After they had both completed the exchanging of rings, Nyghtwolfe said, “Braylin, please take Lok’s hands into your own, palms up, so you may see the gift that they are to you.
These are the hands, young and strong and vibrant with love, which is holding yours on your wedding day, as he promises to love you all the days of his life.
These are the hands you will place with expectant joy against your stomach, until he too, feels his child stir within your womb.
These are the hands that look so large and clumsy, yet will be gentle as he holds your baby for the first time.
These are the hands that will passionately love you and cherish you through the years, for a lifetime of happiness.
These are the hands that will countless times wipe the tears from your eyes: tears of sorrow and tears of joy.
These are the hands that will comfort you in illness, and hold you when fear or grief racks your mind.
These are the hands that will tenderly lift your chin and brush your cheek as they raise your face to look into his eyes: eyes that are filled completely with his eternal love for you.”
Lok had given the ring to his best man, his brother Apollo. He turned his head to look at him and whispered loudly, “Pssssst give me back the ring … now please.”
Lok took the ring from his brother and slid it over Bray’s third finger where was supposed to. It looked great on her! For an instant, he swelled up his chest with pride and grinned, “My wife!! Mine, all mine!!.”
Nyghtwolfe now looks upon Lok and smiles as she speaks soft and gently, “Lok, do you have with you a symbol of love and of the greater circle of life?
Please place the ring on Braylin’s left hand and repeat after me:”
“I pledge to you that you may partake first of my meal. I pledge to you my living and my dying, each equally in your care. I shall be a shield for your back, and you for mine.
I shall not slander you or you, me. I shall honor you above all others, and when we quarrel, we shall do so in private, and tell no strangers our grievances.
This is the vow I make to you. This is the union of equals.”
It was nearing the time that Apollo was to surrender his brother's wedding ring from his possession. He edged closer to the altar and waited for Lok to give him the signal of a passing look.
Braylin knew this was her moment. She turned and glanced at her four beautiful bridesmaids. Each one special to her in their own way. Their black and yellow dresses accented by their unique smiles and cultures. With a soft nod, she watched as beautiful Arabella untied the ring from the yellow ribbon wrapped around her bridesmaid bouquet. She then passed it to Nyla with her radiant blue hair and gorgeous smile. She watched still as Nyla handed it carefully to her wonderful best friend and now new sister Zoey. Zoey in turn handed it to Amora with her radiant smile and royal glow. She loved all four of these women deeply; equally. Braylin took the special ring from Amora and slipped it upon Loks fourth finger of his left hand as she repeated the words Nyghtwolfe had spoken with conviction.
Braylin knew this was her moment. She turned and glanced at her four beautiful bridesmaids. Each one special to her in their own way. Their black and yellow dresses accented by their unique smiles and cultures. With a soft nod, she watched as beautiful Arabella untied the ring from the yellow ribbon wrapped around her bridesmaid bouquet. She then passed it to Nyla with her radiant blue hair and gorgeous smile. She watched still as Nyla handed it carefully to her wonderful best friend and now new sister Zoey. Zoey in turn handed it to Amora with her radiant smile and royal glow. She loved all four of these women deeply; equally. Braylin took the special ring from Amora and slipped it upon Loks fourth finger of his left hand as she repeated the words Nyghtwolfe had spoken with conviction.
Nyghtwolfe smiles and passes her gaze between Braylin and Lok as she speaks again more softly, “A ring is an unbroken circle, a symbol of unity, of unending love, representative of this greater circle of life of which we all are spiritually a part of.
She looks again at Braylin, “Braylin, do you carry with you this symbol of love and the circle of life?
Please place the ring on Lok’s left hand and repeat after me:
“You cannot possess me, for I belong to myself. But while we both wish it, I give to you that which is mine to give.
You cannot command me, for I am a free person. But I shall serve you in those ways you require and the honeycomb will taste sweeter coming from my hand.
I pledge to you that yours will be the name I cry aloud in the night and the eyes into which I smile in the morning.
This is the vow I pledge to you, this is the union of equals.”
Braylin felt the lump growing in her throat. Her sapphire eyes beginning to pool with tears of happiness. She gave Loks hands a gentle squeeze and nodded with a soft reply. "And I will as well."
Lok reached over and took both Braylin’s hands into his own. His dark eyes penetrated hers and again he felt his heart pitter-patter with the excitement that only she can cause. He squeezed her hands in a gentle comforting hold. “Forever”, he whispered, and grinned with sheer happiness.
This time, Lok listened to each and every word that his Mom spoke. He nodded in agreement to what she said, and replied, “I will.”
Nyghtwolfe continued, “Braylin, please join hands with Lok and listen to that which I am about to say”
The dark goddess speaks just a tad louder so that family and friends of the couple can also hear, “Above you are the stars and below you are the stones. As time passes, remember … like a star should your love be constant, like the earth should your love be firm. Let the powers of the mind and of the intellect guide you in your marriage, Let the powers of love and desire make you happy, and the strength of your dedication make you inseparable. Possess one another, yet be understanding. Have patience each with the other; for storms will come, but they will go quickly. Be free in giving of affection and of warmth; have no fear, and let not the ways or words of the unenlightened give you unease, for the powers that be are with you, now and always.”
Braylin stifled a giggle. Still after all this time, Lok was still learning. She knew his outburst could have been damaging in the past, but that was before they met. Her eyes shifted and she tilted her head up slightly to look into his eyes. She smiled like a woman who was happier than she ever dreamed; like a woman who was completely in love. "Shh my love." She whispered ever so softly, meant for him and only him. With admiration in her heart, she turned her attention back to Nyghtwolfe and spoke clear and loud enough for all to bear witness. "I am here of my own free will and accord, ma′am." She smirked and winked at her fidgety fiancée
Tak slithered in like a viper to watch her brother get married. Tak never has met Lok's bride yet. Then again, once Lok met Braylin he seemed to forget about Tak's existence. At first this hardly bothered Tak, because she sometimes found Lok a bit annoying. Then again Tak missed the crazy adventures the two use to go on when they snuck out from the castle and would sneak into other dimensions causing all sorts of mischief throughout space and time. Tak smirked as she sat and watched. Now her brother was going to get married and he was going to no longer be free to be her partner in crime. Now Tak was going to have to find a new victim to take all her abuse....
Lok’s face clouded over with confusion. Did his Mom think he was forcing Bray to marry him against her will? His mouth opened up to protest but a quick glance at Braylin gave him the idea to maybe just keep quiet. Maybe she was supposed to say something about it, like deny it. Now he felt anxiety creeping up on him. What if she said he forced her to? His head shook involuntarily and he shouted louder than intended, “I didn′t force her, I swear I didn’t!!!”
Nyghtwolfe waited for the bride and groom to be standing before her. Their extraordinary style of their proceeding got nothing more than a lifted eyebrow. She knew how odd her son was, sometimes.
She softens her voice to their ears, “Others would ask at this time who gives this bride in marriage, but as a woman is not property to be bought or sold, given or taken, I ask simply if she comes of her own will and accord.”
She looked at the bride, “Braylin, is it true that you come of your own free will and accord?”
Misos tried to enter the chapel quietly so as to not take any attention away from Lok or Braylin on their big wedding day. It was good to see Lok had finally grown up. Misos could recall that for far too long Lok was a sort of bungling trickster and was far to niave for his own good. Lok always seemed to have problems in the past with woman, never quite knowing what to do with them even though it seemed that they kept falling for him. It was actually surprising to Misos when his son actually decided he wanted to hook up with Braylin. Obviously there was something special about this woman that no one else could match as she was able to tame Lok's wild heart.
Misos hoped that now Lok was getting married his son would finally be growing up. Lok needed to learn responsibility and discipline somehow after all. How else was he going to be a great warrior and lead troops into battle? Lok had ressited growing up for a very long time, but now that he was getting married it was obvious he was ready to become a man. Of course Lok's little flight gag (wich ruined an old suit) did show Lok still had this child like impulsive nature but it was Lok's day so if he wanted to have a little fun Misos was hardly going to complain.
