By the Red Moon Part 48
The morning of the wedding broke with clear skies and the sun shining brightly over the forest. By then, the place by the nearest waterfall was already set with white silks draping the surrounding trees and flower petals covering the grassy aisle to the altar of stone by the pool of water.
Hundreds of cooks set to work on the menu that they had all set together for the reception while the singers and musicians managed to sneak in one more rehearsal before the service began. Throughout the encampment, soldier, worker and gifted alike were buzzing with anticipation of the nuptials between the noble swordsman and the first female knight.
"You know, we clean up pretty well," Duo smiled as he brushed down his short-sleeved, silk tunic of a gold shade with silver trimming and black pants. Wearing a similar shirt with gold trim and its shiny silk a silver hue, Heero chuckled deeply as he tied the end of his lover's braid with a simple band.
Turning, the prince appraised the Commander and wondered for the umpteenth time since the beginning of their courtship how he had been so lucky to be with him. He completely forgot that train of thought when he was pulled flush against the knight's chest as his lips were claimed for a deep kiss.
When he pulled away, Heero moved for the locked cabinet to remove the wedding band inside. Carefully stowing it away and closing the drawer back up, he grinned, "I'll be heading for Wufei's tent and we'll see each other at the service."
"Right," Duo nodded. "I better go and check on Anna." Sharing a quick kiss, the couple stepped out of the tent and went in opposite directions with their steeds in tow.
On his way past the men and women standing about, Maxwell smiled at how it seemed everyone had pulled together their finest attire for the big event to come. Already, large groups of people were walking towards the end of the forest to where the altar was waiting.
It did not take long for him to reach the white tent that had been set aside for the bride. His long body lying wrapped around it, Ingier raised his head from the ground and smiled to the prince. Patting the steed's muzzle, Duo greeted, "Hello, trouble. You're going to be on your best behavior today, right?"
The blue-purple snorted lightly in response to leave no doubt that he understood the importance of the day. "Good boy," the braided teenager chuckled. Moving for the sealed entrance to the tent, he called, "Is it safe for me to come in?"
Anna's voice responded, "All clear." Pushing his way inside, Duo froze with wide eyes and a sharp gasp.
In the center of the space, Relena was carefully setting the crown of large flowers atop her friend's head as she stood in a floor-length lilac dress pulled against her slender waist by a white lace sash that tied as a bow in the back. She kept the beaded headband with its teardrop shaped opal pendant on her head and her hair was pulled back in a braided bun with a few loose strands cascading about in ringlets.
But it was the archer that had the prince's full attention. Wearing a form-hugging, cream-colored dress of solid lace that fanned when it fell past her waist to the ground and cupped her front in a tasteful V-neck, Anna was nearly unrecognizable. The ring of flowers varying in color around her head and the smaller blossoms that were woven into her loose locks completed the transformation to make her a stunning bride.
"Wow," Duo heard himself breathe as he looked upon his friend in shock, bringing the girls to turn their heads and smile at him. His own mouth curling up in a wide grin, he complimented, "You look beautiful."
A blush coloring her cheeks, the knight bowed her head and replied sincerely, "Thank you, Duo." Staring down at the gown, she said, "This was a very generous gift from Lady Une that was altered." Amongst those changes was the removal of the sleeves so that the scars wrapping her left arm were in plain sight so as to not lose who she was on her wedding day.
With a deep breath, Anna shook her head, "I haven't worn a dress since..." She raised her head after a moment of concentration and laughed, "Actually, I cannot even remember the last time I wore a dress!"
Relena smiled as adjusted the colorful ribbons handing from the back of the crown and commented, "Well, this one certainly suits you." Satisfied with her work, she stepped back to gather up her round bouquet of wild flowers. Quickly hugging the archer, she told her, "I am going to check and see if the cleric is ready."
Swallowing roughly, Anna nodded and began to rub her hands together anxiously. On her way past the prince, the seer paused to embrace him before lifting the hem of her dress and hurrying out.
The grin on his face growing, Duo approached his redheaded friend as he asked, "So, how are you holding up?"
A heavy sigh rushed from the knight as though she had been holding it for hours. "Oh, I'm nervous about tripping, forgetting what to say and over all looking like a complete idiot in front of Wufei and the whole army today," she admitted in a rush. Shrugging, she concluded, "Other than that, I'm wonderful."
Maxwell shook his head and reassured, "You don't have a thing to be worried about today." Resting his hands on her shoulders, he smirked, "You're going to be great out there. After all of this time that you and Wufei have waited to be married, is there really anything that could possibly ruin that?"
Finally losing her tension, Anna blinked her blue eyes at that profound logic. "You're right," she replied, a wide smile lighting her face. Before she could comment further, Ingier's head crept inside and his large emerald eyes grew at the sight of his rider. Tilting his head, he stretched his head close enough to sniff and confirm that it was her.
The archer lightly swatted at his snout and laughed along with Duo. "Yes, you brat, it's me," she snickered. Wiggling, her steed nuzzled up against her as his tail moved inside, its end coiled around a large bunch of flowers that he had gathered for her.
Gasping, Anna fought the early sting of tears in her eyes. Closing her eyes she wrapped her arms as far as they would go around his muzzle. Not trusting her voice, she mouthed a 'thank you' to Ingier and accepted the bouquet.
Relena returned with an excited sparkle in her eyes as she announced, "Everyone is ready whenever you are."
"Okay," the knight whispered. Those butterflies in her stomach long subdued by her anticipation to at last marry her best friend, she smiled, "I'm ready." Winking to her, Duo stepped to her right side and offered his arm.
* * * * * *
Standing atop the tallest rock before the pool beneath the waterfall, the priest straightened himself and nodded to the seer when she stepped up to the start of the long aisle as his cue.
To the man's left, Wufei stood wearing the traditional marriage komodo of a knight with its sleeve ends and trim lined in gold. Behind him, Heero and Nataku followed his gaze as they straightened themselves in readiness for the start of the ceremony.
Aside the altar, the string and woodwind instrumentalists played a lovely melody that carried on the air and brought the sea of people gathered around to turn back and watch the Maid of Honor walk into the valley alongside Ingier.
Bowing her head to the groom when she reached the end of the stretch, Relena gave him a reassuring smile and took her place at the other half of the altar before the blue-purple steed. In the first rows of the gathered crowd stood the closest of the wedding party's friends from Quatre and Trowa to Lady Une and Howard. And they were all practically buzzing in their excitement.
Then, the music smoothly changed into another beautiful song for the arrival of the bride. Back in the shield of the trees, Duo turned to the archer on his arm and asked, "Ready?"
"I've been ready for this for a long time now," Anna replied, her blue eyes focused on the groom standing at the end of the aisle and her heart hammering in her chest.
Chuckling, the prince said quietly, "Then let's get this show on the road." On that, they stepped forward as one and continued in a slow walk out into the opening to the gasps and whispers of the massive throng of people gathered around.
A glowing smile spreading across her face, the archer tightened her hold on Duo's arm as they continued to make their way down the petal-covered stretch. At the first sight of his bride, Wufei's chest swelled and his onyx eyes blinked widely. When that initial surprise passed, all that remained was his intense pride and happiness as he continued to stare on with a smile that threatened to split his face.
Making her way past her fellow Sanq knights, Anna smirked and nodded to their stunned expressions. Many of those who had fought alongside the archer stood in complete awe of how she looked, including their closest of friends as they looked on with slack jaws and breaths hitched in their throats.
Once their eyes met, Heero gave his 'sister' a wink and a wide grin from behind the groom. From that point on, all that the female knight was focused on was her soon-to-be-husband. His eyes already watering when Anna and Duo stopped before him, Wufei mouthed an 'I love you.'
Returning the sentiment in kind, she faced the prince and they shared a kiss to each other's cheeks. As her arm slipped free so that she could hand her bouquet over to Relena, the archer accepted the hand offered to her by her fiancé to take the step up to the altar along with him.
Their hands joining tightly between them, the happy couple smiled widely as they lost themselves in their eyes. Opening his arms to the congregation, the burly priest began his sermon, "Dearly beloved, noble soldiers, brave gifted and neighbors, we are gathered here on this beautiful day to celebrate this rare and welcome glimpse of light in our dark times."
His blue eyes smiling on the couple, he continued, "Marriage is the union of two individuals in heart, body and mind. It is intended for their mutual joy - and for the help and comfort given one another in prosperity and adversity. Having already endured many a trial, Wufei and Anna make a commitment together through the sacred bond of holy matrimony."
The priest turned to Duo and asked, "Who gives this young woman in marriage?"
With a firm nod, the prince answered, "I do." Meeting the archer's eyes, he winked and stepped back to join Quatre and the others in the 'pews.'
Nodding his bald head to the knights, the pastor declared, "This relationship stands for love, loyalty, honesty and trust, but most of all for friendship. Before Wufei and Anna knew love, they were friends, and it was from this seed of friendship that grew their destiny. Do not think that you can direct the course of love - for love, if it finds you worthy, shall direct you."
With a smirk, he announced, "Now, Wufei and Anna will exchange the vows that they have committed to heart and memory."
Slowly taking in a deep breath, the swordsman recited, ", I, Wufei Chang, take you, Anna Fraise, to be my beloved wife, to have and to hold you, to honor you, to treasure you, to be at your side in sorrow and in joy, in the good times, and in the bad, and to love and cherish you always. I promise you this from my heart, for all the days of my life."
Relieved to have reached the end of his vow without breaking down, he let out a loud huff of relief and the congregation chuckled.
Clearing away the lump in her throat and ignoring shimmer in her eyes, the archer replied quietly, "I, Anna Fraise, take you, Wufei Chang, to be my beloved husband, to have and to hold you, to honor you, to treasure you, to be at your side in sorrow and in joy, in the good times, and in the bad, and to love and cherish you always. I promise you this from my heart, for all the days of my life." Biting his lip, Wufei allowed a couple of his own tears to fall.
Quietly, the priest whispered, "Nicely done." Raising his voice for their audience, he stated, "And now for the exchanging of rings. These blessed rings will be a symbol of the love shared between Wufei and Anna, linked in a circle that has no end."
Turning towards Heero, Wufei took the ring with an appreciative nod to his friend. His dark eyes focusing on his bride, he slipped the band on her left ring finger and said, "Anna, I give you this ring as a symbol of our love. With it I wed you, and give you my body, soul, and heart."
With a moment to appreciate the ornate design in the shimmering pewter, she smiled brilliantly to him and turned towards Relena. Carefully taking the gold band with a mouthed 'thank you,' the female knight followed her groom's example and placed his ring on as she told him, "Wufei, I give you this ring as a symbol of our love. With it I wed you, and give you my body, soul, and heart."
Etched in the gold band was the image of a joined sword and arrow that wove together and wrapped around the whole of the ring. Snickering quietly, the swordsman shook his head in amusement over their similar designs.
Placing a hand on either knight's shoulder, the priest professed, "May you always share with each other the gifts of love - be one in heart and in mind. And may the Creator and his good spirits bless and keep you. In as much as Wufei and Anna have consented together in marriage before this company of friends and family and have pledged their faith - and declared their unity by giving and receiving a ring - are now joined."
He grinned widely as he opened his arms once again to herald, "And now, by the power vested in me and every land in this great world, I now pronounce you husband and wife." Winking to the anxious groom, he smirked, "You may kiss your bride."
Not needing to be told twice, Wufei pulled Anna close to cup her face and leaned in for a deep kiss that she reciprocated with just as much vigor as the crowd standing by erupted into cheers whistles and applause. Their kiss continuing, the swordsman wrapped his arms around his wife and lifted her from the ground to an even louder burst from their witnesses.
When they finally came up for air, the elated couple held hands and made their way back down the aisle as their fellow knights-in-training from Sanq and soldiers from every nation represented in the army flanked the walkway.
Light-hearted music rose up along with the continued applause as the newlyweds walked beneath the arch of their comrades' raised swords and tossed flower petals, they laughed and kissed all the way back to the forest. With their bridal party and steeds right behind, they stopped for another tight embrace and Wufei spun his wife around as she let out an excited yell.
And following behind the lot, the scores of men and women around began to file back with their hearts and spirits lighter than they had been in a very long time.
* * * * * *
The reception that followed the wedding was a complete success with the many people who banded together to help. Throughout the woods, bands played music for the gifted and soldiers alike to dance to while platters of delicious foods were set up at the tables with the staff rotating in shifts so that they could all have a chance to partake in the celebration.
Making their rounds through the divisions of the army, Wufei and Anna made sure to have a couple of dances with each team so that all of the participants to their wedding were able to offer their warm wishes and to enjoy the festivities with them. Laying on their stomachs with their tails and necks linked, Nataku and Ingier kept a constant, contented vigil.
Seated atop a round rock beside his lover, Duo watched Heero share a dance with his 'sister,' looking every bit the proud brother that he was. After having had a few dances with the bride himself, the prince was more than content to sit back for a moment after the busy day.
As he walked up to join him at the song change, the knight chuckled, "I hope that you would not mind getting back to your feet for at least one more dance tonight." Holding out his hand, he gave his partner a loving smile.
"Oh, you know that I can never say no to you," Maxwell smirked and took the hand for assistance to his feet. Making their way to the dance space, they held each other close and spun around along with the other couples around them.
And as the returned prince and Commander of the Alliance army, it did not take long for them to have a lot of eyes drawn to them.
From their place leaning against a tree with their arms laced around each other's waists, Relena and Quatre were among those onlookers. "They really do make a wonderful pair," she commented wistfully. "Any luck and that will be another wedding that we will be able to enjoy." The empath nodded and kissed his wife's cheek, caught up in the whole sentiment of the day's events.
Before the hour grew too late, Wufei and Anna bid their steeds, friends and guests their 'good nights' and were led to the white tent that had been declared their honeymoon retreat to the chorus of cheers and waves.
Draped in colorful banners, the white walls were illuminated from within as Catherine stood in the doorway with a wicked smirk. Stepping aside for the newlyweds, she embraced them as closed the door behind them and the crowd departed to give them their privacy.
The moment they stepped into the tent, the pair froze with wide eyes and sharp gasps. All throughout the room, cupped candles glowed and a white-clothed table with a bottle of fine wine and two glasses was waiting by the large bed. On the white sheets, red rose petals were spread out to take on the shape of a large heart as the last elegant touch.
Moved beyond words, Anna bit her lip and Wufei swallowed past the lump in his throat. The level of consideration and care that everyone had shown them to make their wedding such a wonderful experience was something that they would never forget or be thankful enough for.
The swordsman faced his bride with a grin and scooped her up into his arms with ease. Giggling, the archer wrapped her arms around his neck and kicked the sandals from her aching feet as she was carried to the bed. Carefully settling her down onto the mattress, Wufei pulled his own shoes off and lowered himself onto his bride for a deep kiss.
Pulling back, he smiled, "I love you, Mrs. Anna Chang."
"I love you too, Mister Wufei Chang," the redhead smiled. Sealing their last vows for the evening with another kiss, they lost themselves in each other for the perfect ending to their wedding by consummating their vows.
For one fine day for not only them, but everyone in the encampment, the war was the furthest thing from their minds.
TBC...
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