Hippolyta nods in agreement when he finishes, forgetting that it's part of the vows, like he's asking her permission directly instead of making a vow.
Then she realizes it's her turn. It takes her a lot longer to begin speaking than he took; for once in her life, Hippolyta is truly struck speechless. Her mouth opens a few times, then closes again. She seems to notice the audience for the first time and turns to them.
"Sorry. I think you all are seeing a first here."
If there's laughter, she doesn't notice anymore; the sound of the blood rushing in her ears drowns it out. Then she begins speaking to him again.
"Ramon. Ramon. Ramon Salazar, I love you. I promised to stand by you as your wife and partner almost two years ago now. In a way, we've been married since then. But I wanted to say it here, in front of everybody we know and love, as an anchor. As a reminder of why we agreed to be partners in the first place.
"I am so endlessly proud of you, what you've accomplished, what we've accomplished. You encourage me to be a better person, so that you'll be equally proud of me.
"I cannot imagine my life without you in it, and I never want to try. Ramon, I have one thing to say to you, here in front of these witnesses:
"I, Hippolyta Hollister, do take you, Ramon Salazar, to be my lawfully wedded husband, in sickness and in health, for richer or poorer, for better or for worse; I will love, cherish and honor you for all my days, until death do us part."
Her voice breaks slightly during that last sentence, and the threatened tears she's been pushing down finally well up. The happiest tears of her life.
"I love you. Now, always, and forever."
Her flowers are shaking again, and she's glowing like a firefly, and she's crying. She's never looked more like herself than any other moment in her life prior.
Djehuty closes his eyes briefly, a slow and contented blink. The Egyptians didn't have a set ceremony for this kind of thing: but he's found that weddings can be endearing.
Waiting in the wings this whole while has been a pair of small demons. One has a little pillow with the rings, and the other has the first on a leash.
Bhima is hopping out, making those odd gurgling noises he does that are his version of a laugh. He even has a little bowtie on, tucked just underneath the nostrils on his chin.
And Jack Frost has a firm hold on the leash that's on Bhima like a parachute harness. It's really a dreadfully comical sight after such solemn and heartfelt vows are exchanged. But you try thinking of a better way to keep something like Bhima under control for the entirety of a wedding ceremony and reception.
Bhima comes to a halt next to Ramon and, only to further shatter the solemn mood, tugs on his coat and shout, "SI SI SI," as he holds out the pillow with the rings. One corner of the poor cushion is a little chewed up.
Jack just rubs his face and makes a quiet, weary, "Hee ho..."
Ramon, first giving a fleeting moment of eye contact and a lopsided smile of both thanks and apology to Jack, leans down and takes the pair of rings from Bhima's presented cushion. The dear little Atma did so good; he didn't even try to eat the rings themselves. So he gets a pat on the side of the head before Ramon straightens up again.
And then the castellan takes Hippolyta's hand, discreetly putting the ring she's to present to him into her palm, and, after a pause to make loving eye contact with her, slips the wedding ring onto the appropriate finger.
"Hippolyta Hollister, With this ring, I thee wed..."
It takes her a long moment to calm back down, and a few deep breaths.
Then, the ring goes on her finger, and the giggles are gone entirely. All she can do now is stare at the small golden band there.
Again, she has to take a moment before she can do her half of this ritual. Her hands are slightly sweaty, and she has to fumble with her flowers to get this done right. She lives in a small little shell of fear that she'll drop the ring.
Finally, his hand is held up in hers, and the ring does not fall.
There we go. Djehuty sighs happily. No one has eaten, lost, or damaged the rings. After a brief pause to check whether they have any more to say, Djehuty speaks up again.
"Then I pronounce you husband and wife. And a kiss is traditional."
Part of him is incredibly self-conscious at this particular juncture. How is a wedding kiss supposed to go? How modest, how long, how short is it supposed to be? Is there etiquette here of some kind? Dios mio...
There's also the fact, for as much as they love and dote on one another, they rarely do any sort of public displays of affection. Certainly not in front of an audience.
But the second Hips has her lips against his, those reservations and pointless little worries evaporate. And he returns his wife's kiss.
There's a hush in the great hall as everybody stops breathing, watching that kiss: and one vampire, at least, standing perfectly still to the side of the newlyweds, beams at them both. He doesn't say anything, or move: but oh, Ruthven is so happy for them.
Gale watches the kiss, as everyone else. Feeling a little odd himself, like he shouldn't be watching such a tender display.
His eyes wander oh-so-subtly down to light on Bhima. And he takes it upon himself to make sure the unfortunate Atma clone doesn't start blathering at the top of his lungs right in the midst of this hush.
Then she realizes it's her turn. It takes her a lot longer to begin speaking than he took; for once in her life, Hippolyta is truly struck speechless. Her mouth opens a few times, then closes again. She seems to notice the audience for the first time and turns to them.
"Sorry. I think you all are seeing a first here."
If there's laughter, she doesn't notice anymore; the sound of the blood rushing in her ears drowns it out. Then she begins speaking to him again.
"Ramon. Ramon. Ramon Salazar, I love you. I promised to stand by you as your wife and partner almost two years ago now. In a way, we've been married since then. But I wanted to say it here, in front of everybody we know and love, as an anchor. As a reminder of why we agreed to be partners in the first place.
"I am so endlessly proud of you, what you've accomplished, what we've accomplished. You encourage me to be a better person, so that you'll be equally proud of me.
"I cannot imagine my life without you in it, and I never want to try. Ramon, I have one thing to say to you, here in front of these witnesses:
"I, Hippolyta Hollister, do take you, Ramon Salazar, to be my lawfully wedded husband, in sickness and in health, for richer or poorer, for better or for worse; I will love, cherish and honor you for all my days, until death do us part."
Her voice breaks slightly during that last sentence, and the threatened tears she's been pushing down finally well up. The happiest tears of her life.
"I love you. Now, always, and forever."
Her flowers are shaking again, and she's glowing like a firefly, and she's crying. She's never looked more like herself than any other moment in her life prior.
Reply
He clicks his beak softly. "The rings...?"
Reply
Bhima is hopping out, making those odd gurgling noises he does that are his version of a laugh. He even has a little bowtie on, tucked just underneath the nostrils on his chin.
And Jack Frost has a firm hold on the leash that's on Bhima like a parachute harness. It's really a dreadfully comical sight after such solemn and heartfelt vows are exchanged. But you try thinking of a better way to keep something like Bhima under control for the entirety of a wedding ceremony and reception.
Bhima comes to a halt next to Ramon and, only to further shatter the solemn mood, tugs on his coat and shout, "SI SI SI," as he holds out the pillow with the rings. One corner of the poor cushion is a little chewed up.
Jack just rubs his face and makes a quiet, weary, "Hee ho..."
Reply
What? It's funny!
Reply
And then the castellan takes Hippolyta's hand, discreetly putting the ring she's to present to him into her palm, and, after a pause to make loving eye contact with her, slips the wedding ring onto the appropriate finger.
"Hippolyta Hollister, With this ring, I thee wed..."
Reply
Then, the ring goes on her finger, and the giggles are gone entirely. All she can do now is stare at the small golden band there.
Again, she has to take a moment before she can do her half of this ritual. Her hands are slightly sweaty, and she has to fumble with her flowers to get this done right. She lives in a small little shell of fear that she'll drop the ring.
Finally, his hand is held up in hers, and the ring does not fall.
"Ramon Salazar, with this ring, I thee wed..."
Reply
"Then I pronounce you husband and wife. And a kiss is traditional."
Reply
She leans down into her husband and kisses him properly and thoroughly.
Hippolyta Daphne Salazar. EEEEEEEEEEEEEE.
Reply
There's also the fact, for as much as they love and dote on one another, they rarely do any sort of public displays of affection. Certainly not in front of an audience.
But the second Hips has her lips against his, those reservations and pointless little worries evaporate. And he returns his wife's kiss.
Reply
Reply
His eyes wander oh-so-subtly down to light on Bhima. And he takes it upon himself to make sure the unfortunate Atma clone doesn't start blathering at the top of his lungs right in the midst of this hush.
Reply
Leave a comment