Alburet was a little shocked at how fast Ioaniss had shown up and taken a seat, just shaking his head when Vladimir appeared before him. “Vladimir, I didn’t expect to see you here,” Alburet said as he shook hands with the man.
“Oh, I wasn’t about to miss this. You’ve proved to be quite an interesting person. Besides, I was hoping to catch Ioaniss here as well. I do hope you’ll think of the auction house if you come across any other interesting trinkets.” Vladimir signed the book with a flourish.
“I hope you enjoy the ceremony and the reception after,” Alburet replied before Vladimir was led away by Stewart.
A little surprised at the trio that had shown up, he turned back to greet the next person. After another hour of greeting people, Grimgar came to fetch him. “Tha’ be enough lad, follow me.” Grimgar led him to a small room off to the left of the altar, containing a chair and a small table which had a bottle and glass on it. “Take a few minutes to rest. Be back for ye soon.”
Alburet settled into the chair gratefully as he poured a cup of wine. He didn’t really care for wine, but his throat was dry after all the talking so he sipped at it. Rather belatedly it dawned on him that he really should invite the few people he grouped with to the reception at least. He dug his Mindstone out of his pocket and sent off the messages to his friends and acquaintances. A few seconds after he sent the messages he started receiving replies.
Message from Fluffbalclass="underline"
We’ll be right there. Karen is with me. Hopefully the ceremony doesn’t start until we get there, seeing a wedding in this world will be interesting. Save us a seat next to you.
Message from Marysue:
Gerald isn’t on right now, but should be in an hour or so. I’ll talk to him about showing up for the reception. Who’s getting married?
Deciding not to ruin the surprise, he put his Mindstone away. He started getting nervous as he sat there sipping the fruit flavored wine. Taking a few deep breaths, he calmed himself. He wanted this. Stacia was as close to the perfect woman as he could have imagined. He wondered if she would be okay with monogamy, though, as she was pretty wild. Something that could be discussed later, he thought as the door opened. Alistern stood there, looking at Alburet with an unreadable expression.
“It be time. Be ya still sure of this?” Alistern asked.
Standing up, Alburet met Alistern’s eyes, “Yes. I just hope to be worthy of her.”
A brief nod was Alistern’s reply, “Then follow me.”
Alistern led them out to the main room, where the doors were being closed. Grimgar and Stewart took up stations standing just inside them. Alistern led Alburet to the altar before taking the empty seat next to Lilith, who was smiling broadly. Scanning the room, he caught sight of Fluffball and Karen staring at him with shocked expressions from a pew near the back. His lips twitched up as they stared. Karen pulled a stone from her bag but Fluffball grabbed her hand and started whispering to her. He hoped they wouldn’t cause a scene while Fluffball tried to talk Karen out of messaging him. He spotted the inquisitive faces of Ioaniss, Roberto and Vladimir, all eager to see the ceremony.
After a couple of minutes, just as he was starting to get nervous again, a soft gong echoed through the hall. The door to the right side of the altar opened, admitting a person dressed in all red and holding a black metal gong. They gently struck it with each measured step into the room. Behind the covered acolyte came a person in a full suit of plate mail, of black metal with red highlights. An axe was strapped to their waist and the top of a shield poked up over their back. Behind the paladin came Stacia, in a bright red dress with tendrils of black that accentuated her figure. The dress came to mid-calf, allowing her toned legs to be seen.
Alburet felt his breath catch in his throat as Stacia’s eyes met his. The sheer joy in her was palpable. Swallowing hard, Alburet felt his lips stretch in a broad smile as he felt his heart respond to her. Behind Stacia came the high priest of the temple, carrying a book reverently in his hands. The crowd murmured audibly as Stacia came into their line of sight. All eyes were focused on the woman who was going to join her life to another.
Behind the priest came Stacia’s sisters in black dresses with red lines that accented their figures as Stacia’s dress did for her. Emily was the last in line, her dress thankfully much more conservatively cut. The acolyte led the group to the altar before splitting off to go behind it. The Paladin stepped forward until they were two feet from Alburet.
“Do you come before the altar of the Dark Lord to take one of his followers as your wife?” Almira’s voice was clear and loud enough to carry easily with the great acoustics of the room.
Lips twitching slightly at learning that Almira was a Paladin of the Dark Lord, Alburet replied to her in a clear voice. “I have. I seek the hand of Stacia Crowley.”
“Be the one you seek amongst those that follow me?”
“She is,” Alburet’s eyes flickered to Stacia.
“Followers of the Dark Lord, come forward so this seeker may select his bride,” Almira said, stepping back. The daughters of the Crowley family stepped forward, forming a line shoulder to shoulder. “Which of these do you seek as a bride?”
Alburet paused briefly, not sure what he should do. Was he supposed to point, take her hand or something else? Not knowing what was expected, he decided to go slightly old school. He took a single step forward and went to one knee before Stacia. “Stacia Crowley, I ask you before the altar of the Dark Lord to become my wife.”
Stacia’s eyes went wide as her smile became even wider, “If it pleases ya, Alburet.”
“The groom has made his selection. The other maids will sit and watch what one day they may obtain.” Almira intoned as she turned to the other sisters and pointed them to the seats in the front row, then taking the seat next to Lilith.
“Followers of the Dark Lord and guests of this ceremony, I welcome you into the temple,” The priest intoned in an orator’s voice. “Today, we have a two-souled known as Alburet seeking to take a follower of the Dark Lord as his wife. Stacia Crowley has agreed to become his wife, and so we gather here today to witness their union. Alburet, do you swear upon your soul that you will protect, guide and love Stacia Crowley in sickness and in health, for as long as both your souls reside upon this world?”
“I do, sir,” Alburet said, his eyes locked on Stacia’s.
“Stacia Crowley, daughter of Alistern and Lilith, do you swear upon your soul to aid, shield and love Alburet the two-souled, in sickness and in health, for as long as both your souls reside upon this world?”
“I do, sir,” Stacia said in a slightly breathless tone.
“Do you have anything to say to the woman you wish to take as your wife this day?”
“Stacia, we have known each other only a very short time. In that time though, I have felt a happiness I never would have thought possible. A happiness I am sure I do not deserve and fear will be taken from me. Even with that fear though, I would watch the world burn if it meant being with you.”
Stacia wiped a tear from her eye as the priest turned and asked her the same question. “Alburet, master of me heart and soul. Ya have given me the dream tha’ I always wanted. Nothin’ else in this world will give me more happiness and joy then bein’ forever by ya side.”
The priest held up one hand, the book clutched in it, “I have heard the truth of the words spoken by the two before me. I will pronounce them to be husband and wife unless someone offers an objection.” Silence fell over the room for a long moment as the priest seemingly made eye contact with each person in the room. “As no one objects, this marriage is consecrated in the name of the Dark Lord. You may claim your bride.”