Dearly Beloved, We Are Gathered Here Today

Posted on Mon Jan 30th, 2023 @ 9:05am by Captain Karyn Somers & Lieutenant Commander Sheena Toran-Blake & Lieutenant Commander Ryan Blake & Captain David Blake & Lieutenant JG Samantha Blake, Ph.D & Ambassador Amanda Blake
Edited on on Wed Feb 1st, 2023 @ 3:37pm

Mission: Shore Leave
Location: Toran Estate on Betazed
Timeline: TBD

GROUNDS OF THE TORAN ESTATE

Ryan looked to be equal amounts of excited and anxious as he stood with his family at the floral arch erected in a beautiful meadow of the Toran estate. He nervously stepped from side to side as he waited for the arrival of the priestess, Sheena, her parents and Karyn Somers.

David glanced at his son with a warm smile. "You keep pacing like that son and you'll make a ditch in the ground. Just relax and breathe.

Samantha looked at several posts that were scattered about the periphery of the ceremony site. She was unsure of the purpose of something that vaguely looked like coat trees. She turned to her mother. Surely she would know. "Mom, do you know what these stands are for?"

"It is meant to symbolize the circle of life and the circle of love," Amanda said.

Several servants came out to the garden bearing ceremonial robes and began handing them to the Blake family. They gestured to the pool house and instructed the family they could shed their clothes and Don the robes in there. Ryan, despite his years-long relationship with Sheena, was still not familiar with the Betazoid wedding ritual. Neither was David or Samantha.

David gestured for his wife and daughter to go ahead and change first.

Samantha stepped into the pool house slightly confused. She had taken a great deal of time to get herself ready for her baby brother's wedding. Her green dress looked stunning and now she would be wearing a simple ceremonial robe. "What gives mom? Why do we have to change for the wedding again?"

Today is the bride's day, just doing what she wants. change.

INSIDE THE MANOR

Dressed in an old-style dress and heeled shoes her sister Alex got for her Karyn with appropriately coiffured hair and impeccable makeup arrived at the manor and the butler greeted her at the door when she knocked, Karyn entered and looked around "very nice, reminds me a little of my family estate" she commented. Being the daughter of an Ambassador and having grown up in those circles Karyn knew how to present herself, now she waited for the host.

Sheena had butterflies in her stomach, or it was in it the new life growing inside her that made her nervous. Clad in only a ceremonial robe, she was nude, as was required by Betazoid custom.

Karyn walked over to Sheena "you look nervous, what is wrong?" Somers asked

"I don't know if it's the baby or just nerves that are making me jittery. I am here on my home world and in my parents manor and I feel like I haven't been here at all. It's strange coming home here and feeling like I don't belong. I mean...of course I belong here and this is my planet, but...oh damn, I don't know," she said.

Amanda Blake was also in her ceremonial robe checking flowers and other minor things before, She had given Sheena a pair of sapphire earrings. Something blue as was traditional for the mother-in-law. It was an excellent day for a wedding a shame the Leto would be moving on soon, The couple deserved to have a proper honeymoon, but they were all creatures of duty.

The Officiant for the wedding stepped through a door and saw Karyn dressed in her tasteful dress before beckoning a servant to bring ceremonial robes. "Betazoid custom asks anyone in attendance at the wedding to wear robes prior to the start of the wedding ritual." She gestured to a Privy chamber. "If you would, I assure you your beautiful dress will be returned as soon as the ceremony is over."

Looking up surprised "aww really have I got to! I do not get dressed up for much these days!" Somers moaned as she walked forward her heeled shoes making clicking sounds as she walked towards the officiate and took the robes "you know it took me half an hour to get into this dress, I am lucky it is quicker to remove" she added still sounding upset, but she took the robes and entered the Privvy chamber and began to disrobe mumbling about the injustices, then she noticed that they supplied sandals, but not tasteful, but then again she was putting on robes so what did she expect.

Then she could hear her Mother admonishing her "Karyn dear when you have to attend a diplomatic function or wedding, you have to abide by that planet's wedding rituals or diplomatic dress requirements, on a ship it is different" this ran through her mind as she finished putting the robes on, with a final sigh she folded her dress up and put the shoes on top and returned to the official, she looked at the one who took the items off her "that better be in the same condition when you give it back to me or there will be hell to pay!" she said in a firm but polite tone.

The Priestess gave Karyn a nod as she waved off the servant. "Your dress will be returned to you in the same condition my child. You need not worry. It was simply not necessary for the wedding." The Priestess turned to leave the room."

Nodding "Understood" Somers simply said and followed silently.

The Priestess paused at the door with a glance at Karyn. "I thought you knew. Betazoid weddings are conducted in the nude for all attendees." The Priestess exited as her statement made perfect sense to her.

"I knew Priestess, the problem is I will put most females to shame, I am a Marine and in the top physical condition and to top it off I am not lacking in attributes, no M'lady I am not scared of going in the buff, I just hate to embarrass the unlucky ones," she said with a playful smile looking at the Priestess.

The Priestess smiled at Karyn. "Your candour is appreciated, my child." She gestured for Karyn to follow. She gathered Sheena, her family and Karyn at the rear door and led the procession out to help the ceremony site. She took position just passed the floral arch and faced both Sheena and Ryan before glancing at the rest of the attendees. "Let us begin."

The Priestess removed her robes to stand before the couple in the nude.

Looking around oO Okay here we go! Oo Karyn thought to herself and disrobed, she was glad it was a warm day, but she found the freedom refreshing, she had not been lying there were some females she put to shame.

Amanda standing next to her husband took off her robe so that she too was naked. She was familiar with the Betazoid tradition and considered the ceremony one of the more beautiful ones in the galaxy. Sheena and both her parents, never ashamed of being nude, dis-robed and stood together. While her mother was nitpicking at her father about getting a bit chunky, she looked at herself. oODear lord I must be getting bloody fatOo she thought.

Ryan, David and Samantha glanced at one another with slightly confused expressions before looking at Amanda disrobing and just following suit.

The Priestess looked up to the sky. "We gather together to celebrate the union of marriage between Sheena Analise Toran and Ryan James Blake in the presence of their families and honoured guests. We beseech the blessings of the four Deities for this union." She turned first to Sheena. "Sheena Analise Toran, do you give all of yourself in mind, body and spirit to Ryan James Blake? Will you share your days with him in love and joy until death parts you?"

"I will, till death takes me" Sheena said. Looking at Ryan and looking deeply into his mind. ~~~I love you so Imzadi~~~she projected gently.

The Priestess then turned first to Ryan. "Ryan James Blake, do you give all of yourself in mind, body and spirit to Sheena Analise Toran? Will you share your days with him in love and joy until death parts you?"

Ryan turned his gaze from the Priestess to Sheena, his expression so full of love for the woman before him. "I do and I will."

The Priestess turned to Karyn standing at Sheena's side. "Blessed child, do you support this union?"

*Looking like a deer caught in the headlights for a moment* Karyn smiled "I do support this union" she said.

There Priestess turned to Samantha and repeated the question.

Samantha nodded. "I do support this union."

The Priestess looked out upon the gathering of guests. "Do these witnesses support this union?"

Amanda answered yes as well as the others present.

Sheena's parents both nodded in agreement with their daughter's union with Ryan.

The Priestess took the right hands of both Sheena and Ryan and held them between hers. "You are bonded in marriage, my children. Go forth to start your life together and make forge the start of your family with the blessings of the four Deities."

Sheena took Ryan's hand in hers and led him towards the manor house for one final act to complete their marriage ceremony, one that required privacy.

The Priestess watched as the couple departed for the manor house. She turned to the others as she pulled her ceremonial robes from the stand and put the garment on. "The Toran family has provided for a small reception in the dining hall. Please proceed thereafter you are dressed."

END SCENE

Lieutenant Commander Ryan Blake
Groom

&

Samantha Blake
Best Woman

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Captain David Blake
Father of the Groom

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Lieutenant Commander Sheena Toran-Blake
Bride

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Captain Maia Sterling as Amanda Blake
Ambassador/mother of the groom.

&

Marine Captain Karyn Somers
Bridesmaid