A word of warning: The next two chapters are EXTREAMLY sappy and mushy, I am really focusing on Erik and Karen's Marriage for this part, don't worry though I'll have stuff blow up again soon. I am going to wrap the book up soon. Last but not least in the chapter after this one I am going to put sexuality so anyone who is made uncomfortable by that is forewarned, I plan to water it down a lot but still it's not something that would pass the MPAA with less than a R rating, enjoy, and tell me if these next two aren't up to snuff.
Even though Ian wanted to stay for the wedding he was afraid to stay in one place too long. His cloaking device had been on the blink lately and he was afraid he'd compromise our locations if he stayed. Meaning that when we got to the valley it was back to the cave floors. While it wasn't as comfortable to sleep on a cave floor I was still tired. So it wasn't long before I was asleep again.
4:33 am
A Hork-Baijar woke me up a few hours later.
"Cangorg, wake up, you must prepare for ceremony." my voice was thick with sleep.
"What's a Cangorg?" I asked.
"How you humans say? Goom?" I woke up a little more.
"You mean groom? What time is it? Am I late?"
"No not for wedding, but you may be late for pre-wedding."
"What's that?" I said getting dressed now and walking out the door. It was still dark out.
"Pre-wedding when Hork-Baijar prepare body for woman. You fortunate, Hork-Baijar Crekena has proper sacraments. Come with me." I followed him, still half sleepwalking, through the valley. We came out at one of the outcroppings on the river. It was secluded by a large slab of rock. It was sometimes used as a shower room because of it's privacy. Standing there was Hortana, and another Hork-Baijar. Hortana walked over to me. He whispered in my ear.
"Whatever Nekton," He gestured toward the other Hork-Baijar. "Says you say Curkono Nebar Umobo that means may it be for you as well, he knows a lot of English but he may mix in some of his own tongue and he can't understand accented English very well either so just say what I told you to say.
"The first part will be a bath in a scented oil from a tree on the home world, it's going to tingle but it is actually a pretty good feeling, plus it might help that pimple that just appeared on your forehead." I felt my forehead, yup, a pimple, the old oily express right on schedule. "Stand next to Nektana." He said. I obeyed.
Nektana shook my hand. (Quite a weird experience since most of the time when I'm so close to a Hork-Baijar arm I'm normally in mortal danger. In front of me was a large wooden bowl. By large I mean at least 50 feet in diameter it was filled with a dark blue thick looking liquid.
"Ah good day Bisop, may the bond of you and your wife last longer than the bond of a tree to it's bark."
"Curkono Nebar Umobo." I said, stumbling on the symbols. I was instructed to strip and enter the liquid, after a thorough bath in the chemical (it was like bathing in Jell-O) I did feel somewhat clean. After that I was taken to a small cave behind a waterfall. I was told to wait there.
After a few minutes Fred came to where I was too, he looked tired.
"Damn Hork-Baijar can't they read a watch?" Fred was my best man and I assumed that he was going to be subject to the same things I was. I was right he had to undergo the same bath and then was returned to the cavern. We waited for a few hours and then Toby came to the cave.
"It's time." He said. We both followed him. When we reached the main colony we noticed that most of the population was watching the end of the Hork-Baijar wedding. I noticed that at the end each cut off one of their blades and placed it on the other one.
"OK," I said. "I'm not doing that."
"Oh don't worry," Toby said. "The only thing you'll have to do different from your normal wedding ceremony is drink from the Formar cup." We reached the path that led to the overlook where I stopped people were cheering. I saw that most of the Animorphs were present only Jake was absent. "Start walking and stop at the alter, like normal Karen will on in afew minutes." Toby said.
"Hey wait what's a Formar cup?" Toby didn't hear me. I decided it wasn't important and began to walk up the path. When I reached the alter at the top I saw Hortana holding a Bible and smiling. Then I saw Karen at the start of the path. Her hair was running it's full shoulder length, a long veil coverd her face. Her dress was a brilliant white that extended along the floor. She had a huge smile on. Behind her Jade was in a green one piece dress. Rachel, Cassie and Rachel's oldest sister Jordan were bridesmaids. Sarah Rachel's younger sister was the flower girl.
She walked up the path, I looked out at my friends. Anna was smiling while holding James' hand. James was watching regularly showing no strong emotion but Anna had enough emotion for both of them. Becky was openly crying.
Robert was standing off on his own but he had a smile on his face too, in fact I was certain I saw a tear in the corner of his eye. Karen reached the alter. Hortana went through the normal "dearly beloved" part of the wedding. Soon it got to our vows. Jade doubled as the ring bearer and handed us the rings Karen decided to go first.
"Erik," She said. "I have seen a lot in the last few years. I have seen many gruesome deaths, I have been attacked by men who have no control over their bodies. I've been shot, stabbed, choked, and cut. But through all this Erik I've always had you to lean on. You've always been there for me. I have always been there for you. We truly need each other to continue. Looking into your eyes will always remind me why I'm fighting. With this ring I vow that I will always be there for you. I will always love you, and will never abandon you. That I will stand by your side until death parts us." She placed the ring on my finger. I read my vows.
"Karen, since the day we first kissed I have never wanted to be with anyone but you. You have been the light in a world that is all to dark for me. Your smile lights my life and warms my heart. Your face calms my fears and doubts. Your eyes contain my world, my life, my soul, you have completed me, you have shown me what true love is. With this ring I vow that I will protect you, that I will stand by you, that I will love you until the day I die." I placed the ring on her finger. If possible her hands were even softer than usual.
We both said our I do's, no one objected to our union. Then Toby came in with a wooden cup with two handles. It was filled with a bright green liquid.
"This is the Fomar cup," Hortana said. "Let they who drink from it be bonded for eternity. We each took one of the handles and taking our cue from Toby drank from it at the same time. Our faces touched while we tasted the drink. It had a taste like apple wine. "I now pronounce you man and wife, and whom God hath joined together may no man put asunder, you may kiss the bride." I leaned in and kissed her. I felt her tongue slide into my mouth briefly. We walked back down the path. As we did the Hork-Baijar began to chant and dance and sing.
Our reception was held in a village center on the Hork-Baijar side of the colony. There was a band of Hork-Baijar who had instruments fashioned of bark and logs. It was strangely peaceful. There was a large bon fire that had a turkey breast cooking over it. I turned to Karen.
"Sorry we couldn't have a cake but…" She smiled.
"That's fine, I'd be happy if we got married in a compost factory."
"Funny, that's where our honeymoon is." Karen laughed. Having to hold to Hork-Baijar tradition Karen and I had our first dance as husband and wife at the beginning of the reception. Dancing with there with Karen, the world slowed down. All that I noticed was her. The party continued for hours. I acme tired very early from all the dancing. I noticed Becky and Robert dancing I wondered if they might be rekindling their love that was born in the Crow's Nest in Gloucester Massachusetts.
The turkey was cooked in a few hours. The new Hork-Baijar couple along with Karen and me shared the turkey like we would a wedding cake. We only stayed a while longer then we had to leave. Karen and I walked into a secluded part of the valley and held a small memorial service for Amy, I had a nagging feeling that it wouldn't be the last…