My heart was beating like a drum, ever since Anana and I arrived back at Bav's. Anana ushered me into a another room, located right next door to her families quarters. In the room I found my dress on a mannequin, ready for tomorrow, along with jewelry, and flowers. I took a bath and changed into my nightclothes and climbed into the bed, only to toss and turn missing Bav's warmth.
I only had a few more days left with him and I was actually sleeping away from him.
"This is ridiculous." I couldn't take the anxiety in my heart, of knowing I was wasting precious limited time with him when he was here.
I climbed out of bed and slowly opened the door and crept down the hall. I was halfway up the stairs when I noticed Bav stepping out of his room as well.
"Can't sleep?" I ask him as he quietly shuts the door, only to make him jump and turn around.
After he takes a few breaths and finds me, his shoulders relaxed.
"No, I was missing your warmth next to me." He smiles and walks down to meet me on the stairs.
"Me either. I couldn't get over the fact I have so little time with you already, that I can not waste the time I have." I place my hand on his chest as he pulls me closer. I close my eyes, feeling his steady heart beat under my hand. I was trying to memorize it's timing so I would not forget it.
As my eyes flutter open, they are met by Bav's intense adoration as he looks at me. A steely flash of determination crosses his face as he leans his forehead to mine.
"I will make it back to you, as quickly as I can. Please, don't look at me as if it's the last time you'll ever see me." He whispers softly.
I clench my eyes shut, guilt rising in me. He places his lips on mine, making me open my eyes. I kiss him back, tender, softly, just our lips touching each others.
"ECH-HMM!" The clearing of a throat makes us jump and there is Anana standing with her hands on her hips. "Bed now, both of you." She wags a finger, "Separate rooms..."
Feeling like two teenagers who just got caught kissing by their mother, we say good night and Anana escorts me back to the room. She gives me a cup warm chamomile tea and leaves.
I drink the tea and sit back, resting my eyes in hope I'll fall asleep.
The next thing I know, I hear. "Rise and shine, your day is here our beautiful bride!"
I'm greeted by Anana, Evangeline, Etty, Elaine, Cecelia, and Iris, all bright eyed and excited.
"Give me another hour." I grumble pulling a pillow over my head as they all laugh at me.
Iris pulls the pillow off my face and informs me, "Come on now, we have a lot to do and little time to do it. Now, if you want to eat, I suggest you get up quickly. It's going to be hard to eat later." She props a pillow up as one of the maids brings in a tray with food.
They practically force feed me and make me drink two glasses of water before I'm allowed to get up. I struggle to make it through the two glasses, my bladder needing relief, finally forcing through them to run to the bathroom.
I'm wondering if I lock the door if they would leave me alone for a few minutes till I woke up all the way. With the knocking that came just seconds after the thought crossed my mind, I knew that was a lost cause.
BANG-BANG!
"Rakara! Hurry up, just don't wash your hair if you want to shower!" Evangeline calls through the door.
I smile and turn the shower on standing under the water, letting it cascade down my back my hair protected by the waxed cloth I found. It was lovely drowning out voices. I guess I drank more than I realized last night. I massage my temples to ease the pain growing in between them.
I was drying off when the banging resumed, "Rakara, Etty, Elaine and I are already dressed! Cecelia and Evangeline went to go make sure the areas are being decorated and assembled. Get out here so we can get you ready!" Iris calls out.
I open the door and grumble into the dress. They're cinching me in and talking happily when my headache gets worse.
"Girls?" I try to catch their attention, but they're too caught up talking.
"Girls?!" Still lost in their own conversation, it pisses me off.
"EXCUSE ME!" I shout, making them all stop dead and stare wide eyed at me, quietly blinking.
"That's better." I massage my temples some more and Etty, thank goodness, catches on.
"OH NO! You've got a headache and we must be making it worse. Hold on Rakara, I'll make sure you're not suffering for long."
Etty took off and was back shortly with some tea and some medicine. I drank these, gratefully, as they continued working on getting me ready, albeit more quietly than before. Thankfully, the medicine worked and half an hour later, began to subside.
I was starting to get excited as time went on, as my hair was finished and my eyes had a touch of mascara and coal liner, my lips were touched with a light rouge as well as my cheeks. As they slipped the dress over my head and began to button it up, I finally looked at myself in the mirror.
The shock was evident on my face as my mouth opened slightly, eyes wide, but the rest of my features were blank. As they finished buttoning me, Elaine went to put on my jewelry, but I stopped her.
"No, I have some items that I need to put on first." I declared, going to the wardrobe and pulling out my mothers jewelry that I had asked to have put in here. I pull out the necklace and put it on and slide it under my clothes.
"Alright, now we can put on the rest." I smiled, letting Elaine place the diamond encrusted collar necklace. Iris puts my earrings on and Etty my bracelets and I look again in the mirror. It feels surreal as I stare at my self in the mirror. Tears start to form in my eyes, as it hits me.
I'm going to marry Bav. My love.
"Oh! Rakara don't cry! You'll ruin your makeup!" Iris comes forward with a tissue and dabs my eyes carefully. "Now, I know you're a little overwhelmed. I remember my wedding day, I felt overwhelmed and terrified." She giggles as she tells me.
Suddenly there's a knock on the door, which Elaine answers.
"One moment, please." Elaine pops her head back into the room, "Iris. Could you come here please?"
"Alright, one moment please!" She exclaims before turning back to me. " Now it's okay if you are nervous. Just remember you are marrying the man you love. I'll be back as soon as I can." She walks out the door and I catch in the mirror's reflection, my father, Mr. Thorn who sees me in my dress.
My jaw clenches and my gut feels like it twists in discomfort, before Iris closes the door. I look at the clock as Etty announces that she's going to go check on things downstairs. Elaine is gathering up empty tea cups and plates with our snacks up and informs me she's taking these to the kitchen really quick. I nod still looking over my dress and how I look, still shocked at how I felt so.. beautiful.
I hoped I was not being too vain about how I looked, but I felt absolutely gorgeous. I always knew I was not a bad looking woman, but in this dress today... I felt like the most beautiful thing that the Elements could have created.
The door opens and in slides Iris and her husband, taking me off guard.
Iris is quick to tell me why. "We have a gift to give you. Elias wanted to see your reaction and make sure you would like it...."
"Iris! I need a hand!" Etty's voice can be heard from the hallway and she looks between us, a frown on her face.
"I'll be right back, sorry." She excuses herself and dashes out the door.
There is a heavy and uncomfortable silence between us before he clears his throat.
"You look very lovely." He says not meeting my eyes.
"Thank you." I reply stiffly.
"The gift we're giving you... you may recognize it.... It.." He's cut off before he can say anymore by Iris's return.
"Sorry they're almost ready for us. Come on dear, lets give it to her so you can find your seat before we have to start heading out there." Iris places her hand on his arm and he reaches inside his waistcoat pocket and pulls out a small box.
"Thank you." I gingerly take it and open the box. I notice it's a bracelet first but as I look closer I glance back up at them shocked.
It matches my mothers necklace. I pull it out and look closely at it as Iris chimes in.
"We found it in a store and I thought it would match the necklace I see you wear so often." She beams proudly at me as I just nod still quiet for a moment.
"Yes, it matches it perfectly. Thank you Iris." I pause,, "Mr. Thorn."
He merely nods with a quick forced smile before kissing Iris on the head, "I'll get to my seat, dear."
He leaves and I pull the necklace out to compare them. They are identical in design. I think back to all those years ago and I remember seeing a bracelet when my mother showed them to me, but I never saw it again. This must be that bracelet, HER bracelet. How did it end up in a shop?....
My father... My thoughts fumed for a moment as I thought that it was most likely stolen by him to pawn for booze.
"Would you like to put it on right now? I think it will compliment your pieces just fine if you leave the necklace out as well." Iris suggested.
Looking in the mirror, I suddenly felt too done up in jewels. "Yes, but I think I am taking off the other necklace and bracelets. I will keep the earrings but it seems too much suddenly." I say removing the diamond bracelets.
"You are stunning without the jewels, Rakara." Iris sighs warmly at me, as we finished removing the other jewels. Etty and Elaine come in and get me to come downstairs towards the arboretum, where I will exit to meet Bav in the yard under the pergola that is wrapped in vines and thin white chiffon.
We walk down and on the ground floor stands, Mr. Wellsew.
"Oh Rakara! I knew you would be a vision, but ... you are the epitome of a beautiful bride!" He kisses my cheeks and takes my hand to place on his arm before following the girls to the arboretum.
"Is Leo here?" I ask Mr. Wellsew.
"OF course. Mr and Mrs. Atwood, Eric Milton, Johnathan Casey and Francesca Mills came too." He pats my hand as we enter the arboretum, my nerves and excitement making me shake lightly. When Iris arrives at the door of the arboretum, music is cued before she walks gracefully chanting in her sweet voice the Elements Generosities.
Then Etty follows in time, sprinkling a mixture of pyrite, graphite and quartz crystals to have the Elements grace my way. Elaine is last who begins to sprinkle water with her finger tips in the bowl she carries, so that luck will always flow our way.
Mr. Wellsew whispers, "Are you ready?"
I smile nervously up at him. "Yes."
Smiling he nods at me, taking the first step out of the arboretum and following the path to the pergola. On each side is a mixture of our friends and business partners. Iris has just finished the chant, as Etty takes her place next to her, Elaine is right behind her as we head down the path. I look from side to side at everyone present and smile widely, grateful for their attendance.
As my gaze runs over Mr. Thorn, I notice his look of sad longing but keep smiling, because right now, no one could bring me down. As we stepped closer to the pergola, Bav still faced to the front at the Officer of the Marriage Office stood before him.
We halt at the space right before the pergola and hold our position as the Officer steps forward.
"Welcome! Today, one man and one woman shall marry, combining into their own unique compound, a unique element that belongs only to them. I must ask you good sir, who you are and relation to the bride."
Mr. Wellsew clears his throat. "Frankston Wellsew. I am her prior guardian and adoptive uncle good sir."
The officer nods, "Do you approve of the chemical reaction that will occur when these two marry?"
Mr. Wellsew puffs out proudly, "Yes, Sir!"
"Bavarthos Fairchild, you may turn and glance upon your bride, take her hand and bring her forth." The officers suggests to Bav to turn and take my hand.
When Bav slowly turns to face me, I feel like everything slows down incredibly. I watch as his eyes open wider, a subtle smile twitching up his lips, as he takes me in, from the floor up. His smile only grows as his eyes catch mine and before I know it, I'm hand in hand with him before the Officer, taking our vows to each other,
"....promise to form an unbreakable and stable bond that nothing can destroy. To remain faithful, considerate, and honest, to always work towards common goals and support you physically and mentally, in health and sickness, enjoy the joy when it's granted, and take the negative days as a lesson learned. Until my body has returned to the Elements, I promise to love you."
We finish our vows and the marriage officer hands us the last paper to sign, finalizing our marriage. We turn and everyone takes to their feet cheering and clapping for us.