Arthur was getting married to Gwen today, and nothing was going to stop it from happening. Just to make sure he had Duke, Earl, Carl, and Marshall, out scouting the farm and the valley for any signs of trouble. While they did that, he and Gwen got prepared for their apocalypse marriage. To the others it may have seemed like such a spontaneous choice, but Arthur and Gwen were both certain, and when you know, you just know. Donna was with Gwen, putting the final hand stitches into a cocktail dress that she modified. It was mostly white, but had a light sage green lace over the cups of it, and there was a line of lace running diagonally down from the cups to her right hip. She chose to be bare footed, partially because the only options she had as far as shoes was either her work sneakers, or Donna's sandals that were at least 2 sizes too small. They were going to be getting married in the little grove of oaks at the end of the valley, at least from what Gwen heard them discussing she figured that was the spot. She had always expected that she would be nervous, or antsy on her wedding day, but that was far from the case. She was actually quite calm considering that the world was going to hel in a hand basket outside of the valley. The only thing that made her uncomfortable, was the fact that Donna kept calling her “My Lady” while they were getting her ready. Gwen really did not like the sound of it. Donna was getting ready to braid her hair and she asked Geen, “How would you like it done, My Lady?” Gwen looked at Donna over her shoulder in the mirror that she was sitting in front of, with an obviously annoyed gaze. Please Donna, no more of that “My Lady” stuff, it's just Gwen. Donna just nodded, smiled and said, “yes ma'am. . Just Gwen” She noticed Donna's sarcastic smile after she said it. Gwen was not used to any of this, having her hair done, having someone sew a dress for her, it was fairly odd feeling. Gwen smiled, Ma'am I can handle, but the My Lady thing is a bit outdated. Donna told her, I’m sorry Gwen it's instinctive. Then it suddenly struck Gwen to ask Donna, “How old are you?” Donna just looked up at her slowly, trying to remember, ummm, 1,976 years old just last month. I think… she paused again, Stuart knows for sure. I'll ask him, but I'm pretty sure I'm 1976 years old now. Gwen was silent, she expected her to say something closer to 38, or maybe 42 at the oldest. Her mind was running through so many possibilities of what Donna’s childhood years would have looked like almost 2000 years ago. She silently daydreamed her way through getting her hair braided, while just silently thinking about it. When Donna was nearly finished, Gwen finally looked up and asked her, how long have you and Stuart been married. The look on Donna's face went through a whole spectral array of emotions. That's definitely a Stuart question honey, but it's been at least 1,950 years. I think I was either 25 or 27 when we tied the knot.
Arthur's Sacred Grove.
Stuart was just shooting the shit with Arthur while he got ready, it's not like he wanted or needed help. Stuart got silent for a moment, breaking the streak of joking that had revolved around marriage and a lack of sex afterwards. He looked up at Arthur, “Brother, you know I always have your best interest in mind, so I have to ask?” Arthur was curious now, he stopped buttoning up the shirt he just put on, and was staring at Stuart. I know you have a connection with Gwen, and that she's also different than any woman you have ever been with. But, how do you go through marrying a person that ages so rapidly. In another 60 - 70 years we will all be mourning her, and consoling you again. Arthur began buttoning up his shirt again, thinking for a second about what Stuart had just asked him. His life long friend, and companion was just genuinely concerned. He started to put Stuarts mind at ease with two words, “she won't.” Stuart knew there was a reason Arthur said it, so he just looked at him waiting for him to elaborate. When our ceremony is finished, I promise that you will understand. There is something big that Gwen does not know about herself. Stuart looked at him now clearly more confused than he was just minutes prior. So you think because she can talk to animals, she is part Fae? Arthur just shook his head no, “you will see brother.”
Dukes voice broke through on the radio, it looks like we are all clear out here, so whenever you guys are ready, come on out. Arthur just smiled, the interruption by Duke was perfectly timed. He examined himself one more time in the mirror, and he told Stuart, “It's time! Go let the ladies know that we are heading out to the grove now.” Stuart just looked at him, so you really aren't going to tell me what she is. Arthur laughed, not yet brother. I want Gwen to know who, and what she is before I say anything. Trust me, Arthur continued, we will all know after the ceremony.
Arthur was walking out to the oak grove with Hex, he was just realizing these were his last moments as a bachelor. When he got to the edge of the oaks, Duke spotted and approached him. When Duke asked him if he was nervous, it snapped him out his daydream. Just a bit, Arthur replied, but it's not for the usual reasons. Will you just do me a solid favor Duke? Of course I will Arthur, Duke knew by the way he asked, there was something else going on. I will need you to keep patrolling until we are done. You have the best nose for trouble, and the most experience in peace keeping, and security. Duke knew about the chaos outside, and some basic details about the crazy David fellow that triggered it all. Sure Arthur, not a problem but do you want me to… Arthur was already nodding yes before Duke even finished asking. What about your bride to be, Duke asked, won't this freak her out? With a serious look on his face, Arthur told Duke, She needs to know sooner rather than later. Duke dropped his overalls, and stepped out of them. He picked them up and handed them to Arthur, then Duke ran off naked through the oak Grove, and headed up the mountain. Marshall was walking into the oak grove when Duke ran by him naked and just waved. Do you want me to go patrol with him, Marshall asked Arthur? No brother, I need the three of you with us. Stuart and Donna will officiate the ceremony, but I want you, Carl, and Earl, to stay close by. No problem, he quickly told Arthur. Then they changed the subject when Stuart, and Donna brought Gwen out. The canopy created a million dancing beams of sunlight, and Arthur suddenly became hyper aware of everything around him the second he saw her. As she walked across the grove, the points of light coming between the leaves polka dotted her from head to toe. He was completely captured by her.
The Most Sacred and Ancient Ceremony… The Wedding.
Arthur and Gwen were both smiling from ear to ear, for at least half of the time that Stuart was performing the ceremony. When the ring was finally passed to Gwen on the hilt of his ancestral blade she was more amazed with the design, and etching on the sword, than the ring being put on her finger. It dawned on her then, that she was probably looking at “the” Excalibur. Donna had carried it off afterwards, and placed It in a sheath, then placed that in a wooden box. Gwen was looking back and forth from her ring, to her husband's face, amazed that her dream had happened almost exactly as she remembered it. Arthur was both happy and surprised, that nothing crazy had happened. He was now married to a beautiful woman, who was smart, funny, and she had no idea who, or what she truly was. Nor did she know who and what Arthur's Knights were. But he knew now that it was time for some revelation. He had to either do it now, or explain it all on their honeymoon. Arthur smiled at Gwen, then he turned his face towards the sky and howled. It did not sound to her like a man imitating a wolf, when Arthur did it was almost like she could feel what he was saying with it. Then within a few seconds she realized just how wrong she was. She heard a reply howl coming from the mountain. Then before she could fully grasp what was happening, Stuart, Carl, Earl, and Marshall were frantically stripping their cloths off. Before she got the words, “what the fuck Arthur?” out of her mouth, there were several stark naked grown men, on the ground, on all fours. When she saw Stuart sprout dark brown hair all over his back, and his face began to change shapes, she just fainted.
That was not expected.
When Gwen woke up, she was looking up at Arthur with her head in his lap. He was sitting in the ground, surrounded by wolves and bears. Her first instinct was that she was dreaming, then she began to remember the last few days. She was seconds from sheer panic when she looked into the largest bears eyes, and from him she heard Stuart speaking to her. “It is only us” When she looked at the other bear, it was looking at her through Marshalls eyes, and the wolves were Earl, and Carl. We did not expect for you to faint my lady, Marshalls voice apologetically rang in her head. Well I did faint, but.. she looked up at Arthur, I clearly didn't fall and hit my head. Arthur was shocked, he asked her just to be sure, You can hear them? Ummm, yes I can hear them, and I can hear Duke laughing up there in the woods. It's not funny Duke. Arthur was even more shocked, he couldn't even hear Duke at that distance. You are handling this quite well, Arthur said as he slowly sat her up. She was still shocked a bit, but he was right. She was yelling at a wolfman a half a mile away to stop laughing at her. It was Not the running and screaming, or utter panic that most people would have upon discovering being surrounded by a metric ton of wild beasts, that one would normally expect. Are they all some type of werewolves and.. werebears? Arthur considered his answer before spitting out either yes or no. It was really a bit of both. Umm, not exactly, he told her, they are Ulfhednar, and Berzerker. The modern tales of “werewolves” did stem from people seeing them in battle, but they don't change from lunar cycles. So, it's kind of a yes, and no. Arthur stood up, and helped Gwen back up to her feet. So my beautiful bride, are you ready for your honeymoon now? Of course I am, Gwen smiled, Where are we going?
Marshall and Stuart walked up on either side of them, hop on Arthur told her. Marshall leaned his head down to the ground, and Gwen mounted the massive bear. Arthur climbed on to Stuart’s back, and he told Gwen to hang on tight, as he grabbed a handful of Stuart’s fur in each hand. They ran to the house with the newlyweds holding on tight. The wolves were on their flanks following right behind them in formation. When they got up to the house, Gwen and Arthur dismounted their grizzly friends, and they all shifted back. All except for Duke, who came walking back up with Donna just a few minutes later. She was carrying a pile of clothes that she handed out to the very naked group. Duke stood almost as tall as Donna in wolf form, he approached Arthur. The obvious conversation they were having was kept private. Arthur looked at Stuart afterwards, and told him out loud, Brief Duke on David, and the entirety of the situation. I want to know where he is before Gwen and I go for our honeymoon. You all have about 2 hours. Please, find him and try to capture him alive. If you can't, then just bring me a significant piece of him back. Stuart, you and Donna know what to do, I'll leave you all to your briefing. We will be downstairs, preparing to go. Hold the Homestead while we do.
As Arthur and Gwen were grabbing some things from the house, before heading downstairs they could hear Stuart laying out the details they knew about David. One of the guys started the radio, and put on the song Black Betty by Ram Jam. Arthur told Gwen to pack up anything warm she could find, jogging pants, jackets, a few bath robes. She stopped him mid sentence, you still aren't going to tell me where we are going? Arthur smiled from ear to ear, no my beautiful wife, not just yet. She gave him a blank stare as she leaned on the dresser, then she stuck her tongue out at him, and shoved a pair of grey jogging pants into a duffel bag.