Disclaimer: I do not own any characters from Halo they are Microsoft and Bungie's. The only thing I own is what I add to the Halo Universe and the characters I add. The Mirratord and the character Simyaldee is the sole property of Soulguard. I'd like to thank him for allowing me to use them. Cloaking technology is the property of CII. I'd like to thank her for allowing me to use it.
The rating for this story is T for violence and language.
A New Covenant
Chapter 8 A Joyful Occasion
Ninth Age of Reclaimation / October 2552
Sol System Earth
The Arbiter was in Lord Hood's ready room discussing the abrupt departure of the Covenant. Lord Hood said, "They'll be back."
The Arbiter said, "I know. But the question is when and how many."
Just then the intercom on Lord Hood's desk crackled, "Lord Hood there are two people out here who need to speak to you and the Arbiter."
Lord Hood said, "Send them in."
Marlie' and Shae walked in the door and saluted.
Lord Hood stood and said, "At ease. Please be seated. What is it we could do for you?"
Marlie' and Shae looked at each other. Marlie' was the first to speak. He looked at the Arbiter and said, "Nobel Arbiter. It is our desire to become life mates in a bonding ceremony. I know it would be the first of its kind. But you know when a Sangheili loves it is for all time."
The Arbiter said, "Yes, Brother, I know. But this will be a first. Have you thought this through?"
Lord Hood unable to contain his shock said, "Yes, Private Gibson. Have you thought about how this will effect the two of you? What about children?"
Shae spoke up, "Yes we have thought about it. No we can never physically mate. We could never have children. But with this war you and I both know there are orphans we could adopt."
Marlie' added, "There are also orphaned fledgling on Sangheil who could use parents. All we want is to show everyone we want to be life mates. To share our lives together in a life bond."
The Arbiter stood and looked at Shae and said, "You know how some of the Humans feel about us. You have seen it. How do you think they will react to seeing you and Marlie' being bonded? In Sangheili culture a bonding is for all time. It can't be broken."
Shae looked at the Arbiter and Lord Hood and said, "Marlie' and I aren't bonding for everyone else. We are bonding for each other. And I was raised in a family who doesn't believe in leaving the other when times get tough. If my father had lived. He and my mother would have been married for 25 years now. I know what a commitment is and what it takes, Sir. And as far as I'm concerned if anyone doesn't like it and don't want to see it they can look the other way."
The Arbiter looked at Shae and then to Marlie' then said, "Marlie' do you feel as she does?"
Marlie' replied, "Yes, Arbiter. I do. I feel the sacred feeling of love for the Human Shae. I have had plenty of Sangheili females to want me for a mate. I've had them through themselves at me for all the battles I have been in. but I have turned them all down because I was waiting for the sacred love. I love Shae and I will until I take my last breath."
Lord Hood looked at the Arbiter and said, "Arbiter, you know if we allow this union then there will be some that oppose it. But then again it could show how strong our alliance really is. There could be others who want the same as these two but are afraid to come forward," he looked at the happy couple then said, "Many years ago when an interracial couple wanted to get married people looked down upon it. But now it is common. I see no reason why these two shouldn't be wed."
The Arbiter said, "I agree."
Lord Hood looked at Shae and said, "Once the ceremony is complete you will no longer be allowed to go on missions like today. You will be permanently stationed to a desk job."
Shae looked at Lord Hood and said, "Understood."
Marlie rose from his chair and put his right hand on the Arbiter's left shoulder as a show of respect then said, "I would like you to perform the ceremony."
The Arbiter feeling a little proud said, "I would be honored."
Lord Hood stood and said, "Now listen, since this is an Elite Human ceremony. I think both of us, the Arbiter and I, should do the ceremony."
Marlie' looked at Shae and then to Lord Hood and said, "We'd be honored."
Shae took Marlie' by the hand and said, "Come, my love, we have a life bond to plan."
Marlie and Shae left to go to what will soon be their quarters to plan their public display of their love.
Lord Hood looked at the Arbiter and said, "The fleet will remain in yellow alert. But this union will bring a little joy to a bad situation."
The Arbiter replied as he rubbed his mandibles, "That it shall. If you will excuse me. I must go and prepare for the ceremony."
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The Arbiter went to the communication room and hailed the Seeker of Light, "I need to speak with Commander Pharr."
Commander Pharr gets on the com and said, "What is it Brother? This sounds urgent."
The Arbiter said, "Yes, I need you to send me a copy of a life bond ceremony."
Commander Pharr's mandibles spread in shock, he swallowed then said, "A what!?"
The Arbiter clicking his mandibles into a grin repeated, "A copy of a life bond ceremony."
Commander Pharr sitting now cause he can't believe his ear holes said, "Who is bonding?"
The Arbiter gave a low chuckle as he replied, "A Sangheili warrior and a Human warrior."
Commander Pharr being caught off guard be the Arbiter's answer said, "Say what!? That is unprecedented. Can it be possible?"
Lord Hood and I are allowing this bonding. If you would like to see it then I suggest you talk to Spec Op Marlie' Chesewee," the Arbiter said.
Commander Pharr shakes his head trying to make sense of what he just heard said, "I will. Here is your file. Will Commander R'tas be attending considering he is his commanding officer?"
The Arbiter said, "I do not know. The preparations are being made as we speak. Thank you."
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The Arbiter said, "Cortana, could you have a copy of this file translated into the Human language?"
Cortana said, "Yes. It will take a moment or two." Cortana disappeared then returned a moment later and said, "Are you trying to be funny? How did you get a copy of a Human marriage ceremony?"
The Arbiter said, "A Human marriage? What do you mean? that is a Sangheili life bond ceremony."
Cortana said, "Here, I'll translate the Human marriage ceremony to your language. I'll display it here," she points to the display on her left, then continues, "This is the file you received from the Seeker of Light here," she points to the right.
The Arbiter's mandibles drop as he looks at the screens, "Why they are identical," he said still in shock. Regaining his senses the Arbiter said, "Cortana, translate them back into Human and put them on those two screens there. Human on the left and mark it. Sangheili on the right and mark it too. I need to speak with Lord Hood."
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The Arbiter gets on his com link and said, "Lord Hood I need to see you in the communications room. I'll explain when you get here."
Lord Hood walked in and looked at the screens and said, "Why are there two copies of a Human marriage ceremony on the screens here?"
The Arbiter answered, "It's not. This one," he points to his left, "is your marriage ceremony. And this one," he points to his right, "is the Sangheili life bond ceremony."
Lord Hood said in shock, "Why they are the same."
The Arbiter said, "I know. The thing is our life bond ceremony is a sacred ceremony that hasn't changed since ancient times. It is the one ceremony that the Prophets allowed us to keep."
Lord Hood said, "Ours hasn't either. This here shows that our races were once combined. Here is our proof."
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Marlie' and Shae planned their bonding down to the last detail. Lord Hood and the Arbiter sent a message to the Humans and Sangheili alike that no remarks were to be made to or about the couple. All were invited to attend the joyous occasion. The Arbiter and Lord Hood took their jobs seriously. Shae had picked Commander Miranda Keyes to stand up with her as her Maid of Honor. The Master Chief was to give her away. Marlie' picked his life long friend Sole' Sagotee to be his Sangheili Brother of Bond. It was just a matter of a few hours until the ceremony.
Sole' looked at Marlie' and said, "I'm honored to be your Brother of Bond.'
Marlie' feeling extremely nervous said, "Do you have the ring? I don't want anything to come of it."
Sole' replied, "I have it and nothing will happen to it. Now will you calm down. You're as nervous as a Grunt who just shot the hull with a fuel rod cannon."
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Lord Hood and the Arbiter were checking on the last minute preparations when 343 Guilty Spark floated in and said excitedly, "A Forerunner Life Pledge. How exciting I haven't seen one of those in over one hundred thousand years. Who is taking the pledge?"
The Arbiter said, "A Sangheili and a Human."
The Monitor said in an even more excited tone, "That is great news. Your ancestors would be proud. It was common back then. I'm so glad to see it coming back."
The Arbiter said in a serious tone, "The two races bonded with each other? Monitor when this ceremony is over you will have to explain. But for now we have a ceremony to attend. Do you want to come?"
The Monitor replied, "I'd love to."
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The ceremony was in the observation deck on the Cairo. The place that Marlie' and Shae hold dear. The place where they had their first date.
Lord Hood , standing in a crisp white uniform, opened the ceremony welcoming all who attended. The audience was a mixture of Sangheili and Human. Lord Hood turned to the couple and said, "Marlie' and Shae, as you prepare to take these vows, give careful thought, for as you make them you are making an exclusive commitment one to the other for as long as you both shall live. Your love for each other should never diminish by difficult circumstances, and it is to endure until death parts you."
The Arbiter, wearing freshly polished armor, stepped up to do the next part of the ceremony. The Arbiter solemnly spoke, "Marlie' and Shae, the bond which you are about to make with each other is meant to be a beautiful and sacred expression of your love for each other, and as you commit your lives to each other, we ask that you do so in all seriousness, and yet with a deeo sense of joy; with the deep conviction that you are committing yourselves to a dynamic growing relationship of trust, mutual support, and caring love."
Lord Hood stepped up to the couple then said, "Marlie and Shae, you have made a very serious and important decision in choosing to bond to each other today. You are entering into a sacred bond as life partners. The quality of your marriage will reflect what you put into this relationship. You have the opportunity to go forward from this day to create a faithful, kind, and tender relationship. We bless you this day. It is up to you to keep the blessings flowing each and every day of your lives together. We wish for you wisdom, compassion, and constancy to create a peaceful sanctuary in which you can both grow in love."
The Arbiter stepped forward and said, "The couple have chosen to say the Sangheili vows."
Marlie', wearing shiny black armor, turned to Shae and said, "I love you Shae as I love no other. All that I am I share with you. I take you to be my life mate through health and sickness, through plenty and want, through joy and sorrow, now and forever."
Shae , wearing a crisp new white uniform, said, "I love you Marlie' as I love no other. All that I am I share with you. I take you to be my life mate through health and sickness, through plenty and want, through joy and sorrow, now and forever."
The Arbiter looked at the couple in front of him and continued, "The wedding ring is a symbol of eternity. It is an outward sign of an inward and spiritual bond which unites two hearts in an endless love. And now as a token of your love and of your deep desire to be forever united in heart and soul, you Marlie', may place a ring on the finger of your bride."
Marlie' looked at Sole' who handed him the ring for Shae. He took Shae's left hand and said, "Shae, I give you this ring as a symbol of my love and faithfulness to you." Marlie' places the ring on her finger.
The Arbiter said, "By the same token Shae, you may place a ring on the finger of your groom."
Shae takes the ring from Commander Keyes. Then said, "Marlie', I give you this ring as a symbol of my love and faithfulness to you." Shae places the ring on Marlie'.
Lord Hood stepped up and said, "I now pronounce you life mates. Marlie' you may now kiss your bride."
Marlie' and Shae share a kiss before everyone. The Arbiter said, "I present you with life mates, Marlie' and Shae."
Lord Hood dismissed the ceremony to a reception in the Mess Hall. Shae and Marlie' cut the traditional Sangheili sweet bread as well as the Human traditional wedding cake, that Marlie' loved. Life was good for now.
To Be Continued …