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The courtyard of Corvo Bianco is quiet as Aiden sits down beside Lambert. It's been two years now since they moved here to be closer to Lambert's brothers from the Wolf School. Two years since they finally settled down here once and for all, on Geralt's estate, after three decades on the Path together since their reunion. Lambert has let his hair grow out until it almost reaches his shoulders, silver streaking its way through the dark waves he no longer bothers to slick back with foul-smelling grease, and Aiden absentmindedly cards his fingers through it as they sit together. The clear, starry skies of Touissant are out in their full glory tonight, and Aiden can't help but sigh in contentment. He takes Lambert's hands, pulling him to his feet and gently holding him in the starting movements of a dance they've done a hundred times or more now, one that goes along with a rhythmic, up-tempo song he's always felt suited their love. Lambert says nothing for a long moment, but sways with him and smiles, uncharacteristically genuine and vulnerable. He's been letting his walls down more lately, now that he finally has the calm life he would have preferred over being a witcher in the first place, and his real, honest smile is a beautiful thing, one that Aiden is honored and grateful to get to experience.
Aiden hums the tune softly into Lambert's ear, until the Wolf catches on and sings along in a slightly off-key half-whisper:
"Come kiss me, silver and gold."
And Aiden swears he hears the sweeping rise of the song's usual fiddle instrumental as he does just that.
***
There is a light, slow rendition of their song being played somewhere near the stable, by fiddle and flute and lute alike, as Lambert fidgets nervously under the flower-decked arch set up beside the old dry well just for this day. This day - he's waited an ordinary lifetime and then some for this day.
As Aiden emerges into the courtyard from the estate's entrance, the fiddle swells and crests into the chorus, spilling over like a too-full goblet of wine, and - oh - Lambert has to take a moment to catch his breath as he takes in the sight of her.
Aiden hadn't mentioned what sort of outfit she would be wearing for the wedding when they woke up together this morning like they would any other day, limbs tangled and her head on his chest, only that today was one of those rare days she was most comfortable with "she" and "her".
And now here she is, in all her glory, in the finest gown he's ever seen, with full skirts and a short train trailing behind her. It's blue, but a closer shade to the clear summer sky overhead than to her old Cat armor, accented in cream and embroidered with tiny threads and beads of silver and gold. Her face is covered delicately with a matching fine, gauzy veil trimmed in dyed-gold lacework. Her hair is down, tumbling past her shoulders in a cascade of fiery red curls shot through here and there with silvery greying streaks and covered with a loose net of gold threads woven through glittering pearlescent beads. She looks like a fairytale princess, and he can't stop staring.
The corners of her eyes crinkle in a charming, shy smile as she meets his gaze and then glances away again, as if they're just meeting today. As if they haven't been together for the better part of eighty years now. As if she's a blushing maiden of three and twenty, not the weathered fellow witcher nigh on a decade his senior he's known and loved practically his entire life.
As she reaches the arch, lifting her veil, he takes her hands in his and studies her face intently, taking in every scar and every crease. He lets one hand go to cradle her face, stroking her cheek with his thumb as he whispers the first words of their song's chorus, still a little in awe of her:
"You are the only one I'll ever love."
