Fullmoon-insanity, I guess I just have too much time to spend here... hehe...Christine Elestor, I am sure you will find that 'light' too one day - I am really glad you like the story that way... thanks for all the reviews, I hope you like this chapter, which I finally found time time to write...

Please R&R! Atrice

Part 25 - Promises of love and light

Erik found a smaller alley and went down that way, Lucille by his hand – it seemed that Erik knew his way, she thought. He must have been there before. Finally they arrived to a very small church, it didn't even have a graveyard, it was that small. They hadn't spoken at all on the trip. Erik watched the sun at it appeared that they were in time, so he opened the door and went inside. The light in the church was low – the windows were high and didn't let much light inside… especially not considering it was just after the sun had risen. Erik didn't care, he had all the light he needed by his side… an elderly man stood by the alter, lighting some candles, and Erik let go of Lucille and went to the priest.

"So… you're Erik – and this must be your fiancée." The priest said and Erik nodded.

"She is… we haven't got any witnesses, so I don't know if…" but the priest interrupted him with a kind smile; ignoring the mask completely.

"It is taken care off; there are a few nuns coming from a convent nearby. They should be here any minute." The priest went down from the space with the alter and went to Lucille, who still stood just inside the door. "What is your name?" he asked her.

"Lucille is my name." she answered shortly, and he nodded. He took a closer look on the young girl, looking so beautiful and innocent in her weddingdress. It was only now he realized that she looked beyond him in no certain direction; the girl was blind, and could not see that her future husband was wearing a mask.

"Do you know… Erik properly?" he asked her, wanting to be sure she knew what she was going into.

"Yes, I know all I need to know about him. I love him, Father." She said with a certain smile, and Erik thought it was the first time she said so to a stranger. A door opened and closed in the back of the church, and three nuns appeared in the soft light of the church.

"Good… well, let's get on with it. I am Father John, by the way." The priest said, and lit the last candles in the church. The nuns all sat down on the benches. Erik had told the priest in the letters, that he didn't want any big ceremony, just a quick wedding. Father John didn't ask any questions, he guessed that the masked man had his reasons – and the girl seemed sincere enough. Erik took her hand, and together they walked to the alter where the priest stood. Lucille couldn't help but smiling, it was finally happening! It all seemed to be good in the end, she thought. "Now, Erik… you know the vows, and I ask you to say them. Lucille, you will repeat to him what he said." The priest explained, and they both nodded.

Lucille sighed and turned to face Erik, whom she knew was facing her. He took her hands in his, and took a deepbreath.

"I take you, Lucille – my light in the dark – to be my wedded wife. To have and to hold, from this way forward… for better and for worse, for richer and for poorer – in darkness and in light, to love and admire until death take… take us apart. With all my heart, this is my promise to you." He said with that voice, that had once captured Lucille with a song of loneliness; something she wouldn't let him be again. She felt a tear stream down her chin. Had he written that himself, he must have. All they had been through, in this little vow. She smiled and nodded, it was her turn.

"I take you, Erik, my light in the dark, to be my wedded husband. To have and to hold, from this way forward – for better and for worse, for richer and for poorer, in darkness and in light… to love and admire until death take us apart. With all my heart, this is my promise to you." She said, feeling that her words contained all the happiness in the universe. She felt that she was about to burst, like a sleeping bud bursting into bloom on a springday. Then the priest began to speak:

"I now declare You husband and wife. These promises are Yours, and You are to keep them in Your hearts, on good days and on bad days. Remember Your love was what brought You together, do not let it take You apart. Erik, you may kiss your bride." Lucille thought that the priest was just as touched as her – words could mean so much, more than anything in the world. If you just listened, the words contained all that you could probably see, and even more. Erik pulled her close to him with a hand around her waist, and kissed her… he too couldn't believe this had happened, he had now married the only woman who had listened and stayed with him through it all.

Together they left the church, not speaking to each other, just holding each others hands in their happiness. Finally they reached the inn again, and almost ran up the stairs to their room. Erik closed the door behind them, and Lucille grabbed him before he had a chance to think – shewas the one pulling him close now, and kissed him again with more strong feelings than he ever thought possible.

"I love you, Erik! Those words… that promise, I will never ask more of you." She said and kissed him again. Erik was speechless – there was no 'that's all I ask of you' anymore, there was only 'I'll never ask more of you' left. Nothing could take Lucille from him now, he thought. Nothing would ever take them apart, not even those ghosts of his past…

"I love you too, Lucille… but now… silence…" he felt that words couldn't explain what he felt, and he knew her words weren't enough for her either. Erik had his troubles, he wanted to express what he felt to her right now – more than ever he wanted to do this, there was no flesh to enjoy; there was Lucille. But he felt it was more right if they put the finishing touch to their marriage, when they were alone in their new apartment. There was suddenly a long time until the afternoon, when he would get the keys to the apartment and they could finally settle down.