Chapter Thirty-Seven: Epilogue
This was it… I was getting married… at twenty years old… WHAT THE HELL WAS I THINKING!
I began to hyperventilate and my mother and Lissa where trying to get me to breath. Its not that I was having second thoughts or anything, I mean I wanted to marry Dimitri, but I'm still only twenty and I was freaking out.
"Mama?" Aria pulled on my white wedding dress curiously. "Why are you turning purple?" I laughed as Aria's sweet voice calmed me. "Mama is just getting nervous is all."
Aria raised her eyebrow, just like her daddy, "But you kiss daddy all the time so how is this any different?" Aria would be two near the end of the year but for her age she was extremely smart and she had picked up her language skills beautifully. Not only can she speak English very well but she's even began to pick up Russian from Dimitri's casual use of it around the house.
"You're right baby, Mama feels better now." She smiled happily up at me then eyed me up and down.
"You look very pretty mommy." I smiled.
My wedding dress was a sleeveless white dress that the top went straight across my chest with a lace dress that went over it. The Lace was off the shoulder, straight across the top of the under dress with lace sleeves that went to my elbows. Instead of a veil, I had white roses braided into my dark wavy hair. My make up was natural with a clear lip-gloss that gave my natural dark pink lips a beautiful sheen.
"Thank you baby." I said. Aria was our little flower girl she was dressed in a white dress with lace on the skirt and in her hair she had white Gardinas. She had a basket with different colored rose petals, white, pink, red, yellow, even blue.
My maid of honor was Lissa and Mia, Viktoria, Sydney, Karolina, and Sonya were my bride maids.
Abe was giving me away, obviously, and Christian was Dimitri's best man. And our ring bearer was little Paul.
The bride's maids dresses where simple light pink, Lissa's idea, with thin spaghetti straps. Lissa had had a professional come in to do all of our hair.
The color scheme for our wedding was white, red, and pink in case you haven't noticed.
Suddenly we heard the bride's march and there was a knock at the door. Mom opened it to reveal my father in a tux, for once he was dressed like a flashy mob boss, he had a scarlet tie tucked in his tux's vest under the jacket.
"It's time to go ladies." He said. Aria ran out of the room to meet up with Paul at the door leading to the sanctuary. (BTW they are getting married in the church where Dimitri told Rose Love Fades in Spirit Bound)
Then the door opened and the kids walked into the room. Aria happily throwing her petals as she walked next to her cousin.
I could just imagine Dimitri's expression seeing his little girl. He probably had the biggest smile on his face that said that little girl had him whipped.
I heard a chorus of awes and I figured Aria probably broke protocol to hug her father. I laughed softly at just how wonderful my little girl was.
Then Lissa walked out followed by the others to take their places. Finally it was my turn and my heart was pounding. Was I really doing this?
As soon as I looked up and caught sight of Dimitri and I saw the way his eyes lite up at the sight of me, the complete love shining off his very being and suddenly Abe seemed very slow.
Dimitri's POV
Here we were finally. I had dreamed of marrying Rose since… I'm not sure when. Aria and Paul where the first ones I saw, Paul held his little silk pillow with a red ribbon laced into the hem. Two white gold wedding bands sat tied on by the ribbon. One ring was obviously for a man the other was for a woman. I had taken her ring to the jeweler the other day and had it engraved in Russian. It said
Свет моей жизни.
After Aria made it to the end of the aisle and her little white basket was empty she giggled and launched herself into my arms.
Everyone present in the church let loose a loud Awe.
"I love you daddy." She whispered and I chuckled as I handed her off to Paul who took her hand and led her to Janine and sat next to her.
Then the brides maids began to file out and finally I saw her. My Roza, my beautiful Roza. She looked radiant in her white gown that went to the floor and was tight enough to emphasis her curves but it still looked classy.
The white roses in her hair practically glowed in her dark hair and I couldn't take my eyes off of her.
They finally made it to the alter and Abe kissed Roses hand and then her forehead then he placed her hand in mine. He looked me dead in the eye and threatened me… I was expecting it.
"You better take good care of my girls, cause if you don't I'll kill you." He said all of this like we were talking about the weather.
Those in attendance that actually knew us laughed at Abe's completely serious threat but those that had come simply to gawk at an actual wedding ceremony of two dhampirs and to also gawk at Aria, meaning most of the Royals, murmured nervously.
I nodded to Abe. "I wouldn't have it any other way Sir."
Then Rose and I turned to face the priest and so the ceremony began.
The priest, an older Moroi with gray hair and a grandfatherly smile spoke.
"Dearly beloved, we are gathered together here in the sight of God, and in the face of this company, to join together this Man and this Woman in holy Matrimony; which is an honorable estate, instituted of God, signifying unto us the mystical union that is betwixt Christ and his Church: which holy estate Christ adorned and beautified with his presence and first miracle that he wrought in Cana of Galilee, and is commended of Saint Paul to be honorable among all men: and therefore is not by any to be entered into unadvisedly or lightly; but reverently, discreetly, advisedly, soberly, and in the fear of God. Into this holy estate these two persons present come now to be joined. If any man can show just cause, why they may not lawfully be joined together, let him now speak, or else hereafter forever hold his peace."
No one spoke up though I'm sure a Royal or two wanted very much to object but considering that Lissa's Coronation was a mere two weeks away they wisely kept their mouths shut.
Then the priest continued and looked to us.
"I require and charge you both, as ye will answer at the dreadful day of judgment when the secrets of all hearts shall be disclosed, that if either of you know any impediment, why ye may not be lawfully joined together in Matrimony, ye do now confess it. For be ye well assured, that if any persons are joined together other than as God's Word doth allow, their marriage is not lawful."
Rose and I looked to each other and smiled at each other. That was enough for him and he turned to me.
"Dimitri Belikov, wilt thou have this Woman to be thy wedded wife, to live together after God's ordinance in the holy estate of Matrimony? Wilt thou love her, comfort her, honor, and keep her in sickness and in health; and, forsaking all others, keep thee only unto her, so long as ye both shall live?"
I looked Rose in the eye and said loud enough for everyone to here.
"I will."
Rose smiled and a rosy blush came to her cheeks. Then the priest turned to Rose.
"Rosemarie Hathaway, Wilt thou have this Man to be thy wedded husband, to live together after God's ordinance in the holy estate of Matrimony? Wilt thou love him, comfort him, honor, and keep him in sickness and in health; and, forsaking all others, keep thee only unto him, so long as ye both shall live?"
Rose smiled wide as she happily looked to me.
"I will."
The priest nodded to her then continued.
"Who gives this Woman to be married to this Man?"
Abe stood up.
" I, Ibrahim Mazur, give this woman to be married to this man."
"The couple has written their own vows."
I then turned to face Rose and looked her in the eye.
"Roza, my Roza." I said. "You have been nothing short of a holy terror since the day I met you. But I wouldn't any of our past for the world. I'll admit when I began to love you I was scared, I don't scare easily. But no matter the hardships I knew would come, I only wanted you to be by my side and I yours. You've given me a beautiful daughter, you've saved my soul and I, Dimitri Belikov, take you, Rosemarie Hathaway, to be my wife. I will love you and honor just as I have since the first time I met you for the rest of my life and beyond."
Rose had tears in her eyes but like the strong woman I knew, she refused to let them fall.
She took a deep breath and looked to the priest. At his node she smiled at me and spoke.
"Comrade, you know I'm no good at things like this. I honestly think that's why you suggested doing it."
I laughed.
"You have always been larger then life to me. You made a better person, you still make me a better person then I was. I love you, you make me feel safe yet strong enough to face any enemy alone but I know after today you'll lock me in a closet before I fight anything ever."
Again there were chuckles from our friends and family. She was right.
"But that's ok because I know its because you love me and want to take care of me and our daughter. That's why I, Rosemarie Hathaway, take you, Dimitri Belikov, as my husband. I will never forsake you and I'll love you and honor you just as I have since I met you and for the rest of my life and even longer after my life ends."
I felt my heart soar as Rose pledged her undying love and loyalty to me.
The priest then broke the silence that followed and recaptured out attention.
"The rings."
When he said that Paul jumped over and held the pillow up for us.
I bent down and untied Rose's ring. Then I placed it on Rose's left hand ring finger.
"With this I thee wed." I told her and a tear escaped down her cheek.
She then took my ring from the pillow and took my right hand ring finger and slipped the ring on.
"With this ring I thee wed."
The minister then took our hands. Placed hers in mine.
"I now, by the power vested in me by God and her Majesty the Queen of the Moroi, pronounce you man and wife."
He then looked to me.
"You may kiss your bride." I smiled so big my cheek hurt as I leaned down and gave a sweet, chaste kiss.
Then he turned Rose and I to face the crowd with our hands still locked.
"May I present to you, the people, Mr. and Mrs. Belikov."
Then there was applause as our family and friends rushed us.
"Mama, Daddy!" Aria squealed happily as she jumped onto my leg.
"Hello there princess." I said as I picked our daughter up and held her between her mother and I.
"Aria Belikova!" Adrian said in a cheesy announcer's voice.
"Your parents just got married what are you going to do next?"
Aria smiled and Rose and I laughed as she squealed loudly.
"WE'RE GOING TO DISNEY LAND!"
Everyone laughed at our daughter's obvious excitement.
As Mama took Aria from me I kissed Rose again.
"Are you happy Mrs. Belikova?" she smirked at me and pretending to think about it. "Yeah I guess so." She teased and kissed me one more time.
I never felt so complete as I did just then kissing my bride and watching my daughter laugh happily.
Конец
Translations
Свет моей жизни (Svet moyey zhizni) Light of My Life
Принцесса (Printsessa) Princess- (He said it in Russian)
Конец (Konets) End (Roughly The End)
It's done! I'm crying right now.
So I went to googled the wedding ceremony basically because the last wedding I was at I was three... sooo yeah. I was giggling like a little girl writing this chapter and I am very proud of this story. All of you support and reviews have made writing this very rewarding.
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And of course and very big thank you to Richelle Mead who created this wonderful series full of wonderful characters who have become so dear to me. they are wonderful role models even though they aren't real and I feel I am so happy I was able to finish this story. I will do a sequel and the prequel, His Child, should be up in a few days.
Summary for His Child: Prequel to For Her. As Rose contemplates her future she learns that Dimitri left her with something very precious from their night in the cabin. Can Rose balance being a mother and a guardian? And how will Rose protect her unborn baby from the Strigoi that use to be the man she loved?
Please review and keep a look out for His Child. Thanks again. Until Next time.