#blindy

Blix looked stunning. (Indy honestly thought that she looked stunning in almost every situation, but today there was a brightness around her that had been less common since she came back.)

Indy, for her part, had tried: her hair was in a looser, much less severe braid down her back, leaving hair to frame her face. Twist had helped her weave pale yellow flowers into the braid, which was a step up from her usual mess of feathers. She was in a sleeveless dress that she had been working on for months; a soft green, made of leaf-shaped panels of varying sizes layered atop one another to form the bodice and the skirt. She was still barefoot, but she had lip stain on; red, to match her tattoos.

Today wasn't a day for stress. She could get through it without talons and feathers ruining her look.

There was a twinge of stress, though, when the ceremony began and Cay had her and Blix stand in front of them beneath the tree. She felt all the guests' eyes on her, and had to remind herself that every single person there was there to support them. So she held Blix's hands, and smiled down at her, and waited for the time to say her vows. She was going first, and she desperately hoped what she had to say wouldn't turn out to be too long.

Cay indicated it was her turn to speak. Indy took a deep breath, met Blix’s eyes, and squeezed her hands.

"I'm going to start this on a sad note, which is probably not surprising to anyone who knows me." There was the faint sound of scattered laughter, but that was fine; she'd meant it to be a bit self-deprecating. "But you'll soon understand that this time, it's good to start sad."

Blix raised an eyebrow, and Indy continued: "Two decades ago, I lost my hope. Two years ago, I lost my faith. After Outland and Teldrassil, society became unbearable for me. My instinct was to fade away into the wilderness and not give the world a second chance."

No laughter, this time; the only sound when she paused for another breath was the wind in the grass and the branches of the tree above them. Blix was staring up her, expression earnest.

"But then I met you by chance, and within minutes you'd turned one of my most stressful days since coming back into something light-hearted and fun. And then… you just kept doing that."

Indy smiled and reached out to cup Blix's cheek in her hand. "Blix Voronin, you make me want to greet the day again. You make me want to improve my health, and rebuild my connections to other people. And every moment I'm with you, I find something else about you that's worth loving. You've given me a reason to come back to real life, and work through those days that are struggles. You've been endlessly patient with my quirks: my sometimes-talons, the feathers always on the floor of our home… and with my kids, who hopefully haven't flown off with the rings by now."

More laughter, and she and Blix both looked over at Ranek and Kenorian, who had both been tasked with being a perch for Asha and Tilly until it was time for them to fly the rings over. Each of the men had one of the darters on a shoulder.

No crisis so far.

Indy turned her attention back to Blix, and they met eyes again. "By the Night, Blix, I swear to you that I'm going to do everything I can to be just as wonderful to you as you are to me. Nothing makes me happier than seeing you well. I'm your healer, and I'll be at your side every time I'm needed."

She squeezed Blix's hands again, and said the last part of her speech: "I love you, Moonfire. And today, I'm standing here to link myself to you, and tell everyone present that I will always cherish our bond."

Indy's shoulders relaxed, and she exhaled deeply. She'd made it through without stumbling over or forgetting words. The hard part was over; now, all she had to do was listen to what Blix had written, put a ring on her hand, give her a kiss… and then go dance, drink, and party with people who loved them.

Things were good, and while she knew it wasn’t going to be easy… she had faith that they were going to stay that way.

((Indy's wedding dress ref:))