Fanfic:The Wedding of Melabrid Daleb and Joaynna al'Jay
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Keyeren turned to the band seated on a raised platform, and gave them a signal. As they began to play, Keyeren seized saidin and spoke, using weaves of Air and Spirit to amplify his voice so that everyone could hear.
"The wedding of Joaynna al'Jay and Melabrid Daleb will shortly begin. If everybody could take their seats, we can start."
Keyeren released saidin and looked around him. Now where is Melabrid, he thought to himself, and went off in search of the groom...
Melabrid was looking around in the crowds for some people he wanted....there was Dalen, and....he thought that back there, it might be...yes, it was Kobol! He ran back to where Kobol was sitting, and pulled him to his feet to shake his hand. "Nice to see you again! You're going to come and stand for me!" Melabrid had read about Two Rivers customs, and he had to have two people to stand for him.
Dragging a protesting Kobol to the front of the area, he went and found Dalen from the crowd, explaining to him hurriedly that all he had to do was pass Melabrid the ring at the right time. They both looked even more nervous than him, which was slightly comforting.
The three of them walked towards the M'Hael.
Joaynna and Kahlan walked out of the Grey Tower, heading for the gardens. The snow was still falling lightly, to Joaynna's pleasure. It was cold, but there was going to be a heat weave around the wedding so they could have snow and still be warm.
Joaynna didn't say very much as they walked. Instead she tried to keep the hem of her dress from getting wet in the snow.
Kahlan stopped when the gardens were in view. Joaynna stopped, too, and looked at her first-sister. Kahlan hugged her and grinned. "Best of luck, sister," she said.
Joaynna smiled back at her. "Thank you," she said in soft voice. "I'm so glad you're here."
They entered the gardens then, and Joaynna spotted Laine standing near the back. She tapped her sister gently. "You're standing for me," Joaynna told her with a smile. Laine just returned her smile and nodded. The three of them began to walk towards the front. Melabrid was already waiting, along with Kobol and Dalen, and Keyeren, who was officiating the wedding.
Keyeren was making light conversation with Melabrid, trying to calm the man's nerves - and his own - when the band changed songs to the Wedding March. He looked up to see Joaynna walking down the aisle towards them, with Laine and Kahlan on either side of her. She looked...so beautiful! Melabrid really was an incredibly lucky men.
Keyeren quickly ran through what he had to say one more time as he waited for the ladies to reach them...
Melabrid stared through Keyeren, not hearing anything the man was saying. He felt like grabbing the M'Hael's coat and telling him to just declare he was married to Jo and that they could go...the waiting was getting to him...for the tenth time he checked that Dalen had the ring. Someone patted him on the back and said something he didn't hear.
After an eternity of waiting, the band stopped, Keyeren stopped talking, everyone fell silent. She had arrived. Melabrid didn't dare look around. He didn't know how he'd stop himself from running over to her and taking her with him away from here. He didn't dare look around, because she might not be there...there might be some mistake. Sweat formed on his brow. Instead, he tried imagining the scene in his head. Jo would be in her wedding dress, walking towards the group of men and smiling, with Kahlan and Laine on either side. He felt her approaching before the music changed to a traditional wedding piece. Oddly, she didn't seem nervous at all.
With the music, and the feeling that she was near, his fear melted away. He would remain facing Keyeren, but not out of fear that she wouldn't be there if he turned. He faced forward because he knew now that there was no need to ever look back. He knew that whenever he turned around, no matter where he was, she would al ways be there.
Joaynna felt surprisingly calm. The Wedding March had started, and she had already started down the aisle, Kahlan on her left and Laine on her right just a little in back of her. She was barely aware that everyone had fallen silent, and that all eyes were turned on her.
Melabrid was suddenly calm, too. She couldn't see his expression as he was facing the M'Hael, of course, but she could feel it through the bond. She smiled.
In a moment she reached the front. Kahlan squeezed her hand gently as Joaynna stopped before moving behind her, along with Laine. Melabrid turned to her, a smile illuminating his face. Joaynna's heart skipped a beat as her sapphire eyes met his steely blue. He looked so handsome.
Joaynna was glad it was warm there. It vaguely occurred to her that she had been cold often lately, especially since winter was setting in. Looking into those eyes, though, she realized she wouldn't ever be cold again. ~
Kahlan could sense the surprised eyes on her as she walked down the aisle; no one had known she was coming. She wondered if Kobol sensed it too. Fortunately, her sister looked so beautiful in her wedding radiance, people hadn't focused on her. She hoped that later, she wouldn't steal the attention from the joyous couple. She was also glad that no one seemed to notice her much shortened hair, a story she had no desire of retelling for it still brought back so much pain.
As they reached the front, she glanced at Kobol. He seemed alright through the bond and he looked so nice. She was surprised to see him up at the front but then, he and Mel had always been friends. She smiled to him and Dalen as she took her place behind Joaynna. Both looked very happy but none looked so happy as the bride and groom themselves. Kahlan saw their eyes meet and almost heard a "click" as their souls connected. She could almost sense the Creator's blessing on the union. Even if she couldn't, she knew she could see it in their eyes.
Keyeren coughed quietly to get the attention of Melabrid and Joaynna, who were gazing at each other with adoration painted on each of their faces, and smile encouragingly at them both. Once more he seized saidin, and used the flows of Air and Spirit necessary to amplify his voice.
"We are here today for a very special event, for something that will touch our hearts, never to be forgotten. Today Joaynna al'Jay and Melabrid Daleb will be saying their vows, making the final commitment of their love." Keyeren looked at the gathered people - some of the Aes Sedai in the audience were dabbing at the faces with handkerchiefs, tears of happiness already running down their cheeks. Keyeren returned his attention to the bride and groom. He stepped forward, and, in the custom of the Two Rivers, tied a red marriage ribbon around the Keeper's neck, and twined flowers, all in splendid full bloom, through his hair. He gestured to Laine, and she stepped forward to do the same for Joaynna...
Kobol sat in his chair in the back, hoping against hope to be recognized, yet dreading the possibility. Suddenly, Melabrid was by his side, puling Kobol to his feet. Head spinning, Kobol let himself be pushed up to the front to join Dalen in standing for Melabrid. Woah! Kobol thought. What am I supposed to do? I never went to any wedding rehearsals, never seen a Two River's style wedding. . . ack! Why why why didn't I study Two Rivers customs harder as a Soldier?
Suddenly, Kobol heard the music turn triumphant and happy. Music? I don't remember any music playing before! Through the bond, Kobol became aware of Kahlan approaching. He turned to look, and saw Joaynna, a radiant and beautiful bride, coming down the aisle with Kahlan and a woman he didn't know, who looked something like Joaynna. He watched, still quite worried about what he was supposed to do except stand like a stick, as she fell in my Mel's side. Never was there a couple that was more meant to be! Kobol somehow th ought through all of that self-conscious clouding. He heard Keyeren begin to speak, and somehow all the negative thoughts disappeared as he saw one of the most beautiful sights he had ever seen- two of his best friends pledging themselves to each other. Kobol looked at Kahlan and shared a smile before returning his attention to Mel and Jo.
After the man officiating the ceremony, who was identified to her as Keyeren, the M'Hael, completed his part of the familiar Two Rivers ceremony, she stepped forward to do the same. It was decided that she would perform the ceremony as Kahlan, the Blue Sedai who appeared from nowhere, hadn't the slightest idea of how to do it, or so she had claimed. Secretly, Laine didn't doubt it; the tall woman definitely did not look like she was from the Two Rivers, not in manner or dress, for the foreign blood had diluted the characteristic appearance of old and her looks might have passed otherwise. Her accent, still apparent, spoke of Caemlyn as her homeland. Laine, as a Grey, had traveled much and was rather skilled at determining dialect.
Laine smiled, proceeding to tie a red ribbon around her sister's neck and weave the beautiful flowers into her light brown hair. When she had finished, she smiled and looked up, ready to proceed.
Laine stepped back from Joaynna and smiled at Keyeren to let him know she was ready. The M'Hael stepped forward once more, and looked from Melabrid to Joaynna. At the signal they turned to each and held hands, looking into each others eyes.
"Melabrid Daleb, please repeat after me." Keyeren cleared his throat. "I, Melabrid Daleb, do pledge you my love, Joaynna al'Jay, for as long as I live."
Melabrid was perfectly calm now, and one of his biggest fears did not happen: he remembered his name. Looking into her eyes, he had not trouble repeating the M'Hael's words, meaning them with all his heart.
"I, Melabrid Daleb, do pledge you my love, Joaynna al'Jay, for as long as I live," he said in a clear and firm voice.
Keyeren had known Melabrid could do it. He seemed much calmer now- Key was glad his light conversation earlier had had such a relaxing effect. From the way the two were gazing into each other's eyes, he thought they'd appreciate the ceremony being finished soon...
"What I possess in this world I give to you," Keyeren continued.
Melabrid repeated this without taking his eyes from her.
"I will keep you and hold you, succour and tend you, protect and shelter you, for all the days of my life."
Keyeren looked up and waited for him to repeat.
Melabrid didn't need Keyeren's prompting to know what he wanted to say to her- this vow was something they had unofficially made a long time ago, when he first became her Warder:
"I will keep you and hold you, succour and tend you, protect and shelter you, for all the days of my life."
He barely allowed Keyeren time to provide the final words, he wanted to say them so much:
"I am yours, always and forever."
He hardly noticed what was going on around him. The beautiful background of purest snow, the feel of the guests' eyes on him and the sound of Keyeren saying something went almost unnoticed by him- everything else was a whisper compared to the sound of her breathing as she prepared to return the vows.
Keyeren smiled as Mel finished giving his vows, knowing the Keeper was oblivious of everything but Joaynna. He knew that Mel knew the vows off by heart, and probably wasn't listening to Keyeren saying them, but was saying them as they came to him.
Joaynna glanced briefly to Keyeren as he said her name before turning her attention back to the groom, and as he said the vows she repeated them to Mel, and Keyeren knew they came from the bottom of her heart...
Keyeren turned to Joaynna again and began her vows. Joaynna said them, barely hearing the M'Hael. She knew the vows by heart. Her eyes never left Melabrid's as she spoke. She could remember the first time their eyes had met, when she had been just a novice and he only a soldier.
"I, Joaynna al'Jay, do pledge you my love, Melabrid Daleb, for as long as I live," she said. And forever after.
"What I possess in this world I give to you. I will keep you and hold you, succour and tend you, protect and shelter you, for all the days of my life."
"I am yours, always and forever." Her voice was softer now, and, if possible, filled with even more love for the man who stood before her. First her Warder, soon her husband, and now and forever her Light and true love.
When Joaynna had completed her vows Keyeren waited for a few moments, allowing what Jo and Mel had just said to sink in before the next part, the part which would finally join them for the rest of their lives.
Keyeren coughed again to catch their attention - they really did seem to have forgotten him. "Joaynna, Melabrid, I wish you the best for the rest of your lives. I know you to be two wonderful people, and I know you will be more than happy together." Keyeren took a deep breath. "I know pronounce you man and wife."The M'Hael grinned at Melabrid. "You may kiss the bride."
Melabrid could hardly believe they were finally married. It seemed like he had just met her yesterday...but at the same time it felt like he had known her all his life. He almost wanted Keyeren to say those words again, almost didn't believe it could finally be true. Man and wife.
The reality of it all came back tangibly when he took her in his arms and kissed her...and at that moment, he realised he had lived his entire life for this.
"I love you," he murmured to her.
Joaynna just smiled as Melabrid's arms went around her and he kissed her. They were finally married. She was so happy. Everything she had ever wanted in her life she had found in him.
"I love you, too," she whispered.
