Over the next few weeks the women worked to plan Elizabeth's and Jahar's wedding.
One day Elizabeth came to Ali and Basel with a question. "Mother, Basel may I ask you a question?'
Basel answered "Of course dear"
"Well Jahar and I were talking and I would like to add a bit of Western tradition to our wedding. But I want to make sure it's alright. I do not want it to seem as though I'm going against Medjai tradition."
Basel smiled "Of course you don't my dear. Now tell us your ideas"
Elizabeth looked at Ali then back to Basel "In America it is tradition for the Bride's Father to walk her down the aisle"
She stopped and looked at Ali and watched as a flash of pain came across her face. She reached out and took Ali's hand. Ali smiled so Elizabeth continued "Because my Father can't be here tradition would be that Uncle Peter would walk me down the aisle, and he's already said yes, but he had an idea and Jahar and I want to take it and add something more to it. I want to start out walking down the aisle by myself, to honor Father not being there, then I would like Jonathan to walk me part of the way, then next Uncle Peter."
Basel spoke "I think that is a lovely idea my dear. There should be no problem with adding that I would think, but we can discuss it with Ardeth tonight just to make sure."
Elizabeth nodded "Well actually there is one more part to it and we will definitely need to speak to Ardeth about it. And that's why I wanted to ask you about it first." She saw the confusion in both Ali and Basel's eyes, so she said "I want to ask Ardeth if he will escort me the rest of the way down the aisle after Jonathan and Peter. We want him to be the person that presents me to Jahar"
Tears sprang to Ali's eyes "Oh Elizabeth. I'm sure Ardeth would be honored to do that"
Basel smiled "Yes, I'm sure he will be. We can talk to him tonight"
That night at the evening meal, Ahmed and Jahar joined them as they had frequently in the last few weeks. After the meal Elizabeth turned toward the head of the table "Ardeth, may Jahar and I speak to you for a moment about the wedding."
"Of course Elizabeth"
Elizabeth told him of their plan to have Peter and Jonathan walk her down the aisle and how she planned to walk first alone to symbolize her Father not being there, and that she had discussed it with her Mother and Basel. But that they wanted to make sure he also approved.
"I think that is a fine idea and there should be no problem at all"
"I'm glad and thank you. But there's one more part I would like to ask you and if you say no I understand"
Ardeth was perplexed but said "Of course, Elizabeth"
She suddenly felt nervous and looked to her Mother. Ali smiled and nodded her head.
Getting the confidence she needed she turned back to Ardeth and asked "Ardeth, we would like you to be the last person to walk me down the aisle. I would like you to be the person that presents me to Jahar"
Ardeth sat there a bit stunned. Finally smiling a huge smile he said "Of course I will Elizabeth. I would be honored"
Elizabeth grinned "Thank you , Ardeth. It means so much to me and Jahar"