Part 14 (2/2)
Thorne takes my shoulders and turns me around to face the group of people gathered. There weren't any chairs, so everyone was standing around the gazebo.
”I'd like to get everyone's attention,” Thorne announces. ”Before you, is Jessica Lucente. The time has come to announce she is to marry Caleb Baldwin. They are two bound Light Tamers that have withstood a break of the bond, yet recovered the bond.” A group of people gasped in disbelief. ”The Fates have confirmed this union between the two Light Tamers will expose and bring forth the Hidden City of Everlasting Light. If anyone protests this matrimony, a death shadow will be cast over you for the rest of your days.” I literally felt everyone hold their breath at the mention of death shadow. ”Now, if anyone protests may they speak now, or forever hold their tongue.” No one said a word. ”May the ceremony commence. Mr. Lucente, take your daughter's hand and guide her into the gazebo.”
My dad took my left hand and guided me into the gargantuan gazebo. A lovely woman played a gold gilded harp. It was huge against her delicate frame, her slender fingers made the sound magical. My heart was beating in tune with the harp. We stood in the middle in front of a pulpit covered in white daisies that have been weaved into an intricate design. Everything looks and feels beautiful and regal.
I turn to my right, and there he stood. His six foot frame full of muscle filled the black tuxedo. A lavender bowtie around his neck stirred a desire in me I'd never felt before. The way his eyes locked with mine caused my heart to skip two or possibly three full beats. His chiseled cheeks and perfectly trimmed sideburns made him look a little older than his sixteen years. My eyes are drawn to his lips as he mouths the words, I love you, to me.
You look so incredibly beautiful. Every time I see you, I can't imagine loving you more, but I do. Believe in us, and everything will work as it should. I promise to never let you fall.
Caleb, I feel the same. I've never imagined a life without you. I'll forever be lost in your eyes and embrace. I promise to always stand tall with you by my side. I love you.
Our moment is interrupted by the clearing of a man's throat. We both laugh shyly as the stranger stares at us.
Caleb do you wonder if they know we can talk without them hearing?
I was thinking the same thing. I don't think they do, and that's just as well.
”EVERYONE,” the man shouts so loud I jump and let a squeal. ”Hands together. Raise your hands up, showing the unity that binds us as creatures from the earth. We're bringing together two beating hearts and merging them as one.” He raises his hands in the air and yells out.
”Go siorai!”
”Go siorai!” The crowd repeats.
I think that means eternally in Gaelic. Caleb thinks to me.
Oh, gotcha.
”Mr. Lucente, do you give your daughter Jessica Aileen Lucente to Caleb Art Baldwin for the rest of her life?”
”I do,” my dad replies and puts my hand into Caleb's hand. ”I love you Jess,” he whispers and steps back away from me.
A lump starts to grow at the base of my throat.
”Do you Caleb Art Baldwin, take Jessica Aileen Lucente as your wife, to be her forever friend, bound to her heart, and the one and only true love of her life? To love her without questions, cherish and honor her, protect her from chaos and destruction? To soothe her in times of distress and to entwine your heart and spirit?”
Caleb quietly replies, ”I do, infinity.”
The lump in my throat constricts airflow; the tears welled in my eyes. This is actually happening.
”Do you Jessica Aileen Lucente, take Caleb Art Baldwin to be your husband, to be his forever friend? To be his partner and his true love? Will you love him without reservation, honor him and trust him, protect him from the perils of life? To soothe him in times of distress and entwine your heart and spirit?”
”I do.”
The preacher, which isn't Thorne, who thought he'd be the one to perform the ceremony. This man spoke with authority and absolution with every word. He wore a plain grey suit and black tie. He pulls a rope from the pulpit and holds it above his head. ”May the spirits bless this rope to bind the two souls. Will the father of Jessie and Caleb step forward?” I hadn't noticed Mr Gabe, I wonder what he thinks of all of this.
He hands the rope to the men and asks them to tie our wrists together as he repeats a handfasting blessing. ”Blessed is this union with gifts from the East. New beginnings with the rising of each sun, in Fairyland. Your heart, mind and body will absorb the nourishment the eastern sun will bring. Blessed be by the gifts of the South. Your heart's pa.s.sion to warm you in the cold of the winter. Light to illuminate the darkest of times. Blessed be by the West, the cleansing of rain to wash away fears and darkness. Blessed be by the North. Fertility to the fields and to your womb, may they enrich your lives. A stable home to come home to. Take with these the tools of the earth.” He sprinkles a handful of dirt over the ropes and rinses it with a cup of water. He holds a ball of light in the palm of his hand and drops it to fall on the rope. Without hesitation, he blows on the light ball. The four elements, of course.
”Do you have the rings?” The man says to Thorne.
He pats his chest and pant pockets, giving a good show of forgetting to bring the rings. I could see the bulge in his pocket as he did his little ruse. Finally, patting the pocket with the box of rings. He hands them to Caleb.
”They are inscribed, please say it out loud for everyone to hear,” the man demands.
”Preaditi Unum.” Caleb and I say it out loud. Without warning, a sharp pain jabbed me in the heart. By the look on Caleb's face, he has it too.
As quickly as the pain arrived, it was gone. My heart feels strong, yet slower. ”Caleb, what happened?”
I think our hearts melded together. I think our souls bound together.
”As one, you've been bound by the prophecy. Your rings say, the gifted one, and that you are.
As you live as one, you'll die as one or come as close to death as one can. When one heart stops, the other is paralyzed. You'll never be alone if you live and fulfill the prophecy. Now, a test,” the man says and motions for a waiter to step forward.
The tray with the two champagne flutes is balanced on his hand.
”Caleb, before you are the gla.s.ses that represent your union, one is filled with barken-beer and the other with white sumach berry wine. One of the gla.s.ses is filled with poison, the other is as harmless as a gla.s.s of water. Caleb, you'll be guided by your bride. Jessie, with your hands, bring forth your light and let the light chose.”
What do you want me to do? Caleb thought to me.
It's a trick, that is what many of these test things are. One of them smelled sweet, that is the berry. I don't know a lot of white berries to be poisonous, but I'm guessing it is. The pungent one is the barken-beer. I don't know what barken is, but I'm guessing it isn't poisonous. I'll hold my hands over both. I'll pretend to chose one, and you take the other. Are you ready?
I believe in you. Here goes nothing.
Caleb, don't die.
Jess, I'll try.
You're impossible.
We're married, I'm supposed to be.
People are staring.
Okay, my Queen.
The sounds of a horses hooves behind us startle everyone out of silence. A pandemonium breaks out, and we turn around to see what's going on. A stunning blonde woman wearing traditional English riding wear bombarded through the crowd.
”Put that gla.s.s down boy. They're both full of poison, any respectable preacher would know better than to pa.s.s that trash to royalty.” She starts clapping her hands together.
Caleb, do you think she's mad...you know, crazy?
I don't think it, I know it.
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