The wedding and coronation of Prince Gwydion of Avaluna and Princess Meara of Venus was finally upon them. In the wake of all that had happened, the people of Avaluna were happy to have something to celebrate, though the wedding was controversial to many. To some it was seen as an extravagance that could ill be afforded, to others an attempt to hold onto that which had already been lost, and to others still a promise of hope and prosperity, as had been John Arthur's ascension to the throne some twenty years ago.

Whatever it was, the celebration was decidedly the center of the Solar System for several cycles as anybody who was anybody had filled Avaluna full to bursting. While Mars had neglected to send an official delegation, there were still members of the Martian court present, though kept under careful watch--Sir L1-4MNT, as Dame Freyr's date and Sir RHY-S32 as an invited guest of Princess Meara.

The-Queen-In-Mourning, Valerie La Guin, had rarely been seen in recent weeks and the news of her abdication in favor of her niece had caused quite a stir within Venusian society. Many Valkyries felt that Meara La Guin of Chonaill was not ready for such a burden. They thought less of Prince Gwydion. The Vespers were hardly any better, feeling that the new heir demonstrated an unpredictable temperament ill-suited for rulership.

Amongst the Knights and Nobility of Avaluna, and in the Solar System beyond, opinion was much divided. Many thought well of the pair, while others believed that they only served as an indictment of John Arthur's failed ideals.

Other whispers filled the halls regarding the Lord and Lady of House Stjernevold. Though Lord Brun had sometimes been regarded as eccentric, it was now known that he had not returned from his ordeal unscathed. In the chapel which had once been Euryleia's armour bay, they taught that upon seeing King Arthur struck down, Sir Brun had been so moved by the King's sacrifice that he, in turn, had sacrificed his wits so that his True Love could be born. Euryleia had then slain the Dragon to save her Knight and the Kingdom. The pair had developed an often literal following.

Avaluna was, indeed, a hotbed of whispered opinions and in such a hotbed, there was always room for a little profit. At least that's what Enid intended to make with her "speciality-imported" Venusian brandy. She quickly clamped the top back on the shipping case when she saw Dame Freyr enter the corridor along with an Avalunan Tech named Rose. What were they doing here? Didn't Dame Freyr have wedding business to attend to?

OOC: From whom did Enid get her smuggled brandy and just how does she plan to offload it?

What are Freyr and Rose doing on Scathach?

I thought it would be fun to explore some of our minor characters as we build toward the wedding.