Part 2: The Transformation

Chapter 25

"A Wedding to Remember"

The morning of Tarzan and Jane's wedding was filled with excitement and admiration as everyone arrived at the Wazari village for the wedding ceremony. During this time, Jane and Archimedes had the opportunity to meet with other important members of the Wazari Tribe including Naoh, Basuli's betrothed and Keewazi, Basuli's father and head of the Wazari Tribe. After the brief introductions, it was time for Jane and Tarzan to get ready. As several Wazari women helped Jane into her heavy wedding dress, Jane could not help but feel excited and get a little emotional at the same time. In a few hours, she would be married to the man of her dreams who just happened to be king of the jungle. But, this to her was also the last time that she would spend a free woman. Archimedes, who was in the hut watching his daughter put on her wedding gown, was also starting to feel emotional as well.

"Oh, Mary," he thought. "It's sad that you are not here to see this momentous occasion in our family. Our daughter, our Jane, is marrying the man of her dreams."

The servants had just finished putting the finishing touches on Jane's wedding gown, when she looked over and saw her father getting emotional.

"Daddy," she giggled. "Are you crying? Today is supposed to be a happy day for us all."

Archimedes couldn't help but laugh and cry at the same time for he knew that his daughter was also having the same emotions as him, especially on a day like today.

"I know, Janey," he said. "But, I can't help but think about your mother. It's such a shame that she is not here to see you looking so beautiful."

"I know, Daddy," she replied, placing her gloved hand on his shoulder. "But, she is here with us in spirit. Didn't you say that yesterday?"

Archimedes had to chuckle slightly as what he said was indeed true. His daughter was right, his wife was in their memories.

"Well, I guess I did, didn't I?" chuckled Archimedes who then looked up at the top of the hut. "I'm sorry, Mary!"

Both father and daughter chuckled and Jane got back to getting herself ready for the wedding. She still had to put on her makeup and the maids still had to arrange her flower bouquet.

Meanwhile, in another tent, Tarzan had just finished putting on his father's formal tuxedo and looked himself in the mirror that they had brought for both Tarzan and Jane. Basuli was watching him in his tuxedo and being a Wazari, didn't quite know what to make of it and neither did Tarzan.

"These are strange clothes you are wearing, Tarzan," said Basuli. "I've never seen anything like this before."

"This was my father's," replied Tarzan. "I may have never known him, but yet, by wearing this, I feel like I have known him."

Basuli understood his friend's predicament and then realized that Tarzan was out of his element as much as Basuli would be out of his own element at times too. For he knew that there would be times that Tarzan would have to be out of his element and today is one of those days. However, at the same time, Basuli could also see that Tarzan felt a little closer to his deceased parents by wearing his father's tuxedo.

"I can understand that, Tarzan," said Basuli. "When Naoh and I get married, she will be wearing the dress that my mother wore when she married my father, so I know how you feel. And you might also feel out of your element."

"How do you know that?" asked Tarzan.

"I can see that this is something you are not very familiar with," replied Basuli. "But, you have to remember that Jane comes from a world that is different than our own and that there will be times that you have to leave your world and go into hers. Just remember, that you may be in a different world, but never forget who you really are."

This made Tarzan feel better and he hugged his friend who would also be acting as his best man while Naoh would be acting as Jane's maid of honor. By then, the bride and groom had finished getting ready and everyone proceeded to the main center of the village where the Wazaris and Tarzan's gorilla family gathered to witness the wedding of Jane and Tarzan.

Tarzan stood at the front of the altar looking nervous for this moment and feeling uncomfortable from the tuxedo that he was wearing. Just then, the sounds of Wagner's Bridal Chorus was heard on a phonograph record and Jane, in her wedding gown and her face covered by her wedding veil, walked down the aisle as Tarzan saw his bride-to-be looking as beautiful as she did when they first met that day in the trees. He was also amazed at how much she was wearing. Of course, she had to be civilized as this was not just a jungle wedding, but a traditional wedding as well.

Once Jane had arrived at the altar, she gave her bouquet of wildflowers to Naoh and faced Tarzan, trying to hold her emotions together as Keewazi and Archimedes performed the ceremony. For the most part, everything was perfect and after an exchanging of vows and gold wedding rings, Archimedes and Keewazi pronounced them husband and wife and lifting up her long wedding veil, Jane leaned forward and kissed Tarzan to the sounds of cheers and tears from all that were gathered that day.

After the ceremony, Jane and Tarzan were treated to an exquisite dinner of roast antelope and mangos as there were not very many animals that Jane was used to eating. But, of course, Jane and Tarzan had to have fun with one another and shortly after the feast and the cutting of the cake, the clinking of glasses meant that Tarzan and Jane each had something to say to the crowds that were gathered.

"I want to thank you all for being with us on a day like today," said Tarzan. "All I can say is that Jane is the one woman for me with whom I want to spend the rest of my life with. From the moment we met, we were destined to be together and with your support, I was able to marry with the mate of my dreams."

"I second that motion," replied Jane, standing up with her husband. "When I came to Africa from England, I thought I was only going to study gorillas with my father as I had always wanted to study gorillas, but I ended up finding the man of my dreams in the most unlikely of places which was in a clearing being chased by a group of baboons."

The entire gathering laughed as Jane slightly blushed with embarrassment.

"Of course," she continued. "There were some moments that I would rather not discuss with all of you and the moments that we both will cherish are the moments that we both enjoy like flying through the trees at night and moonlight swims in the river. We thank you all for being with us together on our special day today."

Tarzan and Jane kissed again as their wedding day came to an end and that night, Tarzan and Jane rode on Tantor back to the tree house while Archimedes left them to stay at the trading post while Tarzan and Jane took part in their honeymoon.

The wedding was over and the honeymoon was just beginning…