Wedding Bells... Better Late Than Never!

[Jirai]

It was a beautiful night. Clear, but not too cold, a bright moon shining down. A perfect night for a "barn dance," but the Baker farm was decked out far beyond what a simple barn dance would merit. Garlands of evergreen strung everywhere, decorated with bright "flowers" made of ribbons. Bright lanterns and candles reflected off of hanging crystals, brought in specially from Razasan, sending rainbows sparkling and dancing.

There was food and drink, spread out appealingly atop tables which had been graced with fine clothes and lace for the occasion. The food was the finest Myrken could offer, but even that was overshadowed by the two cakes displayed so proudly.

The first cake was not pink, nor was it overly grand. Two round layers, frosted flat, with no real decoration, in a cream white; the seam where the smaller upper layer met the bottom was a single line of almost transparent sugared fruit frosting. At the front and center a perfect pitted, pair of Morello cherries and single leaf of mint tucked neatly under. Once cut the cake is a rich chocolate, moist with one layer of thick mousse and a second of a sugar thickened, diced cherry and fruit brandy compote.

The second cake was a vision in pink. Three layers, large to small, a proper pastel pink, with thin piping of white. The decorative white looped down over the edge of each layer like the valance of a curtain. A smooth half circle, the interior of that circle dotted with tiny pinpoints of a slightly darker pink. Where each half circle joined to the top of the cake there rested a tiny butterfly, spun from hot sugar. Their wings where translucent, and sparkled with a brushing of regular sugar as they dried. They glittered in proper spring flower colors, lavender, yellow, blue and white. Atop each of the layers, in the space left before the next layer began, were sugar flowers. White flowers with five pointed petals, yellow flowers that looked like like butter, their rounded petals almost glossy in the right light. Lavender heads, tiny dots of sugar gathered together to form the long rounded bud that looked almost like they had been picked from the field this morning. Bell shaped blooms of a periwinkle color. The cake itself rested on a circle of lace, slightly lighter than the pink of the frosting, delicately folded so it ruffled about the edges. Atop the cake? The very best part. Two figures, so carefully crafted and painted. Agnie, in miniature, in a ruffled dress of purest pink, her sword in her hand. Next to Aleksei, in a smart sensible suit, a book in his hand, tiny glasses perched on his little nose.

It had been the work of many hands, to so transform the Baker farm, but the hardest part had been keeping the true intent of the party a secret from the guests of honor. Now the other guests had begun to arrive, many bearing gifts to be placed on a table. Conversations sprang up as people milled around, awaiting the arrival of Mr. and Mrs. River.

[Dulcie]

Dulcie was milling about making sure that everything was in it's place, perfect and ready for the moment that the guests of honor arrived. She even took a minute to look over the cake and stifle a bit of laughter over the idea of Agnie in a pretty pink princess dress with her sword. She couldn't wait to see her reaction to that one. With everything assuredly right where it needed to be Dulcie would meander through the crowd, ensuring that everyone was having a good time and giving directions for where people should place their gifts as they arrived. It wouldn't be much longer before the main event after all!

[Tolleson]

Genny had arrived earlier, just following the arrival of the more modest and immensely less pink cake she had created. Not carrying it, Gods no. She wouldn't have made it out the front door. Instead she had paid some idle young folk double what the task was worth to ensure it got to its destination safely. And even though Agnie and she weren't exactly best friends, they were hardly enemies and she wasn't about to ruin the big day. Even if it was belated.

Red hair had been meticulously done, into pin curls that brushed her cheeks and bounced with every careful step. Genny would have helped Rhaena or Dulcie if there was any use for her - but in the blue and embroidered, fitted dress and with her clumsy feet - putting up those decorations had been out of the question. She might well have taken the whole place down in some catastrophic way. Not that it mattered now; guest were arriving, the place had been utterly transformed into a bright and glowing winter celebration, in honor of the union of Myrken's unlikeliest couple.

Under a garland and just shy of the door, Genny pursed her lips with a proud and joyful smile. Eyes flitting between guests as her fingers interlaced one another, she stood back, only to step forward if someone needed help. With luck she might stay there and avoid the inevitable dancing sure to follow as the night progressed.

[channe]

Of course they'd had help from Petronela.

Of course.

"There's a barn dance, Agnie," she'd said. "You should go." And barn dances -- held by relatives, family friends -- being one of the mainstays of rural Myrken Wood, Agnie has decided to go. She is, of course, waiting for Aleksei before she shows up.