more invitations!

[c-macaulay.livejournal.com]

(( Dated just after Henry sends out his half of the invitations. ))

Invitations go out, identical save for the addressee's name, all of them hand-written (not by a Dictaquill; heaven forbid!) on a heavy smooth parchment, the wizarding equivalent of good stationery.

The following are the recipients:

Yoda
John Preston
Simkin
Bella Swan
Lestat de Lioncourt
Willow Rosenberg
Shaun Riley
Dean Winchester and Stephanie Brown (jointly, because Camilla still thinks they are a couple, but the invitation still says they can bring guests ...)
Robin Goodfellow
Geoffrey Tennant



Dear [recipient's name here],

I'm very happy to say that Henry and I have decided finally to marry. The ceremony will be Tuesday the sixth of November, at four pm, in the Room of Requirement. We'll have a little reception and dinner afterward in the same place.

Because it's such short notice, attire will only be semi-formal, and you really shouldn't go to any trouble on our behalf. Your presence will be gift enough. Please feel free to bring a guest or two if you'd like.

Best,
Camilla



Separate notes are sent out to a smaller group of people, to whom various additional allowances or apologies or explanations are owed:



Silas,

Have you spoken with Catelyn Stark lately?

Love,
Camilla





Dear Susan,

I guess you probably saw this coming -- we're getting married, Henry and I. On Tuesday, I'm afraid. It's very sudden. Would you be maid of honor? It wouldn't really entail anything unusually rigorous. You'd just have to wear that dress we already bought you for what's his name's wedding, and look pretty. Please say you'll do it. Frankly I'm at my wit's end with all this.

Love,
Camilla




Dear Francis,

Henry's already sent you the invitation, I imagine. Are you mad at me? Please don't be mad. You know it's impossible to tell Henry no, and he did so want it to be Tuesday. We're just going to have it be semi-formal so people can wear what they've already got.

Love,
Camilla




Dear Richard,

Henry's already sent you the invitation to our wedding, I think. You don't have to attend if you don't want to. I promise I won't be upset if you don't. But it would be ever so nice to have everyone together. Henry's always thought very highly of you, you know, and so have I. And Charles would be glad of the company, too, I'm sure.

Love,
Camilla




I saw Henry was going to send you the invitation. Tuesday isn't too soon for you, I hope? I'm so happy you'll be there. It's only going to be semi-formal because it's such short notice for everyone, but if you need anything, let me know. Or if you just want to talk. Or anything.

Love,
your sister.

Comments

[unbittenapple.livejournal.com]

Camilla,

Congratulations! I'm very happy for you. I'll be there--with two guests, if that's alright?

Bella Swan

[c-macaulay.livejournal.com]

Bella,

Of course, please do! Edward will be one of them, won't he? Who is the other? Will they have special dietary requirements? I think the room might take care of those things, but you never know.

Camilla

[unbittenapple.livejournal.com]

Camilla,

Edward's sister, Alice, if she accepts. And I'm sure they'll be fine, but thank you very much for asking.

Bella

[c-macaulay.livejournal.com]

Bella,

Wonderful! I'm so glad you can all be with us on such very short notice. (Needless to say, the date was not my idea.) I look forward to seeing you all!

Camilla

[redonme.livejournal.com]

Camilla,

I'll be there, of course--do you still want me to use the 'litmus charm' on you-know-who?

Shaun

[c-macaulay.livejournal.com]

Shaun,

Yes. A thousand times yes. Bless your heart.

Camilla

[ghostorangel.livejournal.com]

Camilla,

I have. She has told me what God has asked of you, and I swear I will guard you as I always have. A thousand congratulations to you, my angel.

-Silas

[c-macaulay.livejournal.com]

Silas,

I'm so glad she's explained it all to you. Will you be there? You could bring someone with you, if you like. It's going to be Tuesday, in the Room of Requirement, at four.

Camilla

[ghostorangel.livejournal.com]

Camilla,

Of course I will come, my angel. You will always be my angel, human though you might become. I will bring my lord with me, if I may.

-Silas

[c-macaulay.livejournal.com]

Silas,

I'm deeply touched. Of course you can bring your lord -- who is that? Besides God, that is.

Camilla

[ghostorangel.livejournal.com]

Camilla,

My lord is Eddard Stark--Catelyn's husband. I swore fealty to his family when he arrived at Hogwarts, much as I swore it to you. Catelyn said you have met him once.

-Silas

[c-macaulay.livejournal.com]

Silas,

Why, yes, now that you say it, I have met him! He's ... very lordly. Of course you may bring him, and Catelyn too if she isn't indisposed. Also, it's indoors, you know, the Room of Requirement, so you needn't worry about your skin.

Love,
Camilla

[usethepoker.livejournal.com]

Susan, who was just now getting over what she could only think of as a post-Halloween hangover, smiled when she read the owl. Good, Henry had actually asked already. She was extremely curious as to how the whole thing had come about, but that was a better question to put to Henry than to Camilla.

Camilla-

Congratulations! Certainly I'll be your maid of honor, though I'll tell you up front I've no idea what they're meant to actually do. Can I help you with anything in particular beforehand?

-Susan

[c-macaulay.livejournal.com]

Susan,

Thank you! Honestly, a lot of the things a maid of honor is supposed to do (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maid_of_honor) are things we won't be dealing with. Throwing a shower, shopping for things, scouting out locations for the reception and what have you -- none of that is going to apply here. We already know what I'm wearing and what you're wearing and what Henry's wearing, and I'm positive Francis is not going to require assistance in that department either. (Our friend Francis. He's going to be the best man. Apparently Henry asked him to be best man before I actually accepted the marriage proposal.) So really what's left ... hm, well, you have to stand there at the front and look pretty and not fidget very much, because you're the primary bridal attendant. The only one, actually, because I'm not having bridesmaids. It's going to be a very little informal ceremony, I think. And also, traditionally, the maid of honor gives a toast at the wedding reception, and sometimes a little speech. But don't feel you have to do that! I'm sure I don't know what on earth you could be expected to say. Probably Francis will talk enough for the both of you.

Ahead of time ... gosh, I don't even know. Wrangle my brother give moral support, I guess? Pray? Oh -- get a manicure.

Love,
Camilla

[fabernathy.livejournal.com]

Wear what they've already got?

My God, Camilla.

[c-macaulay.livejournal.com]

I know, I know, I'm sorry! I can't do anything about it now!

-C.

[busty-robin.livejournal.com]

Steph...stared at the invitation for awhile, having horrible, horrible flashbacks to a time when she had to live with three boys. There were no guest towels, and an utter disregard for the sanctity of coasters.

Finally, she wrote back:

Camilla,

Congrats! Dean and I were actually given an annulment thank freaking God, so I'll be bringing another guest as a date. I can't speak for Dean, but I'll be there. Thanks for the invite!

-Stephanie Brown

[c-macaulay.livejournal.com]

Stephanie,

While I think Dean is very nice, I'll congratulate you on your annulment. God knows I was thrilled with mine!

We look forward to seeing you and your non-Dean date, then, on Tuesday.

Camilla

[grandmasteryoda.livejournal.com]

Camilla,

Very happy for you and this Henry, I am. Be there, I will.

May the Force be with you both,
Yoda

[c-macaulay.livejournal.com]

Yoda,

I'm thrilled you can make it! We'll see you on Tuesday, then. I'm looking forward to introducing you to Henry, and I'll try to make sure there is food there that meets your standards. Are you going to bring this Force with you?

Camilla

[grandmasteryoda.livejournal.com]

Camilla,

Appreciate this I do. Though some cake will I have, if served it is. Not a wedding if cake there is not!

Save the theological discussion for later, I will.

Yoda

[rated-ec10.livejournal.com]

Camilla,

I'm honored that you would invite me, thank you. Congratulations to you both. I'll be there.

John Preston

[c-macaulay.livejournal.com]

John,

I'm delighted you can attend on such short notice. Do feel free to bring along anyone you'd like, or a book. Henry looks forward to meeting you, as well (and will probably try to lend you a good many books he thinks everyone ought to have read. You don't have to read them if you don't want to, I promise. Just smile and nod.)

Camilla

Warded return owl

[recentlygay.livejournal.com]

Dear Camilla,

Wow, congratulations! I've only been to one wedding, and it didn't really end well so I'm really excited. Of course I'll be there!

I managed to, uh, get into Henry's parent's accounts, like we talked about. I set up a dummy program so that no one would realize anything is missing, cause I doubt you want a bunch of FBI people breaking into your farm house or vineyard once they figure out hey, there's money missing!

So, see you Tuesday. Hopefully sans FBI.

-Willow

Re: Warded return owl

[c-macaulay.livejournal.com]

Dear Willow,

That's wonderful news! I don't think you should have any trouble with the FBI, really. Henry's old trust fund wasn't accessible, then? Well, I rather doubt his father can't spare a few million dollars here or there.

We'll see you on Tuesday, with whomever you feel like bringing, as long as they're not FBI. Former FBI are all right, though.

Love,
Camilla

[robinthepuck.livejournal.com]

(The owl bears a bottle of Retsina (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Retsina.JPG), a large jar of fresh green olives, and round of kasseri cheese (http://www.cheesesupply.com/images/P-21-068.jpg). It seems Robin is at one of his estates in Greece.)

Η γλυκιά Camilla,

Σας εύχομαι πολλή ευτυχία. Θα τιμηθώ για να μοιραστώ στη χαρά
σας.

Δικοί σας,

R. Goodfellow

((My sweet Camilla, I wish you happiness. I would be honored to share in your joy. Yours, R. Goodfellow))

[c-macaulay.livejournal.com]

(The reply is in Greek as well, only the mun dares not attempt it.)

Your taste, as ever, is impeccable. Thank you so very much. I look forward to seeing you on Tuesday, and I think Henry will be immensely interested to meet you.

Camilla

[chameleonfaust.livejournal.com]

(The note is written in a slightly unsteady hand, as if the recipient had imbibed of slightly too much scotch and a few pills shortly before managing to compose an adequate reply. But it is also accompanied by basket containing a nice bottle of wine and, inexplicably, two pears.)

Camilla,

Of course I'll come. It's you and Henry. How could I not?

I hope that you're happy. I'm sure you are, you always do manage, don't you? But, all the same. I hope you are.

Yours,

Richard

[c-macaulay.livejournal.com]

(The reply comes quite cheerily and promptly, in Camilla's usual maroon ink -- an odd color without the counterpoint of Charles's black. She understands what Richard has written, and what he's sent. She's not going to let on that she does, being who and what she is.)

Richard,

I am. Really, truly happy. Of course there's so much to do, and I think François is in a snit ... well, it can't be helped, I guess. But really, I'm happy. And I'm glad you can be happy for us -- happy with us -- and that we'll see you Tuesday. Wear any old thing, it doesn't matter, and bring whomever you want. You must sit with us at dinner after, too, you know. Francis is going to be best man and my friend Susan is going to be maid of honor. You met her, remember? Only she's much better now, not so much with the spooky eyes.

Oh, and thank you for the wine and the fruit basket.

Love,
Camilla

[charlesmacaulay.livejournal.com]

It took much pacing and crumpled parchment before Charles was remotely satisfied with his reply. Everything he wrote seemed to say too much, and he wouldn't for the world give his hand away at this juncture. In the end, he was left with a fairly simple message:

Honey,

Of course I'll be there. I love you. Can I do anything?

C.