<strong><span class="bbc_u">Chapter 1: Aren's and Victoriana's wedding</span></strong><br/><br/>Toasts are a common part of all weddings and those of the Harkess are no exception. When it comes for Drusilia's toast, she stands and crosses the hall. At the far end, near the great hearth, some performers from the town have been called to entertain.<br/><br/>"Please to let me borrow this," she asks pointing to a fiddle. She bows twice and adjusts a peg and begins. She slowly walks toward the newlyweds while she plays. It is a melody few in the hall have heard before. She sways to her playing and all eyes are on her. Aren and Victoriana find they can't turn away. The meter slows and becomes somber and quickens and slows and quickens for long minutes and is definitely not the tune one would think to hear at court. The assembled find the rhythm and their clapping accompanies her playing and dancing. Several join in the dance as the other players catch up and drums joining and soon the lute follows.<br/><br/>Aren has one thing on his mind, well, maybe two. Or three, definitely three. The first is that he will protect his bride or he will die. And that he'd like to join the dance with his lady.