St Mary of the Heavens, London
Wednesday 2nd February 1994
"Take the oath?" For the first time, Peter noticed that the two Klingons were holding hands. Were they asking what he thought they were asking, or had he misunderstood? "Are you saying you wish to get married?"
Kay'vin nodded vigorously. "Yes. We wish to be married according to the laws of the place we live."
Well, that was unexpected. Peter was silent, not quite knowing what to say or do. For years, ever since the first sci-fi novels were published, theologians had argued about what the discovery of alien life would mean for Terran religion. The arrival of the Klingons two years ago had given that debate a new urgency although there were still no definitive answers and no official guidance from higher up. Until now, none of the aliens had shown any interest in church life, other than to enforce the rules they had put in place, but as far as he was concerned, if they came in peace and showed respect, then they were welcome in his church. Deciding that for the moment, he would treat them just as any other young couple seeking marriage, he invited them to follow him into the vestry where there was a table and chairs they could use.
They did so and as they settled themselves into the chairs, the vicar moved across to an overfilled bookshelf. Hunting through the untidily piled books, he found the one he wanted, retrieved a notebook and pen, and joined them at the table. Opening the book at the required page, he held it out to them. "These are our marriage vows. I think you should read them and if you feel that you can sincerely make these promises, we can go from there."
Accepting the book from the priest, Marla concentrated on the text, reading the words out loud for Kay'vin's benefit. "I, (name), take you, (name) to be my wife/husband…" She stopped and started again, this time adding in their names. "I, Marla, take you, Kay'vin to be my husband…" Carefully, she continued to read. "…to have and to hold from this day forward; for better, for worse; for richer, for poorer; in sickness and in health; to love and to cherish, till death us do part, according to God's holy law. In the presence of God, I make this vow."
She looked up from the prayer book and nodded. "I do not deny that your god may be present in this place. Yes, I can make these vows."
Kay'vin was quick to agree. "The words are both beautiful and honourable and they express my feelings for you, Marla. I too can make these vows."
Klingon Headquarters, London
Wednesday 2nd February 1994
The meeting had been going on for far too long and Krang was rapidly losing patience by the time the various participants came close to something resembling an agreement. Deciding to wrap things up and bring the meeting to an end before the bickering started again, Krang silenced Kell and turned to address the only woman in the room, "Major Kolana, you have done good work. I will expect you to work closely with Koreth to ensure the success of the project."
Under normal circumstances Kell and Koreth were good friends who worked well together, but this time they had ended up on opposite sides on almost every issue and Kolana seemed to have taken a great delight in stirring things, needling Koreth in a way that Krang could only describe as flirtatious.
It had been the heated looks the two had been giving each other that had inspired Krang to throw them together. Koreth had been hassling him over the last couple of days, wanting details of Krang's orders. He'd rightly pointed out that his own instructions were to assist Krang with the execution (and Krang had barely hidden a wince at just how close that came to the truth of the matter) of those orders and that he could not do so without more information. Kolana was a beautiful woman and Krang could only hope that working with her would distract Koreth for a while and buy him some time to decide what to do for the best.
"Understood, sir," Kolana responded, blissfully unaware of her superior's scheming. "The environmental and socio-economic benefits of the…"
The security captain's communicator crackled into life, Kay'vin's voice interrupting whatever Kolana had been about to say. "Sir, I need to talk to you."
Thinking that his aide would not be calling unless it was important, Krang activated his communicator. "Yes, lieutenant? Go ahead."
"Sir, I'm getting married and…"
"Married?" Krang gave an annoyed growl. "That is hardly surprising news; I should think the entire department knows by now that you and Marla are planning to take the oath. I give you a lot of leeway, Kay'vin, but this is ridiculous."
"But, sir, I…"
"I am in the middle of an important meeting," Krang snapped, "as well you know since you organised it. I am obviously not giving you enough work to do if you're bothering me with this nonsense."
"Your meeting was scheduled to finished almost an hour ago," Kay'vin sounded more than a little offended. "I would not have called if this were not important to me."
"Yes, well…" That was true enough, Krang thought ruefully. Already regretting his momentary harshness, he decided to give Kay'vin the benefit of the doubt for now. "So, you said you're getting married?"
"Yes sir, in about an hour. That's why I called. The priest said that for the wedding to be valid according to local laws, we require two witnesses and…"
Every Klingon in the room had fallen silent now as they waited for Kay'vin to continue. The drama playing out over the communicator was far more interesting than the project they had been arguing over. After a moment, he did so. "Um… Since I have interrupted your meeting, I assume Brigadier Koreth is there with you?"
Interested, Koreth leaned forward. "I am here, Kay'vin."
"Oh... good. Um… Marla and I would be honoured if you would both be willing to stand with us as our witnesses."
A wide grin crossed Koreth's face. "I would not miss this for all the gagh in the Empire! The honour is mine." He glanced at Krang and when his superior did not immediately reply, he elbowed him.
"I too would be honoured," Krang said hurriedly. It was the truth, actually. It was not annoyance or irritation that had delayed his response, rather it was surprise and even a little confusion. What Kay'vin was describing bore no resemblance to either the formal Klingon wedding ceremony or the simpler but equally valid oath-taking. Voicing the question, he listened with some bemusement as Kay'vin explained himself.
"You're having a Tera'ngan wedding ceremony?" Kell asked loudly. "How intriguing! I also wish to witness this." There was a chorus of agreement from the other officers present. This had definitely turned into one of the most interesting meetings they'd attended in a long time.
St Mary of the Heavens, London
Wednesday 2nd February 1994
Peter's day had started out as a normal, peaceful Wednesday with nothing more important to do than polish the brass candlesticks and start work on his sermon for the Sunday eucharist. How it had gone from that to making history as the first priest to perform a wedding service for non-humans, he was not entirely sure.
The two Klingons had been horrified to learn that they would have to wait several weeks to be married. They had not understood when he'd explained about the banns, and visibly upset, the woman, Marla, had insisted that she did not want to wait and that there must be another way of doing things. Were there no exceptions?
The thought crossed his mind that he could just say the words, give them a certificate and send them on their way. They'd never know the difference. No, that option was both dishonest and the coward's way out. These two young people might be enemy aliens but they were sincere in their desire to marry. Instead, he admitted that yes, there was another way.
Dialling Lambeth Palace, he spoke with the archbishop's secretary, explaining the need for a special licence, and requesting that it be expedited with the utmost urgency. There was a silence on the other end of the line before the normally unflappable woman responded. "I... um… think I should get the archbishop." There was a further silence that seemed to the waiting vicar, to take an awfully long time before a man's voice that he recognised as belonging to the current Archbishop of Canterbury said, "I understand you need a special licence for two Klingons to marry?"
"That's right," the vicar confirmed. The archbishop had not sounded impressed and it was with some nervousness that he repeated what he'd already told the secretary and awaited his superior's response.
"Hmmm. We'll have to grant it of course; there's no question of being able to refuse," his senior replied, obviously nonplussed by the unexpected request. "I'll get the documentation signed and faxed across to you immediately." He hesitated before adding, "Be careful, Peter, and do whatever is necessary to stay safe."
It had all happened very fast after that. Aware that it was never a good idea to offend a Klingon, the archbishop, or more likely his secretary, had wasted no time in getting the required documentation sent across.
At that point his wife had interfered, surprising everyone by taking charge of the bride-to-be, throwing the men out of the vicarage, and ushering her upstairs to get ready for her wedding. The slightly confused groom had found himself holding his fiancée's weapons and watching as she went off happily with the older woman. The two men exchanged a look of mutual… something… masculine solidarity, maybe… before going their separate ways, one to prepare for the ceremony, the other to do some emergency shopping.
Burlington Arcade, London
Wednesday 2nd February 1994
With less than two weeks until Valentine's Day, the jewellery shop was full of customers and busy serving a middle-aged man looking for an engagement ring while at the same time keeping an eye on a trio of boys who were showing all the signs of being potential shoplifters, the store manager didn't even bother to look up as the doorbell jangled, indicating another person entering or leaving the shop. His assistant was equally busy, dealing with a customer wanting a sapphire bracelet. It was at that moment, just as the older man decided on an ostentatious and very expensive diamond ring that one of the youths made his move, obviously thinking that the still open door would make for an easy escape. Egged on by his mates, he snatched at the tray of watches he'd been admiring and turned to run. It was unfortunate for him, although lucky for the jeweller, that the entrance to the shop was temporarily blocked by a heavily armed Klingon warrior.
Finding himself over-encumbered by weapons, Kay'vin had made a quick trip back to his quarters to safely stow away Marla's disruptor and d'k tahg before setting out on his shopping expedition. Having little to no experience of buying jewellery, let alone something as important as wedding rings, he would admit to feeling slightly intimidated by the task ahead of him. How was he supposed to know what was appropriate? And what if Marla did not like his choice? Nor was his location conducive to his peace of mind. The arcade stretched ahead of him, two rows of identically elegant, black-painted shop fronts with bow windows draped with gold and glittering jewels. The upper story in contrast was painted white, with a high-domed, glass roof that gave it a spacious, airy feel. Wondering if his Defence Force wages were going to be enough to cover this, Kay'vin stepped onto the red 'carpet' that ran the length of the street. A little overwhelmed and not quite knowing where to start, he looked around him. His attention was drawn to a shop advertising vintage and antique jewellery. Vintage meant old, he knew, something with a story to tell. The idea appealed to him and decision made, he opened the door and stepped inside.
He was still standing in the open doorway, blinking at the change of light, when the would-be thief came barrelling into him, almost knocking him over before attempting to dodge round him. A trained warrior, Kay'vin reacted instinctively, grabbing the boy by the wrist and pulling him back. No, not a boy, Kay'vin realised with disgust, he was in his late teens and old enough to understand the dishonour of his actions.
"Lemme go!" Desperate to escape, the panicking boy struggled, shouting and swearing as he flailed at Kay'vin in an unsuccessful attempt to break free. Annoyed, the Klingon tightened his grip, jerking the boy's arm round and behind his back. The thief gave an agonised scream as his shoulder dislocated under the pressure. Nobody dared to move as the alien soldier twisted further, cracking the bones in the boy's wrist before giving him a hard downwards shove.
Retrieving the stolen items from the floor, Kay'vin placed them on the counter by the store manager. "I believe these are yours. Do you wish to press charges against him?"
Shaken, the store manager glanced from the alien warrior to the injured, crying boy lying helplessly on his floor too frightened to move. "No, I…" He shook his head. "Maybe just scare him a bit?"
"As you wish." Turning his attention back to the boy, Kay'vin knelt, and removing his dk' tahg from his belt, he laid the primary blade against the boy's throat. "If you ever attempt such a thing again," he warned, "then I will gut you like the useless petaQ you have proved yourself to be and save your mother the necessity of attending your public execution." He pressed the blade a little harder, until a tiny rivulet of scarlet blood trickled down his throat before releasing the pressure. "Do you understand?"
"Y…yes…"
"Yes, what?" Kay'vin demanded.
"Y…y… yes, sir."
"Good." Withdrawing the blade, the Klingon rose to his feet and turned to address the other boys. "That goes for you as well. If any of you cause even the slightest trouble, do not doubt that you will die. Now get out and take your friend with you!"
The group of boys were all too quick to obey, pulling their injured friend to his feet and disappearing out the door before the angry and very frightening Klingon changed his mind.
The shop staff and the remaining customers were left standing around and looking nervously at the Klingon, not quite knowing what to do. Shoving his knife back into its sheath, Kay'vin looked back at them and if they only knew it, he was equally nervous. "I… um… I came to buy a wedding ring."
Sorry for the delay. There were a lot of ways that this chapter could have gone and it was a hard decision. In the end, Kay'vin is to blame as he decided I had to tell you about his adventure buying a wedding ring.
The vows stated are from the modern Anglican wedding service. Again, the church is fictional but loosely based on a real one. As for Peter, I had a chat with our vicar and asked him "what would you do if..."
Burlington Arcade is a real place, located near Mayfair in London. It's about 20 minutes walk from Klingon headquarters or a minute or two in a shuttle. It's an interesting place, all black painted, identical shop fronts with the names painted in gold. The upper story in contrast is painted white and it has a high-domed ceiling with glass roof. Wierdly, it really does have a red carpet (of some sort) running down its length.
A big thank you as always to JDC0, Solasnagreine and RobertBruceScott for their continued support... especially Solasnagreine for nagging me to get it finished. A big thank you also to Linny, my wonderful beta reader. Real life is very busy at the moment and I don't have much time to write, but I promise I will never abandon this story. Thanks for your patience.