There had been much talk of his bride in the weeks leading up to the day they were to marry. Alinora had seemed to be primarily his mother's choice, the discussions his parents often had over his prospects revolving around how she would be coming from a less established name than their own. His father protested this, claiming her an unfit prospect with so little clout. Lise, however, thought it a good reason to choose her for their youngest son and was the main driving force through negotiations.
What did the bride's family matter if she was to assume the Lowth name? Maintaining a high reputation with Lina'a promised beauty and graces was far more important to the family matriarch. Even more, Lise hoped such a woman might coax her son into more acceptable habits in the eyes of her husband.
Niran was openly curious about the whole matter, doing what he could to catch snippets of conversation about his bride in those weeks leading up to her arrival. Ultimately, though, no second-hand description was particularly useful and he knew he should not attempt to make a judge of her before they'd even met. He trusted his parents to choose well as they had for his elder siblings, the strength of their partnerships something he was a tad envious of himself.
He'd been a little more than nervous when he'd been told he would not be meeting his wife prior to the ceremony that day, but his siblings assured him that their own weddings had been the same. All of their family and guests had gathered at Teren and Lise's estate to witness it, and Niran stood at the altar with their chosen priest in his finest clothes.
He felt a bit ridiculous in all his fine embroidery and fancy buttons, but his mother had insisted upon a light grey coat and trousers being best for the day if only to match his eyes better and brighten his appearance over the darker tones he normally favored. The hair along his temples was pulled back and gently plaited, his face clean-shaven and bright as he stood in relaxed anticipation with his eyes fixed upon the door at the end of the hall.
When Alinora finally appeared he straightened his back, eyes flickering over his guests to catch the wisps of orange and yellow swirling between them as they too got their first look at her. As she made her way towards him, though, his eyes fixed upon his bride. Her dress was very fine, the fabric gliding along with her every move as her veil shimmered in the morning light that spilled through the windows.
As she joined him at his side he moved to lift away the front portion of her veil with an anxious excitement clenching in his belly, finally able to get his first good look at her face. Niran's eyes softened and his lips curved into a gentle smile as he met her gaze for the first time, drinking in her beauty for only a brief moment before the priest cleared his throat and a small wave of chuckles echoed behind the groom.
With the priest speaking with his nose in his book to begin their ceremony, though, Niran hardly listened to him and took a little more time to study her. There was nothing he could say at the moment even though he had so many questions, but his eyes spoke volumes about his open curiosity and interest as he looked her over. Yes, she was beautiful as they'd said but he hadn't expected to be so captivated at the altar. The deep blue of her eyes drew him in like a vortex, still wholly distracted until the deep voice of the priest twisted in a pinch of irritation as he cleared his throat again for the lack of response from the groom and repeated his name, "Niran?" he grumbled in a hushed tone.
"Yes?" he'd answered calmly, only glancing up to him briefly having momentarily forgotten what he'd been coached on the night before.
"Will you take--"
"Oh! Yes, yes I will," he hurried to answer, a faint blush rising to his cheeks when he realized he'd just caused delay and heard the faint chime of tittering laughter behind him.
