33. The Ceremony
33
THE CEREMONY
*Kieran*
When Delaney first asked me to come with her, I was nervous, but as we walked along, she told me about what it was like giving birth to Raven, how she’d been asking the Moon Goddess to bless her with a child for many years and hadn’t been lucky enough to have one until finally she found out she was pregnant. When it had turned out she was having a daughter, she’d been overjoyed.
Raven had only been a few months old when everything had happened with my kingdom. As she spoke, I got the impression she knew who I was, that I am the Crown Prince of Dun’s Crossing, but I never told her the truth, and she didn’t ask.
Now, here we are about to go through with the handfasting ceremony, something Delaney also explained to me. I figured it was like a wedding but not as complicated. As we walked, my mind went over all the planning my mother and Nessa had been discussing since the Haze and think about what a waste of time that’s going to turn out to be. There’s no way in hell I’m going forward with marrying Nessa yet, not that I’ve figured out how to keep her from telling everyone what she saw. I’ll figure it out.
“Kieran,” Delaney says, letting me know that Raven must’ve told her something through the mind-link since she's no longer calling me Keery. I hope she doesn’t know my last name, but since no one is trying to kill me, or spitting on the ground, I assume she only knows my name and not who I am.. “Take Raven’s hand.”
I do as she says, and then Nola takes the fabric we’d been presented about and wraps it around our arms so that we are united–sort of. It’s not as if we couldn’t let go if we wanted to. But I don’t want to.
“Kieran, today we celebrate the beauty of the Moon Goddess and the blessed experience from the Haze. Though you may not know everything there is to know about Raven yet, as the two of you grow together, you will quickly learn to love and treasure one another.” Delaney’s smile is sideways as she continues. “The two of you will have many years together to know your strengths and weaknesses and how to love and support one another. May you spend many years happily together, no matter what trials and tribulations you may face.”
Not sure what to say or do, I only smile at her, and then she turns to Raven.
“My darling daughter, Raven, I am so happy to have found you. We are delighted that you are now part of our family again. You are a beautiful, kind hearted, intelligent woman, and one day you will lead our people and make our kingdom great again. We are all thankful to be here with you today to witness the uniting of two wonderful young people who have fallen in love.”
Raven turns to look at me and smiles, and my heart begins to beat out of my chest. I do love her, I know that now.
“Kieran, will you please repeat after me?” I nod, and Delaney continues. “I, Kieran, pledge my love and life to you, Raven.”
“I, Kieran, pledge my love and live to you, Raven.”
“And I promise to always be here for you, no matter what.”
I repeat after Delaney.
“I thank the Moon Goddess for joining our two hearts.”
I feel my emotions begin to well up inside of me and blink a few times before I continue. “I thank the Moon Goddess for joining our two hearts.”
“And I bind my heart to yours for all time.”
“I bind my heart to yours for all time.”
When I’m finished, I see tears filling Raven’s eyes and can’t help but smile reassuringly at her.
It takes Raven a few moments to get the words out, not because she doesn’t remember what she’s supposed to say but because she is overwhelmed. I wish I could kiss her to make her feel better, but I am afraid to mess the ceremony up. She finishes with the same remarks, “I bind my heart to yours for all time.”
“Now,” Delaney says again, “it’s time for the two of you to seal your promise with a kiss. Let the Moon Goddess keep you bound together for all time, never to be separated by anyone. Kieran, you may kiss your wife.”
With a wide grin, I lean forward and press my lips to hers. It’s a sweet, gentle kiss, since everyone is watching us. A cheer goes up from the crowd. Delaney takes our bound hands and raises them, and more cheers go up.
“Let us celebrate!” the Luna says, and then we are rushed away to the area of the plaza where the food is ready for everyone. Musicians begin to play the guitar, violin, drums, and flute. With our hands still bound together, we are led out to the floor and begin to dance. At first, I’m a bit shy, but Raven is overjoyed and begins to sway in time to the music. She’s actually quite the dancer, and soon we are dancing with one another. Others join in, and we laugh, and I spin around until the fabric is twisted up so I have to spin her around a few more times.
The song ends, and then Nola comes and removes the fabric. We are officially bound together, which causes the crowd to erupt in cheers again.
“Are you happy?” Raven asks, her eyes wide as she smiles at me.
“I’ve never been happier,” I admit.
“Good. Me, too.” Another song begins, and we continue to dance, not paying any attention to anyone until someone makes an announcement that it’s time to eat.
We are led to a table and served all kinds of food I’ve never had before, including smoked meats, fresh vegetables, and a dessert Raven tells me she’s never tried before that she helped her aunt make. It’s delicious. We laugh and chat, and for once in my life, I feel like nothing in the world is wrong. In the back of my mind, I know that isn’t true. In a day or two, I’ll have to go back to the castle and face my father, but for now, I feel like all is right in the world.
An older man asks Raven to dance with him. She agrees, and I watch. The two of them have an amazing time dancing. For being older, he seems like he’s in good shape, and I wonder if maybe he is related to her in some way.
“Are you having fun?” Delaney asks me, sitting down in Raven’s empty seat.
“I am.” I take a drink of a glass of mead that is constantly refilled every few minutes by friendly pack members.
“Good.” In a quiet voice, she continues. “Raven told me the truth, that you’re Gavin’s son.”
I swallow hard, not sure what to say.
“It’s all right,” she says. “I understand that you love my daughter, and you are her fated mate. But I must tell you, if your father finds out where we are hiding, I will never forgive you. Neither will Raven, I’m sure. She’s been through a lot, and it’s time she had the opportunity to be happy.”
“I know,” I say with a nod. “I promise, that’s my goal. To make sure she’s happy. She deserves that.”
Delaney nods in understanding. “Are you going back soon?”
“I have no choice.” I watch my mate dancing and smile, but my heart feels heavy. “I plan to go help King Cole kill my father.”
“That will be difficult,” she tells me. “He’s powerful and has no scruples. Besides, he is your father.”
“I know, but everything he’s ever told me has been a lie.” Bitterness radiates through me when I think about all of the lies he’s told me over the years.
“Be careful.” She squeezes my arm. “Make sure you get back here all right.”
“I will, I promise her.”
We lock eyes, and she nods. But then Raven comes over and takes my hand, and I laugh as we get up to dance again. For at least a few hours, everything is wonderful. I refuse to think about the future and how important it is that I find a way to kill my father. For now, all I want is to be with Raven–to laugh, to smile, to hold her. To show her how blessed I feel that the Moon Goddess has blessed me to make her my wife.
For the rest of the night, I intend to make the most of being with the woman I love. In the morning, I’ll worry about everything else.
“I love you, Kieran,” Raven says with a wide smile.
“I love you, too, Raven. More than anything.” I lean over and kiss her, wishing I could carry her off to some place where we can be alone so that I can show her just how much I mean every word of it.