Chapter 27: Vows.
|Vows.|
"Ladies and gentleman, guests of Veterum, we have been invited here to share in a most important time in our glorious country and in the lives of these two loved ones. In the time they have been together, their love for and understanding of each other has grown and matured. Now they have decided to live their lives together as husband and wife." The minister began by saying.
"As we start this ceremony, let's bow our heads in prayer as we ask for our Lord Jesus Christ's blessing and guidance on our time together today." The minister said and the entire congregation stood up to pray.
"Our Father in heaven, Creator, Savior, and Designer of marriage, we turn to you this morning, asking that you be glorified by what takes place. That this ceremony would honor you and reflect the seriousness of the vows to be spoken. Might this ceremony be a fitting beginning for our Phaedra Alexandra Gabriel Duke the third and Miss Malisha Kristina Lenton as they commit themselves before this company to pursue a Christ-centered life together. We ask it in Jesus' name, Amen." He finished and every one but the bridal party took their seats.
"Who is giving this woman to be joined to this man?"
" Her mother and I are, " The bride's father said and handed over his daughter to the Phaedra.
The Parson went on to say some stuff but Malisha was not listening. Her mind was on the man standing beside her and their intertwined hands.
Before she knew it she heard Duke say a loud 'I do' and the Parson turned to her.
"Malisha Kristina Lenton, this man whom you hold by the hand is to be your husband. Upon your life, your love, and your devotion he will lean for strength and inspiration. He is going to look to you for encouragement, for cheerfulness, and for confidence. No matter what the world may say or think, people may forget him, lose confidence in him, or turn their backs upon him, but you must not. May your life and love be the inspiration that will constantly lead him to greater dependence upon our Lord Jesus Christ. Do you vow here, as you have promised him, that you will be loyal in adversity, ministering to him in affliction, comforting him in sorrow, and forsaking all others, keep yourself only unto him so long as you both shall live?"
"This is it. This is it!"
"I do." Malisha responded and Duke turned to smile at her.
The Parson led them through more vows and Thomas was finally allowed to bring out the rings. Two matching bands of diamond encrusted in white gold and inscribed with a message within them.
The minister blessed the rings and handed them over to them. Duke picked the smaller one and turned to his blushing bride.
" I, Alexander Gabriel Duke Carlisle take you, Malisha Kristina Lenton to be my wife, before God who brought us together, to love and cherish you, even as Christ loved the Church, and gave Himself for it, to lead you, and share all of life's experiences with you, by following God through them. That through His grace we might grow together into the likeness of Jesus, our Savior and Lord."
He slipped the ring onto her finger and continued to say.
"I give you this ring, as a symbol of our marriage, for today and tomorrow, and for all the days to come and just as this circle is without end, my love for you is eternal. Just as it is made of incorruptible substance, my commitment to you will never fail. With this ring, I thee wed."
As he finished the congregation cheered and it was Malisha's turn to say her vows. Blushing furiously, she took the other ring from the bible and turned to face him.
"I Malisha Kristina Lenton take you Alexander Gabriel Duke Carisle to be my wedded husband, before God who brought us together, to love you and to cherish you, to submit myself to you in the Lord, and to follow you through all of life's experiences as you follow God, that through His grace we might grow together into the likeness of Jesus, our Savior and Lord."
Malisha slipped the ring onto his ring finger and continued to say.
"Today I place this ring on your finger.It symbolizes the bond that is never-ending, but when you need to know the depth of my love for you look not to the ring, but into my heart. I give you my hand as I give you my heart, unreservedly and unconditionally.I give you this ring as I give you my love, exclusively and eternally."
The minister then recited the final blessings and declared them man and wife.
"In as much as you have each pledged to the other your lifelong commitment, love, and devotion, by the authority committed to me as a minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and according to the laws of the great State of Veterum, I now declare you to be husband and wife, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, Amen and what God has joined together, let no man put asunder."
"You may now kiss the bride."
Malisha's veil was gently lifted and before she knew it warm lips softly claimed her own sealing their deal with a kiss that would forever dwell in her mind with this memory.
"Ladies and gentlemen, it is my pleasure to be the first to introduce to you, Mr. and Mrs. Carlisle, Phaedra and Domina of Veterum Major, Minor and all the realms beyond!" The minister declared as the entire cathedral stood up to applaud the new couple that was now standing before them.
Duke waved back at them, practically grinning. A grin that had not left his face from the moment when he had beheld his bride walking down the isle looking every bit of a queen and Malisha, she smiled back shyly unable to believe that this day had just happened.
"You look lovely," Duke whispered to his wife as they slowly made their way out of the cathedral and she blushed once again. He squeezed her hand reassuringly, grinning as she lifted her head to smile back at him.
"You're incorrigible!"
"I know." he continued to grin as he brought up their joined hands to put a kiss on her knuckles. "And you are mine." They walked out of the cathedral to its gardens beyond where a cocktail party had been hosted for them. They also got take photos with guests and family, a point at which the dowager Domina Carlisle joined them to congratulate her son and her newly made daughter and with joyful tears brimming her eyes, she pulled down the new Domina to hold her into a hug.
"Mother... quit hogging my wife." Duke joked as he watched the to the two of them cry.
"She's also my daughter you know!" His mother countered, her wits never failing her even as she dried her eyes with a hanky and Duke conceded.
When she had left them and the two were finally able to have some alone time, Duke pulled his wife in for yet another kiss and she blushed even more furiously.
"You're so quiet." Duke said when they had finally pulled apart.
"I am just...digesting."
"To being Mrs Alexander Gabriel Duke Carisle the third?"
"You have to admit, your name is a mouthful, "
He raised an eyebrow at her and she grinned rogueshly.
"So you want me to call you Domina?"
"I didn't say that!" She protested smacking his arm as playfully.
"Ouch! Quit pummeling me woman."
"I did not pummel you. It was just a tiny winy little smack" she told him laughing.
"Tiny winny little what?" Duke chuckled.
"As much as I would love to stand here and watch you two lovebirds bicker..."
"What's your problem Em?"
Duke said, swirling round to face him.
"My problem is you two. You are too cute it's nauseating!" Emmeren complained.
"Aaw...Haven't you found any nice peasant girls yet?"
Emmeren scoffed.
"Nice? Why on earth would you pair me with that sister of yours? No offence, but that girl is crazy!"
Malisha laughed, trying to imagine what kind of mischief her sister, Mishpa had been up to lately.
"Which sister is he talking about?" Duke whispered into her ear.
"Mishpa. I thought I was
punishing her by pairing them together,but it turns out, it also works the other way round."
Duke bursted out laughing and Emmeren glared back at him
"Come on Em, she's just a little girl. And you, You're a spy chief for heaven sake!" Duke encouraged him.
"No, she's crazy. Crazy I tell you!" He said it so dramatically and the two lovebirds laughed some more, all at his expense.
"Go back to your date Em, I bet she's wondering where you are." The new Domina toyed with him, enjoying his discomfort immensely.
"I bet this is your revenge, right?"
"Em," Duke cut in, looking properly amused, "I'm sure there was something you wanted to tell us, right?"
"Oh yes, I was actually sent here to fetch you guys. Your guests are waiting." he told them, getting serious.
" Thank you Em, you can go now. we'll catch up with you shortly."
Emmeren turned to leave the two and Duke turned to his wife laughing.
"You really love torturing my friend."
"As much as he loved spying on me for you."
"Minx!"
She stuck out her tongue at him and he cracked up, laughing even more as he helped her into a cathedral dressing room to change into something much lighter.
♧
Three dresses later and with sore feet Malisha stretched herself out on a chaise lounge and her husband slipped off her shoes to massage her feet.
"Oh, that feels good."
"I am sure it does." he replied with a smirk.
"And I bet it is not on the Phaedra's manual of instructions." She countered.
"No, it's not. But it so happens to be a fundamental part of the husband's guide to a happy marriage."
"It is?" She asked him, seating up.
"Yap, it says right there, a happy wife equals a happy husband."
"Mmm...clever!" she replied, collapsing back into the chaise.
"So, are you happy?"
"I'm in heaven." Malisha told him and he let out a chuckle.
"Heaven?"
"Yea. I think God allowed me to go through all that, so I would learn to appreciate the good things in my life ."
"That's very deep, wife."
"Yea, I know. It's pretty deep. Took me years to just muster that."
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