Chapter 347: Husband and wife
It wasn’t that Reubon didn’t know of Umbrarian customs and laws, but Arabella was convinced he simply lost his temper. For all the poise that man could demonstrate, his true nature always found ways to slip through the cracks he never cared to mend.
Never the matter, time wasn’t for wallowing, the officiant had just started the ceremony.
"Tonight we witness the union of our well renowned silver warrior, Silas Eleazar and Arabella, Henrietta Sterling, a young woman of noble descent that came to us straight from Lustris,"
New gasps erupted from the crowd as heads turned from left to right until the officiant cut the babble at its start, "Now, unless anyone else has something against this marriage, may you come forth with it or hold your peace forever," his voice carried through the hall, reaching every ear within its walls.
Arabella’s eyes brushed the guests once more, but thankfully, that time around, no one dared speak.
"Lovely, then proceed we shall," the officiant pushed a small cough, "I, Nikolai Anarion, hereby stand as a minister of civil affairs in our southern region to officiate this marriage and stand witness as to its accurate completion. Are we ready then?" he bent a little forward when addressing the groom and bride.
"Ready," they stated simultaneously.
Nikolai turned his attention towards Silas first, "Do you, Silas Eleazar, agree to take Arabella, Henrietta Sterling as your wife, to love, cherish and protect her. To stand by her in sickness and in health until death do you apart?"
"I do,"
It was with his eyes plunged into Arabella’s that he’d answered.
"Marvellous," Nikolai then looked at Arabella, "And you, do you, Arabella, Henrietta Sterling, wish to take Silas Eleazar as your husband, to love cherish and...," he trailed off a bit since as a human, everyone including her realized how odd the word protect would have sounded, "And accompany him on the path that is life. To stand with him in happiness and sadness alike until death do you apart?"
"Yes. I do,"
She too did not hesitate for a second. A sweet smile adorned her face as her eyes still bore into Silas’.
"You may now exchange your tokens," said the officiant.
From Silas’ side, Persephone came forth, looking firm yet warm, supporting a small, white cushion niched perfectly at the center of her palms.
It carried the beautiful brooch Silas had gifted Arabella before.
The vampire reached and picked the piece of jewelry before pinning it to Arabella’s dress.
From Arabella’s side, Ada came forth, radiant, producing an identical cushion on her hands. Only that one carried not a brooch, but a keychain decorated with Eleanor Burchard’s pendant. Her mother’s pendant.
As soon as Silas’ diamonds had landed upon it, their edges turned even sharper as they took more light in.
His lips parted subtly, but no words came through.
The young woman picked the pendant with grace and took her sweet time to chain it to his belt where it landed right by his dagger.
"The formalities are done with!" Nikolai declared.
His voice was promptly followed by the blaring of trumpets announcing the beginning of the ceremony’s second phase.
That served as a reminder of how quiet the entire hall had become. The fact that the music stopped when her feet touched the first step of the altar had been entirely eclipsed from her bustling mind.
"I now, present you with the contract that will seal this union,"
The piece of parchment sat next to two quills and two translucent ink jars as well as a single stamp. All aligned in a tidy horizontal thread.
Marriage certificate. So the title read. Every line on it had been written in black except the date of their wedding day which was inscribed in ruby red ink.
"Please sign at the bottom of the page,"
Nikolai presented Silas with one of the quills after dipping it in black ink.
The vampire took it with care and proceeded to do as told. The ink only glistened for a split second after gracing the page, leaving Silas’ full signature very clear and visible.
Silas then dipped the quill in ink one more time and gave it a few seconds to shed the extra liquid before passing it to Arabella.
The paint dried up as quickly as it painted the contract, leaving Arabella’s full name and signature right next to Silas’ under the indications, husband and wife.
The officiant took the quill, turned the certificate his way before signing as the minister who oversaw the union to its finish line.
"Now please,"
Nikolai picked up the stamp and handed it to Silas who dipped it in the jar of red ink.
His eyes traveled towards Arabella as the hand holding the stamp ushered at her to take it.
The young woman knew what to do and laid her hand upon his.
The couple brought down the stamp, plastering its surface flat on the page and pushing it a little for good measure.
When released, the stamp of a crescent moon decorated the once clean space on the sheet.
Nikolai’s hands went up, "Will the crowd around us please stand,"
The wave of buzzing that followed ended very shortly once all of the guests had stood to their feet.
"I stand witness to this union!" the officiant declared, "All of you," he waved around at the guests, "You stand witness to this union!"
Heads began to nod, and hands rose as if ready to clap.
"Congratulations!" he looked between Silas and Arabella, "I now pronounce you, husband and wife,"
A thunder of applause rained upon the hall, bouncing between walls only to return and hit the opposite wall.
The gathering kept on clapping for what seemed like an eternity... In Silas’s eyes that was.
He who stood on fictitious nails, suffered in silence, barely able to wait for the officiant to utter the next line.
Finally, when the roaring of the praise died down, Nikolai took a deep breath and declared, "You may now kiss your wife, Master Silas Eleazar,"