The wedding went smoothly. Elegant in its simplicity and quick effectiveness. Her mother aided her in dressing, speaking of her own brief period as a newly married woman without children - a<em>nymphe</em>- and how such a transition was so important for her. The elder woman spoke of her own wedding to Daphne's father, fondly reminiscing the three days the traditional celebration lasted. Just like her mother before her, Daphne spent the first day in and amongst female friends and family. They made offerings of her childhood clothing and toys to different deities in hopes of a blissful union and a full life between the young couple.<br/><br/>The ceremony itself began the second day. After a luxurious morning of primping and preening, one that she enjoyed far too much for being heartbroken, she was dressed by the same women who helped her pray then delivered to her husband-to-be. Daphne was rarely left alone for more than a handful of minutes at a time, no doubt a tradition with roots from a far more barbaric time period. Or perhaps simply a means to keep the wayward young woman from abandoning her commitment. Either way, as her body was prepared and wrapped in expensive silks, she was given an opportunity to think.<br/><br/>She thought of the pain she still felt, of Eirene and the heartache that had shown so vividly in the brunette's eyes. Was Eirene so caught up other's thoughts she would push Daphne away? Questions like that plagued her. Part of her wondered what had happened, was there something she could have done to change this course or were the Fates too much of a driving force to ignore? It hardly mattered. As she walked towards Orion, her wrist encased by her father's guiding hand, she made a vow to honor her marriage to the sailor.<br/><br/>Daphne chose to live for the moment, to enjoy the kindness of her family and friends, to make a connection with the man she was about to marry. Yes the pain was still fresh, the wound far too raw but at least she could smile and laugh with the people she loved and would grow to love.<br/><br/>The wedding night was... Uneventful to say the least. Although they shared the same bed all that could be said for the wedding night was her husband enjoyed holding her to him as they slept. Early the next morning just before the sun's rays could touch the ground they rose and, with her parent's and their servants forming a parade behind them, the newlyweds found themselves making their way to the docks. With her hand in his, blue eyes studied the angles and harsh contours of his face. In their short time together they had kissed only twice. Once the night he approached her father with the desire to push onward with the wedding, then again simply the day before after he raised her veil to reveal the new bride beneath.<br/><br/>Her study was interrupted when Orion dropped her hand and her mother enveloped her in a giant hug. Later, by herself where she needn't be seen, she would cry but now, at the sight of tears trickling down her father's cheeks, she steeled her emotions. She needed to be strong for her family. With a few whispered words of goodbye and another round of hugs, she stepped away and into her husband's hands. As he lifted her into Themistocles' hold she was unable to quiet the squeal of surprised pleasure at her sailor's strength, a grin still curling her lips as he joined then embraced her on the ship's hull.<br/><br/>With the wind catching her hair and tearing it free from the thin ties holding it together, she leaned into Orion, a faint blush coloring her cheeks as the insistent breeze tugged open the top of his toga. Gently, her fingertips found the bare skin just as her lips were claimed in a soul-searching kiss. Arching into him Daphne gave a quiet purr, welcoming the way his hands spanned her narrow waist and traveled the length of her back. Only the aching in her lungs for breath forced her to part from his kiss. Biting her lip, she lay her forehead against the side of his jaw with a small smile. "You know my history, Orion, of Eirene and of the love I still have for her. I will not claim to love you so soon, that would be cruel to you and to me. But I would like to learn to... To love you that is."