Wedding!
Title: I Do
Author: Chibiange
Universe: Muse RP
Warnings: Shonen ai, general wedding insanity.
Notes: ::hums something wedding-like:: The actual wedding ceremony is adapted from here and here. The references to henna on Ihsan's hands are from a Turkish wedding custom called Kina Gecesi, found here. Ihsan's wedding outfit is found here.
I Do
Even though he told himself not to, Ihsan couldn't help but fidget under Akasma's hands.
"Stay still. I'm not finished with your hair." Rekem's mother poured some more gel onto her palm before working it into Ihsan's hair. When Akasma found out that Amelie Ajram had effectively disowned Ihsan, she had been livid. Still was at times, such as now. A true mother would help plan and carry out such an important day, as well as be happy that her son had found his lifebond in addition to love.
As she mused on her soon-to-be son's birth mother, Akasma finished teasing Ihsan's hair so that it looked artfully tousled. "There, you're all done," she said, glancing at the clock. "And not a moment too soon." Pulling a chair beside Ihsan's, she sat down and took the Healer's hand, being careful of the henna she and her sisters placed there the night before.
Ihsan looked somewhat startled at the motherly gesture. "Mrs. Ziadeh?"
"How many times do I have to tell you to call me 'Mama' or 'Mom?'"
Smiling nervously, he answered, "Probably for a while yet. Thank you for helping me get ready."
"How could I not, knowing you had no one?" Akasma patter Ihsan's knee. "Are you ready to officially become a Ziadeh?"
The Healer nodded, not fully trusting his voice.
Akasma beamed. "Good. Let's get everyone in place."
***
True to her word, Akasma had everyone lined up or, in Rekem's case, standing in their designated spot within five minutes. An impressive feat, considering she had to first track down the three children in the wedding and then make sure they had not messed up their outfits. "Now, remember what we practiced last night," she reminded Theo and Shadow. "When I sit down in my seat, you two walk out. Then Reejah, when they stand by Rekem, you walk out. Okay?"
"Yes, ma'am," the three children answered, Shadow a bit quieter than Theo and Reejah.
Ihsan stood near the back of the room, watching the scene fondly. Unlike Jou and Seto's wedding a few months before, Ihsan and Rekem chose to have the actual ceremony be a lot simpler.
His musings were interrupted by said blonde, who whispered quietly to Ihsan. "Ready, Ihs?" Jou asked, smiling as he watched the two boys walk out right on cue.
"I think so...." The Healer fingered the gold embroidry on the edges of his burgandy sleeves, visibly nervous. He also wished he could look as calm in his traditional wedding outfit as the blonde did in his cobalt blue kimono. "I think I know how you felt right before your wedding."
Jou smiled, pulling Ihsan to the door as Reejah pranced down the aisle. "Don't worry. All you have to do is smile at Rek and repeat after Rek's uncle person when he says to." Seeing that Reejah was in place, the blonde pulled Ihsan into chapel before the Healer could protest. They miraculously made it down the aisle without incident--namely Ihsan fainting, tripping, or something equally disasterous.
In front of them, Masthasi Ziadeh smiled before gesturing for everyone to sit. "We have come together here in celebration of the joining together of Ihsan and Rekem. There are many things to say about marriage. Much wisdom concerning the joining together of two souls has come our way through all paths of belief and from many cultures. With each union, more knowledge is gained and more wisdom gathered." Masthasi paused a second, glancing about the room before continuing. "Though we are unable to give all this knowledge to these two who stand before us, we can hope to leave them with the knowledge of love and its strengths and the anticipation of the wisdom that comes with time. The law of life is love unto all beings. Without love, life is nothing; without love, death has no redemption. Love is anterior to Life, posterior to Death, initial of Creation, adn the exponent of Earth. If we learn no more in life, let it be this."
Looking down at Ihsan and Rekem, still with Jou between the two, the eldest Ziadeh member smiled. "Marriage is a bond to be entered into only after considerable thought and reflection." Which they had, in a way, considering this was a public acknowledgement of the lifebond his nephew and the Healer shared. "As with any aspect of life, it has its cycles, its ups and its downs, its trials and its triumphs. With full understanding of this, Rekem and Ihsan have come here today to be joined as one in marriage."
Masthasi stepped down a couple of steps to be at the same level as the two grooms. "Others would ask, at this time, who gives the 'bride' in marriage, but, as Ihsan is neither woman nor bride, he is also not property to be bought and sold, given and taken. I ask simply if he comes of his own will and if he has his family's blessing. Ihsan, is it true that you come of your own free will and accord?"
"Yes," the Healer answered without his voice cracking or squeaking.
"With whom do you come, and whose blessings accompany you?"
Jou spoke up this time, grinning all through his answer. "He comes with me, brother of his heart, and is accompanied by the blessings of his friends and chosen family." He leaned closer to Ihsan, kissing the Healer's cheek before going to his seat.
Smiling, Masthasi continued, gesturing for Ihsan and Rekem to move closer together as Jou slipped out of the way. "Please join hands with your betrothed and listen to that which I am about to say.
"Above you are the stars, below you are the stones, as time doth pass, remember....
"Like a stone should your love be firm. Like a star should your love be constant. Let the powers of the mind and of the intellect guide you in your marriage. Let the strength of your wills bind you together. Let the power of love and desire make you happy, and the strength of your dedication make you inseparable." At that, Rekem smirked, knowing that he and Ihsan were indeed inseparable thanks to the lifebond.
"Be close," Masthasi continued, "but not too close. Possess one another, yet be understanding. Have patience with one another, for storms will come, but they will pass quickly. Be free in giving affection and warmth. Have no fear and let not the ways of the unenlightened give you unease, for Allah is with you always."
Masthasi turned to Rekem, pride obvious in his eyes. "Rekem, I have not the right to bind thee to Ihsan, only you have this right. If it be your wish, say so now and place your ring in her hand."
"It is my wish." Turning back, the groom took the ring off of Theo's pillow. He turned back to Ihsan, placing the ring onto the Healer's palm.
Turning to Ihsan, the eldest Ziadeh continued. "Ihsan, if it be your wish for Rekem to be bound to you, place the ring on his finger." Everyone watched as the Healer did as instructed, smiling at his lifebonded. "Ihsan," Masthasi said when the exchange was finished, "I have not the right to bind thee to Rekem, only you have this right. If it be your wish, say so now and place your ring in his hand."
Ihsan took his ring from Shadow's pillow and placed it onto Rekem's palm. "It is my wish," he said softly, more for Rekem than anyone.
"Rekem, if it be your wish for Ihsan to be bound to you, place the ring on his finger." Masthasi smiled as his nephew slid the ring onto Ihsan's finger. He shifted towards Rekem. "It is now time for your vows. These vows should reflect what is within your own hearts, ringing with truth and love."
Rekem shifted his gaze towards Ihsan. "I, Rekem, in the name of Allah, by the life that flows in my blood and the love that lies in my heart, take you, Ihsan, to my hand, my heart, and my spirit, to be my lifebonded. I promise to love you wholly and completely without restraint, in sickness and in health, in plenty and in poverty, in life and beyond, where we shall meet, remember, and love again." He looked into the Healer's eyes throughout his vows, almost wishing that they could connect mind-to-mind for this part of the ceremony. He also itched to drag Ihsan to the floor right there, but he had to stop that train of thought pretty quickly, as his uncle prompted his husband for the vows.
Just in case, Ihsan cleared his throat quietly before speaking. "I, Ihsan, in the name of Allah, by the life that flows in my blood and the love that lies in my heart, take you, Rekem, to my hand, my heart, and my spirit, to be my lifebonded. I promise to love you wholly and completely without restraint, in sickness and in health, in plenty and in poverty, in life and beyond, where we shall meet, remember, and love again."
Masthasi gestured for the two young men to both face him. "Will familial representatives of our bride and groom please come to the altar and light candles representing the separate families and pasts from which Ihsan and Rekem have come today to be joined as one?"
Akasma, Deniz, and Jou all stood up and walked to the three candles. At the same time, the three of them lit their respective candles. Jou unfortunately had a bit of trouble getting his candle lit until Akasma offered him the lighter she had used. Once lit, Akasma and Deniz held one candle together while Jou held the other.
"Above you, below you, forever surrounding you shall be the pledge you make to each other today," Masthasi continued. "It is the pledge of the truth and purity of your every breath. The constand friendship of your hearts. The passion and fire of your spirits and the deepest love your souls have to give. It is the pledge of all that is within you. The only true pledge that one heart can offer to another." With that as their cue, Ihsan and Rekem walked over and took the candles from their respective families. "You are now, as husbands, offering yourselves and all that has come to pass unto each other towards the creation of your future, and to all that is yet to come." Everyone looked proudly at the two men as they touched the candle flames to the larger candle, the two flames joining into one. Before replacing the candles in their holders, Ihsan and Rekem blew out the candles, then walked back to their place in front of Masthasi.
"The light that remains is the light of Allah's love, the light in which you shall be forever as one." Masthasi smiled down at his nephew--nephews. "And so, by the power vested in me by Allah, the Ziadeh family, and the country of Turkey, I now pronouce you married. May your love so endure that its flame remains a guiding light unto you."
Jou coughed, though it sounded suspicously like 'kiss.' Everyone chuckled.
Masthasi, for his part, looked amused. "Ah, yes. I keep forgetting this new convention. Rekem, you may kiss your husband."
Grinning, Rekem pulled Ihsan closer, just enough for their lips to touch briefly. Their friends and family applauded--then whistled and cheered when Rekem dipped his husband and really started kissing Ihsan. The dazed look in the Healer's eyes when they walked down the aisle was definitely worth the scolding he would eventually get from his mother. If she could catch him before the honeymoon, that is.
Well, I got the wedding part done on time! ^^;; Some time this weekend, I plan to write the reception and possibly part of the honeymoon. This will also be posted in my writing journal.
Author: Chibiange
Universe: Muse RP
Warnings: Shonen ai, general wedding insanity.
Notes: ::hums something wedding-like:: The actual wedding ceremony is adapted from here and here. The references to henna on Ihsan's hands are from a Turkish wedding custom called Kina Gecesi, found here. Ihsan's wedding outfit is found here.
I Do
Even though he told himself not to, Ihsan couldn't help but fidget under Akasma's hands.
"Stay still. I'm not finished with your hair." Rekem's mother poured some more gel onto her palm before working it into Ihsan's hair. When Akasma found out that Amelie Ajram had effectively disowned Ihsan, she had been livid. Still was at times, such as now. A true mother would help plan and carry out such an important day, as well as be happy that her son had found his lifebond in addition to love.
As she mused on her soon-to-be son's birth mother, Akasma finished teasing Ihsan's hair so that it looked artfully tousled. "There, you're all done," she said, glancing at the clock. "And not a moment too soon." Pulling a chair beside Ihsan's, she sat down and took the Healer's hand, being careful of the henna she and her sisters placed there the night before.
Ihsan looked somewhat startled at the motherly gesture. "Mrs. Ziadeh?"
"How many times do I have to tell you to call me 'Mama' or 'Mom?'"
Smiling nervously, he answered, "Probably for a while yet. Thank you for helping me get ready."
"How could I not, knowing you had no one?" Akasma patter Ihsan's knee. "Are you ready to officially become a Ziadeh?"
The Healer nodded, not fully trusting his voice.
Akasma beamed. "Good. Let's get everyone in place."
***
True to her word, Akasma had everyone lined up or, in Rekem's case, standing in their designated spot within five minutes. An impressive feat, considering she had to first track down the three children in the wedding and then make sure they had not messed up their outfits. "Now, remember what we practiced last night," she reminded Theo and Shadow. "When I sit down in my seat, you two walk out. Then Reejah, when they stand by Rekem, you walk out. Okay?"
"Yes, ma'am," the three children answered, Shadow a bit quieter than Theo and Reejah.
Ihsan stood near the back of the room, watching the scene fondly. Unlike Jou and Seto's wedding a few months before, Ihsan and Rekem chose to have the actual ceremony be a lot simpler.
His musings were interrupted by said blonde, who whispered quietly to Ihsan. "Ready, Ihs?" Jou asked, smiling as he watched the two boys walk out right on cue.
"I think so...." The Healer fingered the gold embroidry on the edges of his burgandy sleeves, visibly nervous. He also wished he could look as calm in his traditional wedding outfit as the blonde did in his cobalt blue kimono. "I think I know how you felt right before your wedding."
Jou smiled, pulling Ihsan to the door as Reejah pranced down the aisle. "Don't worry. All you have to do is smile at Rek and repeat after Rek's uncle person when he says to." Seeing that Reejah was in place, the blonde pulled Ihsan into chapel before the Healer could protest. They miraculously made it down the aisle without incident--namely Ihsan fainting, tripping, or something equally disasterous.
In front of them, Masthasi Ziadeh smiled before gesturing for everyone to sit. "We have come together here in celebration of the joining together of Ihsan and Rekem. There are many things to say about marriage. Much wisdom concerning the joining together of two souls has come our way through all paths of belief and from many cultures. With each union, more knowledge is gained and more wisdom gathered." Masthasi paused a second, glancing about the room before continuing. "Though we are unable to give all this knowledge to these two who stand before us, we can hope to leave them with the knowledge of love and its strengths and the anticipation of the wisdom that comes with time. The law of life is love unto all beings. Without love, life is nothing; without love, death has no redemption. Love is anterior to Life, posterior to Death, initial of Creation, adn the exponent of Earth. If we learn no more in life, let it be this."
Looking down at Ihsan and Rekem, still with Jou between the two, the eldest Ziadeh member smiled. "Marriage is a bond to be entered into only after considerable thought and reflection." Which they had, in a way, considering this was a public acknowledgement of the lifebond his nephew and the Healer shared. "As with any aspect of life, it has its cycles, its ups and its downs, its trials and its triumphs. With full understanding of this, Rekem and Ihsan have come here today to be joined as one in marriage."
Masthasi stepped down a couple of steps to be at the same level as the two grooms. "Others would ask, at this time, who gives the 'bride' in marriage, but, as Ihsan is neither woman nor bride, he is also not property to be bought and sold, given and taken. I ask simply if he comes of his own will and if he has his family's blessing. Ihsan, is it true that you come of your own free will and accord?"
"Yes," the Healer answered without his voice cracking or squeaking.
"With whom do you come, and whose blessings accompany you?"
Jou spoke up this time, grinning all through his answer. "He comes with me, brother of his heart, and is accompanied by the blessings of his friends and chosen family." He leaned closer to Ihsan, kissing the Healer's cheek before going to his seat.
Smiling, Masthasi continued, gesturing for Ihsan and Rekem to move closer together as Jou slipped out of the way. "Please join hands with your betrothed and listen to that which I am about to say.
"Above you are the stars, below you are the stones, as time doth pass, remember....
"Like a stone should your love be firm. Like a star should your love be constant. Let the powers of the mind and of the intellect guide you in your marriage. Let the strength of your wills bind you together. Let the power of love and desire make you happy, and the strength of your dedication make you inseparable." At that, Rekem smirked, knowing that he and Ihsan were indeed inseparable thanks to the lifebond.
"Be close," Masthasi continued, "but not too close. Possess one another, yet be understanding. Have patience with one another, for storms will come, but they will pass quickly. Be free in giving affection and warmth. Have no fear and let not the ways of the unenlightened give you unease, for Allah is with you always."
Masthasi turned to Rekem, pride obvious in his eyes. "Rekem, I have not the right to bind thee to Ihsan, only you have this right. If it be your wish, say so now and place your ring in her hand."
"It is my wish." Turning back, the groom took the ring off of Theo's pillow. He turned back to Ihsan, placing the ring onto the Healer's palm.
Turning to Ihsan, the eldest Ziadeh continued. "Ihsan, if it be your wish for Rekem to be bound to you, place the ring on his finger." Everyone watched as the Healer did as instructed, smiling at his lifebonded. "Ihsan," Masthasi said when the exchange was finished, "I have not the right to bind thee to Rekem, only you have this right. If it be your wish, say so now and place your ring in his hand."
Ihsan took his ring from Shadow's pillow and placed it onto Rekem's palm. "It is my wish," he said softly, more for Rekem than anyone.
"Rekem, if it be your wish for Ihsan to be bound to you, place the ring on his finger." Masthasi smiled as his nephew slid the ring onto Ihsan's finger. He shifted towards Rekem. "It is now time for your vows. These vows should reflect what is within your own hearts, ringing with truth and love."
Rekem shifted his gaze towards Ihsan. "I, Rekem, in the name of Allah, by the life that flows in my blood and the love that lies in my heart, take you, Ihsan, to my hand, my heart, and my spirit, to be my lifebonded. I promise to love you wholly and completely without restraint, in sickness and in health, in plenty and in poverty, in life and beyond, where we shall meet, remember, and love again." He looked into the Healer's eyes throughout his vows, almost wishing that they could connect mind-to-mind for this part of the ceremony. He also itched to drag Ihsan to the floor right there, but he had to stop that train of thought pretty quickly, as his uncle prompted his husband for the vows.
Just in case, Ihsan cleared his throat quietly before speaking. "I, Ihsan, in the name of Allah, by the life that flows in my blood and the love that lies in my heart, take you, Rekem, to my hand, my heart, and my spirit, to be my lifebonded. I promise to love you wholly and completely without restraint, in sickness and in health, in plenty and in poverty, in life and beyond, where we shall meet, remember, and love again."
Masthasi gestured for the two young men to both face him. "Will familial representatives of our bride and groom please come to the altar and light candles representing the separate families and pasts from which Ihsan and Rekem have come today to be joined as one?"
Akasma, Deniz, and Jou all stood up and walked to the three candles. At the same time, the three of them lit their respective candles. Jou unfortunately had a bit of trouble getting his candle lit until Akasma offered him the lighter she had used. Once lit, Akasma and Deniz held one candle together while Jou held the other.
"Above you, below you, forever surrounding you shall be the pledge you make to each other today," Masthasi continued. "It is the pledge of the truth and purity of your every breath. The constand friendship of your hearts. The passion and fire of your spirits and the deepest love your souls have to give. It is the pledge of all that is within you. The only true pledge that one heart can offer to another." With that as their cue, Ihsan and Rekem walked over and took the candles from their respective families. "You are now, as husbands, offering yourselves and all that has come to pass unto each other towards the creation of your future, and to all that is yet to come." Everyone looked proudly at the two men as they touched the candle flames to the larger candle, the two flames joining into one. Before replacing the candles in their holders, Ihsan and Rekem blew out the candles, then walked back to their place in front of Masthasi.
"The light that remains is the light of Allah's love, the light in which you shall be forever as one." Masthasi smiled down at his nephew--nephews. "And so, by the power vested in me by Allah, the Ziadeh family, and the country of Turkey, I now pronouce you married. May your love so endure that its flame remains a guiding light unto you."
Jou coughed, though it sounded suspicously like 'kiss.' Everyone chuckled.
Masthasi, for his part, looked amused. "Ah, yes. I keep forgetting this new convention. Rekem, you may kiss your husband."
Grinning, Rekem pulled Ihsan closer, just enough for their lips to touch briefly. Their friends and family applauded--then whistled and cheered when Rekem dipped his husband and really started kissing Ihsan. The dazed look in the Healer's eyes when they walked down the aisle was definitely worth the scolding he would eventually get from his mother. If she could catch him before the honeymoon, that is.
Well, I got the wedding part done on time! ^^;; Some time this weekend, I plan to write the reception and possibly part of the honeymoon. This will also be posted in my writing journal.