by H. M. Gooden
Astrid stopped walking, gesturing for Mai to stay while Aud continued to walk down the dock, followed by Vanessa, Cat, and Zahara. "This is where you'll wait."
Mai stood at the boardwalk end of the dock as instructed, while Astrid walked to the end and began to sing in Norwegian. Mai was surprised at the beautiful bell-like voice that emerged from her. As Astrid sang, the other women slowly walked onto the dock and lined the left side, followed by men who passed Mai to line the right. She recognized Anders and Christian, but there were another two men she didn't know, followed at the tail end by Jake. The two lines turned to face each other, as Jake positioned himself at the end of the dock, then turned to face her.
Mai moved as if in a dream, passing through the gauntlet of friends and strangers to the end where her prize stood, waiting for her.
Jake was dressed in a golden suit with a long tunic and pants that closely resembled tights, with a golden circlet with a topaz in the center on his head. He looked like a prince, waiting for his princess. Mai walked toward him, her heart close to bursting from joy, holding back tears as he stood with his hand outstretched waiting for her. She was breathing fast with nerves and excitement by the time she reached him. When she finally placed her hand in his, her heart skipped a beat.
At that exact moment, Astrid's song ended and a hush fell over the area. When Mai looked to her left, she saw her friends, noticing absently that gruff Vanessa had tears trickling down her face, while Cat had a look of soft wonder in her eyes. As Mai turned back to look at Jake, the love in his face almost blinded her. He also appeared to be on the verge of tears.
"Friends and family, we are here today in front of God and all of nature to witness the hand-fasting of Jake and his true love, Mai. They are here with us to pledge their love and to promise forever more to be true to each other. Jake, you may begin."
Astrid stepped to the right, as Jake moved into the center of the dock. He spoke with a strong, clear voice that seemed to echo into the silence.
"I've been searching for someone to share in all the joy and sorrow that life can bring. Someone who will delight in my success and hold me in my sorrows. Someone who will build a family with me and walk by my side until death do us part."
Jake took Mai's other hand, his golden eyes melting.
"Mai, when we first met, I knew that you were the other half of my soul. It's said that dragons mate for life and after meeting you, I know that saying is true for me. I am so grateful and blessed that you said yes. Will you do me the honor of taking my hand in marriage, so that we can be bound together?"
Jake still held her hands gently. Mai nodded wordlessly, until Astrid gave her a nudge.
"Yes, Jake. I will give you my hand forever. This I promise you. I will walk this path through life as far as it goes, and always be true to you, through whatever may come. In sickness and health, forever together."
Mai heard her voice crack with the tears that she was narrowly holding back and smiled up at him, sharing the love that she saw in his face.
Astrid and Anders stepped forward with a rope made of green vines and flowers and Jake held their joined hands in front of them carefully for his parents to wrap. Gently, his mother and father moved around the couple, wrapping their wrists and arms together so that they were bound tightly together in the middle. When they'd finished, Anders and Astrid held up Mai and Jake's joined hands with a proud smile.
"Behold, our son is joined forever more with his soul-mate, his dragon bride. God protect anyone who tries to come between them, because it is at the risk of their own life. Mai, welcome to the family, daughter."
With his last word, Anders choked up. He took a deep breath and placed an emerald tiara on the top of Mai's head, which unleashed her tears at last.
With their hands joined, Jake gently grasped her chin with his hands and kissed her, absorbing her tears as a rainbow magically filled the sky above them.
Mai could feel the light getting brighter behind her closed eyelids. When she opened them, she saw Evelyn smiling from the other end of the dock. She'd added a touch of light to Mai's water magic and the day lit up like fire behind them. Still joined with the green rope, Mai and Jake walked back down the row of smiling and tearful guests before arriving at a shaded seating area, where Jake helped her to sit down. He smiled at her in the small enclave of privacy.
"ARE YOU OKAY?"
Jake spoke the words out of habit, but his heart was quivering in its chest. He was married, he had a wife. It was all real. He didn't know what was written on his face, but whatever it was caused Mai's smile to bloom confidently as she shook her head.
"You're always asking if I'm okay. Do I not seem okay?"
Jake shrugged, lost for words.
"Is that a trick question? I'm not even sure if I'm okay. I never expected to be so overwhelmed." He laughed dryly. "It was all I could do not to burst into tears. And I don't do that, like, ever."
Jake was overwhelmed by how intense the experience had been. He'd never expected the power of the hand-fasting ceremony to hit him so hard. He'd watched as a child when other couples had performed them at weddings and had always thought they were kind of silly and old-fashioned. But now that he'd participated in one with his soul-mate, everything was different. He realized that Mai was speaking and came back to the present with a jerk.
"Yes, I'm fine, better than fine. The ceremony was absolutely beautiful. But now what? I wasn't sure what to expect for the hand-fasting, but now that part is over, I'm even more confused as to what happens next."
Jake smiled and held up their joined hands.
"Traditionally, we're supposed to spend an hour alone, talking about our plans for the future. In the past, this was sometimes the first time a married couple was allowed to be completely alone without a chaperone."
He wiggled his eyebrows at her mischievously.
"Obviously, times have changed a little. But that's why we weren't allowed to see each other this morning until the ceremony began. Now that it's over, we'll basically just sit here, tied together while the guests mingle. After the hour has passed, there will be a light lunch.Then after that, we'll have the church ceremony with the signing of papers for legal purposes."
Jake sighed, already tired by the intense emotions the day had raised in him. "It's going to be a long day. After the church service, there's more food, then speeches, then we're going to have the lanterns. Then there's a dance."
Mai groaned and closed her eyes.
"That's mostly for the young people, though. The older ones usually leave around nine or ten." Jake said, hoping that they'd be able to leave at nine themselves.
"That does sound like a very long day."
Jake nodded. "Yup. I think the goal is to make us too tired to actually consummate the marriage. Good thing that's not a problem, hey? Hey?"
Jake poked her gently in the ribs, as he joked weakly, causing Mai to snort.
"And now you're telling dad jokes? We don't even have kids yet. Be careful or we won't, if you keep that up."
Mai smiled up at him and he smiled back at her. Leaning into each other, their lips met, gentle at first around smiling faces, but the kiss quickly became deeper. It seemed like only minutes, but Jake realized that the hour must have passed, because he was rudely brought back to the present with a knock on the wood-framed pergola that was providing their privacy.
"Guys? It's me, Aud."
"You can come in Aud." Jake answered his sister quietly and she stepped in, bowing her head.
"Mom wanted me to let you know that the luncheon is being served on the picnic tables. Everyone's waiting for you to enter the park before they begin eating."
Jake nodded, standing up carefully so that he wouldn't pull too hard on Mai's arm, still tied to him with silk ribbons of green, gold, and white. Mai stood up awkwardly, the loss of her hand control affecting her balance. Doing his best to walk beside Mai with his much longer gait, Jake worried as he followed his sister that he'd trip and fall on
Mai, injuring her on their wedding day. He took smaller steps deliberately and matched her pace.
EVERYONE WAS GATHERED around as Mai and Jake entered the clearing and silence fell as the couple walked through the crowd. Mai's chest was tight with embarrassment and she felt as conspicuous as a flamingo in the forest. It seemed as if there were now double the people that had been present at the hand-fast. She was happy to see that Evelyn was still there, sitting with the other girls, smiling beautifully at her and Jake as they walked toward the central raised dais. A path had been cleared down the center, and on the dais were two wicker chairs covered with flowers, like thrones for them to sit on.
Mai shyly glanced at the faces around her as she passed them, then smiled when everyone in attendance burst into applause. Jake beamed back, holding up their joined hands as they settled into their thrones and faced the crowd.
Food arrived immediately, placed on a small table in front of them. Mai had no appetite and instead of eating she found herself staring at the faces around her. She was curiously numb at the sight of everyone watching her with so much attention.
Anders stood up, tapped a microphone, and a hush descended as the cheers and catcalls faded away.
"Thank you everyone for coming to our happy day. We are blessed to present our son and his new wife, Jake and Mai, and wish them many happy years together. Would the happy couple please stand up and take a bow!"
He clapped as Mai and Jake stood and the entire group joined in. Holding their hands up again, Mai for once didn't feel awkward as the focus of attention, giving a slight bow as requested.
She looked at her friends who were smiling with tears on their cheeks, then at Jake's family, who were all in a similar state. Well, except for Christian. She almost laughed when she noticed him surreptitiously playing a game on his phone, safely behind his mother’s back, where she couldn’t scold him. This was Mai's family now. She’d been alone for so long and still missed her parents and her aunt, but she was home now, and all of her loneliness vanished in that moment. When Mai smiled this time, it was a smile of pure joy.
THE REST OF THE DAY passed in a blur. They ate and listened to speeches from people that Mai had never even seen before, some in English and others in Norwegian, but all along a similar vein. She was surprised that all of the people present knew Jake and his family were dragons and couldn't help but feel disoriented by such openness after hiding her secret for so long. Jake had told her that things were different here, but she really hadn't expected them to be quite this different.
The food was fantastic, with the most delicious wedding cake. Mai had been so proud to wear the gorgeous red dress she'd picked out and did her best not to spill any of the rich food on it. Astrid had somehow slipped her away from the crowd and Jake before the church service and had completely redressed her and freshened up her makeup. It turned out that Astrid was not just an organizational mastermind, but she was also a wizard at arranging people. The church service had passed quickly, they'd signed all the necessary legal papers, then proceeded back to the water where the lantern ceremony lit up the sky. As they let the lanterns go that night over the cool northern waters, she felt their two cultures join. The final piece clicked. This was what she'd been waiting for.
When they entered their bridal suite at the hotel later that night, Jake carried her in as carefully as though she was made of spun glass. He placed her on the floor gently then shut the door. They stared silently at each other and the room faded behind them into the darkness of night as they fell into each other's eyes, affirming their vows again.
CHAPTER 16 HONEYMOON
Mai and Jake didn't leave the room for two days. Someone had been thoughtful enough to fill the small fridge with cheese, fruit, and various other tasty snacks, and they also had a full bar with all kinds of beverages to choose from. They had access to room service too, but didn't call anyone until well after lunch the next day, content to stay in each other's arms and speak quietly and hopefully of their dreams for the future.
Mai had never felt so warm or comfortable in her life. Jake was a living, breathing pillow under her head, which she kept almost constantly tucked into the nook between his chest and arm. She sighed contentedly, playing with the hair on his chest with her right hand. He captured it gently, giving it a kiss.
"What's going through your head now?"
The vibration of his voice travelled through her body. She shivered then shrugged with one arm, trying to put her thoughts into words.
"I never want to leave this room. I mean, I know it's silly, but out there's the world, with decisions and hard things to deal with. It's so nice in here. I just want to stay forever, right here with you, doing nothing."
Jake rubbed her arm with his hand and kissed her forehead. "That sounds nice. Do you think my parents will pay for it?"
Jake asked the question innocently, but Mai heard his suppressed laughter, and punched him lightly on the chest in punishment.
"Ouch!" he winced.
Mai leaned over to kiss the spot she'd hardly touched.
"Oh you're fine, you big baby."
She gave him a mock glare, which caused him to growl and flip her onto her back. She lay trapped beneath him, looking up at his mock-fierceness, and burst out laughing. Jake pretended to pout, but couldn't hold it and looked back down at her with a smile full of amazement.
"I still can't believe you're real."
Mai quieted, becoming solemn as she looked into his eyes.
"I'm real. And so are you. This is really happening." She stopped, wrinkling her brow as she thought.
"What is it?" Jake asked, curiously.
Mai shook her head slowly, still looking distant. "I was just remembering something that Evelyn said in my dream."
Jake continued to look confused, but waited for her to continue.
"She said she had a gift for you, but she didn't give you anything, did she?"
Jake shook his head thoughtfully. "No, I don't think so."
Mai shrugged, trying to brush away the small voice that kept nudging her.
"Oh well, she’s become a little cryptic since finding out she's a goddess, so maybe it's something we don't know about. Or maybe it was the rainbow at the wedding."
Mai shrugged off the lingering thought that she was missing something, then looked at the clock on the wall and sighed mournfully.
"We probably should get back. I want to spend some time with the girls before they go, and I'm sure your parents will want to spend some time with us before we leave, although it's not like we have any plans to go anywhere yet."
Jake rolled back over and sprawled out flat, his arms spread out wide.
"Fine, be an adult," he moaned sadly, then sat up brightly, having remembered something. "Let's see if there's any cake left. I asked my mom to hide some. I love cake."
Mai shook her head, chuckling. "Sure. Let's go find some cake."
IT WAS A SHORT TRIP to the house, but the day seemed too bright and harsh in comparison to the soft lighting Mai had become accustomed to over the previous few days. They arrived to cheers and hugs when they got back to the house, which compensated for her disorientation with the real world. Mai was happy to see all of her friends waiting to see them, except Evelyn, who was missing again. Cat explained to Mai that Evelyn was needed in Haiti following a tropical storm.
Mai wasn't surprised, but was disappointed to be missing out on a real visit with her. It seemed to Mai that since they'd returned from Scotland, they'd sort of lost their friend. Even though they all understood how important it was to use their abilities when needed, it wasn't always easy to accept the inconveniences that came with them. Great powers and great responsibility yada, yada, Mai thought, somewhat sourly. She was happy that she had the ability to change shapes and control water, but otherwise wasn't as powerful or needed by others as her friend was, which she felt grateful for each time Evelyn disappeared to help somewhere.
“So, how was it?” Vanessa raised an eyebrow, giv
ing Mai a cheeky smile while she waited for her to answer.
“Um... what?”
Mai's face start to burn and Cat came to her aid, giving Vanessa a swat on her arm.
“Dude, don’t be a jerk!” said Cat, as she looked at Mai apologetically. “I’m sorry, my sister's not in full control of her mouth. Please don’t answer that.”
Zahara laughed at the sisters, raising her hands.
“What Cat said. I’m glad you guys got a little alone time. Jake’s house is almost as loud and crazy as mine. Quiet is hard to come by there, as well. What are your plans for the next week?”
Mai sighed, her blush receding with the sudden change in topic. She gave Zahara and Cat grateful smiles for the rescue.
“Well, I think we're both just hoping to catch up with you guys and hang out before you leave. I haven’t done much in the way of touristy stuff myself, so I’d love it if you wanted to join me in exploring where Jake grew up. So far, I've found the area beautiful, even if most of what I saw was during a rescue mission."
“Well, I can think of one place that you guys may like," said Aud, flapping her arms with excitement as she interrupted. "It’s where most of the young people in town hang out. It's nothing special compared to San Francisco maybe, but the food is good and the music is loud."
ONCE AGAIN, IT WAS Jake and the ladies out on the town. They left the house behind, walking down the narrow streets toward the restaurant. Vanessa bumped shoulders with Jake as they walked, catching his attention.