"Do I love her?" As Red Star repeated the question, he searched his brothers eyes. What he found was turmoil. "It hasn't faded?" Red Star turned from Condor's piercing eyes, and inspected a nearby rose bush. For the first time in his life the yellow orange blossoms failed to lift his spirits.
"The fire burns just as brightly," Condor replied solemnly. "Despite distance, time and lack of fuel."
Red Star turned back to his brother, wincing as he met Condor's intense eyes. "So that simple crush from all those years ago: it really was something else." Condor's silent response threatened to crush Red Star. "I'm sorry..." Red Star couldn't find the words.
Condor shook his head, as he paced past Red Star. "Know this; I bear you no ill will for these events." Condor stopped in front of a bush covered in crimson roses.
"I can call off the wedding," Red Star promised. He edged backwards as Condor let out a growl.
Whipping around to face Red, Condor continued in the same tone. "You said yourself how hard mother had to work to get Suede to agree to your marriage."
Red winced at the sound that came from his brothers throat. It was to laughter, as a starving wolf is to a puppy.
Condor continued, his volume lower, his tone just as intense. "That is a marriage to one of equal standing. Even if Velvet would agree to marry me, her father would never allow it." Condor calmed down as he cut off his brother's reply. "I may be your brother, but I shall always be an outsider. The only ones who take my adoption seriously are you, me and our parents."
Red Star took a deep breath. "You truly love her: act on it and hang the consequences," he admonished. "I will step aside for you."
Condor shook his head sadly. "It wouldn't work."
"The hay it won't," Red cursed.
Condor put his giant talons on his brothers shoulder. "Red, even if there wouldn't be a scandal involving both our family houses; even if that scandal wouldn't culminate in this disownment of Velvet and possibly myself, I still couldn't marry her." Condor took a deep breath before continuing. "Velvet has always wanted foals, she has always dreamed of motherhood. Even if I do as you say, and marry her and 'hang the consequences', that is one thing I cannot give her."
Red made a confused sound, as Condor continued. "It is dangerous for any pony mare to birth hippogryph because of their size, and Velvet is small even for a pony. If I take her as my wife she will be foaless, or I shall be forced to bury the mare I love."
Red didn't know what to say. "This makes things awkward."
Condor lifted Red's face to meet his eyes, before sating, "You still haven't answered my question. Do you love her?"
Red swallowed. "She's kind," he began. "She's selfless." The words proceeded tumbling out. "She doesn't care for money or power like other nobles. She's stubborn; at times I don't know whether to kiss her, or smack her upside the head. She's breathtaking," Red paused, searching for more words.
"Is that a yes?" Condor probed.
Red nodded. "The wedding may be arranged, but my heart belongs to her." Red could not believe his eyes. Condor actually smiled.
"That makes this easier. Better you than somepony else; she deserves a stallion that loves her," Condor looked wistful. "You are still the same honest Red Star from my childhood."
"And you," replied Red Star, "are the same loyal Condor." He eyed his massive brother. "There is just more of you."
"Speaking of more," Condor chuckled. "There is one other thing," Condor said.
Red Star noticed they where in the only portion of the rose garden where wrought iron archways blocked the view of the house.
"Yes?" he asked hesitantly.
Condor picked a red rose off of the nearby bush. He spun it in his grip as he spoke. "When my mother died, your parents took me in. Given the social stigma there is against griffins, that alone is huge." Condor sniffed at the rose. "Your parents didn't stop there; they adopted me, and treated me as their son. You have always treated me as your brother." Condor turned to where the house lay. "Mom and dad sheltered me. They fed me. They fought hoof over hoof to make sure I was given the same opportunities as other nobles, going so far as to pay for my schooling. I would have received no more from my own birth mother." Condor lifted a talon to the flower in his hand and drug it across the petals. "But," he said with furrowed brow as petals fell to the ground. "If you ever break her heart, I will rip yours out with my bare talons." Condor threw the now bare stem to the earth. "Just remember that," he said as he stared at Red the way he would stare at a fish. "When you are taking your vows."
Red swallowed nervously, as he eyed Condor's razor sharp talons. "That shouldn't be too hard, provided you are my best stallion." Red tried to make light of the situation. "You'll be right there next to me."
Condor's scowl was replaced with a grin. "You'd still ask me to be your best stallion after that?"
Red nodded. "You've always protected Velvet; that's all you're doing right now." He continued with chagrin, "Were our rolls reversed, I would hope I was stallion enough to say the same thing." Red put a hoof to his chin. "Though with how quick you are to come to her aid, it's amazing nopony else figured it out."
"That's probably for the best," Condor said softly. His heavy face mirrored his heart; both reflected his sadness at his situation, and what he had just put his brother through. "Please don't tell Velvet. She doesn't deserve that."
Red turned to face Condor. "I won't lie to my wife, brother," He said seriously. "She doesn't deserve that either."
The two brothers stared at each other. To Red's surprise, Condor broke contact. "Fair enough," he said.
Red put a hoof on Condor's shoulder. "I will do my best to never bring it up."
"I suppose that is more than I deserve," Condor said quietly. "For what it's worth, I give you two my blessing."
"That means more than you know," Red said as the two moved back to the house.
"Although I'm mad you didn't tell me I would be your best stallion in the letter," Condor said.
Red was puzzled. "Why?"
"I could have brought in griffin dancers," Condor said jokingly. "Do you have any Idea how wild that bachelor party would have been?"