Three Twisted Knots

The day was beautiful. I spent much of it in preparation. And of course, the days are still long: we’d have all the time we could ever need. At one point, in a comfortable white dress I found at the Fair Play Faire, I just walked through most of the Great Seelie Forest, and for once I felt content and didn’t need to think about the future, ways to improve the forest, make it more accessible to the Fae. I found Valene, readying the altar. She was beautiful, so beautiful. Seeing her makes me realise how much I miss her. It was so wonderful when she came to give a blessing to our children, and her agreeing to conduct our ceremony was such a gift. As a surprise, she’d brought Janus with her as her co-officiant, another huge blessing.

Valene was, and is, so beautiful. Dyisi preceded me down to the stone circle as my only handmaid. Some of the Fae were a little grumpy about that, but I explained this was the handfasting and we’d have a formal wedding ceremony sometime next summer, after a year and a day had passed.

In the circle, Janus and Valene called on all the elements and began such a lovely and personal ceremony.

Nathaniel was so handsome in his kilt! I chose my dress in springtime, so it reflects that season. I thought we looked really good together! Even though the ceremony wasn’t all that long, Eilian still managed to yawn. I was … disappointed in him. He did better than Drysi, who didn’t actually make it to the ceremony at all.

Our first dance! We played around with some traditions, but this one we wanted to keep.

In fact, we made everyone dance! This is an old English dance that I like to teach people called The Black Nag. Even though she had never danced before, Bronwyn did very well, and even Eilian participated, though you can’t see him here. I’m being partnered by Wren in this picture.

And so, my children. Here is the first picture of my son, Eilian. His personality is still emerging, but I think he will be a calm and happy Sidhe, and I hope he’ll have inherited Nathaniel’s even-mindedness and my occasional flashes of good humour.

He has a little of his father’s face in him, I think. Nathaniel, that is. And eyes and hair like mine when I was a child. I wonder if his hair will eventually lighten. I suppose only time will tell. I suppose we can at least say he is beautiful, but of course, he is Sidhe. Beauty is in our spirits, in our bones.

My daughter Drysi is another matter entirely. I’m afraid I turned in to my own mother when she appeared, halfway through the reception, sauntering in pretty as you please. I think I might even have said the words, “Young Lady….” Kill me now.

Drysi’s excuse for missing the handfasting?

And it was the most ridiculous excuse I’d ever heard, and I’m afraid I burst out laughing.

Eilian had already embarrassed me by drinking too much wine and falling over onto the ground. He had to be carried away by no less than a dozen demifae. They had to use a tarp. Not very dignified.

My daughter Bronwyn, who floats and glows when she drinks fae mead apparently, is…. well. She bears such a striking resemblance to Faermorn, and the way men react to her! I am worried, as is Nathaniel, that we may have to go to great lengths to protect this one before she is able to make her way out into the world.

All in all, it was a beautiful day and a beautiful celebration. I’ll leave you with a few more photographs: they tell the story so much better than I.

I felt blessed and honoured on this day, to be united by my good friends to my best friend.

As we say, so mote it be. Bios Sé.

If you like to read such things, here is a link to the log of the handfasting ceremony. 🙂