London was alive with activity. The city's skies, filled with shuttles and transports even at the best of times was jam packed as people from throughout the galaxy gathered there. Hundreds had been invited but there was no doubt that the attendance would be in the millions. For today was the day of the wedding of the galaxy's hero returned from the dead not once but twice. No structure on earth could possibly have held the expected crowds and so instead an outdoor wedding in the memorial park that dominated London had been planned. Dignitaries and guests from across the galaxy had been pouring in for weeks. Living accommodations all throughout Earth's entire western hemisphere had become strained and everything else about the event was a logistical nightmare. Planning the final assault on Earth with all the fleets entailed had required less preparation than this event. While the event was one of happiness and joy security forces of both the alliance and the council were on full alert. Contingents of both Alliance personnel as well as C-Sec had been called in to handle security and crowd control.
The wedding itself was to be a curious affair. It existed as an amalgamation of human and Asari wedding customs that had been hotly contested over by the two individuals to be married. Neither side had refused to back down and in the end a compromise ceremony had been decided on.
Shepard watched through a window from the hotel that had been taken over by the wedding party near the park, the hotel would serve as both the preparations area for the wedding as well as the private reception after. Paparazzi and reporters down below in the street caught sight of her and the sight of flashes from omni-tool imagers caused her to turn away looking over at her gathered groomsman. Wrex, Joker, Jacob, Grunt, and James. Garrus would serve in the place of Best Man. The lot of them were dressed in exquisitely fashioned formal outfits for the non humans designed to give the image of human tuxedos. The human members of the party stood in actual tuxedos. Shepard herself stood in her admiral dress uniform. Of the group Wrex and Grunt both looked decidedly uncomfortable about the fashion choice but neither of them said so much as a whisper of complaint, for fear of possibly damaging Shepard's festive and happy mood. Shepard herself was a bit on the jittery side with nervousness. Garrus however was quickly there to calm her nerves just like he had in any number of combat missions that they had been through together.
In an entirely separate level of the hotel the brides party consisted of Liara herself, Miranda, Ashley, Jack, Samara, and EDI. With Tali taking the posting of Maid of Honor. The group were dressed in garb of pure white. Even Jack had donned a formal dress although she looked just as uncomfortable in it as in the other part of the hotel did Wrex and Grunt. Matriarch Aetheta and retired Admiral Hannah Shepard rounded out the group. Liara herself stood while the bridesmaids did last minute checks on her dress, she smirked as they worked as she heard several of the krogan guards outside the closed door to the suite refusing to allow reporters entry. For her own dress it was a pure white asari style dress. Like many of the other hotly argued subjects of the wedding she had wanted a tradition white human dress, Shepard on the other hand had wanted something that would be used in a traditional Asari ceremony, and in the end like most of the other matters they had compromised. She had managed to force Shepard to accept a concession of allowing the white veil to remain as a part of the outfit.
The other members where also all dressed in white, in Tali's case a white suit environmental suit of traditional quarian style. She would unfortunately be forced to wear her helmet through the ceremony, with so many guests there was no way to be certain her strengthened immune system would be able to withstand everything it would otherwise be exposed to. However the usual purple faceplate had been replaced with a greyish silver one so as to be in keeping with the rest of the outfits.
Finally though the hour appointed came and the two separate parties made their way to their ready positions. Shepard was quickly hustled along by her party so as not to see her bride before the appointed time. Liara had insisted on an old human tradition that the groom not be allowed to see the bride. Still eventually Shepard was out standing on the low raised platform that the ceremony would be conducted on. For the ceremony itself Admiral Hackett, Kolyat Krios, along with Primarch Victus would all speak. As for the actual act of marriage the Asari councilor Tevos would do the actual bonding.
Shepard stood quietly up on the platform. At her back near behind her stood her party. In the darkness of the hotel's entrance she could see the shapes above the heads of the crowd, which were for the most part all standing for a lack of area to sit, she make out the shapes of the bride's party but couldn't make out Liara. She turned to look back behind her as she heard the first chords of music from the full scale multi-species orchestra behind the platform. She let the sounds of the music wash over her closing her eyes for a moment letting herself be lost in the growing volume of the rhythms. It is only when Garrus leans close behind her and whispers to her that she comes back to the present and sees Kolyat approaching, he was dressed in the reserved gray apparel of a Drell priest.
As Kolyat reached the platform he turned giving a nod to Shepard before moving to the podium. The crowd quieted as he moved up to it while behind the platform the orchestra decreased in volume and then went silent as their musical piece came to an end. Kolyat cleared his throat and began.
"Travelers from far and near. We are gathered to witness and celebrate the bonding between two individuals who have met as the stars of their lives have crossed paths. We witness now the depths of their love as they bond to each other forever. We are gathered to witness their union beneath the watchful gaze of the Goddess and the ancestors that have proceeded us. Their bond is unbreakable and unyielding and together forever after this day shall they be.
Their first meeting was upon a world hidden in the stars. Captive was one, but the other sought her out. She persevered liberating her bondmate from captivity and together they journeyed the stars side by side. Gathered behind the bondmate are those who would stand with her declaring her worthiness to be bonded what say you?"
Kolyat turns looking at Shepard's companions and is nearly rocked from the stage, only by grabbing to the podium does he remain steady as the shout from all those gathered behind Shepard, particularly Wrex and Grunt roars out.
"SHE IS WORTHY!"
The cry of declaration echoes across the entire gathered millions. Even inside the hotel where transmitted audio is necessary to hear the words being spoken, do the natural sound of the roars themselves reach. Kolyat regains his position and continues. Shepard for her part despite the deafening roar of the collected shouts stands rock still, on her face an emotionless expression much like one she uses in battle, beneath she was jittery and nervous but her iron will allowed none of it to show and she remained as steady as a rock while Kolyat continued.
"The bondmate is a warrior of the stars, proven as valiant and strong capable of carrying and protecting her bondmate, her actions have proven as such. But in order to prove her worthiness a witness of her character must be called forth. One of neutral party who has been aided by the bondmate." Kolyat looks back at Shepard. "Bondmate who do you call forth to stand as your witness?"
Shepard looks at Kolyat before taking a step forward and speaking loudly. "I summon forth as my witness Adrian Victus of Palaven as my witness of character."
Shepard takes a step back as audio transceivers carry her words throughout the crowd so that all can hear them. At the front sitting next to Hacket, the turian primarch stands. He is dressed for his role in full Turian dress uniform. He ascends the platform and moves to stand at Shepard's side offering her a reassuring smile as he does before turning and facing Kolyat. Kolyat turns his gaze from Shepard to Victus.
"Will you stand with her and attest as to her character in which the manner she proved herself to you?"
Victus takes a step forward and stands smartly at attention. Before calling out a loud. "I will."
Kolyat steps to the side allowing Victus to make his way to the podium while he speaks to Victus in response reciting the lines that all attendant had memorized well.
"Then attest to her character that those gathered as well as the Goddess and the ancestors may judge her worthy."
Victus took only a moment to ready himself while from the crowd there came a short period of quiet mutter as well as a flurry of flashes from omni-tool imagers capturing the image of the turian primarch standing there.
"The bondmate who stands here today came to the aid of not just me. Not even just my planet and my people, but came to the aid of the entire galaxy. Her character is attested as such. In a time when fear ran through all species of the galaxy she stood strong and united us all behind a cause. She stood not just for her kin, nor even for her species, but for all species. When offered choices that would sacrifice millions she chose the hard path that instead saved as many as she could. She journeyed and fought without fear or hesitation fighting for all those within these stars. Her enemies came from beyond the stars of this galaxy themselves and though we were naught but insects to them she stood firm. Against the wave of their terror she mastered not only her own fear but ours as well. She lead us through her actions and through her character into a new age where all can live peacefully.
Her character is one that inspires not only herself to rise to greatness but all those around her. To believe that no matter how dark the storm there is a day shinning beyond it. She is a beacon that leads us through the darkest of nights reminding us that compassion, strength, and justice are values we must all embrace. She has held the lives of billions in her hands and in those hands they have remained safe. She knows the value of the lives of the few as well as the lives of the many. She is worthy."
Though it was uncalled for by the script to the ceremony behind her the gathered party lead yet again by Wrex and Grunt shout again echoing Victus's last words. The Turian at the podium casts a bemused grin back at those gathered Krogan before turning back to the crowd.
"Her companions vouch for her so. Yet it is not just they, every person that lives not just on this planet but on all the stars of the skies can attest to her character. The character of one worthy to be a bondmate."
Turning Victus steps away and heading down back towards his seat Kolyat moves back towards the podium but not before a wave of cheering and applause spreads across the gathered millions at the words spoken by the Turian primarch. Up on the stage a single tear of joy and appreciation at Victus's words rolls down the side of Shepard's face. Kolyat back once more at the podium speaks once more.
"The bondmate's character has been attested and proven, but now it should be known to the ancestors and the Goddess the bondmate's history." Kolyat turns again to Shepard. "Bondmate, who do you call to attest your history?"
Shepard takes a step forward before calling out once again to the crowd, this time calling a different name. "I call forth Stephen Hackett of Earth to recount my history."
Shepard yet again takes a step back as from the front row of the seated part of the audience the aged and grizzled human admiral stands and begins making his way up to the podium. He stops near it and studies Kolyat with his usual quiet gaze while Kolyat turns and adresses him. "Will you recount the deeds and history of the bondmate who stands here?"
Hackett raises his voice so that the audio carriers can spread it out to the crowd. "I will." He turns and looks at Shepard and adds more quietly. "It will be my honor."
Turning Hackett steps up to the podium and begins to speak.
"The bondmate who stands before us today is Admiral Catherine Shepard. A proud member of the Alliance military. She was born in the stars. Her parents like her members of the same military. They like her also served. However fate took from her, her father when she was still young. Her mother, like her, a person I am honored to call my friend continued to both serve and raise her. When she came of age she enlisted and served with distinction and status for many years. The story of her actions at Elysium are no doubt well known to many if not all of you here. Eventually the time would come when she would be named a Specter of the Citadel Council. The first Human to be such. Though she served as both Specter and an officer she succeeded and honored both uniforms she wore. We all know the events of the attack on the Citadel by the Reaper Sovereign thirteen years ago along with its indoctrinated puppet, the former Specter Saren. Shepard lead the fight against both although many doubted her, and through her efforts they were defeated. Shortly after she gave her life while out on mission. She died ensuring that those beneath her command would live.
However fate determined her life was not yet done. She was brought back by the organization known as Cerberus. And though eventually she would turn and defeat them once it became apparent that their goals did not align with those of the rest of the galaxy, for a time she worked with them so that she could vanquish the threat of the Collectors, who served as puppets of the Reapers. Assembling a team she lead them through the dreaded Omega Four Relay and returned after the Collectors had taken from her the crew of her ship. However she did not simply return with all of those that had traveled with her, but she also destroyed the Collector home-world ending their threat to the galaxy. In addition she stopped the Reapers from quickly swarming the galaxy by her actions in the Bahak system. Although she attempted to warn those that lived in the system before it was too late indoctrinated agents of the Reapers prevented her from doing so, and so the system and all those who inhabited it were destroyed. But through their sacrifice, as grave as it is, did billions more live, for without her actions there the Reapers would have run throughout the galaxy unimpeded.
But there came yet time for another battle, finally now against the Reapers themselves. She fought against them and their soldiers on the moon of Palavan, Sur'Kesh, Rannoch, Tuchanka, Earth itself, and dozens of other places. As the one who spoke before me said, no matter how dark the outcome seemed she continued and persevered forging forth a path for all of us to follow. Through her actions on both Tuchanka and Rannoch were a reaper destroyed. In the end she would choose a second time to give her life but it seems that the Goddess above has blessed her and her path for yet again she is returned to us. And by her example and her deeds she shall lead us forth as we continue our march through time."
Hackett steps down from the podium and moves towards his seat once more, this time however the applause and cheering is near deafening from the gathered crowd in response to the speech. Kolyat is forced to wait almost ten minutes before at last it quieted enough for them to continue. As he resumed his part, from behind the platform the sound of the orchestra once more became heard as they began to play. Over the sound of the music Kolyat spoke his words echoed and carried across the crowd by the transceivers.
"I call forth now the other who will be bonded that at last she may be seen by the Goddess and the ancestors, as well as those gathered here."
From the hotel to podium there was a quarter mile length isle between the seated guests. Krogan guards formed a wall to each side to ensure than none of the standing spectators would block the way. Shepard could barely make out the emerging figures in the distance but she smiles as she sees her two daughters leading the way scattering flowers as they did, leading the way ahead of the party. Behind the two girls came Shepard's mother and Liara's father both side by side. Hannah was dressed in her old military dress uniform while Aetheta was dressed in the traditional uniform of an Asari commando. Both were armed with side arms at their hips. Behind them came Liara herself, dressed in white, the translucent veil covering her face as she walked, a bouquet of white roses in her hands. She herself was not armed. Behind her came the others all paired up in two's they too not armed but surrounding the party as it walked were a phalanx of Asari commandos, and bringing up the rear were two Krogan females in battle armor. The Krogans and commandos were on the other hand armed to the teeth, their weapons although specially made with a silver metallic sheen, still quite deadly.
The walk along the quarter mile corridor through the crowd was a long one taking several minutes. The sight of her bride approaching, being lead by her daughters caused Shepard to start to at last cry from the beauty of it and behind her Garrus was forced to dig out one of the several handkerchiefs he had brought with him on the off chance this situation occured. Finally though the party reached the platform and arrayed itself. The armed escort of Asari commandos and female Krogan moved off to the side while Liara and her bridesmaids moved up onto the platform and stood mirroring to Shepard. Matriarch Aetheta and the elder Admiral Shepard stood in the middle between the two groups with each standing on the side of their child. The two veteran and aged females both had teary looks to their eyes but their iron composure had yet to allow a tear through.
Finally Kolyat spoke once more and behind the platform the orchestra once again descended to silence.
"Both bondmates are now gathered here. They stand watched over by the Goddess and the ancestors. I ask of you now companions. Is their love for each other absolute, do they stand now together. To know that their love will never be separated?"
From both sides of the platform those gathered roar out the answer which echoes out over the crowd, as before Wrex and Grunt contributing the most in volume but all contributing.
"THEY ARE WORTHY OF EACH OTHER AND THE LOVE THEY HOLD!"
Both Shepard and Liara are by now fully in tears but each stands strong for each other as the beauty of the scene and the happiness they are filled with causes the tears of each to run down their faces.
Kolyat still continues to address the crowd and finally calls forth the last speaker before moving off the podium to sit now that his part is done. "I call forth Councilor Tevos to complete the bonding of these individuals. The bondmate's character and history has been testified to the Goddess, ancestors, and those gathered. It is now time."
From the front row the final person rises. Tevos. In a black and white robe of bonding much like the tuxedos of the human groomsman stands and walks towards the platform. Unlike the previous speakers upon reaching her appointed spot between Shepard and Liara she faces towards them rather than the crowd, but as before amplifiers easily carry her words out to the crowd. She looks from one to the other a reserved but nonetheless happy expression on her face as she begins.
"Catherine Shepard. Do you swear before the Goddess and the ancestors that have come before us all that you will stand by your bondmate? You will protect her and shield her from harm? You will be a foundation lifts her up and the tree beneath which she may safely rest? For all the days of your life will you care for her in sickness and health, safeguarding her life and happiness?"
Shepard smiles for a brief moment before looking at the still veiled Liara and whispering softly but still firmly. "I do."
Tevos turns her head to Liara now and it is fully apparent to Shepard and Tevos that she is crying a storm of tears, yet despite it she stands strong, strong for Shepard.
"Liara T'soni. Your bondmate has declared herself to you. Will you accept her bond and return it as your own. Will you support her in her times of trial and safeguard her in her times of need will you extend your hand to help? Will to her tree will you be the nourishing water and glowing sun extending to help keep her strong?"
Liara smiles softly as the tears continue to endlessly stream down her face. She watches through her veil Shepard, her eyes only upon the one she loves. With a smile she gives a soft but firm whisper of her own in answer.
"I do."
Tevos turns about facing the crowd and shouts out.
"The bonded have accepted each others bonds and vows. They swear to each other beneath the gaze of the Goddess and the ancestors. By such manner I declare them bonded."
Tevos steps to the side just in time to allow the crowd to view as Shepard slowly lifts the white veil and stepping close kisses Liara. Everyone gathered in both parties is teary eyed. Even the solid Wrex feels the moisture creeping although he feigns unawareness as it begins to creep its way down his scared face. As the two kiss the audience erupts into cheer and applause.