Today, I will be marrying Chakotay. I think about the fact that Voyager could've taken a lifetime to get back. My sense of command and the pain over losing Justin would've made a relationship with Chakotay impossible. Now I will get to marry him surrounded by both of our families.
The last week has seen my two families learning about each other and preparing for today. When Sekaya arrived four days ago, I realized Chakotay wasn't lying about how similar she and Phoebe are. They have been nearly inseparable since.
…
I get out of bed and head toward the kitchen for some coffee.
"How are you feeling, Katie?"
"Wonderful. Excited."
"Not nervous?"
"Not at all. I know that I'm doing the right thing."
"Yatzil was just in here, and she told me to hurry you along because we have one more tradition to complete before the wedding."
I drink my coffee and eat a slice of toast before being led to the backyard by my mother.
Sitting there, exactly as I remember it, is my bathtub.
"My tub." I say before I notice a steady stream of tears spilling down my cheeks.
"It is a wedding present from Chakotay."
"In our culture, it is tradition for the families to prepare the bride and groom. As your two mothers, it is our job to wash you before the ceremony."
I would normally be more embarrassed, but I decide to just remove my robe and slip into the tub.
The contours on my back remind me of the vision quest Chakotay and I shared at Anam. This tub was built to be shared.
The bath is gentle. Yatzil and my momma wash me with oils I know came from Trebus. When my body and hair smell of the oil, Yatzil brings two towels. With my mother's help, they dry me completely.
The rest of the morning is spent getting hair and makeup done by Phoebe and Sekaya before slipping on my wedding dress.
At a quarter to one, I make my way down the stairs to begin the service.
As the music plays and my family take their places on the two sides of the aisles with the rest of the guests, I feel a peace wash over me that I felt for the first time when Chakotay held me in his arms during the plasma storm on New Earth.
The music changes, and I am taken on the arms of my two fathers to meet Chakotay at the end of the aisle.
When I catch my first glimpse of him, I stop moving for a second. He is dressed in brown pants and a loose fitting white silk shirt. But the thing that stops me short is the tattoo gracing his forehead.
We finish our journey down the aisle, and my fathers hand me to Chakotay. For a second, we just stare at each other. I take the index finger of my right hand and trace along his forehead. "You look beautiful, my Angry Warrior."
"Only in your love and peace, my Woman Warrior."
I can feel from the guests the shock of how strong our love is. Only those closest to me and some of the Admirals present know the extent of our story. For everyone else, there has been fear that I am making a mistake. Today, I only feel happy acceptance.
Admiral Thomas performs the Federation part of the ceremony before handing it over to Kolopak to perform the tribal rites.
We are far from the sacred places of our grandfathers. We are far from the lands that hold the bones of our people. Even so, we ask the spirits to lend their light and power to nourish this union. Like a sapling that asks for protection from the winds and rains, so we ask protection today to create a great tree.
For my children, I ask for guidance and peace. May they find in each other the other half of their soul.
With that, Chakotay slips the ring on my finger and allows me to do the same.
"My Woman Warrior, you have been a guiding arrow through the battles I face and the battles yet to come. You have given me safety and protection. You have welcomed my family as your own. It is a great warrior who knows how to use words and love to win battles. You are a great warrior. The rest of my days will be spent by your side. Whatever the new sun brings, it will be brought to us both."
"My Angry Warrior, you have held me through the darkest times. Like a beacon of light, you have shown truth and love into the blackest recesses of my spirit. You have promised to ease my burdens and serve faithfully alongside you. Today I pledge the same. Whenever the moon rises each night, it will be with the knowledge that we spent another day together."
Chakotay put his forehead against mine.
"I love you, Kathryn."
"I love you, Chakotay."
The kiss we share is the sweetest one I have ever known. When we stand side by side, I see that most of the female guests are crying. I clasp his hand and walk down the aisle – ready to begin the rest of my life.
