By Donna and Toni
The
Mission church was rapidly filling up. Everyone who could be there, was! Father
Alec looked out over the packed church and smiled. Full houses never bothered
him. He had preached before many thousands back in Poland. Turning around, he
went back to check on Philip, who was having some last minute adjustments made
to his suit by Father Ralph.
It
was debatable who was more nervous, the bride or groom; at this point, it would
be fair to say the groom was winning that contest! His normally fair complexion
had gotten even paler, as he asked his fellow priests, "Are ya sure I look
all right? I don't want to embarrass her."
"You
look grand," Ralph reassured him, slapping his hand away from the tie that
had replaced his usual clerical collar. "Stop fidgeting now!"
Philip
sighed. "I'm sorry; havin' never been married before, I quite frankly don't
know what to do with m'self. Is it almost time to go out there?" He looked
anxiously at the door that would lead out to the altar itself.
"Almost,"
Alec chuckled, motioning for the three other priests to gather with him.
"Let us all give thanks for what is about to happen."
While
her future groom knelt in prayer, Fiona was next door at the MacDonalds', having
adjustments made to her dress. It was a bit daring, but Fiona had seen a similar
dress in a shop back in Ireland, and had fallen in love with it.
The
sleeveless ivory gown had a silk chiffon overlay. The bodice was gathered in
front and had a delicate fabric rose between her breasts. It was trimmed with
tiny seed pearls and crystal beads that had been provide by her fae friends. Her
veil was also edged with the pearls.
All
of the ones that shared the garden with her were there, helping her to dress.
Vanessa placed a matching pearl and crystal necklace around her neck and then
Fae crowned Fiona's lovely black hair with a floral wreath. Endora carefully
arranged the knee length veil over it. Faith knelt down to adjust the soft folds
of the dress, and to ease Fiona's feet into beaded slippers. "Ye look
absolutely marvelous!" she said as she stood up. "I ca' no wear a
dress like this, but on ye, it looks perfect!"
The bride blushed as
she thanked her friends for both their compliments and all their help, and then
it was time to go and do what she'd been waiting for since she'd fallen in love
with the handsome young priest.
Nick,
as Best Man, had been paired with Faith as Maid of Honor; he smiled and bowed
gallantly to Faith as she took his arm and they walked together down the aisle,
then parted, Nick to stand beside Philip and Faith at the side that Fiona would
stand on. As they watched the couple go, Derek turned to the young woman he
would be giving away, the one he would consider his daughter in law when this
was done, and smiled softly, "Ready, Fiona? It's almost our turn,"
extending his arm to her. He couldn't remember when he'd been so happy - Philip
had been through so much heartache, it seemed a miracle that this day had ever
come!
Connor MacLeod was at
the piano, with the now very pregnant looking Katherine sitting with John
Clayton in the front pew nearby. Beside her was Gideon, who was sitting beside
Shannon and Andrew. Fiona had asked for something other than the traditional
*Here Comes the Bride*, and as Connor played an ancient Irish hymn called *Be
Thou My Vision*, Monica and Tess sang the words, alternating between the Irish
and the English translation while Fiona began her journey down the aisle to
become married to the man she loved.
The
church was packed; everyone they could think of, it seemed, had turned out to
see the young couple wed! As they slowly walked up the aisle, Fiona found
herself suddenly glad for Derek's steady, calming presence beside her. As her
eyes finally found those of her groom, she couldn't help a small smile when she
saw the way he was looking at her.
Philip
was entranced! He'd seen plenty of brides in marriage ceremonies he'd performed,
but he'd never - and he was sure of this - seen one like the vision that was
walking toward him now. He felt a mixture of love and pride, and found himself
unable to look away from her as Derek placed her hand in his and took his seat
in a front pew. He did, however, manage a whispered, "You are so
beautiful," to his bride.
She
smiled back at him, her face radiantly happy underneath the sheer veil that
covered it. She hardly heard Father Alec begin the ceremony. Both she and Philip
were so entranced with each other, they had to be nudged several times by the
ones standing up with them! When it came time to speak their vows to each other,
they said them first in Irish, and then in English. "By the power that
Christ brought from heaven, mayst thou love me.
As
the sun follows its course, mayst thou follow me. As light to the eye, as bread
to the hungry, as joy to the heart, may thy presence be with me, O one that I
love, till death comes to part us asunder." The words they spoke to each
other came from the depths of their hearts.
As
Philip slipped his grandmother's wedding ring onto Fiona's finger, he said
"Fiona, this ring I give to you in token and pledge of my constant faith
and abiding love." Fiona then took his grandfather's ring and placed it on
his hand and repeated the same words.
With
the rings given and received, Alec pronounced a blessing over the young couple,
and then the entire congregation recited the Lord's Prayer. Finally, at long
last, the part that no one had been awaiting more anxiously than the bride and
groom. With a smile on his face and happiness in his eyes, Philip and Fiona were
pronounced husband and wife, and Philip was told he could kiss his bride!
With
hands that trembled only slightly, the young Irishman carefully drew back his
wife's face veil and smoothed it back over her head; their eyes remained locked
on each other's right up until the moment they closed in their very first, and
very sweet, kiss as a married couple.
The church erupted with the sound of loud cheering as they did so! Father Alec shook his head in amusement, and then introduced the new couple to those gathered there. Then to the tune of a lively Irish jig played by Connor on the piano, Kat on the flute, John Clayton on the bodhran, and Daniel Hagman on the fiddle; the two of them marched out of the church.
With the formalities seen to properly, it was now time for everyone to move from the church to where several parties had already been held, out on the streets! The dance floor had been fixed up for the reception and food soon filled the tables as everyone contributed to the celebration. Once there, everyone seemed to be able to find a seat at the long tables that had been set up, and then the Best Man called for quiet as he toasted the Couple of Honor. He raised his glass, and smiled, "To Philip and Fiona; I was always happy to consider him my brother, and now, it makes me even happier to welcome a sister into our family. May their life together be long and happy, their family large and loving, and may they never forget who they can drop the kids off with at a moment's notice whenever they need a little time to themselves.” He then raised his glass. "And finally, to quote from an old Irish blessing: May you have warm words on a cold evening, a full moon on a dark night, and a smooth road all the way to your door. Sláinte!"
With
the sun beginning to dip over the horizon, a cool breeze fanned the partygoers
as they all raised their glasses and went "Hear, hear!" then joined
Nick in drinking the toast. Not only did they have a wedding to celebrate, but
also they had all survived the storm in one piece!