Wracked with indecision, he continues to sit as he ponders what to do.
“ James, there comes a time when…” A talk he and his grandfather had months before he answered the ad that started all this comes to mind. His grandfather had wisdom that he didn’t appreciate at the time. He simply thought it was just another attempt to get him motivated in finding a job. But now that his view of the world, and life especially, has grown, he understands just what his grandfather had been trying to tell him.
Making his decision, he gets to his feet.
The following spring, life is good. Rebuilding continues to bring the City of Light back to life. Some sections of the city that were destroyed during the siege and subsequent occupation by the Empire have been rebuilt. One building in particular has been given prominence in the construction effort. Still not even a third completed, it’s going to take another year or two, maybe even longer, before the High Temple of Morcyth is completed.
Its walls rise in uneven levels as the work progresses at varying speed depending on what is being built in each particular area. It actually didn’t take that long to come up with a blueprint for how the temple was to be laid out. One evening Miko and a master builder went into a room at a local inn and the next morning, the plans were formed. Only divine guidance could have made that possible in such a short time.
Today however, all work has been suspended. The Madoc Patriarchal Council has declared this day a holiday, that all work must cease until the sun rises on the morrow. The city is enjoying a party the likes of which it has rarely seen and everyone has turned out.
Several buildings which had been built upon the old temple site were demolished and the rubble removed over the winter. Lord Pytherian had loaned the effort several hundred soldiers, else it would never have been done so quickly. What will one day be the temple’s courtyard has been decorated in festive, spring flowers, garlands, and anything else the people could lay their hands on.
“Are they coming?” one lady shouts to the two men standing at the entrance to the temple.
“Almost,” one of them yells back.
“He better hurry up or there won’t be any food left,” Scar says.
“You got that right,” replies Potbelly. “Look at ‘em, they’re like a horde of locusts.”
“Locusts?” asks Scar.
“Yeah,” replies Potbelly, surprised he hadn’t heard of the little beastie. “It’s a small insect that…”
Dressed in the finest attire that could be found, they stand before where the doors to the temple will be placed once the front wall has been made ready for them. Inside, they hear the final words of Miko, as he finishes the ceremony.
“…together. From this day forward, you James, and you Meliana are one. Forever bound to walk through this life together until the end of your days.” Bent over the Book of Morcyth, Miko looks almost comical in the ceremonial robes of the High Priest. He found a description of what they were to be in the Book of Morcyth and had a set made for this occasion. When he put them on, Scar and Potbelly couldn’t stop laughing, which is why they had the honor to stand guard at the outer door.
He pauses a moment as he scans the pages. Silence hangs over the hall as everyone watches.
“Is that all?” asks James him quietly.
Looking up, Miko says, “Hmm?”
“Is that all?” Meliana asks.
“Oh,” he says and looks up quickly at the assembled guests within the shell that will become the temple. “Uh,” then he returns his eyes to the book and quickly peruses the passage on marriage. “Yes, I do believe so.”
Then James turns Meliana toward him and stares at her for a brief moment. Flowers in her hair and wearing a gown of white with small blue dolphins embroidered along the hem, she’s never looked lovelier. “I love you,” he says.
“I love you too,” she replies then their lips meet. The people in attendance erupt in cheers and clapping.
When he breaks off the kiss, James glances to where Jiron stands beside him. A big smile across his face, Jiron gives him a nod.
Aleya stands as Meliana’s maid of honor, though she’s no longer a maid. When both she and Jiron had finally made it back to The Ranch, they wasted no time in getting married. Now she’s several months along on their first child.
James takes Meliana’s arm in his and turns toward the crowd. He takes a moment to meet the gaze of those who came to share this moment with him. Lord Pytherian stands in his finest clothes, the rest of the Patriarchal Council arrayed on either side of him; Illan in his Black Hawk armor that’s been shined to mirror perfection with the surviving members of Miller’s band, including Fifer who’s having to use a crutch due to his lost leg, Brother Willim and the two remaining members of the Hand of Asran; Delia and Tersa stand with a much improved though still solemn Tinok as well as Shorty, Stig and Reilin; the Recruits, most of whom have their families in attendance; Roland, Ezra, Arkie, and Aku whom they have taken into their family; and finally Ceryn who was the first person he met after coming to this world.
Then he steps forward and the crowd parts, creating an aisle to the front door. James and Meliana walk down the aisle as music begins to fill the air. He glances over to Perrilin where he and several other bards strike up a festive tune. Perrilin smiles and gives him a nod which he returns.
Meliana’s father is there beaming with pride. How many men’s daughters have such important people in attendance at their marriage? James pauses a moment when they reach his side. “Thank you sir,” he says. It took some doing in getting all this arranged in such short order. But when he asked Meliana to marry him, she went into high gear and got it all arranged.
“You do my daughter right now,” her father says.
“I shall,” he replies. With a grin to his bride, he says again, “Rest assured I shall.” Then they resume their trek to the main entrance where Scar and Potbelly stand guard.
“…and that’s why I said they’re like a horde of locusts,” concludes Potbelly. Noticing that the newlyweds are on their way, he nudges Scar in the side and they take their positions to either side of the entrance. Standing straight and tall, they draw their swords and hold them up with the tips touching to form an arch that the couple will pass through.
The courtyard grows quiet in expectation as the couple makes their way forward. When James and Meliana appear, the crowd cheers and applauds. The couple pauses there a moment as the cheering goes on and on. The people there know him well. His deeds have been sung in every tavern from Cardri, Madoc, and beyond. They know that no other person has been more responsible in gaining Madoc her freedom.
“Hurry up man,” Scar whispers to him.
“What’s the hurry?” James whispers back.
“I’m hungry!” he replies. “Been standing here a couple hours at least.”
James glances at him then breaks out into laughter. Meliana can’t help but do the same. Then they begin moving down the steps and make their way into the crowd with Jiron and Aleya right behind. The rest of the wedding guests follow led by Lord Pytherian and the Patriarchal Council.
“Look!” James says to Meliana with barely restrained laughter. She turns her head and sees a table filled with tarts. Next to it stands one of Miko’s new priests that he’s gathered to Morcyth. “He’s making sure the High Priest, who since he performed the marriage is traditionally bound to be the last to leave the temple, will have some when he gets out.” Unable to restrain himself any longer, he allows the laughter to roll forth.
The afternoon and evening is filled with merriment, eating and socializing. When the sun at last begins it’s descent to the horizon, James and Meliana quietly slip out from the party. Not too far away is a fine inn, one of the first to be rebuilt after the Empire left. There they will spend the night before leaving for The Ranch in the morning.
Heading there arm in arm with his bride, he says, “Never has a man been happier than I am right now.”
She squeezes his arm and says, “I’m glad.” She then lays her head on his shoulder as he puts his arm around her.
“I just wish my grandparents could have been here to see this,” he says a bit wistfully.
“I know,” replies Meliana. Shortly after they were engaged, he had filled her in on everything.
When they reach the inn and are ascending the stairs to their suite on the third floor, they hear the inn’s door open and footsteps running toward them. “Damn!” he says and begins hurrying his beloved along.
“What’s wrong?” she asks.
