Chapter 49

The Wedding Ceremony

Kenna felt like a princess, as she went down the stairs and walked slowly down the aisle, followed by Mary, Lola, Greer and Emeline as her bridesmaids. In front of the altar, the priest already waited to perform the wedding ceremony. And next to him was the groom with Daniel, who held a small pillow in his little hands on which the wedding rings were placed.

Kenna pressed her bridal bouquet to her heart, hoping to hide her sweet secret from the wedding guests, who were standing left and right from the aisle. But it was probably already too late for that. She felt her nervous heart flutter with excitement and lifted her head to capture Bash's look. He smiled when they locked eyes. Kenna felt her knees going weak. She could hardly wait to bring the ceremony forward that she could lie in his arms, and kiss him as his wife. Only a few steps for her to reach the altar.

"Kneel down and receive God's blessings!" the priest said with a solemn voice.

Bash took Kenna's hand in his, and together they knelt on the wooden kneeler in front of the altar.

"Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to witness the union of Sebastian and Kenna in holy matrimony, which is an honorable estate, that is not to be entered into unadvisedly or lightly, but reverently and soberly!" the priest declared.

Both rose and turned to each other, still holding hands.

The priest turned to Bash first.

"Wilt thou have this woman to thy wedded wife, to live together after God's ordinance in the holy estate of matrimony? Wilt thou love her, comfort her, honour, and keep her, in sickness and in health; and, forsaking all other, keep thee only unto her, so long as ye both shall live?"

Bash nodded. "I will!"

"Then say these words."

Bash looked deeply into Kenna's eyes, while he repeated the words the priest said.

"I, Sebastian, take thee, Kenna, to be my wedded wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death us do part, according to God's holy ordinance; and thereto I plight thee my troth."

The priest turned to Kenna.

"Wilt thou have this man to thy wedded husband, to live together after God's ordinance in the holy estate of Matrimony? Wilt thou obey him, and serve him, love, honour, and keep him, in sickness and in health; and, forsaking all other, keep thee only unto him, so long as ye both shall live?"

Her voice was slightly trembling when she said "I will!" She took a deep breath before she repeated the priest's words.

"I, Kenna, take thee, Sebastain, to be my wedded husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love, cherish, and to obey, till death us do part, according to God's holy ordinance; and thereto I give thee my troth."

Almost done, she thought as Bash took the wedding ring and placed it on the ring finger of her left hand.

"With this ring I thee wed, with my body I thee worship, and with all my worldly goods I thee endow: In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen."

She could not prevent, that tears started to stream down her cheeks. She was just emotional and overwhelmed with joy. Quickly, she looked at her bridesmaids, who were fighting back tears as well.

Everything was suddenly so quickly over, that she had nearly missed, as the priest pronounced them husband and wife.

She closed her eyes as Bash pulled her closer and brought his mouth to hers. She melted into his kiss and returned it. She still couldn't believe it. They were husband and wife now, in front of God and the world.

A warm feeling of happiness flooded through her. She didn't have enough time to enjoy this feeling, when the first wedding guests approached to congratulate her.

"You are a married woman now!" Lola exclaimed happily and hugged Kenna, before she went to Bash and gave him a hug too. "Congratulations! Look out for your family!"

"I will." He winked at her and laid his arm around Kenna's waist.

"Congratulations!" Mary was the next who embraced them. "I'm so happy, that you two got married where Francis and I had exchanged vows once!"

"I know now how you felt back then." Kenna smiled. "When I came down the stairs, I felt more like a princess on the way to her coronation than a bride. The candles, the magnificent decorations, the flowers ... thank you, Mary! You've made this day special!"

Bash stepped back. "Would you excuse me for a moment? There is someone I want to talk to." He brushed Kenna's lips and left.

Mary looked at Kenna, concerned. "No painful memories of the last wedding?"

Kenna shook her head. "That was no wedding. That was a horse-trading!" She sighed quietly. "I don't know what Bash thinks about it, but for me, it's my first wedding."

Mary wanted to give her a reply, as Greer came up to both of them.

"My most sincere congratulations, Kenna!" She scrutinized the bride from head to toe. "You're the most beautiful bride I've ever seen!" She noticed that Mary was standing there and cleared her throat. "You were a beautiful bride, too, of course." She grinned and then looked over to Bash, who carried Daniel in his arms and laughed about something, that his son had said. "Look at them, how happy they are!" She looked at Kenna. "Have you told Daniel, that Bash is his biological father?"

Kenna shook her head. "Not yet. We wanted to tell him together. But so far, there wasn't time."

"And what about the baby?"

"We wanted to wait a little longer. For children his age, six months is a long time." She laughed. "If I tell him that he is going to be a big brother soon, then he will ask every day, when he can finally play with his brother or sister."

Greer laughed too. "I imagine well. Children are so impatient sometimes." She stepped back when she saw Emeline approaching. "Another congratulator." she said, smiling. "See you at the party!"

"Kenna!" Emeline embraced her, with tears in her eyes. "That was such a beautiful wedding ceremony! I'm still crying."

"Thank you, Emeline!"

"I thank you. Without you, I would still live in this ramshackle hut and would fear for my life, rather than to live here at the Castle." She wiped her eyes. "Mary, I mean, your Majesty, actually asked me, whether I would like to live here indefinitely. Can you imagine that?"

Kenna nodded, smiling. "I think Mary doesn't like to live alone. She likes it when children are around her. She had asked Lola the same. Her husband is often busy and away because of his work that she is alone, most of the time. It would be safe and best for everyone, when she, John and Aylee, would live in the Castle."

Emeline nodded eagerly. "Oh, that would be great! My sons love John and little Aylee, and Daniel of course!" she added quickly.

"I haven't talked about my ideas with Bash, but I would also like to stay in the Castle. At least until after the birth." Kenna patted her slight bulge gently.

"You will stay at the Castle as well?" Emeline asked excitedly.

Kenna nodded. "I think so. I'm going to talk to Bash. But I think he won't have any objections."

"You can't imagine how happy I am about that!" Emeline spontaneously hugged her. "But now, we should go to the party. Especially, since you are the bride and all wedding guests probably marvel about where you are."

Kenna nodded. "Then let's go, so that I can lead the wedding dance with my husband."

She took Emeline's arm, and together they entered the great hall, where the celebrations were taking place.