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Trinity
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"Come now, Athair mòr, it's almost time for your ceremony to start." I called out to him as we all prepared to leave the temporary room that had been set up for the grooms. Trevor was standing at the back of the ceremony and watching on with wistful eyes as Athair mòr and I made our way to the front of the gathered crowd.
The way the ceremonies were going to be held today was that Athair mòr and Daciana would complete their ceremony and then Athair mòr would walk Aunt Glory down the aisle for her ceremony with Trevor. The weddings were going to be consecutive, not concurrent.
Athair mòr and I were standing at the altar that had been built just for today. It was made of different metals and covered in flowers. It was part of Aunt Glory's plan to make the city and citizens of Fae more open and accepting of their only metal magic users.
As we waited under the flowing flowers of the altar, Athair mòr and I watched Reagan and Rika walk down the aisle, one was throwing flowers and the other was carrying rings on a blue satin pillow. Following them was a woman that I had seen when Daciana had first come to my castle. Finally, we saw Daciana and a man I didn't know walk down the aisle.
The beautiful dress that the bride was wearing was shimmering in the bright light of the sun, but that was nothing compared to the bright, radiant smile that was on Athair mòr's face. His eyes had lit up and I could see tears forming in his eyes. He was happy beyond belief that he was finally marrying his mate.
When Daciana and the man came to a stop at the front of the altar, one of Aunt Glory and Athair mòr's nephew named Ash spoke in a clear voice.
"Welcome friends, people of Fae, and new families. We have all met here today to join in the union of Valerian Undine and Daciana Joviak. This wedding has been a long time coming for my dear Uncle Valerian. First, let me ask who gives this bride away to be married on this fine day?"
"I do, Silvanis Joviak, her father. I am proud and elated that my daughter has finally found a mate to walk the path of life with."
Silvanis then turned toward his daughter and lifted her blue veil over her head. Now that her face was free of barrier he leaned in and kissed her cheek.
"I love you, Daciana."
"I love you too, Daddy." This was such a sweet and tender moment for them, and I was on the verge of tears at the moment.
After Daciana joined Athair mòr on the altar, the wedding commenced. It was time for them to vow to each other and actually be married.
"For a Fae, marriage means something different than it does for a human." Ash started the ceremony with a smile. "Humans can say that they will love someone for all of eternity and truly think that they mean it, but their lives are fleeting and they are not often given the chance to love for that long. We Fae, and other celestial blessed beings, have the chance that humans do not. Often, when we say that we will love someone for all time, it truly will come to pass. I am happy that these two have finally found each other, so that they may have that life of eternal bliss with the one person that will complete their soul."
He took a breath, smiled at the bride and groom, and continued with his words.
"If there is anyone among us that believes that these two should not be wed, please speak now or forevermore hold your peace." Ash paused to give any objectors a chance to speak. Seeing that no one opposed the union he continued the ceremony. "Valerian, will you repeat after me and make these sacred vows to your wife to be."
"I will."
After that the vows were started and I watched Athair mòr's face as he stared into his bride's eyes.
"I, Valerian Undine, will love you, Daciana, for the rest of my days, no matter how infinite they might be. I will support you in every way that might be possible, from magical to emotional. I will protect you, fight for you, defend you, and be the one constant that you can count on for the rest of your life. I choose you to be my wife since no one else will ever hold a candle to you in my eyes, or my heart."
Aww, that was so sweet. I could feel the waterworks starting, why was this happening to me right now?
"Alright, Daciana, it is your turn to make your vows to Valerian." Ash gave her a soft smile before continuing.
"I, Daciana Joviak, will love you, Valerian, for the rest of my days, no matter how infinite they might be. I will support you in every way that might be possible, from magical to emotional. I will protect you, fight for you, defend you, and be the one constant that you can count on for the rest of your life. I choose you to be my husband since no one else will ever hold a candle to you in my eyes, or my heart."
The vows were the same for each of them and they both recited them with so much love that I know the whole crowd watching on could feel it.
"I have one more thing that I would like to add." Athair mòr lifted his bride's hand and kissed the back of it gently. "I have prepared my own speech, or vows, for my bride that I hope to share with you now."
"Yes, my love, I would love to hear what you have for me." Daciana was more than happy to hear what it was that he had to say.
"Daciana, my love, I don't think that you will ever know just how happy I am to have met you. I know that I am a man frozen in time that does not age, but before the day that I met you, I felt like my heart had been frozen as well. The thick layer of cold had been chipped away bit by bit after I found my family, but that deadly cocoon of a frozen chrysalis did not fully go away until that day when we saw each other here in the lands of my home. It didn't melt away slowly either. No, that ice shattered and broke away in an explosion of love and happiness. From that day on my heart has begun to beat with a passion once more and it is all thanks to your beautiful smile, kind eyes, and sweet, gentle nature. I want you, and everyone here, to know that I will make you the happiest woman in the world from today until the end of time."
"Oh, Valerian." There were tears streaming silently down her cheeks and I finally was able to see what the effects of magical Fae makeup had. The tears were leaving no marks in the makeup at all. No streaks, no mascara marks, nothing. Daciana still looked just like she had just with some tears added. I was thankful for that since I was crying as well, and I didn't want to be a mess for Aunt Glory's ceremony next.
I present to the people of Fae, Valerian and Daciana, husband and wife.
