Chapter 254

The church was small, very small. Sebastian opened the doors and inside, candles created an aisle. There were candles and flowers, in vases, filling the entire chapel. Some candles were in tall, standing containers and some on the floor. At the front of the chapel was another rounded archway, a slitted window in the background with a white candle in it.

A man, in a full tartan, kilt and everything, stood at the front, facing Pearl. This must be the officiant, Pearl thought. Erik, in a form fitting, vintage morning suit and jacket with tails, was standing with his back to Pearl. She realized this must be a tradition, not to look at her as she entered. She stood at the door and Dylan took her arm. "Tonight, I am giving you away." Dylan said. Pearl felt her heart filling with love. She smiled and thanked him and he adjusted her veil that was covering her face. Just as he did this, Erik turned around and broke tradition. He looked incredibly handsome in his three piece suit. The jacket was black, single-breasted, closing with one button in the curved cutaway front with tails that fell behind his knees. His trousers were form fitting, black-striped dark gray material with one pleat down center of leg and no cuffs. His waistcoat was light gray, double-breasted with lapels and pocket watch. His shirt was white, with a high, stiff, turndown collar and dress ascot in a pale gray. He was wearing her cuff links.

He saw her for the first time and broke into tears. She saw his eyes and forehead turn into a form of emotional furrowed display of love and absolute joy. She began to cry, just seeing him, falling apart at the sight of her walking to him. He placed his fingers on the inner corner of his eyes in an attempt to stop the tears, turning again to face the front as she and Dylan began walking. He looked so beautiful like that. They reached the end of the aisle and stood in front of the minister. Maggie and Auggie followed them and stood at each of their sides. Sebastian still by the door.

"Who gives this woman to this man?" The minister asked, in a thick Scottish accent.

"I do." Dylan said, placing Pearl's hand into Erik's. She felt Erik trembling as he looked forward.

"In the Celtic tradition, there is a beautiful understanding of love and friendship. It is Anam Cara. This is the idea of soul love; the belief of souls connecting and bonding. In Celtic Spiritual tradition, it is believed that the soul radiates through the physical body what some refer to as an aura. When you connect with another person and become completely open and trusting with that individual, your two souls begin to flow together. Should such a deep bond be formed, it is said you have found your "Anam Cara" or soul friend.

Your Anam Cara always accepts you as you truly are, holding you in beauty and light, an Anam Cara friendship helps you to awaken the awareness of your own most beautiful nature and experience the joys of others. The "Anam Cara" is someone to whom you reveal the hidden intimacies of your life. With the "Anam Cara", you share your innermost self, your mind and your heart. This friendship is an act of recognition and belonging. When you have an "Anam Cara", your love cuts across all convention, morality and category. You are joined in an ancient and eternal way with the "friend of your soul".

This art of belonging awakens and fosters a deep and special companionship. When you love, you open your life to another. All your barriers are down. Your protective distances collapse. This person is given absolute permission to come into the deepest temple of your spirit. Your presence and life can become their ground. It takes great courage to let someone so close. Where a friendship recognizes itself as a gift, it will remain open to its own ground of blessing. When you are blessed with an Anam Cara, you have arrived at that most sacred place: home. This bond between souls is indissoluble: It is what is broken by no chances, what no interval of time or space can sever or destroy, and what even death itself cannot part." The minister said. And with that, he took flowers from a vase near him and made a circle with them around Pearl and Erik. He then pointed at each direction and recited something for east, south, west and north.

"Blessed be this union with the gifts of the East.

Communication of the heart, mind, and body

Fresh beginnings with the rising of each Sun.

The knowledge of the growth found in the sharing of silences.

Blessed be this union with the gifts of the South.

Warmth of hearth and home

The heat of the heart's passion

The light created by both to illuminate the darkest of times.

Blessed be this union with the gifts of the West.

The deep commitments of the lake The swift excitement of the river

The refreshing cleansing of the rain

The all encompassing passion of the sea.

Blessed be this union with the gifts of the North

Firm foundation on which to build

Fertility of the fields to enrich your lives

A stable home to which you may always return." He said.

He then asked Pearl and Erik to face each other. "Now, speak to one another from the heart. Use the words only you may give each other." He said.

Erik began first, his voice trembling and cracking.

"The time is passed when I had power to advise and warn you against the unpromising morning of my Life — My love has made me selfish. I cannot exist without you — I am forgetful of every thing but seeing you again — my Life seems to stop there — I see no further. You have absorb'd me. I have a sensation at the present moment as though I was dissolving—I should be exquisitely miserable without the hope of soon seeing you. I should be afraid to separate myself far from you. I cannot be happier away from you — 'T is richer than an Argosy of Pearles. Do not threat me even in jest. I have been astonished that Men could die Martyrs for religion — I have shudder'd at it — I shudder no more. I could be martyr'd for my Religion — Love is my religion — I could die for that — I could die for you. My Creed is Love and you are its only tenet — You have ravish'd me away by a Power I cannot resist; and yet I could resist till I saw you; and even since I have seen you I have endeavoured often "to reason against the reasons of my Love." I can do that no more — the pain would be too great — My Love is selfish. I cannot breathe without you." He began. That was John Keats and Pearl knew it well. It was a letter he wrote to Fanny Brawne, the love of his life.

"I love you, ardently. I will spend the rest of my life giving you the love and respect you deserve. You are my life now. And being your husband and the father of your child is the single greatest honor of my life. You have me, mind, body and soul." He said. "I ask you to pass through life at my side—to be my second self, and best earthly companion." He concluded with a line from Jane Eyre. She almost sobbed. It was everything she could do try and keep herself together.

It was now her turn to speak. She had nothing prepared, so she just spoke from her heart.

"Three words. Overused and exaggerated often.

Lost in translation and found for the first time in my life. Celebrated and feared, songs written in their name, poems to explain their depth.

Words so powerful and yet so tender.

Three words.

To me, they are the purpose, the only reason. They have become the air I breathe, the warmth in the cold, the light at the end of a long darkness.

The reason, my reason, for waking each morning and dreaming every night, and why nothing else before made me feel alive or complete or more afraid or aware of my bleeding and yearning heart. Three words that finally have a meaning that serves them justice.

The beginning and end of everything...

Three words...

I. Love. You."

She said. Erik began to tremble again and tears fell from his eyes. She reached up to wipe them away and he put his hand on hers, bringing it to his mouth and kissing it.

"I will never leave your side, as long as we both live. You have me, utterly." She said, looking into his eyes.

The minister continued, taking a braided roped and wrapping it around their wrists, joining them.

"Now you are bound one to the other

With a tie not easy to break.

Take the time of binding

Before the final vows are made

To learn what you need to know -

To grow in wisdom and love.

That your marriage will be strong

That your love will last

In this life and beyond." He said. He pulled the rope right and it made a perfect knot. He then handed it to Auggie and began the exchange of the rings. Auggie handed Erik a bright yellow gold band.

"Repeat after me." The minister said. "I vow you the first cut of my meat, the first sip of my wine,

from this day it shall only your name I cry out in the night and into your eyes that I smile each morning; I shall be a shield for your back as you are for mine, no shall a grievous word be spoken about us, for our marriage is sacred between us and no stranger shall hear my grievance.

Above and beyond this, I will cherish and honor you through this life and into the next." Which Erik repeated as he placed the ring on her finger and Pearl did the same with a ring Maggie handed her.

"Mìle fàilte dhuit le d'bhréid,

Fad do ré gun robh thu slàn.

Móran làithean dhuit is sìth,

Le d'mhaitheas is le d'nì bhi fàs." The minister said. And then, "By the power that Christ brought from heaven to me, I give you this night as yours to be joined as one. I know pronounce you man and woman, husband and wife, now together, as one."

Erik lifted her veil and wiped the tears from her eyes. "I love you." He whispered, pulling her to him and kissing her.