Author's note: And now to one of my favourite chapters; The wedding day, Voldemort style! I hope it doesn't disappoint! I've even designed the wedding dress and am going to try to upload my design to my profile page if possible. For the wedding vows, I obtained inspiration from Wiccan and Satanist (!) internet sites. SA
'She will greet me as a serpent
In her dark, secret eden
And I will always want
For her witchcraft is desire...
My soul is poisoned from within...
Oh, the fevered need for her
When greed and lust are sharpened in that one desire
The all-consuming fire
Reveal to me your mysteries, witch
The tree is plundered but I have the seed
To be sown in thee…'
"To Eve, The Art Of Witchcraft" - Cradle of Filth
Saturday 10th June, 2000
His anger was still simmering at Black's escape, but he would not let this spoil the day. Since the blood traitor's escape, he had discovered the parchment containing details of the girl's ancestry was missing from his chamber. He believed the same person who had penetrated the wards and assisted Black had taken this.
Damn it! The Order would now know what he knew about her! And he had a nasty suspicion of what could have been used to spring Black from his prison. He had read enough about its history and the powers that legend said it had. If the Order had possession of the object, then it concerned him. It was extremely desirable and powerful, and he wanted it.
The wards were checked and strengthened on the house, the strongest, darkest magic having been used, yet he could not be certain it would suffice. He may have to consider a change of location for his headquarters. This he did not want, for it would seem to the Order that they had him on the defensive.
He had sent out his followers to hunt Black and the Order down and had probed the girls mind, but she had no knowledge of how he had escaped or of the object. He had restrained himself from raging at her more than he done so that night, not wanting her to see how angered he was by the Black's escape.
Voldemort stood in the hall and admired the elegant arrangements Narcissa had organised. Yes, everything was just as he wanted it. The windows decorated with black silk drapes, crimson roses adorned the room and black candles stood in large, ornate silver holders. The light from their flames flickered around the room and gave light and warmth to a room that would otherwise be dark and cold. Voldemort observed that his followers were beginning to assemble in readiness.
The ceremony he had planned was loosely based on the Wiccan traditions, but he had made some alterations of his choosing. There would be none of the usual pathetic declarations of love and other such nonsense.
His elegant black robe rustled as he paced the floor. Nagini followed him around the room and they communicated in parseltongue. Bella's eyes followed him like those of a whipped dog that still yearned for its master.
His followers had arranged themselves in a circle at the edge of the room, as was the tradition. His anticipation at her coming began to grow, and his patience was wearing thin. He wanted her now.
When he saw Narcissa join the circle, he smiled and made his way to the centre of the room where the minister stood waiting. As the music began, he turned to await his first glimpse of her. He had acquiesced to her request for the song.
It was a muggle song, but he admitted to himself that he liked it, its tone was dark and it was not what he had expected her choose. 'Sweet dreams are made of this, who am I to disagree…' The man's voice rang out darkly around the hall.
She came into his view and he smiled in pleasure. Her auburn hair tied up elegantly, a loose pony tail draped over her shoulder. Her intoxicating eyes decorated with kohl and mascara, and her lips painted the same dark red as the roses.
The dress she wore was black, accentuating her pale skin. The high-necked, sleeveless lace bodice of the dress moulded to her slender body, and he could see the swell of her breasts beneath the material. The dress filled out into a full black silk skirt and she carried a bouquet of the same crimson roses that adorned the room.
She walked to the centre of the circle and stood opposite him. Narcissa came up to her and Rose handed her the bouquet. The music stopped and he smiled at her. 'You look divine.' Her blank, dead eyes stared at him. 'Thank you, my Lord,' came the toneless reply.
Voldemort looked to the minister and nodded his head for the ceremony to begin.
'We are gathered here to join in oath, through our magic, this man and this woman.
Whether we know it or not, the path of our lives is already laid out deep within us, and life is the process of being willing and able to discover the direction of that path.
We cannot join ourselves to one another without giving our oath. For in joining ourselves to one another we join ourselves to the unknown.
This bond I draw between you. When you are parted in mind or body, there will be a call in the core of you, one to the other, to which nothing and no one else will answer. By the secrets of the earth and water is this bond woven, unbreakable, irrevocable. By the law that created fire and wind is this bond written in your souls.
Male and female, dark and light... neither has meaning without the other, but through their eternal interplay the universe is born.
Man and woman, up until this moment you have been separate in thought, word and action. As I bind together your hands, so do your lives become joined.'
The minister took both their hands, placing Voldemort's over Rose's. He produced a piece of dark red cord and bound it around their hands. He tied it and then continued.
'Do you, known in this world as Voldemort, accept this woman as yours?'
'Yes.'
'And do you, known in this world as Rose, accept this man as yours and submit your will to his?'
Rose swallowed the bile that tried to force its way out. 'Yes.'
'Now you must pledge yourselves to one another with the vows you have chosen.'
The minister turned to Rose. Chosen for me you mean! She could not help but think it. She felt the squeeze of Voldemort's hand on hers, his nails digging into her skin. She winced and looked at him, his eyes narrowed. Insolent chit! Say your vow and enough with your impudence! Rose obeyed his order from within her mind, inhaled a breath and spoke.
'I bind myself to you, body and soul. I pledge myself in obedience to you, to serve you and bear your children. I submit myself to your will as your wife.'
The words seared her very soul, as Voldemort looked at her and smiled. Now, that was not so difficult was it? Rose did not respond to the challenging and condescending remark inside her mind. She stared straight at him, her countenance as neutral as she could make it. The minister turned to Voldemort and he spoke.
'I bind myself to you, body and soul. I pledge myself to be your Lord and master. I promise to be an attentive husband to my obedient wife.'
Rose looked into the deadly eyes as his smooth, cold voice said the vow. It's done, she thought. I'm lost to the darkness. The minister untied the cord from their hands and placed it in his pocket, then produced a small box and opened it.
'Then give as a sign of your pledge, this ring.'
Voldemort took the ring from the box the minister held. Taking her left hand in his, he placed it on her third finger. It was a silver torque ring, with the engraving of a serpent's head at each end. Rose watched as the ring glowed brightly for a moment, and she felt heat radiate from it. It has an enchantment upon it. She heard him laugh inside her head. Of course it has. I would not give you any ordinary ring, girl.
'Thus in oath and magic they are joined.
See them! Hear them! Let it be known among you and others of our kind, that should anyone here assembled or dwelling elsewhere seek to render asunder this man and his lady, then that person or persons shall be cursed, cast out and made by our magic to die a miserable death! Hear my words and heed them! I declare them pledged!'
Voldemort pulled her to him, snaking his hand around her waist and closing his mouth on hers, his tongue invading as it always did. She heard the smatter of confused applause and low chuckles of some of the men.
He broke the kiss and turned to address his followers. 'Thank you for joining us today. I expect you to treat my bride with the same deference you show to me. Now, my friends let us retire to the dining room.'
xox
Bellatrix could not keep her eyes from the girl. She hated her and wanted to strike her from the face of the earth. This muggle whore who had stolen her master's attention from her. It should be her who had been bonded to the dark Lord, not this bitch! When she was not staring at the girl, Bellatrix was staring at her master. How handsome he looks today. Her heart constricted with longing at the sight of him.
She felt the painful stab of pure jealousy when she saw that her master's eyes could not refrain from looking at her...his bride. His eyes were suffused with lust and desire when he looked at her, and Bella knew it well. He used to look at me like that.
Bella watched the girl move around the room and envy stabbed at her yet again. The girl was beautiful and young, her skin, pale and soft, and her figure slender and elegant. The dress she wore exposed her back, and mudblood or not, the men in the room could not help but stare at her.
They used to look at me like that once, Bella raged inwardly. Now they gawp at this mudblood usurper! Bella's anger was increased further by the girl's countenance. She had the honour of being the Dark Lord's wife, yet she had the impertinence to look as if she was a condemned prisoner! How dare she! Bella longed to go and slap the whore's face.
xox
Rose walked around the room like an automaton, replying to people when they spoke to her. She could sense the forced politeness of the guests during the brief and stilted conversations. She felt Voldemort's eyes on her every so often, and tried to avoid looking at him. But when she did that, it felt as if his stare burned her, so she found herself meeting his gaze, and the amused, exultant smile on his face. If looks could kill, then she would now be dead from the stares Bellatrix cast in her direction.
She also noticed that despite their disdain for her blood status, some of the men were devouring her with their eyes. Dolohov, Crabbe and surprisingly, the male Malfoy's stared at her unashamedly. Despite finding their stares repulsive, a small part of her felt emboldened by it, and Narcissa Malfoy's face was a picture!
A gong sounded and she made her way to him. He took her hand and they made their way to head of the table. Everyone stood until they had sat. Dishes of elegant food appeared and goblets filled with wine. The food smelled delicious and she put some on her plate and ate automatically. She barely tasted it, but forced it down. The wine slipped down more easily, and she needed the warm, relaxing effect of the alcohol.
She suddenly felt his hand on her back, his long fingers moving against her skin. His mouth moved to her ear. 'You look delectable! I'd rather taste you than this food. You are performing your wifely duties to my satisfaction so far.' Rose looked at him. Thank you, my Lord.'
He continued. 'I have seen the men stare at you and it pleases me to see them desire you. It pleases me more to know I shall be the only one to taste you, to devour you tonight. No other man shall ever have that pleasure!' Voldemort moved even closer and Rose heard him inhale her scent, felt his tongue flicker against her neck. 'Delicious,' he said.
xox
The meal was now concluded and the guests were talking. She was the only one in the middle of the room and he saw his followers looking and commenting. She was oblivious to them all and Voldemort watched her moving rhythmically to the music. These were muggle songs that he given permission to be played at the celebrations. She had sent her request for the music via Narcissa, her message said that it was a tradition at weddings and promising him the music would meet his approval. Listening to the music, he conceded that it did. Like the song played at the ceremony it was dark in tone.
Lyrics describing desire, pain and darkness were sang with intensity by raw and powerful voices, accompanied by drums and electric guitars. She had even dedicated a song to him called "Serpentine." He liked the song and it pleased him even more watching her dance to it. It seemed she was enjoying the celebrations and her spark had resurfaced. Earlier her eyes had been dull, and the fire in her absent. A confidence was now evident about her and she was alluring, like a siren of old.
Watching her, he knew he could not wait any longer. She was lost in the song and the provocative movements of her body were making his lust for her increase. He stared at her elegant back and wanted to stroke it again. He observed the men in the room unable to stop themselves watching her, and it pleased him.
They too were transfixed by her, but they could not touch her. No other man would ever touch her, for she was his now, and always had been. He smirked as Narcissa caught Lucius ogling his bride yet again and gave him a hard stare. He would allow her to finish her dance to this song and then would command her back to him. The time for waiting was over.
Authors note: 26/7/13 : Ha! I realise that the songs I have mentioned in this chapter had not actually been recorded in 2000! The songs are Sweet Dreams by Marilyn Manson and Serpentine by Disturbed. Never mind, eh guys? It is merely a story, and maybe Rose is a clever witch who can choose songs for her wedding day from the future! SA