"Objection!"
A sigh escaped Kali's lips. She was stood at the front of an aisle, opposite Nick wearing a floor length satin white dress with open sleeves that draped down arm, tying at the wrist with thin gold string. An array of golden feathers looped around both her forearms, and her collar.
Over the dress she wore an emerald green cloak with white lining and a floral bouquet settled in her hands. A few weeks ago, she had finished her last stint as a Ranger, opting to hang up all but her Mystic Morpher and take a job as a full time Defender within the Mystic Realm; there was also the fact that around the time of defeating Dai Shi she had learned she was pregnant.
After learning he was going to be a dad, Nick had proposed and he and Kali had settled on a hand-fasting ceremony surrounded by their friends and family, instead of a traditional white wedding. Neither of them was the marrying type, or at least they hadn't considered or thought about it, and would've been happy with a simple registry office ceremony.
However, Eithne, Leanbow, and Udonna had dashed that idea. To them it seemed impersonal and believed that both the Hellhound and the Light deserved a ceremony that would be remembered by both the Mystic Realm and the human world. Eithne had suggested a Hand-Fasting ceremony as it would bring together two families of different abilities and unionise them under one banner.
Hands tightening around her bouquet, Kali turned to look at the couple standing at the top of the aisle. She recognised them instantly. They didn't need the emerald green clothing, or the pointy ears, her elegant stride that they both held when they walked, it was easy to know who these people were. Two people that she did not want at her ceremony simply because they would only be there to cause problems.
Allisara and Calanon Devine were Kali's maternal grandparents, and to say they were the nicest of elves would have been an understatement. These people had discouraged Eithne from becoming a Mystic Knight originally since it would take her away from her royal duties within the Woodland Realm, they were also the same people that had discouraged other Magic users within their own family line to hide their abilities since they didn't believe in them.
When Allisara and Calanon had learned they had a granddaughter, and despite who her father had been they had insisted she return to the Woodland Realm had taken on the mantle and duties her mother had shunned to become a Mystic Knight.
Of course, Kali had turned them down. To become a Woodland Princess, she would've had to give up everything she had worked so hard to create - her Mystic standing, her friends, her human family, and even her human identity. She would've had to take on the mantle of Maeve, a person she had no idea how to be, a person who had existed for no longer than a few hours before becoming an abandoned baby in the human realm.
It was for this reason that Kali had decided to not invite her paternal grandparents to her hand-fasting ceremony, not that anyone was surprised. Even Eithne hadn't been surprised to see her parents' names not on the list. Her relationship with her mother and father was strained to the point of no repair, and when they had insisted Kali take on her duties, she knew that her daughter's relationship with them would go the same way.
Gritting her teeth, Kali forced a smile as she met the King and Queen's gaze. Her grandmother had had the audacity to where a long, white, elven gown that almost - almost - matched Kali's own outfit. They both also wore emerald green robes, but given they were King and Queen of forest elves, Kali knew that it was just a traditional colour, and therefore let it go.
"On what grounds?" Kali asked. She hated being nice and polite to people that she would've otherwise preferred to kick in the arse.
"On the grounds that you're a Woodland princess, and we didn't give permission for you to wed a Mystic Defender," said Calanon.
"Permission?" Kali screeched, her voice lowering as she felt Nick place a comforting hand on her shoulder. She was several weeks pregnant - thankfully, her grandparents didn't know that she was sure they would have something to say if they did - but her emotions were heightened due to the pregnancy, and already had had a few mishaps with setting things alight.
Taking a deep breath, Kali once again forced her smile as Nick stepped forward, his hand still on her shoulder. He was wearing a traditional black tuxedo with a red tie. He looked sharp and very handsome, at the start of the ceremony, Kali hadn't been able to take her eyes of him, and she had seen him dressed smartly before, but something about this time took her breath away.
We don't have to explain ourselves to you," said Nick. "You weren't invited, and your grounds for an objection are unfounded. Please kindly see yourselves out, or you will be removed."
Calanon's nostrils flared, and he stepped forward, squaring against the young mystic before him. The second he got within an inch of Nick, there was a scrabble of chairs and several people stood at once. Leanbow placed a hand on Calanon's shoulder and pulled him away from his son, while Xander and Chip stepped closer from the left - obviously, they were Nick's best men - also Eithne and Udonna had also risen, and Kali stepped closer from behind Nick.
But it was Aiden that drew he most attention. He launched himself out of his seat, wedging himself between the two, and hammered his fists against the elf's stomach, "You leave my dad alone!" he cried, stepping back as Nick placed his hands on his shoulders and held him fast, while Calanon merely looked down, sniffed, and then stepped away.
Now was neither the time nor place to cause an unwanted scene.
"You've been asked to leave," said Udonna, her voice soft and sweet. Kali wouldn't have expected any different from the older woman, but she also knew that Udonna wouldn't allow for disrespect to take place at a union that was supposed to be a happy occasion.
Still stiff, Calanon turned to his wife. Despite being King, their realm was built and governed on them being partners. Any decisions were made and executed when both were onboard and understood the situation. He would not make a move unless she agreed and signed off on the suggestion.
"We'll go," said Allisara, although she did not look happy with the idea. She met Kali's gaze, it was angry, but Kali matched the ferocity with a look of her own. How dare these people crash her wedding simply because they couldn't get their own way.
"But we're not done here," added Calanon.
Kali scoffed. Of course not, why would she even think that this was over. Her grandparents may have been royalty, but they were like a dog with a bone. Determined and undeterred from their goal.
As the two elves made their way back down the aisle and out of the doors at the back of the Hall, Leanbow and Udonna retook their seats, Xander and Chip stepped back into their positions, and Nick, his hands still on Aiden's shoulders turned back to Kali. He noticed the clench in her jaw and reached out to cup her face.
"It's okay," he whispered. "They're gone."
"For now," said Kali. "We both know they'll be back."
"We'll be ready for them."
Aiden tilted his head back and smiled as Kali looked down, their gazes meeting. She had adopted him the minute they had met, and she treated him like her own even though he wasn't. "Yeah, Mum," he said, smiling. "We'll be ready for them."
Kali smiled and tapped Aiden's nose with her finger.
Eithne cleared her throat, she had been asked to conduct the ceremony and had accepted immediately. Her own relationship with Kali hadn't started off as strongly as she had wanted, but she had learned to accept her daughter for the woman she was, not the woman she had wanted her to be. Sometimes she wished that her parents could do the same.
"Shall we continue?" Eithne asked.
Kali looked from between Aiden and Nick, a hand going to her stomach as she felt a flutter of movement. They baby growing inside her was no more than a clump of cells at the given moment, but any movement left her feeling like there were butterflies in her abdomen. She took it as a sign that her future son or daughter wanted her to continue; and since when had she ever backed away from a threat?
A genuine smile crossed Kali's face as she lifted her gaze to her mother's and nodded. "Yeah," she said. "Continue."
"Perfect," said Eithne. "Take each other's hands."
Nick's hands were warm as they grasped Kali's between his own. He could feel her shake a little and squeezed them reassuringly.
"We are gathered here today to unite two souls as one," Eithne said, eyes brimming with proud tears as she looked from her daughter to her soon-to-be son-in-law and smiled. "Do you Nick Russel and Kali Briar join us here of your own free will to acknowledge the eternal bond shared by both of you?"
"I do," the pair responded simultaneously. A light chuckle echoed around the room.
Eithne motioned to Nick. "You may recite your vows," she encouraged.
Stunned, Kali raised an inquisitive eyebrow. They hadn't agreed on personal vows, but she was also eager to hear what he had to say.
"Kali, I know we made the decision to not have personal vows, but I figured now is the best time tell you what I'd normally keep inside. You know me, I'm not the most romantic type."
"Are either of us?" Kali asked.
Nick chuckled, as did several others, including the other Mystics. Kali and Nick's relationship had always reflected a friendship first, even after they had admitted their true feelings for one another and becoming romantic partners. They still turned to one another for advice, fussed over each other as friends would, and defended the other as only a friend could.
"When I look at you," Nick continued. "I see home. I see my world full of hope, dreams, and faith. You pave the way for me, without you there is no me. Your love is inevitable truth. You are my destiny, my home, my truth, my hope, and without a doubt, my whole world."
With each word Nick spoke, Kali felt her beat a little faster. Each sentiment spoken echoed in her head and she felt it too in her heart, he to her was what she was to him. Everything.
"Your love is the very thing my heart beats for, it's the very thing giving me breath. Shielding me from horrors and guiding me in darkness and even in light. I love you, with every fibre of my being."
Kali sniffled, tilting her head back and blinking rapidly to still the tears that threatened to fall. "Aw, why did you have to go and say that," she asked, wiping away a few tears that slid down her cheeks.
Another light chuckle from the crowd, many of whom were also wiping their eyes.
"Kali?" Eithne asked.
"I'm supposed to top that?" Kali asked. She took a deep breath and licked her lips in anticipation. All eyes were on her, and she was about to bare her soul to a room full of people - regardless of their status and relation to her.
Again, Nick squeezed her hands reassuringly. He knew this was hard, especially for someone that preferred to keep their innermost thoughts to themselves.
Meeting his gaze, Kali smiled. "I want to start my saying that I am sorry," she said. "I'm not the easiest person to love, I keep secrets, and I have trust issues. But somehow you managed to work your way over my wall and tear it down. I am only the best at what I do because I have you there, by my side. You give me a reason to fight every day, a reason to come home."
The tears had returned, and Kali had to try her hardest to push them back. The dull flush of embarrassment rose up her neck, and she pushed it back as she ploughed on, determined to get her words out.
"Without you, I don't think I would've succeeded in stopping the Master, Lothor, Dai Shi, and every other bad guy in between. But knowing that you and our family," Kali tapped Aiden's nose causing him to giggle, "would have suffered if I didn't, made me want to fight harder. Thank you for always being there. My best friend, the love of my life, and now my husband. I'm not going to say that our future will be easy, but it's going to be worth it. I promise."
Eithne gasped and cleared her throat, reaching for the cord on the table before her. She looped it over both Nick and Kali's hands and nodded at the pair to finish the ceremony.
"Heart to thee, body to thee, always and forever, so mote it be."
"So mote it be," the others echoed.
Sliding an arm around Kali's waist, Nick drew her closer, leaning in and pressing his lips to her own, as her own arms weaved behind his neck.
She as now his and he as hers, no one could change that. No matter how much they wished it.