"Edarial Elire Cartalian and Iobel Maryah Swan are here today," says the priest, oblivious, "to join in marriage. Marriage is a powerful force. It solidifies love, connects families -"
(Iobel's family is not here. She supposes they don't even know where she is. She was going to write them after fleeing the country. She supposes she'll instead write them after getting married.)
"- begins dynasties, and models commitment for a new generation of children."
(She does not visibly shudder. How long will it take her to find a sterility spell or invent her own from scratch and cram it into her head?)
"The marriage between the young man and young woman before me will surely do the same, and moreover, it will see new royalty on the throne of Marlatia. Edarial, do you swear to protect, cherish, and guide Iobel as your wife in sacred ordained marriage for so long as the tie binds?"
no subject
(Iobel's family is not here. She supposes they don't even know where she is. She was going to write them after fleeing the country. She supposes she'll instead write them after getting married.)
"- begins dynasties, and models commitment for a new generation of children."
(She does not visibly shudder. How long will it take her to find a sterility spell or invent her own from scratch and cram it into her head?)
"The marriage between the young man and young woman before me will surely do the same, and moreover, it will see new royalty on the throne of Marlatia. Edarial, do you swear to protect, cherish, and guide Iobel as your wife in sacred ordained marriage for so long as the tie binds?"