36 - Wedding

During the remaining half hour of waiting, people gathered in the clearing in front of the Temple of Swords. Some brought sewn leaf cushions as seats, others sat on the well-packed dirt.

Thomas took his place in front of the Temple's entrance. He poked me, reminding me to have the Ancient depossess me. I reluctantly obliged, standing up and taking my place at Thomas's right hand.

Jack had set up simple pavilions to shade everyone, as well as a simple tent to conceal the woman who was about to become my wife. I stood stock-still, every nerve screaming in panic.

Finally, Thomas announced, "Everyone, please welcome the bride!" 

With that cue, Katie emerged from the tent. She almost seemed to glow in the late afternoon light. Then I realized her dress was as white as an earthen wedding dress. When had they been able to make that possible? The only dyes I knew we had were stains.

The audience rose as Katie approached the Temple. Celine followed, keeping her tresses from dragging.

They passed through the aisle between our group, and reached me and Thomas. Her veil barely hid her beaming smile. I stared into her eyes through it. Katie's excitement was palpable.

Thomas cleared his throat, drawing our attention. "Marcus, Katie. In accordance to the traditions of this world, please present your Soulblades."

We complied, drawing the Ancient and the Angel. Katie was careful to not let the Angel cut the sleeve that was sewn into in her dress as a hip sheath. We held our swords horizontally, in two hands.

Thomas spoke again, "I'll try to be quick so that these two's arms don't get tired.

"Even on Earth, I had not known many couples with such love as these two. Don't they make a good couple? Now, marriage is amazing, but it also has its challenges. Talk it out. Continue to go on dates. And lead us well, as our first chieftain and chiefess."

Katie gasped at that proclamation, and Thomas met my scowl with a wry smile.

"Now, if you both are willing, please state your oaths as you have been taught." 

I looked to my bride, meeting her eyes. "I, Marcus Smith, vow upon the Ancient to be one with you, Katie Phillips."

She smiled even wider, and replied, "And I, Katie Phillips, vow upon the Angel to be one with you, Marcus Smith."

Thomas turned his focus to the crowd. "I now announce, as witnessed by the Ancient and the Angel: Marcus and Katie, married until death should separate them." He then turned to me. "You may now kiss the bride."

I lifted her veil away from her face, and kissed her.

The crowd cheered.

Jack had built a pavilion for us to gather, and Greg prepared a grand feast which included three courses: a salad with a berry vinaigrette, monster pig roast, and then dessert. Katie's jaw dropped when they brought dessert around.

I wasn't any more prepared to see them bring around a cake. It was green, instead of white, but still. We had ourselves a wedding cake. It tasted nothing like the Earthen counterpart, but still sweet and delicious.

I lost track of time in the jovial atmosphere, but dinner finally finished up, and various members of the group lined up to give us gifts. Clothes, dishes, tools, a blanket, and some monster furs converted into towels and washcloths. Basic necessities we had all come to take for granted, but didn't quite have enough to go around with. Then Jack stood in front of us, the last person in line to offer gifts.

He offered congratulations, and we thanked him.

"I also would like to present a gift to you both. I wasn't able to bring it to you here, so if you don't mind, I would like to bring you to it."

Puzzled, we agreed. He led us out of the gathering pavilion, and towards the house he had made.

I froze as soon as I stepped out of the pavilion. Between Jack's house and the women's barracks stood another house. It was the same style as Jack's, but larger.

As if reading my mind, he answered. "Yep. My wedding gift to you is that house."

"But... How?" Katie asked, just as dumbstruck.

"You didn't give me a lot of time, announcing your wedding two weeks before the date. But I got help preparing the materials ahead of time. Then when wedding day came, I just spent half an hour putting it all together." He leaned in conspiratorially, "Added a little extra soundproofing around the bedroom, so you don't have to worry about the rest of us hearing you two."

My face flushed. "Erm... Thank you."

Eager to nip the awkward conversation in the bud, I called it a night. With Celine's and Katie's help, we brought our pile of wedding gifts from the pavilion to our new home.

The girls dropped their loads in a previously empty living room and excitedly explored the house. I went to work sorting out the pile, smirking at Katie's squeals of joy. I sorted by where each item would belong - kitchen, bedroom, and such - and took a load of bedroom supplies up a flight of stairs. Three rooms branched away from the narrow hallway of the second floor. The first remained empty, while the the second had a one-person bed that Celine happily rolled around on. I tugged a blanket out from my bundle, and left it by her small closet.

In the third bedroom, a king-sized bed took most of the space. Katie stepped away from the open window and looked at me.

"Is this real? I'm not dreaming, am I?"

I smiled. "Yes, my love. This is real."

She threw herself at me, wrapping me in a big hug. I dropped the rest of my bundle and hugged her back.