Chapter 44 #2
The glass plant mansion was filled with vibrant blooms in a multitude of colors, all of them filling the air with the unique aromas of Earth.
The aisle Survii walked down was a long rug, beautifully woven with gold and purple threads in a distinctly floral design.
On either side, chairs were set up in rows, each one decorated with white ribbons and purple flowers.
They were filled with people. All of them staring at him as he slowly walked, his body stiff, his head high. Alanna’s family, her friends, important figures. None of his family of course, though that did not bother him as this was all for Alanna.
At the end of the aisle, under a wide archway decorated with more ribbons and violet flowers, the human female who would be officiating the ceremony – one of Alanna’s longtime friends – was waiting in a simple but lovely gray gown.
Beside her, on the right side, his groomsmales were standing in a line, holding their hands together in front of themselves.
Survii took his place beside them, in front of the officiant. He saluted her, fist to his chest, acknowledging her position of honor in this ceremony, before he turned to the back of the glass house.
The music changed, a small riff announcing the difference, and the curtains were pulled back. Holly came through first.
The females attending to the bride were called bridesmaids. Their position was one of seeing to the bride’s needs and preparing her for the event itself. They stood opposite the groomsmales and dressed similar to each other – like officers in an army.
Holly was wearing a long, pale purple dress with no sleeves, tight under her bust, but free flowing to her feet. In her hands, she carried a small bouquet of white flowers. Her long, usually straight, hair had been curled and set to cascade down one side of her head.
Romival stilled as she paused, then started her long walk down. Survii grinned, realizing now that this parade of females would be just as delightful for his groomsmales as it would be for him. In a way, it was like they were all going through this wedding ceremony together.
Holly took her place, and, at the back, Scarlet stepped through. She had the same style dress and bouquet, but her hair had been pulled up in a tight bun with only a few, curled tendrils escaping to frame her lovely face.
Havali made a very odd sound in his throat as she glided down the aisle to take her place.
Tuvo stiffened even before Hattie appeared. She walked through the open drapes, beaming so brightly, it was like the sun itself shone forth from her face. Same dress and bouquet as well, but her long, ringlet curls were free and decorated with white flowers.
She flounced down the aisle, gracing Survii with that large smile of hers. All the females looked so delightfully happy. That, more than anything, convinced him of the importance of this ceremony to them and their culture.
Before he could explore that realization further, the curtains opened again.
This time, it was Peony. She served as the highest position among the bridesmaids, suitably designated as the maid of honor. A worthy title for her and her role, opposite of his lead groomsmale – the best man. Best male? Survii wasn’t sure what he was the best at though.
Certainly not breathing, as the sight of his mate stole Atem’s breath away.
Her dress was different from the other females.
More elaborate, with a layered skirt that opened in the front revealing a lovely, embroidered underskirt that swished around her legs as she walked.
Her bouquet was a bit larger, white pearls dangling and shining as they hung in delicate arches around her hands.
Her hair had been pulled up and left to fall in messy waves.
She looked absolutely stunning, and Survii saluted her as well – acknowledging her position of honor as he had the officiant’s.
She giggled and stopped to dip into a courtesy. Definitely not in their rehearsal, but she was beaming when she came back up and joined the others in their line.
Was it time then?
No, not yet. This was now the time for the younglings. Survii assumed their role was to wish fertility on the union – a common theme among bonding ceremonies.
They had another purpose as well. The young male – a cousin of Alanna’s – was holding a pillow, upon which there were two rings tied.
A crystal one for himself, and a silver and diamond one for Alanna.
She needed two rings, apparently. One for the promise of marriage, and the other to seal it in place.
He would wear the crystal one, as it was better for his skin, but he had opted for a more traditional, human style for her band – though the metal had been cast into a similar shape as his.
Though the rings were tied to the pillow, the little male still had a look of fierce concentration on his face as he stepped forward. He was wearing a tiny suit, a perfect match to Survii’s groomsmales, and he looked absolutely adorable.
It made Survii wonder what his and Alanna’s younglings would look like.
Behind the little male came a little female, just a bit older than him.
She was his sister, and her role was called the flower girl.
She wore a tiny, flouncing purple dress that was similar to the bridesmaid’s dresses only in color – the style being vastly different.
She had a little basket filled with white flower petals that she scattered across the aisle. A path to lead his bride to him.
She did not appear nearly so focused as his brother, but she did seem to be having a grand time flinging flower petals all down the aisle.
Right until the end when she grabbed the last handful and tossed them right to where Alanna would stand with a little grunt of effort bringing a chuckle to the crowd as she took her place beside Holly.
The flower trail was the last part. He remembered that. Which meant…
The pianist went off on a riff, a building crescendo that brought everyone to their feet. In the back, beyond the curtain, the silhouette of Alanna stepped into place.
Survii had already lost his breath, even before the curtains were pulled apart for her.
The sight of his female, dressed up in the finest gown humanity could provide, stole what remained of his mind as she lifted her eyes.
Her dress was white. The color so important that no one else was permitted to wear it at this event, lest they be accused of insulting the bride.
The dress was long, sleek, and tight around her body, flaring a bit only from her knees down.
It accentuated every beautiful curve and line of her body – sleek and satiny and beautiful.
Over her shoulders and around her neck was an elaborately beaded and jeweled piece that gave rise to a long, intricate veil cape, embroidered with beautiful flowers.
The cape was as long as the dress and the flowers on it matched the crown of flowers pinned just under her flouncing, natural curls on the right side of her head.
Diamonds shimmered at her ears and wrists, even on her toes when she began the slow march forward.
She didn’t seem real. Floating towards him like a vision in a dream. Smiling, narrowing his vision so that nothing existed except for her.
And all of a sudden, the human traditions made so much sense.
The separation, the refusal to let him see her before this moment, the bright dress in a color no one else could match, the parade of females proceeding her.
All of it was meant to build the anticipation, the wonder, of this moment.
A way to ensure he truly appreciated and valued his female that he beheld with wonder as she smiled at him over the large bouquet of purple and white flowers with golden chains and white pearls dangling in arches around her hands.
She came to stand in front of him. Smiling. Her attention wavered only long enough to give Peony her bouquet, freeing her hands so Survii could hold them instead.
The moment her hands were in his, the entire gathering sat so that they could begin.
Survii had no idea what they were saying. The vows had been translated for him, because he needed to know what he was agreeing to do, but the speech Alanna’s friend was giving was completely beyond his comprehension.
Not that he thought he’d be able to understand it even if she spoke in clear and perfect Domtri. Not when his entire focus was on Alanna. The sparkle in her eyes. The width of her smile. The warmth of her hands in his. Her body in that dress.
Everything.
All of her.
The feeling he was experiencing now wasn’t exactly the same as during the claiming, but the shadow of it was similar enough to be familiar.
The ceremony passed quickly – at least, he thought it did.
He was lost in admiring his mate, he didn’t notice time passing.
He almost missed it when the officiant began stating the vows.
Alanna had opted for them to make traditional human vows.
Not just for his ease so that he only had to learn the vow in English, but also because she thought it would be more meaningful to the Earth as a whole.
His mate was so thoughtful. So considerate. So good.
The officiant was speaking the words of binding he had learned.
“Do you, Survii, First Voice of Turv, take this human, Vora Vakara Alanna Townsend, to be your wife, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, as long as you both shall live?”
“I do,” he growled, excited.
“And do you, Vora Vakara Alanna Townsend, take this domini, Survii, First Voice of Turv, to be your husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, as long as you both shall live?”
“I do!” She chirped brightly.
“The rings?” The officiant looked to Atem.