Chapter 8

(A.N. Here you go guys the chapter you've been waiting for. Above is Annabeth's wedding dress and i'll show the other pictures throughout the story meanwhile enjoy.) 


A few weeks later after the two got back from the Southern Isles, the wedding for the two came around the corner. "Blessings and merry meet. Gentle lords and ladies, their bans having been published, we are here today to join the fair Prince Dastan and the Noble Lady Annabeth together. They have asked you here to share in their joy, and to declare their love for one another before you as a community. Lady, art thou here this day in pledged troth of thy own free will and choice?" The Bishop spoke. 


"Aye, Father" Annabeth spoke. 


"Prince, art thou here this day in pledged troth of thy own free will and choice?" The Bishop asked Dastan. 


"Aye, Father." Dastan answered. 


"In as much as this Noble Lady and Fair Prince have pledged their troth to be married this day, we call upon Heaven to bless this union. Therefore if any one can show just cause, why they may not be joined together, by God's Law, or the Laws of the Realm; let them now speak, or else hereafter keep silent for all time. Lest it not be overlooked, however, there is rumor amongst the fair princess' people that any such scurrilous objector shall be later punished today at the feast for the entertainment and amusement of the Lords and Ladies in attendance. There being no objection to this marriage let us continue." The bishop said. She kept an eye on Dastan as the sacred blade comes out. Soon enough the bishop takes hold of the blade continuing to speak. "Swear you now, on this sacred blade, that there is no reason known to you that this union should not proceed." The bishop tells Anna. 


"I do so swear." She replies. 


"Is there any reason known to you why this partnership should not be made?" The bishop asked Dastan as he looks at her. 


"There is none." He answered. 


"Heavenly Father, creator of all things both in heaven and Earth, we humbly ask thee to bless this union, may these thy servants seek goodness all the days of their lives, may they be strong in defense of what is right, may they be united as one even as thou art with God. May they be numbered amongst thy sheep. We humbly pray in the name of the Father, and the Son and the Holy Spirit. AMEN." The Bishop says doing what he needs to do. The bishop handed the blade back and looks between the two. He placed his hands together continuing to talk. "Do you Lady Annabeth take unto thyself as wife the fair Prince Dastan and pledge unto him before God and these witnesses to be his protector, defender and sure resort, to honor and sustain him, in sickness and in health, in fair and in foul, with all thy worldly powers, to cherish and forsaking all others, keep thee only unto him so long as ye both shall live?" He asks Anna. 


"I will." She vows causing Dastan to smile still keep a straight face. 


"Do you fair Prince Dastan take unto thyself the Noble Lady Annabeth to be thy rightful lady Husband and pledge unto her before God and these witnesses to honor and cherish her, to cleave unto her, in sickness and in health, in fair and in foul, be his one true and lasting counselor and solace, and forsaking all other, keep thee only unto her, so long as ye both shall live?" He asks Dastan. 


"I will." He answered. Soon enough the bishop brought out the rings. 


"Heavenly Father, bless these rings which Noble Lady Annabeth and fair Prince Dastan have set apart to be visible signs of the inward and spiritual bond which unites their hearts. As they give and receive these rings, may they testify to the world of the covenant made between them." The bishop spoke. Slowly and gently Annabeth took the ring from the bishop ready to slide it onto Dastan's finger. 


"Receive and wear this ring as a symbol of my trust, my respect and my love for you." She spoke sliding the ring on. Soon enough Dastan gently takes the other ring from the bishop ready to slide it on her finger. 


"Receive and wear this ring as a symbol of my trust, my respect and my love for you." Dastan spoke sliding the ring on. The two took each others hands. 


"We will now do the ancient Celtic handfasting ritual where 3 cords will be placed over their joined hands." The bishop spoke to the everyone as three people walks to them with three cords. One person walks up with the first cord tying it onto them together. "Person 1 will now place the Burgundy cord to symbolize romance, partnership and happiness." He explained as the cord gets tied. The first person moved aside as the second person comes with the second cord starting to tie it on there. "Person 2 will now place the Ivory cord which stands for peace, sincerity and devotion." He explained. The second person moves aside allowing the third person through with the last cord. He starts to tie it on there as the bishop explains. "Person 3 will now place the gold cord which represents unity, prosperity and longevity." He explained as the fourth person comes out. The fourth person started to tie all the cords together as the bishop spoke. "Person 4 will now tie the cords together to signify the tying of the knot." He explains. The fourth person finished and steps aside. "As this knot is tied, so are your lives now bound. Woven into this cord, imbued into its very fibers, are all the hopes of thy friends and family, and of thyselves, for a new life together. With the fashioning of this knot you tie all the desires, dreams, love, and happiness wished here in this place to your lives for as long as love shall last. In the joining of hands and the fashioning of a knot, so are your lives now bound, one to another. By this cord you are thus now and forevermore bound to your vow. May this knot remain tied for as long as love shall last. May this cord draw your hands together in love, never to be used in anger. May the vows you have spoken never grow bitter in your mouths. As any child discovers when they are learning to tie their own shoes, the first move is to cross the ends. The cross creates the (X), which is the symbol of partnership and union. As your hands are bound by this cord, so is your partnership held by the symbol of this knot. Two entwined in love, bound by commitment and fear, sadness and joy, by hardship and victory, anger and reconciliation, all of which brings strength to this union. Hold tight to one another through both good times and bad, and watch as your strength grows. I shall now remove the cords." The bishop preaches before the removes the cords. The bishop continued his preach after he removed the cords. "Thou hast pledged troth of thy own free will and sworn upon the Sword, Thou hast exchanged rings and been bound together by the ritual of the cords. May it be granted that what is done before the gods be not undone by man. Before I proclaim you joined thou must kiss three times on cue. Once for luck, Twice for Love and Thrice for Long life." The bishop told them. The two leaned in and kissed three times but the third time lasted a little longer than the other two. The bishop spoke one more time ending the ceremony. "By the Power Vested in me by the land of Nasaf, I now pronounce you Lady Annabeth and Fair Prince Dastan, Husband and Wife." The bishop spoke before stepping aside letting the two hold each other in a kiss. 


From then on out the two celebrated their union and ended up having more adventures with Dastan than the two could ever dream of. 


(Thank you for reading i really didn't know how they did weddings back then so i did it Medieval style i hope it doesn't bother anyone too much anyways thank you so much.) 

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