Understanding Ch 10
Kiss me with the kisses of your mouth: for your love is better than wine. Song of Solomon
Pam was in the changing room transforming Sookie's long, blond hair into an elaborate up-do and having the time of her un-life. Bobby pins in mouth, she hummed as her hands flew over Sookies hair, curling and braiding and tucking. It had been two weeks since Sookie and Eric had left Niall Brigant's estate and Sookie was two weeks overdue for the monthly visit of a certain little friend. She had survived her first tsunami of nausea this morning. Although the First Response test kit was still sitting under her bathroom sink, she was pretty darn sure that results would confirm her suspicions. She'd know for sure after she saw Dr. Ludwig tomorrow afternoon anyway. And even then, she had no intention of breathing a word to anyone but Eric for as long as possible or until some astute observer figured out that the obvious symptoms were definitely not related to a virus or food allergy. Trouble seemed to follow her like an unwanted stray. They certainly needed to speak with Niall about any knowledge he might have of their current, personal issue , but he had bigger fish to fry. And those big fish would probably be going after her as well. There were rumblings of an all-out war between her grandfather and another group of Fae—another reason Eric urgently wished to speak with Niall.
For this one night, Sookie pushed all of those thoughts aside and refused to think past her beautifully manicured fingertips because tonight, in a lovely anti bellum mansion, in a white ballroom complete with elaborate Greek Revival marble friezes, Corinthian columns, and hand-cast archways, she would have the white wedding of her dreams. How Amelia, Pam, and Claudine had pulled this off in two weeks was a mystery to her. Pam confided that Eric had called in a few favors to secure the mansion as well as the elegant bridal suite complete with a private plunge pool and spa. Although it was a small wedding for someone as important as the sheriff of Area Five, one hundred guests had accepted the hasty, albeit elegant invitations. Claudine had secured the bridal party's suits and gowns pretty much with a snap of her fingers. Pam had seen to the Vamps' needs, even securing a dozen bottles of Royalty Select, while Amelia, truly her fathers daughter when it came to connections, arranged the catering and accommodations for the other Supes and humans. Thank goodness for supernatural wedding planners! Even if she could have secured them, Sookie was glad that Quinn and E (E) E would not be organizing tonight's event.
Three of her former suitors were here tonight, and Sookie was pretty damn sure that none of them were turning cartwheels. Quinn's disapproving presence would have been just overwhelming in all respects. As leader of the Long Tooth Weres of Shreveport Alcide was here with his date, a pretty girl who had joined the pack after the recent skirmish. She'd been the one who had appeared on local TV for the Great Reveal. Sam was here with a pretty brunette he'd met on his visit home to Texas. When she'd first met her, Sookie picked up that Sam's date was a shifter. Sookie was happy and a little relieved that her former flames had found other women to be the focus of their attention. But there was one man whose dark eyes still lingered sadly upon her, and he would stand by the Justice of the Peace and watch Eric claim her. Bill Compton was one of Eric's three groomsmen.
Pam was just securing Sookie's waist length veil to the back of her up–do, when Amelia and Claudine bustled in with a rectangular package, gift-wrapped quite inappropriately, but predictably, in fire engine red paper. Maybe the smell of the hair spray helped Pam behave herself, but Sookie suspected that Prince Niall had managed to suppress Claudine's essence for a few hours. Pam spun Sookie around with a triumphant smile. It had been so long since shed had a chance to do something this elaborate with long hair and she had enjoyed it thoroughly.
"Well girls what do you think?"
Sookie looked magnificent in a diamond white, silk organza V-neck A-line gown accented with delicate flowers.
Amelia clapped her hands , "Sookie you look amazing. Well done Pam!" Pam curtsied perfectly in mock acknowledgement.
Claudine whistled, taking in Sookie's tanned, natural bounty, "And that gown is the perfect presentation for you natural assets! I hope that we can keep Eric's hands off of you until after the ceremony! "
Sookie smiled. For the past two weeks, she and Eric had hardly kept their hand off of each other for more than a minute when they were alone. When she flagged, Eric teased her until her temperature and libido broke the mercury, whispering wickedly in her ear that they had to make up for lost time.
She took a good look at her girls, the witch, the vampire, and the fairy, and thanked her lucky stars that she had been blessed with such wonderful friends—friends she never would have known if it wasn't for her own talent. As they hovered around her , dressed in sapphire strapless gowns with cross-draped bodices, Sookie couldn't help but gush, "I believe that I have the three best friends and the three best looking bridesmaids in the state of Louisiana!"
Claudine chuckled. " I certainly hope that some of the hot topics you invited feel the same, because I intend to get lucky tonight!"
Pam snorted. All of the men and a surprising number of the women would consider themselves very lucky indeed to spend some quality time with Claudine! She handed Sookie the package, "Enough talk girls. Sookie it's time to go! But you better open this first. Its obviously from the man himself."
Her hands shook a little as she tore off the paper and opened the case. Inside was a platinum pendant with matching earrings that featured the small, voluptuous figure of a shapely, naked woman with unfurled wings. A glittering pear shaped diamond was suspended from her feet. Amelia, Claudine and Pam all crowded around to have a look. The card read, "Jewels for my jewel."
It was signed, as usual ,with an elaborately flourished, E.
"She's beautiful!" Amelia breathed," Who's she supposed to be?"
Claudine giggled and glanced at Pam whose eyes widened with a mind boggling epiphany. Sookie just looked at her friends and roared. Leave it to Eric to find a way to make her wet herself laughing before she walked down the aisle! When she calmed down, all three of her bridesmaids were staring at her like she'd grown a horn. She sure was growing something, but she'd leave them to speculate on what that might be for now.
"Sorry Amelia, inside joke. This gal's name is Freya, she a Valkyrie –a warrior goddess but she's got a couple of other specialties up her sleeve as well."
Before Amelia could ask any more questions, someone knocked softly on the door. Sookie got to her feet, Pam adjusted Sookie's veil, and Amelia handed everyone their bouquet of red roses, blue hydrangeas, and baby's breath. Sookie opened the door.
Prince Niall looked beautiful and regal in his dove grey Tux. He linked arms with Sookie and smiled fondly, " It's time child."
They stepped into an immense entrance hall with 12 foot gilt doors that opened into the white ballroom where her groom and guests awaited her.
She waited with her great grandfather as King Felipe de Castro escorted Pam, Victor Madden escorted Amelia, and Bill escorted Claudine up the aisle to the front of the ballroom. Vamp politics was at the forefront of two of the choices for groomsmen. The King had to be offered the honor of best man. Both Sookie and Eric detested Victor Madden who was a vicious, scheming bastard. But, as the most powerful sheriff in Louisiana, he too had to be part of the party. Sookie had found Eric's choice of Bill intriguing. When Eric asked him, Bill naturally said that he would be honored. Sookie hadn't spoken with Eric about this, but their bond supplied her with a complex blend of information. Eric wasn't gloating or lording it over Bill, or only in a very minor way. No, there was something else there that Sookie had not quite put her finger on. It involved a grudging acknowledgement—Bill's computer program had made him a very important asset and that was part of it, but there was also Bill's loyalty to his sheriff. And, despite the world of hurt that had happened between Sookie and her former lover, there was an acknowledgement that Bill was ready to defend Sookie, to give his life for her even now, as she committed herself forever to his rival for her love.
The harp, cello, and flute trio played Pacabel's Canon in D as the groomsmen and bridesmaids made their way to the front of the ballroom. Sookie's heart started to pound and Niall patted her hand. The trio commenced Wagner's The Bridal Chorus, the crowd rose and turned to face the huge gilt doors and Sookie ,accompanied by her great grandfather Prince Niall of the Brigant Fae, walked toward her groom looking every inch the princess that she truly was.
She knew that her recently divorced and still slightly estranged brother was watching, and that Bill's dark gaze was fixed upon her, but she only had eyes for one blond warrior, his hair tied back in elaborate braids, who had won her heart and who was gazing at her as if she were a goddess. Love, deep as a tidal swell, rolled across their bond filling them and anchoring them to each other as they joined hands and faced the Justice of the Peace.
. The ceremony had not been as hard to plan, as Sookie had feared. At the most essential level, they shared a sense of commitment and reverence for the divine that would make this service, her service, a sweet and strong experience for them both. She had done her research for a hard week and understood that strong ritual and true words were as much a part of Eric's heritage as they were of hers. As his blue eyes blazed into hers," she hoped that she had chosen the words that were true for both of them. The Justice of the Peace began.
"Sookie, please face Eric, and hold Eric's hands, palms up, so you may see the gift that they are to you."
"These are the hands of your best friend, that are holding yours on your wedding day, as he promises to love you all the days of his existence."
"These are the hands that will work along side yours, as together you build your future, as you laugh and cry, as you share your innermost secrets and dreams."
"These are the hands that look large and strong, yet will be gentle."
"These are that hands that will passionately love you and cherish you through the years."
:These are the hands that will wipe tears of sorrow and tears of joy from your eyes."
These are the hands that will comfort you and hold you when fear or grief shake you."
"These are the hands that will tenderly lift your chin and brush your cheek as they raise your face to look into his eyes."
"Eric, please hold Sookies hands, palms up, where you may see the gift that they are to you."
"These are the hands of your best friend, that are holding yours on your wedding day, as Sookie pledges her love and commitment to you all the days of her life".
"These are the hands that will hold you in tender love, soothing, supporting and encouraging you along the way."
"These are the hands that will hold you tight as you struggle through difficult times."
"These are the hands that will comfort you."
"They are the hands that will passionately love you and cherish you through the years."
"These are the hands that will hold you in joy and excitement and hope."
"Together as a team, everything you wish for can be realized."
As Sookie had requested the official extended her hands over theirs. Unseen guests acknowledged the gesture and blessed it.
" Give these hands the strength to hold on during the storms of stress and the dark of disappointment. Keep them tender and gentle as they nurture each other. Help these hands to continue building a relationship, rich in caring. May they always be joined to heal, protect, shelter, and guide each other."
"Your gift to each other for your wedding today has been your wedding rings - which shall always be an outward and public expression of your love and commitment to each other. "
Eric had chosen beautiful platinum rings chased with elaborate knotwork. As she slid the ring onto Eric's big finger and he slid the ring onto her's, Sookie felt well and truly wed.
But she knew that the significance of the rings meant far less to Eric than the significance of their commitment in the garden. And so, with great love and care, she had planned the next part of the ceremony for him, and for them.
King Felipe and Amelia came forward and each took one rose from the vase on a table by the Justice of the Peace. The king handed one to Eric, and Amelia handed one to Sookie.
"Your first gift as a married couple will be a single rose."
As they exchanged roses, Sookie could see from the look in Eric's eyes that he "got" it as he had always gotten her.
The Justice continued, "Eric and Sookie, wherever you make your home - pick one special spot for roses so that on each anniversary of your commitment you may each take a rose to that spot recommitting that this will be a marriage based upon love."
The next part had been hard for her to write, but she knew that is was necessary and true to their love to include it.
"In every marriage there are times when it is easiest to hurt those we most love. It is easiest to be most hurt by those we most love. It might be hard to say
I'm sorry or I forgive you, I need you or I'm hurting. If this happens, leave a rose on the spot you chose together - for that rose will say what matters most of all, I still love you."
The whole room and even Hlin and the White armed Lady who watched unseen, waited as the final binding was laid upon this most unlikely of couples,
"Eric and Sookie, when you recall this ceremony, remember that it was love that brought you here today, and that it is only your love which can endure completely and forever."
As they looked into each other eyes before the guests, seen and unseen, the love that flowed across the magic of their bond enveloped them, bound them, and fixed their souls in a steady regard.