Disclaimer: I do not own Merlin.
Chapter fifty-six: The druid wedding.
Iseldir stood before the small group, which made up Freya's and Merlin's family. Hunith and Gaius were the only two who were of blood relation, but with them stood Alice, Terrance and Alator. With Freya having no family of her own, still alive, Gaius and Alice had agreed to stand as her parental figures, while Hunith and Alator stood for Merlin and well Terrance had somehow found himself part of their odd family.
Behind Iseldir stood an altar, in the centre of a stone circle. The altar itself was covered in a black and gold Celtic Triquetra cloth and upon it incense, a small dish of salt, a small bowl of water, an athame and two royal blue, silver and gold binding cord lay. Everything was ready for the ceremony and many druids were gathered around the clearing close to the tree line and eager to see the wedding take place.
Iseldir himself, felt honoured. As the preparations for the ceremony were being made, Merlin had asked Iseldir if he would conduct the ceremony, he was after all the only druid elder Merlin knew well. All druids were taught the prophecies from a young age, so to be asked to conduct Emrys' wedding to the lady of the lake was one of the greatest honours around.
Taking a deep breath, upon seeing Gwen appear, Iseldir begins. "Greetings and welcome."
"Greetings and welcome." Hunith, Alice, Gwen, Gaius, Alator and Terrance answer.
Iseldir then walks to the east-facing stone and speaks.
"We call upon thee,
Ancient and mythical element of air,
Join us and bless this union!"
Iseldir then walks to the south-facing stone and speaks.
"We call upon thee,
Ancient and mythical element of fire,
Join us and bless this union!"
Iseldir then walks to the west-facing stone and speaks.
"We call upon thee,
Ancient and mythical element of water,
Join us and bless this union!"
Iseldir then walks to the north-facing stone and speaks.
"We call upon thee,
Ancient and mythical element of earth,
Join us and bless this union!"
Iseldir then walks back to where Hunith, Alice, Gaius, Alator and Terrance are standing and takes Hunith's hand.
"In what manner do you enter this circle?" Iseldir asks.
"In perfect love and perfect trust." Hunith answers and enters the circle of stones, still holding Iseldir's hand, before letting go, walking around the circle of stones and returning to where Iseldir had stood before and taking Alator's hand.
"In what manner do you enter this circle?" Hunith asks.
"In perfect love and perfect trust." Alator answers and enters the circle of stones and repeating what Hunith had done, before taking Alice's hand.
"In what manner do you enter the circle?" Alator asks.
"In perfect love and perfect trust." Alice answers and enters the circle of stones and repeating what Hunith and Alator had done, before taking Gaius's hand.
"In what manner do you enter the circle?" Alice asks.
"In perfect love and perfect trust." Gaius answers and enters the circle of stones and repeating what Hunith, Alator and Alice had done before taking Gwen's hand.
"In what manner do you enter the circle?" Gaius asks.
"In perfect love and perfect trust." Gwen answers, resting what everyone else had said, and hoping it was the correct thing to say. This was her first time at a druid wedding. Doing what everyone else before her had done, Gwen walks around the circle before returning to where Gaius had stood before and taking Terrance's hand.
"In what manner do you enter the circle?" Gwen asks.
"In perfect love and perfect trust." Terrance answers before walking around the circle of stones.
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Once everyone has entered the circle, Iseldir walks to the north side of the circle where Freya and Merlin now stand.
He acknowledges them both before speaking.
"In the beginning, a seed is planted.
Nourished and cared for, it stings and sprouts to life.
It continues to grow, strengthening and maturing day by day, enduring and overcoming the hardships of life.
When the time comes, it blossoms, transcending forwards into the next stage of life.
This is not unlike the love between two people, for love will grow and endure from just a seed.
Given the nourishment and care that it needs, it will grow as strong as the might oak."
Iseldir pauses for a second before continuing. "Merlin Emrys and Freya of Avalon, you stand with in the circle, a symbol that lies within all life."
Turning to Merlin, he speak. "Merlin Emrys, do you stand before the elements of life, of your own free will?"
"I do." Merlin answers.
Turning to Freya, Iseldir asks. "Freya of Avalon, do you stand belles the elements of life, of your own free will?"
"I do." Freya answers.
"Proceed you both now, thrice around the circle, starting you journey ahead."
Merlin and Freya walk around the circle three times but in opposite directions and without touching each other. Once they have walked around the circle they stand before the altar facing north, whilst Iseldir stands before them and Hunith, Alice, Alator, Gaius and Terrance form a circle around them.
"You both stand before me and all that is life, side by side within the circle, both here of your own free will." Iseldir speaks. "Turn, now, to face each other."
Merlin and Freya turn to face each other, both holding out their hands palm up and Iseldir makes a small cut on each of their palms with the athame, before wrapping the hand fasting cord around their, now joined hands and wrists.
"As your blood runs together, flowing and mixing, joining and bonding one with the other, so too, do your life forces, becoming as one."
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Iseldir turns to Merlin, who's facing Freya, their hands still bound by the cord.
"Repeat after me: My blood to your blood, my heart to your heart,"
Merlin repeats.
"My life energy, to your life energy,"
Merlin repeats.
"I came to you as your equal,"
Merlin repeats.
"And take your hand by my own free will,"
Merlin repeats.
"As my mate, my lover, my friend and my equal."
Merlin repeats.
Iseldir then turns to Freya.
"Repeat after me: My blood to your blood, my heart to your heart."
Freya repeats.
"my life energy, to your life energy,"
Freya repeats.
"I come to you as your equal,"
Freya repeats.
"And take your hand by my own free will,"
Freya repeats.
"As my mate, my lover, my friend and my equal,"
Freya repeats.
"With the binding of your hands, I bind the bonds of your love in the presence of the elements of life, to watch over your bond, this day and forever more... Do you both give your oath before and upon the sword of justice to forevermore keep your vows."
"We do." Both Merlin and Freya speak.
"Then a blessing by the elements, fire, water, air and earth, you receive."
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"With the giving of your oath, one to another, we welcome you into a new beginning in life.
A new journey lies ahead of you both, as the bond around your hands join you physically, so both your separate paths join to make one.
Though your beings are separate, both with your own ideas, though, and will, you are now as one.
Together you become one, both working for the good of the union.
May your journey bring you wisdom.
May it strengthen your love for one another and may the energy of life guide you, strengthen you, and shed upon you light and peace, and the courage to journey through life and eternity as one."
Iseldir removes the cord from Merlin and Freya hands and hands them the cord. ''You may now seal you vows with a kiss."
Merlin and Freya kiss.
"May you be blessed as you go forth," Iseldir blessed them with the salt and water. "This day and forever more, life renewed, joined together as husband and wife."
Isolde then walks around the stone circle again. Starting at the east.
"We release and thank thee,
Ancient and mythical element of air,
For your presence and blessing!"
Moving to the south-facing stone, he speaks.
"We release and thank thee,
Ancient and mythical element of water,
For your presence and blessing!"
Moving to the west-facing stone, he continues.
"We release and thank thee,
Ancient and mythical element of fire,
For your presence and blessing!"
Moving to the north-facing stone, he speaks.
"We release and thank thee,
Ancient and mythical element of earth,
For your presence and blessing!"
"The circle is now broken. Friends and family greet and welcome the couple as husband and wife." Iseldir concludes the ceremony.
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Hey hope you liked that chapter. If that seemed a bit weird, it truly isn't, it's the actual way druid, wiccan and pagan handfastings go :) Only a few more chapters to go and then this story will be finished :)
Blessed be,
TreeOfLife1997.