Miriah stood next to the aisle, on the front row of seats, her entire family filling the rest of the row. I'm glad, she thought, that I don't have to stand up there with Mags, there must be at thousand people here. This would be the first Jedi wedding in ten years, and it seemed everyone was excited about it. The musicians were doing a beautiful job, and the scent of the flowers infused the crowd. She smiled at Corso when he took her hand, and leaned into him. She'd convinced him to leave his dreads down, and he was quite handsome in his dark suit. Nothing like a wedding to bring out the romantic in people, she thought, as she saw Aric's arms encircle Marua from behind her, pulling her to stand closer to him.
Her mother stood on the other side of Corso, then Maura and Aric, her cousins Obomonus and Mina, and her aunt. She hadn't gotten a chance to talk to her cousins yet, but she was looking forward to the reception so they could visit. As she caught Mina's eye and smiled at her, she heard the music change, and Felix walked out of the temple and took his position at the halfway point of the path. The crowd grew quiet, and Felix looked back at the family, a huge grin on his face. He wore his military dress uniform, all his commendations and medals present.
When Magdalane appeared at the far end of the path, she didn't have to look to see her sister, the sounds of the crowd, a low "ooooooooh", told her she was there. Oh my stars, look at her, Miriah thought. She squeezed Corso's hand, and he winked at her. Magdalane started walking slowly along the path, surrounded by the tall vases, and she looked so beautiful. She had a serene look on her face, her eyes sparkling. Mags had told Miriah that the first half of the path represented her life up until now, that she had walked alone. As she reached Felix, he smiled at his bride and whispered something to her that made her smile back. She reached out her right hand, and he took it, tucked it in the crook of his arm, and walked with her to the temple entrance.
Grandmaster Shan met them there to perform the ceremony, still teary-eyed from before. As the crowd quieted, Magdalane turned to Felix, and smiled at him as her aura flared. Miriah thought, he still does that to her, and it made her heart happy to see. She knew there would only be this formal ceremony, no personal vows or humorous touches, not like her's and Corso's ceremony, performed on the bridge of the Stardancer. Miriah thought she liked her way better, but was glad that Mags was at least getting this. Grandmaster Shan started off by explaining the reasoning behind the path, and continued.
"The path we walk as Jedi does not often lend itself to relationships, but there are instances where a Jedi's path IS a relationship. Our history shows us that it is the rare force user who can take power from love and use it positively, remaining true to the Jedi beliefs. Magdalane has proven that she is such a Jedi. She has endured many trials in her young career, and her heart has remained true to the tenets of the Jedi profession even as it has made room for Felix.
"Felix has endured many hours of conversation with the council, conversations that weren't easy, in order to take this step. We have found him to be loyal and true, and his love for Magdalane sustaining him through our rigorous testing. With the unanimous approval of the Jedi council, I am honored to join Master Magdalane Celine Chantalle and Lieutenant Felix Iresso in marriage."
She heard loud sniffing coming from her left, and saw Corso hand tissues to her mother, putting his arm around her shoulder. Miriah looked at Maura and rolled her eyes. They both knew Mags was, as the force sensitive one, the favorite daughter, but they had long ago made peace with the idea. Miriah turned her attention back to the ceremony, watching as Shan took a glittering golden ribbon from a carved box, and explained the next step to the crowd.
"This ribbon symbolizes the universe. As it binds Magdalane and Felix together, it also binds them to the universe." Magdalane held Felix by his left hand with her right, lifting them to Grandmaster Shan. Shan wove the ribbon around their clasped hands, starting at Magdalane's wrist and ending at Felix's. They raised their bound hands to the crowd, and as they did so the ribbon started to get shiny and glow, brighter and brighter, then slowly dimmed. They lowered their hands then, and Shan removed the ribbon. "The marriage is made. Felix, you may now kiss your wife." At that declaration, the crowd cheered, and of course the kiss made made them cheer harder. A flushed and smiling Magdalane turned to her family then, and led Felix over to them for the traditional presentation.
"Mags, so happy for you, that you can relax now," Miriah told her as she hugged her. "And you look amazing, by the way." Mags could only nod and hug her again, before she was pulled over to Felix's family. Miriah turned to Corso then, and he hugged her against him. When the happy couple finally started back toward the celebration area, the families followed them, and somehow Miriah ended up with the rose bouquet. When she took it to her sister, she had to ask.
"What did he say, on the path, that made you light up?" Miriah grinned at Mags.
"Oh nothing," she blushed, "just… well, you know, a shared memory…"
"Has to do with silk and lace?" Miriah just laughed, figuring it out, since not many things made Magdalane turn that shade of pink. She returned to Corso, fighting back giggles, but so glad Felix could make Mags smile like that.
Magdalane looked into Felix's eyes, seeing the same love there that she'd seen in her own eyes that morning in the mirror. They'd made it, fought the odds on Jedi marriages and all the trials the council had put them through. She kissed him again then, and when she looked out at the crowd, she was stunned. All the adults present were kissing as well, Elara and Theran, Nadia and… was that Obo?, Mina and someone she didn't recognize. Her force presence was that strong, she guessed, and she could sense now that her happiness had indeed flowed out to the crowd.
Aric led Maura over to a chair next to Miriah, and stood behind her, caressing her shoulder. "Have you ever seen Mags look so happy?" she asked her.
"No, it's amazing how beautiful she is when she's not trying to suppress herself into her Jedi role. You're kinda sparkly yourself there," Miriah responded. She leaned to whisper to her sister, "I see that Aric has shown you he's still quite in love as well."
Marua gave her sister a wicked grin, "I'm thinking we might leave for Dantooine later." Miriah laughed at that.
"Miriah!" She turned and saw her little cousin, Mina, just as she grabbed her in a hug. "It's been forever since I've seen you. Hey Maura, and wow! Babies on the way!" Her cousin's exuberance was well known, but they loved her spirit. Miriah and Mina were closer in age than any of the other relatives, and actually looked alike with their dark hair and slender figures. Mina was taller, and instead of silver, she had the lovely green eyes that Sarai and Magdalane shared. Mina was a treasure, Miriah thought, and she grew up to be really pretty, but it was her zest, her love of life, that attracted people to her, sometimes the wrong people. Miriah smiled at her cousin, noting the look of surprise on her face when she introduced Corso as her husband.
"He got any brothers, Miriah?" Mina asked her when Corso went to retrieve them some wine. "No, and don't get any ideas about him, either," Miriah told her with a laugh.
"As if," Mina replied, "he hasn't taken his eyes off you all night anyway." They giggled, enjoying being together again. Miriah vowed to herself to make more time for Mina.
The celebration went into the evening, and dinner was served. Maura and Miriah moved to their table, Maura more than happy to see food. "I swear, these guys make me want to eat all the time. I am not looking forward to getting back in shape after they're born," she told Miriah
Miriah stopped her with a look, "What's your primary job now, Maura?"
"Growing healthy babies," she replied sheepishly.
"Then feed them, and don't worry about it. Besides, you know you'll lose it running around after them when they get here."
Magdalane and Felix stood at the long table in front of them, and raised their glasses. "Thank you all, for being here with us today," Felix said. "Thanks to our families, who've put up with all the planning drama, and especially Miriah and Maura, who've kept Magdalane sane."
"To our families, present and future," Magdalane said, looking at Maura and Aric with a smile.
