I can't believe I forgot to update earlier!But here I am now.
First of all. An apology. To whoever it may concern. I would direct this to the person, if I knew who it was, but the message what left annonymously, as a false review in this story, so here is where I'll answer it. I've been acussed of being condescending in the reviews I leave on other fics, of acting like a jerk. I promise you all that has never been my intention. I appreciate a good critique, and so try to give the same to others. Which means that I'm honest when I like or don't like something. I never considered that may make me look like a jerk, but I think that lieing in a review defeats the purpouse they were created for. I've never outright flamed anyone, because I think that when you don't like a story at all you don't even bother saying anything about it, you don't bother even reading it through, period. So yeah, that's that. I'm sorry if anyone thought I was trying to offend, that has never been my intention, I'm just trying to help others the same way they help me with every review I receive.
Now, having finished my rant, for those who bother reading my notes, let me suggest two songs to get into the mood of this chapter: First is "Mamma" by Il Divo, second is "This I Promise You" either by Ronan Keating or N'Sync, whichever you prefer (I favor the first). You'll know when each song must be played.
Chapter 13. Union of Hands
Less than a second after the revelation took place the two men were in their mother's embrace, and suddenly it didn't matter that they were adults, that they had lived more than a hundred years, or that the woman embracing them had died so long ago Damon'd trouble remembering her, and Stefan didn't actually remember her face, just her voice. It was her: Caryn Annata di Salvatore, Giuseppe Salvatore's wife, and mainly: Damon's and Stefan's mother.
"Oh…miei bambini…" She began whispering into their hair, in a mix of Italian and English. "You've both grown so much, so handsome, you've turned into wonderful ragazzi…Oh miei figlioli, I'm so very proud of you both."
"Madre…" Stefan whispered, unashamed of the tears falling from his eyes.
Caryn had died so long ago, when Stefan was barely three years old, the only memory he'd of her involved her singing a lullaby, and even then only her voice was clear in his mind, the face lost. In that moment he could see the face, the similarities with both his and Damon. It was the most emotional moment he'd been through.
"Mio Stefan…mio piccolo…" Caryn whispered as she looked into her younger son's eyes. "Last time I saw you, you were barely more than a baby, so small, so innocent. It makes me sad to know how much you've suffered…"
"Don't cry Madre…" Stefan whispered back as he held her tightly yet tenderly. "You're here now. I finally have a face to go with the voice of my childhood dreams… besides, I had Damon, he looked after me, as much as he could."
It was something he'd realized as he reflected on his human memories, how his older brother had always been there, caring for him, protecting him, far more than his own father ever did.
"Yes, you did." Caryn nodded. "And despite all the terrible things you went through, you're now together again, like brothers, as it was meant to be."
"Mamma…" Damon called, uncharacteristically hesitant. "I'm just so…so happy to see you. I really thought this day couldn't get any better, and now…"
"Why do you think I'm here?" His mother smiled. "I always dreamed about being in my son's wedding, ever since you were a bambino. I knew you would one day find the right girl, one you would love with your whole heart and soul, and who would love you the same way. My wish seemed impossible after I got ill, but now, thanks to Emily and Tituba, I'm here."
At those words, both brothers turned to look at the older witches, gratitude almost palpable.
"Grazie…" They both whispered. "Grazie molto."
"They're coming." Tituba announced right then.
And it was true, the vampires could hear the soft steps nearby, and they could smell the three young women as they approached.
Silently they all took their positions, with Emily in the center of the clearing, flanked by the other two women, Damon a couple of feet before them, with Stefan a few steps behind him.
The meadow looked beautiful, covered in snow, icicles hanging from the branches of nearby trees, the stream frozen. And yet, it wasn't cold, not at all, and whether it be because of the women's magic, or because the earth itself was giving them a gift, they didn't really care.
In a quick motion Stefan turned on a nearby Ipod.
Celtic music filled the clearing, as their celebration began.
.-.
Bonnie recognized the place they were going less than two minutes after descending from Elena's car; she'd noticed that both of her best friends were dressed in similar attires, and both had taken off their shoes when descending from the vehicle, telling Bonnie to do the same. Try as the hazel-eyed witch might, she just couldn't think of any specific druid ceremony that included what she'd seen thus far, and no one was giving her any clues. Still, she followed her friends' lead into the forest.
Caroline stopped the procession a few yards away from the meadow.
"Now, I'll be entering the clearing first, Elena will follow me, and you in the end Bonnie." The blonde instructed.
"What exactly are we doing?" Bonnie asked, for what must have been the umpteenth time.
"You'll see, you'll see." Caroline replied simply.
Elena couldn't help but smile as well.
On some unknown signal celtic music began to play, and a few seconds later Caroline walked into the meadow, Elena a few paces behind, and finally Bonnie.
What the young witch found upon entering the clearing left her totally speechless: Damon and Stefan were standing near the center, in druid-style attires and barefoot too, as were the three women standing before them in dresses and cloaks.
Bonnie was going to stop besides her two friends, until Caroline motioned her forward, to stand right in front of Damon.
And suddenly it clicked, watching herself in full white, same as Damon, their friends in those other clothes, and the three robed women, suddenly it all made sense.
"Oh Spirits…" Bonnie gasped.
*I really hope you don't want to kill me right now.* She heard Damon's voice in her mind as he half-grinned at her.
*No, I don't.* Bonnie admitted, smiling herself. *I want to kill Caro and Lena for keeping the reason for all this from me.*
*But then it wouldn't have been a surprise.* Damon pointed out.
And what a surprise it was.
It was also in that moment that Bonnie recognized Emily, it was so strange for the young woman, seeing her ancestor standing right then, along with her own grandmother, and another woman she couldn't recognize but found familiar.
"Let us begin this honorable ceremony with a blessing." Emily announced.
*Are you sure you wanna go through with this?* Damon asked her telepathically. *It's still not too late to call it off. I know we never exactly asked for your approval.*
*I should be the one asking that question.* She replied in the same way. *I do want to be here, I do want to go through with this, I just never imagined you would.*
*It's my way of showing you I'm not leaving, not again.* He explained.
*You know you don't have to go through all this ceremony just for that. I believe you when you say you'll stay, just like I hope you believe me when I say the same.*
*I do. And I'll confess it's not just about reassuring you, but also about reassuring myself. I want to be sure that nothing will ever be able to pull us apart again. Never.*
*Never again.*
*I love you, my Little Witch.*
*Just like I love you, my Dark Angel.*
*Well, lets get this show on the road then!*
Emily smiled at the couple, as if she knew exactly what had gone on in their minds but had chosen to leave them their privacy.
"Girls." The Bennett ancestor called softly.
Elena and Caroline immediately began moving, arranging a wreath of flowers, white-lilies and forget-me-nots in Bonnie's hair, as well as one of oak leaves on Damon's own head; then they collected a chalice of water, from which they sprinkled the couple, then did the same with the salt of another goblet, ending by moving around them with a small tray that held a strong smelling frankincense. It was the blessing of the four main elements.
"We have come together here in celebration of the joining together of two bodies, minds, hearts and souls as one; those of Bonnie Aithne Bennett and Damon Alessio Salvatore." Emily recited in a very formal tone. "There are many things to say about Unions. With each more knowledge is gained. Though we are unable to give all this wisdom to these two, who stand before us, we can hope to leave with them the knowledge of love and its strengths and the anticipation of the wisdom that comes with time. The law of life is love unto all beings. Without love, life is nothing, without love, death has no redemption. Love is anterior to Life, posterior to Death, initial of Creation and the exponent of Earth. If we learn no more in life, let it be this: A Union such as this is a bond to be entered into only after considerable thought and reflection. As with any aspect of life, it has its cycles, its ups and its downs, its trials and its triumphs. With full understanding of this, Damon and Boonie have come here today to be joined as one Soul, Mind and Heart, sharing two Bodies from here to eternity."
Caroline smiled, all the feelings, good feelings, that were reaching her through her Power made her feel almost giddy with joy.
Stefan and Elena couldn't help but keep stealing glances at each other, even as they also looked at the two whom they loved as family, blood or not. That's what those in that meadow in that moment were: family.
"Others would ask, at this time, who gives the bride in marriage, but, as a woman is not property to be bought and sold, given and taken, I ask simply if she comes of her own will and if she has her family's blessing." Emily continued. "Bonnie Bennett, is it true that you come of your own free will and accord?"
"Yes, it is true." Bonnie smiled.
While they might have not told her the reason behind all those preparations, she couldn't be happier to be there in that moment.
"With whom do you come and whose blessings accompany you?" Emily questioned.
"She comes with me, her grandmother," Tituba spoke up. "And is accompanied by my blessing as well as that of her would-be sisters."
Both Caroline and Elena nodded vehemently.
"Damon Salvatore, is it true that you come of your own free will and accord?" Emily continued, this time turning to the Groom.
"Yes, more than anything this is my wish." Damon nodded empathically, his eyes never leaving his bride.
"With whom do you come, and whose blessings accompany you?" Emily asked.
"He comes with me, his mother," Caryn called.
"And with me, his brother." Stefan added with a bright smile.
"And accompanied by the blessings of family and close friends." They both finished together.
Damon felt really touched, at the love coming from both his mother and little brother, the two members of his family he could honestly said he deeply loved.
"Please join hands Bonnie and Damon, and listen to that which I am about to say." Emily instructed. "Above you are the stars, below you are the stones, as time doth pass, remember: Like a stone should your love be firm like a star should your love be constant. Let the powers of the mind guide you in your marriage, let the strength of your wills bind you together, let the power of love and desire make you happy, and the strength of your dedication make you inseparable. Be close, but not too close. Possess one another, yet be understanding. Have patience with one another, for storms will come, but they will pass quickly. Be free in giving affection and warmth. Have no fear and let not the ways of the unenlightened give you unease, for Love will always be stronger."
It indeed was stronger, just considering everything the pair had gone through, everything they had survived, even when being parted, the memory of who they'd once been, who they could be together, pushed them to continue. It was that love that made Bonnie stronger as a witch and a woman, and Damon a better man altogether.
"Damon, I have not the right to bind thee to Bonnie, only you have this right. If it be your wish, say so at this time and place your ring in her hand." Emily indicated.
"It is my wish." Damon nodded, and then turned back at Stefan. "The ring?"
For all answer Stefan brought out of his jacket a couple of gold rings which the three witches blessed; then the smaller one was given to Damon.
Damon for his part focused his Power, imbuing the ring with it; then he carefully took Bonnie's left hand, placed the ring in the correct finger and kissed the back of said hand.
"Ti voglio bene…" Damon whispered in a very low tone before letting go of her hand.
Truth is, the presence of his mother seemed to bring out the Italian ascendance in him, even in his mind he hadn't stopped whispering endearments in that language since the ceremony had begun. And truth be told, Bonnie found the whole things extremely sexy.
"Bonnie," Emily's strong voice brought them all back to the present. "I have not the right to bind thee to Damon only you have this right. If it be your wish, say so at this time and place your ring in his hand."
"It is my wish, very much so." Bonnie nodded, she was glowing from pure joy.
Stefan then handed Bonnie the bigger ring, and she repeated the same steps Damon had taken, filling the object with her own Power, placing the ring on his groom's hand and then kissing said hand softly.
"I love you too…" She whispered back.
Those rings were now not only a symbol of their love and commitment, but they also carried a part of each in the other, a reminder that it was not only a symbol holding them together, but that their very souls were bound.
At a silent signal from Emily, Caryn handed her an intricate dagger, one that bride and groom recognized, for it was the same one she'd nearly used to commit suicide when first losing control of her Power, a little over three years prior.
Fully pushing that old event from his mind Damon took the dagger in his hand, and already knowing what was expected from him, used it slash his left hand; then he passed the dagger to his bride, who did the same.
"Blood to blood, Mind to mind, Heart to heart, Soul to soul." Emily called as she passed the dagger back to Caryn. "Two become one, from this day and till the end of time."
Without need to be told Bonnie and Damon clasped their bleeding hands together, it was another way for their blood to connect, less intimate and intense than the exchange that brought on their bond; but enough in their current situation.
Tituba then passed Emily an elaborate cord, it was a mix of rope and several other different materials and colors, braided together.
Slowly, ceremoniously, Emily draped the cord around the couple's joint hands, talking even as she did this:
"Let this blessed cord be a representation of the bonds that already binds you." She explained. "And even once it's been retired, may you remember what it stands for. May you always remember to be each other's faithful partner for life, each other's constant friend and one true love; may you love each other without reservations, and stand by one another in sickness and in health, in plenty and in want; may you stand together in your times of joy and sorrow, and share the burdens of each so that your spirits may grow in this union; may you always be open and honest; and dream together to create new hopes and realities in your joint lives; and may all this be for now and for ever."
It was one thing Damon had thought long and hard about. There had been many ways how their bond could be sealed: for a year and a day, for as long as love shall last, for as long as both shall live, and finally that one for eternity. He knew there was no way either of them would be content with the first one; he'd seriously considered the second, his way of giving her an out, freeing her of any commitment if she one day ceased to love him; but a part of him, perhaps the part that was connected to her, knew she wouldn't agree to that; the third was good, except for the fact that he didn't think that even death would stop him from loving her; and so the fourth had been chosen.
*I will love you, for as long as I live, and even beyond that.* Bonnie promised.
*As will I.* Damon agreed. *This is forever.*
*Forever.* Bonnie's smile could be noticed even in the mind.
"Now." Emily continued. "The Groom wishes to address his Bride."
"Bonnie…" He began, and then smile. "It feels almost strange calling you by your given name; for me you've always been, and always will be the Little Witch. The same child who so innocently faced me that Halloween night, told me she could take care of herself because she was a real witch." He chuckled. "And how true that is. I had the pleasure of knowing you for twelve years, in which I learnt so much, much more than in the first dozen decades it seems. I learnt that it's not wrong to really care for someone, to have someone who can truly know and care about you, that protecting can bring one a great satisfaction, and that loving makes us stronger, not weaker. I learnt all that, thanks to you. Thanks to you I became a better person, someone that I can honestly say I'm proud to be." He reached with his soul to her, as he was already holding her hands and couldn't really move them. "I love you, my Little Witch, body, mind, heart and soul, and I promise you I always will."
Stefan could honestly say in that moment he was very proud to be Damon's younger brother. He could vaguely remember how it had been when they both were little children, how he used to follow his big brother everywhere, always wanting to be like him. That had changed with the years. After having lost contact with Damon when he'd gone to the war, Stefan had grown used to following his father's lead, something he did even when Damon returned, something that got even worse with Katherine's involvement. And now, now things to be falling back into place, finally, and Stefan couldn't be happier.
"Oh Damon…" Bonnie whispered, smiling through the tears of joy that fell. "So much has happened since we first met, and while I'll admit I more than once dreamed of a future where I could be with you, it's also true that more than once things happened that made me fear such a thing would never be possible. So many times I would cry about the impossibility of 'us' ever becoming real, and yet here we are right now; and I want to believe that having gone through all that has actually made us stronger. We've survived so much, thanks to being together, and I know that as long as I'm with you I'll be able to carry on, no matter what comes our way. You are my strength, just as I hope to be yours, always." She allowed her Power to reach back to him, as strongly as his reached to her. "I love you, my Dark Angel, body, mind, heart and soul, and I promise you I always will."
Caroline was practically jumping with giddiness by this point, the ceremony was just so beautiful, she couldn't help but imagine just for a second how it would feel to be in Bonnie's place. Then she thought of Matt, of how much she loved him; the blonde didn't actually know if he was the one, and even then how he would take it the day he finally found out about all things supernatural, and just how much those around him were involved. Still, a union like the one before her wasn't the place or time to have such morose thoughts, which is why she decided to push that aside and focus on the joy all around her.
Elena for her part was very happy for her friend, believing she truly deserved all the blessings that could come her way. She also couldn't help wondering if it would ever be her in that position, she knew she loved Stefan with all she was, and yet she at the same time wondered if she was ready, if she would ever be ready, for the kind of commitment such a ceremony implied. Still, she'd time to decide.
"Now, for the official vows." Emily continued, then turned to Damon. "Repeat after me:"
"I, Damon Alessio Salvatore, in the name of the Spirits, by the life that courses within my blood and the love that resides within my heart, take thee, Bonnie Aithne Bennett, to my hand, my heart, and my spirit, to be my chosen one. To desire thee and be desired by thee, to possess thee, and be possessed by thee, without sin or shame, for naught can exist in the purity of my love for thee. I promise to love thee wholly and completely without restraint, in sickness and in health, in plenty and in poverty, in life and beyond, where we shall meet, remember, and love again. I shall not seek to change thee in any way. I shall respect thee, thy beliefs, thy people, and thy ways as I respect myself."
As the vow was finished, all three witches gave their blessing.
And then came Bonnie's turn:
"I, Bonnie Aithne Bennett, in the name of the Spirits, by the life that courses within my blood, and the love that resides within my heart, take thee, Damon Alessio Salvatore, to my hand, my heart, and my spirit to be my chosen one. To desire and be desired by thee, to possess thee, and be possessed by thee, without sin or shame, for naught can exist in the purity of my love for thee. I promise to love thee wholly and completely without restraint, in sickness and in health, in plenty and in poverty, in life and beyond, where we shall meet, remember, and love again. I shall not seek to change thee in any way. I shall respect thee, thy beliefs, thy people, and thy ways as I respect myself."
"Rings have been exchanged, symbol of the vows you each have pledged, in your own words and those assigned by the traditions of our ancestors." Emily recited. "Now I call on family and friends, to bear witness of what's happened here this day; this Union of bodies, minds, hearts and souls, which Bonnie and Damon have chosen to enter and the Spirits have blessed."
"We bear witness." All of those present called in unison. "May they be blessed."
"May we all be blessed." Emily added.
Even Elena, who was perhaps the only one in the group without an ounce of Power, could feel as something rouse all around them, circling them all before enveloping the couple; it was as if the Earth itself were giving its blessing.
"Very well." Emily called as she grinned. "And now, as modern tradition dictate. I declare you Together till the end of time. Groom, you may kiss your bride."
So it began…a whole new life.
And say you'll hold
A place for me
In your heart.