Rumor's Confirmed

          Roark Sr, lifted his head to look out over the Grand Ballroom and the close to two hundred people seated there.   He smiled and began, "We welcome you family, friends, and guests.  You have all been invited here today to witness the ceremony of the life-sealing marriage of Roark Christopher Durin Peverell Potter to Rodolphus Declan Lestrange, and Hadrian James Peverell Potter to Rabastan Archer Lestrange,  I ask you all now, if you have due cause as to why these four should not be sealed here today, that you stand up and speak, or to be forever silent."

          Almost as soon as his father had finished speaking, Roark tensed.  Rodolphus, whose hand yet covered his, felt it and gave his hand a squeeze.  : Hush now.  Your grandfather is not going to say a word against us. :

          : It's not grandfather, : came his tense murmur as the sound of someone getting to their feet was heard.

          "Yes, Captain Apollo?  You have an objection?"  Admiral Roark asked.

          "Not so much an objection, Admiral.  More of a serious concern.  Roark, will you please turn and face me, my nephew?"

          Roark turned, his hand falling from Rodolphus's arm as he did.  With his expression clouded, he met his Uncle's eyes.  "Yes, Uncle?" he asked in a surprisingly calm voice, though he was feeling anything BUT calm.

          Apollo advanced until he stood at the bottom of the steps as Rodolphus, Harry, and Rabastan turned as well.  Climbing the steps, he came to a stop before his nephew.

          "I'm sorry, Rory, but I feel that I really must do this, if only for my piece of mind.  Will you hear me?"

          Roark relaxed a bit.  "I will hear what you wish to say."

          "Thank you.  Are you absolutely sure this is what you want?" he asked of him.  "That you love him is not in doubt.  Any idiot can see that you do, and none of us are idiots..." his head tilted and a small smile twisted his lips, " at least, I don't THINK any of us are, but I could be wrong about that."

          Several chuckles sounded at his words, and even Roark smiled, saying in a tone tinged with amusement.  "It's very likely that you are.  Wrong, that is, but some just can't help that."

          "Unfortunately true.  My problem here is that you are so young, and he is your first lover.  There are more than a few of us here today, Harry included, who can tell you we all fall a little in love with our first lovers in one way or another."

          "Kind of hard NOT to fall a little in love with these Durin boys," Harry was heard to say as he grinned at those Durin's he had been lovers with.  "They just make it so easy." 

          Apollo looked over at his nephew with an arched brow.  Harry grinned and shrugged.  Apollo could only shake his head as he looked back to Roark.  "There are, Rory, so many men out there that you have not met, haven't given a chance to get to know you, or you them.  All I really want to know is that you are absolutely positive that this man, Rodolphus Lestrange is the man you truly wish to spend the rest of your life with?"

          Roark turned his head, looking up at Rodolphus, a smile slowly beginning to curve his lips.  Then their eyes met...held.  "I am sure, Uncle Apollo," he said without looking away.  "Beyond any shadow of a doubt. You see, Uncle, I more than love him.  I am IN love with him.  Mind.  Heart.  Body. Soul.  I know here," he raises his hand to touch his temple, his eyes still locked with Rodolphus', "and here," he now lay his hand over his heart, "that there will never be another for me, nor will I ever love another as I love him.  May Kobol bear me witness, Rodolphus Declan Lestrange will be the only man I will ever love with everything that I am.  He is not only my soulmate, he is my lifemate.  There will NEVER be another for me."

          Deep gasps sounded from around the room by nearly every person present, for asking Kobol to bear witness to anything was a far more serious vow than any other that could have been used, let alone made,  Roark finally broke eye contact with his lover, his soon to be husband to look at his uncle as Rodolphus stepped up beside him.

          "I will second Roark's vow, Apollo.  If you never believed that there was such a thing as soul bonding or life bonding, believe it now because that is what Roark and I have.  I fully and freely admit that I am not necessarily a good man.  I have done many things that I do not, and WILL not regret.  I have made mistakes, but who here can say that he or she has not?  They are, however, mistakes that I have learned from.  Mistakes I will not be making again."

          "Then I guess there is little else I can say, except," he bent to brush a kiss to Roark's brow, "be happy Roark, and may Kobol bless you both."  He then turned and moved over to where Harry stood leaning lightly against Rabastan, opened his mouth--

          "Don't you dare, Uncle.  As you are well aware, I HAVE had lovers.  Several of them.  Yes, I am positive that Rabastan is the only man I will spend the rest of my life with.  As Roark has made his vow, so too will I.  May Kobol bear me witness, there will never be another for me, as Rabastan Lestrange is not only my soulmate, he is my lifemate."

          "Then again," Apollo stepped forward to press his lips to Harry's brow, "there is nothing else to be said, except that you be happy, and may Kobol bless you both."

          "She already has," the four of them said together.