Everyone laughed.
Makoa handed Jedediah a small golden box.
“Seturus, this is for you; I want you to always remember this day and how much I love you,” Jedediah said as he opened up the box and pulled out a long golden chained necklace with a large oval ruby set within a row of tiny white pearls and encased in gold. “We humans like red and for us it’s a symbol of love.” He placed it over her head and around her neck.
Seturus gasped at the beauty of it, “Jedediah, I will wear it always.” She smiled.
“Seturus do you have a vow for Jedediah?” Titus asked.
Seturus looked into Jedediah’s eyes, “I vow to love you for as long as there is a beat of my heart also. I will comfort you. I will try to protect and provide for you and our family also. I will honor the ways of our people and teach them to our children and I will try and learn the ways of your people.” She smiled to him and then to Cole and Rose.
“Then I say to you both, you are now joined in UNION!” Titus said out loud and everyone cheered.
Jedediah pulled Seturus to him and gave her a long kiss; not caring who was watching.
“Jedediah,” Seturus said with a smile and a slight giggle.
“Hey, I love you girl,” he said and then gently picked her up in his arms and set her up on the ledge. “Just like the first day I met you,” he chuckled.
Everyone else laughed too.
Rose soon had the cake cut and served on her finest crystal dishes and silverware. She also served everyone sparkling water in her crystal stemware.
Jedediah wasn’t sure if Seturus would like cake, but he picked up half of a thin slice and offered it to her mouth and she ate it.
Then she delicately picked up the other piece and offered it to him and instead of putting it inside his mouth, she smeared it across his nose and cheek.
“Hey, who taught you that?” Jedediah chuckled and then smeared his face across hers.
Rose brought them the golden goblets.
“Real gold?” Jedediah looked at them and marveled at their weight.
“Only the best for our brother and new sister,” said Titus sincerely.
“Here’s a toast to the bride and groom,” said Cole and everyone picked up their glasses and drank with Jedediah and Seturus.
Lana had given Seturus back her rose bouquet and now it was time for her to throw it. “It is so beautiful and I pray blessings for the one who catches it.”
Talei and Lizzy both stood on the ledge and waited.
Jedediah smiled to Seturus, “Let it go!”
Seturus turned with her back to the ledge and threw it backwards over her head.
It went more in Lizzy’s direction and she caught it. She looked to Robbie and smiled.
Robbie grinned.
“Now for the real food,” said Micah as he started ladling out seafood stew to everyone.
Rose offered some to Jedediah.
“Sorry everyone, we love you, but we’ve waited long enough,” he chuckled and smiled to Seturus.
“Agreed,” she said with a grin.
Everyone wished them well.
Jedediah got behind and held onto Seturus’ shoulders and she dove down and swam them to Lobster Grotto. When they surfaced, they were surprised to see gifts of food and water, a lantern, a sleeping bag, a new wetsuit and even a sturdy air mattress for Jedediah to sleep on if he wished to.
“Now it’s time I show you how much this human loves you,” he said staring lovingly into her eyes.
“And I show you how much this mermaid loves you,” she said teasingly and grabbed hold of his hair pulling him in and pressing her lips hard upon his.
He chuckled, “Now be gentle.”
Seturus grinned and whispered in his ear, “No.”
~~~
Now Jedediah knew who he really was. He had found the purpose to his life and he finally fit inside the destiny which was his to have. He would not only be the best husband he could to Seturus, but also the best Guardian he could for the mer.
~~~~~
EPILOGUE
Nearly a year later, Seturus bore Jedediah a merwalker son. He named him Jireh; in keeping with the first son of his ancestor Jedediah Prentis, also a merwalker. He had the black hair and blue eyes of his father, but the ears of his mother and also had webbing between his fingers and toes.
Robbie and Elizabeth were engaged on Christmas Eve. He planned to continue college and possibly become a Swimming Coach one day. Lizzy headed to college that next year and planned to be a Teacher/Coach one day like her mother.
The future King, Prince Tarrock, was also joined in Union to Princess Payton that same year.
Not long after, Kawikani and Princess Talei were finally joined in Union.
Cole was glad to see his son living the life he never could and he was happy for him and proud that he now honored the calling of his ancestors and became the New Guardian.
~~~
AUTHOR’S NOTE
I wish to thank the people of Ocracoke Island; your hospitality is unmatched.
Again, there are not enough pages to thank all the musical artists who help to inspire me; however, I want to thank Toby Mac for helping me to keep that island feeling in the dead of winter with Hold On.
~~~
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Sheri L. Swift lives with her husband and beagle (Talei) in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. She is a mother of five daughters (One *adopted* from her Church family), five sons-in-love and ten grandchildren; which are the joy of her life. She considers herself to be an inspirational writer; she likes to blog and also enjoys writing poetry. She is the Prayer Ministry leader for her Church (Blue Ridge Fellowship) which is a Purpose Driven Church. She is also a cancer survivor and a member of the She Writes Blooming Late group. If you would like to know more about her check out her Blog: http://sherilswift.blogspot.com on Facebook: Sheri L. Swift Author and follow her on Twitter @sherilswift.
You can find more interesting facts about Legend of the Mer and Legend of the Mer II by visiting Sheri L. Swift’s Shelfari and Goodreads page.
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Legend of the Mer II THE NEW GUARDIAN Page 27