The Cord
This is the third instalment of the saga and begins with a wedding…
It is written that not everyone is up to the high calling of marriage and the challenges that it will bring. If you can control the urges of your desires then it would be better for you to remain single than to face the rigours of a covenant of the flesh.
But such things have never dissuaded hearts that run with the fire of youth or harbour the courage of lions. Such are the hearts of Emun and Lo as they stand at the foot of the mountain that they would climb for the rest of their lives, that of the union of souls. Never in the history of Alzear had there been such a diverse gathering to witness the covenant of marriage, together beneath a canopy of fine silks of yellow and blue fluttering in the spring breeze as the scent of a thousand golden trumpet flowers hangs like honey in the air. The congregation as unlikely an array of allies and friends as could be imagined: dragons and belkins gathered together with skitterlings and taloran rams while their respective owners sat on mats on the grass of the farmstead that Royd had built up for himself from nothing. Dwarves, gnomes, elves, banes, taurens, trolls and many others all smiled as the bride and groom walked in from either side both resisting the urge to run into each other’s arms and embrace. Behind Emun his mother Dorn, and behind her Medad and Taarl walked in casual procession to the central altar where Lo would meet them beaming as brightly as she could. Arrborn and Xianto together with Lon her adoptive father from Nitewold. Perhaps the happiest of all was the honoured guest who would be sealing the union before The One himself was none other than Melech, The King. A king that had not forgotten the kindness once shown to him when he was imprisoned in hell. The same king that ruled all Alzear with a rod of iron who would not waiver from the straight and narrow path of righteousness.
A reverend hush swept over the congregation as King Melech took his place at the altar where Emun and Lo now stood side by side their hearts thumping in their chests. “My dearest friends,” King Melech began, smiling at Emun, “were it not for the courage of this young man that stands before you today on the brink of the greatest adventure that he is yet to have, I would still locked in my castle in the wastelands of hell. It was there amid the fires and untold agonies of the soul that Emun strolled into my halls and introduced himself. He was young and unafraid and I was trapped in a prison of my own making but he never knew that. Emun cared not what I had done or said he only knew within his heart that I was unjustly imprisoned. It is because of this, this great strength of his heart that I count him among my closest friends.
Today he brings before me a most precious woman who is to be his wife. A woman who will honour him, trust him and be a match for his spirit. Today these two who both carry the weapons of The One. Emun is the man of the word as is written upon the hilt of his blade. Lo has engraved upon hers, Spirit. I mention this for it is written in the great prophecy that when the word and the spirit walk as one then the spirit of The One shall be poured out upon all those that call upon his name. We are witnesses today of the union of three spirits. Like this cord,” Melech took a rope from his pocket and held it up, “it is made of three strands, as is a marriage sworn before The One. One thread is the groom, another the bride, and the last is the glue that binds them all together no matter what may happen. The last strand is The One himself woven into everything that the marriage covenant embraces. The covenant of marriage is a sacred thing that should not be undertaken light heartedly. A sworn union before The One cannot be broken. Though man walk away and shirk his responsibility to his bride, or even the other way around, The One still hold them accountable to each other. For what so ever he joins together no man can tear asunder.
Melech unravelled one end of the cord and passing a thread to both Lo and Emun he said, “In taking this cord you are binding both your hearts and souls in one flesh. This is a mystery unto The One. He will then bind his spirit unto yours in an eternal covenant that cannot be broken by anything in this world or beyond. Do you both accept to be bound in the covenant of love and trial that is marriage and both give your bodies in free surrender unto each other and unto The One who watches over all?”
“I do,” Emun and Lo said in unison.
“Thought so,” Melech whispered. “Then there is nothing more to it. People of Alzear, I give you Emun and Lo, now man and wife,” The king proclaimed with a flourish.
Emun pulled Lo close and kissed her which was met a rapturous cheer from the entire congregation. Never has the marriage of anyone been greeted with such jubilation and merry-making as this. The newlyweds walked hand in hand through the gathered people smiling and waving to all that called to them. Emun squeezed Lo’s hand as they walked through the crowd to get to the banquet table. They stood hand in hand waiting for everyone to take their seats as a plethora of waitresses filled the tables with all manner of colloquial delicacies. Among the waitresses was a darkling elf that had stood at the back of the congregation amid the shade of the silk canopies with a cheeky glint in her eye, Bernie still in her serving dress went about the tables ensuring that everyone had more than they needed.
“You, young lady are supposed to be a guest?” Melech chided the ever smiling Bernie.
“Does that mean that I cannot show my appreciation through my hands as well as my heart?” Bernie blew Melech a kiss and skipped away before she could be challenged further.
“Children!” Melech said with wide eyed amusement.
“She’s your daughter?” Emun asked.
“You didn’t know,” Melech said with a pout, “yes, one of several. Illicia you do know I believe,” the king sounded distant.
“Yes, I have met Illicia a number of times. She is a very dedicated druid that has no time for politics and politicians,” Emun said wiping the debris of his dinner from his mouth with his sleeve.
“Emun!” Lo nudged Emun in his side, “Peasant, use a cloth when among company.” Lo passed Emun a napkin which he used to wipe his whole face and hands as a show that he did know what one was for.
“Better?” Emun asked kissing Lo’s cheek. “This will be our first night alone,” he said raising his eyebrows.
“I know,” Lo said softly reaching under the table to squeeze Emun’s thigh.
King Melech leaned over to whisper into Emun’s ear,”If you can’t control yourselves I shall be forced to order you home,” Emun blushed when he noticed that all of his parents and in-laws were watching.
“Tsk, Emun,” Lo giggled delightedly.
You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.
You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.