The Oath Eternal (Festival of gods) (Ave/Jeon/Myst/Roland)

[Mysteria]

Behind the mask Mysteria’s eyes followed Aveline and Roland as they both made their way down to the alter that stood before the main deities. Her hands quivered as she held the golden tassel within her clutched fingers. Thankful that her eyes could not be seen as she stared down at the Royal Guard and his soon to be bride. Her flesh turned cold, her heart pace steadying to a slow even beat. Her pupils vibrating back and forth from humanoid to that of a serpent, wild and full of excitement. Mysteria had to control herself to keep contained and composed during Roland’s and Aveline’s quick flirting glances back and forth to each other. Her heart sinking further down into the pit of her stomach when both announced that they were ready to continue.

Such sickening feeling, irony….

Mysteria Nodded, lifting her hands up high above her head while cupping the golden rope within her palms. “ By the power of the Divine, Your union is pure and true. By standing in front of Mylee, you vow to uphold each other through the hardships and trials you may face together. He is life, thus what you must make of your lives together. I now ask you to hold each other’s hands. “ Mysteria paused briefly, moving around the alter to walk down to where Roland and Aveline stood. She placed herself in front of the two and lowered her own hands that still held onto the rope.

“By standing in front of Ai, you have vowed to uphold love and to remain faithful to one another. Ai’s love is genuine and loyal, Thus what the rope represents. The rings represent your bond and that you will always stay faithful to your lover.” Mysteria spoke softly, lightly wrapping the rope around Roland’s and Aveline’s wrists in a design looking similar to that of an infinity ring. She smiled and took a step back and clasped both her hands together in front of her chest. “ By standing in front of Zepon, you have vowed to uphold mylee's and Ai's vows and be forever by your lovers side. For only death may separate the bond of this holy union. “

Mysteria’s head turned to Roland, though her eyes could not be seen it did not mean he could not feel her gaze fixed upon him. “Do you swear this union upon the crown and his majesty? To remain loyal until the very end? If so, you may exchange the rings. An by the power of the Divine; Roland Walker you may kiss Aveline Walker, your wife.” Mysteria spoke softly, nodding to Roland and Aveline her lips pressed tight as she remained emotionless during the entire ceremony speech.

[Roland]

Roland smiles again as Aveline steps to his side. He held back his desire to reach out and touch her. As he felt his nerves continue to build it was Mysteria who helped him to calm down, not because of her reassurances or her words but because of a slight tremble in her hands. He could not see her eyes but her flat emotionless voice made it clear she was not choked up.

What are you hiding? He asked himself as she began to speak, but again he remembered his promise to Aveline, tonight, for tonight alone, for her alone he would stay his questions. He would cease to be the mage hound. Upon her instructions Roland reached out and took Aveline's hand. Her hand was soft and surprisingly warm, as he looked at his pale unhealthy looking paw close around it he found himself thinking that his hand must be very cold.

“I...” Roland opened his mouth and began to speak his vow, but close his eyes and fell silent for a moment. “I swear these vows upon the crown and his majesty...and I swear to love, protect, and support Aveline in the paths she walks through life-” As Roland continues his eyes change turning to a shinning liquid silver. “I swear an oath to be your partner in life and to become the partner that you deserve.”

As each word spills from his mouth a silver power expands. The power was not visible to someone like Aveline who had no potential as a mage, but she would feel it none the less as if a bond had been formed.

To Mysteria the power would be something of an entirely different nature, for the first time Roland wielded, even if unconsciously, the full force of his divine gift. And with the power the nature of the man's domain could be divined. The magic would wash over Mysteria carrying no hint of Caster's divine strength for her son had chosen a path of oaths and bonds and would not follow her into chaos.

“Aveline I love you.” He affirms before leaning in to kiss his bride, as he does an errant thought seemed to appear in his mind. An oath once given becomes a bond. And a bond once forged is not something to be lightly broken. As they kiss he slips the ring of memories onto her finger and draws her into an embrace.

[Deleted]

Aveline stood silently, her hand trembling as Mysteria bound it with rope. Her legs were shaking beneath her dress, Roland’s hand the only thing keeping her upright. Despite Roland’s thoughts she found his hand to be warm, pulsing with that foreign magic running through his veins. Magic that she had no gift for and could only recognize as power. She looked up at him as he said his vows before a sharp gasp escaped her.

She hadn’t been seeing things before. His eyes had changed.

“I-” Aveline could barely speak. Her hands were shaking in Roland’s. “I swear these vows upon the crown and- and his majesty.” His eyes had changed. This man, this being of great power loved her. “I swear to love, honor and cherish Roland through all the paths he walks in life. I- I swear an oath-” her vision was swimming now, her eyes burning from tears. “An oath to be your partner in life. And a partner that you deserve-”

Roland kissed her.

A smile broke across Aveline’s lips through the tears as he slipped a ring onto her shaking finger. She threw her arms around his neck, embracing him tightly and fighting back a choking sob with a laugh. Gods above, she was free. She was Aveline Walker now and she was free.

“And I love- ah, Roland-” she pulled back a little, wiping her eyes. “I forgot something.” with a smile she took his hand and slid the heavy bloodstone ring onto his finger.

Then something happened, a deeper, darker magic that she could not have predicted.

There was a spark, like static electricity between the metal of the ring and the flesh of Roland’s finger. The heavy gold band tightened against his skin, fusing there as if it had been welded to his very skin. Then, at that very instant, a gold band crept around Roland’s throat and sealed there, tightening against his flesh. The joy in Aveline’s face dropped in an instant, replaced by a look of abject horror and terror and she yanked herself back, her hands flying up to cover her mouth. The gesture was unable to muffle the scream that was ripped from her, however.

Aveline looked to Mysteria, terror in her eyes and then back to Roland, reaching forward for him once more. “What magic is this?” she asked, her voice ripped by hysterics. “What have you done?”

[Roland]

Roland smiles as Aveline brightens up and the entire experience was enough to distract him from the magic that was embedded in the king she placed upon his finger. As the band creeps around his neck Roland pulls back eyes still shining a bright silver. He reaches up and touches the collar, though makes no attempt to remove it. He could already tell it wouldn't work.

"A collar to bind a dog, someone certainly does have a sick sense of humor." He grumbles, though as he sees Aveline begin to panic he reaches forward and pulls her to his chest firmly trying to project as much reassurance as possible. "Calm down, calm down, everything will be okay, I am here and I WILL protect you." He repeats to her over and over again trying to show as much confidence and control as he could. Inside he was steaming however and as he strokes Aveline's hair his eyes shift to Mysteria and he says.

"Do you have an explanation for this?" Immediately Roland's spell of truth activated, no lie could be spoken here. The Dova angry eyes were at odds with his calm expression. He did not know that Mysteria did this, but he knew of few other mages who could have. He continued to stroke Aveline's hair a powerful aura of magic flowing from him.

"Be glad my love, we are finally married," He whispers to her, knowing it would do little to alay her anxiety or distress, but hoping it might at least help that little.

[Mysteria]

There were no words that could describe the emotions that washed over Mysteria at that exact moment in time. In fact, everything seemed to slow down when the rings were exchanged. Her eyes, hidden behind the vail covering over them went wide with shock at the sudden spark that left from the small trinket. A lump in her throat formed as she watched the ring disappear and then re-appear as a VERY familiar creation. How? Mysteria froze her lips pressed tightly together as Aveline began to panic. The distressed woman's words striking a cord as Mysteria took a step back away from the two.

What had she done? Mysteria thought to herself, silent on answering Aveline's question for the moment. Deep in thought as she searched for a answer; only to come up with one that disturbed her. Then she felt the familiar hold of magic, a spell had been casted while she was distracted in her own thoughts. Rolands sudden demand bringing her back to the situation that was at hand. She frowned as she looked at the collar around Roland's neck. The sight causing her to grit her teeth and bare them in a frustrated manner. She had not intended on Roland being collared just yet. It was too soon and the collars were not even fully complete yet and still were some what unstable. A prototype compared to the ones she had yet to fully finish in her Laboratory. A tisk sound escaped her lips as she crossed her arms and lowered her head, admitting a playful defeat, seeing that the spell casted prevented her from lying.

" It seems someone has deemed to use us both and decided that you were worthy to be in a new project. " Mysteria sighed, her head lifting and her attention falling to Aveline. Her lips pressed tight as she seemed to stare down the clearly un-happy bride. " That ring.... Have you had it on you this whole time?" Mysteria asked, being some what cautious seeing how the situation had changed.

Meanwhile, Stella stopped playing the lute, her eyes locked on Roland and Aveline as the atmosphere of ceremony suddenly changed. Though the child did not move as Mysteria gave a quick subtle hand motion not to. So Stella stayed in place, holding the neck of the lute tightly as she watched silently as Roland casted a spell upon her master.

[Deleted]

Roland was too calm. Why was he so calm? Aveline could feel sobs catch in long lines through her throat, unable to speak or barely breathe. She didn’t have the strength to crumple against him as he pulled her to him, barely able to hear him speak as he tried to calm her. Her mind was racing- how, why? Who could have done this, Mysteria? Her Mother? The King? There was one truth that stuck with her though as she stared up at him with huge, terrified eyes.

“I caused this.”

Her voice was hushed, quaking like her small and frail body quaked. He would never be able to forgive her for this. She had caused this. She had made him a prisoner. When she opened her mouth to answer Mysteria, another voice answered for her with the sound of thunder.

“She has not.”

From the front of the temple Severine walked, flanked by guards, their faces hidden in helmets. She was dressed in slick black with a simple headdress, clearly not dressed for anything but this. Her gaze fell to her daughter and Aveline’s breath caught in a fearful gasp, life returning to her limbs. Aveline clutched to Roland’s chest like a child, praying in vain that he could still hide her now.

Severine’s gaze, though disgusted, did not remain on her daughter for long. It rose instead to Roland and the collar stretched across his throat. An ugly sort of smile stretched across her face and she lifted her hand, rubbing her fingers across the high collar of her dress covering her own throat.

“Welcome to our little club, Captain Walker. Now, if you would please, step away from my daughter. I will be taking her back now.” she raised a hand and two of the guards stepped forward, drawing blades. “Do not attempt to resist, you cannot break the orders of the crown now.”

[Roland]

Roland continues to stroke Aveline's hair as she clutched to him. “Deemed me worthy huh? This strikes me as a sick joke.” He replies to Mysteria not a hint of satisfaction for being chosen in his tone. As Stella moved slightly Roland gathered up more magical energy preparing to fight it out with the woman and her puppets. However the entire situation changes when a familiar voice calls to him.

“Spider, I should have known you'd be involved in this, it is very much your style.” He admits, his expression severe enough to make most cadets piss themselves. He locks eyes with the woman as she smiles and he finds himself thinking only a single thing. “Such an unhappy woman, I almost pity you.” he admits before picking Aveline up in a princess carry. If a force was going to control him he would need to see if it would oppose his desires even when they weren't related to a crown's orders.

“Unfortunately Severine, you have long since stopped being a trustworthy voice of the crown. Your orders are entirely personal, and I know that you do not have the legal right to try and demand I abandon my wife nor can you force me to betray my oath.” He declares before charging away and raising a hand. The stone of the wall opening before him and then closing as he leaves. Once they were out of the moon temple Roland says “Well I did promise we'd leave the city.” He says to her as he takes a step forward and take off into the air.

[Mysteria]

This was just one shit storm after another. Mysteria's gaze fell upon Aveline as she began to panic more within her love's presence. She exhaled in exhaust and annoyance. Her attention turning to Roland as he began charging his manna energy and storing them within his channels; Obviously preparing himself for a fight of some sort to take place. However, a fight was not something she was looking for. Her lips pressed in a thin line as she scoffed at the very idea of fighting in the holy Moon Temple.

" An looks like you got the punch line." Mysteria sighed under her breath, replying to his comment with her own tone sounding a little annoyed. Though when Aveline finally snapped back to reality to try to give her an answer. The sound of the chapel's doors opening caused her to snap her attention towards the entrance of the room. Her answer coming from someone she had not fully expected. Severine had made her appearance and made her way down to the front. Guards following close behind her as she demanded Roland to obey her order and step away from her daughter.

Cautious of the situation now at hand, Mysteria turned her head slightly to stare back at Roland. Her movements slow as she reached up and un-tied the piece of cloth that covered over her eyes. The fabric falling with her hand back down to her side as she locked her eyes on the Guard Captain. She said nothing as he addressed Severine and picked up his wife in a gentleman's cradle. A frown visible on her face as she stared down Roland as he cast a spell and opened a wall. Her bottom lip curling under the corner of her mouth as she bit down hard on the flesh.

" Roland!" Mysteria calls out to him as he takes off into the air carrying Aveline within his arms. The tint in her eyes deadly as she looked up at him. " I will see you when you return. " She spoke sternly, giving him a nod before lowering her gaze back down to Severine and her Guards. " A marked can not command another marked, however if those are direct order from his majesty than Roland has no choice to obey. You should know that by now…. Lady Severine." Mysteria nodded to the woman in a curtsy like fashion. " Accept this outcome for now and take it up with his majesty, only he has the power to separate their union. " She spoke boldly glaring at the drawn swords that her guards now bared.