Early the next morning Aisling slips out of bed and goes to the attic. Setting her intent for a wonderful peaceful day. She lights the candles and incense to meditate. Maureen and Moll come in while she is setting things up . "May we join you this morning?" Moll looks at her hopefully.
"Of course you are always welcome to join me. " the three sit in the circle holding hands. Praying aloud Moll sets her intent for the meditation
"Our father we ask that you send your blessing upon this house today. That all malice and negativity does not enter today. We ask that you bless the marriage that is going take place be blessed this is our prayer. We thank you for the countless blessing and gifts that you have bestowed amen"
The three meditated in the positive of all that is happening on this day. Aisling silently asks that Moll and Inola be blessed with a child very soon. After a while they smell the wonderful smell of bacon frying. Maureen"s stomach makes a noise and the three begin to giggle . Their quiet time is over their babies are hungry. Going down stairs they see Crystal setting the table. She is in one of Aisling"s dresses from when she was a child. Looking at her Crystal shyly smiles.
"I know ,I promised not to take things without asking. I saw this hanging in Salali room and it was my size I didn"t bring anything from home yesterday. " Aisling smiles back at her
"I put it there for you to wear for today after all a flower girl needs a pretty dress." Crystal gives Aisling a big hug .
"I love you Aisling can I really live here?"
Aisling hugs her back and goes to lift her up when Astila walks in.
"Oh no you don"t , you can not pick her up anymore she is too heavy now . Here let me hold her." He picks her up so she can give Aisling a proper hug. They all sit to get eat they only have a few hours before the wedding takes place .
After breakfast the men tell the girls to head upstairs to get ready they will clean up. They head up to get Moll ready as they go into the room they hear a clasp of thunder. It"s coming from Inola"s room. Heading in there on the bed is a gift . The room has a burning smell so they look around . The gift on the bed has a tag.
"Our children may your day be filled with love and joy. We are with you always with you. " M +U
Opening the box inside is a set of matching crystal rings. For Inola a silver claddagh with a clear crystal. The band is etched with a feather pattern. Moll ring is identical to Inola"s except it has a green crystal inside of a clear one. Inside of each band is a different symbol. Inola"s has a snake and Moll"s has a crow. They are in awe of the beautiful rings . Looking at Aisling and Maureen , Moll feels kind of sad .That they didn"t receive a special gift from the G.o.d and G.o.ddess on their wedding day. As if knowing what she is thinking Aisling takes her hand.
"I have a piece of Uktena with me always. " pulling out the crystal necklace.
Maureen shows her the gift she received. It"s a snake bracelet with green crystal eyes. Moll looks at them excited. They each have received a special gift . The three hug each other tightly then they get Moll ready for the day.
Inola is in Astila"s room trying the suit they gave him . Yona walks in and looks at his uncle. Seeing him looking extremely happily makes Yona wonder if he should start to think about settling down. Turning towards his nephew Inola asks him
"Can you help me with the tie?" Nodding he goes over to tie it for him.
"So have you thought about where you want to go?" As he adjusts the tie and placing the tie clasp.
"We won"t be going far. I think we may visit where we fell in love and maybe after the twins are born we will use your gift. " Yona looks at him strangely because didn"t they meet here at Aisling"s.
"When everyone leaves we will show you." With that they hear horns honking many of the guest are arriving. They get ready to go down to get things started. Walking down the hall he knocks on the other door to signal it"s time.
Remi is playing the piano while John ,Inola along with Astila and Yona stand at the front of the fire place facing the staircase. When they are in place Remi begins the wedding march.
Crystal comes down the steps first with her basket inside lays a pillow with the rings . Then Salali and Aisling follow behind when they reach the bottom of the step .Moll starts her dissent everyone looks at how radiant she is in her striking blue gown. When she reaches Inola he takes her hand. John turns to the guest.
"We have come today to join these two in marriage. They have decided that they are going to give themselves to each other as neither have elders to give them away. There is going to be a mixture of both of their cultures so let"s begin with a word of prayer.
Our father I ask that you bless this union. That they may always love and treasure each other . Amen. Onacona comes to stand beside John reciting the tribal prayer
G.o.d in heaven above please protect all the ones we love.
We honor all you have created as we pledge our lives together in love
We honor Mother Earth and ask for our marriage to be abundant and strong throughout many seasons;
We honor fire and ask our union to be filled with glowing warmth and love
We honor wind and ask that we sail through life calmly and safely as if cradled in our father"s arms.
We honor water and ask that it clean and
soothe our union that we will never thirst for love.
With all the forces of the universe, you created we pray for harmony and true happiness as we forever grow together amen"
Salali and Aisling hands each of them a basket one with meat and one with bread.
Moll feeds Inola a piece of bread and Inola feeds her a piece of meat. This is their promise to provide and protect their home and hearth. Handing the baskets back to the girls the hold hands and place them towards John . Yona and Astila bring a satin rope tans place it around the couples shoulders. John recites
" this rope represents the marriage blanket and the rope that binds your love. It represents the string of fate that brought the two of you together. Many walk through life not getting to meet their soulmate these two are truly fated to be together. They complete each other in every way. They wish to say their own vows.
Inola looks at Remi and blows her a kiss of grat.i.tude before starting.
"I was blinded by the darkness. when you reached out your hand giving me kindness that I could not understand . you are the light in my never ending night . Moll you complete me in every way thank you for loving me. " taking the ring from crystal he places it on Moll"s finger.
Moll has tears glinting in her eyes
"Inola you are the most loving kind man I have ever known. The moment I saw you I instantly fell in love with you. You are my light my love and my life." Taking his ring and placing it on his finger.
Before John begins to finish the ceremony he looks at them there is nothing but love in their eyes so he decides to ask them both at the same time.
"Do you agree to be husband and wife to live and cherish each other till death you do part." They both at the same instant say I do.
Then may I introduce to you all Mr and Mrs Inola People. With that the entire house shook with cheers for the happy couple.
Inola kisses his bride and grins at how beautiful she is and that she is truly his.
After all of the congratulations are completed everyone goes to find a seat between the two dinning areas. Inola pulls Moll aside.
"Where did these rings come from? They are not the ones I prepared." She hands him a note.
"This was in our room with the rings. Look inside the band yours has a snake on the inside and mine has a crow. They sent us a special gift. "
He nods and looks up to say thank you kissing his wife again they go in to join the family.