose colored lips to take the pad of his thumb between her teeth to nip at him.

She chuckled as she drew his thumb into her mouth to gently suck on it, running her tongue around to make him shiver. She gently pulled his thumb free as she felt him straining tightly wedged between her legs. “How do you want me, Erdric?” She arched her own eyebrow, her hand brushing back his hair.

Erdric’s eyes closed slightly, leaving only small slits of his eyes showing. “That, my dear, is your choice…”

Aryun shook her head, sending her hair flying around her face. Her eyes sparkled as she leaned forward, giving him a passionate kiss, hard enough to bruise his lips.

“Then…” Aryun thought aloud. “I want you behind me.”

Erdric’s eyebrows arched and he looked at her with slightly wide eyes, his lips parted a little.

Aryun laughed slipping off of his lap and kneeling beside him. “Why is that so shocking, Thalata?” Her hand slipped through his slightly stiff hair at his temple. Her lips brushed his ear, gently whispering to the delicate curve, “I like it.”

Erdric shivered slightly before rising upon his knees, facing Aryun’s impish smile. He reached forward, wrapping one hand around her neck as he kissed her roughly before turning her so that her back faced him. His hands fluttered down her back, fingertips pressing into her spine as he pressed kisses against her neck.

Aryun trembled as she felt Erdric gently brush her hair over her shoulder, his teeth scoring her skin. She felt him slip forward, pulling her body back against his. She sighed as she felt his hardness snuggle between her cheeks, before she felt Erdric’s hand settle against her neck, gently pushing her forward.

She shuddered as she complied, her hands sinking into the pillows as she shifted her knees further apart. She tossed her head, her hair flying over her other shoulder. She bit back a moan in anticipation as she felt Erdric’s hand squeeze the baf hef her neck, his thumb caressing the side of her neck.

Erdric gently pushed himself against her, the head of his manhood slipping into the warmth of her passage, his left hand convulsing upon her hip as he slipped all the way in.

Aryun let out a breathless moan as she felt Erdric slip all the way into her body, his lower stomach braced against her bottom. She arched her back, lowering her head onto one of her forearms, and let out another moan as Erdric’s thrust hit a spot inside of her.

Erdric saw her head arch back as she rocked back against him, trying to keep him inside of her. He gave a soft moan when he felt Aryun’s hand take his right hand as she brought herself slightly upright to rest it upon a swinging breast.

Aryun arched her back as she rose further up, feeling Erdric’s hand slip down to lay upon her taut belly. She let her hands slip back, resting upon her husband’s thighs. She rested her head against Erdric’s shoulder and moaned when she felt his lips brushing against her vulnerable throat.

Erdric brushed his lips across his love’s speeding pulse before he moved up her neck, snagging her earlobe between his teeth, running his tongue along the edge. His breath hitched in his throat when he felt Aryun clench her muscles, clenching her wetness around his manhood. He let his hand slip further down, his fingers gently circling the small little bud at the apex of her thighs, making her legs ble ble as they pressed back against his.

Ary fin fingernails dug into Erdric’s thighs as she felt his fingers of his right hand circling and gently rubbing the small roundness, making moans tumble from her arched throat. Her hips shifted with his and she cried out as he bit her neck, gently suck on on the skin while his left hand gently kneaded her breast before slipping down her sweaty skin to grasp her waist.

Erdric gently pulled back from her throat, noting with a smirk at the red mark that blossomed upon her neck. With a gentle hand on the back of her neck, he pushed her forward so that she was bent forward, her forearms resting upon the sheets.

Aryun gasped at the feeling of Erdric pushing deeply inside of her, rubbing against the front wall of her passage. Her head fell so that it was braced upon her forearms as she moaned into the sheets feeling one of Erdric’s slender hands stroking the center of her desire, the other holding on to her waist.

She couldn’t stop the helpless sounds that came from her throat at the feeling of Erdric’s hand that slipped to hold her neck, and the hard thrusting that was pushing her ever closer to the edge. Her fingers clenched into the cream and black sheets beneath her as Erdric’s thrust rocked her forwards, bre breasts swinging gently.

Erdric’s breathing was harsh as he felt Aryun’s body clench, trembling as she came closer to her peak, and that made him thrust into her harder. He pulled back his hands, taking her waist between his hands to be able to hold her more upright as her legs trembled uncontrollably.

Aryun pushed back against him, moaning, little noises coming from her throat as one of her hands took the place of Erdric’s between her thighs.

She tossed her head, her hair flying as she arched her back, crying out as she felt the hardness within her almost viciously stabbed at her. She felt sweat slipping down her back as she teetered upon the edge of her climax.

“Erdric,” she whined softly, her voice deserting her as she felt her insides tense.

“Phoenix,” he whispered softly as he sped his pace, thrusting into her body almost ruthlessly, his hands tightening upon her waist.

He watched as Aryun tossed her head back, her throat arching as she cried out, his name rippling on her voice like water before he spilt his seed within her, leaning over her back to hold her shuddering body upright.

Aryun could barely hold herself up, and was grateful as Erdric slipped his arms around her waist, holding her upright, her body convulsing as he pulled her up and into his arms. She trembled, her bh coh coming out shaky as she felt the last thrusts of Erdric’s body into hers, his lips breathing harshly into her ear.

Erdric let out a shuddering breath, letting it fan across her ear. He placed soft kisses along her neck, his hand placed along her sweat-slicked sides.

Aryun sighed, pushing her face against him, brushing her cheek against his. “Now I know I’m going to be sore tomorrow…”

He laughed weakly as he pulled them both down into the sheets, nuzzling his face into the back of her neck. “And a lovely bruise upon her neck.”

Aryun’s eyes fluttered open wide as her hand flew to her neck, covering the mark. “Erdric, why’d you go and do that now?”

He gave a little laugh, gently catching her hand to nip the fingertips. “Simply because that smooth neck of yours was too much for me. I must admit, even I have my limits.”

Aryun sighed as Erdric gently withdrew to turn her over in his arms. She smiled gently at him before she wrapped her arms around his neck, pushing her forehead against his as he pulled the covers around them.

He loosely wrapped his arms around her waist, wrists casually crossed behind her lower back as he looked into her satisfied and sedate blue eyes. “Do you know your eyes lighten after we’re joined?”

She smiled slightly, freeing one of her hands to gently caress his cheek. “No… Did you know that yours lighten as well and turn almost a silvery blue… there’s no trace of the green within…”

He smiled as well. “No…”

Aryun leaned forward to gently kiss his lips before she pulled back, slipping closer to him before she rested her cheek against his damp one. “I love you, Regent… I love you more than I can voice…”

Erdric pulled her closer, letting his head snuggle closer under the red-gold fall of her hair. “My Phoenix,” he murmured softly. “I never realized how much I loved you until I was gone… in that place…” He shivered slightly. “I love you, Phoenix…”

Aryun held him close, her fingers sliding through his damp hair. “Erdric love, I’ll always be here… and now you will be as well…” With a soft kiss against his neck, Aryun snuggled closer, her legs tangling with his as she settled down. “Let’s go to sleep love,” she whispered into his ear. “Let’s forget all this talk abthe the past and start tomorrow as one once again like before. No more talk of the past…”

She felt tears sting her eyes. “For a year and a day, for evermore, and as long as love shall last…” She whispered as she felt him wrap her tightly within his arms.

“For a year and a day, for evermore, and as long as love shall last,” he murmured against her shoulder.

They fell asleep entwined in each other’s arms, their soft breath mingling with the cool air that came from the window as night changed to dawn, dawn into day in all her glory.

The sleeping couple did not notice the soft knocking on the door, nor the squeak of the hinges.

Tyral smiled gently at the pair within the circle, noticing that his daughter laid halfway on her back, his son curled around her, his head upon her shoulder, buried in her neck.

Someone poked at his back. “Well, what is the matter?”

“See for yourself,” he whisperentlently as he stepped inside the room, opening the door for his nosey mate.

Lethe grinned, one of her hands clasping Tyral’s. “Are they not lovely?” Her eyes traced the curve of their bodies, not quite sure where one started and the other began. “They truly belong to one another, do they not?” she asked softly as Tyral gently pushed her back out into the hallway.

“Indeed they do, beloved; however, I would like to let them rest until they awaken naturally. I would rather not disturb such a peacefleepleep.” Tyral gently took his mate’s hand and walked back to the hall where the makings of a feast were to begin as soon as the bridal pair made it down stairs.

“Well?” quarried Nara as she stood beside the chairs that were set at the head of the table and draped in red and gold cloth.

“They lie asleep in each other’s embrace. We did not wish to wake them,” Tyral said, a soft smile curving his lips.

“You should look at them Nara, before they wake up. They are so… so… beautiful curled together… It is hard to believe that they have ever been separated…”

Nara smiled softly before walking up the stairs to do as Lethe bid her. After all, Nara mused, it’s not every day that she could watch her Regent and his mate sleep soundly and peacefully.

She watched the curled couple for a few minuets before she saw Aryun stir, her flu fluttering against Erdric’s back. With a grin on her face, she shut the door with a soft click and hurried down stairs to await them.

Aryun stirred, her fingers flexing against Erdric’s skin as her eyelashes fluttered. With a slight moan, she pulled an arm from around his waist to rub at her eyes.

She sighed as she opened them, taking note of where the sun shone on the wall. “It’s past dawn… almost noon…” She closed her eyes again, just basking in the feeling of lying beside Erdric once more.

Erdric felt the shift in her breathing as he laid his head against her chest, and he too stirred, his fingertips deciding to gently trail against the curve of her waist.

“I don’t want to leave…” he murmured against her neck as he felt one of her hands start to thread through his hair.

“I don’t either, but we must wash and get dressed and go downstairs… The wedding feast is this morning…”

Erdric groaned slightly, his fingers starting to idly tracing patterns against her belly. “It won’t start ‘till we get there, so let’s take our time.”

“Within reason, Erdric love, within reason.”

With a heartfelt sigh at having to move, Aryun slipped out from underneath Erdric to stretch, her hands rising above her head, pulling her muscles. As soon as her stomach muscles gave a twinge in pain, she stopped, resting a hand on her upper stomach as she pulled her knees up. She felt the soreness of her stomach, and a more dull and insistent throbbing between her thighs.

Erdric stirred, rising to lean upon his arm over her, his free hand touching her face. “Do you feel well, or was I too rough with you?”

Aryun smiled gently at him. “I suppose it’s the plight of a virgin who was well taken care of.”

He sighed, brushing an apologetic kiss upon her lips. “I am sorry, Aryun love.”

She wrapped her arms around his neck, her fingers sliding into his hair as she pulled him down for a deeper kisso neo need to be sorry. I asked for it hard,” She said against his lips. “Now, we’ve got to get down stairs, and I’ve got to walk this circle open.”

Erdric obediently rolled off her, lying back in the covers, snuggling the warm sheets around his body as Aryun rose to her shaky feet.

He watched her through half-closed eyes, watching as she walked the circle backwards, unsealing the power held outside. He sighed as he felt the cool breeze waft through the open window before he too decided to stretch, feeling Aryun’s passion marks upon his back ache as they touched the sheets.

Sighing, he rolled to his knees, slowly rising upward, standing in the middle of the circle. He felt his lips pull up in a smile as he watched Aryun’s body tremble. As soon as she was through opening the circle, he caught her against him, wrapping his arms around her waist as he placed his head upon her shoulder.

Aryun sighed, leaning against him gratefully, wrapping her arms around his neck as he held her against him. With a startled ‘eek’, she was swept up in Erdric’s arms and he walked towards the small bathroom to find a warm bath already drawn for them.

The cold seeped through the soles of his feet, making him shiver slightly as he walked in, holding Aryun close to his chest, after he decided he did not wish for her feet to touch the cold stone

Although this one had a quaint charm about it, the bathing room was much smaller than their shared one at Zenthia. The room was made of the same grey stone, and one side had a fireplace, the other a small window that looked upon the courtyard. A small wooden tub took up most of the floor room.

He smiled gently at Aryun’s face as he lowered her within the warm water of the smaller tub. Erdric laughed when she let out a soft moan. He gently brushed her hair back and kissed her forehead. “Wait one moment and I’ll get you your gown…”

Aryun watched as Erdric padded out of the room, sighing as the warmth eased the pained muscles. She shook out her hair, wanting to duck under the water, but quite willing to wait for Erdric to help her brush the tangles out so it wouldn’t be that much of a mess. Instead, she sunk slightly in the water, letting it lap at her breasts, her arms lying across the edge.

Erdric chuckled as he laid their clothes upon the small chair before taking the comb that was left by the fireplace. He sat down behind the tub, gently gathering her hair in one of his hands before running the comb through the copper tresses.

Aryun’s eyes snapped open as she felt Erdric start to comb through her hair. “Thank you,” she murmured as he leaned forward, brushing a kiss across her closest cheek.

He happily combed through her hair until it was completely untangled, and then gently urged her to slide further down so that he could wash the long tresses.

“Erdric,” she murmured softly before complying, shifting her legs so that her head could dip beneath the surface.

He smiled at her face. “Trust me, Aryun love.” With that, he gently poured some of the liquid upon his hands before making her rise again, fingertips gently kneading into her scalp.

Aryun moaned softly, feeling hingerngertips against her skin, letting him wash her hair for him. She allowed herself to be lowered back into the water, his slender fingers combing through her hair and kneading her skin to allow the soap to wash out.

After washing out her hair, Erdric coerced her to sit further up, leaning against the edge before he decided to slip into the water with her.

She laughed slightly pulling her legs further up to allow him more room to sit. “You think it’ll be comfortable with you in here?”

He looked at the small tub as he sat down in the water. “Sure. I mean, you fit into it,” he said with a smirk.

“Hey!” Aryun splashed the water at him in mock anger.

They both dissolved in giggles, pingping their hands together.

Aryun rose up on her knees, wedging herself between Erdric’s thighs as she gently tilt his head back, cupping her hands in the water and letting run over Erdric’s hair. With her fingers, she kneaded his scalp like he did for her, washing the sea-like tresses.

Erdric for his part wrapped his arms around her waist, leaning his head against her full breasts when he could, enjoying the feeling of her wet fingers in his hair.

When she was finished rinsing his hair, she sat back on her heels, wincing as she did so.

A look of concern flashed across his face before he gently pulled her up out of the water, parting her thighs by making her put one foot on the edge of the tub. With extreme gentleness, he let his fingers travel across her skin, feeling the slight swelling.

Aryun laughed slightly, gently taking his hand away before leaning forward and kissing him. “I’m just sore. It doesn’t hurt.” She slipped back down ithe the water, her arms slipping around his neck as she kissed him again.

Erdric pulled back, his wet hand gently cupping her cheek as he gazed into her eyes. “You are beautiful, Aryun… so very beautiful.”

She laughed, pushing her cheek against his, holding him closely. “So are you, love.”

He pinched her side, causing her to pull back and squeak. “Come, love, we’ve got to get downstairs, as you said. We must make our appearance some time today for our feast.”

Aryun sighed as she pressed her forehead against his. “Must we?”

He laughed. “You’re the one who said we had to leave our nice warm nest of covers. So since I was deprived of sleeping longer, you’re going to be coming with me to this feast… after all, it is to celebrate our union, so you would be lax in coming… I suppose you could always fake sickness… of course, the nausea will start any day or so.”

Aryun ed sed slightly as she rose from the water, taking a towel from the edge before she felt a sharp sting. She whirled around to look at a grinning Erdric.

“It was there.”

She shook her head, wrapping the towel around her body before she stepped out onto the towel Erdric had thoughtfully placed down to warm her feet. She watched Erdric towel off as she did before donning her new gown that was a red silk with golden trim, the sleeves handing to her elbows. The silk clung to her wet curves as she slipped the sleeveless tunic of golden threads over it, belting it loosely around her hips.

Erdric had slipped into the black pants, a loose fitting black shirt and a red tunic with golden threading. He slicked back his dripping wet hair, grinning at Aryun who was braiding the wet tresses into a single plait.

With a smile, he walked up to her and took her hand within his. Pulling open her palm he handed her a ring with three different keys upon it. “I give you these keys: my house is yours to rule. Hold them well, my wife.”

Aryun smiled back, almost laughing at completing the wedding ritual well after the deed. “I take these keys: well and wisely shall I use them ever,” she said with a laugh as she tied it to her belt.

Gently taking Aryun’s hands in his, he kissed them softly. He looked at her smiling face and swept her up into his arms, laughing at her face. Kissing her, he walked back into their shared bedroom for the night before walking out.

Pulling back only before they reached the banquet hall, Erdric whispered softly into her ear. “I love you, my wife, my love, my Phoenix.”

They smiled at each other before walking through the doors to greet everyone as husband and wife.