The Prodigy Slave, Book Two: The Old World: (Revised Edition 2020)

by Londyn Skye

  As James stood alone in the woods, William’s surprise quietly approached him from behind. “I just knew I’d find you doin’ that infamous Adams pace. Before any major test or event, you neva’ could get control ova’ those damn nerves ‘a yours.”

  James stopped his incessant pacing and turned in the direction of the voice. “Harrison?! What the hell’re you doin’ here?!” he smiled.

  Harrison shrugged as he strutted toward him. “Bein’ here in spirit wasn’t good enough for me. I just had to give my best friend some company up there at that alta’.” He walked over and shook James’s hand, but James immediately pulled him in for a brotherly embrace.

  “I can’t tell you what this means to me.”

  “It means a lot to me too,” Harrison replied, slapping James on the shoulder. He then reached in his satchel and held up a bottle of James’s favorite whiskey. “I figured this would help ease those infamous Adams nerves.” He suddenly snatched the bottle from James’s reach. “Unless this is cold feet I’m witnessin’?”

  “No way!” James responded quickly. “I have no doubts or fears at all. Not a one. This is just nervous excitement. I can’t wait to marry Lily.”

  “I’ll drink to that!” Harrison replied, thrusting the bottle in James’s direction again.

  “Hell, you’ll drink to any damn thing,” James joked, snatching the bottle from his hand.

  “Damn sho’ will,” Harrison sarcastically agreed while pulling two glasses from his satchel. He raised them in the air, ready to celebrate a little just before the ceremony began.

  William had very much appreciated the efforts that Harrison had gone through to get James out of jail, as well as the fact that he was among those who were keeping the secret of James and Lily’s relationship. Knowing that both men seemed to be more like brothers than friends, William had stopped by to ask Harrison if he had an interest in attending the wedding. When he unexpectedly showed up, Harrison felt as though his prayer had been answered. Since the day James asked him to be his best man, it was plaguing Harrison that he had not gotten more details about the event because he wanted so badly to attend. He had trickled into town discreetly with a few orchestra members but kept his presence there a secret until meeting up with James in the woods.

  With the best man, the maid of honor, and their closest friends in place, the ceremony was set to begin. Griff handled the security detail with Samuel and two other new bandits. He had them take their positions on the outskirts of the woods as lookouts, while everyone else gathered evenly alongside the flower-petaled aisle. Corrina then went to retrieve James and Harrison.

  Once everyone had walked away, William took advantage of the moment alone with Lily. He took hold of both her hands. “They say it’s tradition for a bride to wear something borrowed during her ceremony.”

  “Yes, I’ve heard that too,” Lily smiled.

  “I hope I’m not being too presumptuous by offering you this then.” He reached into his inner coat pocket and pulled out a small box.

  Lily’s face lit up in a brilliant smile when he opened it. “William, this is magnificent.”

  “Emma wore this tiara on our wedding day.”

  “It’s so beautiful and unique,” Lily replied, gently touching the glistening treasure.

  “Yes, I agree. That’s why it was so perfect for my wife. Emma was such a beautifully unique woman … and so selfless. She was by far the most unselfish person I’ve ever known. She wanted to give me everything, even if it was a detriment to herself. I remember I once mentioned to her how much I loved being a father to the two sons she had given me, but that I wouldn’t quite feel complete somehow without a little girl too. Hearing those words and the passion in my voice … that’s all it took. Simply the mention of it, and for me, my beautiful wife tried. Three times, she tried to give me the beautiful little girl that I had hoped for but…” Lily finally pulled her eyes away from the treasure in William’s hands and looked up at him. She could tell by the look on his face what the outcome of Emma’s attempts were. Even decades later, the pain in William’s eyes looked just as fresh. There was still so much pain there that he could not even finishing giving Lily the details. “Having the twins had just been too hard on her,” he said instead. “But for me … my Emma still tried.

  “I fell even more in love with my wife for what she endured in an effort to make me feel complete. The way I already felt for her, I didn’t think it was even possible to love her any more than I did. But deeper I fell … much deeper.” William drifted away into silence for a moment while he thought of Emma. “I walked away from the devastation of her attempts realizing how fragile life really was, and with a deeper appreciation for my two boys. But secretly, my whole life … I wondered. I even dreamed of what it would have been like if … only if.” Again, William could not bring himself to talk about the children he was never able to meet.

  Lily put a comforting hand on his shoulder to assure him that she understood and that there was no need to conjure up the words.

  “I thought perhaps I was sure to die never knowing what it was like to have a little girl,” William continued. “But now, when I leave this earth, I’ll leave here having had all of my dreams fulfilled and feeling like a man I thought I never would … one who is complete. Because I finally know what it would have been like to have the daughter I’ve always dreamed of.” He touched Lily gently on the cheek. “And I owe that to you.”

  “William,” Lily whispered.

  “It was my dream to one day place this tiara upon my daughter’s head on her wedding day,” William explained. “But now, it is my hope that you will be willing to wear this tonight, so that you feel like a princess, in much the same way I would have wanted for my own little girl.”

  Lily did not have the willpower to stop herself from crying after receiving such sentimental words, and an even more sentimental gift. “How could I eva’ say no to such a thing,” she replied, as her tears came surging forward. “I’d feel so honored to wear such a precious treasure.”

  “Not nearly as honored as I’ll feel walking you down the aisle while wearing it,” William replied, feeling a sudden tightness in his chest as he placed it upon her head. “Perfection,” he smiled with a mist of tears in his eyes.

  “Thank you,” Lily tearfully expressed after she had been crowned with William’s gift. The entire presentation spoke volumes to her about the affect that Emma still had on William, even after her death. “The magnitude of undyin’ love that you have for your wife is the sort ‘a love I pray that James and I will always have for one anotha’.”

  “I’m already convinced that you will,” William replied, kissing her lightly on the forehead.

  Isabel was crying too as she watched on. She walked over and helped Lily adjust one of the few treasures that had survived the fire on William’s estate. It had been locked away in a metal safe in the den. William had it professionally polished and restored for this occasion. Isabel laid the tendrils of Lily’s hair artistically around it. She smiled once the precious heirloom was seated perfectly in place. Isabel then handed Lily her bouquet.

  “Thank you, Isabel,” Lily replied, taking the arrangement. “Harrison?” she suddenly questioned, squinting her eyes, as if she was seeing a figment of her imagination over Isabel’s right shoulder.

  “Your impeccable memory proves itself yet again!” Harrison replied, smiling as he approached. “You look lovely.”

  “Thank you,” Lily smiled in return.

  “It’s wonderful to see you again.”

  “You too! I bet James is ova’ the moon about the fact that you’re here!”

  “As am I. I’m truly happy for both of you.”

  “Thank you! And thanks for bein’ here for him.”

  “It’s my pleasure. I feel honored to be a part ‘a such an important day in both your lives.” Harrison turned toward Isabel. “Well now, Ms. Corrina tells me that you’re the newly christened maid of honor.”

  “I am,” I
sabel boasted proudly with her usual goofy grin plastered on her face.

  “Well, bein’ that I’ve been ordained as the best man.” He extended his elbow. “Shall we?” he asked, suggesting they walk with each other down the aisle. “Assumin’ that’s all right with the bride, of course,” he continued.

  “I’s just about to suggest that myself actually,” Lily smiled.

  “Well, all right then,” Isabel replied, latching on to Harrison’s elbow.

  The moment Harrison and Isabel began making their way down the aisle, two violinists from the orchestra began softly playing the melody Lily had beautifully blended with William’s love song for Emma, which she featured in her last show at Winter Garden. The added touch was Austin’s idea, but he had gotten approval from Lily first before allowing them to proceed. The violinists stood off to the side at the front of the aisle, swaying as they played while Isabel and Harrison marched slowly to the melody down the flower-covered path, in-between an array of onlookers. With delighted smiles, the small crowd of brown and pale faces stood side by side, harmoniously co-existing in the same space, all brought together by a woman who was proving, yet again, that she had the power to unite people from all walks of life.

  Harrison and Isabel could not stop smiling at the sight of James as they made their way toward him. His nervous excitement was apparent by the way he rocked back and forth on his heels while anxiously awaiting Lily. When they took their final steps together at the end of the altar, Harrison turned toward Isabel, placed his hand over his heart, and slightly bowed before they took their places on either side of James. James smiled at them both and immediately blew out a breath, doing his best not to let his nerves and emotions overwhelm him.

  With everyone now in place, all bodies in the crowd turned toward the darkness of the woods. The violinists elevated the sound of their harmony as Lily and William took their first step onto the lighted pathway and paused. James took one look at his bride and knew there would be no amount of exhaling or rocking that would stop his tears from falling. He did not even bother to wipe them away as he gazed down the aisle at Lily, standing there on the arm of a man who meant the world to her. He let his tearfilled eyes linger over her, absorbing the loveliness of her tiara crowned hair falling freely to her shoulders, and the perfection of the satin white gown that accentuated every aspect of her body, including the tiny bump in her belly where their baby lay growing. Her overall etherial beauty left him utterly awestruck.

  Lily had long since given up on trying to hold back her tears after being gifted with one beautiful surprise after another. She dabbed at the endless stream with William’s handkerchief without once taking her eyes off James. They both remained locked in that loving gaze as Lily began making her way toward him on William’s arm. Her face was lit up in a brilliant smile as her dear friends began tossing a blend of red, yellow, and white rose petals near her feet. The white petals represented eternal love, yellow was for their childhood friendship, and red represented the passion that their friendship had led to. As beautiful as the array of colorful petals were, Lily still could not bring herself to take her eyes off James, nor could he take his off her.

  Despite the short path, James felt it had taken a lifetime for Lily to stand within arm’s reach of him the way she was now. As desperate as he was to take her by the hand, he waited patiently as William turned and kissed Lily on the cheek. He then took her hand and placed it within James’s. “Promise me you’ll love and protect her with every fiber of your being,” William asked of James while still holding on to both of their hands.

  “I promise I will,” James responded, his eyes still lovingly lost in Lily’s.

  With that promise, William let go and left Lily solely in the hands of her husband-to-be. He then stepped aside and took his place in the front of the crowd.

  James caressed Lily’s face as he gazed at her. “You are absolutely stunning,” he whispered.

  Isabel was off to the side with her teeth as dry as desert land from smiling so hard.

  “Can I kiss ’er yet?” James asked.

  The crowd snickered.

  “Patience bro … patience,” Harrison joked.

  “We’ll get to that,” Corrina added as the crowd continued to laugh.

  As requested by Lily, Corrina stood at the front of the altar with the bride and groom, ready to happily assist in their very nontraditional ceremony. To begin, she led in a simple prayer. “Everyone please bow your heads. Dear Lord, we have faith that you will bless this impendin’ union no differently than any otha’s allowed by the laws here in the earthly realm you have created. The couple here before you believes that your heavenly laws supersede that of any here on this earth. We therefore ask that you bless them with the strength to follow strictly by the expectations you have set forth for any otha’ man and woman consciously seekin’ to unite in holy matrimony. On this eve, this beautiful couple makes a promise, unda’ the divinity of your heavens, to take the vows they are about to exchange just as seriously as those exchanged inside the sanctity of any house of worship, almighty God. So, we ask that you bless them no differently. Individually, we hereby ask that you bless each ‘a these two people standin’ before me, as well as the beautiful child they have created. Bless them even more so with health, wealth, happiness, peace, comfort, and an unendin’ love for one anotha’ afta’ they make vows to you and each otha’ to become one. Amen.”

  “Amen,” everyone replied in unison as they raised their heads.

  With that, Corrina handed James the vows he had written for Lily.

  James held the paper in one hand and held Lily’s hand with the other. He let his eyes linger on her for a moment and then directed his attention to the words in front of him. “Lily, I love you immeasurably. You are unquestionably the love of my life,” he began. “For that reason, from this day forward, I promise to share my fears, my worries, good news and the bad, to make honesty and communication a priority, so that secrets neva’ again linga’ as a destructive force between us. I will now and foreva’ hold you dear as my greatest confidant. I know there may be times when I am unable to consult you for matta’s regardin’ our lives, but I promise that any decision I make without you will always be in what I truly believe is your best interest. I promise you unquestionable trust. I promise to you loyalty, faithfulness, and that I shall neva’ again give myself to any otha’, no matta’ what. I promise that I will support your dreams, comfort you through your nightmares, and through any and all ailments. Every day, I promise to tell you and show you the depths of my love for you. I promise to protect you and provide for you.” He placed his hand upon Lily’s stomach. “I promise the same for this beautiful child we’ve created and for all of our future children.”

  Lily looked down at his hand on her belly, then back up at him, causing her waiting tears to escape and cascade down her cheeks.

  James placed his hand on her face, wiped them away with his thumb and then continued reading. “Standin’ here in this very place, I fell in love with you as a boy. Silently, my heart made many of the very same vows to you back then that I have professed here today. But I am human. I admit and take full responsibility for all ‘a the errors I have made that have caused you pain since then. Though I have faltered throughout the years, I can assure you that the intention of upholdin’ the premise of the silent vows I made to you as a boy, as well as the love that I have felt for you all these years, has remained pure and unwaverin’. So, if in the future my lack of wisdom may cause me to stumble, I hope and pray that you will always rememba’ that fundamental truth.” James lowered his paper and looked directly into Lily’s eyes as he spoke the last of his vows by heart. “I don’t know how or when I will cease to exist, but I know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, be it in the physical or in the comforts of my mind, so help me God, I will draw my last breath in your arms, havin’ spent every minute ‘a my life unconditionally lovin’ you.”

  Corrina took the vows from James, placed it inside of a thi
ck envelope, and then handed Lily the ones she had written.

  Lily patted away her tears and cleared her throat before she began. “James.” She squeezed his hand tight. “I love you more than anything in this grand universe of ours,” she stated first, a slight crack in her voice revealing the sincerity of that sentiment. She cleared her throat again, determined to push through without completely breaking down. “With all my heart, I believe in you. I have waited far too many years to express that sentiment to you. But from this day forward, I promise to always remind you of the faith I have in you to take care of me and our children, and of the faith I have in you to protect us with the strength of your love through all the hardships we will certainly endure.

  “I also promise neva’ to keep secrets. I know in the past, I was guilty of keepin’ secrets because I was afraid to allow myself to trust and love you completely. I took that fear and built a wall around myself. But from now until the end ‘a my days, I will neva’ again allow the treacherous journey of our lives to convince me to shut you out and destroy our unique bond. I vow to always confide in you, knowing confidently that expressin’ our truths will continue to make our bond even more impenetrable. And as an impenetrable united front, I will always stand by your side, be it in mind, body, or spirit, ready to triumphantly tackle every life obstacle that stands in the way of our relationship or our love.

  “And with this rare and special love God has filled me with to bestow upon you, I promise I will use it to nurture our family as it grows.” She smiled and touched her baby. “I will use it to always be faithful, loyal, and understandin’ to your duties as a man, and to remind me that you are worthy of my unconditional trust. I will also use this powerful God-given love to keep my heart completely open, so that I will remain vulnerable with you, and only you, and so that you may share your vulnerabilities with me, with the utmost confidence that it will be received with warmth and understandin’. And of course,” Lily smiled, “I will use this precious love to give myself to you in every way, shape, and form that a man needs his woman.”