The Wedding
Warnings: long vows (like seriously a lot of vows), wedding, fluff, uses "____" instead of y/n
I used Buddhist vows for some of them, I thought they fit with Chiss culture.
I stand at the crest of the aisle. Long rows of pews line the edges of a path sculpted through the snow. My feet are bare, much to the chargrin of the man standing at the end. Anklets adorn each of my feet, strings of crystals connecting the chain to a ring on my middle toe. A long, a-line skirt reachs to the top of my feet, nearly obscuring the jewelry. It drapes across my hips, falling to the ground in ripples. The white fabric is thick and heavy, lifted with a petticoat, and embroidered with silver vines. Pieces of lace cover the skirt like a layer of snow, and obscuring a small pocket tucked away in the folds.
Above the skirt, a break shows skin, the skirt and bodice are not connected and the gap between the two pieces shows an ornate belly ring, layered with glittering diamonds. The bodice is lace, with silk sleeves that reach to my wrists where a double-ring rests between two fingers on my right hand. It's light and comfortable. And the scalloped neckline shows my collarbone. With each step I take, the dress shimmers as if frost is embedded into it.
Simple silver hoops adorn my ears, diamond studs climb up to my helix, and a chain made of glittering crystals and pearls connects a ring on my nose to the one on my ear. Faint blush tinges my cheeks, though I'm sure most of it is more natural now than makeup. A combination of the cold and the intense eyes of the man in front of me.
A pearl and diamond net wraps around my hair, pulled up safely and secured with half a thousand bobby pins. Resting in my hands is a small bouquet, constructed of various wildflowers collected this morning by the children and bridesmaids.
My feet fall into the soft snow, with each step my breath quickens, my heart starts to race. He stands before me, mere steps away.
His own appearance isn't much different than any other day. His skin a dark cerulean, a start contrast to the white uniform he wears, his rank plaque though absent. The two-piece is fitted to him perfectly, it is reinforced with extra padding for warmth, as well as tall black boots and a cinched belt. He does not wear his gloves today.
Tall and lean, he stands a head taller than me. His stature is intimidating, his broad shoulders squared and his stance proud, his hands clasped infront of him. But his eyes are soft.
They shine brighter than they normally would, red and intense as they gaze into my own, watching every step I take closer to him. The faint pupils are dilated, and I can almost see the anticipation.
He's handsome, and in the winter light of Rentor; ethereal.
When I reach the small dais the groom and Ar'alani stand on, he reaches out a hand to help me across the small step. I take his hand gratefully and swing my skirts behind me. I stand facing him for a moment, before releasing his hand to turn to the officiant and he does as well.
The ceremony would be held in Sy Bisti, so that both of our families could understand, but our vows would be spoken in our native tongues. Ar'alani smiles slightly at the two of us, as an Admiral of the CEDF she is licensed to officiate weddings, and we did not have the time to find another officiant willing to marry a human and a chiss.
"Welcome all who have come to witness the union between this man and woman, ____ and Mitth'raw'nuruodo. Are there any who oppose this wedding?"
The pews filled with only our closest friends and family, gaze up at us, joy kindles in their eyes and none speak against us.
"Very well then, let us commence with the vows." Ar'alani gestures for the two of us, I sink to my knees pillowed by the soft dress, and out of the corner of my eye I watch as Thrawn kneels, we are turned slightly to each other. With a breath Ar'alani begins the long vows,
"Do you Mitth'raw'nuruodo and ____ pledge to help each other to develop your hearts and minds, cultivating compassion, generosity, ethics, patience, enthusiasm, concentration, and wisdom as you age and undergo the various ups and downs of life and to transform them into the path of love, compassion, joy, and equanimity?"
Smiling, on my knees I turn to Thrawn for a moment.
"I do." I whisper and an echo, "Ch'ah k'ir."
"Recognizing that the external conditions in life will not always be smooth and that internally your own minds and emotions will sometimes get stuck in negativity, do you pledge to see all these circumstances as a challenge to help you grow, to open your hearts, to accept yourselves, and each other; and to generate compassion for others who are suffering?"
"I do." "Ch'ah k'ir."
"Understanding that just as we are a mystery to ourselves, each other person is also a mystery to us, do you pledge to seek to understand yourselves, each other, and all living beings, to examine your own minds continually and to regard all the mysteries of life with curiosity and joy?"
"I do." "Ch'ah k'ir."
Ar'alani smiles at us, her hand reaches for my own and holds it up as she asks the questions again, this time directed.
"Will you take this man?"
I turn to look at Thrawn, to find him gazing at me, a kind of intensity to his eyes. I smile slightly before turning back to Ar'alani.
"I will." I say confidently. and turning fully to him I say my portion of the vows, "I will take you as you are, to learn and grow with, to explore and adventure with, to respect you in everything as an equal partner, in the foreknowledge of joy and pain, strength and weariness, direction and doubt, for all the risings and settings of the sun."
Ar'alani nods a small good whispered beneath her breath before she repeats the same question to Thrawn, pointed and direct.
"Ch'ah k'ir." With a nod from Ar'alani, he reaches forward and unclips the chain connecting my ear and nose, he twists it in his hands, before connecting it once again this time to the opposing ear and a small stud. "Bah sea csei Ch'ah cart vim sea csei Ch'ah viz, Ch'ah ch'avsat'cah vah veah vah cart. Ch'ah vun'ur vah veah ch'a ch'etecerci. Ch'ah bun'zan'i to sascasi nah bah to carcun'co sir Ch'ah cart ch'eo ch'acico ch'aah vim ch'eo ch'acico cart ch'eo."
"You may now kiss the bride," she grins and as she cross behind me to give us privacy she whispers "he's yours now."
Ar'alani gestures for us to stand and a small Chiss girl comes running to the front of the aisle who holds a small fan in her hand, she offers it to me and I take it from her hand with a quick "bin'vi" and giggle from the girl. I turn to Thrawn, he has a small smile on his face and his eyes are filled with love.
"Ch'acah." I face Thrawn and with one powerful stride, he closes in on me, I hardly have enough time to click open the fan to cover the kiss.
Thrawn's vows: "With all that I am and all that I have, I accept you as you are. I honor you as a woman, as an equal, and as a warrior. I welcome the uncertainties of the future for I am my beloved's and my beloved is mine."