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Starlene watches Keats worriedly. She knows the little boy's remark cut deep and feels great sympathy for him. Once again guilt and doubt assails the druidess for having convinced Keats to come. At the moment she cannot think of nothing to say or add that could help and decides to simply allows her cousins to do the talking for now.

Lariel sighs. "Mr. Lovesonnet--or is it okay if I call you, Keats?--I'm so sorry. My parents can be very judgmental at times. Please don't think anything my father or mother say or do reflect on how the rest of us feel. We've been so excited about finally meeting and getting to know you after so long!"

Maltavro nods enthusiastically and claps his hands while declaring, "Here! Here!" However, Maru and Vespara look distinctly uncomfortable at their implied agreement in Lariel's statement, but neither of them say anything to voice their objection. Ruhan gives Keats a sympathetic look and chuckles a little.

"You've gotten off easy, Keats. Lariel's father sucker punched me right in the face after he found out we ran away and married without his approval." He laughs some more and points to his eye. "I had the darkest black eye you'd have ever seen, and it took weeks until it faded. He and his wife eventually accepted me though, and they will you too. Just give them time, and do the best you can to avoid letting the things they say get to you. They will go out of their way to needle you and test your patience to the limit, but once they see you're here to stay, they'll eventually become more tolerable."

Meanwhile, Starlene casts her gaze about the room and sees that Daleb has rejoined Lettie and the twins on the other side. The children huddle together giggling over some secret joke. Flannex continues to sit alone pouting at having to be here instead of running about Kelethin creating ruckus with his playmates. Starlene considers trying to cheer the boy up, but she hates to leave Keats's side. Fortunately, Thalisa seems to read her mind and sits down next to the surly boy. She begins to talk to him and Starlene smiles with admiration at Thalisa as she manages to elicit a smile from him.

Starlene continues to cast her gaze around her room and notices that Lady Melamiradesai had left and there was no sign of the priest either, and she wonders if they were going to be joined by them for the upcoming meal. Also, she is surprised to see that her grandparents hadn't arrived yet; it was not like them to be late for functions. Lymerris and Daleth always valued punctuality.

Alondar had returned with Lymerris and bristles when Keats appears to not have even noticed him in the room and shoots the bard a glare before giving the Koada'Dal woman a polite smile.

"No, no harm done at all." The Fier'Dal takes his seat at table and soon the others join them, clearly relieved that the matter did not escalate tensions.

Following the meal, Lady Mela leads the group into the adjoining ballroom where the dancing and music will be held. Despite Maru's warning to the contrary, she doesn't test Lettie by making her practice her song, and she agrees quite amiably when Keats offers to do an ensemble piece he had written that would include Maltavro and Lettie as well.

"Lariel," Maltavro asks his niece, "Keats, Lettie and I aren't needed for the part of the ceremony in the garden right?"

She shakes her head. "No, Uncle."

"Excellent!" He smiles widely at Keats and Lettie as he steps upon the platform. "Let's give the ensemble piece a run through while the rest go through garden stuff. It'll be more fun to hear it the first time as a surprise, so off with all of you." He makes a shooing gesture with his hands while his boisterous laughter fills the room.

Starlene had expected Lady Mela to object, but instead she smiles and cedes to Maltavro's request. Lettie squeals with delight ecstatic at being able to play with her beloved father and uncle, and Starlene cannot help but smile at her child's happiness too. She departs from the ballroom with the rest of the group and makes her way back to the garden.

Once the garden Priest Valoram steps in front of the double trunked tree and smiles to the gathered group. "This is an ancient tree, preserved by druidic magic for centuries for the Suna family." He went into some detail over the history and symbolism, but some of the little children begin to squirm and act out despite their parents attempt to hush them.

"Can we get on with this already?" moans Flannex clearly bored. Vespara and Maru look mortified and hush him, but the priest chuckles in a friendly way.

"Now, now young man, you do need to learn patience, but I do know I have the tendency to ramble. Anyway, for centuries this has been the site for the Suna family to marry and although Ruhan and I'm sorry, dear Loriel?"

"It's Lariel." She gently corrects the priest with a soft smile.

"Ah yes, of course! Such a pretty name. So although Lariel and Ruhan have already technically had their vows, they did not so do as members of the Suna family. My father long ago wed the parents of Lady Melamiradesai. My father has since passed on and when Lady Melamiradesai married, the honor came to me to wed them. I am now honored again, this time to renew the vows and to welcome Ruhan and Lariel into the Suna family. There will be seats out here in the garden, and I'll start out my giving my little speech."

He winks at Flannex, "Don't worry, young man, I promise it won't be too long. Then I'll give the cue for..."

Valoram looks apologetically at Lymerris and Daleth who gladly supply their names, "Oh, thank you! I will give the cue by saying: No union can prosper easily or as well without support of family. Will the family of both Ruhan and Lariel please come forward and show their support?"

The priest waves his had to the dug up ground around the tree. "Prior to this each of you will be given a potted plant. The pot is made it to pull apart quite easily. You will come in pairs. First will be Lymerris and Daleth. You'll be back there."

He shows them where they'll be standing and where they will approach. They will stand in front of him, Daleth to his left and Lymerris to his right. The unturned bit of earth was marked with a white stone so they'd know exactly to plant. Next would come Alondar and Lady Melamiradesai. Starlene has to suppress a giggle wondering if Lady Melamiradesai hated this tradition because it would mean getting her hands a bit dirty. After them Maru and Thalisa, and then finally the children. Flannex was to be paired with one of the twins.

"I'm going first!" Wenalai declares immediately.

"Why do you get to go first?" Merrisol whines.

"'Cause I said so first!"

"That's not fair. You always get to go first."

"Not my fault you're always too slow asking."

"Girls, must you fight about everything!" Their exasperated mother rubs her temples.

"Perhaps Daleb can go with Flannex and then the twins together?" Maru suggests.

"Sure!" The priest nods agreeably, but Wenalai scowls at her sister.

"See what you did? Now we both get to go last!"

Maru runs his fingers through his hair. "For the love of Brell, Wena sweetie, it doesn't matter who goes first or last that much."

"Pardon me, did you say Brell?" The priest gives him a quizzical look.

"Aye, I do worship Brell although I have much love and respect for Tunare. It's a long story."

"Ah, perhaps one you'll share later on?"

Maru nods, "Aye, if there's time."

"Well, anyway after the twins have made their appearance, there will be a bit of surprise. I won't say what, but it's a special magic Starlene here should be able to appreciate."

Valoram gives her wink and then continues. "Then when that has occurred, it'll be time for Lariel and Ruhan to approach. I'll give my final words and blessings to them, and then we can return to the dining room and ballroom for the conclusion of the festivities. So, any questions?"

No one has any, so everyone begins to exchange their goodbyes with Starlene and Thalisa. The men were going to return to Kelethin to give Ruhan and party in one of the taverns Maltavro had rented out for the night, and the others would be staying the night in Lady Mela's manor. The exception would be Starlene, Thalisa and Lettie since Starlene was capable of transporting them home back here with ease.

"Thalisa and I will go and retrieve Lettie, and we'll see you all tomorrow then!"

"So, Keats is coming to this party then?" Alondar asks pointedly.

"Well, I um..." Starlene truthfully did not know if after today's events Keats would want to go. "He had planned to I think, but he is a busy person. I'll double check with him when we go and get Starlet."

"I'll see you later, Father." Thalisa says as she holds her gift. "Thank you again for the book."

He looks down to his youngest child and his face seems to soften as he gazes sadly at her. "It was good to see you again, Thalisa. I hope you'll make good use of it. Maybe you can read some of it to Lettie."

"I was just thinking of that! I'll have to translate it from the Elder Elvish for her, but I'm sure that will be great practice for me."

He gives her the faintest hint of a smile before turning to help Vespara and Maru corral their unruly children with a stern no nonsense tone.

Thalisa's face lights up at the small sign of approval from her father, a reaction that makes Starlene ache for youngest cousin. Due to past experience with Alondar, Starlene knows how short lives that joy will be before something else will come up to farther the rift between the two. She does not say a word to Thalisa and just as she turns to head inside, she hears Ruhan speak to her.

"Hey, Star. If Keats can't make it to the party, tell him I'm glad I got to meet him before the ceremony. He glances toward Alondar and then lowers his voice to a whisper. "Truth be told it's nice to have someone around for a change who knows what it's like to be judged by him."

Starlene cannot help but laugh a little but it's tinged with sadness. "Aye, I'll tell him. See you soon, Ruhan!"

"Bye, Star. Bye Thalisa!"

At last Starlene and Thalisa depart and make their way silently to the ballroom.