8. Devotion
de·vo·tion, pronounced *di*vōSHən*
noun
love, loyalty, or enthusiasm for a person, activity, or cause.
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"We all know I'm not the best with words."
Leo paused, letting the chuckles around them die, down. He didn't even spare their guests a glance, staring instead at the woman in front of him.
"But I'll give this a go," he continued, smiling wide, still looking Reyna deep in the eyes. "Because I need you to know this, and I think this is the only time I can actually talk and you're not allowed to interrupt me."
Again chuckles from their friends and family.
"On this day, I, Leo Vladez, take you, Reyna Avila Ramírez-Arellano," he grinned teasingly at her when he said her full name. "To be my wife."
He took a breath. "Today I promise to always be there for you, no matter what happens to either of us. You have me, in heart, soul and body, and I hope to gods that you never let me go."
She was tearing up, he saw, and it caused his throat to tighten a little as well. But still, he persevered. "I promise to love you, to nurture you and to stay with you until the end of my days. You will be my equal in all things from this moment forward. I pledge my devotion to you, here in this meadow, surrounded by our friends and family as witness. I will love you for eternity. I will never break my promises to you. I will always make sure you have a full bowl of jelly beans on your desk." She gave a choked laugh and he grinned nervously back at her. Home stretch, he was almost finished. "And I swear, on the River Styx, that you are the only woman in my heart, now and for forever."
Then he frowned. "Well until we have a daughter. But that's different."
He looked up once again to meet her eyes. They were shining, partly from happiness and partly from tears. Leo felt his heart give a painful squeeze. "And if I break any of my vows to you, the gods have full permission to punish me."
More laughs and chuckles from the foldable chairs their guests sat on.
He looked only at Reyna. She was beautiful, in her white gown that went down to her feet. She was barefoot beneath the gown, a fact that Leo had questioned but hadn't really received an answer to. She had been stubborn in what she wanted in their wedding- after she had been convinced to even have a wedding.
Her gown was white and fitting from the waist up. It had a V-neck and thick straps holding it over her shoulders, leaving her arms completely bare. Down from her waist it was sleek and slim.
Her hair was curled and piled elegantly on top of her head with a few strands left free to frame her face. Blue drop earring hung from her ears and she wore a necklace of pearls- a gift from Percy and Annabeth.
Behind her were Annabeth, Hazel and Piper, all bridesmaids. Behind Leo was Percy, Frank and Nico. (Again, Reyna's suggestion. She was very close to the son of Hades, ever since their trip to take the Athena Parthenos back to camp years ago.)
Jason was stumbling his way through being the priest.
'I love you,' he mouthed to her while their friend spoke to the crowd.
'Love you,' was her reply.
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